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tt0218967 | The Family Man | Jack Campbell is a single Wall Street executive living in New York City. He is in the midst of putting together a multi-billion dollar merger and has ordered an emergency meeting on Christmas Day. In his office, on Christmas Eve, he hears that his former girlfriend, Kate, called him after many years. He walks into a convenience store where a lottery contestant, Cash, has a winning ticket worth $238. The store clerk does not believe Cash, so Cash pulls out a gun and Jack offers to buy the ticket. Jack offers to help Cash. In return, Cash questions Jack, asking him if he is missing anything in his life. Jack says he has everything he needs. Cash tells Jack that actions have consequence and that Jack has brought whatever is coming on himself. Jack returns to his penthouse and sleeps.
On Christmas Day, Jack wakes up in a suburban New Jersey bedroom with Kate and two children. He hurries back to his office and condo in New York, but his closest friends do not recognize him. Jack runs out to the street and encounters Cash driving Jack's Ferrari. We find out Cash is a guardian angel. Cash explains that Jack is experiencing a glimpse of an alternate universe in order to learn a lesson. He advises Jack to take the time to learn whatever it is that he needs to learn.
Jack is living the life he could have had, had he stayed in the United States with his girlfriend. He has a modest family life, where he is a car tire salesman for Kate's father and Kate is a non-profit lawyer. Jack's young daughter realizes his secret, thinks he is an alien and decides to assist him in surviving his new life. Jack struggles to fit into the role of a family man, such as missing opening Christmas presents, flirting with a married woman and forgetting his anniversary. He begins to succeed in his life, bonding with his children, falling in love with his wife and working hard at his job.
At a chance meeting, he is offered a contract to work at the same investment firm from his real life, having impressed the Chairman with his business savvy when he came in for a tire change. His old mentor offers him a job, while a formerly sycophantic employee is in Jack's old position, with an assertiveness he did not possess as a subordinate. While he is wowed by the potential salary and other complimentary extreme luxuries, Kate argues that they are very happy and they should be thankful for their life.
Just as Jack is finally realizing the true value of his new life, he sees Cash again as a store clerk and demands to stay in this life, but Cash informs him that there is nothing he can do. His epiphany jolts him back to his wealthy former life on Christmas Day. Jack forgoes closing the pharmaceutical acquisition deal to intercept Kate. He finds her moving out of a luxury townhouse. Like Jack, she also focused on her career and became a very wealthy corporate lawyer. She only called him to give back some of his old possessions. Before she moves to Paris, he runs after her at the airport and describes the family they had in the alternate universe in an effort to win back her love. She agrees to have a cup of coffee at the airport, suggesting that they will have a future. | comedy, alternate reality, romantic | train | wikipedia | Brett Ratner puts this theme into `The Family Man.' This is not "It's a Wonderful Life." While it is a "feel good movie," it is an intelligent, reflective one.
Jack, the lead character, is forced from his comfort zone by a "glimpse" of a life connected by commitment and love to friends and family.
Both pro-capitalist and pro-family, "The Family Man" either leaves you pondering whether your life is consistent with your values or goes over your head and leaves you with the impression that your emotions have been manipulated by another crass commercial Christmas movie.
Whatever limitations the film's storyline or premise has, the individual performances rise above it.In the DVD extras there is an interesting comment by the producer where he says he challenges any man to watch the film and not want to live with Tea Leoni and I must say I wholeheartedly agree with him.
I found this movie to be a very nice remix of "It's a Wonderful Life", much like "You've got Mail" is a remix of "Pride and Prejudice" (and totally hints at this within the film).
Without going into too much of the main storyline (you can read the reviews for that) I'll say that this movie is a very touching look at "what might have been." While I'm not a Cage fan, I'll give kudos to him, in that he portrayed his confused character masterfully.
His struggles from realizing that he has left his high-octane business/playboy life for a simple family life are fun to watch.And Tea Leoni....woohoo!Nice holiday movie.
When he finds his old life no longer exists he has to adjust his lifestyle to fit in with his family.With slight comparisons to Sliding Doors in the way the story works and the concept of life altering decisions 'Family Man' is very entertaining, charming and heart warming, not to mention subtly amusing throughout.
While walking home from work on Christmas Eve thirteen years later, Campbell has an encounter with an angel, who gives him a "glimpse." This "glimpse" shows Jack what his life would be like if he and Kate were still together, and, in the end, Jack must choose between his life of riches and loneliness, or a life filled with family and love.The central idea of the film is to show that a person who is rich in material objects often lacks more important things.
Before Campbell's "glimpse," his only motivation is money and most of the movie is filmed at his office, showing he does not have much of a life outside of it.
The Family Man is very heartwarming and funny movie brought by Nicolas Cage's great performance as a wealthy business man who has a great job but suddenly things turn around when he wakes up the next morning.
Nicolas Cage was really hilarious in this movie and Tea Leoni had some funny lines along with Jeremy Piven.
I really believe this movie can improve your relationship with a romantic partner.I don't think anyone could've played Jack Campbell better than Nicolas Cage.
Cage plays a rich, ruthless business man who is shown the life he might have led (by guardian angel Don Cheadle )if he'd made a different choice.
In A Wonderful Life kind of way he wakes up in suburbia with a mini van, bad suits and a couple of kids, but he also has true love with ex-girlfriend (Tea Leoni).I love the relationship here between Jack and his daughter -its so sweet, she sees through him and thinks he's an alien that's replaced her father.Cage is, Cage but this was made back before he stopped caring so he has some great moments.
Therefore, in my opinion, working hard and making more money is important.However, after viewing this movie-the family man, I start thinking that am I missing the right track?
Sometimes I am so confuse.The Jack, the main character in this movie, the main reason for him to go abroad is to have a better career, which means a better salary to have a better life with Kate.
But the funny thing is that this is exactly the reason they broke up.Maybe, I think, is that having a happy family is not the ultimate goal for Jack, and maybe that is a nice sugar coat for Jack to chase his real goal, like making more money, meeting better world.
It is one of the time travel films like Groundhog days or Sliding doors, however, it gives me a great impact and deep impression which makes me feel present and see what I really have.
Like other Christmas movies, this film also gives us a wisdom which we have to take more precious values in our lives.
Of course it is a movie, but try to imagine what it means, to run after someone you love, with a crazy story at hand, knowing it is your last chance to make it happen, 13 years later.
All of the actors were believable and Don Cheadle once again gives a stellar performance as Cash - a scary character that helps Nicholas Cage see how his small decisions alter his life.
Subtlety ain't this film's strong suit.Nicolas Cage plays a slick Wall Street powerbroker (the only kind in Hollywood, and probably real life as well) who has it all: money, money, money, and power.
"Ok," says Cash, "but just remember, you got yourself into this." Hmm.The next morning, Jack wakes up in bed with the lovely, the delicious, the married-in-real-life-to-David Duchovny Tea Leoni.
What's going on?Seems Cash is some kinda sorta angel or something (it's never really explained), and he's offering Jack a "glimpse" of what his life would havebeen like if he had stuck with Kate back in the day.
And think about it - how many guys do you know are married to someone who looks like Tea Leoni (and is a nice person, too), who goes to work at a tire place with a song in their hearts, who has a loving family with two perfect kids?
It's all dressed up in low-brow sentimentalism to make it seem like the right choice.Seems to me to be the comfort food of people who made bad choices and want to feel better about staying in that situation rather than doing something about it.What really worries me is that many people are really influenced by movies, and this may lead to people making similar bad choices, which certainly won't end up as phonily rosy as the one depicted here..
There by discovering that his life was not bad but missing something.In this 2000 rendition of that classic film Nicolas Cage plays a similar character, his characters name is Jack Campbell and he's a greedy and self absorbed investment banker who's only goal and love in life is to make money.
Now the only way Jack is ever going to get his old life back is too first learn to live and appreciate life as, "The Family Man"."The Family Man" is heartwarming, charming, sweet, touching and an all around great time for anyone in the mood for a great Christmas fairytale.
All in all Brett Ratner's "The Family Man" is nothing short of beautiful and touching entertainment at it's very, very best and will entertain if not lift you up.Nicolas Cage gives one of the best and brightest performances of his career as first being the stuck up, self absorb Campbell and then slowly but surely changing into the man deep down inside he knows he is.
Tea Leoni is astounding in this as the under payed and over worked wife of Jack in the alternate reality, Leoni plays the part with wit, charm and style and really shows how life as a suburban housewife can be.
But all in all the cast is phenomenal and really shine in this brilliant and beautiful holiday love story."The Family Man" Has always been a favorite of mine to watch at Christmas time mainly because of the story and the message it plays out for you.
It's just such an amazing film and it's so well told and crafted that it at sometimes doesn't feel like a movie with actors, but a really true to life story about a man who lost his way and has to find his way home.
"The Family man" is a motion picture experience that is pretty original and something that you've never seen before , you may think you've seen this kind of story before but trust me when you watch it you won't think about comparing it to other films because this one is a one of a kind modern classic..
On Christmas Eve, while at a convenience store, he runs into a semi-helpful black guy (well it IS a fantasy movie, I kid of course.), who offers him a glimpse of what life would be like if he had stayed with a previous girlfriend.
The Family Man is a Brett Ratner Christmas time drama movie starring Nicholas Cage, Tea Leoni, and Don Cheadle.
Cage can be both funny and very serious depending on what's going on at the time in this movie, and he's impressive at both kinds of acting.
But from the first time I saw the preview, I wanted to see "The Family Man." Not only do I adore Nicolas Cage, but this movie deals with the age-old question, "What if???" Who hasn't wondered where life's road would have taken them had they made one different choice?
What is so magnificent about this movie is the way that it makes you turn to your friends and family and lovers and thank yourself for all the choices you've made in your life to bring you where you are at that point.
And if you are unhappy at that stage in your life, it makes you feel like you can change it.I totally recommend seeing this movie and reading much deeper into it than you feel you have to.
Jack, played by Nicholas Cage, is given a "Glimpse", a look at a life that he could have had as a family man, with his former girlfriend Kate.
For Jack, this fork came in deciding to leave for London for a yearlong internship, one he had worked very hard for, or to "forget the plan" and stay, choosing the relationship with Kate.The Family Man's theme also reminds me of another classic film about what matters most in life -- Orson Welles' masterpiece, Citizen Kane.
I won't give anything away about how Jack responds in The Family Man, but you must watch this film to see for yourself.Director Brett Ratner's use of camera angles in certain scenes of this movie enhance the suspense of which life Jack is waking up to – the high-profile, rich life or the modest, family life.
passion plays out.Ultimately, The Family Man leaves us to question which path we as the viewer would take if we were in Jack's shoes, and also asks us to take a more introspective look into our own lives and consider the choices we have made.
I am watching this movie( for the second time B2B ) and I am at the point where Jack (Cage) and Kate (Leoni) are fighting for a piece of cake...
I think Téa Leoni is a VERY beautiful women ....among the best!Well, whatever the reason you watch it for, rest assured that you won't be disappointed.There is something about Christmas movies and this one definitely fits the bill.BTW it's comparison with Capra's 'It's a wonderful life' is unfair.
If your dream life is millions of dollars and 12 hour work days, you may think Jack Campbell a fool for wanting a family.
Nicolas Cage and Tea Leoni are great, but it follows the role of a conventional love story with plot holes.
THE FAMILY MAN / (2000) **1/2 (out of four)By Blake French: The main character in Brett Ratner's fresh romantic drama, "The Family Man," is an enormously wealthy Wall Street businessman named Jack Campbell, played by Nicolas Cage.
The most obvious mistake "The Family Man" makes is showing us what a wonderful life Jack has at the beginning, and how it actually decreases in quality in his alternate lifestyle.
Cage's character (Jack) gets a "glimpse" of what his life would have been like had he married Tea's.
People that truly enjoyed the simple things and loved being a family.This movie is a much watch for that reason and will always remain a Christmas favorite of mine..
"Mr. destiny," "It's a Wonderful Life," "Sliding Doors" are a few that come to mind, all good films."The Family Man" doesn't disappoint either.
The family man manages to capture real people and real life in a way that no other movie manages to achieve.
And in fact, dreams do whatever they want, so there it is.Add this to the growing list of movies that play with this profound and fun idea of seeing what your life would be like if
if whatever, if things had been different, or if you had been better.
Tea Leoni is well worth a mention as Cage's long lost love, but this just doesn't have enough to get it into the upper level of good movies.
In The Family Man Jack Campbell (Nicolas Cage) gets to see what his life would be like if he had decided to stay in the US and marry his long time girlfriend Kate, apposed to going to England for some internship that later lands him a big job at a huge corporation on Wall Street.
It is left for us at the end to wonder if he CAN build that life he has seen, but we can see he is finally being true to himself, and will build that life and family in whatever way unfolds before him.Nicholas Cage, Tia Leone, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Piven, the great Saul Rubinek, EVERYONE is outstanding, the writing is perfect, the filming has power and impact.
Career or love?The movie is in very high quality, the family Jack has if he made a different choice is really well done to the last detail, he has friends, he has his daughter drawings in his work office, he has pictures of him and his wife and his children, video tapes from his marriage anniversary, the movie makers did incredible job putting all this up making you feel like this thing is real.Very recommended by me..
The Family Man is one of the great "What If" movies of all time!.
Groundhog Day and Mr. Destiny are both great movies but neither leaves you with the feeling of happiness and contentment that The Family Man does.
This movie was all over the place...it tried real hard to make me sympathize with Jack but it was hard when he was being so selfish with his "I don't like this life I'm in" stuff.
When you think about it, its not so easy, just as it isn't easy to make people laugh.Nicolas Cage is convincing as a man put into alternative reality angry and confused but at the same time puzzled - is his life all it could be and could it be that the alternative Jack is genuinely happy?
This film begins with an engaged couple by the names of "Jack Campbell" (Nicolas Cage) and "Kate Reynolds" (Tea Leoni) exchanging farewells at an airport with the understanding that they will be together again within a year or so.
What starts out as a light life change comedy turns into a drama with a message to all those in the rat race.Nicolas Cage and Tea Leoni play well against each other in a movie which is more than the some of it's parts.
You Asked For It. Truth be told, "The Family Man" is the best movie i have ever seen, and it also contains deeper life meaning to teach us that FiNding happiness is very easy.
Of course, the cast is good.Cage did the wonderful job in the film, and Téa Leoni is beautiful and acted so well.
Jack Campbell (Nicolas Cage), a successful Wall Street CEO who works late on Christmas Eve wakes up next day, as if by magic, in an unknown bed with the ex-girlfriend Kate (Tea Leoni) and two unknown kids who call him Daddy- which is a "glimpse" of what it would be like to experience a less charming life.
I enjoyed watching this one; it's not an action movie in any way - it's rather a story of "what would happen if i acted differently 10-15 years ago" and it's told from one perspective like it was some sort of a character study - the main character, Jack, is played by Cage in a way very similar to the role he played in "Matchstick Man" (in both of this films his characters are discovering themselves) but without all the nervous ticks, of course.
Cage stars as Jack Campbell, a hotshot Wall Street broker who's wealthy and successful, but by chance receives a phone call that makes him wonder what his life would have been like had he stayed with his college sweetheart.
This movie is one of Cages' best films to date, he plays a highrise business man who gets to glance at what life would've been like if he had stayed with his fiancee,(played by Tea Leoni) and not gotten on a plane that would seperate them.
I saw this film for the first time in the theaters and thought it was good, it's heartfelt, funny, and a good way help people remember what's important in life money or love.
The film is basically "It's a Wonderful Life" and "A Christmas Carol" sort of movie rolled into one, with a little bit of a twist to it.
Keep up the good work Brett!If you're into romantic movies, the I think you will like this film.
Wonderful performances from Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni.A movie that makes you think about what is really important in life.. |
tt0162222 | Cast Away | Chuck Nolan (Tom Hanks) is a systems engineer for Federal Express. He shows some Moscow (Russia) staff how FedEx does business. The most important thing he tells them about is time: that the package sorting must be completed precisely on schedule. To prove it, he opens a package he sent to himself from FedEx's headquarters and his home base in Memphis, Tennessee, that contains a small timer. Chuck stops it at 87 hours, which he says is a deplorable delivery time. Later, the package sort is threatened when one of the Moscow office's trucks is booted in Red Square. The package sorting is carried out in the street.He returns to Memphis, FedEx headquarters, and visits his girlfriend Kelly (Helen Hunt). He proposes to her on Christmas Eve and they exchange gifts. He gets a message that he needs to go to Malaysia. Dedicated to his job, he tells her "Ill be right back." He is the only passenger and rides in the jump seat of a FedEx cargo MD-11 across the Pacific Ocean.The plane encounters a fierce storm. The pilot attempts to fly around it but for unknown reasons the plane crashes. Noland is the only survivor and is washed onto the shore of a very small tropical island. Chuck explores the island and finds a number of FedEx packages from the crash that have washed ashore. He also discovers the body of one of the aircraft's pilots. Chuck buries him. At night on the beach Chuck sees the lights of a ship. Using a small flashlight he recovered from the body of the pilot, he tries to signal the ship but is unsuccessful.The next morning he attempts to leave the island in the rubber raft from the jet. The high breakers over the coral reef surrounding the island turn the raft over. He's tossed onto the reef and his thigh is badly lacerated. Recovering from the accident. he begins to build a simple camp and opens the FedEx parcels. He discovers several items that aid him in his survival including a pair of ice skates. Another parcel contains a volley ball that eventually becomes his companion. One of the parcels is decorated with a pair of wings and for unexplained reasons he doesn't open it. He tries to build a fire by rubbing a stick against a piece of wood, but cuts his hand. In a fury, he grabs the volley ball and throws it. His cut hand leaves a bloody imprint on the ball and from that he adds in a face, naming it by its brand name, "Wilson". The ball becomes his companion.Chuck figures out how to start a fire and soon teaches himself to catch crabs, open coconuts, collect drinking water and spear fish. Chuck creates a rudimentary home in a small cave. Still suffering from a tooth that was bothering him before he left Memphis, it has abscessed and is extremely painful and swollen. He finally resorts to using the toe of an ice skate blade with a rock as a hammer to extract the tooth.Sometime later he describes to Wilson the flight path of his jet compared to its last known position and calculates that the search area is over 500,000 square miles, twice the size of Texas. He realizes its doubtful that he'll ever be found.Four years pass. Chuck has lost more than 50 pounds and his hair and beard are long and unkempt. He survives day-to-day. During a storm two of the walls of a broken fiberglass portable toilet are tossed on shore. When he sees it blown by the wind, he realizes he might be able to use it as a sail. He is suddenly energized with the idea of building a raft that will use the fiberglass walls like a makeshift sail. He chops down trees and lays out his raft. To tie the poles together, he braids rope from local tree bark and from video tape he found in one of the parcels. He counts the days necessary to catch the northeast trade winds that he hopes will take him into the shipping lanes and rescue. Chuck isn't certain where he is headed but figures that he would rather die at sea that spend the rest of his life alone on the island.Chuck prepares food, water, and other necessities for his escape. He ties his 'companion' Wilson and the FedEx parcel decorated with wings to the raft. With the aid ofthe toilet stall walls as a sail and a pair of makeshift oars, he's able to sail over the reef surf and escape the island and lagoon. He sails for many days and during a storm, the ball named Wilson floats away while Chuck is asleep. Chuck is awakened by water in his face, apparently from the spout of a whale, and sees Wilson floating away. He tries to rescue Wilson, but afraid of losing the raft, he is forced to let Wilson go. He is despondent over losing Wilson. A storm wrecks Chuck's raft and it slowly begins to break apart. He has nearly given up hope of rescue when he is wakened by another whale's spout. He turns over to see a container ship passing close by. They signal that they've seen him.Chuck flies home to Memphis and is the guest of honor at a large company-organized welcome reception. He learns that Kelly has married and has a daughter. Kelly intended to meet Chuck at the celebration but she is feeling very confused. Her husband, an orthodontist that did dental work on Chuck, apologizes for her absence. He tells Chuck that Kelly is having a difficult time coping with the his sudden reappearance. He asks Chuck to give her more time. Looking out of the window he sees Kelly in tears, comforted by her husband, and watches her get in a car and leave.Later that evening, Chuck takes a taxi to Kelly's home. She seems to be expecting him and invites him inside. They talk about little things and he discovers how much her life and ambitions have changed and how she coped with his presumed death. Chuck gives Kelly back the watch she had given him telling her that it is a family heirloom and should remain in her family. She tells him that the company presumed a hazardous package caught fire and caused the crash. She shows him that his island was more than 600 miles from the Cook Islands around which the search had been conducted. He had drifted 500 miles in his raft before he was found. He decides to keep her picture. She gives him the keys to his car that she has kept. They apologize to each other for all that has happened and he drives off slowly in the pouring rain.Kelly suddenly runs after him, shouting his name. He backs up and they embrace fiercely in the pouring rain. She tells him that she always believed he was alive, but that others said she had to move on. She tells him that he's the love of her life. He says he loves her too. They talk for a few more minutes in his car but Chuck tells Kelly that she needs to go home.Chuck later describes the meeting with Kelly to a colleague and friend, and how he understands and accepts that while they will always love each other, their lives have gone in different directions and they cannot be together. He confesses to the utter despair and helplessness he felt on the island, describes his failed attempt at suicide, and how he received assurance that he was supposed to live and came to terms with his isolation. While he has just lost her again, he accepts it and understands he has to take live one day at a time because you never know what the tide will bring.He drives to Texas with the FedEx package decorated with wings in his Jeep. He attempts to deliver it but no one is there. He leaves it at the door with a note stating that the parcel saved his life. He drives south and at a four-way intersection and gets out of his car to look at a map. A friendly, pretty woman in an old pick-up truck stops and asks him if he is lost. He confesses he hasn't made up his mind where he was going. She tells him where the four roads lead, and that north, the direction Chuck had just come from, leads to a whole lot of nothingness. She drives north and as she pulls away, Chuck is surprised to see the same pair of wings that were on the package on the tail gate of her truck. Chuck walks to the center of the intersection and looks in each direction for a few seconds. He then turns north and his gaze lingers in the direction the woman drove. | psychological, boring, dramatic, philosophical, romantic, suspenseful | train | imdb | Sure it might be overhyped and some characters in the film aren't needed (not to mention it depends on the liking of the lead), but when you have Tom Hanks working harder than any actor in a movie this year, it is worth it.The story follows Hanks as a dedicated fed-ex deliverer who has a fiance (Helen Hunt) and has to leave her Christmas time to go to Asia, but alas, the plane he's on crashes in the water and, dare I say more (well I can because practically everyone saw the all-revealing trailers)?
Well, Hanks arrives on a deserted island and then the real fun begins as he survives in a primitive way (probably remenicent of 2001, Hanks' favorite film), and even finds a silent companion named Wilson (a volleyball).
******This may contain spoilers******It's a superb,well directed and well acted movie!Well done,Hanks!!!I'm a Hanks fan!!!I really appreciate his outstanding performance.I consider him a genius in acting.He never just acts.However,he gives life to his characters ,and makes himself exactly what they are.Forrest Gump,Saving Private Ryan,The Terminal,The Da Vinci Code,including this movie are all my favorites.I'm always deeply touched by his movies.And they often make me cry,make me think,and make me understand more about life and love.Cast Away is without exception.I was moved by Chuck's spirits.
His imagination(he names a volleyball Wilson and talks with him as a friend),his perseverance toward love,and his courage to face problems,all these enable him to survive and finally return to his homeland.When Chuck and Kelly embraced each other in the rain, I burst out crying.They are true lovers.But,fate is cruel.His beloved fiancée,his only belief during those terrible days and nights is forever gone.His hope is disillusioned.He is standing at a life crossroads,thinking and hesitating.He has to choose a way to begin his new life.I greatly recommend this movie.Don't feel boring,just be patient.I think movies are not only seen by eyes,but also by heart.Use your heart to feel what the characters feel.Then the more you see it,the more you'll be inspired and the more you'll find.Finally,hope you enjoy other Hanks movies!!!.
Also, not many actors have changed their physical appearance like Tom Hanks did for this film, I truly applaud him for his work.
A fascinating, believable, and thought-provoking portrait of a man and his fight to live, with a remarkably ideal performance from Tom Hanks, and steady, effectively leisure direction that allows viewers to accompany this resilient survivor on his emotionally wrenching journey.
After watching Robert Zemeckis' Forrest Gump 1994, I thought I had seen a true drama, but that was clearly only the beginning.Tom Hanks (Big, Forrest Gump) stars in his Oscar nominated performance as Chuck Noland, a Fed Ex executive who is stranded on an isolated island after a thunderous plane crash.When doing background research on this film, I was surprised to see that Russell Crowe had beaten Hanks to the Oscar in 2001.
The plane crash is very dramatic and beautifully directed by Zemeckis and scenes shot on the island, when Hanks is alone and wandering what to do are silent and chilling, justifying the drama genre.The beautiful island is contradicted by the drastic situation, a truly magnificent incentive.The ending too is wonderful as it paves the way for many possibilitiesa spellbinding film.
When he strands on the Island (after an amazingly shot plane crash) he all of the sudden has all the time of the world and the movie turns into a man VS.
Zemeckis directing, Burgess cinematography and some nice special effect and make up also do good to this movie.My only points of critic: The time on the Island is to short, it last only about 1/3 of the movie and I really wanted to see more of Hanks on the Island because those are definitely the best scene's.
Tom Hanks stars as time-obsessed FedEx executive Chuck Noland who literally lives by the clock, even when spending time with his girlfriend (Helen Hunt) during the holidays.
Tom Hanks, who put forward the idea for the film to Forrest Gump-pal Zemeckis, is in nearly every scene and carries so much dramatic weight, effortless leading man appeal and sympathy-laden charisma that he sucks you in entirely.
The DVD picture was outstanding: razor sharp and was much more enjoyable to view than at the theater.I remember a comment or two at church when this film came out, about how it was disappointing that God was never mentioned by Tom Hanks' character in this movie, that anyone in his predicament - stranded on a island for years by himself - would be talking (or even yelling) at God, or praying at one point.
Nonethelesss, Hanks and Hollywood are rarely shown needing or asking help from The Almighty, so they show long scenes of him in his Robinson Crusoe mode, talking to a painted volleyball "friend" instead.That story, however, of Hanks and his island adventures, is much better than the beginning and endings with Helen Hunt, who almost does the wrong thing but, thankfully, does not.
Admire both Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks, and honestly feel that 'Cast Away' is among the best work of both.
It is long and the opposite of feel good, but utterly riveting, thanks to the bold risk-taking and Hanks giving a performance for the ages.'Cast Away' has been criticised by some for having an unsatisfying ending.
Have been picky about endings recently and the inconclusive nature didn't bother me that much and actually appreciated that it was more downbeat rather than happy, who to me would have felt a little too on the pat side.There are so many great things about 'Cast Away' that help make it quite a superb film.
Possibly because of the fact that Tom Hanks' character in the film, Chuck Noland, is stuck on an island all by his lonesome and the island is very small.
Despite this, "Cast Away" was a surprise hit at the box office.Viewing it a second time, I was braced for its uniqueness and got more out of it, but there's still a lot of downtime or empty stretches as Chuck tries to survive for over four years on the island and then faces a completely new life and perspective in the closing act.
The fact that he had to face and understand the difference between life in the real world and living in an island with nobody else but a ball named Wilson, made the movie remarkable.
This movie also contained love that played a main role to Noland's survival, which makes the audience to feel not as desperate to watch Noland getting lost with the power of love that brought him hope.
I can only conclude that, sadly, it was such a poor overall year for quality films that we're all so desperate as to rate a below average movie much higher than it deserves.Aside from the fact that the story was nothing more than a dull, overlong, contrived piece that was supposed to be something about 'time', it was just bad filmmaking.
But the film is not about surviving the harsh surrounding but instead about being mentally strong , fighting self physically problems and living for hope.I can't see anyone else but Tom hanks playing Chuck.
The scenes in which he speaks to him could of came off as silly but Hanks is so brilliant that he makes us end up caring for Wilson us much as he does.Overall, I suggest everyone to watch this film.
In the film "Cast Away" (2000) director Robert Zemeckis depicts a great adventure of the hardships and tragedies that one man must face for survival.
Cast Away is a fantastic movie with an extremely well written and well developed storyline and a very talented cast (mainly just one cast member).I was very impressed with atom Hanks in this film,he proved that he can be a good actor even without have other actors around him,for the majority of this film he is the only person on screen,as we watch him stranded on an island as he loses his mind,Hanks stays dramatic and convincing all the way through.I was so impressed that the films script actually got me to feel for a football,Tom Hanks character starts communicating with a ball he calls Wilson because of it's brand,and after a while this character becomes "his friend " and it is only this man really has,and because of that I actually felt emotion for this lifeless ball,I was so impressed with the writers,Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks for managing to do this.Cast Away is an outstanding drama that I would recommend to all moviegoers.An obsessive executive for a delivery company finds himself stranded on a desert island after his flight ends in disaster..
very very amazing movie great plot great everything now chuck i feel sorry for him i mean his wife leaves him because she thinks he is missing when really he is on an island oh and for those of you who think nothing of Wilson, chuck wouldn't have survived if it wasn't for Wilson, h*ll i wish i had a friend like that who never gripes or complains or doesn't cost money...hahaha oh and he was apart of the cast one of the most important pieces a wonderful movie great script and great characters and Wilson was just the touch!!!
and i would handle it the same way as he did just make it through the hard times and yes there were times that chuck probably had fun i mean who wouldn't have fun every now and then oh and you would probably have some real life skills that could save just about anyone anytime and you could be a very self tought person this movie depicts several things wrong with technology and several good things about it....maybe we should all have a little bite of training on how to make rope that was pretty cool how he did it and it was strong to no like some of the stuff we have now days around here and stuff you could by at wal mart just doesn't campare to that.
Would they feel better about the movie if the air courier service was named `No-Name Airlines'?After the plane crashes he makes his way to the island where shortly afterwards he undertakes a symbolic burial of his old self or ego when he finds and buries the crew-member of the airplane.
i think this one is nothing more than a fedex commercial.although, the premise is good, a modern guy, stranded on a deserted island, trying to fight for his life (with A LOT of help from fedex, of course), while at home he is babling about how great his company is....i mean...
I simply love this movie because of the uncertainty as regards to what happens next during the entire movie!I find it hard to believe that Tom Hanks did not won a Oscar for his performance, since he in my opinion deserved it more than anyone else.If you have not seen Cast Away yet, I definitely recommend you to see it right away.
Fifteen years later, he came close to duplicating that extraordinary feat with Cast Away, an incredibly diverse movie in its own right.For a basic plot summary, Cast Away tells the story of Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks), a FedEx worker who goes down over the Pacific in an airplane, washes ashore a deserted island, and must fend for himself in the harsh terrain and conditions.The key to this film is its ability to combine such genres as action, adventure, disaster, comedy, and drama and, most importantly, make them all mesh together and work on the big screen.
It speaks volumes that, within 90 minutes, you may be expressing emotion towards a man's relationship with a volleyball.Overall, I wish more movies would be produced like Cast Away.
Cast Away is survivalist film starring Oscar award winner, Tom Hanks, that takes place on an island in the South Pacific after a disastrous plane crash.
The rest of the film shows how he tries to survive on the island he ends up on and him living without the love of his life, Kelly Frears (Helen Hunt).
And for everything else, you don't like Tom Hanks or the story, that's really just personal preference and I probably won't change your mind on that.Well, I think Cast Away will always be my favourite movie, and for me, It's a dream come true.
The film has a strong existential undertone and Tom Hanks as Chuck Noland, a FedEx employee marooned on an island after a plane crash, has given one of the finest performances of his career.
Stranded on an island with no help makes for a great conflict that someone can relate to as it could happen to anybody.Tom Hanks is phenomenal in this film.
I never thought that anyone could make a volleyball seem like a person but this film did that thanks to Hanks great acting.
This is certainly not an ad for Fed-Ex. What this movie is is a serious piece of art by acclaimed film maker Robert Zemeckis that stars Tom Hanks.This film is about Fed-Ex worker, Chuck who gets stranded on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean.
The scenes with the volleyball made me think, "What the heck?" The thing that gets this movie to work is the odds of surviving on a remote island no one have ever heard of.
Not too many actors could pull it off, I think.In the last scene, after the girl drives off in the pickup with the dog in the back, Tom Hanks stands in the middle of the intersection staring, then the movie cuts away.
Little does he suspect how horribly ironic these words become once his tale is over.In Robert Zemeckis' great 'Cast Away', Tom Hanks incarnates Chuck Noland, a highly-efficient FedEx executive whose life is mercilessly governed by the clock.
The story takes its time to settle comfortably into its niche, and once it does, it's truly riveting, even though all we're really looking at is one man on an island, drinking coconut juice and suffering from a toothache without a dentist.The acting is outstanding, especially for Tom Hanks as the castaway in person; he supports the entire movie, and the audience gets to feel both his triumphs and his pains.
For those who are able to take a break from their lives, which so often mirror Chuck Noland's in their pacing, this story will be a soothing and refreshing change of pace while it lasts, and will make a very good addition to any movie-lover's collection.* * * * * For giving us a story with a refreshing change of pace, a lot of sentiment and depth, and some formidable acting, I award 'Cast Away' 8.5 friendly volleyballs out of 10..
No, it's not a true story, but it's manufactured so well that if somebody was to tell you that it was based on an autobiography, you would probably believe it.Cast Away stars Tom Hanks as Chuck Noland, a busybody FedEx executive who's "all about time", who soon discovers he has all the time in the world when his plane crashes into the ocean and he, alone, finds himself on a deserted island where he ekes on the barest living possible.
Many viewers would feel that after Chuck returns from the deserted island, the movie starts getting boring; and that the director should have deleted a few scenes.
With little words and many emotions, Tom Hanks prevails in Cast Away as the sole survivor of a plane crash who is forced to learn to live alone on a deserted island, with a football he calls Wilson being his only companion.
CAST AWAY is a uniquely American film success, too long in the last act, and perfectly realized in all the island scenes by the irreplaceable Tom Hanks.
Cast Away is about a Fed Ex executive who is involved in a plane crash and has to survive on a deserted island.
Whether is it the deserted island, the romance, or the job you feel like Tom Hanks character, Chuck Noland.The one aspect of director Robert Zemeckis films that I think are perfect are how he uses metaphor to tell the story.
Hank's performance is so great that all the viewer's focus would be on him regardless.Cast Away is a movie about a man trying to live, and dealing with the loneliness of living on an island by himself.
I liked Wilson the most in the film and tom hanks treats him as friend this concept is remarkable and that is the he does not tend to forget speaking as it has been long time 4 years.
Unlike Chuck Noland, I'm sure I wouldn't need a Wilson.The main star in this movie is not Hanks, but the island of Monuriki, Fiji.
Robert Zemeckis directed this compelling drama that stars Tom Hanks as FedEx executive Chuck Noland, whose plane crashes into the ocean for an undetermined reason, and he manages to swim ashore to a deserted island, where he must learn to survive, as he will be marooned there for several years...
The plot is great, in the start of the movie depicts strong love life and profession of tom hanks as a FedEx official.
Cast Away is a 2000 film starring Tom Hanks.
A very good movie, Cast Away, brings to the screen the story of a Fed-Ex employee who is stranded on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean following a plane crash.
Tom Hanks is superb in his role as Chuck Noland, and although the rest of the cast do not have that many lines in the movie, nevertheless, they have outdone themselves with their performances, which are outstanding to say the least. |
tt0328828 | American Wedding | The film begins with Jim Levenstein (Jason Biggs) and Michelle Flaherty (Alyson Hannigan) having dinner, celebrating their college graduation. They've been dating for 3 years now. Jim intends to propose to Michelle, but receives a phone call from his dad saying that Jim forgot the engagement ring at home and his dad is on his way to bring it to him. As Jim tries to stall, he talks about the next step which Michelle interprets as spicing up their sex lives. She gets the impression that he wants a public sex act and proceeds to perform oral sex on him under the table. When Mr. Levenstein (Eugene Levy) arrives, Jim tries to hide the fact that he's being fellated. Not knowing Michelle is under the table, Jim's dad expresses his excitement at the proposal. Then, after Michelle bumps her head under the table out of shock , all chaos ensues as Jim ends up exposed and has to hike his pants up quickly. Saving face, he swallows what's left of his pride and asks Michelle to marry him which she readily agrees.Jim has a night at the local bar with Michelle, Kevin(Thomas Ian Nicholas) and Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) to celebrate their engagement. During that night, it is revealed that Michelle likes to dance but Jim is a terrible dancer. The first thing about the wedding that everyone agrees to, is that Stifler (Seann William Scott) is not invited and should be kept away from the wedding. This proves to be impossible when Stifler drives by Jim's house and decides to crash what he thinks is a graduation party but is actually the engagement party. He messes with the cake which ends up on his lap and Jim's as well. Jim tries to take his pants off to clean them and chaos ensues ending with Jim looking like he's having sex with dogs when Michelle's parents (Fred Willard and Deborah Rush) meet him for the first time.When Stifler realizes that Jim is getting married, he volunteers to organize the bachelor party which Kevin and Finch hadn't thought about but agrees that Stifler would be the perfect guy for such an occasion. They don't tell him however that he is not invited.Afterward, Jim worries that the wedding will be a disaster. Michelle's parents hate him after the dog incident. Michelle is stressed but doesn't want to tell Jim about her worries so Jim doesn't know what she really wants and he knows she'll want to dance and he's really bad at it. He shares these details to Kevin and Finch who offers their help. Looking for dancing lessons, Kevin and Finch meets Stifler and try to hint that he's not invited at the wedding. Jim goes to Stifler to try to explain why he's not invited. Stifler gets angry and screams at Jim while his football team surrounds them and scream with him. Stifler uses that moment to whisper that he knows how to dance and he can teach Jim. They have a first lesson together and Jim finally agrees to invite Stifler and allow him to take care of the bachelor party.Meanwhile, Finch has been following Michelle under disguise to learn more about her desires for the wedding. He finds out that Michelle's dream wedding dress is made by only one designer working for one store in Chicago. So Jim sets out to find the dress maker with the guys and Stifler. They go to Chicago but the dress maker named Leslie isn't at the store. One of her colleagues agrees to give them the address of a few bars where they could find her. They split to cover more territory and Stifler ends up in a gay bar where he gets in an argument with a big man nicknamed Bear who happens to know Leslie. Bear sends them away refusing to help them. As Jim is losing faith in ever finding Leslie, Stifler returns and has a dance-off to make up for his rudeness towards Bear. Leslie, the man who was next to Bear all along finally reveals himself and agrees to make the dress.Michelle's sister Cadence (January Jones) arrives to help for the preparations, and Finch is quickly attracted to her. Sadly, so is Stifler. Upon hearing that Cadence is hoping to attract a decent guy, Stifler adopts a more meek attitude and acts like Finch, and avoids swearing and speaks of philosophy. The act works as it seduces both Cadence and her mother. When Finch realizes that Cadence is beginning to tire of the intellectual Stifler however, he starts to act immature, rude, and perverted: in other words, like the real Stifler. This change of attitude momentarily gets him the attention and favor of Cadence.The dress episode has convinced Michelle's parents that they should give Jim a second chance and they schedule a private dinner. Jim lies to Stifler that everyone will be gone that night so he can have his private moment with Michelle's parent. Unfortunately, Stifler, thinking that Jim will be home alone, sees it as the perfect moment for the bachelor party to take place. Stifler arrives at Jim's house with Kevin, Finch, Bear and his "girls": Fraulein Brandi and Officer Krystal. Not waiting for Jim, they get the party started and play Bondage and Submissive roles with the girls. When Jim arrives with Michelle's parent, Stifler and Finch realizes their mistake and they hide everyone. They almost manage to get away with it until they find Kevin almost naked and tied to a chair in the closet. Stifler makes up an excuse to explain everything and tries to take the blame for it but Jim insist to take the blame himself which convinces Michelle's parents that Jim is willing to make a lot of efforts for their daughter and they give him their blessing.Because he is now her favorite best man, Michelle's mother entrust Stifler to protect the bride's wedding ring until the ceremony. Not long after arriving at the hotel where the wedding will take place in a few days, Stifler looses the ring when he unintentionally feeds it to the dogs. He spends the whole day with them hoping to catch the ring when they defecate. When he finally gets the ring back, he tries to sneak to his room to wash it but is intercepted by Michelle's parents. Mistaking the stool in Stifler's hand for a truffle, Michelle's mother, who loves chocolate, attempts to eat it, giving Stifler no other choice but to eat it himself to save face. Only Finch knows the truth and reacts accordingly.Later, Cadence begins to catch on that Stifler may not be all he says he is, but finds herself still attracted to him so she proposes him a sexual encounter. Stifler picks up a bottle of champagne on his way to his encounter with Cadence but accidentally turns off the refrigerator holding the flowers for the wedding. He gets in an argument with Finch and goes into full Stifler mode just as Cadence walks by and sees everything. She obviously cancels the encounter.Another crisis erupt when Jim's grandmother express her disapproval of the wedding and hates Michelle because she isn't Jewish, a fact that deeply saddens Michelle. Jim tries to explain to her that his grandmother is very old fashioned but Michelle still takes it very personal.Because the refrigerator was off, the flowers have all overheated and died. With everyone angry at him, Stifler leaves the hotel angry and sad. On his way home he sees the flower shop that provided the flowers for the wedding. He finds the owner's address and wakes her up in the middle of the night. She claims the job is impossible since she had four people working for two days to do the first job. By using an old speech from his coach in the first movie ("you don't score until you score...") he convinces her to help him redo the flowers. To do so, he also brings in the football team he coaches to set up the entire room with new flowers. Jim and Michelle, who were very sad the night before, wakes up to the sound of Stifler leading his whole team into decorating the wedding hall. Cadence is impressed and agrees to forgive Stifler and be his date for the wedding.Finch admits that Stifler was probably better for her anyway. Stifler, angry that he can't hate Finch after such a noble remark, tells Finch that he hates not hating him. Finch reminds him that he slept with Stifler's mom twice. Stifler says "Thank you" as a way to reveal that all the hatred is back.Just before the ceremony, Stifler and Cadence plan to have sex in a linens closet. Cadence is intercepted by her mother and is unable to sneak away while Jim's grandmother gets dumped in the linens closet by the ushers because they found her annoying. Stifler enters the dark closet and thinks he's with Cadence and have sex with her until Finch and Kevin finds them and Stfler realizes he was doing Jim's grandmother who insist he finishes the job.Michelle and Jim finally get married. Everything goes smoothly, even Jim's grandmother is all smile now, thanks to Stifler. At the reception, Jim impresses everyone with his new dancing skills taught to him by Stifler. They invite everyone to join them on the dance floor. Everyone is dancing and having a good time except Finch who's sitting all by himself until Stifler's mom (Jennifer Coolidge) shows up. They tell each other they are over each other but she invites him to her room. The movie ends with Stifler's mom and Finch in the tub having sex as the milf guys (John Cho and Justin Isfield), are watching in awe from the window. | cult, humor, comedy, adult comedy | train | imdb | null |
tt0376994 | X-Men: The Last Stand | (For the sake of continuity and uniformity, each mutant's 'human name' will be listed only once, and they will thereafter be referred to by their 'mutant' names.)The movie opens in a quiet suburban neighborhood in the 1980's. Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Eric Lensherr/Magneto (Ian McKellen) are arriving at the Grey home to both personally evaluate a potential new student for the school Xavier has established for mutants. Mr. and Mrs. Grey call their young daughter, Jean, down to speak with Magneto and Xavier. As Jean sits, Xavier senses immediately that she's telepathically reading his and Magneto's thoughts, and gently admonishes her, saying that he and Magneto are 'like her.' In a surprisingly adult-like voice for a young adolescent, Jean says she doubts either of them are like her. A second later, all the cars outside begin to levitate off the ground, much to the amazement of Xavier and Magneto. A man watering his garden gawks as the water coming out of his garden hose begins to flow straight upward. Xavier quietly asks Jean if she wishes to learn to control her immense power, or let it control her.Cut to ten years later, in a high-rise luxury building. A boy scrapes at his back, crying as he does so. The boy's father, Warren Worthington II (Michael Murphy) knocks on the bathroom door, concerned. He asks his son to open the door. Warren III cries out suddenly, in fright, for his father to give him one second, and starts hurriedly trying to hide what he's been doing. Several bloody rags are seen besde the sink, and Worthington hears the sound of clanking as his son rushes to hide his razor and several other sharp metal objects. Knowing something is seriously amiss, Worthington kicks the door in and sees what his son was trying to hide. Several bloody feathers are on the bathroom floor, having sprouted from Warren III's back. Warren III is a mutant.In the present day, the X-Men are in Xavier's training simulation chamber playing out a defense against a futuristic robotic attack. Peter Rasputin/Colossus (Daniel Cudmore) turns himself and Marie D'Ancanto/Rogue (Anna Paquin) into organic steel to protect them both from flying debris. Bobby Drake/Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) stops an incoming guided missile by freezing it, knocking out its heat sensors. Just then, another one comes flying in, and Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat (Ellen Page) grabs him and puts both he and herself out of phase, so the missile passes harmlessly through them.Ororo Munroe/Storm (Halle Berry) and Wolverine/Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) note that the massive robotic entity they are training against, is routing all of the X-Men. Wolverine admonishes Storm that the younger, less experienced of the X-Men aren't practiced and strong enough yet. Over Storm's protests that the X-Men need to work as a team, Wolverine has Colossus hurl him straight at the robot. Wolverine's insta-regeneration powers and adamantine claws rip off the robot's massive head, destroying it.Storm and Wolverine argue as the X-Men leave the simulation room. The training exercise was meant to help the team learn to operate together and defend, while Wolverine believes in defending through taking out whatever is attacking. Because of this, he's just a substitute teacher for Xavier's school.Scott Summers/Cyclops (James Marsden) sits alone in his room, haunted by Jean Grey's death (shown at the end of the movie X2). Meanwhile, Rogue has a brief spat with Iceman. She loves him, but their relationship torments her because he can't touch her bare skin safely because of her life-leeching powers. In another part of the school Wolverine finds Cyclops heading out of the school and there is a brief, but emotional, confrontation over both of them having loved Jean and are mourning her death.Hank McCoy/Beast (Kelsey Grammer), Secretary of Mutant Affairs in the presidential cabinet, is reading a scientific magazine with articles on mutation and the gene that helps bring it about... 'sitting' while hanging upside down from the ceiling. His secretary announces the start of a Presidential staff meeting.As Beast arrives at the meeting, Homeland Security secretary Trask (Bill Duke) announces that they lost a track on Magneto, but have successfully captured Raven Darkholme/Mystique (Rebecca Romijn). A surveillance camera shows her being interrogated by FBI. Mystique refuses to answer to her human name, and even when the interrogator accommodates her, she frustrates and vexes him by shapeshifting into him in order to mock him. When the interrogator loses his patience and demands she tell him where Magneto is, Mystique suddenly headbutts him and shows how, even with her wrists in heavy shackles, she is still a dangerous enemy. It takes several FBI guards to finally overpower her.Beast is dubious about the Presidential cabinet's ability to hold Mystique, and knows that holding her will make Magneto angry, though it gives the cabinet some diplomatic leverage. But Beast realizes that diplomacy with Magneto is not why the President (Josef Sommer) called for his attendance. The President shows Beast a folder with documents that Mystique was trying to steal from the FDA when she was captured. Beast opens the file to find a series of biochemical analyses from Worthington Labs, along with a profile on a young boy named Jimmy, also known as Leech (Cameron Bright). The analyses show that Jimmy is capable of suppressing the mutant X-gene. The President tells a horrified Beast that the research is believed to be viable, and the potential effect it will have on the mutant community is exactly why the cabinet desperately needs Beast's considerable diplomatic skills, now more than ever.Xavier is giving a lecture to mutant students in the school, discussing Mutant ethics. An example he gives is a brain-dead patient of Dr. Moira MacTaggart (Olivia Williams, uncredited). The psychic ability to transfer a human consciousness, even that of a family man with four children, and who is dying of cancer, into the body of the brain-dead man, raises serious ethical issues. Xavier suddenly pauses, staring vacantly, Outside, the skies turn darker as heavy clouds begin to gather and converge. Xavier tells his class that they'll break early and continue tomorrow.Xavier finds Storm on the terrace; her mind heavy with troubles which was causing the sudden weather shift. Magneto is a fugitive, Beast is on the Presidential cabinet and the US President has shown a lot of goodwill toward mutants-- so, as Storm believes, the Academy shouldn't need to be in hiding. Xavier says it's not hiding as much as staying wary of the Academy's remaining enemies and protecting the students. When Xavier mentions he sees Storm as becoming the new Headmistress of the academy one day, Storm freezes. She thought that Cyclops was the natural successor. Xavier says Cyclops has never been the same since Jean's death. Storm knows there's something Xavier is hiding, but he continues on toward his office without acknowledging.Xavier and Storm find Beast in Xavier's office, and Wolverine joins them a few seconds later. The reason for Beast's visit is to report what he was shown during the cabinet meeting: a major pharmaceutical company has developed a way to suppress the mutant X-gene... and its effects are reportedly permanent. The company is calling the research a cure for mutancy, turning any mutant back into a regular human.The impact of the discovery hits right there, as Storm reacts in outrage to the news. Storm sees the discovery as equivalent to humans calling mutancy a disease in need of treatment. Xavier quietly cuts Storm off, saying the pharmaceutical company is making a public announcement as they speak.On Alcatraz Island, Warren Worthington II is making a public announcement about the cure. His speech carefully declares mutants to be people, just like humans, before breaking out the 'scare words' like mutancy being a disease and a corruption of healthy cellular activity. He says that any mutant who wishes to undergo the cure is welcome. As several Academy students watch the announcement on TV, Rogue appears to listen with rapt interest. She goes to Xavier's office, where Xavier is still speaking to Storm, Beast and Wolverine about the ethical and moral dilemma brought about by the discovery. Rogue seems very eager to hear if a mutant cure is real. Storm angrily tells her that there is nothing about them that needs curing; there is nothing wrong with any of the mutants at the academy.A group of mutants call for a meeting at a local church to discuss the issue. The leader of the meeting is looking to pursue peaceful negotiation with the government in order to protest the cure. But also attending the meeting are Magneto and John Allerdyce/Pyro (Aaron Stanford), looking to recruit angry mutants for the Brotherhood. Magneto warns the mutants at the meeting that while they try to pursue negotation and peaceful methods, humans, especially the humans in government, will start to force the cure on them a few at a time in a divide-and-conquer strategy. Inciting some of the mutants with these warnings, Magneto gains four new members for his Brotherhood-- Kid Omega (Ken Leung), who can cause spike-like spines to erupt from all over his body; Psylocke (Mei Melançon), who can teleport through shadows; Arclight (Omahyra), who can loose concussive air pressure shockwaves; and Callisto (Dania Ramirez), who can move with superhuman speed, and also sense the nearby presence, and strength, of other mutants; she knows that Magneto and Pyro are the only mutants in the building higher than class III in the degree of their powers. Magneto is particularly intrigued by Callisto's power to sense other mutant presences, and asks if she can locate a particular one for him.A heavily armed police convoy is escorting a fortified, armored police semi-truck serving as a mobile prison, which is carrying a captive Mystique, who is confined behind a heavy barred gate, her wrists shackled to the trailer's ceiling, her arms stretched above her. Mystique taunts the guards watching over her by mimicking first the President, and then a very young girl. One guard threatens to spray her with pepper spray, and she tells him that she's going to personally kill him.Beast arrives at Alcatraz Island to tour Worthington Labs and meet with Leech, the young boy whose DNA is the source of the cure. He is greeted by the company's chief researcher, Dr. Rao (Shohreh Aghdashloo), who will be showing him around. Beast is there to see that Worthington Labs' treatment of the young boy meets with the standards set by the Department of Mutant Affairs. Dr. Rao brings him to the room where Leech stays in order for him to meet the boy, learn the range of his mutant powers, and see for himself that the boy is being treated very well and kept fully comfortable.As Beast walks toward Leech to introduce himself and shakes hands, he pauses as he sees his outstretched hand suddenly lose its dark blue coloring, and the coarse hair around the back of his hand suddenly recede; making his hand look human. Mere proximity to Leech causes mutant powers to cease functioning as long as the mutants in question are within a certain distance of his body. Beast's hand returns to 'normal' (for him) once he turns away.Cyclops rides down the road on his motorcycle, heading toward the Alkali Lake reservoir where Jean Grey died (in the movie X2). As he walks onto a small natural rock jetty overlooking the lake, he hears the whispered sound of Jean's voice calling his name. Tormented by the whispering voice, he yanks off his red visor shades and a bright beam of light shoots from his eyes, strafing along the lake's surface. When he regains control of himself and replaces the visor, he sees that the lake is churning and a large whirlpool has formed in its center. From the whirlpool emerges a blast of water and air pressure that knocks Cyclops on his back. Regaining his bearings, he's stunned to find Jean (Famke Janssen) standing alive and well in front of him.Jean asks Cyclops to remove his visor so she can see his eyes; which is a dangerous thing to ask as he can't control his powers without the visor. Jean promises him she can control it. She gently removes his visor, and the bright red flash from his eyes slowly fades out to reveal tha natural color of his eyes. Cyclops and Jean begin to kiss. As Jean starts kissing him more passionately, Cyclops' face is shown starting to distort.At the mutant Academy, everyone hears the telepathic voice of Xavier calling out Cyclops' true name. Storm and Wolverine rush to Xavier's office, where he tells them to hurry to the lake.The two of them arrive at the lake to find cloud cover hanging low over the surrounding hills and a thick fog obscuring vision. Storm clears the fog away, and she and Wolverine find that small rocks, leaves, and even dew on the leaves, levitating in the air. Storm and Wolverine split up to look around, and Wolverine turns to see one of the objects floating in the air in front of him is Cyclops' visor. Storm yells out to him suddenly, and he finds Storm kneeling over Jean, who lies unconscious but alive.Jean is brought back to Xavier's labs in the Academy where he is running an MRI on her brain. Xavier's only theory as to how she survived the incident at the lake that should have killed her, was that her powers wrapped her in a cocoon of telekinetic energy. Jean is the only mutant Xavier has ever met whose power is ranked at Class Five, meaning there is no known limits to her powers. Making her even that much more dangerous is that her mutation is in the unconscious part of her mind, which even psychically enhanced mutants have very limited control over. Deeply concerned about Jean's ability to control her powers, Xavier placed a series of psychic barriers around her mind when she first came to the Academy as a teenager, isolating her powers from her consciousness... but this had an unforeseen effects, causing Jean to develop a disassociative personality disorder; causing her subconscious to manifest an entity calling itself the Phoenix. Jean was the disciplined thinking mind, while the Phoenix was pure instinct and emotion, the essence of every feeling Jean experienced, including desire, joy... and rage.But when Xavier tells Wolverine that he's unsure whether the Jean that lay before them is truly the Jean they know, or the Phoenix struggling furiously to break free and take full control, and that Xavier is trying to restore the psychic barriers and cage the beast again, Wolverine rebels, warning Xavier that a caged beast often becomes angry at its confinement, and protesting that Xavier is forcing his will on another mutant, which is supposed to stand against everything the X-Men believe in and have been taught by Xavier himself.At the headquarters of Worthington Labs, a news report is covering the mutant cure starting to become available publicly. The reporter notes that the mutant community has been split heavily over the cure's development. Some mutants are desperate to be cured, believing it's the only way they can fit in among human society, while others are offended at the cure's mere existence.The first patient to undergo the procedure is Worthington's son, Warren III (now played by Ben Foster), who's grown into a young man. Worthington is there to witness. But just as Dr. Rao prepares to administer the injection, Warren III rebels, breaking free from the medical assistants trying to hold him steady. The camera pans slightly away from him as he breaks free, showing him spreading a pair of fully developed, beautiful white-feathered wings from his back. Telling his father that the cure, and especially curing Warren himself, was only what Worthington himself wanted, Warren smashes through the window and uses his wings to take flight as Angel, the mutant name he's given himself.The prison convoy speeds down the road, to find Magneto waiting for them. Before any of the escort vehicles can react, Magneto sends them all flying in various directions with a few waves of his hands, then detaches the cab of the semi from the trailer, sending the cab flying as well, and the trailer skidding to a halt. The guard who Mystique had threatened, is sent flying to slump against the bars confining her. Mystique immediately thrusts her legs through the bars, grabs the guard and snaps his neck. Showing remarkable agility with just her left leg and foot, she grabs the guard's keys with her foot and unlocks her heavy shackles.Magneto easily forces open the trailer's sealed door and walks in to greet Mystique. Her capture and imprisonment served its purpose: she's learned that the source of the cure was a child at Worthington Labs, and without him, the Brotherhood is safe. Magneto unseals two confinement capsules to recruit two more dangerous mutants: James Madrox/Multiple Man (Eric Dane), who can produce unlimited duplicate copies of himself (Mystique mentions he robbed seven different banks simultaneously), and Cain Marko/Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones), a huge, hulkingly powerful man who, once he takes off running and builds momentum, cannot be halted by anything.The second guard, who'd been knocked cold when the trailer was detached from the cab, starts to come to. He reaches for a special gun, loads a specially made magazine into the barrel, and lazes up Magneto from behind him. At the last second, Mystique spots the ambush and steps in front of Magneto, her body shielding him. But firing from the guard's weapon is no bullet, but a specially designed syringe needle. As the needle punctures Mystique's skin, she slowly slumps to the ground, shuddering as her body begins changing, losing her natural blue coloring and ridges. Magneto stares sadly at Raven Darkholme, now cured of her mutation and stripped of all her powers; a normal human again. Gratefully acknowledging that Mystique saved him, Magneto suddenly tells Raven rather coldly that she's no longer one of them. Turning his back to her, leaving her lying naked and powerless, Magneto ushers his fellow mutants out of the trailer, abandoning Raven.When Beast hears that the cure has been weaponized in this manner, he resigns from the presidential cabinet in protest. But he shares the President's deep concern that the cure's continued existence is only going to further aggravate relations between mutants and humans in the general populace. Beast says this is another reason why he needs to be where he belongs... with Xavier and the Academy.Wolverine watches over Jean as she sleeps; still laying on the metal gurney; a plastic covering over her head, fitted with wires that monitor her brain activity. As he reaches out to touch her neck, her left hand suddenly grabs his wrist; the plastic covering lifting from her head. Jean's eyes open and she comes to, smiling at Wolverine, looking and feeling, seemingly quite well. Wolverine watches as she slowly pulls several electrodes off her upper chest, and Jean notices, saying she didn't need psychic powers to read Wolverine. Slowly, sensually, Jean sits up on the gurney and starts kissing Wolverine. But what starts as a simple kiss quickly escalates as Jean starts to become aggressively passionate in making out with Wolverine. At first, Wolverine reciprocates her affections, until her fingernails gash his skin (the gashes immediately healing). Wolverine starts to remember Xavier's warnings and understands that it isn't Jean making love to him, but the Phoenix; Jean's purely emotional alter-ego. This becomes more clear and obvious when she bluntly tells him that Xavier has gotten into Wolverine's head as well, 'taming' him.Wolverine asks Jean where Cyclops is. Hearing the name 'Scott' quickly snaps the real Jean to the surface as she looks around in confusion at her surroundings. Wolverine shows Cyclops' partially broken visor to Jean, asking her where Cyclops is. Remembering what happened, Jean's grief and sorrow quickly manifest in telekinetically wrecking the lab room. Wolverine holds her head gently, trying to get her to focus.Suddenly Jean, looking grieved, begs Wolverine to kill her. Her inability to completely control her emotions, and the scope of her power when her emotions rush to the surface and shape her responses, make her a threat to everything and everyone around her. Desperate to keep this from happening again, Jean now wants to die and put the turmoil to rest. Wolverine stares at her, unable and unwilling to carry out her wish. He pleads with her to let Xavier help her. But in a sudden self-defense response, the Phoenix manifests again and hurls Wolverine against the wall, before ripping the door off its hinges and disintegrating it, walking out into the underground halls of the mansion.Meanwhile, Magneto is conferring with Pyro, Juggernaut and Multiple Man. Magneto holds the gun that was used to cure Mystique. This is all the proof Magneto needs that the mutancy cure will be forced on mutant kind. He intends to use it as a lightning rod to incite more mutants to his cause, and to subjugate humanity, before humanity can wipe them out.Suddenly Callisto comes up to Magneto, telling him she's sensed a massive electromagnetic force coming from a mutant; so powerful that the mutant has to be Class Five, more powerful than anything Callisto's ever sensed before. Magneto's face freezes as he recalls the only such mutant he's met who wields such power, and asks Callisto, 'Where is she?'Xavier and Storm find Woverine unconscious in the wrecked lab room. Xavier is angry at Wolverine, saying he warned him about the threat Jean posed. Closing his eyes in concentration, he senses that Jean has left the mansion, but is erecting a psychic barrier around herself in an attempt to block out Xavier's senses.Xavier, Wolverine and Storm drive to Jean's old house where Xavier and Magneto first met her twenty years ago. Magneto is there as well, complacently inviting Xavier in with him to speak to Jean, just like they did when they first met her. But as he passes by Juggernaut, he glances at Storm and Wolverine and says softly, 'No one gets inside.'Xavier and Magneto find Jean sitting alone in her living room, her face an intense mask. All the furniture around her is levitated a foot off the ground, dropping back down as Xavier and Magneto enter. This time, however, Magneto and Xavier are opposed in their intentions for Jean. Xavier desperately tries to get Jean to understand that she needs his help to control her powers, while Magneto accuses Xavier of keeping Jean on a leash (much in the same way that Wolverine accused Xavier of the same thing). When Xavier reminds Jean that she killed Cyclops in a fit of emotion, she lashes out at them both, creating a telekinetic shock wave that hurls Magneto back out into the kitchen and shoves Xavier's wheelchair back several feet.Wolverine decides he won't wait outside any longer, He and Storm must now fight against Juggernaut, Callisto, Arclight and Kid Omega. Storm's command of wind and lightning quickly incapacitate Kid Omega and Arclight, but Callisto's speed lets her fight back effectively. Meanwhile, Juggernaut hurls Wolverine through walls from room to room. And in the living room, Xavier tries to withstand the psychic force of Jean's anger and grief, desperately trying to force a telepathic link to her to reach her, while Magneto remains pinned and helpless against the kitchen counter.Slowly Jean rises from her chair to her feet. Xavier is lifted out of his wheelchair into the air, as the Phoenix begins tearing the whole house apart in her building rage. Jean's face twists, her eyes bulge; she looks almost like a monster. The house lifts up off its foundation, psychic winds pinning Wolverine and Juggernaut against the ceiling. Magneto shouts desperately for Jean to stop and hold herself back, but the Phoenix, in full command of Jean's body and powers now, pays no attention.Jean raises her arms and time seems to slow. Wolverine uses his claws to pull himself along the ceiling and open a casement door that lets him see into the living room. Xavier makes a final plea to Jean, not to let her power and emotions control her, before suddenly Xavier's whole body disintegrates completely, leaving no trace of him. The house is released from the psychic storm and crashes back down onto the ground, completely wrecked.Magneto is stunned at the seeming death of Xavier; despite their being on opposing sides of mutant ethics, and therefore technically enemies, Xavier is one mutant Magneto still loved like a brother. But with no other recourse for the immediate moment, he rises, quietly walks over to Jean and politely asks her to come with him. Jean offers no resistance as Magneto leads her away.Storm and Wolverine make their way to the living room, finding Xavier gone, his wheelchair unattended. The scene closes with both of them weeping bitterly over the loss of their mentor.Xavier's wheelchair is placed in his office, and Storm gives a moving eulogy at a memorial service at the Academy mansion, where a headstone has been placed in the back gardens. All the students at the academy attend, as does Dr. Moira MacTaggart. Some time later, Iceman goes to see Shadowcat at her room. To cheer her up, he gets her to sneak the two of them out of the mansion proper by going through the wall, and takes her to a large fountain in the back gardens, where he freezes the water into an impromptu ice rink, and they skate together on the ice. Rogue is seen watching from her room, looking not at all pleased.Rogue has packed her bags and is leaving the mansion. Wolverine sees her as she reaches the door. To her surprise, he's not ordering her back upstairs ('I'm your friend, not your father,' he tells her), but he does urge her to think very carefully and be completely certain that she's doing the right thing, before she steps out of the front door. Rogue does take a few seconds to think after Wolverine turns away, and then she leaves.Magneto's Brotherhood has grown into a sizable army which has built a small camp in the woods. Magneto approaches Jean as she watches the camp mutants mill about. Magneto talks about how he saw the next stage in evolution when first met Jean, and wonders why Xavier wanted to hold her back when her power was virtually unlimited. He holds up the weaponized cure gun and lets it float in the air as he speaks about this. Jean stares at the gun and it comes apart, the cartridge breaking apart until the needles float in the air and begin to turn toward Magneto. Frightened suddenly at the threat, Magneto pleads for her to stop as she smirks in delight. Finally she lets the needles drop and asks how Magneto's desires regarding her are different from Xavier's. Magneto tells her that he wants to let her grow into whatever it is she's destined to grow into, but they must fight for their freedom first, as the weaponized cure, as Magneto believes, is meant for all of them.Callisto tells Magneto she's worried about Jean's presence; she can tell that Jean's power is completely unstable. Pyro, meanwhile, believes that Jean is still one of the X-men at heart. Pyro himself used to be, but has been loyal to Magneto since he first began his own crusade. But Pyro goes too far when he says he'd have killed Xavier if Magneto let him. Magneto quickly reins Pyro in with a stern reminder that although he and Xavier were completely opposed in their dealings with humanity, both shared the same vision of a mutant kind free from fear and prejudice, and Magneto is deeply saddened that Xavier had to die for the Brotherhood's dream to live.Wolverine, Storm, Beast, Iceman and Shadowcat are in one of the classrooms of the Academy, discussing its future. Beast believes it might be best if the Academy ended and the students sent home. But Iceman points out that many of the students there have no home to go to, many being unwelcome among their families.Angel suddenly enters, saying he'd heard that the school was a safe haven for mutants. Looking intently at him, Storm is moved to action; she promises to get a room at the mansion for Angel, and tells Beast to spread the word that the Academy will stay open.Iceman goes to Rogue's room and finds it empty. He learns from Colossus that Rogue left the Academy.Wolverine is paying respects at Xavier's headstone when suddenly he's assaulted by a psychic bombardment; Jean's subconscious voice calling out to him. Feeling drawn to it, Wolverine hurried packs some of his belongings to head out in search of her. Storm tries to talk him out of it, but cannot.A line of mutants stands in front of a medical clinic to receive the cure. Across the street is a mob of angry mutants reciting a chant that they don't need a cure. Knowing that Rogue has probably come here, Iceman has come in search of her. As he stands behind the barricade where the protesting mutants stand, Pyro finds his way to him. Pyro quickly realizes why Iceman is there and taunts him about Rogue's desire to be cured. Iceman manages to hold his temper and avoid starting a fight with his one-time friend. As Iceman turns away, Pyro ignites the lighter strapped to his wrist and sends a large blast of fire to blow out the windows in the medical clinic, sending people and mutants alike scattering.Magneto delivers a message that is broadcast on television, that the attack was only the first salvo in the Brotherhood's fight. He warns all of humanity that until the cure ceases to exist, no human will be safe, anywhere. He asks all mutants that don't want to join his fight, to simply stay ouf of the way, as he's strongly opposed to seeing any more mutant casualties. The President and Secretary Trask watch the broadcast in the Oval Office. The President orders Worthington Labs seized and secured, and all troops armed with cure weapons. He says if Magneto is going to war, he'll give Magneto one.Army bases are seem mobilizing. Soldiers are ordered to turn in all metal, including bayonets and even dog tags. Cure rifles made entirely out of plastic, which Magneto cannot control or manipulate, have been made ready, and plastic cartridge magazines loaded with plastic cure needles. Many newly armed soldiers have secured the medical clinics where the cure is still being offered. A bus drops Rogue off, and after looking around apprehensively for a moment, she quietly gets on the line.Wolverine has tracked Jean by her scent to the woods. As he reaches the perimeter of the camp, he's attacked by some of the mutants keeping guard, including one who can project from his wrists, and then throw, spike-like projections made of horn. Wolverine defeats all the guards and infiltrates the camp where Magneto is delivering a rousing speech to incite them further. As Magneto speaks and the Brotherhood army cheers, Wolverine happens to lock eyes with Jean. She sees him, recognizes him, and turns away.Wolverine follows Jean and calls out to her. She turns to face him, when suddenly Wolverine is thrust backward by an unseen force and pinned against a tree. This force doesn't come from Jean, however, but from Magneto, who is easily able to manipulate and control the adamantium inside Wolverine's body. Magneto shows that Jean is at the camp with the Brotherhood of her own accord, and surely she is far too strong for anyone, even Magneto himself, to hold her prisoner. Scoffing at Wolverine's assertion that he's only leaving when Jean comes with him, Magneto hurls him halfway through the woods to a painful crash landing.A contingent of armed forces soldiers is preparing to converge on Magneto's base of operations. A satellite shows a thermal signature display of the soldiers moving in on a large body of mutants on all sides, surrounding them. The President notes, with satisfaction, that Raven Darkholme has provided Army intelligence with all the information they needed to conduct this raid, in retaliation for her being abandoned by Magneto. At the President's command, the soldiers charge in on all sides, their special rifles aimed.Suddenly the thermal signatures display for the large body of mutants begin simply dropping off the satellite display. Trask and the President stare at the monitor in total bewilderment. All of the mutants merge into one Multiple Man, who condescendingly surrenders. Multiple Man made the perfect decoy so that Magneto and the Brotherhood army could slip away before the armed forces could locate them. The only question is, where have they gone.Magneto stands the coastline overlooking Alcatraz Island, along with Callisto, Arclight, and Juggernaut. Their plan is to seize control of Worthington Labs there and kill Leech, whose DNA is the source of the cure. Worthington Labs has been able to replicate the DNA, but not generate it from scratch. As to how to get the whole Brotherhood army across the water to the island, Magneto has a plan.Wolverine makes it back to the Academy mansion to mobilize the X-Men. The odds against them are indeed daunting-- only Wolverine, Beast, Storm, Colossus, Iceman and Shadowcat are available to fight against Magneto... and Jean being among the Brotherhood makes their strength seem unbeatable. As Wolverine, Beast and Storm prepare to suit up, Angel is seen looking out from his room momentarily.The six available X-Men meet at the entrance to the hangar where the X-Men jet rests. Iceman isn't ashamed to hide his deep concern at how badly outnumbered they are. Stepping up to a leadership role, Wolverine acknowledges this, but says that unless they fight with their all, everything that Cyclops and Xavier died for, will die as well. Nodding, both Iceman and Shadowcat say they're in and will fight to defend what they stand for. As they prepare to board the jet, Storm has one question to Wolverine: whether he will do what he needs to do when the time comes.Magneto breaks the Golden Gate bridge free from its moorings and moves the whole bridge to span from the spot on the coastline where his army has gathered, to Alcatraz. This is seen on satellite at the White House, to the horror and shock of the President and Trask, and all the military commanders stationed there. The Brotherhood marches across the bridge to stand just shy of a rock outcropping on Alcatraz Island.Pyro gives the signal and a wave of Brotherhood mutants begin charging onto Alcatraz Island from the bridge. Juggernaut readies to also charge, but Magneto raises a hand to stop him, telling him that the pawns always make the first moves in chess.The Alcatraz guards prepare their weapons, launching waves of cure needles. Magneto notes to his consternation that all of the guards' weapons and gear are plastic, rendering his own powers ineffective against them. The guards begin completely routing the first wave of mutants, using specially designed cluster rocket launchers to spray waves of cure needles. Magneto has to improvise when a cluster rocket is launched at the bridge, maneuvering several large slabs of metal from the bridge to act as shields, blocking the needles.Magneto now moves a knight in the chess game, having Arclight step forward and use her air-pressure shock waves to shatter all the plastic weapons and cluster launchers. Magneto then deploys both his knights and his bishops: the second wave of Brotherhood mutants now begin to charge the island, turning the tide of battle. Arclight, Psylocke, and Kid Omega rush into the prison complex to find Worthington. Watching the siege via satellite, Trask and the President can only pray. Jets and tanks would be decimated instantly by Magneto and the nearest contingent of ground troops are a half hour away.But the X-men jet has arrived. Landing on the roof of the prison complex, Storm and Wolverine lead the X-Men into battle. Storm flies in, using barrages of lightning to halt the mutant charge, allowing Wolverine, Beast and Colossus to rally the human soldiers and begin taking the fight back to the Brotherhood. Seeing Storm take flight again, Callisto gives an evil grin and moves for an ambush. Using her superhuman speed, she is able to rapidly jump onto the roof of the prison complex and leaps, tackling Storm down to the ground, where the two of them battle hand to hand. Seeing Iceman joining the battle, conjuring a wall of ice to halt a group of charging Brotherhood mutants, Pyro wants to rush forward to face Iceman, but Magneto holds a hand to stop him.Magneto now moves a rook in the chess game, telling Juggernaut to break into the prison complex and take out Leech. Shadowcat sees Juggernaut's charge and phases through the prison wall. Running up behind Juggernaut, she phases him halfway through the floor and takes off running, phasing through walls to find Leech. But Juggernaut can play this game of tag with her and then some, easily smashing through any wall she phases through. Shadowcat temporarily outwits him by phasing through one wall and then leaping to one side, hiding as Juggernaut blindly continues his charge forward until he realizes the ploy.Arclight and Kid Omega locate Worthington and Dr. Rao. The two of them try to escape from the mutants, only to find themselves cornered by Psylocke's ability to teleport through areas of shadow. Psylocke and Arclight seize Worthington and drag him off while Kid Omega grabs Dr. Rao, holding her against him while soothingly telling her that everything will be all right. This, of course, is a lie, as Omega then erupts his sharp quills from all over his body, killing Dr. Rao.Shadowcat makes her way into Leech's room, gently telling him she's here to help. She takes his hand and goes to the far wall to phase through it, but finds she can't. Leech tells her that mere proximity to him nullifies her mutant powers. And the sound of smashing stone tells them that Juggernaut is closing in. Getting an idea, Shadowcat waits for Juggernaut to smash into the room, and then taunts him, verbally mocking him. Juggernaut roars in anger and charges, looking to smash her and Leech into pulp against the wall. Shadowcat leaps aside with Leech at the last second, and Juggernaut, his own powers fading as he gets close, crashes into the wall and knocks himself senseless, allowing Shadowcat to hurry Leech to safety, the long way, by running.Arclight and Psylocke drag Worthington to the roof of the prison complex. As punishment for his inventing the cure, they are going to hurl him off the roof to his death. But as Worthington is thrown down, his son Angel swoops in, using his wings and power of flight to save him.Outside, the Brotherhood is starting to get routed. Storm defeats Callisto by hurling her into a chain-link fence and barraging the whole fence with blasts of lightning. Magneto gestures for Pyro to help him; the second rook and the king on the chess board are marching into battle.Magneto begins hurling all the abandoned vehicles still on the bridge, like missiles, which Pyro sets ablaze. The explosive, flaming missiles rain down on the island, forcing all of the soldiers, and the X-Men as well, to take cover. As they hunker down behind whatever cover they can find, the X-Men desperately look for a way to strike back.Lying on the ground is a broken plastic handgun; the cartridge of needles still intact. Wolverine spots it and the X-Men have their counterattack, if they can all work together as a team. Storm provides cover by condensing water vapor into pea-soup fog around the island. Iceman begins freezing some of the flaming cars as they are hurled down, taking some of the sting out of them, and also making Pyro seethe with the desire to face his rival. Magneto sees Pyro's anger and tells him to go ahead and fight Iceman.Pyro and Iceman square off, Pyro hurling fire which Iceman blocks with his ice beam. The battle seems at a stalemate until Pyro reaches inward and begins projecting his fire with redoubled force. The flame pushes Iceman's ice beam back until the flames seem about to engulf him. But Iceman counters by covering his whole body in ice, protecting him, then snaking his hands outward and around to grab Pyro's wrists, freezing the lighters strapped to them. As Pyro can only channel and manipulate fire, and not create it, he is now defeated. Iceman knocks him out with a headbutt.Wolverine and Colossus walk forward as the fog clears. Colossus grabs Wolverine and, using the same maneuver as in the training chamber, hurls Wolverine at Magneto. Raising a hand, Magneto easily stops Wolverine, dragging him down to the ground, pinning him there on his back, just shy of Magneto at his feet.But this too was a decoy; the real threat was from Beast. Having moved around and scaled the bridge, Beast leaps down, landing behind Magneto, and plunges the cure needles into him. Magneto slowly crumples to the ground, looking at the needles with horror and dismay as his powers fade and he is reverted to a normal human. Jean Grey looks on impassively as Eric Lensherr, ex-Magneto, tells her this is what humanity wants for all mutants. Wolverine and Jean lock eyes as he tells her that the battle is over.But the arriving ground troop reinforcements from the army arrive, blindly charging and firing a massive barrage of cure needles. Jean hears their shouts and the sound of the needles launching. Fear gives way to anger, which gives way to rage, and Dark Phoenix stirs from within Jean: the queen on the chessboard. With but a dark glare, the needles and the entire contingent of reinforcement soldiers are disintegrated. The X-Men watch in horror as Phoenix begins unleashing her powers, tearing the entire island apart, indiscriminately disintegrating and eradicating anything that gets too close to her, human and mutant alike, the X-Men jet, the upper floors of the prison complex. Wolverine tells Storm that he is the only one who can still stop Phoenix. Storm leads the X-Men and remaining soldiers to evacuate the island and flee across the bridge. Shadowcat emerges from the prison complex with Leech and follows the flight. Even Eric stares in fear at what he's unleashed before also fleeing.Wolverine begins trudging toward Jean. Phoenix turns her assault on him; the disintegrating flesh sloughing off Wolverine's body and pushing his instant regenerative powers to the limit. Finally Wolverine reaches her and stands face to face. With a look of cruel amusement, Phoenix asks Wolverine if he'd die for his fellow X-Men.A look of sorrow in his eyes, Wolverine answers, "Not for them... for you." The emotional response jars Jean's consciousness back to the surface with a gasp. Gazing deep into Wolverine's eyes, Jean begins to cry. She tearfully begs Wolverine to kill her so she can be saved from Phoenix, and from herself. Wolverine hesitates, telling Jean he loves her, before driving his claws through her midsection. Instantly his face turns grieved, but Jean smiles in silent gratitude and peacefully closes her eyes before slumping lifeless in Wolverine's arms.Cut to the Xavier mutant academy, Shadowcat standing before the graves of Xavier, Jean and Cyclops, the grave markers bearing their full real names. The school is back in full operation with Storm running it in Xavier's place. Marie D'Ancanto has returned, though she has voluntarily undergone the cure and is no longer Rogue. She tells Iceman it's what she wanted, as she holds his hand for the first time. Leech is now also a student at the school. Wolverine, now a full-time teacher at the academy, watches a news bulletin where the President introduces Beast, as Dr. Hank McCoy, having appointed him as the new United States ambassador to the United Nations, representing mutant interests.In the last scene, Angel is seen flying over the still-broken Golden Gate Bridge. As he continues soaring through the air, the camera pans down from him to a peaceful park where people are engaged in playing chess. The camera pans along them to zoom in on one person sitting with no opponent, before a board on which sit metallic pieces. It is Eric Lensherr. He raises a hand toward the black queen and concentrates, and the chess piece only teeters very slightly.In an extra scene after the closing credits are finished, Dr. Moira MacTaggart is seen walking into the hospital room of the brain-dead man. To her astonishment and shock, the man's face suddenly turns to her and says, "Hello, Moira," in Xavier's voice. Freeze on Moira's face as she softly whispers, "Charles?" | entertaining, cult, action, psychedelic, murder | train | imdb | There was no real character development for any of our mutant heroes, who seemed to just pop in and out of the story whenever a fight scene was to commence, to the point where some of our favourite X men were just cameos.
An all out action packed rumble between the military, Magneto's mutants and the X men set up the final showdown.If you are not a die hard fan of the comic or cartoon you may enjoy certain plot twists, the variety of new and exciting mutants and some of the excellent action scenes, but will feel let down by the anti-climatic ending; overall for a non-fan it's a good watch.
Best scene: When Wolverine is being chased through the woods by a mutant who can produce wooden dangers from his body and throw them with acute accuracy.Should have been called 'The Y Men', as nothing about this film resembles our comic book heroes, and nobody knows why..
She is Jean's alter ego, the most powerful mutant Charles or Magneto ever encountered.Director Brett Ratner of Rush Hour fame delivers an action packed, special effects driven adventure.
But with the focus on the 2 main leads, as well as The Beast, little attention is paid towards Magneto and his brotherhood (then again, we need not have much introduction and can afford diving straight in), and fans of Mystique will be disappointed with the diminished role, as do other characters like Rogue, Cyclops and new kid on the block Angel (really cosmetic if you ask me).
The first X-Men had the difficult job of introducing a large ensemble cast of mutants and establishing a story and tone (other superhero films with one primary character have it much easier).
But is not my best favorite movie.X-Men: The Last Stand has a few put holes and errors: Like death of Professor X the return of Phoenix from the grave when she died at the end of the second movie.
I mean, really, how many times do we have to hear a location call-out to Magneto because the writers needed to link this mess together (i.e.- "she's on the far side of the building", "she's at her house", "she's in a heavily guarded trailer going god knows where!").The scenes in his films follow no story line and might as well be pasted together in any given order.
The rest of the film is Ratner trying to see how many new mutant powers he can show off without any real purpose except for us to watch the special effects in action.
I assume the only reasoning for this is to once again see the "new mutants" in this franchise using their powers.For all of the special effects and the gruesome happenings in this film, it is pretty neat to watch, but after having left the theater, it becomes less impressive almost immediately.
Tons of the main characters die, people switch sides, then die, battles ensue 'just because', characters are introduced and then killed for no purpose, and the whole time the camera does nothing to capture any real emotion in which the first two films had expressed so wonderfully.ALSO, all of the fight sequences you will have seen before, so don't expect anything new.
This is indescribable.X-Men - The Last Stand is high drama, a wonderful and immense story.First of all: to all those that enjoyed the first two movies: this one is just as good, at least, at least that.One second in this one is more intense than hundreds of the many crap films released today put together.
It's more brutal, less comics-like, consequently even further removed from the comics' story than before.But it's all still there, the familiar faces, characters, from the opening sequence and onward, coming to life, a fact still amazing to me, five years after the first movie.The younger Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Eric Lensherr (Ian McKellen) working together finding the young Jean Grey, the Phoenix-to-be, realizing immediately that they are in way over their heads.Jean is a Class Five mutant, as far «above» (power wise) the other mutants as they are «above» the other humans, and now, when her power is emerging fully, there is no place for her in the world.A «cure» is found for mutants, one changing their genetic make-up, one removing a crucial part of themselves, and rage is rising from the deepest of dark corners.The stakes are clearly higher in this one, right from the start.
Iceman was kind of flirting with Kitty Pryde in the movie but have to give props to Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Shawn Ashmore, Anna Paquin, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Kelsey Grammar, Famke Janssen, Aaron Stanford, James Marsden, Ellen page, and Ben Foster (lovin the wings)and the rest of the cast you guys were great.So deserves a 10 out of 10.Now I just have to say one more thing and thats there has to be another X-men movie.
The production quality such as special effects, camera and sound mix is first rate; aside from the established cast Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, Hugh Jackman and Anna Paquin there are some new mutant entries Kelsey Grammar as "The Beast" aka secretary for mutant affairs, Vinnie Jones as "The Juggernaut" and Ellen Page as Kitty Pryde, a young girl who can walk through walls and serves as Rogue's rival love interest for Bobby.The best acting, however, belongs to Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and most of all to Sir Ian McKellen (Magneto).
The process has started where after a government official (Michael Murray) discovers his son (Ben Foster) having wings on his back and can fly like a bird in the sky.Back in the school for the gifted, the other characters still mourn for the death of Dr. Gray as some of them try to get on with their lives, while others like Scott Summers/Cyclops (James Marsden) can't forget the past as conflicts arise between those in the school such as Rogue (Anna Paquin) and her boyfriend (Shawn Ashmore) falling for another mutant during target practice.Like each of the X-Men installments, we get a new set of characters who steal the movie scenes; while in the first sequel it was Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler (played by Alan Cumming), in this installment we see Kelsey Grammar (Frasier) as Dr. Hank McCoy, better known to fans as Beast; Vinnie Jones as the barbaric Juggernaut, who cannot be touch or be damaged by any object; Ben Foster as Michael Warrington III, better known as Angel.
But then again, it is great to see Hugh Jackman reprising his role as Wolverine; Halle Berry as Storm, Patrick Stewart as Professor Xavier, and Famke Janssen as Jean Gray, reprises from the dead as Phoenix whose powers are much more dangerous than the mutants around her as she can efface a person's flesh and blood into thin air.The plot to the original X-Men movie where it was mutant vs.
mutant where Magneto (Ian McKellan) leads his army of Brotherhood with Phoenix by his side and try to stop those who are against them along with the cure registration while the X-Men try to stop Magneto and his army of thugs from trying to kill people and at the same time, not let humanity drive them afraid.Despite what you think of my review, or hear what others say, X-Men III is a fantastic film, fully blooded with special effects where the roller coaster ride doesn't end.
The Cast is also back from the first and second parts of the trilogy, with other new mutants as well joining forces with either the X-Men or The Brotherhood.In this film, the story starts off with a new cure found for mutants and basically where our characters last left off.
Brett Ratner has directed it well and it feels just like the first and second X-Men. It's a shame that Bryan Singer did not return for this film, but even without him Brett has done a really good job.
Lets just hope now he delivers a good Rush Hour 3.The main characters that speak out more in this film are of course Wolverine, Magneto, and Jean/Phoenix.
I think they would probably make its way to the DVD release.A great movie to start the summer blockbuster season just like the last X-Men film.
That said I'm not the biggest fan of Berry but she was probably one of the only characters i liked in this piece she showed she can take on a role that doesn't need her to show some skin for a change.Then there was the rest of the x-men who seemed to be just thrown in for the sake of having people to fill the holes left by cyclops,jean Grey and the much missed Nightcrawler (His opening scene in X2 made the film for me) I mean Colossus was only there to use for the two scenes were he hurls Wolverine around (a.k.a the fastball special)he barely has any screen time outside of these two scenes.
X-men 3 is the most fast paced and most fun of the trilogy.The storyline is very political and involves a lot of metaphors including racism,homosexuality,dictatorship,democracy,and prejudice.The separate story lines for each character were great however Archangel is a very brief but important character.Beast,Leech,Juggernaut,Spyke,Multiple Man,Archangel,and many others are among the new mutants featured in the third installment.The Phoenix storyline was by far the best one and had a lot of great build up and at times reminded me of an exorcism.X-Men 3 is as far away from the crap o meter as Sin City because both are intensely faithful adaptations of my favorite comics.X-Men 3 is also packed with amazing special effects that blow your mind.I was waiting for the all out mutant war and it did not disappoint it was absolutely amazing.The costumes,lighting,sound are all as good as it gets as the X-Men franchise proves it doesn't need Brian Singer in order to be successful.X-Men 3 is a must see if you liked the first two you'll love this.It is X-Fan heaven..
The story is great but Brett Ratner wasn't very good at achieving it as we see the film is very fast paced in the first half of the movie, no time to stop and take in everything that just happened, However the second half slowed down a lot allowing fans a little thinking time to keep up with whats happening and the special effects are much better than the last two.
Bryan Singer, the marvelous director of the first two entries in the series departed to work on his Superman film, though he promised he would return to helm the third and final installment of the "X-Men" franchise afterword.Apparently, his word was not enough for 20th Century Fox or Marvel Entertainment, who promptly hired a new director (Brett Ratner of "Rush Hour" and "Red Dragon" fame) and apparently had a script hastily written.
And it often fails at keeping a good pace and structure.Like many "third" movies, specifically comic-book films, this one tries to cram a lot of story into a fairly short time-frame.
This film is more like an MTV music video with gratuitous amounts of action, and an equal amount of characters thrown in for no apparent purpose but to make the audience go "Oooh - explosions." Given the rich history of the X-Men, and even the limited history presented in the first two movies, this 3rd installment fails to deliver on any meaningful level.
In fact all the cast including the side cast has been good and that has helped this mediocre movie to come across as convincing.However it is clear that almost everyone has wanted a bigger more central role in this film and that means that we have an entire story revolving around a few X-men (way to much of Famke and Halle).
That would have made me smile if I hadn't been busy listing the best ways to kill the movie director at that point.I don't even know where to start, so I'll begin with how Brett Ratner deals with the characters.
My jaw dropped at witnessing such a massive continuity error.Brett Ratner obviously has no love or respect whatsoever for the comics or even the previous films, as is displayed by the following creative disasters that riddle this movie:Nightcrawler, who was a visually entrancing and emotionally interesting character in the last installment has mysteriously disappeared from the X-Men...Rattner introduces new Mutants left right and center without developing their character or even their motivation one bit - something Singer paid great attention to.
This movie left a very bad taste in my mouth; Magneto and Rogue lose their powers (Rogue before she is even given any chance to shine), three major characters die, and the main character of the trilogy thus far, Wolverine, received the spotlight role among all of the other equally interesting X-Men, yet he gets his own film afterward and many characters we fans wanted to see, if for only a few minutes, never even made it to the screen.
I have to say, when I initially heard that Brett Ratner was directing this movie, I was a little worried, when time passed and I saw the teaser and following trailer, I was very excited, it looked like Ratner was even going to do a better movie than X2, so I went to see it full of expectations.The movie was beyond a complete waste of time, It was the worst movie I saw in 2006 and by far the worst movie since Catwoman was released in 2004, I simply don't know where to start, but i'm gonna list ONLY THE MAJOR flaws of the movie.1 - Ratner put every single mutant he could find, in the movie, probably as a commercial way to appeal to the largest audience possible, that way, not a single character develops and they are certainly not believable, he misused them and reduced them to the power that they are, like they are nothing more than claws, weather-making and a frost machine, they have almost no personality in this movie, mainly because there is way too many mutants and too little time, which makes all of them quite shallow.2 - Brett Ratner, managed to turn Magneto's complex character in a shallow, two-dimensional cheap opportunistic villain, with no agenda except destruction.3 - Halle Berry as Storm is as bad as she was in the two previous movies, her idea of acting is making comical scary faces with some special effects in the background, fortunately for her, the rest of the cast is so misdirected that her bad acting doesn't stand out as much as it did in X-Men 1 and X2.4 - This movie was supposed to be about Jean Grey/Phoenix, for someone who is supposed to be the main character of the movie, she does next to nothing during the entire movie, a kill here, another there, while playing the 'silent 40yo holding a grudge kid' and something predictable happening next, well, there isn't much to tell, because her part is somewhat short, much like Angel who is also reduced to an extra, even tho his name was splashing in the movie's marketing campaign.5 - A great deal of characters, main characters and beloved other mutants of the comics, who are in the movie as 'extras', are killed like trash, without much meaning to it, just so the film can have bigger effect, which never does.6 - Special Effects, that's all the movie really has to show, but other than what I saw in the trailer and got me excited, there isn't much more in the movie, certainly there are a lot of 'bangs and booms', but the usual, cliché unimpressive type.7 - The story, or should I saw lack of it, in this movie was a joke, during the course of the movie, they simply forget about the story, 'what it was decided about the cure', When Magneto makes his move, enough to say that if you take a closer look, the X-Men are not defending innocent civilians or something like that, the X-Men end it up defending the 'Cure' and fighting Magneto's Brotherhood for the sake of fighting, as shallow as that, the only purpose is to make a big bad-ass action-scene, which really doesn't.Those are only the major flaws of the movies, I simply can't list them all, because honestly there isn't enough space here.When i saw this movie, I was in a big theater, and I could tell most people didn't like it, at the end of the session, people couldn't wait to get out of the theater, a couple guys did some short applause, but nobody joined them, I decided to hang out a while and ask what people thought of the movie, most of them thought it was 'very weak', the best reactor I saw, were a few kids that thought it was 'good, okay', the only reason why this movie isn't a flop is because it is been carried by the success of the two previous movies, much like Matrix 3, Matrix: Revolution, because there isn't much of an audience for this movie, the way it ruined all the mutants in the movie and lack of story, it was terrible, neither fans of the comic books or 20+ people seemed to have enjoyed the movie, and there was a fair amount of blood for kids the only ones who seemed to have enjoyed it, I can see that the studio probably had to lobby very hard to be rated PG-13.Overall this was a terrible movie made by a terrible director, the best comparison is to Joel Schummacher's Batman, Brett Ratner definitely killed the X-Men franchise, luckily there are plenty of characters to create 'spin-off' movies, but for them to make another X-Men movie, you'll probably gonna have to wait at least ten years, like Batman..
All in all, a FANTASTIC movie that has to be seen by not only x-men fans, but by all to complete this 'supposed trilogy'.The ending of the film (the effects and the powerful end to one of the characters knocked me for six completely!), and by all means, the clip that was shown to me after the end credits also took me by surprise. |
tt0328107 | Man on Fire | In Mexico City, criminal gangs are kidnapping rich people and extorting their families for the lucrative ransom money. A young man, "Eighteen," is walking through the city streets with his girlfriend, and he is kidnapped. As police detective Victor Fuentes (Jesús Ochoa) consoles the family, Eighteen's wealthy father receives a call from human trafficker Daniel Sanchez (Gustavo Sánchez Parra), who is very interested in Eighteen's ten million dollar life insurance policy. The father and Fuentes arrange a dead drop, and Eighteen is found near a freeway overpass, blindfolded and in his underwear, but alive. Mexican businessman Samuel Ramos (Marc Anthony) discusses this incident with his attorney Jordan Kalfus (Mickey Rourke), as it has convinced Ramos' wife, Lisa (Radha Mitchell), that they need to hire a bodyguard for their nine-year-old daughter Lupita "Pita" Ramos (Dakota Fanning). Ramos is reluctant to do this, and it is implied that he is having financial problems, as Pita had a bodyguard until recently but they had to let him go. Kalfus reminds Ramos that he needs to hire another bodyguard in order to renew the family's ransom insurance, and recommends he talk to Paul Rayburn (Christopher Walken), a former CIA agent who now runs an executive security firm. Rayburn refers the family to his old CIA buddy John Creasy (Denzel Washington).Ramos is impressed with Creasy's résumé, which includes a variety of counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism activities. However, Creasy is burned out from all the death and horror and has taken to alcoholism to ease the burden. He even attempts suicide, which fails when his gun misfires. Rayburn attributes this to a bullet's tendency to find its way to truly deserving targets. Creasy is not interested in bodyguard work and even less with the youngster, but he needs a job. Creasy's initial impatience slowly fades as he finds himself opening up to the child. He replaces her parents in their absence, giving her advice and coaching her in her swimming lessons and competitions. He helps her overcome her fear of the sound of starter pistols, turning it into an eagerness to move at the sound of one. Pita gives Creasy an emblem of St. Jude, the patron saint of lost causes, saying she bought it for him with her own money.Shortly after delivering her to a piano audition, Creasy notices a suspicious vehicle driving past and a pair of police cars blocking off the surrounding street. As Pita emerges from the building and freezes, Creasy pulls out his gun and fires a shot into the air, similar to a starter pistol, startling her into running away. During the ensuing gun battle, four of the attackers are fatally shot, including two corrupt police officers. The battle leaves Creasy seriously wounded and unconscious, allowing the surviving kidnappers to grab the child.The police chief publicly ridicules Creasy while he is unconscious in the hospital, claiming he murdered the two police officers. A journalist, Mariana Guerrero (Rachel Ticotin) finds it suspicious that the cops were supposed to be off duty, yet were in uniform and driving squad cars. Her Federal Ministerial Police contact, Miguel Manzano (Giancarlo Giannini), matter of factly states that the cops were corrupt. They decide to talk to Creasy once he has recovered.Although Kalfus wants the police kept out of the negotiation for Pita's release, the death of the two officers make the kidnapping a police matter, so Fuentes takes charge, assuring the family that the chances of Pita's safe return are good as long as they listen to him. Soon after, Sanchez demands a dead drop ransom of ten million dollars in exchange for Pita. Although Ramos is instructed to come to the drop alone, Fuentes advises against this, and accompanies Ramos to the drop. The drop goes badly, as the kidnappers are ambushed, and Ramos and Fuentes are forced to flee. A furious Sanchez reveals that his nephew was killed in the ambush, and he blames this on Ramos disobeying his instructions. He says that Pita is lost to them forever, which is assumed to mean she is dead.Rayburn learns about Creasy's situation and helps Creasy escape to a safe house where he can recover from his injuries. After Creasy is well, he returns to Pita's home and promises Lisa that he will kill everyone who was involved in, or profited from, the kidnapping. With help from Guerrero and Manzano, Creasy learns that the corrupt cops belong to a powerful crime syndicate called La Hermandad (Spanish for "the Brotherhood"). Creasy kidnaps and tortures several Brotherhood members, forcing them to reveal the names of the people involved in the kidnapping ring, including Fuentes. With help from Guerrero, he learns that Fuentes will be travelling through the city in a high security motorcade. Using a hotel room as a sniper's nest, Creasy uses a rocket launcher to destroy the armored vehicles escorting Fuentes' limo, then heads down to the street to engage the remaining guards. After a protracted shootout with Creasy using advanced guerilla warfare tactics, Creasy hijacks the limo and knocks Fuentes out.Under interrogation, Fuentes reveals that he ambushed the dead drop because he had had organized so many of them in the past, he thought it would be easy money. However, the bags stolen from the drop only contained 2.5 million, a quarter of the actual ransom. Fuentes begs to be spared, insisting that he is just a hired professional like Creasy. A disgusted Creasy reveals that he planted an explosive within Fuentes' rectum while he was unconscious, and it will explode in five minutes. As Creasy walks away, Fuentes spends the last few minutes of his life screaming until the explosive detonates, killing him.Creasy traces another 2.5 million to Kalfus and goes to his house to confront him, only to find his decapitated body floating in a pool. He confronts Ramos, who admits that he was danger of going bankrupt, so Kalfus suggested they stage Pita's kidnapping so he could collect the insurance money. Kalfus had made most of the arrangements, and assured Ramos that Pita would simply be watching cartoons in a safehouse for a few hours. Things went south once Fuentes got too greedy, Ramos blamed Kalfus for this and had him executed. Creasy leaves a pistol (the same one from his failed suicide attempt) and a single bullet on the table, reiterating Rayburn's earlier advice about bullets always finding deserving targets. After Creasy and Lisa leave, Ramos uses the gun to kill himself.As Creasy continues his pursuit of Sanchez, Manzano's men are tracking him electronically. Guerrero prepares to publish Sanchez' photo in the newspaper but is attacked on the way home by a gang member who threatens to kill her if she publishes the picture. The paper publishes it anyway and the headlines label it "Tiene Vo el Miedo" ("Fear has a Voice").After Creasy learns where Sanchez' brother Aurelio (Gero Camilo) lives, he gains access to his apartment. Aurelio wounds Creasy in the chest, but Creasy is able to chase him. Aurelio attempts to escape in a VW bus, but Creasy wounds him and he crashes into a large truck. Creasy takes Aurelio back to his apartment and captures Sanchez' very pregnant wife, Raina. He tortures Aurelio and forces Raina to page Sanchez who then calls back.Creasy is intent on killing Sanchez when Sanchez reveals that Pita is still alive. He offers to release her if Creasy surrenders himself and lets Aurelio live. Creasy agrees and takes Lisa to a remote rural area to make the exchange. After Pita runs to her mother, Aurelio and Creasy get into a car, which speeds off. In the back seat, Creasy dies from his gunshot wound and drops the emblem of St. Jude that Pita gave him. An epilogue reveals that Sanchez was killed by Manzano during a police raid that same day. | neo noir, murder, violence, action, romantic, tragedy, revenge | train | imdb | null |
tt1320239 | Burke and Hare | The film opens in Edinburgh. Narration by Angus the Hangman explains how the corpses of the hanged are transported to Dr Robert Knox for dissection. Knox's rival, Dr Alexander Monro, wants the steady supply of cadavers but is forced to rely on severed limbs for dissection. Monro's assistant Charles Darwin arrives with a forged letter directing that all corpses thenceforth must be sent to Monro. Angus tells Knox's assistant, Patterson, the news. Patterson delivers the message to Knox.
William Burke and William Hare, immigrants from Ulster, attempt to sell cheese mould as a patent medicine. When their fraud is discovered, they flee to an inn owned by Hare's wife, Lucky. She tells them that one of the lodgers has died. Burke and Hare decide to sell the corpse to Knox. They are forced to break the corpse's spine to fit it into a barrel in order to smuggle it through the city. They stop at a pub along the way, where a young former prostitute, Ginny Hawkins, loudly performs an excerpt from Macbeth. The patrons ignore her. Burke asks her why she did this, and she says that it is her ambition to become an actress. They share a drink; Hare reminds Burke that they must continue to Knox's house.
Burke and Hare present the now-mangled corpse to Knox. After some negotiation, Knox agrees to pay them a good sum of money for each corpse they bring him for dissection. Burke plans to use his money to finance Ginny's theatrical ambitions, and Hare decides to open a funeral parlour. Returning to the inn, they find Lucky drunk and barely conscious. Lucky says she is drinking because Joseph, another lodger at the inn, is near death. Not willing to wait for the outcome, Burke and Hare suffocate Joseph and take the body to Knox.
Afterward, Burke tells Ginny about the money. She allows him to take her home. Hare meets Fergus, the henchman of villain Danny McTavish, at a bar. Fergus says that McTavish uses him to cheat at games of chance, but keeps all the winnings for himself. Hare details the arrangement with Knox. Fergus relays the information to McTavish.
Burke is kidnapped from Ginny's side and bundled into a horse carriage by McTavish and Fergus, who have already captured Hare. McTavish threatens to kill them unless they give him half the money from Knox. Forced to agree, they are then thrown from the carriage. As they trod back to the inn, they plan a string of murders to make up their losses to McTavish. Lucky becomes suspicious of the mounting death toll, as does Police Captain Tom McLintock. McLintock seeks the advice of Lord Harrington and William Wordsworth, who give permission to hunt down the criminals and have them hanged.
McTavish kidnaps Hare again and attempts to extort the remainder of the money. Shortly afterward, McTavish appears as Knox's next dissection cadaver. McLintock takes notice. He arrests Burke and Ginny, and Hare and Lucky, while both couples are having sex. He tells them that if any one of them confesses to the murders, the others will go free. Burke agrees to confess if he and Ginny can finish what they were doing when McLintock apprehended them.
Just before Burke's hanging, Angus advises him to speak if he has any final words. Burke sees Ginny in the crowd, and says, "I did it for love."
Onscreen text over the credits describes the fates of all the characters in the story, concluding with an image of the actual skeleton of William Burke at the Anatomical Museum of the University of Edinburgh Medical School. | cult, comedy, cruelty, murder | train | wikipedia | It is far from talented director John Landis's best film not like Blues Brothers or An American Werewolf in London, but it is not his worst either as is the case with Blues Brothers 2000 and Beverly Hills Cop III.Does Burke and Hare completely work?
Isla Fisher(the love story between her and Pegg though is pretty weak and underdeveloped) and Jessica Hynes are alluring and do show at least some flair for comedy, Hynes actually is very funny, and while they should have had more screen time Tom Wilkinson and Tim Curry are suitably antagonistic and compelling.
I do agree about the accents being variable, I had little problem with Pegg and Serkis and Wilkinson's was convincing, Curry just about passes, while Fisher's comes and goes and some of the cameos don't quite make it.In conclusion, entertaining enough if somewhat hit-and-miss.
Set in 1820's Edinburgh, two Irish immigrants, William Burke (Simon Pegg) and William Hare (Andy Serkis), try one business venture after the next, and one after the next they fail.
Just at the point where they're about to face financial ruin, the duo come up with an ingenious idea when they spot a in the niche in the market for the supply and demand of fresh dead bodies which manages to turn their fortunes around.The story is inspired by true events which took place in Edinburgh between November 1827 and 31 October 1828 when the real life Bukre and Hare murdered 16 people and sold their bodies to a private anatomy lecturer, Doctor Robert Knox (played by Tom Wilkinson in the film), for dissection at Edinburgh Medical College.
Although this is the 8th time their story has been brought to the big screen, this marks the first time that we see them as two likable lead characters.From a screenplay penned by Nick Moorcroft and Piers Ashworth and directed by the legendary John Landis, Burke And Hare harks back to the days of the old Ealing Studios dark comedies like Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) and The Ladykillers (1955) which director John Landis is very fond of.
While Ginny ponders what would drive a man like Macbeth to murder, Burke looks at her and explains the character's motivation; "He did it for love".By and large, I really enjoyed Bukre and Hare.
Another element of the movie which was enjoyable was seeing so many familiar faces turning up in smaller roles; Ronnie Corbett decked out in his red and blue uniform as Captain McLintock, Christopher Lee as Old Joseph, one of Buke and Hare's early unfortunates and perhaps the most hilarious scene of all is when they push Paul Whitehouse down a flight of stairs!
Both the leads and the support obviously enjoyed making this - and the result is a refreshingly straight-forward comedy with plenty of genuine laughs.The film is simply a well-paced and well thought out comedy - everything for direction to script to the excellent costuming just works - and it is one of the better comedies of the year as it actually makes you laugh often and hard.
The humour is dark enough to work, and all involved deliver it very well indeed.We enjoyed this one a lot, it's got the right mix of silliness with a little horror that Simon Pegg does well, and all in this, this is just good straight-up entertainment with a huge galaxy of British comedians on display.
Harking back to the good old American Werewolf days, Burke and Hare joyfully plays with your expectations, creating characters you like and sympathise with and then making you squirm as they nonchalantly murder their way through Edinburgh.
Burke and Hare is a story of two men in Scotland in the late XIX century barely making a dime when an opportunity comes along to earn hard cash by killing people and selling their bodies to the benefit of science.This movie may seem morally rotten at its core making a comedy out of murder, but it succeeds at it while quite a lot of comedies with far less harmful plots don't, not to mention that some of the most popular TV shows of today make it fit right in.
Firstly, for a film set in Scotland i found it odd that the cast was almost entirely English, betraying the roots of the story (and of the English cast only Tom Wilkinson ,a splendid actor, managed to give a good approximation of a Scots accent).This film felt a bit of a homage to the Hammer films, a point made when a certain Hammer Icon makes a cameo appearance (i won't name the individual as i don't want to add a spoiler).
In fact there seems to be quite a lot of casting British film and TV icons in this film (Ronnie Corbett being another) so i'm guessing that maybe Simon Pegg or Andy Serkis only agreed to do it if certain British childhood icons of theirs were also given parts.To be honest the Burke and Hare story has been better done before but this film puts a comedic twist on it that doesn't always work.
The amazing Simon Pegg in this historical comedy based on the real life murderers Burke and Hare.
The real tragedy is that he spent a decade between 1978 and 1988 making what are now some of the most fondly remembered of all modern comedies: from the anarchy of Animal House, to the reckless excesses of Blues Brothers, through the sharp observations of Trading Places, via the bonkers ensemble of Three Amigos!, to the broad satire of Coming to America.Burke and Hare, about cadaver salesmen operating in 19th century Edinburgh (a concept with body-bags of comic potential), boasts an impressive cast of British (albeit largely non-Scottish) talent, including a few familiar Landis faces - Jenny Agutter, John Woodvine and David Schofield all featured in An American Werewolf in London.But also sadly familiar is the dearth of quality writing and comedy timing on show.
Landis approaches the film with a ribald, Carry On sensibility; and yet the script delivers very few actual jokes - certainly none that can be picked out by the roots - and the production design is more Barry Lyndon grimy than Hammer Horror camp.Scene after scene ends on a meaningless bog-eyed glare from Burke (Simon Pegg) or Hare (Andy Serkis), inspiring embarrassed silence from the audience.
There are flashes of Landis at his macabre best in a couple of the murder setups, and a sex scene between Hare and Lucky (Pegg's old partner-in-crime Jessica Hynes) provides far and away the film's funniest scene.
It's almost 30 years since Landis scared us and entertained us in equal measure in An American Werewolf in London and he returns once more to the UK with this period piece based upon the real-life murderers (perhaps the world's first serial killers) Burke and Hare.
Simon Pegg (Burke) and Andy Serkis (Hare) are the eponymous duo stalking 19th century Edinburgh for cadavers to sell to the city's medical school.
Landis' best work is over 20 years ago and any chance of a return to that form looks as dead as the cadavers Burke and Hare provided.
Director John Landis is mostly famous for having made some excellent comedies (Trading Places, Spies Like Us and Coming to America), but he's also revered in the horror cinema for having made the extraordinary An American Werewolf in London.
12 years after being absent in cinema, Landis decided to come back with the film Burke and Hare, which combines horror and comedy.
And even though I found the combination of genres too unstable, the film kept me moderately entertained despite its mediocrity.The funny elements from Burke and Hare generally work because of the solid performances from Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis, but I wish the film defined its character better.
It's like watching two very different movies at the price of one, but combined in such a forced and inconsistent way that the final result is not very satisfactory.However, as I said on the first paragraph, Burke and Hare managed to keep me moderately entertained, and I think it deserves a slight recommendation because of that.
Where Landis takes a horrific legendary tale of corpse snatching, mass murdering and scientific medicine to make a genuinely humorous and fruitful black comedy led by the animated performances of Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Isla Fisher and Tom Wilkinson as Dr Robert Knox.
This is a black comedy about two men who makes a fortune by selling bodies to the medical profession for anatomy classes.The story of "Burke and Hare" is dark and disturbing if you think about it, but it does not feel this way when you watch it.
Just look at the credits: Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, the underused Jessica Hynes (formerly Jessica Stevenson), the underrated Tim Curry, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Bailey, Stephen Merchant (in a cameo) and Isla Fisher, all in the same movie directed by the once great John Landis, who hasn't made a feature film in ages.
Which is the main reason I found this limp, lame attempt at black comedy horror such a clunking disappointment.Burke and Hare just isn't funny.
But all those movies had wit, style and characterisation – elements sadly lacking in Burke and Hare.Now there have been lots of films about real-life serial killers, some good, some bad, some terrible.
Just because Burke and Hare's crimes were committed a long time ago doesn't make them legitimate subjects for comedy, in my opinion.True, the movie boasts a fabulous cast.
It's hard to imagine the makers nodding enthusiastically at the so-called jokes and agreeing that this was the best they could come up with.Simon Pegg has been in some fantastic films (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) but it looks like he can't cut it without Edgar Wright.This travesty scores a 1 for me because on top of being embarrassingly unfunny, the subject matter is the real-life story of serial killers who murdered elderly people - er, hilarious..
Hot on their trail is Captain Tam McLintoch (Ronnie Corbett).'Burke and Hare' is a rare comedy in that it sustains the laughs - even to its bittersweet ending - without resorting to cheap gimmicks or gross-out humour (though there are a few scenes with the dead bodies being dissected, so the squeamish should be on guard).
Burke and Hare (2010) ** (out of 4) John Landis returned to the big screen with this black comedy about poor boys William Burke (Simon Pegg) and William Hare (Andy Serkis) who find a way to earn money by selling dead bodies to a doctor (Tom Wilkinson).
The blame can be levelled at the director John Landis who should have realised that the story should have been played straight but the poor script is also to blame.Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis are pretty charmless as the death-dealing duo and their performances are hampered by the weak script and their poor efforts to find any comedic opportunity.
"I have got enough money put aside to start our new business...funeral parlors." This is the very funny true story about Burke (Pegg) and Hare (Serkis).
Because with the cast including the talented Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis, with support from the likes of Tim Curry, Tom Wilkinson, British TV favourite Ronny Corbett, even Christopher Lee in a small cameo, and with John Landis directing meaning this should have been a hell of a lot better than it actually is.
It doesn't also help that the true tale of Burke and Hare isn't actually that comedic as there's no real punchline anywhere, just a couple of guys making a bit of money grave robbing and killing people, and that's about it.
Something didn't work for me--it didn't feel like "cinema".It could be that so many of the faces (and there are many, many terrific cameos in there) are TV faces as opposed to movie stars; could be that it just had the feel of an older film (the picture fuzzed and crackled where I saw it, at the VUE in Edinburgh!), or maybe it's because this film was such a successful British Comedy--I couldn't help but be reminded of the Ealings and the first 4 or 5 Carry Ons--that it was hard to believe it was "new".Coming at it the other way, all of these things could be seen as strengths: it's got a fantastic cast, doesn't put visual glitz before storying-telling and feels like it belongs to a long and cherished tradition of British cinema.I need to watch it again, perhaps--but I won't complain too much if I have to wait for the DVD to do so..
Christopher Lee makes a cameo appearance as Joseph.William Burke (Simon Pegg) and William Hare (Andy Serkis) attempting to sell cheese mould which they state is growing moss.
They take his body to Dr. Robert Knox (Tom Wilkinson), who gives them both a large amount of money.From then onwards, Hare thinks this is a very lucrative business.Verdict: the film is very poorly scripted and the comedy is insufficient and falls flat on its face.
Just as the recent (and atypical) vampire flick LET ME IN (2010) saw the welcome resurgence of Britain's House Of Horror, Hammer Films, this is co-produced by the famed Ealing Studios (best-known for a string of comedy classics dating from the late 1940s through to the mid-1950s, including two with similarly macabre overtones as the film under review i.e. KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS [1949] and THE LADYKILLERS [1955], and which had actually closed its doors way back in 1959!).BURKE AND HARE is very well-cast (Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis display remarkable chemistry throughout; similarly, Tom Wilkinson and Tim Curry's medics provide compelling antagonism).
A black comedy about two 19th century grave robbers (Simong Pegg and Andy Serkis) who find a lucrative business providing cadavers for an Edinburgh medical school.There have been a few films about Burke and Hare, or inspired by the two ghouls.
I've always thought John Landis to have a good understanding of this genre (American Werewolf in London a case in point), but when I see this film I have a distinct feeling of "looking back".
Well there is no doubt that the two leading men, Simon Pegg (playing William Burke) and Andy Serkis (playing William Hare) were the driving force of the movie, and those two worked really well together.
Since grave robbing became more and more difficult, Burke and Hare developed a quicker and more efficient method to obtain corpses
It was a pure joy to see a good old-fashioned genuine John Landis film again!
Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis are terrific in the leads, but the supportive roles and cameos are even more interesting, with names like Christopher Lee, Jenny Agutter and Tim Curry..
John Landis' retelling of the true story of the notorious bodysnatchers of the early 18th century, supplying fresh bodies for the purposes of medical research (sometimes so fresh that the hearts hadn't stopped beating until Burke and Hare made sure they did) is a curious movie.The expression which kept going through my head while I was watching it was "knockabout comedy." Now I'm not saying that comedy and horror can't happily co-exist - Landis' own American Werewolf In London is a case in point - but there is a difference between comedy and knockabout comedy.
The problem is that, while I like bacon, and I like custard, I'm not sure I want to eat them together, and the comedy and horror in Burke And Hare sits in the same area for me.The cast all perform well, although nearly everyone - and there are a lot of well-known faces here - is required to do either a Scots or Irish accent and some of them are, let's be honest, a bit dodgy.Jessica Hynes has a lot of fun, as does her character: the audience perhaps less so.Isla Fisher looks as if she has been visited by the Boob Fairy post-birth.
Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis play the infamous Burke and Hare--two horrible criminals who provided bodies to Edinburgh medical schools in the 1820s.
The one thing they were short of was bodies....The only thing that was missing from this film (apart from a funny script and good editing) where the incidental comedy noises used in many carry on films.This film is the pits, it's beyond the pits, and is further proof of why Landis hasn't made a film in years.I pray Pegg made this for further funding for Paul, because there is no excuse for a man of his talent to be in such a mess.The whole cast are wasted, and this must have been heavily edited in the cutting room, because it lacks flow of any sort.I've seen funnier episodes of crimewatch, and it's a shame that a whole host of British talent were wasted in this.And it was Ronnie Corbetts big return to the silver screen too..
'Burke and Hare'follows the story of two Irishmen who realise that providing dead bodies for the use of medical science will bring them a comfortable sum of money.As the subject matter may suggest, this film is full of dark comedy and plenty of toilet humour (most of which is very predictable).
Meanwhile, a pair of Irish swindlers in William Burke (Simon Pegg) and William Hare (Andy Serkis) find themselves broke.
Simon Pegg as William Burke and Andy Serkis as William Hare both did a decent job.
Given Pegg's past form, I was expecting a really good laugh, but sadly this film just didn't hit the spot in the same way that some of his earlier movies did.
I found this movie on Netflix after searching for something "good" to watch.I have to say that this was one of the more offbeat, and enjoyable films that I've seen all year.Based on a true story, except for the parts that aren't, "Burke and Hare" stars Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis as two down and outs who are willing to do anything to make a buck. |
tt0036811 | The Falcon in Mexico | A detective travels south of the border to investigate an art dealer's murder.Tom Lawrence AKA The Falcon (Tom Conway) encounters a young woman hiding in a doorway. Her name is Dolores Ybarra (Cecilia Callejo) and she asks The Falcon to help her retrieve a stolen painting from a nearby art gallery. After breaking into the gallery Tom realises that Dolores was the model for the portrait not the artist and then stumbles upon the dead body of the gallery owner. Alerted by a burglar alarm, security guards arrive. When Tom explains to them what happened they do not believe his story as Dolores has vanished. The guards reveal that the portrait was painted by Humphrey Wade who has been dead for 15 years and so could not have employed the youthful Dolores to be the model. When the guards try to arrest Tom, he escapes with the painting and takes it to the home of Winthrop "Lucky Diamond" Hughes. Hughes (Emory Parnell), who is known as "lucky diamond" due to an enormous diamond ring he wears, is a noted collector of Wade's work and he quickly identifies the portrait as being a genuine work by Wade.Hughes suggests that Tom should go and question Wade's daughter Barbara about the painting, but when Tom goes to her apartment there is no answer at the door. The Falcon breaks into the apartment, where he finds a stack of newspaper clippings about the sale of Dolores' portrait. When Barbara Wade (Martha Vickers) returns home Tom asks her about the painting and she tells him that she believes that her father is not dead. The police, who have been alerted by Hughes, arrive prompting Tom to plan to go to Mexico (where Wade is said to be buried) and Barbara insists on going with him. After giving the police the slip the pair fly out to Mexico City but at the airport Barbara gives The Falcon the slip and is met by a car from the La Casa Del Laga Inn. Tom hires the taxi of Manuel Romero (Nestor Paiva) and his son Pancho (Fernando Alvarado) to follow her. They track her to the Inn, which is located in a small rural village. There Tom confronts Barbara and she explains that she has come to the Inn because that is where he father lived and worked. She introduces him to her stepmother Raquel (Mona Maris) and her dance partner and new husband Anton (Joseph Vitale). Anton warns Tom to leave Barbara alone and leave Mexico. The following morning Raquel asks Tom to abandon his search for Wade, but Tom accuses her of trying to curtail his investigation for fear that she should be judged a bigamist if Wade were indeed found to still be alive.Back at the Inn, the desk clerk, Paula Dudley (Mary Currier) shows Barbara and Tom to Wade's studio which she has kept just as the artist left it. As Barbara is leaving the studio she suddenly senses the presence of her father behind a locked door and Tom picks the lock. Inside the room they find a painting done in Wade's style and the paint is still wet, Paula arrives and orders them out of her room. When asked about the painting Paula claims it is her own work, but Tom suggests that she is in fact creating forgeries of Wade's work. Returning to his own room Tom startles Dolores who is searching for her portrait, Tom goes after her into the hallway but she has gone. The Falcon returns to his own room and is just about to retrieve the painting when a man knocks him out and steals the portrait. When he comes round Tom questions Paula about Dolores and she tells him that she is the daughter of Don Carlos Ybarra (Pedro de Cordoba). Tom goes to visit the Don and informs him that his daughter may be in danger, the old man tells Tom that Dolores travelled to the United States to assist an artist friend recover a painting. The Don and Tom search for Dolores, but they are too late - her body has been found drowned in the lake.Tom returns to the Inn only to find Manuel rummaging through his belongings and fires him. Soon after, Hughes arrives at the Inn but without his famous ring. At dinner that evening Barbara collapses at the table, she has been poisoned. Tom concludes that whoever poisoned her also drowned Dolores and murdered the art dealer back in New York all to prevent it being discovered if Wade is really alive. Paula remarks that Raquel has a strong motive for ensuring that Wade remains dead, which prompts Anton to accuse her of killing the art dealer because he had recognised her paintings as forgeries of Wade's work. When Barbara has recovered from the poisoning attempt, Paula disappears and when Tom goes to he room he finds the missing portrait hidden in her desk. When Tom goes to the lake to look for Paula he discovers her dead body in a boat but as he approaches the boat Manuel appears and reveals that he is in fact an undercover Mexican police officer.Barbara is at the village plaza when a local woman approaches her and tells her that she will lead her to her father. When Tom and Manuel return to the Inn and discover that Barbara is missing they follow her to an island where her father's grave is located. Tom removes the headstone of the tomb and they find that the crypt is empty, this prompts the woman who led Barbara there to admit that Anton had paid her to bring Wade's daughter to his tomb. The local villagers are holding a fiesta and the local police report to Manuel that one of the traditional dancers scheduled to take part in the fiesta has had their costume stolen. When Tom hears that the costume is that of an old man, he deduces that Wade has stolen it so that he can disguise himself. Tom and Manuel go with the police officers to question the dancers, but almost as soon as they have gone a man wearing a costume and mask approaches Barbara and lifts his mask to reveal that it is Wade (Bryant Washburn). He explains to his daughter that he disappeared because his life was a failure, but after his alleged suicide his paintings suddenly became valuable meaning that he could not even let her know that he was actually still alive. He goes on to warn Barbara that both of their lives are now in danger, but barely have the words left his lips than he is shot in the back and killed.Hearing the gunshot Tom goes to Barbara and when he sees her dead father concludes that it is Hughes who is the killer as his collection of Wade paintings would be rendered virtually worthless if it proven that the artist was still alive. Manuel confirms that Hughes is in financial trouble and has even had to sell his lucky diamond ring prompting The Falcon to come up with a daring plan to lure Hughes out into the open. Tom dons the old man costume Wade was wearing and walks conspicuously out into the middle of the plaza. Thinking his attempt upon the life of the artist has failed Hughes takes aim from a balcony, but before he can fire Manuel spots him and shoots him dead. With the case solved The Falcon says goodbye to his friends in Mexico and boards a plane for New York. | murder | train | imdb | Not that it detracts from a nice little comedy-mystery, but this was an even cheaper affair than usual from RKO as they used up a lot of stock rustic Mexican background film to lilting music here while the main characters glided or drove about in front.
Tom Conway as the Falcon looked as handsome and debonair as ever (no.
9/13 I don't count those last 3 non-RKO efforts with John Calvert), and had to do without the comedy double act of Clark and Gargan from now on.Investigation of a painting painted by a dead man (with an art gallery eerily similar to the one in Woman In The Window) leads to murder and theft; the Falcon is chased by the cops while he's chasing the baddies all the way into deepest Mexico.
The dead painter's daughter was played chockful of feminine intuition by Martha Vickers, next step for her was the cute Big Sleep.
She also uttered my favourite line from all of the Falcon films "My father lived at this inn while he was alive" wonderful stuff!
Nestor Paiva played a helpful ambiguous peasant and Joseph Vitale a rather unhelpful serious dancer, some of their best stuff was to come later with Paramount.
This is the ninth Falcon film, and a particularly good one.
It contains some very good second unit material shot in Mexico, so there must have been a large budget for that, as it must have taken at least two or three weeks on location.
There are excellent performances from two Hispanic actors, Fernando Alvarado is a charming little Mexican boy, and Nestor Paiva is excellent in a major supporting role.
This is an excellent unpretentious B picture, just the sort of thing one wants in the Falcon series..
"The Falcon in Mexico" is a 1944 entry into "The Falcon" series, by now starring Tom Conway.
In this story, Tom Lawrence (The Falcon) is in Mexico investigating the possibility that a dead artist might not be so dead after all, after he sees the model for one of the artist's portraits.
Martha Vickers plays the artist's daughter, who keeps "seeing" her father.
Mona Maris is her remarried stepmother who dances in a Mexican club with her new husband.The movie is okay, with an abrupt ending, which isn't unusual in these films, and the movie seems like an ad for visiting Mexico.
Supposedly some of the footage is from the Orson Welles' debacle "It's All True." If so, I'm glad RKO found good use for it..
This "Falcon" entry relocates to Mexico and features all the stock characters and situations that one would expect from Hollywood in that setting - some of which (the repeated footage of songs in the cantina, for instance) is obviously used simply as filler.
Barbara's exotic young stepmother turns out to be genuinely attached to her, for instance, while the grinning, thick-witted Mexican who seems to be playing a part in a bad film turns out to be a very cool bird indeed.There is some artful photography and some smart dialogue, and while there does seem to be a certain amount of tourist advertising blatantly inserted -- literally, as in photographs of travel brochures -- this film is more interesting than I thought it was going to be.
Oddly enough, while it features a number of murders they are all left more or less in the background to the main mystery, which is the question of who faked the stolen portrait...
Despite some of the rather silly reviews of it seen here this writer can very highly recommend it.Typically with this series the dialog is quite sharp and delivered with panache by a solid stock company of reliable actors and actresses.
I must say that one thing that particularly pleased me was its charming music score which relied heavily on south-of-the-border melodies as well as some classic RKO library music by Roy Webb which was always good.Conway is as suave and pleasing to watch as ever and there is a fine supporting performance by the underrated Nestor Paiva.
The ladies are beautiful, charming and a little mysterious and really nothing can be faulted here unless one enjoys indulging in nit-picking.All in all a thoroughly satisfying movie and one of the very best of the FALCON series.
Much of the problem, as other reviewers note, is the big travelogue part, which only gets out of Hollywood proper thanks to some artistic Orson Welles stock footage.
Otherwise it's process shots and RKO's backlot, along with that all-purpose ethnic Nestor Paiva (Manuel) furnishing a dollop of comic relief.
(Still, I really like the enchanting two little girl singers Hunter & Alvarez.)What's worth watching for the guys, at least, are the gals, especially Vickers who's downright beautiful, at least in my book.
While not among the best Falcon films, this one is pretty good and worth a look.
For my time, I would much rather watch an earlier Falcon film.
That's because the George Sanders films were usually better written and more exciting--as well as starred the wonderful Sanders.
With THE FALCON'S BROTHER, Sanders' real-life brother, Tom Conway, took over the leading role since Sanders wanted out of the series in order to pursue other acting opportunities.
Now this was a very logical choice, as Conway looked a lot like Sanders and also had a similar lovely melodious voice.
But despite this, I still found myself missing Sanders, as to me he was THE Falcon and the earlier films were just were written better and seemed so much fresher.By 1944, Conway's Falcon had fallen into a rather predictable pattern that must have worked well at the time because they made so many of these films during a three year stretch--a HUGE output of 9 films!
Of course, I would contend that averaging three films a year was exactly why the films seemed not quite as good as the earlier ones--they were rushed into production and didn't seem as smooth or engaging as earlier ones.Now THE FALCON IN Mexico is a bit better than most films of this period thanks to a relatively simple but engaging mystery.
A low-point in the series was THE FALCON OUT WEST and I think most of the problem with that film was that there were too many twists and turns and surprises.
Plus putting Conway out West just didn't fit his style and personality, though Mexico seemed a much better change of venues.The plot involves the possibility that a famous dead painter MIGHT actually be alive.
The Falcon, naturally, comes to her aid and by the end the mystery's all naturally been revealed..
A fairly uninspiring entry in the series that continues the gimmick of the location from Out West.
Never far from women or trouble, Tom Lawrence meets both when he meets Dolores Ybarra trying to get into a door and recover a painting she did.
The problem with the painting is that the painter actually died 15 years earlier, but yet the portrait must have been done recently.
Lawrence seeks out the artist's daughter Barbara, who reveals a mystery around her father's death and the two head to Mexico to investigate further.After being Out West, the film series continues its attempts to freshen things up by "being places" rather than doing things.
In this case we have a lazy travelogue that takes us to Mexico with lots of backdrops and footage (with supposedly a famous source!).
The mystery starts out well enough and does offer intrigue to a point but it is pretty much lost in the delivery, which seems more interesting in providing a lot of footage of Mexico instead.
Berke's direction is fine I'm sure but he is continually overshadowed by the stock footage (supposedly shot by Orson Welles) which regularly takes centre stage.
The film also features a couple of songs (a common filler in b-movie world), they aren't much cop here but do add a sanitised flavour of Mexico.Conway is not as smooth as he was in some other of the Falcon films.
Instead we have a bit of life from Paiva in a good sidekick character.
Maris, Vickers, Currier, Callejo and others all do so-so jobs but nobody has much conviction about anything probably not helped by the material.Overall then a fairly uninspiring entry in the series that continues the gimmick of the location from Out West.
The stock footage is all well and good but the mystery becomes slack and uninteresting all too quickly..
Too many distracting process shots with actors in front of filmed backgrounds....
RKO must have had a very small budget to work with when they made "The Falcon in Mexico", using stock footage of actual location photography but process photography for all of the studio shots with actors in front of the screened location backgrounds.
It becomes such a distraction that there's a tendency not to follow the plot after awhile but just to watch how often the actors are in Hollywood rather than Mexico.Whatever, the story is not intriguing enough and nobody seems to be trying very hard to bring it to life.
Even the usually vivacious MARTHA VICKERS (who played the nymphomaniac in THE BIG SLEEP) has a hard time conveying any genuine emotion while she pines for her long lost father, while others in the cast are competent enough but not really inspired.
NESTOR PAIVA has the best supporting role as an overly enthusiastic but helpful taxi driver called Manuel.Nevertheless, Conway does a decent job as the debonair detective who has the same interest as the police in solving a crime, but seems to be avoiding them at every turn.Some of the background photography is well filmed, but using process shots for scenes involving the actors is too obvious for comfort.Summing up: All in all, a passable B-film entertainment..
The Falcon meets two beautiful women, commits two minor crimes, finds a corpse, gets wrongly accused of murder, escapes from custody and learns that something mysterious is going on south of the border.
It doesn't all happen in exactly that order, but there's plenty of fast-paced fun.But once the Falcon and one of the women fly to Mexico, the excitement levels off.
At one point, the Falcon warns a Mexican gentleman that somebody may try to kill his daughter.
He's not even curious about where the threat comes from!The problem with the main part of this movie is that there's so much Mexico, there's no room left for mystery.
But there's no suspense, and the ending is very weak.Considering when it was made, "The Falcon in Mexico" probably had a public relations component.
But in a mystery movie, an exotic setting goes only so far.
South Of The Border Down Mexico Way. When Tom Conway met that black cat determined to cross his path he should have gone blocks out of the way.
He didn't though and wound up helping Cecilia Callejo break into an art gallery to retrieve a painting for which she modeled.
But the gallery owner is dead Callejo flees through a window and Conway has to run from the San Francisco police.The daughter of the dead artist who painted it played by Martha Vickers might provide answers.
They all wind up meeting in old Mexico providing The Falcon with a host of subjects.
Along with ever helpful driver Nestor Paiva and his young son Fernando Alvarado.A middle run Falcon film, the exotic location helps, but it's not anything abut a studio created Mexico..
Mexico travelogue featuring the Falcon.
The Falcon (Tom Conway) heads to Mexico to investigate a murder and hang out with a cab driver (Nestor Paiva).
Despite an exciting first twenty minutes or so, this turns out to be one of the weaker entries in the series.
It seems more concerned with promoting tourism to Mexico than telling a fun mystery story.
It's just not what I watch a Falcon movie for.
Anyway, Tom Conway is good as usual.
The lovely ladies this time include Martha Vickers and Mona Maris.
The series is missing the regulars it had earlier on, such as the Falcon's sidekick Goldie or the bumbling cops Donovan and Bates.
Worth a look for fans but prepare yourself that this isn't one of the Falcon's better movies..
Too much Mexico, not enough Falcon mystery.
The Falcon films, both with George Sanders and Tom Conway in the lead role, are on the most part very enjoyable.
There are some very good ones like the first two Sanders Falcon films and 'The Falcon Strikes Back', though also a few disappointments like 'The Falcon in Danger'.While it's watchable enough, 'The Falcon in Mexico' is one of the series' weaker films.
A charming Martha Vickers and a very funny and full of life Nestor Paiva are the supporting cast's standouts, Fernando Alvarado is also appealing.However, the story does suffer from a lack of suspense, erratic pacing (tries to be bright and breezy, which it is sporadically, but is too hectic more like), a very vague and weird motive for the criminal, not being focused on enough with Mexico being favoured over it and a very abrupt ending.
The stock Mexican music sounds cheap, not like the Falcon series at all, and the musical interludes were unnecessary and irrelevant to the story, also placed at inappropriate times.The travelogue stuff is striking but doesn't add a lot and slows down the film.
William Berke's direction is undistinguished, and too much of the script is awkward and confused.On the whole, an uninspired entry in a mostly enjoyable series that suffers from too much Mexico and not enough Falcon mystery.
Falcon in Mexico, The (1944) ** (out of 4) The Falcon (Tom Conway) travels to Mexico where he gets involved with murder and a mysterious painting.
This entry gets a minor leg up from the Mexican locations, which are probably just backlot shots but the actual mystery itself is rather bland.
The supporting cast isn't any better and many of the members from previous films, including Cliff Clark, are missing here, which doesn't help matters..
The second movie is unabashed marketing for tourism in Mexico - the last shot is of a tourist poster that melts into a plane flying to or from our neighbor to the south.
The third movie is a lackluster mystery of sorts with Tom Lawrence at his worst.
The Falcon in Mexico is not one of his stellar performances and not really worth your time viewing.
Michael Arlen's radio-serial detective returns for another movie mystery (actually, it's the Falcon's brother this time, with George Sanders having since exited from the role and real-life sibling Tom Conway assuming his duties).
For reasons unknown, the Falcon is down Mexico way, being conned by a Señorita who needs his help in retrieving one of her paintings from an art gallery.
Globe-trotting yarn wants us to believe that New York City and Mexico are just a stone's throw from each other, or that this Falcon is really just a nice guy, quite used to helping out desperate females.
The ninth film in the Falcon series.
A little different than earlier films in the series, this one is the first film since A Date with the Falcon without Edward Gargan as Detective Bates and first one without Cliff Clark as the Police Inspector since The Falcon's Brother, when Clark took over the role from noted character actor James Gleason.
Also, a single character Manuel (Nester Paiva), who "adopts" the Falcon (Tom Conway) when he arrives in Mexico, provides much of the comic relief, service and other roles normally played by a sidekick, houseboy etc..The film begins with the Falcon kissing his girlfriend goodnight, promising her he'll not get involved in another crime solving case.
After avoiding walking under a ladder and a black cat crossing his path, he sees a beautiful woman (Dolores, played by Cecilia Cellejo) attempting to break into an art gallery.
She tells him she is trying to retrieve a painting of hers inside and he helps her only to find, once inside, that the painting is a portrait of her, and that the art dealer has been murdered.
About this time, some "rent a cops" show up, the girl disappears, and the Falcon is suspected of the murder.He learns that the painting was done by deceased artist Humphrey Wade, making it valuable, and that it was recently purchased by a collector of Wade's paintings, "Diamond" Hughes (Emory Parnell).
Of course, the Falcon escapes with the painting before the police arrive and heads to Hughes' house.
Hughes doesn't know the identity of the girl in the painting, didn't even know of this painting's existence until recently, but suggests that perhaps the artist's daughter (who lives nearby) knows more.When the Falcon meets Wade's daughter (Martha Vickers), she reveals that she believes her father may still be alive.
They agree to go together to Mexico, where her father did his painting, but she "ditches" him shortly after they arrive.
A taxi driver, Manuel, and his son help the Falcon follow the daughter to the hotel that was the artist's residence.
Manuel becomes as ever present as the Falcon, appearing in most scenes and/or at critical times throughout the movie, delivering broken English lines reminiscent of Yogi Berra.The proprietor of the hotel (Mary Currier), who acts suspiciously, and the song & dance couple (Mona Maris and Joseph Vitale) working there, are all found to have a connection with the former artist.
Dolores, the woman in the painting (which is stolen from the Falcon's room, and later found in proprietor's room), makes a brief appearance before she disappears again, we meet her father (Pedro de Cordoba), and she is found dead by fisherman.
We also learn more about Manuel.There is song and dance entertainment throughout this film.
Of course, the Falcon solves the mystery and catches the murderer (by putting himself at risk).
However, this film does not include a (fairly typical) lead in to the next film in the series. |
tt0054740 | The Singer Not the Song | Father Michael Keogh (John Mills) arrives to Quantana - they pronounce it <<Kantana>>, when in Spanish this orthography should be read <<Kwantana>>. Anyway, Father Keogh is going to be the new priest of this town. A blonde young lady, Locha de Cortínez (Mylène Demongeot) advises him not to go to the town, because Anacleto "Malo" Comachi (Dirk Bogarde), the gang-leader who rules in town with a fist of iron will kill him. Keogh says that Malo didn't kill Father Gómez (Leslie French), but she says that Gómez doesn't matter anymore. She leaves feeling contented with herself.Keogh walks, carrying his small suitcase, to town. Children run after him and adults spit from behind drawn curtains. Father Gómez tells him that he has to be careful with his laundry, and tells the story of Malo - he is a bright young man who happens to hate the Church, because in his mind it represents all the corruption of politics. Father Gómez is stressed and anxious because he is afraid he's going to miss his coach out. Gomez says that he tried to become Malo's friend to bring him back to church, to no avail. Then, he complains that he - Father Gómez - should have died in defense of the Church, but he didn't, as Malo killed other people, innocent people just to terrorise all the townsfolk. Malo killed people in alphabetical order making everything look as accidents.At that moment Malo arrives. He's an attractive young man dressed in leather. He loves cats but is unkind. He says that the townspeople didn't welcome Keogh because nobody knew that he was coming. Gómez tells Anacleto that he should not judge the Church for Gomez's mistakes.Anacleto and his gangmen appear on horses to give Gómez a "sendoff" and escort him to the buss. People laugh at Gómez and the horsemen surround them. One of the horsemen shoots to the air for no reason, startling Gómez. Pablo (Laurence Payne) is pushed off his horse so that Gómez can ride. It is implied that Gómez catches his bus in time.Keogh visits the church - it's a disaster and there's poultry and farm animals scattered among the chairs. He makes the bells heard. Old Uncle (Laurence Naismith) used to be a good Catholic man, but now he laughs at the tolls of the bells. Three women go to the church to speak to Keogh: Señora González (Marjorie Forsyth) and two females friends of hers.Presidente (Eric Pohlmann) is the mayor of the village, the richest and most influential man. Hegives stupid excuses not to go to church; also he is worried that his 6-month-old baby, Silvanito, is his wife Silvia's son, but not his. Jefe, the Police Captain (John Bentley) tells Keogh that Malo doesn't usually even have to use violence, as it came to the point when everybody is so terrified that nobody would dare oppose him. Jefe says that he needs proof, but nobody wants to become witness against him. Pedro de Cortínez (Roger Delgado) is a man who doesn't want to know anything about reality, he hides behind his books, and Lucha's mother is a disinterested woman, egotist and bored to death in this sleepy village, who would like to have been an international socialite. Pedro admits that he pays Anacleto for protection. Pedro also admits that Lucha behaves like a wild person. Lucha's mother, Doña Marian (Jacqueline Evans) offers Keogh a cup of hot chocolate. Lucha encounters Keogh later; she had already guessed that Keogh was looking for allies against Malo, but Pedro can't be bothered. Lucha says that god doesn't worry about Quantana at all. Keogh just wishes to see Lucha at church soon.A gang member (Larry Taylor) is setting some haystacks in fire in front of a rebellious farmer (Arthur Brough), who didn't pay for Anacleto's protection. Keogh appears and asks what's happening. Anacleto says that he and Marco (Frank Sieman) are trying to put off a fire. The farmer is so frightened that won't dare to contradict Anacleto.Keogh has visited a boy who was sickly. He notices Lucha staring at a car which won't start. Keogh solves the problem and starts the car. Lucha asks Keogh to teach her to drive - he is surprised that she is driving a car without really knowing how to, and he suggests that he become a sort of nurse in his dispensary.Keogh makes the bells sound. Many people go, but some of them are scared off by Malo's men. Lucha is defiant and looks at Malo's eyes before entering the church. Keogh starts preaching in the middle of the main square of the town. He tells everybody to kneel down and pray with him to fight the fear. Anacleto and his men appear, so that people stand up and leave while Keogh is left on his own still preaching on. Old Uncle finishes the prayer with an "Amen" on his own. Keogh says that he's prepared to suffer because of his faith. After Keogh has left, Anacleto asks what day he goes over the mountains to confess - it's on Wednesdays. Anacleto says that it's a pity that he has to be killed, because he likes him.Keogh gives first aid to the villagers with Lucha's help. Lucha realises that it's at that moment when Father Keogh is most vulnerable, and tells him so. Father Keogh tells him that nobody is ever on his own, smiles and leaves anyway, leaving her worried about him. Father Keogh is driven away. Lucha writes the names of Anacleto and Keogh in two pieces of paper, puts them in a small box, shakes it and picks one without looking - it says Anacleto. It looks like she doesn't like what she's chosen herself.Keogh arrives to a cross in the road. The driver puts water to the radiator of the car. The road is not very good, and the brakes of the car do not work. The car is moving faster and faster. Father Keogh sees a small mountain pathway and steers the car in that direction.Lucha goes to fix a glove. Anacleto lets her be tended to first. Lucha asked Anacleto not to harm Father Keogh. She tries to remind him that, a long time ago, he promised he would do anything for her; but Anacleto answers that she's right - that was a long time ago.Keogh tells Jefe, but he can't prove that Malo or any of his men cut the brakes' cable. The police officer offers police protection for him, but the priest refuses, as he can't be an example to the rest of the people if he's afraid himself. That night, he tolls the bells again, so that Anacleto realises that he's still alive. Lucha goes to visit Keogh at church. Lucha was hidden in the church, frightened. There's a noise outside, but there looks that nobody is there. Somebody with a machete attacks him, but the machete cuts on his bible. Keogh thinks that god has protected him, Old Uncle thinks it was the devil. Old Uncle offers to kill him. Anacleto says that they can't afford to fail one more time. He also knows that the bishop who sent Keogh to Quantana are watching for him - even in Rome they are aware of whatever happens to him. Pablo thinks that Anacleto admires Keogh too much, but Malo dismisses it, as it's only natural that one appreciates his enemies in their own value. He intends to use Michael Keogh's kind heart against him. Anacleto writes in a piece of paper a big "D".Chela (Selma Vaz Días) is Keogh's maid. She is serving dinner speaking about pythons when somebody knocks on the door. She complains that it's not civil hours - she gives Father Keogh what she found: the piece of paper with the letter D. The narrator says that D was for Domínguez, and we see the dead body of a man in the local river, E was for Elizondo, and we hear the scream of a man thrown down from a steep cliff, F was a young boy (Nyall Florenz), whom the audience sees still alive strolling around on his own. Keogh tells Jefe that he should arrest Anacleto, but the honest police officer cannot arrest Anacleto only on the "alphabet" clue - he needs a witness, or some evidence. Keogh believes that he's between the devil and the deep blue sea. A police officer (Jan Muzurus) arrives at that moment saying that a young boy was found run over, and that his name was Victorino Fernández. The child was only seven. Keogh gets really worked out on Anacleto, but then he restrains himself. Revenge is not the way, he says.Keogh leaves in anger and faces Anacleto, and wants to speak with him face-to-face. Anacleto asks him to be quick in a nonchalant way, because he's going to celebrate with his friends. Anacleto says that it had to be an accident. Keogh tells him to repent.Keogh visits Francisco Goya (John Steed), who works as Anacleto's messenger. He gives Father Keogh the letter in which somebody whose surname begins with "G", González, who will be killed in the early hours of the following morning. Jefe is positive that the following morning they may have at last proof against Anacleto. Jefe will hide in the farm of Anacleto, and threatens González in case he wants to tell Anacleto of the trap. Anacleto arrives with some of his men. Anacleto arrives with a paper and tells González to sign. The, he asks Keogh and Jefe whether they can breath hidden away. Anacleto says that he was only doing some business with González. However, Malo was about to leave. Jefe tells Keogh that it's not normal to do "business" at two in the morning.While they are coming back to Quamala, Francisco Goya, the messenger, was killed. Apparently, he was sleepwalking and fell from the window of his bedroom. Keogh officiates the funeral.Old Uncle thinks he's dying and calls for a priest. When Keogh arrives, he realises that Old Uncle's problem is that he's completely wasted. Old Uncle wants to confess. Pablo laughs and says "Tell him about María, that's a good story". Old Uncle still remembers when he was a boy and used to help the priest to celebrate mass. Anacleto arrives and inquires what's happening. He tells Keogh that he's sorry he's being played a joke. Keogh says that Old Uncle has some things on his conscience, but that there's no use hearing his confession in Old Uncle's present estate, and he leaves. When Father Keogh leaves, Anacleto tells off Pablo and Marco, calling him a fool. Anacleto throws some water to Old Uncle's face and asks him what he confessed to the Father, but the drunken old man says he can't remember, but then he says that Father Keogh wants to absolve Malo because Old Uncle loves Anacleto. Malo is furious that Old Uncle still wears a Catholic cross around his neck, but the old man says that he only wears it for good luck. Anacleto is angry because that cross proves that the Church and Keogh still have a little power over Old Uncle. Old Uncle throws it away through the window because he has never betrayed Malo, and he considers him as a son. Old Uncle drinks some more while Anacleto doesn't say anything else. Old Uncle leaves and almost falls down the stairs. Anacleto realises that the old man is going to look for the crucifix among the rubbish of the canteen.Anacleto pulls out his gun and goes to speak to Keogh. Chela sees him and runs to tell Jefe. Anacleto is not going to kill Father Keogh himself, though. All the opposite, he tells the priest that Old Uncle is coming to kill him. Malo asks Keogh what the priest told the old man; he says that he offered absolution to Anacleto if he confesses and repents, and that he wouldn't tell the police.Old Uncle arrives and Anacleto points his gun at the drunkard. He shows the necklace he found on the street. Old Uncle pushes Anacleto out of the way and goes for Father Keogh. They fight. Malo recovers and takes Old Uncle away from the priest, and finally shoots him on the back. Old Uncle cannot believe it. He tries to aim again and Malo shoots him twice. Old Uncle falls to the floor. Anacleto is hurt and Father Michael is OK. Jefe, the police officer and Chela arrive. Jefe now has the evidence that Anacleto tried to kill the priest, and nobody believes Keogh when he says that Anacleto was trying to protect him. Keogh insists that Anacleto is innocent, but nobody would believe him. Old Uncle came to kill the priest by Malo's orders. Jefe gives Anacleto 12 hours to leave town, or he'll go for him, thinking that Father Keogh wants to fight at both sides of the war. Anacleto says goodbye to Malo. He says that it must be irritating and fascinating at the same time to be a really good man. Chela is left with the body of Old Uncle and prays for him.The Presidente is celebrating the anniversary of Father Keogh's coming to Quantana. Anaclato comes back that very same night. He looks like a small-time squire. The priest asks him if he thinks it's wise to came back to the town. Anacleto says that he's thought about it, and that if the Catholic Church satisfies a man like him, it may also satisfy himself. Anacleto wants to believe and learn if it's the Church (the song) or the Singer (the people who believe) which make the message good. Anacleto wants to learn and be convinced. Father Keogh will try to convert him. Anacleto proposes to stay at the priest's house, as he doesn't have any friends anymore. Chela is outraged about the idea, and refuses because she had been eavesdropping. Chela wants Malo to sleep outdoors, but Keogh reprimands her and prepares a bed for him.Lucha doesn't want to hear how her mother tells her to enjoy life with boys, as the mother herself used to do when she was younger. She wants her to go to Florida and stay with Philip "Phil" Brown (Philip Gilbert), his rich cousin. In the ensuing argument, the mother finds some letter which she thinks they are love letters to Anacleto; she runs to show them to Father Keogh. The mother asks the priest to convince her to go to Florida. Keogh really thinks that Anacleto may convert.Anacleto reads the Bible. Father Keogh inquires about Lucha. Malo can't believe that she's in love with him. Malo thinks that if Lucha has a passion, it's not going to be for him, although the priest doesn't really understands what Malo means. The priest leaves, Anacleto looks out of the window and he sees Lucha arriving by car.Lucha enters the dispensary. Keogh is not there, but Anacleto is. Anacleto kisses Lucha, but she seems to reject him. Lucha says that she doesn't love him. Anacleto shows her one of her own letters and tells her that her parents and Keogh reached the obvious conclusion; he says that he is a modest man and that after the kiss he knows it's not him whom Lucha loves, and that realises that it must be hard for her to love a man who can't be hers. Anacleto says he understands her, which gives hopes to Lucha that Malo won't try to hurt him again.Father Keogh arrives. Anacleto leaves. They have no patients so far. The priest encourages Lucha to go to Florida. Lucha says that her mother wants her to marry Phil, but Lucha would prefer to become a spinster. Anyway, she'll go to Florida if Father Keogh thinks it's a good idea.Pablo asks Anacleto why he stays with the priest. Lucha has got engaged in the USA and will get married in Quantana in three weeks' time with Phil. Chela wishes Lucha happiness. Before, Lucha used to dress like a child, now she dresses as an old woman. Keogh is happy to see Lucha again, as nobody had told him that she was coming. Suddenly, Lucha doesn't look as happy. She says that Phil loves her and that she loves him as much as she could possibly love a man she could marry. That makes Father Keogh suspicious. Anacleto asks Keogh if he has ever loved a woman; he says that many years ago, before he got his vocation. Anacleto hasn't married because of his vocation as well.Lucha is running after her cat Lucky, which is in Anacleto's arms. He tries to convince her of not marrying Phil. Phil really loves Lucha. Phil has liked Father Keogh as well, who speaks wonders of Lucha. Michael Keogh marries Lucha and Phil. Lucha has a face of somebody who is going to be fed to the lions in her wedding dress. Anacleto arrives to see the wedding in his new fancy car. Keogh is terribly happy to marry her off, but suddenly he realises she's not happy at all. Lucha runs away without saying anything and leaves in Anacleto's car.Her father wants to police to rescue her, but Jefe tells him that she left to her own accord, she wasn't kidnapped and everybody has seen it. He also adds that it's Father Keogh's fault, because el Jefe himself would have never allowed Malo into the town again.Keogh is hearing a confesion (Eileen Way), and then Anacleto says he wants to confess. He tells Keogh that Lucha loves the priest, not him, which outrages Keogh, as he thinks he's lying. Anacleto says that the song is worthless. Anacleto thinks that Keogh will sacrifice the community of Quantana because he is in love with Lucha. A distraught Keogh prays in desperation.Lucha is being serenade, but she doesn't really appreciate it. Malo finally takes Father Keogh to Lucha. She hugs him and feels relieved he's OK. Lucha tells him that he's an egotistic man who never thinks on her. Finally, Lucha and Michael french-kiss. She is left even more distraught as Keogh doesn't love her.The bells in the tower toll. Anacleto goes to church with his friends. The rest of the townsfolk look at them with contempt. Father asks them to accept Anacleto if his repentance is honest, but he says that he'll denounce Anacleto's fake conversion. Finally, the priest denounces Malo. Anacleto runs from Jefe and his men. Malo is finally shot, although Louis keeps on helping him giving him a gun. During the shootout, Lucha takes cover while Father Keogh tells Jefe to take Malo alive. Finally, he shoots Anacleto twice and he dies.The priest runs to Anacleto, who's died. Pablo shoots Father Keogh, but he's shot by Jefe. Lucha cries and leaves. Father asks for an act of contrition from Anacleto, but he refuses. Keogh can't hear him, so he says that if he is repeating an act of contrition, he should press his hand.Anacleto says it's the singer, not the song, and presses his hand. Both die in each other's arms.---written by KrystelClaire | murder | train | imdb | Slow-moving but compelling psychological Western about a determined priest who arrives at a small town that seems to be mysteriously dominated by a local bad guy, and decides to fight him in his own peaceful way; their confrontations make the movie.
I watched this film not expecting terribly much, but was blown away by the subject matter and, more importantly, how it was handled by the skillful actors in the film.The story centres around a priest, played by John Mills, and a local bandit, excellently played by Dirk Bogarde.Without spoiling the ending, the story focuses on the conflict between the Priest and Anacleto.
More importantly, it is a tale of the pursuit of religion, and the issues involved.John Mills excellently plays the well intentioned priest, caught between his own feelings and the duties to the church.
Dirk Bogarde plays the local bandit, Anacleto, and portrays a truly intelligent athiest at the mercy of his own desires and ideologies.This is a great story of characterisation, and of the sometimes misplaced loyalties that we place on ourselves - be it through religion, or otherwise.Watch out for the excellent and hard hitting conclusion, with some excellent summarising by both Anacleto and the Priest at the storys conclusion.A must see for those who enjoy a deeper meaning behind the action and dialogue..
It concerns on Father Michael Keogh (John Mills , his third of several works with Baker) , a priest who has been given welcome by Father Gomez (Leslie French), whom he then replaces to a Mexican village after the Revolution .
The village is submitted by Anacleto Comachi (Dirk Bogarde) dressed in dark and usually on horse , with its cowardly residents hiding in the houses .
Meanwhile , the rich owner's daughter (Mylene Demengeot) falls in love with Comachi.From the novel by Audrey Erskine written by Nigel Balchin , this British picture is an interesting drama that carries a genuine charge of intelligence with exciting battle of wits between an upright priest and a nasty outlaw .
Good Production Manager by Denis Holt with nice Production design by Vetchinsky made on location in Torremolinos , Malaga, Spain and at Pinewood Studios, London .The motion picture is professionally directed in Western style by Roy Baker , though contains up and downs with an amazing final .
Baker emerged in post-wars years as one of the best Brit filmmakers and ahead of his time in editing techniques , working even in Hollywood, right from his initial American film titled ¨Inferno¨ with Robert Ryan and as ¨Don't bother to knock¨ with Marilyn Monroe .
His movies also achieved some of the most important popular successes of the English cinema in the 50s and 60s, including ¨Morning departure¨ ,¨The one that got away¨ and the better film about Titanic tragedy as ¨A night to remember ¨ and at TV as ¨Sherlock Holmes , The Champions , the Saint , and the Avengers¨ .
On his return to the cinema in the 60s billed as Roy Ward baker , he no longer seemed the same filmmaker and indeed directed entirely different kind of subjects , mainly terror movies as ¨Quatermass and the pit¨, ¨Vampire lovers¨, ¨Asylum¨ ¨Legend of seven golden vampires among others¨ .
My first (and for a long time) only viewing of this film was way back in the mid-1980s (during the early days of VHS in my neck of the woods) via a tape of a local TV screening my father loaned from a friend of his; even though I was aware of a couple of Italian TV showings over the years, I never managed to catch up with it – until another friend of my father’s alerted me (around Good Friday of last year) that it had been released – and, as it happens, subsequently deleted – on R2 DVD in the UK…which is how I eventually reacquainted myself with it on the day marking the centenary of one of its lead actors, John Mills.
The reason I went into such detail about my previous experience with this particular film is because, even though it’s been 23 years since my sole viewing of (what is nowadays perhaps considered) a fairly obscure title, I myself have never forgotten it.The ‘rejected priest in a godless Mexico’ theme recalls John Ford’s THE FUGITIVE (1947) and Luis Bunuel’s NAZARIN (1959), while the ‘homosexual undertones in a Western setting’ angle is reminiscent of the Howard Hughes/Howard Hawks concoction THE OUTLAW (1943) – with henchman Laurence Naismith’s ambiguous father-son-lover relationship with bandit leader Dirk Bogarde being particularly a throwback to the Thomas Mitchell/Jack Beutel one in the earlier film.
This was the fourth of six collaborations between Mills and director Baker and which also included the latter’s debut, THE October MAN (1947) – a well-regarded thriller I’d love to watch and which, incidentally, has just been released on R2 DVD as part of a “John Mills Centenary Collection”.
Bogarde, who himself considered the whole thing “beyond camp”, is almost always completely black-clad and, at one point, even sports cool shades!; here, he was already beginning to bravely delve on screen into his real-life gay side – which would come to full fruition later that same year in Basil Dearden’s VICTIM and other later acclaimed international films.Nigel Balchin’s complex screenplay is at once fascinating and heavy-going, occasioning a few lulls particularly during the last third of the film’s lengthy 132-minute duration; besides, the ‘alphabet murders’ element to Bogarde’s tyrannical rule – not to mention pretty, pouting Mylene Demongeot’s forbidden love for middle-aged priest Mills – isn’t very convincing.
Having said that, DD Video’s full-frame presentation would have usually put me off acquiring a title on DVD – but, for the reasons delineated in my introduction, I gladly made an exception in this case.Roy Ward Baker’s accompanying brief interview is very interesting: he wasn’t keen on doing the film himself but concedes now that it is beautifully-made; he also discloses that, initially, it was supposed to star Richard Burton instead of John Mills (but he was only interested in playing the bandit…except that the role was always intended for Bogarde – this, in fact, turned out to be the last film the latter made under contract to Rank) and that there was a mysterious enmity between the two male stars.
But some of the ingredients are rather tasty and juicy and so, it is actually quite enjoyable.John Mills, as the priest, supposedly Irish but who's accent is only about 10% that, does OK but doesn't shine.
To many, the ongoing religiosity - I won't go so far to say 'sermonising' between the Church (Catholic, in this case) - could be a turn-off.I was trying to place the film's setting, period wise but can't find mention of it but would guess 1930-40s and a remote village in Mexico (actually Spain).
As I said, quite a mish-mash that makes a tastier dish than it should.Trying to simplify the plot, I'll say that Mills takes over from another priest who is disenchanted and can't wait to get out.
Mills, the idealist and good-doer can't believe him when he says that the Church is hated in the village, led by the local gangster, Bogarde.
The girl is beautiful and nice to look at, Bogarde struts around gamely like a peacock and Mills is reliably nice.The title - one of its strong points - refers to the man (the priest) rather than his song (Church, The Bible) as Bogarde came to have respect and admiration for Mills, rather than what he stood for.The direction is a bit stodgy and as I saw it on commercial TV, it was cut up by frequent ads and in 4:3 ratio.
Dirk Bogarde's own opinion of this film.
I first saw it as a teenager and, at the time, thought all that emotion at the end rather an impressive bit of movie drama .
Back then I had no idea that Bogarde was gay and I'm sure that there was no mention of homosexuality in the novel on which the film was based.
I thought John Mills did the best he could with a bad screenplay and was rather good at times.
Another of these movies where Dirk Bogarde got lost.Why on earth did he have to get involved in that business?The screenplay has enormous pretensions and suggests homosexual tendencies between the priest and the all dressed-in-black Bogarde as well as a love which blonde Mylène Demongeot feels for the same priest!which is a bit too much!Luis Bunuel could have got away with it,but the director here is not in the same league.The screenplay is incoherent and the three leads are finally unconvincing.The title is absurd (Bogarde likes the singer (the priest?) but not his song(his Christian message?).It was also to be a Rolling Stone song with a nice dulcimer arrangement by Brian JOnes in the mid-sixties.But here Bogarde's fans can have a look,but be warned:it's the actor,not the movie..
I must say I was agreeably surprised to come across this offbeat film as part of a collection of John Mills rarities (can't recall the other two,I threw them away).
Prior to viewing the full screen DVD,I was able to recall the film's poor following in N.Z. At the Auckland premiere in the early 1960's, the cinema manager came on stage and announced that "The Singer Not The Song" was unsuitable viewing and would be replaced with "Tunes Of Glory".I'm unable to recall if the film was released at all after that.I certainly don't recall anyone discussing the film in question but given it's suggestion of homosexuality,I'm now not at all surprised.Such topics were never even hinted at in those days down in innocent little New Zealand.Thank God we now live in a more informed world.Therefore,this film was years ahead of it's time and as such,I find it compelling.
Dirk Bogarde and John Mills both give thoughtful,intelligent performances and I am so grateful that keen film buffs like myself can now fully appreciate this worthwhile contribution to British Cinema..
Except that this film turns the whole story upside down and we are left to witness the villain falling for the priest in front of the bewildered girl who cannot decide which one she wants.
What an odd film this is!A British made " Western"set in Mexico, but the cars and houses are very 1950's.Dirk Bogarde is a Mexican bandit but makes no attempt at an accent.John Mills is playing an Irish priest and does attempt an accent but forgets it half the time.
One must assume that money was the prime motivation behind theses to old pros participation - Bogarde did go on to give us some of his finest performances in films like The Servant and Death in Venice.
I was more impressed by the story of a battle of wills between a determined priest and an equally determined and wily "bad man" (El Malo) boss in a remote Mexican village.
Å young girl, "Locha", shows signs of infatuation with the new ;priest, and "Anacleto" against his better judgement, begins to like the priest.
Priests and Nuns were not allowed to wear traditional habit in public for many years.In the end, "Father Keogh" must choose between the welfare of the village and his goal of bringing "Anacleto" back to the Çhurch.
When "Anacleto" comes to the church expecting the favourable sermon, "Father Keogh" instead denounces him and brings in the police to arrest him.
"Anacleto" does press his hand, but murmurs, "It's the singer, not the song".It's powerful stuff and powerfully acted by Sir Dirk and Sir John.
Dirk Bogarde gives his career best moody, mean , atmospheric performance as a menacing , ambiguous , mysterious western town gunfighter Anacleto.
The film is expertly written, produced directed and acted by a top notch cast that includes British stalwart John Mills as a confused priest who befriends a leather clad gunman Bogarde and the ravishing, exciting French starlet Mylene Demongeot as the love interest.
Bogarde's mean bandit out to control a Mexican town is resisted by Mills.
This film is recommended as Dirk Bogarde's best acting on film and also for superb direction from British director Roy Ward Baker who later went on to direct numerous masterpieces of cult Uk television and horror..
said it was a Western?)...I sat through the whole thing, stunned as if I had been hit over the head with a hammer!...I don't know if "enjoyed" is a word I would use to describe this movie, but most certainly "impressed" would fit the bill...There were enough gunfights and charging about on horses to satisfy the Western lover in me, although the girl running around in a Cadillac convertible (or was it a Lincoln?) was a bit strange and took some getting used to...As someone who was raised strict Irish Catholic (oh, those were the days!!), I understood the priest's sense of duty and inner turmoil over the beautiful girl, but as a young man with more than my fair share of hormones, I also appreciated the lust and sex aspects of the affair between the bandit chief and the girl as well...As to the final shootout at the end, well, all I can say is...WOW...it totally satisfied the action requirements of a Western film...The Mexican army against a gang of ruthless gunfighters, bodies all over the place, gunsmoke hanging in the air, and of course the bloody demise of both stars...Since finding out that Bogarde was both a homosexual AND a raving Commie, I have lost all respect for him as a person, but still retain admiration for him as an actor...Like I said, this film (which I have not been able to find, or see, since 1962) is one that I have never been able to forget, even to quoting many of the lines of dialogue from time to time...Oh yes, and don't forget the bandit's white Persian cat being hand fed goldfish...(ala Blofeld's cat in 007 films!!)...A powerful movie even if not a successful one!!.
This is not Anacleto, the bandit, but Bogarde, the actor.John Bentley also seems incredibly out of place as the police chief.
THE SINGER NOT THE SONG is a rare misfire for British director Roy Ward Baker, the man best known for his crime films of the 1950s and his horror output for Hammer in the 1960s.
The problem with this film is the long-winded and overly pious storyline, which is a battle of wits between a good-natured priest (John Mills) and the town outlaw (Dirk Bogarde).
This film had a lot of good moments but was undone by having a very vague plot that seemed to have no end.
The film begins with John Mills as a Catholic priest moving to a god-forsaken small town in Mexico to replace their current priest.
It seems that the old priest was a broken man, as the town was completely anti-God because the town tough guy (inexplicably played by Dirk Bogarde) didn't want religion in HIS town.
For the first half of the film, Bogarde and his men did many horrible things to try to drive Mills off, but despite all the killings and attempted murders, Mills persevered.Then, almost like magic, this problem just vanished.
None of this really made any sense and completely undid the first half of the movie.However, in addition to a seemingly nicer Bogarde (at least he was no longer killing people), the plot just went all over the place here and the second half of the film was a diffuse mess.
Out of nowhere, a very blonde and non-Mexican looking young lady who was friends with the priest announced her love for him.
At the same time, I seemed to be noticing a lot of gay subtext--as if Bogarde had notions about Mills--though it was never very clear.
Considering that Bogarde was gay in real life and that he ran around in leather (looking like a member of Judas Priest), I think this was intended BUT the movie makers weren't bold enough to go with this--and instead created a confusing mess.By the way, this is a very strange looking film.
Though set in Mexico, there were a lot of British accents and casting Bogarde was just weird.
Plus, as I mentioned above, the leather outfit he wore was odd--looking like he belonged in an S&M film!
This was so confusing and just looked sloppy--like they could have cared less if the actors were right for the roles.Overall, this movie was way too long, way too confusing and way too vague.
It was like there were two or three movies all mixed together here and it represents one of the worse John Mills or Dirk Bogarde films I have seen..
Watch out for bogarde's tight leather trousers and the none too subtle homosexual romance between the two leads.
You have to wait another forty years for another western as gay as this one.The following actors (wisely) declined the role of Father Keogh before it was offered to Mills.
At the time it was thought "The singer not the song" had dealt a fatal blow to the British Film Industry,but as so often before and since,reports of its death were exaggerated.Good-looking sophisticated nicely brought up actors however dropped rather alarmingly from the radar as the New Wave - more like a tsunami in its affect - swept into the studios.
Mr Bogarde did not like Mr Mills despite the fact that he was shorter and considerably less pretty than himself and was not a happy bunny when he was cast as the priest.He spent most of the movie in the world's longest hissy fit which he does well to disguise fairly effectively.
Very difficult to score, because some of it is ridiculous and unbelievable, whereas other stuff is interesting with content about governance, policing, spirituality and religiosity that give the mind material for real reflection.Ridiculous;- the accents, especially Mills with his poorly sustained Irish one, which calls into question the Direction, why was he not made to do it again or some explanation given in the script for him being an English Roman Catholic Priest? |
tt0234215 | The Matrix Reloaded | Green code-rain starts pouring down the screen, first forming the words "The Matrix", then "Reloaded". The image zooms further in, there's coding everywhere, making out a jungle of shapes. We seem to be inside some kind of machinery, and after pulling out we see the shape of a clock. The image transforms into a time clock and a group of security guards clock out and leave for the night.Outside a figure in black on a matching motorcycle comes flying through the air. She leaps from the bike, makes a backward flip in mid-air and the bike lands with a crash on the guardhouse causing a major explosion. The figure lands elegantly in front of the explosion. As she removes her helmet we see it is Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss). The guards in the parking lot attack her, but she easily fights them off. The picture crumbles into coding like dust, and when restored we're very high up on the side of a building. Trinity bursts through the window, guns in hand. She turns on her back in mid-air, an agent is pursuing her and jumps after, head first. They exchange gunfire, falling to the streets below in slow motion. Eventually Trinity is shot in the chest. Something (impossible to see who or what) crashes into a car by the sidewalk. Neo (Keanu Reeves) wakes up. He looks over at Trinity lying in his arms, sleeping peacefully, then gets out of bed.We see the Nebuchadnezzar from outside as it hovers through the sewers and lands. Inside are Link (Harold Perrineau) and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) in the cockpit. "Sir, Are you sure about this?" Link asks. Morpheus tells him that if he is to continue as operator on his ship Link must trust him. "Yes, sir. I will sir," says Link. Morpheus glances at him. "I mean I do, sir."In the mess hall sits Neo, pondering. Trinity sits down opposite him. "Still can't sleep?" she asks. Neo shakes his head and takes a sip from his breakfast. "You wanna talk?" Trinity offers. "They're just dreams," Neo reassures. "If you're afraid of something..." "I just wish... I wish I knew what I'm supposed to do, that's all. I just wish I knew." "She's gonna call, don't worry," assures Trinity. Link pops his head in and Trinity asks "Are we ready to go?" "We're already late," he replies.In a dark room underground Niobe (Jada Pinkett Smith) is addressing a crowd of other ship crews about the imminent threat to Zion. The machines are digging and will reach Zion in 72 hours. Naturally Morpheus and crew arrive fashionably late, making sure to draw attention by making an argument right away that there is nothing to fear, for he believes the prophecy will come true very soon and end the war. "But first the Oracle must be consulted." Accordingly, Morpheus asks for a volunteer ship to remain in broadcast depth while the Nebuchadnezzar returns to Zion to recharge and make repairs, despite Commander Lock's direct orders for ALL ships to return. Captain Ballard (Roy Jones Jr.) of the Caduceus volunteers "just to see what Lock does to you." He gives Morpheus 36 hours.Meanwhile someone knocks on the entrance door. The corrupt (Paul Cotter) opens a small hatch on the door and a head in silhouette is seen against the headlights of a car. The stranger asks for Neo. The guard claims not to know who he's talking about and the stranger hands him an envelope telling him to give it to Neo. "You see he set me free." It's beyond doubt the voice of Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving).Neo, having sensed something, comes up asking what's going on. "How did you know someone was here?" one of the guards asks. "He wanted me to give you this," and hands Neo the envelope. Into Neo's palm drops an earpiece worn by agents. "Agents are coming," warns Neo. They flee, leaving Neo to handle the threat.The three agents recognize Neo as "the anomaly", but proceed anyway on the basis that he is after all "only human." Neo pauses momentarily while blocking a blow, "Hm. Upgrades." He fights them off with ease. When the battle is over Neo crouches down, the ground ripples and he shoots to the skies (as he did in the very end of the prequel). At the scene of the battle, Smith walks up and states that it all "went as expected". Facing him is another Smith, "Yes." "It's all happening exactly as before..." "Well, not exactly..." They smile.Morpheus and Trinity are driving to an exit as Morpheus calls Link and asks what happened. Link says a bunch of agents showed up and that suddenly the "coding got all weird." He has never seen anything like it. Morpheus then asks where Neo is now. "He's doing his Superman-thing."Like Link said, Neo is soaring through the clouds. Then he stops and heads back down to the ground. He lands in an old building and enters an abandoned apartment, which we recognize as that of the Oracle. "Where are you?" he whispers.The Nebuchadnezzar approaches Zion. Link communicates with one of the gate operators and they are let inside. Once landed The crew exits the ship and are met by Captain Mifune (Nathaniel Lees) and three A.P.U. escorts. "Are you here to escort me to the stockades, captain?" asks Morpheus. "I'm just here to keep the peace," assures Mifune. Commander Lock wants to see Morpheus and accordingly the escorts take him to him. "What's with them?" Neo asks. "Lock and Morpheus?" asks Trinity back. Neo nods. "Niobe." "Captain Niobe?" "Mhm. She used to be with Morpheus, now she's with Lock." "What happened?" "Morpheus went to the Oracle, after that everything changed." "Yeah, she can do that." Trinity, Neo and Link start gathering their luggage when a teenage boy (Clayton Watson) comes running enthusiastically towards them. "How does he always know?" Trinity asks Neo in a hushed voice. "Doesn't he have anything better to do?" wonders Neo. "You know what they say about the life you save..." answers Trinity. "I didn't save his life," Neo claims. The kid, now right in front of them, welcomes them home and offers to carry their bags. Both Neo and Trinity decline. "You can carry these..." says Link. "Sure, Link."As they all walk towards the elevators the kid starts going on about how he will be old enough to join a crew next year and that he wants to serve aboard the Nebuchadnezzar. His main reason for this is that Neo saved him. "You saved yourself," assures Neo.Meanwhile Lock (Harry Lennix) tells Morpheus off for asking a ship to stay behind, when they all had been ordered back to Zion. Morpheus defends himself with his belief that they must have the Oracles advice and that Neo will be the key to ending the war. Lock on the other hand has no confidence in the prophecy and is only concerned with having all the firepower available for when the machines reaches Zion.The kid mentions a gathering that evening, a bigger one than anyone can remember. It is a popular belief that something big will happen.Councillor Hamann (Anthony Zerbe) enters in the middle of the discussion. He asks their opinion on what is to be said about the situation to the people at the gathering that evening. Lock believes they should know as little as possible, they wouldn't want to start a panic. Morpheus thinks the truth should be told and that there will be no panic because there is nothing to fear.They enter the elevator and after a few seconds of silence Link gets off telling the kid to come with him. "These two have other things to do." As soon as the elevator doors closes Neo and Trinity drop their bags and make out passionately. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" asks Neo. "I'm thinking this elevator is too damn slow," replies Trinity. But before long they are interrupted by the elevator doors opening and are received by a crowd of people. They carry offerings, asking Neo to look over their sick children etc. Neo thanks them for their gifts and says he'll try. Trinity lowers her head in disappointment and starts to walk away. Neo asks her not to go, but Trinity answers, "It's okay. They need you." "I need you," he pleads. "I know, there's time," she assures him and walks away.Meanwhile, Link arrives at his apartment where his girlfriend, Zee (Nona Gaye), is waiting with her sister-in-law, Cas (Gina Torres), her niece (Alima Ashton-Sheibu) and nephew (Joshua Mbakwe). "Uncle Link!" the little ones exclaim as he walks through the door. After welcoming him home, Cas and her kids leave. Zee is not happy at all. Link serving on Morpheus' ship terrifies her. All other ships are home twice as often as the Nebucadnezzar. She has also already lost two brothers to that ship and is afraid she will lose him too. "It's not fair," she says. "You think Cas thinks it's fair that I'm here and Dozer's not?" Link argues. He also says nothing will happen to him, Morpheus says it will all be over soon. The important thing is that he's home now and they hug.Evening comes and everyone is gathered in Zion's temple cavern. Counselor Hamann is standing on a cliff high above the masses, as he gives the opening prayer and introduces Morpheus, who then steps up and gives his speech. He confirms the rumors of the machines digging, and convinces everyone that there is indeed nothing to be afraid of. "We are still here!" is his main argument and tonight they will make so much noise as to show the machines that they are not afraid. The music starts and everyone starts dancing as if it really was their last night on earth.As he leaves the podium, Morpheus runs into Niobe and they flirt mildly before Lock call her to his side.Meanwhile Neo and Trinity meet up in the outskirts of the caves. "I was thinking. Everyone's here..." says Neo. "Follow me." answers Trinity. While everyone else parties like never before, Neo and Trinity are alone at last and they make passionate love to each other and have the sex of their lives!However, Neo suddenly gets a flash of his dream where Trinity is shot and falls into his fears of losing her. Trinity asks what is wrong, but he only answers that he is afraid of losing her. She grasps his hand, "Do you feel this? I'm never letting go." They hold each other tightly and remain silently in each others arms.Eventually everyone goes to bed and the lights are shut down.Back in the Matrix Bane (Ian Bliss) and another member of the Caduceus crew are fleeing for their lives from something. They have reached an exit and have a message from the Oracle. Bane goes last and just before he can get out Smith jumps through the skylight and plunges his hand into Bane's chest. "Oh, God" shivers Bane in terror. "Smith will suffice," says the former agent satisfied. Black fluid of sorts spreads all over Bane's body from where Smith has his hand, and once covered he is another Smith-clone. The clone then puts the phone to his ear and leaves the Matrix.Neo wakes up and goes outside his apartment gazing over the city. Councillor Hamann approaches him and offers his company. Neo accepts. Hamann asks if Neo has ever been to the engineering level. He has not, so they go. Once down there Hamann tells Neo about his wondering if they, the free humans, aren't in a sense plugged into these machines. They do after all depend on them. Neo answers that they control these machines, that if they wanted to they could shut them down, destroy them. But, Hamann points out there is the catch. If they did turn them off, what would happen to their water supply, heat etc.? But in the end he has no point to his musings and they leave it at that.It's morning and Ballard knocks on a door in Zion and Trinity opens. "Is Neo here?" Trinity opens the door further and Neo appears. It's a message from the Oracle. Against Lock's orders Morpheus takes off with ship and crew to have Neo meet with her.Before departure Zee tries to urge Link to wear her lucky necklace. He reluctantly agrees, not believing in that stuff, and they kiss.As the party go their ship Bane/Smith sits in nook of the tunnel, cutting his hand with a knife. When the quartet pass him, he sneaks up behind them, knife in hand. He is discovered though when the kid from before comes running. "Neo!" Bane/Smith hides the knife behind his back and claims he just wanted to say good luck. The kid has to say goodbye to his hero too before he leaves and give him something from one of the orphans. "He said you'd understand." It's a metal spoon.Lock is outraged at Counselor Hamann for giving the Nebuchadnezzar clearance to leave. He did so because he believes their survival depends on more than how many ships they have.Neo enters the Matrix near the designated address, which is in Chinatown. He enters a small room from the street and at the back of the room sits an Asian-looking man in corresponding clothes, meditating. To Neo, who sees everything in coding, the stranger radiates a golden light. "Welcome," he says. "I am Seraph." He will take Neo to the Oracle. "But first I must apologize." "For what?" wonders Neo. "For this," says Seraph (Collin Chou) and attacks. After some kicking, punching and blocking, Seraph is satisfied. He had to make sure Neo really was the One, as the Oracle has many enemies. "You could have just asked," claims Neo with a smile. "You do not really know someone until you fight them," answers Seraph. He then shuts the door to the street, pulls out a key that he turns in the key hole and opens the door again. It no longer leads to the streets of Chinatown, but to a white hallway lined with green doors. "These are back doors," Neo concludes. Seraph confirms. "Where'd they go?" Link wonders in the real world. They walk down the hall till Seraph stops and opens another door. This one leads to an isolated courtyard where the Oracle (Gloria Foster) sits waiting on a bench.Neo approaches her and she asks him to sit down. He politely declines. "Suit yourself," she says and shrugs. Neo sits down after all. "I felt like sitting." "Of course.""Let's get the obvious out of the way," the Oracle starts. "You're not human, are you," Neo says.
"Doesn't get more obvious than that." "If I had to guess I'd say you were a program of the machine world. And so is he," Neo looks at Seraph. "I guess the most obvious question is, how can I trust you?" The Oracle answers that he has to choose whether to trust her or not.
"Candy?" she offers him.
"You already know if I'm going to take it?"
"Wouldn't be much of an oracle if I didn't."
"Then how can I make a choice?"
The Oracle replies that he has already made the choice and only needs to understand it. "But why are you here?" wonders Neo.
The Oracle points out a flock of crows and explains that at some point a program to govern them as well as all other things. The programs that do their job are invisible, as opposed those who do not. The latter manifest as what humans refer to as ghosts, vampires etc.
"When a program faces deletion it can either choose to hide out here or return to the Source. Where you must go."
"The machine mainframe."
"You've seen, haven't you? The The door of bright light."
Neo confirms.
"What happens when you walk through it?!
"I see Trinity. Something bad happens and Trinity starts to fall."
"Do you see her die?"
"No"
"You've got the sight now Neo."
Neo wants to know why he can not see what happen to Trinity, but the answer he gets is simply that we cannot see past the choices we do not understand.
"Are you saying I have to choose whether Trinity lives or dies?"
"No, Neo. You've already made the choice."
Neo refuses to accept this, he can not do such a thing, but he has to.
"Why?"
"Because you are the One."
If Neo doesn't go to the Source all of Zion will perish, and to get there he will need the Keymaker, an exile program currently held captive by the Merovingian an old and dangerous program.Seraph comes over saying they must leave and so he and the Oracle leave through the back door. Just as the door closes Smith appears. Apparently Neo and he are connected somehow. He explains that when Neo destroyed him he was supposed to be deleted, but he refused to obey the rules and has now become "unplugged". Then there is the question of purpose and Smith-clones start coming towards them, each elaborating on the importance of purpose. When the "original" Smith and Neo are surrounded by clones, Smith tries to turn him into another clone, but with some effort Neo manages to resist and pulls Smith's hand out of his chest. All Smiths attack. A lengthy fight ensues, more clones joining in continually. In the middle of it all an agent comes to the scene only to be turned into yet another clone, but not before recognizing Smith in surprise. Eventually Neo abandons the fight and all the clones go their separate ways.Back in the real world Neo is unplugged.
"It was Smith," says Morpheus.
Neo confirms and that he has found a way to copy himself.In Zion the council and all crews are gathered. Lock explains their current situation and tactics. The council have limited confidence in these tactics. They then ask if there has been word from the Nebucadnezzar. There has not. Hence the council asks for two volunteer ships to go search for them, against Lock's protests. Captain Soren (Steve Bastoni) stands up immediately. No other reacts to the request. Bane/Smith suggests to Ballard that they should volunteer, but Ballard just tells him to shut up. Eventually Niobe declares her willingness to search for the missing party, to Lock's surprise and horror. He tries to forbid her to go, but she is determined, because some things never change and some things do.Neo, Trinity and Morpheus arrive at a French restaurant in the Matrix, where thy find the Merovingian (Lambert Wilson) and his wife, Persephone (Monica Bellucci), at the head table as if they were king and queen. As a "trafficker of information", as he calls himself, the Merovingian knows why they are there. The question is, according to him, do they know? He says they are there because they were told to, declares he has no intention of letting go of the Keymaker and tells them to tell the Oracle from him that "her time is almost up." He also explains to them what he holds as the one truth, namely the forces of causality. As he has said all he feels like sharing he cuts the negotiations short and excuses himself to the men's room. Neo, Morpheus and Trinity are escorted to the elevator by the Merovingian's henchmen.When the elevator stops and the doors open they see Persephone waiting for them.
"If you want the Keymaker, follow me," she says dryly and takes them to the men's room (where the Merovingian is not).
"Why are you doing this?" Neo asks. Her answer is that she has come to resent her husband. She will take them to the Keymaker on one condition: that Neo kiss her as if she were Trinity, she wants to remember what love feels like. Trinity protests by pulling a gun at Persephone, but as they need the Keymaker she has no choice but to back down and look on in anguish. As soon as Persephone is satisfied she fulfills her promise.She leads them through the kitchen of the restaurant and to a door at the other end. This she opens with a key similar to that of Seraph's. This takes them to the great hall of a chateau. Persephone further leads the party to a small study where two shady men are sitting guard. She shoots one with a silver bullet and tells the other to tell his master what she has done or die like his friend. "He's in the lady's room," Persephone shouts after the vampire as he scurries off and opens a secret door to the dungeons, where they find the Keymaker (Randall Duk Kim).As they re-enter the main hall, the Merovingian and his henchmen burst through the front door. He is shocked by his wife's actions and fail to understand her reasons. She plainly explains that it is just like he said: cause and effect. The Merovingian claims there is no cause for this, but Persephone points out the lipstick he is still wearing (not on his lips...) and leaves.The Merovingian immediately order the Twins (Neil Rayment and Adrian Rayment), who turn out to have the ability to turn into spectrals, to get the Keymaker back. The Keymaker flees right away and Trinity and Morpheus follow him, leaving Neo to handle the henchmen. They put up more of a fight than the agents, but are still not much of a match for the One. Disappointed the Merovingian and company leave the way they came, closing the door behind them. This causes the connection between the restaurant and castle to break and when he re-opens the door Neo finds himself high up in the mountains. He therefore runs the way the Keymaker went.Meanwhile, the Keymaker connects the door at the end of a hallway to a parking lot, but Trinity fails to close the door before one of the Twins gets an arm between the door and the door frame. Thus the other twin can merely glide through in spectral form, prompting Trinity to fight him (Morpheus holds the door), but she loses and the Twin pulls a knife to her throat. Morpheus has no choice but to let the other Twin through. In the meantime, the Keymaker acquires a car and Trinity runs over and gets in the driver's seat while Morpheus holds the Twins at bay. Morpheus gets in the car and they flee. As they drive away one of the twins closes the door in Neo's face.Neo crashes through the door anyway, but is again in the mountains. He calls Link who can only tell him he's in the mountains. Neo then inquires how Trinity and Morpheus are doing. They are in trouble, Link tells him, and gives him directions to their whereabouts.In the city Morpheus and Trinity are zooming through the streets trying to shake off the pursuing Twins who have acquired a car of their own. Morpheus calls Link for help and it turns out the only way is onto the freeway. By now, a load of police cars are on their tail. "You always told me to stay off the freeway," says Trinity.
"Yes, that's true."
"You said it was suicide."
"Then let us hope that I was wrong."Elsewhere in the Matrix, Niobe calls Link to tell him they have come to get them out. "Just follow the sirens..." says Link.On the freeway, the Twins are now in front of Morpheus and co. and as soon as they run out of ammo, the one not driving takes spectral form and lands himself in the backseat of the other car, next to the Keymaker. Morpheus tries to fight him off, to little avail. Then Agents show up; one lands on the hood of Trinity's and Morpheus's car and rips off the roof. Morpheus, though held down by the Twin, fires at him, but this helps no more than it ever has before. Trinity hits the brakes so that the Agent is flung off. Morpheus continues to struggle with the Twin and eventually gets hold of a sword which he thrusts through his seat, forcing the twin to let go of his solid self and get left behind. He is immediately picked up by his brother.
"We are getting aggravated."
"Yes, we are."
Another Agent has caught up with our heroes and fires away as well hitting them with his car. They manage to lose him though, by leaving the freeway in a way that causes the Agent to crash into the railing. They are now on a bridge over the freeway and come to a full stop.
"Trinity, get him out of here," orders Morpheus.
"Come on!" she shouts to the Keymaker and they jump off the bridge onto a truck below carrying a load of motorcycles. Morpheus stays behind to handle the Twins. He does this by causing their crash and shooting the gas tank.Trinity and the Keymaker obtain a motorcycle and continue towards their exit. It is not long however before an Agent takes control of a semi-truck, forcing Trinity to turn around. Police follow and are soon transformed into more Agents. Morpheus comes towards them on the roof of another semi-truck and grabs the Keymaker. Trinity is no longer being pursued and escapes, as it is the Keymaker the Agents want this time. An Agent therefore attacks Morpheus instead, and they battle on top of the semi. After a while Morpheus, is thrown off, but Niobe catches him on the hood of her car. The Agent approaches the Keymaker.
"You are no longer necessary."
"We do only what we're meant to do," says the Keymaker.
"Then you're meant for only one more thing. Deletion." replies the Agent .
Just as the Agent is about to terminate the Exile, Mopheus jumps on him, throwing him off. This only prompts the Agent to relocate to the driver's seat of the same semi-truck, and forces Niobe to leave. Further back another Agent is in control of another semi-truck and turns the truck, aiming for the other truck and a head-on collision.
"Neo, if you're out there, I could use some help," prays Mopheus to himself.
"What is that?" wonders Link about something on the screen.
Neo comes flying through the air, grabbing Morpheus and the Keymaker in the nick of time.In Zion, they learn that the machines drilling through the earth are currently being slowed down by iron, which means they will be in Zion in little over nine hours.Soren, Niobe, Morpheus and their crews are gathered with the Keymaker. He tells them what they must do. Neo must go through the door that leads to the source, but to keep the entire building from exploding, the electrical network providing energy to 27 square blocks must be disabled. Niobe and Ghost (Anthony Brandon Wong) must therefore take out a power station while Soren and his crew deactivate the emergency network. This will give a five-minute window during which Neo must open the door. "All must be done as one. If one fails, all fail," the Keymaker instructs.Back in the real world, while waiting for it to be time for him to go, Neo makes Trinity promise not to enter the Matrix. She agrees.Niobe and Ghost succeed, but Soren and his crew are killed by Sentinels just before they accomplish their mission. Link and Trinity discover that they aren't moving and so Trinity has to go in to finish their job.As Neo sees the lights go out he, Morpheus and the Keymaker enter the hall of back door, where they are met by Smith.Trinity enters the Matrix and all happens as in Neo's dreams.In the hallway Neo and Morpheus are assaulted by a horde of Smiths. They try to take Morpheus' body for their own, but Neo prevents it. In the heat of the battle the Keymaker sneaks around by using alternate doors and opens the one they seek just as the power grid fails again, thanks to Trinity. Neo grabs Morpheus and flies through the door. Unfortunately the Keymaker is gunned down by Smiths as he closes it again, and dies. Before taking his last "breath," he tells Morpheus which door to take to get home and gives Neo the key he needs to open the special door. Simultaneously an Agent is heading for Trinity without her knowledge. Neo enters the door of light.He is now in a room where the walls are made up of old-fashioned television screens. In a chair on the other side of the room sits the Architect (Helmut Bakaitis), the one who designed the Matrix. Neo asks why is he there. The Architect explains that Neo is an anomaly he has been unable to remove. "You haven't answered my question," Neo points out. The Architect confirms and mentions that he caught on faster than the others... The screens, showing Neo and expressing his thoughts, all express bewilderment by what the Architect means. "The Matrix is older than you know," the Architect explains. Apparently this is the sixth version. Neo has trouble accepting, but concludes that "either no one told me or no one knows."
"Precisely." The anomaly is essential to the equations the Architect builds the Matrix from.
"Choice, the problem is choice," Neo realizes.Just then Trinity is surprised by an Agent. She is no match for him and soon hits the floor.The Architect describes the first Matrix, which was perfect and therefore failed. The Architect tried again, making it reflect the human nature, but in vain. The problem was discovered by "an intuitive program, initially created to investigate certain aspects of the human psyche." The Oracle discovered (according to the Architect, by chance) that the humans had to be given choice. This leads them to Zion and Neo is with the Architect because it is about to be destroyed, a fact Neo cannot accept.The Architect simply points out that it is for the sixth time and they are getting better and better at it.Trinity continues to battle the Agent, but is slowly being defeated.The Architect explains that Neo must now return to the Source so that the "prime program can be launched. Then he must choose 23 people to rebuild Zion. If he does not the Matrix will crash due to system failure, killing everyone connected. As Zion is about to be destroyed that would mean the end of the human race. Neo points out however that machines need humans to survive."There are levels of survival we are prepared to accept," the Architect claims. He doubts however that Neo will accept the extinction of all humans. The Architect elaborates that the five predecessors were designed to develop an attachment to their fellow human beings. Neo, on the other hand has a more specific aim for his affections.
"Trinity!" Neo exclaims in a whisper. The screens are showing her predicament, and the Architect reveals that she entered the Matrix to save his life. The Architect presents Neo with two doors. The one to his right leads to the Source, and the one on the left to Trinity and the downfall of man. The old man can tell that Neo's feelings are blinding him from the "fact" that Trinity will die either way. As the Oracle predicted, Neo goes to his left, only stopping to threaten the Architect that he better hope they don't meet again.
"We won't," is the only reply.Back in the real world Morpheus is just coming out of the Matrix.
"We have a problem, sir," says Link.
"Oh, no," exclaims Morpheus as he sees Trinity connected.Trinity is still battling the Agent and jumps through the window and falls, the Agent close behind, and he shoots her as predicted in Neo's nightmares. Neo, flying faster than ever, catches her just in time, the agent hitting the car, crushing it. Neo lands on a rooftop with her and lays her down. She appears fatally wounded. Neo removes the bullet by manipulating the code of the Matrix, but Trinity's heart stops. Neo refused to accept her death. Reaching through the code of the Matrix, he compresses her heart and restarts it. She awakens with a start and they kiss passionately.
"I guess this makes us even," she whispers.Morpheus fails to understand why the prophecy has not come true. Neo tells him and the others that they have 24 hours to save Zion and that the prophecy was just another form of control, a lie. Morpheus has major trouble accepting this, but before they can contemplate this complexity, their proximity alert sounds. The sentinels are just outside of EMP range. "It's a bomb," says Neo. They flee.Keeping its distance, the sentinel they detected spins itself rapidly and releases a tow bomb that collides with the Neb. From a safe distance the crew see the Nebuchadnezzar blown apart by the powerful weapon."I have dreamed a dream, but now that dream has gone from me," Morpheus says, heartbroken.The Sentinels pursue them immediately and the humans run for their lives. Suddenly Neo stops."Something's different," he says"What?" asks Trinity."I can feel them."As the Sentinels descend on them, Neo stops them in mid-air, as if he were emitting an EMP. As soon as all the Sentinels are down he collapses. Just then the ship Hammer comes to their rescue.Aboard, Neo is lying unconscious in sickbay, Trinity at his side. In the conference room, the crew of the ship tell Morpheus and Link about the counterattack on the digging machines. It all sounded good, but someone screwed up. An EMP triggered before they were in position and five ships were incapacitated. It was a slaughter. No one knows how it happened. The sole survivor now lies unconscious in the sickbay of the Hammer with Neo. It is Bane.Continued in "The Matrix Revolutions." | mystery, boring, thought-provoking, cult, alternate reality, violence, psychedelic, action, philosophical, sci-fi | train | imdb | The Matrix Reloaded (2003) is the greatest action movie of all time and a good sequel to the original The Matrix (1999) that I went to see it with my mom in the movie theater in 1999 when the movie come out.
Nearly 12 years later have passed since no movie has come close to tapping into the myth, world and action that was created in Matrix Reloaded.
Neo (Keanu Reeves) saving Trinity on the end of the film and than he collapses in to come was awesome and great ending with a cliffhanger so that viewer keeps guessing what will happened next, in the next movie that was just great.
Watching The Matrix Reloaded, one is absolutely entitled to say that it is overloaded, too lengthy action sequences for instance, and indeed, a way too lengthy dancing scene in Zion.
Although I haven't a reason to doubt that, the 2nd (and 3rd) Matrix fall in the tradition that many sequels of good movies suffer from.Despite the fact that practically the same cast and crew who created the magnificent first part is here for the 2 & 3 (they shot it back-to-back) the movie quickly loses its spirit.First mistake is the introduction of many many new secondary characters who might not necessarily needed.
The Wachowskis have way out done the new "Star Wars" films and without a doubt have far surpassed the "X-Men films." At times the dialogue is clunky and the Zion scenes are a little too Star Trek and Buck Rogers, but the action is always astonishing, and the humor is always in the right place...if not too much in the right place...For example Neo uses one of the many Agent Smiths to take down other Agent Smiths sending them all crashing with the sound of falling bowling pins.
Keanu Reeves returns as Neo, who goes to the city of Zion along with Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss.) As approaching sentinels get closer and closer to the city, an old enemy (Hugo Weaving) pops up again, determined to destroy Neo. As if that weren't enough, Neo has a dream about Trinity dying and he wonders if it will come true.The premier problem with The Matrix Reloaded is that it's incredibly confusing.
I have to say that The Matrix Reloaded definitely has the best action sequences out of the three films and two of my favourite movie scenes are actually from this.
Rob Dougan's music during these action sequences also add to the suspense.Like any sequel, The Matrix Reloaded will always be compared to its predecessor, which is not good for TMR.
The first film was more intelligent and intriguing, but the action sequences in the sequel were slightly better.With a confusing plot, The Matrix Reloaded disappoints, but the action sequences are top-notch.
All and all it still held up very well considering the pressure this movie had on its shoulders to live up to the great expectation.I think that's why a lot of people weren't real keen on this one, because it had such huge pressure, and whatever the Wachowski's produced, it wasn't going to be good enough, or people would say it could or should of been better.
Apart from the Zion scene and the Twins not getting enough screen time, this movie was right up there, and for a movie just to sit back in awe and watch all these fighting sequences, car chases and special effects in action, it's a special movie.Well done Larry and Andy showing everyone just why we go to the movies, Pure escapism and entertainment..
Most of the same characters are back: Neo (Keanu Reeves) as the prophesied One, Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) as the enlightened rebel leader, Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) as Neo's lover, and the late Gloria Foster as the Oracle, a very wise lady who tells it like it is.As the film opens, the Zionists (sic) prepare to fend off the attack of the sentinels.
Believe me, you do not learn this in Philosophy 101.Like the original, many elements of The Matrix Reloaded are fun and appeal to a younger audience but I found the sequel to be somewhat disappointing.
But Reloaded lacks any treatment of the protagonist's development, or anyone else's for that matter, allowing the viewer to identify with the plight of no-one.The Matrix closed out with a pounding tune by Rage Against the Machine, who scream "Fist in the air in the land of hypocrisy!!!" So what happened to this perspective?It's Invasion of the Body Snatchers: The original writers were replaced by 14-year-old computer geeks more eager to escape into the arms of a voluptuous, blonde computer program than they are in making a film.Reloaded is so pristinely sterile, odorless, emotionless, CHARACTER-less, and at times so pubescently vulgar, it's hard to believe these are the same writers.This affects even the best of actors.
I won't take time here to go into what the story is about and how it continues the story from the first film, if only because plot summary in film reviews is a total waste of time for the writer as well as the reader, and also because I've only seen the movie twice, which really isn't enough to get a total grasp on the depth of the plots, so I'll just suffice it here to say that the startling complexity of the original Matrix (a complexity which is almost unheard of in a science fiction film) is added onto and expanded in this film, although despite being hard to follow, is never confusing.I've heard all kinds of talk about the Italian Job having an even better car chase than The Matrix Reloaded and how the chase in this film wasn't even that good at all, blah blah blah.
Anyway, Morpheus and one of the agents are having a kung-fu fight on top of a semi trailer (which the driver never seems to notice), the poor keymaker in struggling to stay out of the way, Trinity is flying between cars against traffic on one of the most badass motorcycles on the road (enter the Ducati commercial), and Morpheus is off doing, as they say, `his superman thing.'The superman thing is one of the elements of the movie that bordered on being campy, as the multitude of Agent Smiths comment to themselves, `He's still only human.' And then in the next scene he's flying.
This is one of the points where you really need to keep in mind that Neo's body is plugged into a machine, in the strikingly less appealing real world, and is basically playing a video game where he'll die in real life if killed in the game because his body will think that it has been killed for real and will shut down.During the freeway scene, there's a camera shot where the camera literally goes right through the chassis' of a couple of semi trucks as it follows Trinity, which I think got the biggest reaction from an audience in a single scene that I've seen since that Velociraptor jumped up at the ceiling in Jurassic Park.
There are certainly some scenes in this movie where it drags and seems to even border on being unnecessarily philosophical and confusing, such as in the extensive meeting with the Oracle, who tells Neo all about choices that he has made but doesn't know he's made yet, or needs to make even though fate has already determined what decision he would make, or something of that nature, where after a while we find ourselves (or at least I did) paying more attention to the pigeons walking around in this startlingly different atmosphere than to the deep conversation that they're having.
Blasted pigeons.There is a lot of controversy over the quality of The Matrix Reloaded, which is to be expected, since it is a movie that has garnered such a vast amount of attention, even if only because it is the follow-up to such a massively successful film.
The story continues as Neo ,Trinity and Morpheus, as well as a whole slew of new characters, try to fight the programs of the Matrix.
The city , the last outpost of humanity , is defended by valiant warriors (Harry Lennix, Gina Torres , Nora Gaye) against the massive invasion of the machines to save the humanity as Neo fights to end the war at another front while also opposing the rogue Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving).This is an action-packed, booming following with some of the best vehicles scenes ever filmed , including awesome visual effects by John Gaeta.
The original Matrix introduced us to that unique world, the travel between the real world and the matrix, the idea of Neo being a savior of sorts, the inventive photography, like 'bullet time', that has influenced a whole generation of movies and TV commercials.
Whereas in The Matrix his stiff, quiet style was in-character for the stiff, confused pre-enlightenment Neo, Reloaded has him take centre place as the hero of the film and if you can't stand watching him act then it's probably not worth your time.
But just so you're forewarned, you will hear Keanu Reeves utter the phrase, "I love you too damn much".On a happier note, there are a ton of new antagonists, all of whom are extremely fun to watch; Morpheus takes a close-to-centre role again, getting a lot of the screen time and doing awesome things with it; and though it probably doesn't need mentioning, the action sequences are a joy to watch.
I was looking forward to seeing Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus in more actions sequences that the first film, but found it tedious watching a middle-aged fat man trying to look cool.I felt cheated that I actually paid to see this film and feel even worse that I'd seen the film at all.
Story line = non-existent fight scenes= too many, too long special effects=good, but same as the previous Matrix, nothing new!
Absolutely not, and I honestly hope that the people who seem to watch these movies religiously do not believe any of the things they say about it either.It's been four years since the first "Matrix" film wowed audiences back in 1999 with its special effects and mind-bending story.
You see, like most movie-going people, I was put into awe by the special effects and story.
Many of them only seem to be in this movie to eat up time and don't have any significance to the story.That, to me seemed to be the biggest fault with "Reloaded." In "The Matrix," the big lobby scene in which Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) get into a huge shootout with a S.W.A.T. team, signaled the start of a glorious rebellion within the system but not only that, kept your eyes glued to the screen for the rest of the movie, all the way up to when the credits start to roll and Rage Against the Machine plays on the soundtrack.The fights in "Reloaded" are too repetitive and seem to take forever to be over.
The "flying" scenes with Neo are very well done too.To sum up:"The Matrix Reloaded" was at best, failed potential but it shows what happens when you try to put too much into one movie.P.S: If I want a science-fiction movie with real philosophy (emphasis on "real"), I'll go and watch "Blade Runner," "The Terminator," or "Ghost in the Shell," the latter film was a key (read: obvious) influence of the "Matrix" films.6/10.
It's only an excuse to pack a 2,5 hour movie with special effects, fighting scenes and action.
this is the second movie in the Matrix saga.it chronicles the continuing fight of the resistance to free humanity from continuing enslavement from the machines which keep reality hidden from them.this is not what i would call good movie.it is a collection of repetitive and ridiculous unrealistic fight scenes,coupled with an incoherent storyline.plus there a lot of "profound' sayings which aren't really profound at all.then you have characters speaking in riddles which are gibberish half the time.at time,i felt i was being preached a philosophy lesson.the rating for this movie is pretty high on this site(7/10)which astounds me.in my opinion,that is at least three stars too many.My vote for The Matrix Reloaded is a 4/10.
I just watched THE MATRIX RELOADED and I couldn't believe how bad this movie was.
UNBelievable, UNBeatable Action, Excellent and Sophisticated CGI work, Fabulous Acting, Brilliant Story and Philosophy, The Coolest and Sexiest looking characters (Neo the Coolest), Romantic Love story, Great Directing and Film Editing, Awesome Sound and Music, Original Concept with a touch of Humor.
Action is fiercer and more entertaining (from the thrills of the freeway chase to the sheer fun of watching Neo beat up on 200 copies of Agent Smith with a steel pole), plot thickens in truly revolutionary ways that leaves you both enlightened and dumbfounded, and the climax of the movie isn't some tired old fight sequence but a philosophical discussion and discovery of what the One truly is (or is it really true?).
Shambles of a movie and comes close to destroying the whole franchise.Matrix revolutions: decent attempt at a rescue, characters play their parts in the plot well, secondary characters are still douchebags but overall a fairly decent flick.In short: watch reloaded because you have to to enjoy the whole story.
We both loved the first one and agree that the second one fully lives up to expectations - provided of course that you expect a sequel to be an attempt to squeeze of few more drops of juice out of an already old and used lemon.If you expect a movie that is more than just elaborately choreographed fight scenes (and even they get uninteresting because they lack suspense and effort from Neo) you will be disappointed.After watching the movie we really tried hard to think of something positive to say about it, and the most positive we could find was that it was interesting that Smith is now a virus kinda program.We are certainly NOT going to see Revolutions on the big screen.
Matrix Reloaded suffers from the same problem as Blade 2, there is frankly too much CGI in the film and some scenes seem to drag on for ages (Neo meeting the Architect - zzzzzzzzzzz).
And the pointless fight scene with the Chineese guy...and then there's all the scenes where people are sitting around instead of DOING things.Then the protagonist...Neo. He starts the movie the same way as he ends it.
In this sequel, the endless fight scenes that featured those "No longer special" effects were simply boring.If you just want to see a lot of gratuitous computer effects and don't care about characters or story, then by all means rush out and see this film!
It isn't, however, the worst film I've seen, but it's pretty close.My last review got deleted by mistake, so I'm just going to give you a quick list of things that are wrong with the movie: -Poorly choreographed fight scenes.-The worst dialog I've ever seen in a film.-Poor acting across the board.-It's pretentious and uninvolving.-No plot.-Lots of characters are introduced that serve no purpose.-The characters all appear to be invincible, so fighting them is pointless, yet they are all always fighting.-There are many recycled gimmicks like bullet time, which was interesting the first time I saw it, but now it's very boring and it's overused shows a lack of imagination.-CGI is overused and not very convincing.-There is no chemistry between any of the characters, particularly the ones that are supposed to be in love.-None of the characters respond in ways that are appropriate, given the situations they face..
Likewise with the Matrix Reloaded, I think I will just forget that I have ever watched this abomination of a movie and regard Agent Smith's demise at the end of the original movie as the best way to remember that incredible film..
THE MATRIX RELOADED (2003) **** Awe-inspiring sequel to the insanely popular sci-fi series (chapter 2 in the upcoming conclusive trilogy) with Reeves as Neo, the chosen one, leading the rebel force of humans to stop the upcoming war between machines with mankind in the virtual reality of `the matrix' with several obstacles in his newly formed path of choices not the very least his arch rival and lethal nemesis Agent Smith (silky evil personified by Weaving also reprising his iconic role); realizing his true powers via The Oracle (Foster, who passed away shortly after filming her last role here) and his mentor, the visionary Morpheus (Fishburne, the baddest cat of the new millennia); and the ongoing romance with the always stoically sexy Trinity (Moss showing new meanings to the term 'ballsy').
Well, I've seen many movies, thought about this one for a long, long time and THERE IS NO DOUBT: Matrix 2 is the greatest atrocity to film-making ever.
The fluidity of the camera movement and the strangely dark tones of their films are only a couple of the techniques that make them recognizable.The story continues as Neo ,Trinity and Morpheus, as well as a whole slew of new characters, try to fight the programs of the Matrix.
The Matrix Reloaded A Good Sci-Fi Film With Flaws.
The Matrix Reloaded is a good sci-fi film with flaws from the Wachowski brothers who return to direct this sequel which may not be on part with first one but it still isn't that bad either action wise.
The Wachowski brothers show some real talent and skill with Reloaded but more unanswered questions and the lack of screen time given to Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith including some other characters sort of weigh the film down.
I expect Matrix Revolutions will be one hell of a battle!And speaking of expectations, the people who felt cheated by this movie were actually failed by their expectations, not the film.
This movie gave me what i wanted, which was more stuff inside the matrix and more action scenes, and that i got. |
tt0075276 | Stroszek | Just released from a jail term of 2 1/2 years in Berlin, Bruno Stroszek goes through all of the formalities of being released and is given back all of his personal belongings: one sweater, one shirt, a pair of pants, a pair of socks, an accordion, five packs of cigarettes, a bugle horn, a keychain and his passport. Back in his cell, he bids farewell to his cellmates and they exchange gifts. One makes for him the smallest paper ship in the world and the other sets his flatulence ablaze. He then meets with the warden, who asks him if he has a place to live now that he is free, to which Bruno replies that his apartment had been taken care of by his neighbour, Herr Scheitz. He is then asked whether or not he'll go back to consuming alcohol since all of his past offences had been alcohol-related and that if he were to be caught again for similar crimes, that he'd be locked away for a longer period of time. Bruno seems uninterested and is then recommended that he clean himself up and once again, to stay away from bars and alcohol. He finally promises and is subsequently released.During his walk home, he stops at a bar called 'Bier Himmel' (Beer Heaven) and orders a beer. As he walks to sit at a booth, he sees his friend Eva, a prostitute. He attempts greeting her but is told to leave her alone by her pimps who were there trying to extort money from a former client of Eva's. She then starts crying on one of the pimps, telling him she doesn't want to be with any other pimp. He stands up and slaps her across the face, to which Eva starts crying and walks away towards where Bruno is sitting. He tells her to sit with him and tries to reassure her that everything will be OK. Eva asks him where he had been, to which Bruno responded: 'vacation'. She is still distraught and asks herself 'what she's going to do' and 'where she's going to go', to which Bruno responds by telling her she can stay at his apartment and that they can both start new lives together.As she sets up her belongings, Bruno is playing his pianos to see if they are still in good condition after not being played for so long. His favorite piano is a black grand piano he calls 'Schwarze Freund' (black friend). They notice how the apartment is dirty and Eva says she'd take care of everything by earning money. Bruno's neighbour, Herr Scheitz, arrives with his minah bird he had been taking care of in his absence. He then tells Bruno and Eva of his plans to move to America and stay with his nephew - but by ship, since according to Scheitz, airplanes are not built correctly. In the next scene, Bruno goes back to his ritualistic ways of playing his accordion in an alleyway to an audience of mostly children. When he arrives at his apartment, he sees Eva's pimps waiting for him outside his door and leaves running the opposite way. He finds Eva at a restaurant with her pimps and is quickly kicked out. He retreats back to his apartment and talks to Scheitz about what is happening with Eva, when at that moment, the pimps are dragging her up the stairs and into the living room, dump trash on her and break one of Bruno's accordions. Bruno helps her get up and into bed.The next day, Bruno is out buying some fruits and sees that the pimps are watching him, from whom he instantly runs away. While playing his piano at home, the pimps walk in and start harassing him. Now himself being distraught from the constant trouble the pimps are making, he sees his doctor and asks him for advice since he can't defend himself. The doctor tells him he should start off by getting a steady job and then takes him to the premature baby ward in order to further explain the concept of life and its many unanswered questions. He used a premature baby to symbolize how he could barely survive on his own but had such strong grip reflexes although considered weak.Back at the apartment, Scheitz is waiting for him to arrive and shows him what the pimps had done to Eva, which was to once again physically abuse her. Bruno asks her if she wants him to call the police to report it only to be told no and how they need to escape the whole mess. They decide to go with Scheitz to America and finance the tickets/Visas by Eva earning more money by selling her body a few more times. Scheitz reports back to them and informs Bruno that he can work as a mechanic at his nephew's auto shop and that Eva can work at a nearby restaurant at a truck stop.They arrive in America and Bruno's bird Beo gets confiscated by customs, to which he asks Eva and Scheitz: What kind of country is this that they take away my Beo? After a little sightseeing in New York, they purchase a used car and drive out to Railroad Flats, Wisconsin. When they arrive, Scheitz's nephew, Clayton, greets them with a misspelled sign in German, saying: Welcome. Meet & Greet time is followed by picture-taking and they learn how Clayton was once stationed at the US Air Force base in Ramstein. They get a short tour of the town by Clayton and are then told by him about the mysterious disappearance of a farmer who drove out into the woods on his large tractor never to be found again. He claims the wreckage is probably underwater in one of the nearby lakes and periodically searches for it with a metal detector when they're frozen over.Once settled in, they learn about the situation between two farmers nearby that patrol a stretch of land labeled: no-mans land and are told to stay away since both carry rifles and could potentially start firing at each other at any moment. The pre-fabricated house they had ordered arrives and is fully furnished. Scheitz is then seen outside performing electro-magnetic experiments on a fence and then on 2 American hunters on the side of the road- in German- to which of course they don't understand. He then tells Bruno and Eva about his animal magnetism theory and performs his testing on their skin. In the next scene, they are all seen on and around a frozen lake with a metal detector in their search for the lost tractor.Realizing that theyre falling behind on paying all of their bills, Bruno and Eva discuss this, to which Eva tells Bruno not to worry because she could take care of everything. She accomplishes this by sleeping with truckers that stop by her work. Soon after, theyre visited by a bank representative who informs them of their lack of payments and the possibility of repossessions if they continue to not pay. Eva hands him a wad of cash and is asked by Bruno how she had made so much money in that little time. In the next scene, Bruno shows Eva a model/schematic of his state of mind (which appears to be wood or metal that is intertwined). He tells her how their goals in the US cant be reached because he saw America as an opportunity to get rich quick. He also points out that shes acting differently around him, primarily by not letting him sleep in the same bedroom, it feels like prison he says, like a cage. At work, Clayton is making sexually suggestive comments about Eva and Bruno says he was better off in Germany and that he shouldn't have come to America to watch his world fall apart.The next day, Eva is with some truckers once again as Bruno looks for her at the restaurant. Not being able to find her there, he then tries searching around where the trucks are parked. He finds Eva in a truck with 2 truckers and is told to leave because she was going to Vancouver with them. Drinking his sorrows away at home, Bruno is once again visited by the bank representative and is told that the bank has to repossess everything and signs the house away. Soon after, the bank rep and an auctioneer arrive at the house and auction it off. Scheitz claims it is all a conspiracy and goes to the bank the next day with Bruno and a shotgun. Because the bank was closed, they enter a door next to it which happened to be for a barber. They take all of his money, twenty-five dollars, and walk across the street to a market to buy food. Once inside, the police arrive and arrest Scheitz, leaving Bruno and a frozen turkey he had just bought. He then drives back to Claytons house and leaves with his tow-truck, the frozen turkey, some cans of beer, and the shotgun.He drives until an engine fire starts in the truck at a diner. Once there, he stops to get a coffee with his last $3 and tells an American businessman who can speak some German all about his troubles and is told by him not to worry. When he leaves, he puts the truck in drive and leaves it driving itself in circles outside of the restaurant, and takes his gun and frozen turkey across the street to what seems to be some sort of mini animal amusement park. Inside are coin-operated machines which feature animals performing different things like one chicken dancing, one playing a piano, and a rabbit fire truck rider. Bruno starts some of them with the last of his change and then goes to the back of the facility, which has a chairlift. He turns it on and rides up the side of the mountain. At the second ascent, the frame of the camera shifts up, not being able to see Bruno any longer. At that moment, a loud noise is heard which is unclear where it comes from.Its been said that the noise is either from the sound of his shotgun from his suicide or the tow-trucks engine exploding. At the end of the movie, police are on the street and are reporting back to their headquarters stating: We've got a truck on fire, can't find the switch to turn the ski lift off, and can't stop the dancing chicken. Send an electrician. | cult, psychedelic | train | imdb | (THE ENIGMA OF KASPAR HAUSER) as a Berlin street singer (in a role where he basically plays himself), who joins with his prostitute girlfriend Eva (Eva Mattes) and ageing eccentric friend Scheitz (Clemens Scheitz) to embark on a memorable journey, leaving modern Berlin, for the golden opportunities of America.
Fascinating, unique look at the American dream follows three German social misfits (Bruno S., Eva Mattes, Clemens Scheitz) as they travel to Railroad Flats, Wisconsin to seek a better life.
The unfortunate protagonist of the film, played by longtime Herzog protégé Bruno S., leaves for America with his friends to escape a brutal and oppressive existence in Berlin.
Bruno and his companions are just innocent enough to believe the old legend that in America the streets are paved with gold.The running commentary that Herzog has recorded for the recent DVDs of his films are among the most interesting and engaging I've heard, and they're one of the reasons I especially appreciate the DVD medium.
Herzog always has one or two bits of indelible imagery in his films; in Stroszek, we have the premature babies and the dancing chicken.
All 3 of the German transplants are shown to be highly intelligent and cultured beyond the hellish railroad town they are plopped down into, and the obvious solution would have been for Bruno to seek employment as a musician, as he is very talented in that regard, but the dramatic arc of the story demands that he lose everything including Eva, and blame America and the insipid characters he is forced to deal with, and do something drastic, which he does.
It is just amazing, the character of that tiny infant, and shows Stroszek the fundamental power that he lacks, the tenacious nature of humanity to hold onto not only fellow human beings, but also to life itself.The coin-operated live animals in the end represent not only cruelty and lack of compassion, but the obsessiveness of the American pursuit of entertainment.
Herzog hits upon one of the greatest endings to any film attempting to sum up the character of the US: it takes place at a roadside carnival of sorts, that features the antics of trained animals, who dance and play the piano on command (not nearly as impressive as it sounds, just like America)..
The prostitute works as a waitress, but falls back to her old patterns and abandons Stroszek and the elderly German man they were living with.There are certain messages in this film, and a probably important one is that it's hard to run away from trouble.
Herzog is one of those film makers that only come along once in a very very long time, And of course you all know about the ending.
The move to America finds rifles growing like corn stalks, and one even takes root in our anti-hero's hands.The film feels rife with symbolism, but I wonder how much of that is a fact that Herzog himself is a magnet for fools' gold.
And whereas the musings of Bruno did not ring true for me, his homespun, junkyard music certainly did.6/10I look forward to seeing other Herzog films, but I'm starting to wonder if I (or you) should see them in any particular order.
Werner Herzog's Stroszek intrigued me because of the film's journey from Berlin to Wisconsin.
Indifferent truth.The only movie I've seen that portrays emptiness and indifference to an utterly devastating degree, I can see how Ian Curtis could've committed suicide after watching this film, and Bruno's brilliant performance doesn't help either.
It's one of the best performances ever and he's not even an actor.I believe this is the most honest and truthful film there is, not interested in making you sad or happy it just is, just like the real world, also it's one of the most unforgettable endings I've ever seen.The goddamn chicken will haunt me for the rest of my life, they will also remind me to live a spontaneous life, void of routine..
A man's uncle, and said uncle's two dearest friends, an alcoholic recently released from prison and an abused prostitute, has come from Germany to live and work along w/him in Wisconsin.
Watching it, I couldn't help but wonder if it was meant as a winking homage to his two most celebrated peers in what was, in the '70s, referred to as the "New German Cinema"- Rainer Fassbinder and Wim Wenders.The first section of the film, which takes place in urban Germany, is classic Herzog.
I do mostly, and therefore wasn't tempted to jump off a bridge at the end of this movie, but I don't know that I'd go as far as to say it's "riotously funny," as its marketing poster suggests."Stroszek" tells the fictional story of a real man named Bruno Stroszek.
In other words, Stroszek plays himself in this eccentric film about a man who's released from prison, meets back up with his girlfriend and elderly buddy, and takes off for the fabled lands of....Wisconsin....to pursue the American dream.
What follows is a series of vignettes that place Bruno in increasingly desperate straits and ends in an ambiguous finale that involves a ski lift and dancing chickens.Welcome to the world of Werner Herzog, folks.
This struggle forces them to leave Berlin and head towards America which leads to the prospect of having to overcome further barriers in the form of cultural traditions and of course above all, the language.'Stroszek' is widely regarded as one of Herzog's best films, however from a personal standpoint I have to admit that on this first viewing, I was left feeling a bit underwhelmed as I admired the film more than actually loving/liking it.
it's certainly his most humane picture and in casting non-actor Bruno S in the title role he gets so close to the feeling of raw truth we may as well be watching a picture of Bruno S's life, (something he also achieved in "The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser" where Bruno S's performance as Hauser totally transcended acting to become the character).
Herzog transports them from Germany to America where Stroszek gets a dead-end job in the garage of Scheitz's nephew and Eva becomes a waitress, (in Berlin she turned tricks to earn the money for their trip and doesn't appear too anxious to give up that line of work).Nothing conventional happens but seldom on film has the mundane existence of ordinary people seemed so fascinating, (and Herzog's use of non-actors throughout only enhances this feeling of reality).
His continual casting of actors like Bruno S and Klaus Kinski has lead to a kind of alienation though, in Herzog's case, madness, like beauty may be only in the eye of the beholder with Stroszek no more to be pitied than Cool Hand Luke.
They go in search of the American dream, but what they find is very different.STROSZEK perfectly encapsulates Herzog's world view that the natural order of things is chaos and destruction rather than peace and harmony.
With "Stroszek" Herzog made a film tailored even more around Bruno S.
In the end were all a dancing chickens, bass playing ducks, rabbits riding fire trucks, and broken ski lifts going in endless circles, and that's Herzog's imagery from the films final moments, not mine..
He didn't come to USA to start a new life but only to stay with Eva. American dream is as meaningless to him as all the people and language around him..
In Berlin, an alcoholic man (Bruno S.), recently released from prison, joins his elderly friend and a prostitute in a determined dream to leave Germany and seek a better life in Wisconsin.The film came to my attention because of its being filmed in Plainfield, Wisconsin.
In Werner Herzog's unique and powerful Stroszek, three German misfits - an eccentric old man, a prostitute, and a mentally challenged street performer recently released from an institution flee from their brutal Berlin surroundings to look for the holy grail in the dairy-lands of northern Wisconsin.
The strength of the film lies not in only in Herzog's visionary power but in the completely natural performances of a non-professional cast consisting of colorful locals and the strange Bruno S., a prostitute's son who spent 23 of his first 26 years in a mental institution.
"A person needs a little madness, or else they never dare cut the rope and be free." – Nikos Kazantzakis "Amerika ist wunderbar!" - RammsteinMany of the films which comprise "New German Cinema", a period in German cinema which lasted from the late 1960s to the mid 1980s, explored and attempted to come to terms with the cultural colonisation foisted upon Western Germany by America in the aftermath of WW2.Wim Wenders, Margarethe Trotta, Rainer Fassbiner and Werner Herzog were the big names in this movement, with films like "The American Friend", "Kings of the Road", "Storszek" and "Fear Eats the Soul".
But while Herzog's "Storszek" may have been thematically typical of the movement, it's a bit of an anomaly in Herzog's own filmography, whose films, at least at the time, tended to be set in the past and were often structured as allegories or medieval fables."Storszek" opens with a mentally unstable musician, Bruno Stroszek, being released from prison.
This character is modelled on the life of Bruno Schleinstein, the actor who actually plays Stroszek in the film.
Typical of Herzog's work, "Storszek" thus effortlessly blends fiction and documentary, Bruno, who always seems uncomfortable in front of Herzog's camera, "acting as himself" in a fictional story based loosely on his own life.Like most of Herzog's films, the tale is told via several symbolic episodes.
More symbols and symbolic subplots are then revealed: the story of a local murderer and body snatcher, the fact that Bruno's new hometown was the hometown of Ed Gein, warring farmers who fight over a thin strip of land, obsessions with metal detectors, a crazy old man's insistence that people are magnetic and that the dead emit magnetic fields, dangerous walks on frozen ponds, salty pretzels, mobile homes, a ski lift etc etc.End result: by the film's final act, "Storszek's" faux-documentarian edge completely gives way to a kind of overt surrealism.
Realizing that the American dream is the German reality, Bruno shoots himself, committing suicide off screen.The film's final shot is of a solitary chicken, trapped in a fun-house, dancing (automatically, seemingly without thought) in a cage and making a fool of itself for bird-seed.
Even though the movies tells a story set in America, it is a film about Bruno S.
Many films from the wave of German movies of which Herzog's work is part and example have a hard look.
In fact, I'd say the last twenty-five, thirty minutes of this picture are the funniest, and even in these minutes there's a sense of sorrow to what has happened with Bruno Stroszek (Bruno S., sort of as himself, I suppose, the line between fiction and fact is so blurry that it's the only way Herzog can get things done) and how his girlfriend (Eva Mattes) leaves him, and his best friend and neighbor gets arrested after armed robbery of a, uh, store in a basement next to a bank, I guess.But whatever weirdness and sort of everyday mundane qualities that go hand in hand with the film Stroszek are given a greater context.
Of course, Herzog could never be one to induce the silly physical comedy that makes up the bulk of Chaplin's films, but there is a similarity that struck me, and helped make me really care about what was going on with these characters- Herzog, for all his showing the ultimate follies, loves Stroszek, or at least does not try and show him off as being a complete waste of life.
Not that the form of documentary, more than anything, peeks its head into the work.There isn't much story to report, aside from the bulk of what I've already mentioned- Stroszek, Eva and their elderly neighbor escape from the harsh and cruel state of being they're at in Berlin (a brief but interesting commentary on Germany too), only to find in the small-town Wisconsin life not much more in line of prosperity.
And a lot of the time (David Lynch mentioned this in an interview as he started watching the film in the middle) it's like watching a documentary of these people, showing in all the ordinary working-class ways how they get stuck and any chance of the "American dream" gets squashed.
While Herzog himself claims it to be a metaphor for something he can't place, a friend mentioned that it could be capitalism, or the chicken as a representation of Bruno Stroszek, or of an American in general.
The screenplay is original and unpredictable like life is, with magnificent lines and Werner Herzog uses also amateurish cast leaded by Bruno Schleinstein from "The Enigma of Kaspar Hause", who is the unwanted son of a prostitute that spent a great part of his life in mental institutions due to the severe abuse and beaten; therefore, the actor has some problems indeed and the beginning of the film is very similar to his real life.
Like many people in films before they believe America will be the place of their dreams where Bruno can rise to fame with his musical talent and they can earn money.
It is a tragic film that really captures the hopelessness of dreams and shows the characters trapped in a world that doesn't measure up to their dreams, much like the dancing and instrument playing animals at the end.
"Stroszek" is a German movie from almost 40 years ago and the second collaboration between Werner Herzog and Bruno S.
After some violent trouble with a pair of pimps, Bruno, his girl (played by Eva Mattes, who got a German Film Award nomination for her turn) and a friend move to the United States of America.
But despite a promising start, life soon degenerates to even worse levels in their new home in rural Wisconsin and their American Dream soon turns into a nightmare.This film was directed by Werner Herzog and, as is usually the case, this ensures that it's a fascinating look at unusual people living on the fringes of society.
Eva Mattes, who also worked with Herzog in Woyzeck, plays his girlfriend and Clemens Scheitz rounds things off as his elderly neighbour; both of these actors are also very good.The story is about how the American Dream is a false hope for most.
Herzog in fact first went there to work on a documentary on Gein but ended up being inspired by the desolation of the place to make this film instead.
For example, the man who plays Scheitz's nephew is a mechanic who in real life had worked on Herzog's car some time ago.
Stroszek is a simple story about a seemingly simple man, who leaves for America with an abused prostitute and an elderly neighbour, in the hope of starting a new life away from the violent and antagonistic Berlin underbelly, that they'd previously been caught up in.
As with that film, Herzog is here able to anchor the images of the film to that same sense of sadness and awe that is so central to Bruno's inner character, as he watches each scene unfold with wide, childlike eyes, completely curious and overwhelmed by what is happening, though, simultaneously, wracked with pain.
Three bizarre Germans, Clemens, Bruno, and Eva, leave their homes in Berlin and take a cheap shot at the elusive and ever popular American dream only to find changing continents can not change who you are.
The town of Railroad Flats, Wisconsin, although we as an audience can see it is nothing special, is shot by Herzog as if seen through the eyes of Stroszek and his friends.
The ideas that Brakhage expresses are perfect for thinking about film, but Herzog proves that it does not work in reality because no matter how hard we try to imagine "the beginning of the world", it was simply too long ago for any of us to remember..
Of course, when Stan Brakhage wrote the above words in his article "Metaphors on Vision" (1963), Herzog had only made one short film and was a long way off from making "Stroszek".
Herzog seems to ask the question: "what would happen if someone saw the world the way Brakhage described, but then was gradually overcome by the 'real' way the world is seen?" The story concerns Stroszek and his two friends Eva and Scheitz.
Stroszek is one of the best films about the American Dream ever made, which is odd because a German made it.
That's probably because Herzog cast non actors to play the American roles and shot on location in Wisconsin.
Bruno cooperates rather well by going with whatever the pimps want.After Eva is brutally beaten it is decided that they all will go and start a new life in Wisconsin where Clemens' son lives.
However the ambiguity of this is brilliant, for it has made for one of the most fascinating and unique viewing experiences of my life.The only other Herzog I have seen up to this point is Fitzcarraldo, a great film with quirky, offbeat characters, an engaging story and jaw dropping cinematography.
From director Werner Herzog (Nosferatu the Vampyre, Fitzcarraldo, Grizzly Man), I confess that I do not remember much of this German film at all, not even watching all of it, but I know I did see it because it is in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die. Basically Berlin street performer Bruno Stroszek (Bruno S.) has been warned to stop drinking after being released from prison, but he immediately goes to a bar, where he meets prostitute Eva (Eva Mattes), who he comforts as she is down on her luck, and later he ends up beaten up by the pimps.
Bruno and Eva decide to escape any more harassment from these people by escaping from Germany by moving to Wisconsin, America, and live with his American nephew Clayton (Clayton Szalpinski), so they start their journey, stopping off to do sight seeing in New York City. |
tt1324059 | Wake Up Sid | Siddharth "Sid" Mehra (Ranbir Kapoor) is the spoiled, carefree son of wealthy businessman Ram Mehra (Anupam Kher). A resident of Bombay, his only interest is to have fun with friends and to spend his father's money. Thus, he spends little time at college and is not prepared for the exit exams. His father however, not being aware of this fact, tells Sid it is time to join his company, which Sid reluctantly does only after his father tempts him with the promise of a new car.
Meanwhile, Sid meets Aisha (Konkona Sen Sharma) a woman from Calcutta, who is an aspiring writer. On their first meeting, they go out on a walk along the streets of Bombay. Sid shows her the city and takes her to Marine Drive by the sea. Sid tells her that one of the fascinating things of being in Bombay is its luscious monsoon. They seem to strike a chord instantly and a friendship ensues. Sid helps her to find (and furnish) her own apartment. She also lands a job with Mumbai Beat, (based on Time Out! Mumbai)[1] a hip magazine run by the handsome, sophisticated editor-in-chief Kabir (Rahul Khanna). On the eve of her 27th birthday Aisha invites Sid to her place because she does not want to be alone. When Sid tentatively explores moving their relationship beyond friendship, he finds that Aisha perceives him as boyish and immature. Despite feeling hurt, he maintains his friendship with her.
Their relationship intensifies when the exam results come out and Sid finds that he failed. His failure leads to a family fight that ends with him moving out of the house. With nowhere to go, Sid (who has never been on his own) asks Aisha if he can stay with her. Aisha is initially happy to have the company (although she clarifies that his stay is purely platonic). Eventually, however, Sid's bad habits revive themselves as he leaves her place a mess and makes the kind of demands on her that he is used to making on everyone. When she finds he has not eaten all day, Aisha is amused by the fact that Sid cannot cook and does not know how to feed himself. Over time, Sid learns that to survive in the world he has to begin cooking and cleaning. He has also realized he must work and Aisha helps him become a photography intern at the magazine she works for.
Aisha who had a crush on her boss, editor in chief Kabir, is ecstatic when he selects her article for the magazine and also asks her out on a live jazz performance. However, as she goes out with him, she realizes she does not much in common with Kabir. Meanwhile, she slowly realizes her feelings toward Sid and understands she is in love with him.
As Sid begins working, he finds meaning in life and realizes that there are more options than working in a standard corporate environment. He also begins to see for the first time how his behavior has hurt everyone he loves and that he needs to change his ways. After he is hired as full-time staff and receives his first pay check, he confronts his father. They reconcile and Sid's father asks him to come home. Sid, who often feels a burden to Aisha, tells her that he won't be dependent on her charity anymore and expects her to be thrilled. He doesn't realize that Aisha has fallen in love with him and thus is furious to hear that he is leaving. Their departure is a hostile one and Sid leaves without resolution.
When Sid returns home from Aisha's place, he thinks constantly of her. However, he remembers that she had told him they can only be friends and so he does not consider that she might share his feelings. When the latest issue of Mumbai Beat arrives, Sid reads Aisha's column and is startled to discover that it is about her feelings for him. As rain starts pouring, he rushes to meet her at the same beach where they had sat the very first day they met. Sid expresses his love for her and the two embrace. | romantic | train | imdb | Ayan Mukherjee's 'Wake Up Sid' is one of the most eye-pleasing and refreshing films of the year.
The film flows brilliantly with all the songs which enhance its story and lighthearted feel, and the acting is roundly natural.Ranbir Kapoor performs exceedingly well throughout as the main protagonist Sid - a young, indecisive guy whose conflicts with his family and friends and failure at college make him leave his home and try to make a life on his own.
Rahul Khanna, Shikha Talsania, Shruti Bapna and Namit Das are all very effective.One of Wake Up Sid's biggest achievements is the gradual growth of the story, without which no coming of age film could work.
All said and done, I recommend you to watch Wake Up Sid, it truly is a wonderful film which is worth revisiting.
What keeps me bringing back to this movie however, is the fact that Wake up Sid is definitely more than a movie.It is a story enjoyable in totality or just in parts, no matter how much one sees of it, there is always something to take away.
And every time I feel I lack focus, I end up watching this movie.Wake up Sid does have its flaws, probably the key one being its pace, it gets slow at times (though never painfully slow).
Then again, if you are looking for some great climax, there is none to come, because the movie is not really a typical Bolly/Hollywood stuff - it is not a comedy (as incorrectly mentioned at many places), nor a pure love story (though that forms a very beautiful element of the whole package).
What i loved most in the movie - Wake up Sid, not every one is perfect, there cannot be pure good, pure bad people, it has its own shade of grey, that is what Sid the character is all about.
Was it just that Aisha was a much stronger character in the movie.The credit should go to the director to a very large extent, to make one realise, what he is worth does need to go Kargil like Lakshya or Goa like Dil Chahta Hai. You would surprised that once you realise what you want, it was just next door.
All in all it was a very well made film with a heart and a soul.A lot of the films credit also goes to the two lead characters Ranbhir Kapoor and Konkona Sen. The 2 actors were brilliant and very sincere in depicting there respective characters, and were very convincing in showing there emotions and feelings on screen.
It shows in the way Ayan has resisted the desire to jump into song-and-dance sequences, as are most bollywood movies prone to, and thats a refreshing change.The movie revolves around our protagonist Siddarth Mehra (Sid, as his friends call him), who is arrogant, self-centred, has an absolute disrespectful attitude to financial dealings (read shopping) and anything to do with exercising his mental capabilities.
Sid strikes up friendship with Aisha Bannerjee, played superbly by Konkona Sen Sharma, during a boring farewell party.
Konkona Sen Sharma gets a major part as the very ambitious, well-read aspiring writer who is a newbie in the city of Mumbai and knows nothing about the city but gets Ranbir Kapoor as her first friend on her first night in the city.
The film connects with you from then on.Ranbir Kapoor plays the rich kid Sid who has never thought of any plans beyond tonight and couldn't care less about making a career.
Konkana Sen Sharma takes over from where she left in Luck By Chance, not to say that she's repetitive, but an almost perfect antithesis to Sid. There are some flaws like the friends keep coming in & going out & remain on the fringes of the film.
Everyone know how good an actress Konkana is but he more than holds his own and thats a big compliment.The first half is a bit patchy but gets better as the movie gets going and the second one is a breeze.
As a producer or director, this is his seventh film - KKHH, KKKG, KHNH, Kaal, KANK, Dostana and now Wake Up Sid. This is his best and the only one that I have personally liked.
For me, he's still weak in the emotive parts but good enough overall here.This one is at best a one time watch and suffers in comparison to other films of its ilk like Lakshya and Dil Chahta Hai, which can bear unlimited multiple viewings.
To be straight, if you are expecting yet another, youthful movie on the lines of "Dil Chahta Hai" or "Rang De Basanti" then you may feel a bit low after watching "Wake Up Sid", since the movie has nothing refreshing to show about the vibrant college life or energetic celebrating days of the youth.
Till intermission the only scene which rises above the usual stuff is the interview scene between Rahul Khanna & Konkona.In the second half, as Ranbir leaves his parent's house, the movie starts endorsing live in relationship with a cool attitude.
According to the script the parents don't even care to know the whereabouts of their only son, after leaving his house in anger.However, the movie has its moments with few worth watching scenes representing the current generation.
Ranbir tries very hard to act real but it's the fault of the misleading promos that his character looks like lacking the refreshing & interesting look shown in the promotional campaign of the movie.
(Like Kiron Kher in "Dostana" & Supriya Pathak in "Wake Up Sid") Why we always have to make movies on love stories alone?
The movie "Wake Up Sid" has a very interesting plot of knowing your hidden talents, where Ranbir finds out that he has got a great unexplored talent of photography.
I think the Indian viewers are now ready enough to watch some unexplored subjects and not just the usual dragging love stories.Coming back to "Wake Up Sid", it's strictly a multiplex flick which may be liked by Ranbir fans out there but for others it's just an average movie vaguely talking about the current generation..
Wake Up Sid has Ranbir Kapoor's finest acting till date, though only 3 movies old, I can say Ranbir is the next superstar of tomorrow.
There are a few brief nuances that don't contribute anything to the story or the development of any main characters but leave a lasting impression on your heart and make the film all the more charming--for example, Sid sticking his head out of the window for the first monsoon rain, Konkona's neighbor looking at the developed photographs, and Sid's mom studying English.What I find most fascinating is witnessing through the movie the emergence of a new lifestyle, a new mindset and set of values, a new generation in metropolitan India: a strong desire to be independent and "pursue your dreams"; a growing, hard-working middle-class that can afford an affluent lifestyle; an encouragement to build a career in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
I also find it very interesting how these used to be unique, iconic, American values, and now the U.S. is playing a role reversal with a shrinking middle class; encouragement to pursue careers in sciences, engineering, law, etc.; and more close-knit families.Before this turns into a cultural essay, I want to say that I look forward to seeing more films like Wake Up Sid to see the direction Gen Y is taking India, a new major world player..
Ayaan Mukherjee's coming-of-age movie 'Wake Up Sid' comes as a breath of fresh air during a time when the Hindi film industry seemed to only focus on the tried and tested formula.
It's quite surprising that this was made by a first time director.'Wake Up Sid' tells the story of a rich spoilt brat who, thanks to a rich father, has everything going for him.
Further, I liked that Mukherjee didn't use typical visuals of Mumbai and focused on what mattered like the sea.Ranbir Kapoor is very competent as Sid. He shows that he is capable of leading a movie but Konkona Sen Sharma steals the show once again.
Wake Up Sid has a fresh exuberance brought by the actors especially by Ranbir Kapoor who plays 'Sid' who starts out as a spoiled brat who had no ambitions in life other than spend his dad's earnings.
However, if you can overlook some of the predictable story lines, you can definitely enjoy this coming-of-age movie that will transform the lead character..
With crisp editing, the movie unfolds & carves magic over the viewer..,A coming of age film which takes us through the life of a loser & aimless boy & his metamorphosis into an independent man..
Wake Up Sid is a story about Siddharth Mehara (Ranbir Kapoor)known as sid by his pals who is rich spoiled boy with no aim.He don't care about future and just want to enjoy today with his wealthy fathers money.
Sid expresses his love for her and the two embrace.On the whole,it is a great movie with super performance from rising Ranbir Kapoor.Konkona Sen Sharma is also great.Anupam Kher as sid's father is fantastic.Rest of the crew are also good..
Well cinematography is perfect, not like the typical bollywood movies,story, screenplay, everything is good, Ayan needs a great applause for making such a movie
Sid essayed by Ranbir Kapoor is a rich spoiled brat whereas Aisha is an aspiring writer.
This is a Movie of Two Halves and I Love the Second Half a Lot. Wake Up Sid is a story about Sid (Ranbir Kapoor) who is a quintessentially Mumbai slacker boy - wealthy, lazy and completely lacking in focus.
An unexpected meeting with Aisha (Konkona Sen Sharma), a driven, bold and ambitious writer from Calcutta, results in summer of discoveries, realizations and coming of age.This is a fun and pleasing film to watch on a lazy afternoon.
Ayan Mukherjee's effort in movie making is worth mentioning, He has a very simplistic yet unique way of story telling and helps us connect to the characters within a flash.
Ranbir has done a great job depicting Sid. But you come out of the movie with Konkana playing with your mind.
Its an embodiment, that has been handled with superb sensitivity & proficient understanding.'Wake Up Sid' tells the story of spoiled, careless rich-kid Sid Mehra, a college student who is taught the meaning of life by Aisha, an aspiring writer from Calcutta.'Wake Up Sid' is a terrific film.
Wake up Sid is a movie with a simple plot, a typical love story and a predictable ending...an average movie - WRONG!I stumbled upon this movie while surfing the net and decided to give it a try; and I'm more than pleased that I did.
Nowadays every second movie is touted as a "Breath of fresh air" movie.So much so that i have started hating this word.Well it seems that there is a real shortage of subjects in our cinema.The remakes and "inspiring" mindset need to be changed.Literacy rate has grown up and so has the mindset of the people in varied fields including cinema.You can't deceit them by showing same content in different ways.In this crises comes out a movie WAKE UP SID which keeps my faith a bit alive.It brings something refreshing to word "fresh air".I watched it twice and loved the honesty of the attempt.I just got lost in the world of Sid.The screenplay was good ,music soulful ,screenplay was quite predictable albeit.Ranbir Kapoor is superb as Arrogant to Sober SID and made me think that he could have only done justice to it.He is honing his skills with each passing movie.Direction also to say the least commendable.Well as a cinema lover i would love to see more audacious and experimental cinema in coming years..
Bollywood has traditionally been known for providing cinema with "screen play of convenience",poorly drafted or half baked stories & senseless drams.Now how is this movie different from the rest- 1.The treatment is pretty novel.2.There are no plastic emotions here,every thing seems pretty much connected with our daily lives.This thing deserves a special mention as this movie comes from the banner of Karan Johar,the man known for his glossy films with synthetic/plastic emotions.So,he deserves special brownie points for undertaking such a project.3.The feel fresh approach and the pace at which the film moves is the high light of the film.The acting is top notch.Ranbir,Konkana,Supriya Pathak & Anupam Kher all perform exceptionally well.The music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy is situational and strikes a chord with the viewer.The title song and Iktara(composed by Amit Trivedi) stand out.The back ground score also deserves a special mention.The cinematography is soothing to the eyes and the direction is superb.The scenes like the Ranbir's spat with his parents,or when Ranbir & Konkana spend a night gazing at the stars or even when Ranbir meets his father in his office are handled with utmost sincerity and maturity.The romantic aspect or the bonding between Konkana & Ranbir is very genuine and heart warming.Bollywood,through films like these ,is taking giant strides towards excellence.Well done Ayan Mukherji & Karan Johar.....Final verdict-9/10.
She can act but find some movies where she is a central character, this movie belongs to Ranbhir all the way.Wake up today's youngs and face the reality, the real world isn't what it seems like.
She might not have the traditional movie star look but she is bundled with oodles and oodles of acting skills and charm to more than make up for it.Ranbir Kapoor is pretty good too.
And that's how it should be.Over all a pretty decent and lite film for an easy movie watching experience.This review was originally posted on my blog: http://roundhayreview.blogspot.com/2010/01/wake-up-sid.html.
"Wake Up Sid" is a very good movie, though I think with a tiny bit of editing it could have been a great movie.
Still, for anyone not familiar with Bollywood films, this would be a good entry for the unitiated.Sid (Ranbir Kapoor) is a rather loathsome character when the story begins.
Wake up Sid is a brilliant movie mainly due to Ranbir's performance.
There's a little bit of you and me and everyone we know in Siddharth Mehra, the spoilt rich-kid protagonist of director Ayan Mukherji's Wake Up Sid, the coming-of-age story of a directionless slacker played by Ranbir Kapoor.
It's Ranbir Kapoor and him alone who diverts your attention from the film's little flaws and spellbinds you with an endearing act that is Wake Up Sid's biggest strength.
Director Ayan Mukherji's Wake Up Sid has its heart in the right place and it marks the breakout of a bright, shining star who has come into his own so early in his acting career.
For me, watching Wake up Sid was in a sense a director's love letter to Bombay - and the possibilities of life here.
At the same time, he is a decent person, who goes on to befriend an aspiring, female writer, older than him and who is not from the same city.Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma, Namit Das, Shikha Talsania, Rahul Khanna, Supriya Pathak, Anupam Kher and Kashmira Shah, this is directed by Ayan Mukherjee and is Produced by Hiroo Johar and Karan Johar, while the music score is by Shankar Ehsaan Loy.Ranbir Kapoor, who started his career with "Saawiriya," has gone on to prove that he is an aspiring actor, who looks very promising to reach the top in the future.
There are numerous resemblances to the characters of Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan from those movies that we see in Ranbir Kapoor's 'Sid' and he does well to take whatever comes in his grasp but sadly, that is not much.The story has nothing new to offer.
Although, Ranbir Kapoor gives his best performance in 3 films and Konkana lives up to her standards, Wake up Sid never reaches any high notes.
With just a few shades of romance, intensity, tragedy, comedy and the lack of depth in a predictable story, Wake up Sid is a regular affair at the movies.
So this is a great debut by director Ayan Mukherjee.The pros are - Wonderful direction, wonderful performances by literally everyone that's seen in this movie, hilarious moments, cool music...I think Ranbir Kapoor is a director's actor.
For me the best part of the movie is the company between Sid and Aisha.
Mumbai is always best so as this movie is; WAKE UP SID !!!!!!.
Sid gets moved by this and reaches out to Aisha and confesses his love for her and its the end.Ranbir Kapoor is one of the brightest stars of Indian Cinema and there are no two doubts on that.
Series of events wakes-up Sid and he gets overboard to the point of annoying not only his live-in but also the viewers.The ending is great and they live happily ever after in a little flat with not only good view of the ocean but more so life in general..
Aisha s dream to become a writer slowly comes true and she gets a column for her mag, Sid reads and realizes she is in love with him and this makes him realize his feelings for her too, and from here in the monsoon weather and bridge next to the beautiful sea where they shared so many beautiful moments they re-unite and start again, as lovers.Great Movie, Very realistic, Great Acting, Great Directing, Great Script, Prefect linking throughout the movie, and if you had given up on bollywood like me check out this movie and the spark will re-ignite.
And of course, contrary to Indian soap operas, the movie revolves around ordinary people that the audience can relate to.In a sentence, the movie's about how the immature son of a rich businessman learns to be mature from an independent writer from Calcutta, and how the two of them then fall in love.The themes that Wake Up Sid concerns are only too similar to themes that Bollywood films have already discussed several times in the past: Rich vs. |
tt0914798 | The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas | SS officer Ralf (David Thewlis) and his wife Elsa (Vera Farmiga) have a twelve-year-old daughter, Gretel (Amber Beattie), and an eight-year-old son, Bruno (Asa Butterfield). The well-to-do family must move to the "countryside" when the father is promoted (to Obersturmbannführer). Unknown to Bruno, the new house is near a Nazi concentration camp, and Ralf is the new commandant. Bruno initially dislikes the new house as he always has to stay in the house or the garden; also there are no other children to play with, apart from his sister. From his bedroom window, Bruno spots a barbed wire fence with people in "striped pyjamas" behind it. Though he thinks it is a farm, it is the camp with Jewish people in their camp clothing. Bruno is forbidden to go there, because according to Ralf, "they're not really people"; it is agreed that at least they are a bit weird, as demonstrated by their clothing.Bruno goes there anyway, secretly, and becomes friends with a Jewish boy, named Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), whom he meets at the fence, and who is the same age. Shmuel tells Bruno that he is a Jew and that the Jewish people have been imprisoned here by soldiers, who also took their clothes and gave them the striped camp clothing, and that he is hungry. Bruno is confused and starts having doubts about his father being a good person. Later, he is relieved after seeing a propaganda film about the camp (that is a parody of Theresienstadt). Bruno often returns to the fence. He brings Shmuel food and plays draughts (checkers) with him through the fence.An elderly Jewish man named Pavel (David Hayman) is a servant in the family home; he is treated rudely by Ralf's adjutant, Obersturmführer Kotler (Rupert Friend). Formerly a doctor, Pavel mends Bruno's cuts when he falls off his homemade tire swing.Ralf hires Herr Liszt (Jim Norton) to tutor Gretel and Bruno, although in reality he is brainwashing them with anti-Semitic Nazi propaganda. Gretel is very responsive to this and becomes an even more fanatical Nazi than she already was, also because she likes Kotler. However, Bruno is bored and also confused, since Shmuel and Pavel are friendly.In the meantime, Elsa notices a strange smell that she keeps noticing outside their house just as Lieutenant Kotler walks past. Kotler, thinking Elsa knows what really goes on in the camp, says to her "They smell even worse when they burn," Elsa, who thought that the camp was a labour camp and not a death camp, is shocked and quarrels with Ralf about it, and ultimately breaks down.Kotler is blamed by Ralf and Ralf's visiting father (who is also a firm Nazi) that he failed to report that his father emigrated to Switzerland some time ago, as opposed to contributing to the "national revival". Frustrated, Kotler responds to a small accident by Pavel of spilling some wine by beating him up severely; Pavel is not seen in the house any more. Later in the film, Maria, the maid, is shown cleaning up blood from where Pavel was beaten up.Shmuel appears in the house as a new servant and, in his joy, Bruno gives him a cake to eat. However, Kotler starts yelling at Shmuel for speaking with Bruno and stealing food. Shmuel tells the officer that Bruno is his friend and that he gave him the cake. Frightened, Bruno denies, adding that he does not know Shmuel. The soldier tells Shmuel that they will later have "a little chat about what happens with rats who steal". Shmuel is not seen in the house anymore, and at first not at the fence either. Finally, Shmuel is at the fence again, with an injured right eye. Bruno apologizes. Shmuel soon forgives Bruno and they become friends again. Kotler is later sent to the front for not advising his superiors of his father's opposition to the Nazi regime.Elsa decides to move away with the children; Ralf agrees, and tells Bruno that Elsa does not feel that the area is a good place for children to grow up. Bruno does not want to leave anymore, because of his friend Shmuel.Shmuel tells Bruno that his father is missing. Bruno gives him the bad news that he will be moving away for good the next day after lunch. Wanting to make up for letting Shmuel down and unaware that his father has likely been murdered, Bruno agrees to help Shmuel to find his father, and returns the next day with a shovel to dig a hole under the fence to get into the camp, while Shmuel will bring an extra set of camp clothing; Shmuel's suggestion that he could leave the camp through the hole is rejected by Bruno, who focuses on the target of finding the father.Bruno changes his clothes and wiggles under the fence, and is now in the camp with Shmuel. Bruno comes to realize that the camp is completely the opposite of what he saw in the propaganda film and wants to return, but Shmuel encourages him to continue helping to find his father. While they look in Shmuel's hut a group of guards and Kapos arrive and march all those inside (including Bruno and Shmuel) to a low concrete building. The men and boys are made to undress, supposedly for a shower, packed together into a gas chamber, and killed.In the meantime, Elsa warns Ralf (who is in a meeting about increasing the capacity of the crematorium) that Bruno is missing. With Gretel, they run to the camp and try to find him. They find Bruno's clothes next to the hole under the fence. Ralf runs throughout the camp and discovers an empty hut, and, reaching the gas chamber, concludes that Bruno has been brought to the gas chamber with a group of Jews. Pavel is also seen undressing near the boys and he looks at them and then turns away. When Ralf arrives, the boys are already dead and he is devastated. Upon hearing Ralf's cry of "Bruno!" Elsa and Gretel realise what has happened and are equally devastated. A last shot showing the undressing room with many camp uniforms reminds the viewer that the tragedy is not just Bruno, Shmuel and Pavel's deaths, but that of many other Jewish people during the holocaust of World War II. | historical, sentimental | train | imdb | So I watched The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas today and this movie seriously is one of the saddest films I have ever seen, but I felt it was very maturely handled.
The actors are great and the story is very touching, to watch these two boys from two completely different worlds who come together just to have fun, be boys, not because of the difference of their background.Set during World War II, a story seen through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence.
The subtlety of the looks passing between the actors and a finale that ensured silence until the final credit rolled, makes this one of the best films i've seen in a long time.This is the first review I have never written and i cannot think of a better way to have opened my account..
Now Mark Herman's "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas", itself based on John Boyne's novel, is fit to mentioned alongside these two great films.I was initially doubtful at the premise of this film since my knowledge of Holocaust history suggested that 8 year old boys would have been sent straight to the gas chambers on arrival rather than set to work in a camp (obviously I am happy to be set straight on this point if I am wrong).
And having seen the film, I also doubt that the boy in the camp (Shmuel, well played by Jack Scanlon) would be able to sit at the camp fence undetected long enough to meet and talk to Bruno, the camp Commandant's son (an astonishingly assured performance by newcomer Asa Butterfield).There has also been some criticism of the fact that all the actors speak in Received Pronounciation English accents (even American actress Vera Farmiga, whose English accent is completely faultless).
When it finished, I sat in my seat stunned (I had the same reaction after watching "Disaster Movie" last week, but most definitely not for the same reason, I assure you).The Holocaust as seen through the prism of 8 year old German boy is a novel approach and although we all know what is happening at the camp nearby, at the beginning, he does not.
None of them are one dimensional wholly evil characters but nor are they wholly good either (not even Bruno who tells lies on several occasions, one occasion which results in brutal punishment for one of the prisoners as a consequence).With good performances from Asa Butterfield as Bruno, Amber Beattie as his sister, David Thewlis as his father, Vera Farmiga as his mother and Jack Scanlon as Shmuel, this may not be the first film about the loss of childhood innocence in the Holocaust (Roberto Benigni beat Herman to it with "Life is Beautiful" and whilst Benigni's film has a powerful end of its own, even that does not compare to the powerful shattering ending which this film possesses) but it is the best and most effective to date.With restrained direction by Mark Herman and a similarly restrained score from James Horner, if this film does not win the hat full of Oscars next year that it surely deserves, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will have shown itself to be completely irrelevant..
Watching this movie I kept being drawn back to Primo Levi's book "If This is Man" the story of his time as a prisoner suffering from this evil.The great success of the film is its simplicity, it does not seek to over analyse but simply allows the development of the characters to tell the story.One of the contributers spoke of how he was in screen 9 (if I remember correctly) in Cineworld Dublin - I was in Screen 11 and I can had the same experience, the film ended and no one moved, all were in a state of shock, no, sorrow.
I will try and not spoil it and keep the review very simple and straight forward.The film is mainly shot through the eyes of Bruno played by Asa Butterfield growing up in war time Germany during the holocaust.
I will end it there as I don't wish to spoil the rest of the film.Putting to one side the fact that everyone has a flawless English accent (which does make it difficult to hate them at first), the cinematics, sound, editing and above all acting are a credit to the British film industry.Asa Butterfield is fine young actor and I'm sure will be destined for even greater things in the future.As I mentioned above, I won't give anything away, but I will say that this is the first time I have been to the Cinema and everyone sat quiet right up until the end of the credits.Please, please see this film.
You don't often sit in a BAFTA screening and hear weeping behind you but even the most hardened cineaste would be moved by this look at the holocaust through an Aryan child's eyes.It is beautifully scripted, acted and shot too - with none of the anachronisms of taste and language that bedevil historically-set films such as The Duchess.A small, British movie with an unusual take on a ghastly and well-worn subject.PS - for parents: It's a 12A in Britain and I wouldn't take a child under about eleven.
The picture begins on the quiet introspective look at young Bruno ( Butterfield )who lives happily with his family, a sweet mother (Vera Farmiga, elder sister and father (David Thewlis), a stiff Nazi commandant.
The title itself is an indication that this movie is going to depict the horrors of World War II through the innocent eyes of a little boy, an approach that I already despised in the similarly out of place "Life Is Beautiful".
Personally, I don't believe in the natural goodness of children or in their naive innocence when it comes to befriending others, but that's not even the main problem I have with this movie.From the beginning, "The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas" is only looking for ways to dramatize the story.
It feels like an exploitation of real life tragedies for the purpose of a cheap shock moment, and that's just tasteless.Good performances by the child actors and Vera Farmiga couldn't save this movie.
I have read and seen a lot about the Holocaust, and although I know that a story like that could not have happened in reality (the single line fence, where two kids could have met unobserved; the naivety and ignorance of an 8-year old boy), I was very moved and found the film extremely well done.
Her performance was way over the top at most times.This movie felt like it was just going for the Oscar's by being politically correct in every sense, but there is nothing that would really grab and twist your mind to think of the holocaust any differently than we are used to.
The father justified his work with the rationalization heard over history with genocide that "they aren't really people".I will have to say that given the usual mindless entertainment on the silver screen this movie will stay with you.The main theme of the movie is how 2 innocent 8 year old boys are affected by evil, and man's inhumanity to man.I had heard some detractors say that all of the "Germans" are speaking with English accents, including the American actress Vera Farmiga (I suppose to stay consistent with the other British actors) - their contention that somehow this detracts from the authenticity.
Even the young lieutenant is victimized for his father's failure to support the Party.Where the film fails is in establishing any kind of convincing relationship between Bruno and Shmuel, the little Jewish boy he befriends behind the wire, which would make the ending devastating or even poignant rather than simply contrived.
And like the Dreamfactory's animated features, The Boy In the Striped Pyjamas, which is based on a children's book, is a morality tale and a film which both kids and adults can enjoy.The film tells the story of two eight-year-old boys who are at either side of Auschwitz's fence.
After all, the full title of the book it is based on is The Boy In the Striped Pyjamas: A Fable, and so the moral message takes precedence over realism.In depicting the Holocaust through the eyes of innocent children, who are seen as untainted by the evil that apparently lurks in all grown men, John Boyne, the author of the book, and Mark Herman, the film's director, can avoid addressing the historical as well as moral complexity of the Holocaust.
In conceiving of the Holocaust as a historical horror story that keeps being repeated in different forms, we lose sight of the particularities of each of those events and this reduces our ability to properly understand any of them.Many well-intentioned initiatives to maintain the memory of the Holocaust end up relativising it and belittling the experiences of those who were persecuted, enslaved, gassed to death or forced to flee their home countries under the threat of extermination in Nazi concentration camps.Consider the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust in Britain for example.
It took every fibre of my being when the credits rolled to not cry with the rest of the cinema goers, the movie jolted throughout me as I was caught so far from the ending.Truly, a film all should watch but do not expect to come away feeling good.The story is set away from the typical line in a Nazi ear movie, it shows the pure innocence of a child being brutally destroyed, the sheer naievty of the boy in the whole situation is shocking and only serves to devastate harder and further the more we move into the movie.I can't recommend this movie enough..
Bruno lives a conflict about the Jews while having classes with his tutor and at home with the German officers; when Shmuel's father disappears in the camp, Bruno digs a hole and wears pyjamas to help his friend to find his father with tragic consequences.Yesterday I watched the heartbreaking "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" and I am still moved with this touching and tragic tale of two pure boys and their sight of war and holocaust through their innocent eyes.
The Edge-4 pretty much said it all in his review here: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a well-crafted, unsentimental take on the Holocaust as seen through the eyes of an eight-year-old German boy, who happens to be the son of a newly installed concentration camp commander.
Based on a novel (called a "fable") geared to young adults by Irish author John Boyne, the narrative is told from the point of view of eight-year old Bruno, the son of prominent Nazi officer Ralf (David Thewlis).The film's joyous opening sequence gives no hint of the dark night to follow.
Bored and without playmates, Bruno disregards the many warnings from his mother and adventurously explores the forbidden territory beyond the wall.When he discovers an emaciated young boy his own age Shmuel (Jack Scanlon) sitting next to a barbed-wired fence wearing what he mistakenly identifies as striped pajamas, Bruno only sees the opportunity for a new friend.
The Lieutenant seems to be a stereotype until the dinner scene, when suddenly even he becomes a real human being.Nearly all the horrific events are implied and off-screen, but the constant understated references are very clever: the black clouds blowing over the garden, and the chillingly brilliant scene with Gretel's dolls stored in the cellar, so innocent in itself but so evocative of what was really happening.I would not class this as a children's film, but the way it is done from Bruno and Shmuel's perspective means that (older) children can relate to the characters.
"The Boy in the Striped Pajamas," a historical fiction film gives the perspective of an 8-year-old German boy whose father is in charge of running a death camp, unaware of what's going on at all.
"if the people who performed genocide against the Jewish people could have come by a time machine and had watched this movie and had seen the ending,would the past have been the same.some would have said just to be more careful to bruno's father sure;but i guess majority of them would have regret what they did.İ still believe in humanity ,though it is a naive thought these days.The movie is well directed,well acted .thanks to the producers...
So, in boredom and confusion he wonders what is going on at OutWith and why people are always dressed in striped pajamas there.It takes a great writer to tell a story about such evil especially through the eyes of a child and Mark Herman's screenplay of the novel by John Boyne is a fantastic adaptation.The dialogue is delightful and only enhanced by some stunning acting.
It is not like those movies about 2 WW that try to show you the horrors of the war it is a simple story about two young boys 8 years old, that see the devastating effects of the war in a different way.
Shock numbed your senses.In this movie, the film makers take us into a child's world and if you were 8 years old from either side of the fence, what did you think, what you saw, what you felt, what you believed!
When you see the the world through the eyes of children, all your senses are enhanced, innocence is magnified, beauty crystallized.Two kids in this movie, a son of a Nazi General, Bruno, and a Jewish kid in Concentration camp, Schmoel, they form a friendship but are separated by an electric fence, across which they sit and chat and even laugh and play games, and try to make sense of the world they live in and try to interpret events and actions, unable to comprehend the underlying evil.
Stark in its message and touching in its emotional core, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a powerful, albeit slightly unfocused criticism of one of the cruellest acts in the recent history of man; and it does so through the eyes of an eight year old boy.This boy isn't the one mentioned in the title however, that would be an imprisoned Jew, living in a labour camp not far from our main character's new home.
Bruno (Asa Butterfield), a boy of eight and son of an important Nazi soldier, has recently left his home in Berlin to live with his father, sister and mother in their new home which incidentally is near a concentration camp.
Bruno and Shmuel may never have any real time to bond and become close friends, but through their mutual isolation they find solace in each other, regardless of the electric fencing between them and whatever race of people they may be descendant from.Both child actors Butterfield and Scanlon do very well in their positions, and although they suffer from a distinct lack of true connection to the historical setting in which they find themselves, their inherent sense of ignorance brings the film a much needed air of innocence.
The remainder of the cast hold their own just as well, with Vera Farmiga and David Thewlis providing some domestic dynamism as Bruno's mother and father adequately with enough resonance to further their son's personal story.In the end however, it was indeed the film's final ten minutes which won me over.
With "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas", director Mark Herman has adapted John Boyne's highly acclaimed novel which sees a small part of this greatest of crimes through the eyes of an innocent and oblivious child.Bruno, the central character, is an eight year old who moves with his family to their new home in the country.
Bruno (Asa Butterfield) is the lonely son of the camps Commander.The picture is very approachable, which is weird to say about a film dealing with the Nazi concentration camps, but I feel like it works in its favor.
Exploring the horrors of the darkest period in human history & telling the tale from the point of view of an eight year old boy, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a strong, heartfelt story of a forbidden friendship formed between a German boy of a Nazi official & a Jewish boy in an extermination camp and it's the evolution of their friendship that is the soul of this film.
At his new home the boy is bored without friends to play with, but meets a young boy on the other side of a fence who is sitting around in his pyjamas; over time they become good friends.The film is aimed at the family audience; parents with older children who can deal with the subject matter but perhaps are coming to it for the first time.
He meets a Jewish boy his age and begins a friendship which involves playing games through the electric fence that separates them, bringing him food, and asking him questions about the camp.This is different from most Holocaust films because it is seen through the eyes of the young boy, Bruno.
Thus, one must not expect this movie to be heavy on historical detail; instead, it uses the Holocaust mainly as a convenient backdrop to convey the moral of the story, that we are all human and deserve to be treated as such.The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is different from most other Holocaust films because it is viewed through the eyes of a child and effectively utilizes this perspective to demonstrate its purpose.
This film tells us the story of two children on both sides of the Holocaust.Bruno is the 8 year old son of the Commander of the Auschwitz Death Camp when it is still in development.
To that point, I thought this was a very well done movie, depicting the innocence of an 8 year old boy growing up in the Third Reich who finds himself in the midst of some ugly history-making when his father becomes commandant of a concentration camp. |
tt1231580 | Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel | At an arena for a charity benefit rock concert, the Chipmunks are performing and the crowd goes wild. Alvin takes the lead, and then begins to show off, and Dave (Jason Lee) calls him over and tells him to stop it. He reminds him that this is a charity event, and not all about Alvin, and to stop it, but Alvin refuses. He slings the cord to his electric guitar over a high beam, and swings over the crowd while playing his guitar. Inadvertently, Alvin's cord knocks a huge Alvin-cutout loose, and it hits Dave. Dave is taken to the hospital, and is covered in gauze, a neck brace, and traction and casts on every limb.Before going under sedation, Dave tells the chipmunks that Aunt Jackie (the one Theodore calls Popcorn Jackie since she sends them popcorn) will take care of them, and that he has arranged for them to go to school. Lastly, he puts Simon in charge and tells them to be good.The chipmunks fly home, and see Popcorn Jackie waiting for them with cousin Toby (Zachary Levi). Toby neglects to set the brake on her wheelchair, and she rolls backwards down two flights of stairs, and out the doors. An ambulance takes her, and Toby says he'll watch the boys.At home, he tells the boys to stay out of trouble, while he is busy playing video games. They play around and eat junk food since no one is watching. Dave calls, and Alvin decides not to tell him about Jackie's accident, and hangs up on him quickly. As usual, Theodore wakes up at night from a nightmare, and goes into Toby's room and asks if he can stay there. Toby agrees, and tells him that chipmunks don't have anything to fear but eagles. Eagles with large talons that want to catch and eat chipmunks This scares Theodore, and he runs out of Toby's room. Now Theodore is scared of eagles.Toby takes the boys to school, and drops them at the curb. They walk in, and are nearly stepped on amid the chaos of the high school hallways. Theodore sees the school mascot is an eagle and remembers Toby's story, and runs away, scared. In homeroom, all the girls in the class go mad for the chipmunks and leave the football hero and his gang. They vow to get even with the chipmunks.Back at JETT Records, where Ian (David Cross), their former manager worked, Ian is broke, and living in the back room. He blames all his loss on the chipmunks and wants to get back at them someday. A FedEx envelope arrives, and three little girl chipmunks chew their way out: Brittany, Jeannette and Eleanor. They want to meet Alvin, Simon and Theodore, and sing with them. Ian lies to the girls, telling them that the chipmunks broke his heart, and got too arrogant, and turned against him, and left him penniless. He hears the girls sing, and realizes he can make a new start with their talent, especially Brittany's.Back at school, the chipmunks have lunch with the girls, and the football guys are jealous. They come over to give Alvin a hard time, but before they can, the chipmunks give the boys wedgies, which makes the girls laugh. Theodore sees a huge bronze eagle statue in the foyer, and runs away, still frightened by eagles. Ryan (Kevin G. Schmidt), the mean football guy, grabs Simon and dunks his head in the toilet, then drops him in. Alvin saves him from drowning, and when they leave the restroom, they see the same boys poking Theodore in the butt and making fun of him, and calling him fat. Alvin and Simon attack and end up in the principal's office. Principal Rubin (Wendie Malick) tells them they have two choices: suspension, or represent the school in a Sing-Off competition. The school's music program is about to be shut down due to budget cuts, so winning the competition and the $25,000 prize would save the program. The chipmunks agree to do it.Back at home, the boys watch Meerkat Manor together. Toby is busy with his video games and neglects caring for them. They try to tell Toby about their bad day at school, but he just tells them it will be better tomorrow.First thing at school the next day is P.E., and the chipmunks are getting hit by ball after ball in dodge ball. Alvin, though, challenges Ryan, and catches the ball thrown at him. Ryan talks to him, and says that he has good hands, and they might be able to use him on the football team. Alvin is excited but Simon and Theodore are worried. Alvin works out with the football guys in the gym, and starts to become one of them. He even moves to their table at lunch, leaving Simon and Theodore.Ian sees a notice in the newspaper about the upcoming Sing-Off, and realizes this is his big chance to break the girl chipmunks into the business. He enrolls them in school, and reminds them to avoid Alvin, Simon and Theodore because they can't be trusted.After school, Alvin, Simon and Theodore are rehearsing, and Ian comes by. He brings the girls, called The Chipettes and has them sing for Principal Rubin. He challenges her decision to have The Chipmunks be the designated singers for the school, so she agrees to a competition Friday night, where applause will decide if it's the Chipmunks or the Chipettes to represent the school. When they are at school together the next day, Alvin tries to talk to Brittany, but she snubs him. He tries to warn her about Ian, but she won't believe him.Ian works the Chipettes hard in preparation for the competition, and comments that Eleanor is too short. He shoves both Eleanor and Jeannette (glasses) towards the back, and says that Brit is going to be a mega-star.Dave calls and talks to Toby. Toby tells him about Aunt Jackie's injury and being in the hospital, and Dave starts to worry. Before he can ask more, Toby hangs up.The football guys decide to mess with Simon, and tell him he's been selected to be the Litter Monitor. There isn't such a position; they just do it to embarrass Simon. Alvin finds out, but doesn't come to help Simon, as he doesn't want to look bad with his new group of friends. Simon gets angry at Ryan, and Ryan tells him that it's a big joke. Simon leaves, mad. Alvin is supposed to play in the big away-game on Friday night and he is excited, but realizes it is at the same time as the competition against the Chipettes.Helping with Toys for Tots, Theodore and Eleanor meet, and hit it off. She is wearing huge shoes, to make her taller, and stumbles a lot. Theodore tells her she doesn't need them--she is perfect just the way she is. She blushes, and they smile at each other.At the football game, Alvin is frustrated becaise he hasn't played once. With nine seconds left and one play, Ryan calls him in, and they run a special "Alvin play." Ryan passes the football long, downfield, and Alvin is ON the ball, and when it lands in the end zone, Alvin is on the bottom, and catches it, making a touchdown, and they win. They celebrate afterwards, and Alvin goes with them. Back at the school, the Chipettes sing, and when it is time for the Chipmunks to sing, there is no Alvin. Simon and Theodore go to the podium and explain that without Alvin, they can't sing. They are booed by the students, and the principal proclaims the Chipettes the winner. Alvin shows up much later, when it is all deserted, and realizes his big mistake. He goes home, and is ignored by Simon and Theodore.In the morning, they find a note from Theodore, saying he has run away from home, and is at the zoo. He has gone to live with the meerkats. He goes through the fence, underneath a sign that says Meerkat Exhibit Closed -- Birds of Prey Exhibit Open. Without knowing it, Theodore walks in and faces a large eagle, of which he is deathly afraid. Toby, Alvin and Simon arrive to help him. Alvin distracts the eagle, and then they run for the fence. Theodore gets stuck since he is chubby, and as Alvin pulls, Simon pushes. They make it out in time, and Alvin apologizes for his behavior and they make up.Ian tells the Chipettes they are opening a concert for Britney Spears, but it is at the same time as the big Sing-Off. He says the Sing-Off never mattered; he just wanted to get them seen so he could make money and be famous again. Ian also says he is only talking Brittany, and when she refuses, he locks all three of them in a cage and puts them in a limo. While he is busy, Brittany uses his cell phone and calls Toby, and asks for help. Alvin tries to tell her how to unlock the lock on the cage. Alvin hops on a motorcycle and tells them he is coming to help.Pulling alongside the limo, Alvin sees the girls have gotten out of the cage and are on the roof. He throws helmets to each of them, and then they jump down to his motorcycle. They ride off, and Ian is furious. Ian stops and gets a remote-controlled helicopter and chases the chipmunks with it. They end up on the skids, hanging on for dear life, and Britney has an idea: they all throw their helmets at Ian, and he drops the remote control. They lean hard to catch it, and Jeannette saves it, and now steers them to the competition. They fly in just as it is their turn, and the audience applauds and cheers. All six chipmunks decide to perform together, and they sing,We Are Family, and unanimously win, and save the school's music program. Dave and Toby are in the audience, and cheer.On the way out, Dave hobbles with Alvin. He has a cast on one leg, uses crutches, and has a neck brace on. Alvin tells him he offered the Chipettes their house and said they could live there with them. Dave looks concerned, and says Alvin!At the Staples Center for the Britney Spears concert, we see the Chipettes announced and out comes Ian, wearing a gold strapless dress, and with two sock puppets on his hands, and one taped to his head. He tries to be the Chipettes, and is booed, and Security hauls him offstage.Back at home, the Chipmunks are in a three-tiered bunk bed on one side of the room, and the Chipettes are in a three-tiered bunk bed on the other side of the room. Dave tells them good night, but Alvin refuses to go to bed. Lights on, lights off, lights on, lights off. Dave tries to grab Alvin in the dark, stumbles, a loud crash sounds, and we hear him yell, ALVIN! | cute, entertaining | train | imdb | We decided to spend quality time together watching this thing, and after wasting precious minutes of my life with bad jokes and a stale plot, I have decided to review it.The chipmunk trio is sent to high school, where they deal with stereotypical high school problems and have a rivalry with a female group of chipmunks, The Chipettes.
None of the characters besides the main trio are interesting, the jokes fall flat, and all the high school "trauma" the chipmunks deal with is about as real as an episode of Saved By the Bell.Now, I wasn't expecting Citizen Kane or some grade A masterpiece with complex themes and characters.
Just because a movie is for kids doesn't mean you have to reach for the lowest common denominator in order to entertain them, it doesn't mean you have to give them a thin plot with the freshness of a rotten apple core, it doesn't mean you have to reach for teenage stereotypes that should have been out with big hair, and it doesn't mean you shouldn't at least TRY to put a decent amount of effort into the final product!
I can only imagine the PG rating was due to the fact that the chipettes were darn right sexy - I didn't hear any vulgarity, see any nudity, violence or adult situations.It is really getting hard to find a film where I can take my 9 year old daughter to.
With battling giant robots, vampires, and giant smurfs lurking in 3D, this movie was a relief to see.The plot is paper thin - though in its defense it did have an ethical base of family, friendship, and responsibility.The effects were top notch, and there were a few times I even laughed (which was a few more times than I expected).In one word it was - 'Cute' - which is exactly what I think it sought out to be.
And the whole movie they just try to save the schools music program against the girl chipmunks.
If I were a young kid, I'd love this movie a lot, but I'm way past that and am often quite critical of children's genre films these days.
2.7?I was prepared for something awful but wanted to do something with the 4 younger kids before they headed back to school.This is the movie they wanted to see.I've seen a lot of kids' movies and this is definitely among the funnier ones I've seen.My 8-year-old and I sat next to each other and had a hard time controlling our laughter on a few occasions.I told my husband he definitely has to see this when it comes out on video.
Animaton was spot on, humour was good (not too over done), music choice, like in the first movie was excellent.If you want to put a smile on your kids face this Christmas then you could do a lot worse than Alvin & The Chipmunks.It's worth remembering when commenting on this type of movie that it's a kids film, targeted at an immature audience.Overall, for amusement I would give it 7/10, my 5 year old 10/10.
Given the really low rating on this website, I just have to use the word "Honestly" when I say that I honestly enjoyed this movie.I even liked it more than the first.I really don't know what you were supposed to expect from this movie.If you were expecting a great family movie like "Up", then I guess I can see why you were disappointed with the film.But I wasn't disappointed.I thought it was funny, cute, entertaining, and pure fun.It's no masterpiece by any standards, but it is NOT a bad film in any way.The acting isn't great, but it's decent.David Cross also makes a very funny performance this time around.You also have to admit that the CGI for the chipmunks isn't half bad.I'm just at a loss of words at how underrated this movie is.I'm sorry for sounding like I'm repeating myself, but what in the world did you expect from this movie?
So this movie's straight-line, A to B to C story is a serious drawback.Director Betty Thomas doesn't get a whole lot out of the cast (although, to be honest, I don't expect much in the way of high-caliber acting in movies like this), and the whole thing has a bit of a TV-movie feel, but the animation is rather good, and the film moves moves along at a pretty good clip, so even adults won't get too bored.Certainly, for some reviewers, a film like this, in the final analysis, is perfectly acceptable, since it's "for kids," and thus the only thing that counts is whether it's "entertaining" on some basic level, regardless of its actual quality.
I will not deny that I've grown up with the Alvin and the Chipmunks cartoon series on television, and had unabashedly enjoyed their very first cinematic outing way back in the year 2007, formulaic the storyline may be like an extended cartoon episode.
That it had raked in enough cash meant a sequel wouldn't be far away, and the logical progression in terms of the introduction of new characters, translated to the ushering of The Chipettes, voiced by Christina Applegate, Amy Poehler and Anna Faris as Brittany, Eleanor and Jeanette respectively.But the sequel suffered from having a rather half baked plot in trying to pit one set of chipmunks over the other, and complicated itself by trying to do too much in too little, having to write off their human guardian Dave (Jason Lee) to replace him with nephew Toby (Zachary Levi) who's about as plain as a piece of cardboard, and the very tired Alvin versus his brothers in an all for one and one for none subplot involving his association with the football jocks in search for a higher popularity.Even the villain too was a repeat in having Ian (David Cross) make a comeback, in trying to exploit the Chipettes for his comeback after falling from grace in the first film, without the clunky corporate executive being corrupted by greed and money stemming from good intentions.
All those movies look like crap compared to Alvin and the Chipmunks 2.
The high school jock storyline with Alvin wasn't nearly as entertaining as the original movies storyline.
This film is about three chipmunks who has to put their singing career on hold to attend high school.Even when I was typing the plot summary, I was already laughing out loud.
"Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" I guess is squeaky clean for kids to enjoy but not recommended for adults who constantly squeak through children movies.
This movie tries to play like its a harmless kids film.
a have to see movie by Andrew Glenn Fox 3 i'm not even afraid to write out my name after this review and i hardly like watching TV if you don't own this movie then you need to go out and purchase this wonderful film a must own if are to have a hot movie collection and you know what you might want to go out and purchase the first it wasn't as great as the sqequal but it was a good 8 out of 10 which is not all that bad and you will want to see the first again after seeing the second all i can say is as soon as the third chipmunks movie comes out i will be the first to watch it just to see more interactions between the chipettes and chipmunks just like the cartoon series and if you don't dig their singing then you have no tast in music and need to go and craw back into your hole and if you do have tast in music but don't like chipmunks music then you are proble a cutter that cuts yourself and listens to gay music..
The plot of the this movie wasn't great, but the film was dead on with the way the main characters were portrayed.
If you had an issue with it being HIGH school, I can see that, because the chipmunks were suppose to be, in theory, comparable to kids 8-11 years old, so elementary school would have been more appropriate, but either way, if my memory serves me correctly, the original characters did go to school with HUMANS.The bottom line is that this movie just isn't for everyone.
As a matter of fact, if you know you didn't grow up with Alvin and the Chipmunks yourself, then don't waste your time taking your kids to see the movie either, because you will surely ruin it for them.
I love the first Alvin and the Chipmunks film, but I never was a fan of the series.Pop sensations Alvin, Simon and Theodore end up in the care of Dave Seville's twenty-something nephew Toby (Levi).
(I won't reveal the reason why in case you do want to still see the film.)Alvin and his two equally irritating brothers are shipped off to stay with Aunt Jackie, a kind old woman.Well, an accident happens and they're stuck with Toby instead, the bumbling, incompetent nephew of poor Aunt Jackie.So in come the "Chipettes", a trio of female chipmunks who have big dreams of becoming famous.
But this crappy movie doesn't do him justice as it renders his character into a one dimensional stereotypical villain.Well, the Chipettes and the Chipmunks both wind up going to high school and entering the social hierachy.
There are other movies that can please both.Still not really that bad, you can watch this in its own right or at least put the kids there and let them enjoy it.
This is coming from someone who grew up with the old cartoons, but I realize that the image needed a change if it was to catch on with today's audience, just like it had to in the 1980's.This film, while not as good as the first one, is no where near as bad as it has been rated, and to me, those who give it a 2, 3, 4, or anything less than at least a 7, obviously have been brainwashed with way too much High School Musical or too many serious films and they expect everything to be a masterpiece.To anyone who actually uses their brain, please, chill out, relax, and enjoy the film..
I was hugely surprised by the original and really enjoyed it, despite being a 29 year old man, but this one is just a pale imitation.I don't know whether it was Jason Lee's decision not to be involved as much the second time around, but the fact that the story has "Dave" on the periphery of things really hurts the film, overall.I like the whole brothers/family dynamic...
I liked the first Alvin and the chipmunk movie better than the second one.
When I first saw The Chipmunks in 2007, I thought he was one of the creepiest looking bad guys I've ever seen in a kid's movie.
alvin and the chipmunks: a movie based on a plot so annoying its like highschool musical rat version.
To conclude, Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 is a movie you can enjoy with the family or for those that want to remember their childhood, if you're not either one of those, then you can wait for the DVD or just don't watch it.
Kind of hard to keep your mind on school and performing with those chipmunk hormones kicking in.I did say school because Jason Lee as David has a broken leg and Simon, Theodore, and Alvin are in the charge of Seville's socially challenged nephew Zachary Levi.
I really like how the surprise introduction of the Chipettes saves this film from being too boring as the beginning just shows the chipmunks wrecking havoc and causing trouble, this time, Toby (unlike Dave) rarely cares about their mischief but later on he does become protective and caring and starts taking on some responsibility.
In this movie the Chipmunks are on tour and Dave gets hurt.There Uncle Toby,who reminds me of a nerd who leaves in the basement of his mom's house and plays Call of Duty and Halo online againgst people half his age.So,Ian,the main antagionst, has brought in a new group of Chipmunks,The Chipetes,as a band.And the chipmunks fall in love with them.One problem I have is The Chipmunks have to go to High School.One why can't they be home schooled I mean if they got money from every time someone made a YouTube video the would be rich and live in a mansion.Well my little 6 Year Old cousin loves this movie and I don't from my experience.Well here is my story my friend took me to New Moon and it sucked I took him to this movie it sucked and we still aren't friends.I would say if you are over twelve you would not like this movie.The originial would be better to watch with your family since it is also a Christmas movie.So I give Alvin and the Chipmunks:The Squeakuel a 2 out of 10..
Elation, heartache, excitement, despair, fear, joy: it was all there, along with gags about poo.The plot for The Squeakquel—a formulaic high-school based morality tale about the importance of loyalty—isn't quite as strong and the film definitely lacks the freshness of the original, but there is still enough good stuff here to warrant a watch, especially if you're already a fan of the furry trio.Betty Thomas does a decent enough job in the director's chair, delivering plenty of not too sophisticated laughs and lots of energetic musical numbers, the effects are on par with the original, and the cast all put in more than adequate performances (David Cross as evil Ian providing my favourite gag right at the end of the film).
Okay, we're all going to have to admit this at some point, Alvin and the Chipmunks was an okay movie but does the sequel (or squeakquel) match up to the first?
The acting was below average, I remember it being much better in the first movie and the characters can be annoying at times but there were a couple of scenes when they were funny.
The animation was done very well and the way they mixed live-action with CGI was done great.There were a couple of funny moments in the movie but other than that, it felt like it was trying too hard.
Alvin And The Chimpmunks 2:The Squeakquel is a good movie with enjoyable and funny stuff but I found it to be a disappointment compared to the original Alvin And The Chimpmunks,I don't think the storyline is as good and you don't see too much of Dave.When Dave is put into hospital, his cousin or brother (they don't tell you) has to take care of them and Dave tells him to put Alvin,Simon and Teador into school,were they deal with a lot of bully's and Ian returns to try make them lose their fame by three singing girl chipmunks,the Chipettes!-DILLON HARRIS.
However, in this furry family film, when you put a trio of tree dwellers in a studio, you get a bunch of high-pitched cover songs.With Dave (Jason Lee) in hospital after a chipmunk related accident, the boys, Alvin, Simone and Theodore (Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney), are entrusted to his nephew, Toby (Zachary Levi).
I also liked the music sang by the chipmunks (they're squeaky versions of the songs we love in this present world).All in all, I'd give this movie a 6/10..
I enjoyed the first 3D chipmunk movie, I watched it a few times and there wasn't too much with it that I did not like.
The first Alvin and the Chipmunks movie was alright, but The Squeakquel is better in many ways than the first.
The story and the humans in this film-different thing altogether.Someone got the Disney bug about putting their characters in a school setting.OK,kids can relate,and the cartoon series ended with the Chipmunks and Chipettes in school.The humans in the film-painful to watch really.Ethan Hawke did not learn anything from his loss of the Chipmunks.Dave is in hospital most of the time(thank goodness).The goober they have to fill in for him is a troglodyte.It may have been easier to take the cartoonishness of the human cast had it been done all CGI.
i think the movie was great not as good as the first one but still really good when i was in the cinema a lot of the laughs came from the young kids but there were adults that i heard laugh so its not a movie that will only make the kids laugh the story line was alright not as good as first and i would have liked to see more of Dave but we saw a lot of Toby instead anyway it was still a great movie has some funny stuff in it such as Theodore when he says shes practicing pole dancing it was random and you wouldn't expect that coming its a movie you must see if your a fan of the chipmunks i give it a 7/10 =D.
He of course uses them as revenge on Alvin and his brothers as they ditched him from the first movie.SO Alvin and his brothers also have to go to school and they later meet up with the Chipettes.The film is slightly irritating but if your looking for a good laugh or if you are a fan of Zachary Levi then check it out.
With this, he create three cartoon characters to fit the high pitch: Alvin, Simon and Theodore, The Chipmunks.
Not as bad as you'd think, but still this movie needed some major work, even if it is meant for the kids, which we know this was more for the fans.During the Chipmunks' benefit concert David is injured.
I loved this movie it had the cute and innocence of the old chipmunks and enough modernization to be a great film. |
tt0066773 | Die Angst des Tormanns beim Elfmeter | Based on the 1970 novella by Peter Handke, Wim Wenders' The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick, completed in 1972, documents the warped journey of athlete Josef Bloch (Arthur Brauss) as he slowly and unhysterically transitions from a professional football goalie to a peripatetic madman.In Vienna. After being ejected from a football match for missing a penalty kick, and angrily resisting what he sees as a bad call, Bloch takes a trolley to a cinema, where he buys his ticket from a female cashier (Erika Pluhar). He watches a Western. Later that night, he books a room, and lazily fiddles with a television on the front desk to catch a re-cap of the day's game. After checking in, he goes outdoors to make a phone call. Despite being told that the payphone isnt working, he tries to call someone anyway, only to fail. Weary, he then waits outside the same cinema he visited earlier in the day, and watches the female cashier get into a car and drive off. Back at the hotel, he asks for a paper. Not having any, the hotel clerk offers him a crime novel instead, but Bloch has walked away by the time he returns with the text. Bloch goes to bed.At breakfast the next morning, he scans the local newspaper, searching for the football game results. He takes a brief walk and enters a sports bar; Roy Orbison's "Dream Baby" is blaring from a jukebox, and many pictures of footballers adorn the walls. While looking at the pictures, Bloch strikes up a conversation with a girl standing beside him, and tells her of a former teammate who disappeared after moving to play football in the United States. The two go walking to the girl's apartment building and, while riding the elevator to her room, he touches her suggestively. After a time, they are on the street once more, where they part. Bloch continues his search for the football match results, taking in street attractions and merchant booths along the way. While walking through a dark alley, he is the victim of an attempted mugging; one stopped short by the appearance of passers-by. Shaken, Bloch continues on his way through town, ultimately arriving at the same cinema he visited earlier. He chats briefly with the same female cashier, gets a ticket for a seat with extra legroom, and watches a movie about counterfeiters.After the movie, he stands in a dark alley adjacent to the theater, waiting once more for the cashier to leave. This time, he follows the girl onto a bus, first sitting behind her before boldly moving to her front. Though she appears not to notice him at first, when both get off at the same spot, she allows him to accompany her to her residence, where they then have sex. The next morning, Bloch is the first up. He opens her blinds, and sees (and hears) that she lives near an airfield. While she sleeps, Bloch takes a shower, his face betokening a mix of relaxation and disturbed contemplation. Bloch's shower wakes the girl who, over breakfast preparations, tells Bloch of a recurring dream of hers in which she wears a dress made of money that breaks out into flames at odd intervals. After switching on some Top-40 rock music, she prepares to run errands; Bloch requests that she bring him back a paper. While eating breakfast, formal introductions are made: Josef Bloch, professional goalkeeper; and Gloria, cinema cashier. Gloria remarks that she thought Bloch a boxer first, due to his many bruises. They continue to talk, with Gloria relating a tale of watching a football match with a former beau, and Bloch recalling a flub made during a game, along with his football-related travels to South America and the United States. He takes an interest in one of the postcards Gloria has posted by her mirror. Laid out on her bed, she says she's a collector. Bloch drops the postcard and joins her, stiffly reacting to the playful strangling motions she directs his way with one of her ropes. Suddenly, Bloch reaches out and chokes Gloria dead.We find him next sprawled out on Gloria's carpet, groggy. Aware of what he has done, Bloch wipes every utensil and every surface free of his fingerprints, and swipes the American currency lying on Gloria's table. He then returns to the hotel from two nights ago. After paying the 300 shilling bill, Bloch curiously fakes punching the hotel clerk before walking away. He enters the cinema once more, is found to be sleeping in the seats and is asked to leave. Angrily, Bloch knocks the concessionaire's flashlight from his hands and storms away. The concessionaire files a complaint and, when questioned later by the local police, Bloch reluctantly professes to not intending to knock the flashlight away, saying it was just a reflex. Later, Bloch boards a bus and, in the process of sitting down beside an old woman (Rosl Dorena), American coins spill out of his jacket. When the woman looks at him askance, Bloch casually passes off the coins as money left over from his time spent playing football in the United States. During a long bus ride through the countryside, Bloch completes a crossword puzzle and temporarily disembarks at a country bar, where he plays one record on its jukebox before re-boarding the bus. He rides until arriving at the bus terminus, listening to American rock n roll on his pocket radio. Once off the bus, Bloch finds a free room at a hotel. While being shown to his room (upstairs, adjacent to a bowling alley), Bloch asks the hotel girl if she knows an acquaintance of his, one Hertha Gabler (Kai Fischer). The girl replies to the affirmative, saying Gabler leases the Border Inn by the customs border. The next morning, the townspeople speak of a local handicapped boy who has been missing for three days. Bloch takes a newspaper, and finds that the mysterious murder of a female cinema cashier is front page news. He quickly hides the page, and reads the story of the missing cripple. He then leaves the hotel, and enquires for directions to the Border Inn.After receiving very detailed directions from two women in a store. Bloch has one of them mend his jacket; he also buys shirts. Outside, a cop car drives by, and Bloch becomes visibly worried. He leaves town, and walks on the roadside until he reaches the Border Inn. When he arrives, he is informed by the Inn's female employee that Gabler is sleeping; he orders a beer, establishes that he knew Gabler in days past, and listens as the employee tells him of a man from out of town who tried to force himself on Gabler under the guise of wanting to dig a well, and wanting to see the Inn's cellar. While waiting for Gabler, Bloch finds an unplugged jukebox, activates it, and plays more '50s rock. When Gabler arrives, she says that she saw his name in the paper recently. He's taking a break from the game, he says. She talks about the make-up she dons when out at night, and how it covers her up well. Bloch says he'd know her still by her blue eyes. Before leaving, he helps Gabler move furniture, and says hell stop by again in the morning. While walking by a one-room schoolhouse, Bloch comes upon an old man chopping wood. The man criticizes the local school system, and bemoans how kids today cant speak one proper, original sentence; it's all rote memorization, he argues. The next morning, Bloch mails a postcard at Gabler's; while entering Gabler's place, he grimaces at the weird smell outside. Gabler says one of the neighbors just died. Bloch asks of border guards, rent, and what number Gabler starts with when counting. He says he doesn't count the ones anymore, and adds that he almost got run over this morning while crossing the street for he only saw the second car. Gabler's young daughter, who has been easily frightened ever since the cellar incident, runs in and complains about the dead flies the neighborhood boys have placed under her pillow. Gabler explains to Bloch that the neighborhood boys are staying over until the body is buried, and shoos her girl away. After asking how country people do their loving, Bloch remarks that he saw a woman with a spot of blood on her dress two days back.The next morning at the hotel, Bloch strikes up a conversation with some locals who are interested in the appraisal of items. Bloch then gets a haircut, telling the two women in the shop (Monika Poschl, Sybille Danzer) that he places more trust in male hairdressers. The two women laugh, and say that they had bet on him being either a goalie or a boxer, and both admit to enjoying standing behind goalies and making them nervous. Bloch says he wouldn't be made nervous so easily. He then wanders through the countryside, passing the time staring into a stream. Later, after telling his host at the hotel that he'll pay for the room in the evening, he attends a football practice and exercises behind the goalie, shadowing his movements. Back at the hotel, he wakes up during the night and barfs into his sink. When he arrives late to breakfast the next morning, he admits to the hotel girl that he likes the place.Nevertheless, he becomes very much concerned by a headline in the paper announcing that the cripple boy was found dead in the same stream he stared at the day before. He tries phoning a Mr. Schneider, asks of a football practice, has a difficult time comprehending what is said to him, and is then disconnected. Later, in a meat shop, Bloch laughs with the butcher at the news that the cripple boy's bloated body was mistaken for a mattress, and then returns to the stream. In the evening, he meets the same hairdresser girls from a day before, and tells them of a dream he had. Bloch then wanders into a bus stop bar, meets some guys, and follows them to the cinema. They then embark for a small club, where Bloch meets up with Gabler, and listens to a jukebox spinning '50s hits. He drinks, and starts to play cards with a group of men. Just as the tune "Gloria" plays, Bloch, who is blankly staring at his hand of cards, tosses his chips in a guy's face and proceeds to fight him outside, where it is raining steadily. Bloch gets beaten up badly, and is left out in the rain. He stumbles back inside, drinks, and dances wearily with Gabler before returning with her to the Border Inn. There, they discuss diverse things until Gabler begins to rail on him for his slovenliness and messiness. Before the situation becomes any more intense, a border official (Bert Fortell) pops in and requests an umbrella for his walk home. Gabler assents, and Bloch volunteers to accompany the man on his way home. During the trek, the border officer shares with Bloch what it is like to be in law enforcement, how the crime rate in town has declined since the mining of the frontier, and how keen observations and swift reactions to movements are key to successfully catching a crook. Once home, the border officer offers Bloch a drink. He declines and returns to the hotel. Bloch listens to his pocket radio.In the morning, on the way down to breakfast, Bloch encounters a man and asks of the reading habits of the locals. He learns that the guests like to read the newspaper, and that the townsfolk usually read magazines. In the dining room, the hotel girl hands Bloch a paper. On the front page, there is a police sketch which bears great resemblance to him. He wanders away from the hotel, spooked. While waiting at a nearby bus stop, Bloch reads a headline in bold: "Hot Clue in Gloria T. Mystery?" When the bus comes, he stares at the driver, and does not board. Instead, he heads to the local football field and observes the ongoing match. While watching, he shares his experiences and his feelings on the game with a salesman (Michael Toost) sitting beside him. Bloch reflects on how hard it is to focus on anything but the ball during a game, and how strange it is to see a goalie running around without the ball involved. During a penalty kick, Bloch tells the salesman of the anxiety which runs through a goalie's head when not knowing what corner the ball will come to, and what the kicker is aiming at. Ultimately, the goalie blocks the ball, and the match continues. Bloch and the salesman watch in silence.FINIS | murder | train | imdb | Handke and Wenders explore patterns of thought and their relation to reality..
The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick (In German with English subtitles), a film by Wim Wenders and Peter Handke from a novella by Peter Handke (1971).The Goalie s Anxiety at the Penalty Kick is the first collaboration of Wim Wenders and Peter Handke, a collaboration which produced Wings of Desire in 1987.
In The Goalie, Handke and Wenders explore patterns of thought and their relation to reality.The main action of the film occurs in the first minute, where we get one view of how the Goalie misses blocking a penalty kick and loses the game for his team.Later, we get to hear him describe the action and we also get a view of the way it really happened, the videotaped highlights on the tv news.
While only one explains the goalie's anxiety before the penalty kick, all three allow for his anxiety afterwards.The night after the game, the goalie goes to see "Red Line 7000." This was James Caan's first starring role, a movie about wild young stock car racers getting hooked up with women drawn to them for their romantic image, yet making them settle down once hooked.
A Film about moving away from the action and into mundane adult life.
So it is that the goalie's anxiety concerned with the end of playing for a living and the beginning of a mundane existence.Then the goalie sees a film called "Die Zitten der Faelschers" (Faelschers > counterfeiters) and he makes a joke about it.
Our hero picks up the ticket girl at the theater and they end up in her apartment, where he kills her as she prepares to leave for work the next day.
I suspect Wenders & Handke intend for us to imply that he is killing in this film the thing that got Caan in "Red Line 7000." Several sequences later, the goalie sees another movie, "Gross Mandel," which I cannot identify.Now Wenders plays with our patterns, our expectations.
He is trying to get the viewer to evaluate his/her own preconceptions and expectations about plot.Several portentous scenes play out to nothing, in the end.
(In the novella, the goalie sees the missing boy s body float by in the scene on the footbridge).
The goalie sees a movie "Nur Nach 72 Stunden" ("72 Hours to Go," the pilot for the tv show "Madigan"), what a build up for the goalie as a prime suspect being caught or shooting it out.
The goalie's explanation: Until the shot is made, all possible plays are equally real to the goalie, he must decide which play to defend (which probability is real).Which is real?
Based on the novel "Die Angst des Tormannes beim Elfmeter" by Austrian existentialist writer, Peter Handke, The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick is a powerful and unnerving film by the great German director Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire, Paris, Texas).
As the film opens, the goalie, Joseph Bloch, (Arthur Brauss) is suspended from a soccer game in Vienna for missing a penalty kick.
Seemingly not upset, he goes into town, then commits an unplanned and seemingly unmotivated murder of a cinema cashier.
Presenting us with a world that does not fit our picture of what constitutes rational behavior, Wenders refuses to explain the goalie's senseless action.
Bloch simply continues his life in a matter-of-fact way, although a great deal of emotion seems to be churning under the surface.
He goes to the movies, converses with the local residents, drinks a lot, gets into a fight, and ostensibly waits for the police to close in.
As stated by Adam Groves in his review in The Cutting Edge, "He may be a homicidal sociopath, but Joseph seems to fit in quite well with the world around him, which seems to be the whole point"Bloch talks about his life as a goalie throughout the film.
At the end, he wanders into to a local soccer game and explains to a visiting salesman the thoughts that go through a goalie's mind during a penalty kick, for example, how the goalie must outguess the shooter.
Perhaps dramatizing the dehumanizing effects of modern society, Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick is a strange, intriguing, and complex film that definitely deserves repeated viewing to unlock the puzzle.
Maybe the best movie I've seen in my life.
I just want to say that this movie, when I watched it first time long ago, opened the doors of what cinema could say, in which ways, and how it could go as far as possible from a typical theatrical or literary (linear,logical, rational) treatment of its artistic matter; pursuing a more "musical" or "harmonically oriented" approach.Wenders develops this work as a series of "climates" or ambiances(we're talking "street" climates and ambiances, sometimes ugly or ridiculous; not that silly "grandeur" that spoils so many artworks) that contain valuable, almost satirical remarks on the "cheating" that our expectations and concepts are constantly playing to our minds.The particular sense of humor and drama of the script writer and the director just hit a string on me; as did the musical score.
It is difficult to comment on such a brilliant movie without having read the book first, or even better, being familiar with Peter Handke's narrative works.
While it may seem evident (to us, accustomed to Hollywood's conventional plots) that the main character of The Goalie...
Handke's approach to narrative is to reflect exterior signs, rather than enter the character's inner thoughts.
Same applies to the goalie: he would not speak his mind, therefore we, and even Handke himself (or Wenders) can not enter his own intimate realm.
Whatever his reasons are for what he does (and murder is only one of his unexplained acts) we can not know them.
The film is about communication between people more than murder.
It is funny that most of us would assume he is mad just because we can not find an account of his acts: if you think about it, in the real world outside the movie realm, most people -and even our closest friends- would not tell us why they do what they do.
For me, Jurgen Knieper's score serves the story well; the tune still comes back to me all these years later.It's a simple monotonous tune, the main parts being just two notes that the small chamber group works back and forth.
It may not sound like much, but in reality it becomes mesmerizing, almost like a 2nd main character, and something that won't release you, like fate.The film, of course, is genius.The understated music matches the film's lack of much excitement or development.
The visuals and music work to produce a profoundly unsettling look at the monotonous life of the murderer..
Wim Wenders was always the most cerebral, the most cinematic of the three Giants of New German cinema (albeit Giants enough to bear favourable comparison even to cinematic Giants-For All-Ages such as Fritz Lang, and FW Murnau).
This film, despite the directors acknowledgements of the influence of Alfred Hitchcock - evident throughout - is A Masterpiece of control and content - admirable in a mature work by an established director, astonishing as a feature debut.The title is relevant only in a later, casual, conversation the eponymous character has with a provincial policeman, where the policeman innocently spills out his m.o. when confronted by a criminal, but such is the nature of this study that we can't immediately be sure the psychopath is taking everything in.
(I saw parallels in the murder scene with a similar scene in Hitchcock's underrated 'Frenzy', but only in the way it was shot, and the aforementioned foreplay).His scanning of every subsequent news report might suggest he's worried, that the noose is tightening around him.
Like the prototype psychopath, compassion is conspicuous by its absence from his every thought and action.
But yet, in best cinematic tradition, what 'he' doesn't know is that we can see his every action, can scrutinise his every thought.
Best film about goalkeepers!.
While most reviews state the arc of the story well, it seems the details of what happens to the goalkeeper in the opening scene are not well understood.
He is clearly sent off for dissent, kicking the ball away in protest after it has been placed in the centre circle after the referee awards a goal.
He has not committed a foul, and he isn't dismissed because he fails to save the shot on goal, something which is not a rule of the sport.
He approaches the referee and protests that a player was clearly offside when the goal was scored.
When the referee ignores his complaint, the goalkeeper walks over to the ball in the centre circle and kicks it away.
Although the referee isn't seen to produce a red card, he is heard to say something (in German obviously) about red, all of which clearly tells us the referee sent him off for the act of dissent.As for the goal scored, we do not see a penalty kick being taken, and the way the scene is shot, as well as the fact that he protested that an attacking player was offside when the goal was scored, suggests more that the goal is scored in open play rather than from a penalty kick where by definition no-one could be offside if the goal was scored from a direct kick (rather than say after the goalkeeper saved the initial effort and normal play resumed -- to satisfy the even more pedantic!).
While it would be interesting if we saw the goalkeeper face a penalty, then see it "as it really is", an anti-Rashomon, on TV, it doesn't seem to me (at the risk of being too literal-minded, perhaps) that this is what Wenders filmed or intended.
The TV footage does not seem to show the match in which the goalkeeper played.
And once again, there is no penalty kick in that televised match, but the goal is instead scored from open play with defenders crowding the 18-yard area.
It does not feel like this is a detail we are intended to connect to the match he played.
In the final scene, we see another goalkeeper actually save a penalty kick by guessing correctly which way to dive, finally showing us the alternative outcome of a confrontation which the sport takes for granted is heavily stacked against the goalkeeper.There is a surreal, dislocated quality to the goalkeeper's behaviour in the opening scene.
He leaves the field of play while his own team has possession in the opposition's final third, and addresses some children behind the goal.
At this point in play, with no goalkeeper defending the goal, it would have been natural for the opposition to take a long distance shot on goal, so any normal goalkeeper would have got back on the field immediately to discourage that.
Any normal goalkeeper probably would never have left it in the first place, of course, but this is 1970s New German Cinema after all and clearly his angst is greater than the instincts which propelled him to the position of professional shot stopper: he doesn't return to the field until what seem to be the last seconds before a goal is scored, and he stands there rooted to the spot as the ball hits the back of the net.
His actions prior to the goal suggest he's suffering from apathy prior to his dismissal, rather than that his dismissal so profoundly affects him that this alone accounts for his subsequent state of mind and actions.The Camus references -- goalkeeper; inexplicable, passionless act of murder -- are entertaining..
"The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick" is a unique experience.
Alternately strange, boring, and fascinating, it's the story of a professional German football goalie who simply walks off the playing field one day and proceeds to roam the city idly, stopping to pick up newspapers (to check the scores), watch movies, loiter around, and commit the random murder of a ticket-girl at the cinema he frequents.
The second half of the film is a journey to the country to attempt to reconcile things with an old girlfriend.
He just does it and moves on, and it is in this respect Wenders' film is in a class by itself.
With its unwillingness to rationalize or justify the main characters' actions, this film completely sets itself apart from the dull psycho-serial killer genre and offers a new way to depict a man gone mad.
It's a great film, though not for the attention-span challenged, and has a chillingly effective minimalist score.
A goalie without a goal which equals a movie without a goal.
"Die Angst Des Tormanns Beim Elfmeter" ("The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick") is a story about things falling apart and no one paying attention to them, people acting as if everything was OK while living in a disintegrating world.
The goalie of the title is Joseph Bloch (Arthur Brauss), an unsympathetic and ruthless man who was kicked out of a match after a foul play who goes out on a rampage of murder for obscure reasons (possibly none) by killing a female cashier - whom he spent the night with - and a deaf boy - still unclear to me if he has part on his assassination, later on ruled as an accident.
What goes on is Bloch's sort of escape going from place to place, hotel to hotel, being rude with people and other times he's beaten by strangers after provoking them, or he's robbed by muggers, not knowing how to react, and develops relations with other women.
So, he just keep on randomly walking and putting things out of order.Easily one of Wim Wenders weakest, and one of his toughest watches of all since he doesn't make anything appealing, sometimes even not worthy seeing, filled with empty actions, poorly presented situations and mundane acts that doesn't add anything to a plot that has very few to show.
There's few things which Wenders got it right while making his wrong presentation.
He doesn't offer motive, reasons why his main character goes out killing people.
Who could give reason to a murderer?
It's not, it's simple abominable, unexplainable just like the movie.
The very last scene, when Joseph casually watches a soccer match, chatting with another guy, he tells the whole movie in an almost poetic manner.
He explains to the man why the viewers focus on the game must be on the goalie instead of being in the player or the ball.
Same thing with the movie.
There's plenty of indications that this man is a murderer, he goes from one erratic behavior to another, almost to the point of getting caught by the police and he even helps one officer with a minor problem, yet everyone around fail to notice him or his actions.
That scene has plenty of depth, too bad the movie isn't just like that moment.Distractive (and not in a good way), a little misguided but somewhat engaging, "The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick" worths as an imaginative way of breaking storytelling conventions with its fragmented narrative repleted of ordinary dialogs and some expectation when everything is silent.
Difficult, unpredictable and strangely not menacing as films about psychos tend to be.
I don't get the reviewers who compare it to the brilliant Camus novel "The Stranger" since the main character from the novel has more explained (in the unexplainable) reasons for murder than the goalie.
In it, you have a main character who you know nothing about and could care less about simply commit a murder for apparently no reason.
Well, when I watched this film, it felt like a case of Déjà Vu--the main character, who you never really understand and could care less about kills a woman about mid-way through the movie for apparently no reason.
None of this is revealed--you just watch this guy over the period of a few days go about his terribly boring life (that is, apart from killing women).
Frankly, after watching the film I just found myself not caring one bit one way or the other.
There were certainly better ways I could have spent my time than watch this video..
"Die Angst des Tormanns beim Elfmeter" or "The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick" is a 100-minute movie from almost 45 years ago and it was the breakthrough for German filmmaker Wim Wenders.
He directed here and also worked a bit on the script, even if the main effort in terms of screen writing (according to the credits) comes from Peter Handke, who also wrote the novel that this film is based on.
You could call this movie here a film during which really nothing happens at all apart from one scene (and the very first scene maybe as well).
Joseph Bloch is a professional athlete and I personally see him as a man hungry for recognition and power.
When his ego cannot take a referee's behavior, he commits a horrific act in order to restore the belief in his own power.He is also a sociopath.
After the act, he lives a life just like he did before.
One great example of his self-confidence is when we hear another character mention that the killer probably has a mustache by now, but Bloch did not even think about it.
Apparently, police come closer to catching him, but we do not find out definitely if they do, which is a bit surprising as they get closer and closer while the film continues.
In the last scene, Bloch makes a cat/mouse reference that applies to goalkeeper and the one who shoots the penalty as well as to him and police without his conversation partner understanding the latter.I thought Wenders and Handke made a pretty good film here.
This is certainly a very atmospheric watch and I believe Arthur Brauss (who turns 80 this year) was a really good choice for the main character.
About the movie, however, it was a really solid watch and I recommend it. |
tt0121766 | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith | The opening crawl reveals that the galaxy is in the midst of the war. Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) has been kidnapped by the Separatists' second-in-command, General Grievous. Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) and Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) lead a mission to rescue him. After killing Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) and freeing the Chancellor, the Jedi attempt to escape, but are captured by General Grievous. Anakin and Obi-Wan manage to break free, but Grievous escapes and traps the Jedi and the Chancellor inside the severely damaged cruiser. Anakin is forced to crash-land the ship on one of Coruscant's landing tracks.Upon his return, Anakin is reunited with his wife, Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman), who tells him that she is pregnant. Despite Padmé's worries over their secret marriage, Anakin is overjoyed at this news, and the couple makes plans to raise their child. However, Anakin is troubled by visions of Padmé dying in childbirth, visions similar to those he had of his mother just before she died. Later, Obi-Wan privately tells Anakin that the Council wants him to spy on the Chancellor because they believe him to be corrupt, an order Anakin resents since the Chancellor has become a mentor to him. As the Chancellor's bodyguard, Anakin develops a close friendship with Palpatine, who subtly manipulates Anakin in their discussions, making him distrust the Jedi. Palpatine claims to know of an ability to prevent death.Obi-Wan is sent to Utapau, where he engages and kills General Grievous. Meanwhile, back on Coruscant, Palpatine reveals himself to Anakin as the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, who has been controlling the Republic and the Separatist movement. Anakin leaves to expose him to the Jedi Council. Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) arrives at the Chancellor's office shortly thereafter and eventually subdues Palpatine through a lightsaber duel. Just as Anakin arrives, Windu is about to slay the Chancellor. Anakin quickly disarms Windu, believing the Chancellor holds the only way to save his wife. Windu is consumed by Sidious' torrents of force lightning, forcing him out a window and to his death. Darth Sidious takes Anakin as his Sith apprentice and gives him the name Darth Vader. He then orders Vader to kill all Jedi within the Jedi Temple, then to go to the Mustafar system and eliminate the Separatist leaders.Darth Sidious orders clone troopers across the galaxy to turn against their Jedi Generals by enacting a pre-programmed directive, Order 66. Numerous Jedi across the galaxy are seen being exterminated, although both Yoda and Obi-Wan survive. Darth Vader slaughters all the children in the Jedi Temple. Afterwards, he goes to Padmé and tells her the Jedi have attempted to take over the Republic and leaves for Mustafar, where he slaughters the Separatist leaders. Senator Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits) rescues Obi-Wan and Yoda (Frank Oz), and brings them to the Jedi Temple before heading to the Senate building. Palpatine informs the Senate of a Jedi plot to overthrow the Republic. As a result, he announces that the Republic will be reorganized into the Galactic Empire. In the Jedi Temple, Obi-Wan and Yoda stand in shock over the bodies of the younglings and reconfigure a signal to warn all Jedi to keep away. Obi-Wan looks into the security recordings and, to his horror, sees a hologram of Vader carrying out the orders of Darth Sidious and kneeling to him. Though he initially refuses, Obi-Wan eventually agrees to find and kill Vader, and Yoda decides to fight the Emperor. Obi-Wan then meets with Padmé, who refuses to believe his claims about Anakin's fall to the dark side. When she departs for Mustafar, Obi-Wan secretly stows away onboard.Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader fight on Mustafar.When the couple is reunited, Padmé pleads with Vader to leave public life with her, but he refuses, believing that he can overthrow Palpatine so that he and Padmé can rule the galaxy together. Vader sees Obi-Wan emerge from Padmé's ship, and suspects her of betraying him. Enraged, he uses the Force to choke Padmé into unconsciousness. Obi-Wan and Vader break into a vicious lightsaber duel.Back on Coruscant, Yoda confronts the Emperor, who unleashes force lightning on the ancient Jedi. Yoda, in return, throws the Sith Lord across his Senate office. The two most powerful practitioners of the Force engage in a fierce duel inside the Senate Chamber itself. When it appears that Yoda has the upper hand, Sidious unleashes the Force to the point that Yoda is forced to retreat, and decides that his failure has led him to go into exile. As his troops search for the Jedi, Darth Sidious decides to go to Mustafar saying, "I sense Lord Vader is in danger."Back on Mustafar, the former Jedi friends are now bitter enemies. The duel brings them out of the facility to unprotected areas of the volcano planet. Obi-Wan eventually gains the advantage of higher ground, and when Vader attempts to attack again, Obi-Wan slices off both of his legs and his left arm in two swift cuts. Vader tumbles down the embankment and rolls to a stop at the edge of the lava. He catches on fire, sustaining near-fatal third-degree burns and severe lung damage. Obi-Wan leaves Mustafar with the hurt Padmé and Anakin's lightsaber. Darth Sidious arrives on Mustafar a short time later and rescues Vader from the brink of death.Padmé is given medical assistance, and although she is physically intact, her will-to-live is gone. She delivers twins, a boy and a girl and gives them the names "Luke" and "Leia". Just as Padme tells Obi-Wan that there is still good in Anakin, she dies. On Coruscant, Vader's missing limbs and damaged body parts are replaced by cybernetic prostheses and implants. Vader is put into a full suit of black armor and is sealed in a respirator mask, which will allow him to survive his injuries. When Vader asks Sidious about Padmé's condition, he tells Vader that, in his anger, Vader himself killed Padmé. Vader unleashes a furious scream of mournful rage and destroys droids and equipment throughout the room with the Force while Sidious looks on with an evil grin. Aboard the Tantive IV, Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Bail Organa agree to keep the children hidden and separated. Obi-Wan and Yoda will watch and wait until the time is ready for the Skywalker children to do their part in the battle against the Sith. Leia is taken to Alderaan to live with the Queen and Bail Organa, and Luke is transferred to Tatooine to live with Owen and Beru. The film concludes with Owen and Beru holding Luke while staring out over the desert at Tatooine's twin suns. | dark, fantasy, depressing, murder, violence, cult, good versus evil, action, melodrama, tragedy, romantic | train | imdb | null |
tt0780521 | The Princess and the Frog | In New Orleans, a young girl named Tiana ( Elizabeth M. Dampier) and her mother are visiting the La Bouff family, where Tiana's mother Eudora (Oprah Winfrey) is crafting a dress for the family's daughter, Charlotte (Breanna Brooks). Charlotte is a lover of fairy tales, and Eudora reads the two the story of "The Frog Prince." While Charlotte is enamoured with kissing a frog that becomes a prince, Tiana finds the thought disgusting.Upon returning home, Tiana helps her father, James (Terrence Howard) prepare gumbo. As the meal is finished, her father tells of his dream to one day open his own restaurant. When Tiana eagerly chimes in that she wants to help, her father claims they'll call it Tiana's Place. Upon seeing the Evening Star outside her window, Tiana makes a wish, to which her father explains that wishing can only go so far, and that she has to help that wish along.As time passes, Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) holds onto the dream, even after her father has passed away. Working two different jobs, Tiana spends almost all of her time working and saving for a place, with little time for friends or fun. One morning, she runs into Charlotte (Jennifer Cody) and her father 'Big Daddy' La Bouff (John Goodman), who has been named King of the Mardi Gras for the fifth year in a row. Charlotte is incredibly excited that a visiting prince named Naveen (Bruno Campos) is in New Orleans. As Naveen is single, Charlotte hopes to fulfill her wish of marrying a prince and living happily ever after, and has invited him to attend a social function at the family mansion.Knowing of Tiana's cooking skills, Charlotte pays her friend a large sum of money to cater the event. Tiana is pleased, as the money is just enough to allow her to purchase the place to start her restaurant. Tiana contacts the building's owners and shows the place to her mother. While Eudora is pleased, she is worried that Tiana seems to have no time for herself, with her one-mindedness regarding the restaurant.Meanwhile, Prince Naveen is entertaining a crowd; playing the ukelele with a band, and dancing. His assistant Lawrence (Peter Bartlett) angrily comes up to him, complaining that the two would be late for the La Bouff's masquerade. Naveen brushes the issue off, and offers to buy everyone in the crowd a drink, but Lawrence reveals that the prince is broke. His only options of fixing his financial state are to marry a wealthy young lady, or get a job. Relucantly, Naveen agrees, but a spectactle soon ensues, resulting in the two landing dizzily on the footpath. A tall man, introducing himself as Dr. Facilier (Keith David) greets them, and hands Naveen a business card reading 'Tarot Readings, Charms, Potions, Dreams Made Real', before pretending to read the prince's palm and recognising him as a royal. Naveen eagerly informs Lawrence of Facilier's feat, but the assistant grabs a newspaper with the prince's face printed on it, from the witch doctor's back pocket and calls him a charlatan. Facilier has a brief flash of anger, before he regains his composure and invites the others into his shop. Naveen and Lawrence each take three of his tarot cards. Facilier looks at Naveen's cards, and deduces that he is from across the sea, and despite being royalty has little money, due to his parents cutting off his funds. He says the prince needs to marry a rich young woman, but this would conflict with his urges to be free. Lastly, the Shadow Man states that although freedom takes money, he sees the prince being wealthy in his future. He then moves onto Lawrence, and after inspecting the assistant's cards, concludes that although he has been pushed around by others all his life, he will be the man he always wanted to be; namely, Lawrence being wealthy, powerful and the boss of Naveen. Facilier offers both men his hand, and while Naveen uncertainly shakes it, Lawrence does so with fervour. Quickly, the witch doctor gets down to work, pricking the prince's finger and filling up a small head-shaped talisman with his blood. Transformations begin to change both Naveen and Lawrence, but the scene darkens before anything noticeable occurs.At the La Bouff mansion, Tiana shows up to cater the event, and soon, Prince Naveen arrives. Charlotte eagerly goes to him for a dance. As Tiana watches her friend, she discovers the realtors of the property have also attended the function, as they approach her and the food. Tiana eagerly tells of her wish to sign the papers to the building as .soon as possible, but the two men explain that someone else has offered a larger sum, and are planning to deny her the property, unless she can come up with more money. Upset and heartbroken, Tiana accidentally makes a mess of her outfit. Charlotte, seeing her friend in need, allows her to change out of the outfit, into a blue gown with tiara. While in Charlotte's room, she sees the star shining in the sky, and wishes for help regarding her restaurant. As she looks down, she finds a frog sitting near her, and sarcastically asks it if it wants a kiss. To her surprise, the frog replies, and Tiana screams and races back inside. After unsuccessfully dodging the stuffed animals thrown at him and being smacked with a book, the frog is finally able to tell Tia, that he is Prince Naveen of Maldonia. She then asks him, that if he is Prince Naveen, who is the person dancing with Charlotte downstairs, to which he replies that he has no idea. Suddenly, he spots the name of the book Tiana is holding; The Frog Prince. He, under the impression that Tia is a princess, tells her that like what happens in the book, if she kisses him, he will turn back into a prince. She abruptly refuses, but when Naveen mentions that his wealthy family might be able to reward her in some way, Tiana thinks about her restaurant, and determindedly plants a kiss on the frog.To the horror of both parties, not only is Naveen still a frog, but Tia has changed into one two. Shocked and angry, she launches herself at the prince and tackles him, until they both go flying out the window onto a drum set, before falling into the neck of Charlotte's dress. 'Big Daddy' La Bouff yells for Stella the dog to catch the frogs, who run across a dinner table before escaping via a bunch of balloons.As the masquerade comes to an abrupt end, the Prince Naveen imposter hurries into a nearby cottage and opens up a cabinet to find an empty jar. Dr. Facilier appears from behind him and accuses him of letting the real prince/frog go. The imposter is revealed to be Lawrence, who can only keep the prince's form if he is wearing the blood-filled talisman around his neck. Lawrence, having second thoughts about the deceit, throws the talisman to Facilier, telling him to wear it instead. The Shadow Man angrily shouts for him to be careful with the object, and then replies that even if he wanted to be the fake prince, the voodoo magic wouldn't work on him. They also discuss their plan; Lawrence is going to marry Charlotte, then Facilier would dispose of Big Daddy, and their fortune would be shared.Still clutching onto the balloon strings, Tiana discovers that the reason why Naveen was changed into a frog was because he was messing with voodoo, and stubbornly states that the only way to get things in life is through hard work. Taken aback, Naveen questions why a princess would ever have to work, and Tia replies that she's a waitress not a princess. Outraged, the prince exclaims that that was why the kiss didn't work, and the two engage in a heated argument before the balloons suddenly pop and they are sent falling into a lake. They narrowly escape a large fish and then an aggressive crane, followed by a group of hungry alligators from which they hide in an old tree and spend the night.In the morning, Tiana makes a small raft so that the two can make their way back to New Orleans and become humans again. To her annoyance, Naveen doesn't help with the paddling, and instead sits and plays a twig-guitar. Tia turns around to give him a piece of her mind, but sees a huge alligator that looks as if it's about to eat up Naveen. To both of the frog's surprise however, the alligator pulls out a trumpet and launches into a jam session with the prince, and introduces himself as Louis (Michael-Leon Wooley). Naveen explains that he and Tiana are both humans, turned into frogs by voodoo magic, to which Louis replies that a woman named Mama Odie (Jenifer Lewis) is the voodoo queen of the bayou, and she can perform similar feats. As the journey to her lair is so dangerous however, he flatly refuses when the two ask if he can take them there. Disappointed, Tiana is about to return to her paddling, when Naveen hops off the raft and suavely persuades Louis to guide them to Mama Odie's. He says that the witch could probably turn the toothy alligator into a human as well, so that he could fulfill his dream of playing with the jazz musicians of the city. This is too much for Louis, who swiftly agrees to take them there.Back at the La Bouffe's, Charlotte and Lawrence, posing as Prince Naveen have tea together. Suddenly, one of Lawrence's ears appears to swell up, although it has really just returned to it's normal size. Worriedly, he checks the talisman and sees that half of the blood has been used up. He nervously blames his ear on mosquitoes, but just as quickly, his backside enlarges. Lawrence manipulates and maneuvres Charlotte so she can't see his transformation back into his plump self, just as his chin and stomach swell up. To distract her, he hurriedly proposes to her, and Charlotte accepts before happily waltzing away. Dr. Facilier appears from nowhere and watches as all the blood is drained and Lawrence returns entirely to his former body. As the assistant had let Naveen free so that his blood was currently unavailable, the Shadow Man is forced to ask for help from his 'friends on the other side'.Meanwhile in the bayou, Tiana tells Louis about her big plans for the restaurant. Quickly the trio realises their hunger, and the frogs try fruitlessly to catch flies for food. But their inexperience falis their attempt, as Naveen and Tiana's tongues get tied in a knot. Louis tries to help but just makes the knot incredibly more complicated, before hurrying off to get a sharp stick. A firefly zooms down to observe the struggling couple, and chuckles at their discomfort. Soon enough however, he undoes the knot and introduces himself as Ray (Jim Cummings). The two explain their predicament to him, but the firefly says that they're heading in the wrong way if they want to meet Mama Odie. Right on cue, Louis runs in waving a sharp stick in the air but Ray whispers to Tiana to never take directions from an alligator, as they'll always get you lost. He then whistles, and immediately thousands of fireflies light up to show the group the way.Dr. Facilier, back in his shop is asking large totem heads on the wall for assistance in retrieving Naveen, but they frown menacingly at his plea. As if expecting their negative answer however, Facilier assures them that as soon as he kills 'Big Daddy' La Bouff, the 'friends' can have all the souls of New Orleans for themselves. To this, the heads agree, and a multitude of shadows enter the room. Facilier orders them to find Naveen, and bring him back alive... for now.Back at the bayou, Ray is farewelling his relatives as he prepares to go with Tiana, Naveen and Louis the rest of the way. He reveals to Tiana that he is in love with Evangeline, but Naveen advises the firefly to not settle down so quickly. Louis is pricked by a bush and melodramatically wails in pain until Ray calms him down to pull out the thistles. As the group is preoccupied, a trio of hunters lies in wait, planning to catch and eat Tia and Naveen. Unaware of the danger they're in, the two frogs walk away from the others, Tiana in front, chopping away at leaves in her path, and Naveen behind. After being told by Naveen that she doesn't know how to have fun, Tia angrily retorts that he's a lazy good-for-nothing. While they exchange heated words, Naveen is captured in a net by Reggie (Ritchie Montgomery), and Tia by Two Fingers (Paul Briggs). She escapes, just as Louis and Ray spots Reggie in a boat with guns, gloating over the prince. In his terror, Louis accidentally falls back in the thorn bushes, but the firefly flies up the old hunter's nose to distract him and set Naveen free. Running away from Darnell (Don Hall), Tia inadvertently lands herself in a trap box and is promptly sat upon by Reggie to prevent her escape. The prince bobs out of the water, gleeful with his freedom but sees Tiana trapped, and follows the boat. He sits on Reggie's head, causing Darnell to dimwittedly whack his father to try and hit the agile frog. Soon chaos ensues, and Tia is able to get out of her cage.Naveen and Tiana return to Louis and Ray after their ordeal, while the firefly impatiently yanks the thistles out of the pained alligator. To make him feel better, Tia makes swamp gumbo but insists Naveen help by mincing the mushrooms while she gathers peppers. She returns to find him struggling with the task, and smiling, helps him. The prince admits that since his charmed life in the castle, he doesn't know how to do anything. One of the shadows under Facilier's orders, meanwhile, finds flowers as evidence of the frogs and lets out a piercing call. Soon the other shadows follow him and they make their way towards the prince.After eating the swamp gumbo, Naveen compliments Tiana's cooking, saying she has a gift to which she thanks him. Ray changes the subject though, pointing to the sky and telling the others that the Evening Star is Evangeline. He sings about his love for her, but when Louis moves to interrupt and tell him that his love is actually a star, Naveen throws a nutshell at him and gestures for him to be quiet. The prince asks Tia to dance with him, but she dejectedly hops to another lilypad and sadly tells him that she doesn't dance. Naveen tugs her back near him however, and quietly tells her that if he can mince, she can dance. They begin dancing on a lilypad to Louis's trumpet, while Ray creates mood lighting. The pair are about to kiss, until Tia pushes him away and remarks that Charlotte was getting herself a superb dance partner. Suddenly, the shadows grab and drag Naveen away, but although the others run after him, it doesn't look like they're fast enough. Bursts of light from nowhere, hit the shadows and destroy them, rendering Naveen free, and as the group looks for their saviour, they meet Mama Odie.She brings them back to her tree house and introduces them to her pet python Juju, who she uses as a walking stick. Tiana and Naveen try to get her attention to turn them back into humans, but she interrupts each of their attempts, by offering them candy, falling asleep and going to her gumbo pot. Eventually she answers their questions by trying to teach them the difference of wants and needs. Tiana doesn't understand however, so wearily Mama Odie shows them through the gumbo pot, how to turn human again; Naveen will have to kiss Charlotte before midnight, while she's princess of the Mardi Gras parade.The group decide to make their way to New Orleans by following Louis' suggestion, and they sneakily climb aboard the river boat. A group of musicians soon make their way past however, and while Naveen, Ray and Tiana can hide, Louis is too big, and is noticed by them. Luckily for both parties however, the alligator is thought to be a human inside an alligator costume, and excitedly plays the trumpet and follows them. Ray and Tiana go to watch Louis play with 'the big boys', but Naveen mysteriously decides to stay back and says he'll catch up with the others later. He then fashions a ring out of rope and a beaded bracelet, before asking Evangeline why he can't just tell Tiana he loves her. Ray flies in in the wrong moment, and thinking Naveen is making a move on Evangeline begins to pummel him. Naveen quickly sets the record straight, but tells Ray to not tell Tiana about his love for her. Soon after, the prince leads Tia to a private dinner, where she is taken aback but delighted. He treats her to a minced dinner, but due to nerves, begins making mistakes, telling Tia he has dated thousands of women, then calling her one of the guys before tripping and upturning the food. She takes it in her stride though, giggling and saying she thinks it's cute. Naveen is about to propose to her, but Tiana interrupts, pointing out her future restaurant and gushing about her plans for it. When she mentions, however, that she needs the money by the next day, or she'll lose the restaurant forever, the prince realises he cannot marry her and disappointedly heads off. While Tiana talks to Evangeline, telling her about her uncertainty for the future, Naveen is being dragged off once again, by the shadows.Charlotte is seen knocking on a door, calling for Prince Naveen to hurry up for the Mardi Gras wedding, while Lawrence worriedly procrastinates, saying he'll be ready shortly, but itching for Naveen's blood so he can take his form again. The shadows suddenly appear, and toss the prince into Facilier's hat, where they take more of his blood and drip it into the talisman. Back on the river boat, which has docked, everyone's getting off to play at the Mardi Gras, but Tiana asks Ray where Naveen is. Ray lets slip that Naveen loves her, and that he plans to marry her after kissing Charlotte and getting them both turned back into humans. Giddy with joy, Tiana hops around the Mardi Gras, looking for the float where Naveen would be kissing Charlotte, but instead sees the Prince imposter about to marry her. Mistaking Lawrence for the actual prince, Tia is devastated and tunes out Ray as he wonders how it can be true, when Mama Odie specifically said both frogs would be turned human once again.Tia hops off sadly, and Ray flies through the city looking for her. Once he does, he tries to comfort her but Tiana angrily bursts out that Evangeline isn't real, and is just a star. Ray tearily tells Evangeline to not listen to Tia, and that she's only speaking out of a broken heart, before flying off to put things right. As Lawrence prepares to wed Charlotte, Facilier chuckles, preparing to kill Big Daddy through the use of a voodoo doll. Ray finds Naveen locked inside a small chest right next to Lawrence, and quickly sets him free. Naveen launches himself at the former assistant, and the two go tumbling off the float. Lawrence runs off to dispose of the frog, but the prince takes the talisman off his neck and throws it to Ray who flies away with it. The shadows and Facilier run after the firefly, and to help him, Louis stops playing and growls, alerting the other musicians that he's an actual alligator. As the crowd screams and parts, Louis runs off to help his friend.Ray meanwhile, zooms towards Tiana, and quickly explains the nature of the talisman, claiming it proves that what they saw wasn't the truth. Tiana hops off with the object, while Ray stays behind to destroy as many shadows as possible. With his light, he kills a few of them, but Facilier soon arrives and knocks the firefly to the ground, before disgustedly stepping on him. A few seconds later, Louis comes running, calling for Ray, but finds the firefly lying on the ground and makes off for Tiana.The shadows and Facilier continue chasing Tiana, but when she threatens to break the talisman into a million pieces, the Shadow Man casts an enchantment on her, causing her to look human again, and changes the setting, to her dream restaurant. She thinks she sees Naveen playing the ukulele in the corner of the room, but when the man turns around, she sees it isn't and is disappointed. Facilier meanwhile, tries to convince Tia to hand over the artifact, promising the restaurant and becoming a human again. When she refuses to, he brings up memories of her sacrifices and people doubting her abilities, and finally her father working hard but failing to get enough money for a restaurant. Facilier tells Tiana that she could get everything that her father ever wanted, but she determinedly tells the witch doctor that although her father never got what he wanted, he had what he needed. She throws the talisman to the ground, but it's snatched up by Facilier's shadow and the illusion immediately disappears.Facilier cackles and tells her that she should have taken his deal, but using her tongue, Tia takes the talisman back and shatters it on the ground. The Shadow Man is horrified, and frets how he won't be able to pay back his debt. Totem heads come out of the stone heads, asking if he's ready, which he replies that he isn't. Voodoo dolls climb out of the ground, and in terror, he says that he has lots more plans, revealing that he has the prince locked away, to Tiana's surprise. An enormous totem head sucks in Facilier's shadow, and the hysterical witch doctor himself, to sacrifice his soul in exchange for his unpaid debts. Then the totem heads and voodoo dolls disappear, and a gravestone with the Shadow Man's face on it appears.Charlotte angrily knocks on the door of the building which Lawrence is on, demanding that he open up. Finally, she breaks in, but instead of being the handsome Prince Naveen who she expects, fat, old Lawrence is the one who greets her. Horrified, she screams, and so does he, running past her into the night. The real prince, still in the form of a frog, calls her name, and after being squashed with a book, tells her who he is.Tiana arrives, just in time to see Lawrence being hauled into the back of a police car. She then sees Charlotte and Naveen sitting on the steps, the latter explaining his and Tiana's predicament. Charlotte expects marriage, to which Naveen reluctantly agrees but puts emphasis on money being given to Tiana for her restaurant, saying that she is his Evangeline. As they are about to kiss, Tiana stops Naveen but he tells her that it is the only way to get her her dream. But she quietly replies that her dream wouldn't be complete, without him in it. Charlotte, seeing their love, agrees to kiss Naveen, without him having to marry her, but as she plants a kiss on him, the bell sounds, signalling midnight has passed. With seemingly no hope of becoming human again, the frogs smile sadly, but are content with being together, whether in frog or human form.Louis comes running, bringing Ray with him, and they stay with him through his last moments. Back at the bayou, his funeral ceremony is carried out, with the firefly lifted by his relatives, in a leaf, and sent floating on the river. As he disappears into the distance, a new star appears, right next to the Evening Star.Naveen and Tiana get married by Mama Odie, and as they kiss they both transform into humans. Surprised, they realise that by getting married, Tiana was now a princess, and by Naveen kissing her they were both changed back. They then get formally married as humans, to the delight of Eudora, and Naveen's parents. As Tiana throws the bouquet, it's caught by CharlotteAt Finner Bros. Realty, Tiana pushes over tins of her hard-earned money, and the brothers are encouraged by a growl from Louis to hand over the key to the restaurant. Tia and Naveen then get to work, and begin to redecorate and clean up the property, until it is beautifully furnished and Louis is shown to be playing the trumpet with a band, on the stage. The restaurant is full, and Charlotte, 'Big Daddy' La Bouffe, Naveen's parents and Eudora are all seated. Charlotte then dances with Naveen's younger brother, who's only six and a half but Charlotte says that she's waited this long. Tiana and Naveen then dance and kiss on the roof of the restaurant. | thought-provoking, romantic, fantasy, entertaining | train | imdb | null |
tt0092796 | Creepshow 2 | === Prologue ===
A delivery truck pulls up to a newsstand in a small town where a young boy named Billy (named after and confused with the boy from Creepshow) arrives eagerly waiting for it. The truck's back shutter opens to reveal a sinister figure who drops off a package onto the sidewalk — the latest issue of Creepshow, much to Billy's delight. As the film momentarily turns into an animation, the package opens of its own accord, (revealing the cover of the comic is the same as the cover in the final scene of the previous film). As Billy begins to read, the delivery man reveals his true identity as the Creepshow Creep.
=== Old Chief Wood'nhead ===
An elderly couple named Ray and Martha Spruce (Kennedy and Lamour) in a small, fictional, southwestern town called Dead River, oversee a general goods store whose decor includes a cigar store Indian named "Old Chief Wood'nhead" (Dan Kamin) on the front porch. They are humbled to see their old, run-down town coming to a bitter end. The Spruces are then visited by a Native American elder named Benjamin Whitemoon from a local tribe who gives them turquoise jewellery, which are his tribe's sacred treasures, as collateral for the debt the tribe has incurred.
The elder bids them and Old Chief Wood'nhead (who nods to him, briefly startling him) farewell and returns to his tribe. Later that night, the Spruces are subject to a vicious robbery led by Benjamin's estranged ne'er do well nephew, Sam (Holt McCallany) armed with a shotgun, and his two friends, Andy and Fatstuff. After ransacking the store, Sam demands that Ray hand over the turquoise. The Spruces refuse, and are fatally shot by Sam. The three thugs then leave in their car and begin preparations to run away to Hollywood, California, where the vain Sam expects to become a movie star, in part due to his long, dark hair. Old Chief Wood'nhead then comes to life after they leave, and goes out on a vicious warpath to kill them and avenge the murdered Spruces
After brutally killing Fatstuff and Andy, Old Chief Wood'nhead corners Sam in his home, with Sam being unable to fight back as the shells from his shotgun have no effect on his wooden assailant. Sam attempts to lock himself in his bathroom and escape through a window, but Old Chief Wood'nhead breaks through the wall, grabs Sam by his long hair, pulls him through the wall, and scalps him.
When Benjamin Whitemoon wakes up in the morning, he finds the bag containing the turquoise jewellery by his side. He visits the Spruce's general store to find Old Chief Wood'nhead on his pedestal, holding his nephew's bloody scalp, a blood-stained knife, and fresh warpaint adorning the chief's face. Now aware of what has happened to the Spruces and what Chief Wood'nhead has done to the killers, Benjamin wishes the old warrior a peaceful afterlife and drives away.
=== Interlude 1 ===
After reading Old Chief Wood'nhead, Billy is seen at the town post office, receiving a package from when he sent a product ad from his copy of the Creepshow magazine. Incensed by the skeptical clerk's dismissal of paying $9.99 for a toy from the "funny papers," Billy reveals that the package actually contains the bulb for a carnivorous Venus flytrap. The clerk doubts the actuality of the package and Billy sets off for home and the Creep presents another tale.
=== The Raft ===
Four college students, Deke, Laverne, Randy and Rachel, go swimming in a desolate lake far from civilization. After they make their way to a wooden raft, they are terrorized by a floating black blob resembling an oil slick that grabs a hold of Rachel and consumes her.
Panicked, Deke plans to swim to shore so he can bring back help. Before he can, the blob seeps through the raft's cracks and pulls Deke through the raft, killing him. Randy and Laverne evade the creature until it gives up trying to grab them from under the raft. Randy and Laverne are afraid to fall asleep in fear that the creature will attack.
They manage to sleep and Randy is the first to wake up, relieved to find that he and Laverne made it through the night. He begins caressing Laverne's sleeping body and fondling her breasts. She awakes screaming in agony as the creature is revealed to have seeped through the cracks and has covered the right half of her face, much to Randy's horror. As the oil-like blob pulls her off the raft and begins consuming her, Randy jumps off to swim to shore. He ultimately makes it, barely escaping the creature, and yells "I beat you!" However, the creature rears up from the water like a wave and engulfs Randy. It returns to the lake, leaving no evidence of the four students ever having visited the lake, other than their still-running car. Unknown to the students, there was a "no swimming" sign barely visible behind some thick vegetation.
=== Interlude 2 ===
On his way back home from the post office and reading The Raft, Billy is ambushed by a gang of neighborhood bullies, who harass him and take his package from him. The gang's leader Rhino then smashes and opens the package, finding the Venus Flytrap bulb, and throws it on the ground, crushing it with his foot. In retaliation, Billy kicks Rhino in the groin and flees, with Rhino and his gang in hot pursuit. The Creep then appears and presents another tale.
=== The Hitch-hiker ===
An adulterous businesswoman named Annie Lansing (Chiles) gets up from bed after sleeping with a gigolo, realizing that she has to get home before her wealthy attorney husband to avoid suspicion. Annie hops into her car and heads for home several miles away. As she speeds down a dark road, she accidentally kills a hitchhiker (Wright). Seeing that no one witnessed the incident, she takes off. Shortly after she leaves, the area of the incident is crowded with passersby, who report the hit-and-run to the police.
Miles away from the scene, Annie thinks about what she has done and the consequences involved. She ultimately concludes that no one has anything on her and thinks that everything will be fine. Before she can continue, however, the hitchhiker she killed suddenly appears outside her window and utters "Thanks for the ride, lady," a line he repeats throughout the story. Annie speeds off in terror, but everywhere she goes, the hitchhiker always reappears. She repeatedly runs him over, hurls him off the top of her car, slams his body into trees, etc. and he only gets more and more battered and bloody without dying. At one point he pulls up his sign, reading "You killed me". Annie eventually loses control of her car and drives off the road, down a hill and into a tree, knocking herself out.
She awakens a while later, not seeing the hitchhiker anywhere in sight and believes it to be a nightmare. She gets back on the road and drives home, succeeding in getting there before her husband. As she begins to step out of her car, the hitchhiker appears from under her car and utters his signature line, and is gruesomely mangled from the trip; he ultimately attacks her as she vainly attempts to fight him off. Later, Annie's husband - the same man who reported the hit and run - finally arrives home to find Annie dead in her car from being killed by carbon monoxide poisoning caused from her still-running car and the hitchhiker's sign saying "DOVER" around her neck.
=== Epilogue ===
As the Creep is about to drive away, he spots Billy still being chased by the bullies. Billy leads his pursuers into a vacant lot swarming with out-of-control plant growth. As he rides into what seems to be a dead end, the bullies move in to pummel him, only to learn that the bulb they smashed was not the first one Billy had ordered, as a quintet of Giant Flytraps emerge from the surrounding weeds and devour the thugs one by one. The spectacle is witnessed by the Creep, who cackles in glee as he drives off in his delivery truck to deliver the latest issue of Creepshow to another town. In a post-credits scene, the following text appears:
"Juvenile delinquency is the product of pent up frustrations, stored-up resentments and bottled-up fears. It is not the product of cartoons and captions. But the comics are a handy, obvious, uncomplicated scapegoat. If the adults who crusade against them would only get as steamed up over such basic causes of delinquency as parental ignorance, indifference, and cruelty, they might discover that comic books are no more a menace than Treasure Island or Jack the Giant Killer".
Colliers magazine, 1949 | comedy, revenge, cult, murder, violence | train | wikipedia | To reveal any more would be to dampen this segment's sick delights but I will say that it features a neat cameo by King himself as a foul-mouthed truck driver.A fourth story called Pinfall was planned for the movie but later dropped due to the faltering budget.
Its a shame we will never get to see this story but it is very close in theme and structure to both Oldf Chief Woodenhead and The Hitchhiker.All in all, Creepshow 2 is worth a look and remains a guilty pleasure of mine that I have enjoyed with alarming regularity over the years.
Romero return to deliver more comic book style thrills in "Creepshow 2." With original "Creepshow" cinematographer Michael Gornick stepping in as director, the film is not only slimmer on content (three stories instead of five) but on budget and star-power as well.
"Creepshow 2" is a pretty enjoyable horror anthology that features some gruesome surprises.The first tale "Old Chief Woodenhead" is about a wooden Indian statue outside a small general store which comes to life when some local youths kill the elderly couple during the robbery.
This story plays like a routine slasher flick with the statue as the killer.The special effects are excellent and there is a good amount of gore.Unfortunately the script is predictable and the acting from the younger cast is unconvincing.The second tale "The Raft" is about some teenagers who,whilst hanging out on the raft,are slowly eaten by a blob-like creature which lives in the lake.This story is fast-paced and appropriately gruesome with truly satisfying climax.The third tale "The Hitchhiker" is about a woman who does a hit-and-run on a hitchhiker and thinks she's got away with it,only to be confronted with the dead hitchhiker numerous times down the road.This story offers plenty of scares and the hitchhiker is hilarious with his incredibly funny line 'thanks for a ride,lady'.All in all if you enjoyed the first "Creepshow" give its sequel a look.8 out of 10..
There are no real touches of originality in any of them except for the clever use of animation used quite extensively and very effectively to bridge the gap between stories.CHIEF WOODEN HEAD gets the film off to a start about a couple running a store in the middle of the desert without paying customers who are left some valuables by an Indian who owes them a debt.
Meanwhile the Creep tells the tales of Creepshow:(1) "Old Chief Wood'nhead" – The elders Ray (George Kennedy) and Martha Spruce (Dorothy Lamour) have lived their whole life and raised their family with their small store in an Arizona town.
"Thanks for the ride lady" still rings in my head and I laugh every time.Anyway, Creepshow II is worth watching if you like a bit of comedy with your horror.9/10.
The sequel isn't as good as the 1982 original, because it's made cheaper you can tell that by the cinematography, and the film is shorter only three segments instead of five and star power is missing.
Yet still the film thrills, chills, and brings justice and revenge style terror that any horror fan will cherish and consider a classic to watch over and over.First story is a good old western justice tale of revenge titled "Old Chief WoodenHead" which is set in a rural desert small Arizona town.
Overall good segment that was well done and I love the justice and revenge it shows.Next tale is "The Raft" about a group of weed smoking and sex driven teens that being two males and two females who take a trip to a lake to do some supposed harmless swimming.
Really a good way to end the film.Sure it lacks the star power and budget and length of the original yet the stories are entertaining, fun, and revenge filled enough for any horror buff to cherish as a classic especially due to the work of King and Romero and the geography settings for this film was nice..
The stories are worth watching it especially The Raft and The Hitchhiker which were the reasons why I bought the movie.And it's not just two missing stories, but you're also missing the wonderful direction from George A Romero.
Creepshow fans might be disappointed with this sequel because of the lack of 5 short stories in total and George Romero not directing this time around.
Other than that, it's a fairly descent sequel.Rating: 7 out of 10.I would like to see George Romero and Stephen King sit together once again for another Creepshow movie.
This is a weak sequel to the early 1980s minor classic, "Creepshow." Unlike the original, it features no direct input from Stephen King (with the one notable exception of his story, "The Raft," taken from 1982's "Skeleton Crew" collection).
The original "Creepshow" was directed by George Romero, and the script was authored by Stephen King, so its perhaps no surprise that the only truly good (great, actually) segment in this three-part film, is the one based on a King story, with a script authored by George Romero.In any event, the first segment, "Old Chief Woodenhead," is just plain stupid, and arguably even a little offensive (and I'm no PC monger, to be sure).
Makes me wonder if he thought he was commenting on Spaceballs.The original Creepshow was a landmark in horror film history, and the second installment only adds to the glory of the first.
In any case, Creepshow 2 offers 3 stories named "Old Chief Woodenhead", "The Hitchhiker" & "The Raft".
Creepshow 2 is a good multi segment horror movie that is a sequel to Creepshow!I don't want to spoil any thing for you but My favorite story of the film is The Hitchhiker.It really is a good story and I even found it funny!If you like horror films especially ones with several stories then you'll love the horror fest that is known as Creepshow 2!!.
In 1982, legendary director George Romero directed a horror anthology of short stories based on tales by Stephen King; the result was "Creepshow", and it gave Romero another success among horror fans.
With the comic book style so characteristic of its predecessor, "Creepshow 2" keeps the tone of the previous movie and the "host", the aptly named Creep, is as funny as creepy.The first segment deals with the ancient spirit of an Indian Chief looking for revenge.
While not as scary as "The Raft", this segment is very entertaining and really funny.Director Michael Gornick had mastered the genre with his TV series "Tales from the Darkside", so he was not a bad choice for this film and does the job very well.
"The Raft" is an amazing display of how the only thing needed for a good movie is imagination.The acting is quite average for the most part, but I was really surprised by the cast of "The Raft", who put out truly believable performances that really transmit the horror of the tale.
This offering features three stories: one about a wooden Native American statue that comes to life, another about a mysterious entity devouring swimmers in a lake, and the last about a woman stalked by a hitchhiker she's killed on a lone country road.The original "Creepshow" was a part of my childhood, and a semi-classic of the genre.
It was Creepshow 2, and the segment in question was "The Hitchhiker".Plus, I think I must have seen The Raft at some point in my life too, because I get that nostalgic, strange feeling you get when you see something again, that fascinated you a long time ago.So, the movie.
Three more tales of terror about a hit and run driver being haunted by her victim, a wooden statue of an Indian killing teens who robbed his owners store, and a group of teens trapped on a raft in the middle of nowhere by a giant blob.
Overall, this isn't one of the best horror omnibuses - but it's better than the first film, and offers two good tales out of three..
Romero (who directed the original movie) that is based on stories written by Stephen King.
The film features 3 stories: Old Chief Wooden Head , The Raft & The Hitchhiker.
Creepshow 2 is not a good film, and not because of the problems that come with horror anthology based movies.The first film was backed by a Warner Brothers budget and had the considerable talent of Romero in the director's chair.
As Billy proceeds to the post office to collect a parcel and does his best to escape a trio of school bullies, the stories within his comic begin to unfold before our eyes: first up is Old Chief Wood'nhead, in which the murder of a shopkeeper and his wife is avenged by the wooden statue that stands outside their store; the second tale is The Raft, which features four teens trapped in the middle of a lake by a flesh eating blob; the last story, The Hitchhiker, sees a woman haunted by the bloody corpse of the hitchhiker she accidentally runs down with her car.I've long considered Creepshow 2 a disappointment, but having just given it another watch—the first in many years—I've changed my opinion somewhat: the film has its flaws, for sure, but the positives definitely outweigh the negatives, and although it may be a long way from the greatness of the original, its heaps better than Creepshow 3, and in my humble pinion, preferable to recent over-hyped anthology Trick 'r Treat.The film's weaknesses lie primarily in the lacklustre wraparound tale that turns from live action into horrendous animation (in a style reminiscent of The Care Bears TV series), and the feeble first story, which suffers from an overdose of Spielbergian sentiment and a weak payoff; the remaining two stories, however are much more satisfying, and as Meatloaf would say 'two out of three ain't bad'.The Raft's simple plot (based on a Stephen King short story) provides plenty of shocks and suspense, some eye-candy for both sexes (I found Jeremy 'I'm a girl despite my name' Green to be particularly hot), and an excellent surprise ending, whilst The Hitchhiker is non-stop heart pounding stuff thanks to a great performance from Lois Chiles and a very memorable relentless and mangled 'monster'.Two out of three decent stories equals a rating of 6.5 out of 10, which gets rounded up to 7 for IMDb..
For the sequel Michael Gornick takes the helm in what is obviously a lower budget film and only contains 3 stories - "Old Chief Woodenhead", "The Raft" and best of all, in my opinion, "The Hitchhiker", wrapped around by a fun animated Creep.
Although the film does not quite live up to the original it is still a good, solid, and - importantly - fun anthology, A great companion to Creepshow..
This one was instead given to cinematographer Michael Gornick who had worked with Romero on the original "Creepshow" and "Day of the Dead" and this was the only real film he ever did other then directing TV episodes.
The second segment deals with four teenagers who swim out to a wooden raft at a secluded lake, only to be devoured by what looks like a bunch of trash bags sewn together.
A weak sequel directed by the first film's cinematographer and written by George Romero, based on stories by Stephen King.
There are only three stories in this film, all based on stories by Stephen King: a wooden Indian statue seeks revenge for the death of his owners, four college students are terrorized in the middle of a lake by a mysterious black ooze, and a woman is tormented when she kills a hitchhiker in an accident.
While the stories are entertaining, this movie isn't quite as good as the original.While all three stories are based on tales by Stephen King, the actual screenplay was written by George Romero (who gave up directing duties this time around), and it shows.
The first story is called "Old Chief Wooden'head" tells a modern supernatural western revenge tale in which two old small town general store owners named Ray and Martha Spruce (George Kennedy and Dorothy Lamour) are offered a deal by a rich Native American of special jewelery which can offer them a good future if his tribe can pay back, unfortunately three hoodlums murder them and the store's wooden Indian comes alive as it seeks revenge.
Sure Romero didn't direct this one but luckily he wrote the screenplay with stories that were originally intended for the first movie from Stephen King but never got made.
"Cheif Woodenhead" is good but predictable and weak despite it's rubbery non-realistic wooden Indian and "The Hitcher" is an unforgettable story especially for it's evil Hitchhiker zombie or ghost that speaks it's memorable quote "Thanks for the Ride Lady".
"Cat" came back for "Tales From the Darkside: The Movie" and is the most memorable part of that film.The first story in "Creepshow 2" is the worst, involving a wooden Indian statue getting revenge on some thieves who steal the tribe's treasure.
The effects on making the actor look like wood are very, very good but seem wasted in such a segment.The second story, "The Raft", had been recommended to me by a friend who is a horror aficionado and grew up with this movie.
"Creepshow 2" is a decent enough anthology series that's got it's own set of flaws.**SPOILERS**Waiting to see the new Creepshow comic book, young Billy, (Domenick John) arrives when The Creep, (Tom Savini) drops them off and begins leafing through the book, reading three stories.The Good Stor(ies): Old Chief Wood'nhead-Running a general store in a drying up town, Ray Spruce, (George Kennedy) and Martha Spruce, (Dorothy Lamour) are presented with a special gift for their services.
Waiting to see the new Creepshow comic book, a young boy arrives when The Creep drops them off and begins leafing through the book, reading three stories.The Good Stor(ies): Old Chief Wood'nhead-Running a general store in a drying up town, a man and his wife are presented with a special gift for their services.
Episode #8 of Lionheart490's IMDb Movie ReviewsI am a fan of the original 1982 horror anthology film, Creepshow.
However, the thing that really makes Creepshow 2 not as good as the original Creepshow is the fact that the stories in Creepshow 2 are not as nearly as interesting as in the first film.
Romero (The "Dead" Series, The Crazies, Martin) wrote the screenplay to present three short stories from novelist Stephen King.In the first tale "Ol'Chief Wooden Head" is about a store senior owner (Oscar-Winner:George Kennedy) and his wife (Dorothy Lamour) are living in a dying desert town.
The owner's wooden Indian comes back to life for revenge.In the second tale "The Raft" is about a group of young college kids (Paul Satterfield, Page Hannah, Daniel Beer and Jeremy Green) decides to take an vacation at a secluded lake that turns into a living nightmare.In the third tale "The Hitchhiker" is about a cheating wife (Lois Chiles), who's late from going home.
she finds herself stalked by the dead hitchhiker.Directed by Michael Gornick (Who's best know for shooting some of Romero's best films like "Dawn of the Dead", "Creepshow" and "Knightriders") made an watchable sequel to the cult classic 1982 original.
I liked the first creepshow it was scary had dark humor,and had ironic moments.My friend told me that there was a sequel and he said don't watch it it's not worth your time.I didn't listen to him and I still watched it but I hate to say he was right.the first few problems with this movie is that they ignored almost the entire concept it's a children comic book it was a little sick but it was because boys have a tendency to like those sort of things at that age of the continuing protagonist they like reading things based on monsters.they including far too many adulatory scenes like taking drugs,and even a few breast shots little boys would be smart enough not to read comic books that contain pornography while riding around on their bikes.the animated sequences were to serve little purpose to the stories the reason why they had made it to a cartoon form unlike what the original did was to imply that it took place in the comics and that why it was all extended because they couldn't afford no big time actors.although it looks rather nice it doesn't fit in with the overall tone of these stories,the subplot is not interesting and it tones down the content unbelievably.As a sequel to the first movie it's very disappointing the acting was dreadful the 3 stories were nicely written i thought.but this wasn't as strong as the original..
This movie here isn't anything ground breaking but I thought the stories were fairly good even if Romero's screenplay lets some of the stuff run on way too long.
George Kennedy owns a general store and after he gets killed, his wooden Indian comes alive to seek revenge!The Hitchhiker is fun, but not overly satisfying.Creepshow 1 was better made but 2 is still mindless fun.**/****.
The only reason I wanted to see this movie is because it looked like a fun, old horror flick that had a lot of cheesy gore in it.
Only one of them, the second tale "The Raft", has been published in a Kingbook before (Skeleton Crew)but the other two, "Old Chief Wood'nhead" & "The Hitchhiker" are unpublished stories or more like storylines provided by King.
"The Raft" a short story by Stephen King is liked if you enjoy a good time.
"The Raft" a short story by Stephen King is liked if you enjoy a good time.
While, 'Creepshow 2' directed by Michael Gornick is not the scariest movie out there, based upon the short stories by author Stephen King.
Without spoiling, too much of the scares, like the original horror movie, 'Creepshow 2', was supposed to have, five short stories adapted from author Stephen King, being told, during the course of the film. |
tt0971209 | A Perfect Getaway | Cliff and Cydney are an adventurous young couple celebrating their honeymoon by backpacking to one of the most beautiful, and remote, beaches in Hawaii. Hiking the wild, secluded trails, they believe they've found paradise. But when the pair comes across a group of frightened hikers discussing the horrifying murder of another newlywed couple on the islands, they begin to question whether they should turn back. Unsure whether to stay or flee, Cliff and Cydney join up with two other couples, and things begin to go terrifyingly wrong. Far from civilization or rescue, everyone begins to look like a threat and nobody knows whom to trust. Paradise becomes hell on earth as a brutal battle for survival begins... [D-Man2010]AGAIN D-Man2010, STOP with the brief summaries!!!This is for a FULL synopsis of a movie. Look up the definition.The film begins with video footage of a wedding. In the wedding footage, we see the brother putting the groom in a headlock and various friends/family talking to the camera about the newlyweds. After the wedding, newlyweds Cliff (Steve Zahn) and Cydney (Milla Jovovich) are driving in Hawaii on their honeymoon. Cydney videotapes them and notices for the first time a scar under Cliffs chin. He says that his brother hit him when they were younger. They drive to a goods store and buy hiking equipment. While Cliff makes sure they have everything, Cydney says that its been since nine minutes since theyve been apart. If he tells her that he missed her, shell give him a BJ in the car. Cliff is too focused and doesn't say it. He gets their permits to go on the hiking trail and pays for their equipment with a big wad of cash. Employee, Chronic (Anthony Ruivivar) walks into the store and eyes the money. He helps the couple put their things into the jeep and they drive away. As they pull out of the parking lot we see a newspaper on the ground. On the cover is a story about two bodies being found in Honolulu dead.Cliff and Cydney are shown around an island on a helicopter ride. Cliff has Cydney film him while he fools around in the helicopter. The remote island they are on only has two ways out by hiking or by kayaking. After the helicopter ride, Cliff and Cydney drive around in their rental jeep when they come across Cleo (Marley Shelton) and Kale (Chris Hemsworth) trying to hitch a ride by the side of the road. Cliff decides to stop for them, which Cydney doesn't agree with. Cleo says that they are heading towards a beach about 10 miles down the road. Cliff gets intimidated by Kale, who has the words do not revive tattooed over his heart. Kale starts to put their bags into the jeep when Cliff says that they're heading towards the big trail, not the beach. He says that they should just wait for another car to pass by. Cleo says that they've been trying to hitchhike for an hour. Kale gets angry and starts to unload their bags. Cleo shows Cydney some photos. Cleo and Kale just got married in a grocery store and are on their honeymoon as well. Cliff and Cydney have a change of heart and decide to drive them to the beach. However, Kale rejects them and curses at Cleo to get out of the F***ing jeep. Cliff and Cydney drive off.They get to the start of the hiking trail and excitedly begin the hike. They get to a narrow ridge in the trail and both are unsure of whether they can make it across. Another hiker, Nick (Timothy Olyphant), shows up and shows them how to get across. Cliff, following Nicks guidance, makes it across fine. Cydney though almost falls to her death when a helicopter suddenly flies by, but Nick grabs her and pulls her to safety. The trio walks together and Nick recognizes Cliff from somewhere but cant place him. Cliff says that hes an aspiring screenwriter. While Nick pees, Cliff mentions that his first work is being made into a movie, but the studio hired another writer to do rewrites. Nick says that he took a writing class once and knows a little about screenplays. He says that "every story needs a red herring". While hiking, they come across a group of girls trying to get their cell phones to work. One of the girls says that when they still had service, her father told her about some murderers being in Oahu and having killed two people already. The victims had their teeth pulled out and their fingerprints removed. The police are looking for a man and a woman as suspects. As it turns out, Cliff and Cydney just came from there before they decided to do the trail. Nick mentions that he was also just there.The trio continues to hike when Nick decides to break off from them. He says that he just hiked back to get some things that he forgot. Cliff and Cydney discuss whether they should stick with Nick (who is walking back to his camp) or if they should continue. Nick doesn't mind either way. The couple was about to head off on their own when Cliff suddenly has a change of heart after spotting Cleo and Kale on the trail just below them. They come to a waterfall, where Nicks girlfriend Gina (Kiele Sanchez) is lying down on a raft naked. Nick takes off his clothes and joins her in the water. Cliff and Cydney didnt know that Nick had company, and that they apparently dont care about being naked. Nonetheless, Cydney strips down and gets in the water while Cliff goes off on his own to try to find a signal for his cell phone. Cliff finds a signal and uses Google to look up the story about the murderers. It turns out that the killers were unknowingly photographed. Cliff tries to upload the image onto his phone. As the photo just starts to focus, Kale startles him from behind saying, "people die out here every year". Kale is still angry about Cliff turning them down earlier for the ride accusing Cliff of being a liar and says that he hates liars. Cliff says that he offered them a ride afterward so he doesn't know why Kale is so hostile towards him. Cliff thought that they were going to a beach, but Kale says that they decided to take the trail. Cliff thinks that they're following them and gets uncomfortable. Cliff tries to leave, but Kale blocks his way. Nick shows up behind Kale and asks if there is a problem. Cliff brushes past Kale leaving Nick and Kale to glare at one another. Nick grins before he turns to walk away.They go back down to the waterfall where Cydney and Gina are. Gina asks if she and Nick can tag along with them on the trail, since they're all going to the same place. Cliff and Cydney say yes. As Cliff looks through his bag, he cant find the permits. Cydney says that maybe he left them at the store, but Cliff is sure that he packed them in his bag. He goes off and looks through Cleo & Kales bags for the permits, but doesn't find it. What he does find is a business card for Kales parole officer. Cliff, Cydney, Nick, and Gina continue on the trail and get to know each other better. It turns out that Nick is some type of ex-special forces guy. He says that officially, he cant tell them exactly what he was. Unofficially, he says that hes an American Jedi. While on a mission, he got shot in the head. Doctors were able to save him and put a metal plate in his head. He doesn't mind much, since whenever he goes through a metal detector he can sneak through with a hidden knife, which he keeps strapped to his leg. Gina tells them that Nick is hard to kill. Nick tells Cliff that he should write a screenplay about him. Further on the trail, Cliff gets nervous since there are fewer people the farther they go. He goes off with Cydney to pee and shows her the photo of the killers on his phone. He asks her if the killers look familiar. They turn their attention towards Nick and Gina. Cydney says that the killers could be anybody and tells Cliff that they're fine.It starts to rain so they decide to set up camp. While the women stay dry under a cover, the men set up tents. Nick easily does this while Cliff struggles. Nick tosses Cliff his hatchet and he catches it. Nick remarks that he has good reflexes. Meanwhile, we see someone walking by their camp unseen by the group. Later on, Cliff comes out of the tent to see Cydney and Gina looking off in the distance. He asks them what theyre looking at, and they tell him whatever Nick is looking at. Nick stares into the forest then turns to come back to the camp. He says that a couple of goats passed by the camp. He makes a bow and arrow and tells Cliff to come help him hunt dinner. Cliff doesn't want to go so Nick teases him so Cliff relents and goes on the hunt armed with the hatchet. Both men venture out in the forest. Cliff asks Nick why they're hunting since he hasn't seen any goats around. Nick comes clean and says that they're not hunting goats. He says that they have a shadow, having seen someone lurking around the camp. He wants to find out who they are. Cliff asks if its Cleo and Kale, but Nick doesn't know. He also mentions that he knows Cliff has thought of him and Gina as the killers. They were there when the murders took place, as were Cliff and Cydney. Cliff says that its a coincidence that they were all there at the same time. Nick doesn't mind that Cliff suspected him and Gina, since its only his screenwriter mind at work. Nick leads Cliff through the forest and has fun with him making him constantly stop and come forward, stop and come forward pretending that danger is nearby. Cliff realizes this and ends the joke. As Nick walks off, Cliff sees a camp nearby. He tries to signal to Nick, but Nick is already long gone.Back at camp, Cydney talks about what she wants in life and about growing up. There was a guy named Rocky that everyone thought was perfect, and she dated him. However, she saw that there was something else going on with Rocky, something darker that he kept hidden. One day, they went out to a make-out point and things got hot and heavy when suddenly he stopped and turned on the headlights. He made her get out of the truck and led her nearby and showed her that he strangled a Labrador dog and the pantyhose was still around it's neck. Rocky said that if she ever told anyone, he would kill her. Gina is the only person shes ever told. Cydney remarks how its strange how much people talk about themselves to people they just met.Back to the forest, Cliff moves in closer to the camp he saw. He gets startled by someone. Cliff grabs the person and throws them to the ground, threatening them with the hatchet. It turns out to be Chronic. Cliff really did leave his permits at the store, and Chronic came out there to give it back. The rain clears up, and Cliff goes back to camp. Gina asks him where Nick is, but he doesn't know. Nick arrives, carrying a bloody goat on his shoulders that he killed with his bow and arrow. Gina gets the hatchet from Cliff and takes out a hidden knife from it. She then cuts off its head, guts the goat, and prepares it for dinner. While Gina works, Cliff and Cydney talk in their tent. Cliff says that Nick and Gina have officially graduated to the crazy category. Cydney agrees, and they both want to ditch them. However, they cant just leave due to how remote it is. Since they are two miles away from a beach, Cliff says that they're just going to have to ride it out with Nick and Gina. They're going to keep Nick and Gina happy so that they can all arrive at the beach alive.The next morning, Cliff wakes up hearing a helicopter flying around. The two couples watch as the helicopter lands nearby. Cliff wants to see whats going on, but Nick holds him back telling him that they should stay out of it. Cliff, Cydney, and Gina go down to the helicopter. A cop keeps them back at a distance. They see that Cleo and Kale are being thrown to the ground and arrested. The authorities believe that they are the killers. As they're being loaded into the helicopter, Kale says that they're innocent. The cops search through their bags and find several teeth inside. It looks like the search for the killers is over. The authorities take off with Cleo and Kale in tow. Cliff, Cydney, and Gina all breathe a sigh of relief since each couple suspected the other as the killers. They go back to camp and pack up everything.They continue on the trail and finally get to the beach. Cliff has Gina record him and Cydney with their video camera overlooking the beach as a rainbow shines in the background. They go to the beach and Gina ventures out to a waterfall while Nick plays football with the other hikers. Cliff lights up what looks like a butane lamp and sits with Cydney while looking at the ocean. Cliff approaches Nick and tells him that he paid the other hikers forty bucks to rent two kayaks for an hour. He wants Nick to go with him to explore some cave nearby. Nick tells him that he was planning on doing something with Gina, but Cliff goads him into coming along. They take off in the kayaks.Gina comes back and sees Cydney sitting in the distance on the beach. She yells out and asks where Nick and Cliff are going. Cydney yells back that they'll be back in a little while. Gina finds Cliffs camera and starts to go through his wedding photos. One particular photograph catches her attention and she drops the camera in shock. She runs along the beach screaming for Nick to come back, but he's too far to hear her. She tries to call him, but she doesn't have a signal on her cell. She grabs the hatchet and runs to find higher ground. Cydney finds the camera on the beach and realizes that Gina saw that the bride and groom in the wedding photos were not Cliff and Cydneys. She chases after her. Gina climbs up some vines and continues to run. Cliff and Nick get to the cave and relax. After a little while, Nick realizes that something is wrong. Cliff takes off his glasses and breaks them in his hand. Cliff then pulls a pistol on Nick as he reaches down for his knife.A series of flashbacks reveal that Cliff and Cydney are the killers. They killed the newlyweds from the wedding video and changed their appearances to look like them. They also removed the teeth and fingers from the bodies so that they couldn't be identified. They learned about their victims from all their friends and family talking about them in the wedding video. Another series of flashbacks focuses on Nick and Gina in Oahu. Gina goes inside a ring store and looks at a group of rings. She tells the cashier that when she leaves, her boyfriend is going to say that he forgot something and go back to the store without her. She wants the cashier to show him what rings she was looking at. Sure enough, as Gina and Nick walk away, Nick says that he forgot his drink and goes back to the ring store. The cashier shows him the rings Gina was looking at. Nick shows the cashier that he already has an engagement ring and was planning on proposing to her while looking at a sunset. He asks the cashier for her advice. If Gina would be happy with his ring, hell give it to her. If she'll be happier with one of the rings she was looking at, hell buy one for her. The cashier says that Gina will be happy with any ring he presents her. Flashback to earlier, Cliff planted the teeth in Kale and Cleos bags to frame them. When he encountered Chronic in the forest, he told them that he suspected Kale and Cleo were the killers, which led the authorities to arrest them. Cliff is really Rocky from Cydneys story. When they were on the beach, Cliff (Rocky) told her not to mess up their arrangement. Cydney loves him, but he doesn't feel the same way. They then smoked meth before Cliff (Rocky) approached Nick about kayaking. Cliff (Rocky) and Cydney planned on killing Nick and Gina, then stealing their identities.Gina winds up on the top of the cave and sees Nick & Rocky below. Rocky shoots Nick in the head, causing him to fall out of the kayak. Gina screams, which gives her away. Rocky shoots at her but misses. Cydney shows up with a knife and fights Gina, who fends her off with the hatchet. The weapons are knocked away and Cydney smashes Ginas head against a rock. She then kicks her in the stomach and grabs the knife. Gina stands up, weakened, and grabs the hatchet. Cydney charges at her, but Gina flips Cydney over, causing her to fall down into the cave (where she lands in the water). As Cydney fell she stabbed Gina in the leg. Gina threw the hatchet into the cave, almost hitting Rocky in the kayak below. Gina pulls the knife out of her leg and goes to get help. She tries to make a phone call but there is no signal. Moments later as she is peering over the cliff her phone rings and it's from a telemarketer in India trying to sell her a new wireless plan. Desperate, Gina tries to tell him (Woody) that shes in danger, but he wont listen. She then hears a walkie-talkie nearby. Cydney, in a kayak in the water, is telling Rocky where Gina is. Rocky suddenly climbs up and grabs Gina. She kicks him away and he fires the gun at her, shooting her in the hand. While he tries to reach the top of the cliff, Gina stabs him through the hand. Rocky rips the knife out and tells Cydney to get to the beach. He then chases after Gina through the forest.Meanwhile, Nick wakes up in the cave. The back of his head is open, and we see that the metal plate saved his life. He ties his head wound shut with a bandanna, retrieves the hatchet nearby, and goes to save his girl. Gina gets to the vines and climbs down. She runs into a group of guys who are looking for their stolen kayaks. She says that Rocky attacked her, and one of the guys happens to be an EMT. He wants her to calm down so that he can look at her wounds, but she tries to run away. The men hold her down and keep her from running. Rocky climbs down and acts innocent. He says that Gina is a meth addict and is delusional. The EMT says that its strange that Gina is supposedly high, since her pupils are fine, whereas Rocky's are as big as olives. His cover blown, Rocky shoots and kills all the guys. Suddenly Nick comes to the vines and jumps down, attacking Rocky. Nick is shot in the side while Nick has sliced halfway through Rocky's hand.Meanwhile, Cydney gets to the beach. She hesitates at first, but flags down a helicopter.Rocky, both hands wounded, sees that the gun is nearby. He manages to grab it while Nick grabs a knife. Rocky tries to shoot him but misses due to not being able to properly hold the gun. Nick grabs the gun and holds it to Rocky's throat. Rocky laughs when the helicopter arrives and the authorities order Nick to drop his weapon. Rocky says that if Nick kills him, the cops will kill Nick. If Rocky gets arrested, he'll act like the victim and beat the system. He promises that a year from now, Nick will run into him again only he won't look like how he does now. He'll look a lot like Nick. Just as the sniper is about to shoot, Gina appears in his line of vision and drags Nick away from Rocky. Nick drops the weapon and stands down. Gina kicks Rocky in the face and up in the helicopter Cydney informs the cops that the killer is Rocky. She points out that he's going for the gun while Nick and Gina have their backs to him and this time the sniper has a clear shot and shoots Rocky in the forehead, blowing his brains out.Nick and Gina are loaded in a helicopter to get medical attention. He's strapped to a stretcher while she sits nearby. The sunset in the background, he pulls out the engagement ring and proposes to Gina. She asks him how long he's had the ring. He says that its been a year and a half. She scolds him, asking him what took him so long. He says that he was just waiting for the right time. She gladly accepts and they kiss. At the exact same time they tell each other that they don't need no honeymoon. | mystery, murder, flashback | train | imdb | The characters are well developed, the acting is great, the scenery and cinematography are outstanding - some very inventive shots towards the climax of the film - and the story will definitely leave you with the feeling that "it" actually hasn't all been done before.
Every person that has rated this movie low falls under one of two categories: Either they missed an integral part of the story (I watched the film twice just to make sure I was right about this), or they have ludicrously high standards.
Newlyweds Cliff (Steve Zahn) and Cydney (Milla Jovovich) are honeymooning in Hawaii when they decide to hike a popular trail through the lush Hawaiian wilderness.
There's also the shady hitchhikers, Kale (Chris Hemsworth) and Cleo (Marley Shelton, looking particularly nice with braided hair), who seem to be following them.While I was able to correctly guess the identity of the killer's just from watching the trailer, I still had a great time with this.
It's hard to say anything about "The Perfect Getaway" without giving away the great way that director/writer David Twohy brings this classic tale of "screaming, running for your life" movie to the screen.Some may call the first hour a bit slow but it's really the perfect build to the final act.
Until the reveal, I couldn't decide who it was that's going to snap, even when I thought it was becoming obvious.Timothy Olyphant is awesome in this role, as is the rest of the primary cast, with Chris Hemsworth being the angry hitchhiker and Steve Zahn & Milla Jovovich playing the part of the honeymooners.I give Twohy 2 thumbs up for making this movie fresh, engaging and confusing..
But danger is still in the Kalalau Trail."A Perfect Getaway" is a surprisingly great thriller, with Steve Zahn performing an unusual role.
In Francis Ford Coppola's "The Conversation" the peeping tom-for-hire (Gene Hackman), spying on a couple, is certain he's figured out what's going on, but he's undone by not realizing that something said can have different meanings depending on HOW it's said."A Perfect Getaway" merrily leads you down the garden path, so to speak, by fulfilling all your expectations, then turning the table on them.
i didn't see it coming.I believed that nowadays, trailers tend to give a lot away or even critiques do, and giving credit to this film, if one were like me, this is one of the best movie experienced.The characters were all likable and believable and the pacing of the story was handled extremely well.
David Twohy,2009}**½/****A solid, fast paced B-thriller with winking (and surprising) sense of humor, A Perfect Getaway is not as much of a stiff genre exercise as the ads may make it seem.
I will not give the ending away...but the twist in this movie completely ignored any of the details of the story making the first 93 minutes completely pointless, It is almost like he ran into a deadline to have it done and wrote the last page on his way to the studio.
I find it funny reading the other reviewers who just didn't get it...they are all claiming inconsistencies but if you watch the movie again you will see a different context to every conversation...so this movie has a low rating because the audience isn't smart enough to follow...a shame really..The movie is consistent from beginning to end...I won't give anything away...just don't listen to the reviewers who don't like the movie because it is inconsistent..they are embarrassingly incorrect...Kelle Sanchez and Milla are beautiful and great and Olyphant and Zahn are also brilliant...
The Perfect Getaway tells the story of newlyweds Cliff and Cydney who go to the tropical islands of Hawaii for their honeymoon.There they meet Kale and Cleo, two disgruntled hitchhikers and Nick and Gina, two wild but well-meaning spirits who help guide them through the lush jungles.Everything takes a turn for the worst when Cliff and Cydney learn of a grisly murder that occurred nearby.The local police is looking for a couple and Cliff and Cydney new acquaintances happen to fit the description of the killers.
The perfect getaway is a little thriller that serves its purpose; it entertains but if you're expecting more then that you're going to be disappointed.There's a big twist that adds originality to this genre which is usually full of clichés, but honestly, I saw it coming.
If you're an avid movie goer you'll probably figure it out,if not, chances are you'll be surprised.Having said that the script is very well written and well thought.The locations are beautiful and the acting is great by all parts,specially Steve Zahn who has been getting better and better roles lately.As I said, The Perfect Getaway is an entertaining little thriller but its far from being a great movie.
Travelling together, they discover that there has been a couple have been murdered, and the killers are believed to be a man and woman....David Twohy, the writer and director of this movie, made Pitch Black which is a tense and exciting movie, which is everything A Perfect Getaway isn't.
Just like watching The Sixth Sense, if you watch the movie again once you know the twist then you can see that the scenes you thought you saw, didn't actually happen the way you thought they did.
Now if you aren't allowed to mislead the audience in a Thriller, then you may as well stop making them ever again.It's not a perfect movie, it's not going to be an all time classic, however it is entertaining, certainly better than many big budget movies I've seen in the last year or two.
Some people just like to admit they guessed the twist very early on to try and make themselves seem smart, however they must have some decent knowledge of the preview to know what's going on in advance as they don't even reveal that there's someone out there killing honeymooners until well into the movie, so don't let these reviews put you off.Watch this movie with an open mind and just enjoy it for what it is.
The joke is on the negative comment people, and the ones who say the ending was an insult to their intelligence, because they were lulled into thinking they were watching just another thriller, and were not perceptive enough to catch the fifteen or more solid, yet subtle, clues as to "who done it." I missed a lot of it too, the first time, but I still loved the movie enough to watch it again, and again, and again, each time seeing more and more of these should- be-obvious clues.
Or is something else afoot.In the first act of the movie, A Perfect Getaway sets us up to looks for the bad guy among several candidates, as is typical with thrillers.
Chris Hemsworth and Marley Shelton play another couple, although I felt they were underused.In the end, the film is a perfectly fine thriller that makes you guess and second guess yourself.
Despite the predictable ending this film has, it has more to offer.The cast consists of funny man Steve Zahn, who has been stepping out of his usual comedic roles and taking on more things these days, and Milla Jovovich as the honeymoon couple.
A Perfect Getaway (2009) Director's Cut 3/5 Director: David Twohy Stars: Steve Zahn / Timothy Olyphant / Milla Jovovich / Kiele Sanchez A mousy screenplay writer (Zahn) and his new blushing bride (Jovovich) are on holiday celebrating their wedding day with a honeymoon to Hawaii.
It's dubbed a horror/thriller type and definitely had some scares with some great great scenic views.A Perfect Getaway is an exciting film if your looking to escape and be entertained.
There are other little 'give aways' that the writer/director put in so you can watch on the second viewing and go 'OH, I see now!' however there is no need because they put a big rubber 'I/We're the bad guy(s)' on them from word go.The only redeeming thing about this movie is Timothy Olyphant.
Mila Jovovich was also great - in fact all the actors were well formed, interesting and generally believable making for a good ensemble cast in a gripping action thriller.
Whilst I didn't quite get a motivation for all the misdeeds that went on, it was still a very good watch and the script was clever, witty (making fun of typical action film blunders, I just thought something like "he'd have run out of bullets" and the guy goes and says, "I should have been counting my bullets" etc) and intelligent.
I really appreciated the way just ordinary everyday actions and conversations became creepy and foreshadowing to an external viewer when murder looms in the backdrop.Great ensemble cast with solid performances all around for Olyphant, Zahn, Jovovich and Sanchez.Ending - even when the identities are revealed, we are still taken along a suspenseful ride leaving tension and anticipation until the final climax.The cinematography was beautiful as should be expected on such a great location..
About half way through the film I realised the pun in the title 'A perfect Getaway' The scenery makes the film stand out of the crowed genre as it is not a typical thriller/horror as it is set mostly in the day time with feisty characters, not ditsy prom girls!
I reckon the newspaper on the floor at the beginning was put there to make us go "ok I know how this goes" which it did , which is why i got it all so wrong but I loved the film an excellent movie and a good advert for Hawaii..
Essentially, Jovovich, Olyphant, and Zahn are all capable actors who utilize the scripted materials very well in developing characters that the audience is able to trust.Overall, this is a well done film that cleverly tells a who-done-it story.
TPG is a simple story well told by filmmakers and actors who are clearly professional and talented.On a personal note, I think this is a perfect movie night film.
I plan to go back to watch it a second time to see all the "clues" I may have missed.But the general plot of the film is a couple, Cliff and Cydney, are on their honeymoon in Hawaii.
The plot centers around two different couples who are on vacation in Hawaii Cliff (Steve Zahn) and Cydeny (Milla Jovovich) along with Nick (Timothy Olyphant) and Gina (Kiele Sanchez).
The acting in this film is strong Steve,Milla,Timothy, and Kiele's performances gave them each a chance to shine and they show some strong acting and made their characters believable and interesting throughout.The music in the film helps bring the story to life and the setting for the film is very good it matches just right This movie feature some of the biggest plot twist I ever seen and I couldn't believe that the writers pull a fast 180 it goes to show that you can still create a original story with a plot that will surprise and shock you and this one sure did.There are some moments that could have been without and could have been deleted but other than that I have to say A Perfect Getaway is a movie that you must watch it just near perfect and goes to show with the right team you can do anything.With a original plot, strong acting and tense movie throughout I say you are in for a near perfect thriller.I give A Perfect Getaway a 9 out of 10.
Details that can kill.The marvelous characters in this thriller will occupy your fears for a long time.Really great casting with Olyphant and Zahn as mutual protagonists add to the zest and great construction of the movie.Seemingly slow at first, the plot builds in a quickening pace.
Acting is great (Steve Zahn and Timothy Olyphant really stick out) and while a few aspects don't work perfectly, they don't slow down the film or get in the way either.
(John Anderson of the Washington Post thinks this movie will sell a lot of tickets to people who want to see if it makes any sense on second viewing.) When honeymooners Cliff (Steve Zahn) and Cydney (Milla Jovanovich) come to the island, they're out for a challenging trek to an unspoiled beach.
It gets worse: there is news about that some honeymooners were brutally murdered on Oahu, and it looks like there's one of those couples you run into in movies whose main occupation is going around killing people for kicks.
I just LOVE it when the film makers come up with something INTELLIGENT and challenging and actually treat the audience with at least some respect for their ability to comprehend things and follow a complex and twisty story.Anyway, if you are even a passing fan of David Twohy or if you like clever, twisty (and I DO mean twisty) Thrillers, and if you are not TOO much of a hard core realist and have some imagination, then you should really enjoy this movie!.
I was really looking forward to this movie, because it didn't last long in the theaters in my city.Now I know why.While it had a great cast, it had a F'ed plot - whereas other reviewers state the same as me...the bad "twist".The only reason it was a twist is nobody really had any reason to go on a killing spree in this film.
A Perfect Getaway is a decent thriller with some flaws from writer/director David Twohy who does an okay job of making this movie despite it's few problems.
Milla Jovovich and Steve Zahn are good as the newlyweds and Kiele Sanchez also turned in a decent performance but Timothy Olyphant was definitely the stand out in the cast.
If you're looking for a decent thriller however a perfect getaway is the movie for you.
It has character development, drama, suspense, humor, some action, and good performances by the cast especially Timothy Olyphant who makes this movie worth watching at least once..
With his latest film, director and writer David Twohy has once again crafted a story that stands on its own yet features characters we wouldn't mind revisiting in future movies.
The film stars Steve Zahn, Timothy Olyphant, Milla Jovovich and Kiele Sanchez in this low budget but really entertainment thriller mixed with awesome scenery and acting.
As the film progresses you do get a sense that things are all perfect but then things slowly start to get complicated, we start to see what's really going on but in all it's got a great story and is set on a beautiful island, anyone who is into their good thrillers then go watch this film..
A perfect getaway is a decent enough film and if nothing else you can enjoy the Hawaiin scenery, but I found the twist way before I should have and upon reading other people's accounts it seems like the director should have been more discreet.
A perfect getaway is a decent enough film and if nothing else you can enjoy the Hawaiin scenery, but I found the twist way before I should have and upon reading other people's accounts it seems like the director should have been more discreet.
A perfect getaway is a decent enough film and if nothing else you can enjoy the Hawaiin scenery, but I found the twist way before I should have and upon reading other people's accounts it seems like the director should have been more discreet.
A perfect getaway is a decent enough film and if nothing else you can enjoy the Hawaiin scenery, but I found the twist way before I should have and upon reading other people's accounts it seems like the director should have been more discreet.
A perfect getaway is a decent enough film and if nothing else you can enjoy the Hawaiin scenery, but I found the twist way before I should have and upon reading other people's accounts it seems like the director should have been more discreet.
A perfect getaway is a decent enough film and if nothing else you can enjoy the Hawaiin scenery, but I found the twist way before I should have and upon reading other people's accounts it seems like the director should have been more discreet.
Steve Zahn, Milla Jovovich and Timothy Olyphant are all good actors and give fine performances, but the script is a letdown.
Steve Zahn, Milla Jovovich and Timothy Olyphant are all good actors and give fine performances, but the script is a letdown.
Steve Zahn, Milla Jovovich and Timothy Olyphant are all good actors and give fine performances, but the script is a letdown.
Steve Zahn, Milla Jovovich and Timothy Olyphant are all good actors and give fine performances, but the script is a letdown.
Steve Zahn, Milla Jovovich and Timothy Olyphant are all good actors and give fine performances, but the script is a letdown.
The acting is decent enough especially from Steve Zahn (Cliff) who is the most believable character in the film.
And yes for those who thought that the killer couple were inconsistent in their character, re watch the movie.
Either way it didn't spoil my enjoyment - I think the movie is underrated by most reviewers, I really don't know what people expect, some of them over-analyzing it too much.I would recommend watching this film to anyone..
The only expectation one should have when seeing this surprisingly engaging Friday night date type is that it's a rule of a thriller that if you warn the audience about a brutal killing, the killer(s) must at some point be presented.Perfect Getaway stands out in the weekly shuffle of quickly churned out slashers, bloody thrillers and other weekend moneymakers because writer-director David Twohy, who did the Pitch Black films, knows that's the kind of movie it is, but he does not insult our intelligence.
Timothy Olyphant's character was entertaining throughout and Steve Zahn provided an unexpected ability to perform a very different type of role.Overall, I have to say that A Perfect Getaway is the GREATEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME!!! |
tt0151738 | Never Been Kissed | Josie Geller (Drew Barrymore) is a highly intelligent, if pedantic and lonely, copy-editor for the Chicago Sun-Times. Josie desperately wants to be a reporter, and constantly sends story ideas to her boss, Gus (John C. Reilly), who appreciates her eagerness but does not believe she is up to the challenge of being a reporter. Josie is disillusioned with her life and avoids other people, which puzzles her promiscuous co-worker Anita (Molly Shannon). One day during a staff meeting, the tyrannical editor-in-chief, Rigfort (Garry Marshall) assigns her to report undercover at a high school to help parents become more aware of their children's lives. Josie is overjoyed, but Anita and Gus think its a bad idea, and that she will get fired. But she asserts herself and hurries to tell her younger brother, Rob (David Arquette), a former high school baseball champion who works at a postage and packaging store named the Tiki Post and is similarly disillusioned with life.Rob thinks it is a terrible idea for Josie to go undercover as a student, and reminds her of her own awful high school career, where she was a misfit treated with contempt and cruelty by her peers, and was labelled "Josie Grossie". A nickname which continues to haunt her, along with her misery at being treated so brutally. Josie has never had a romance due to her insecurities. She is unnerved, but is determined to undergo the assignment.Her first day at South Glen South High School is miserable. Josie reverts back to the old geeky persona that ruined her first high school career. She is late to class and is forced to wear a sombrero as punishment by her eccentric, menopausal teacher. She also has an unfortunate run in with Gibby, Kirsten and Kristen, three mean, popular girls, and Guy Perkins (Jeremy Jordan), the most attractive, popular student at South Glen South. Upon discovering that Guy and his friends have hidden her car, Josie becomes exasperated but is warmed when a kind-hearted, intelligent girl named Aldys (Leelee Sobieski) befriends her. Aldys dislikes Guy Perkins and his gang, referring to them as "lemmings", and they in turn view her as an uncool geek. Aldys sugguests that Josie should join The Denominators, a group of intelligent students. Josie does but fails to get her story.Josie becomes enamoured with her young English teacher Sam Coulson(Michael Vartan), who is a fan of Shakespeare, as is Josie, and she becomes the top student in his class. After reciting a romantic excerpt from Shakespeare to Sam, Josie has horrible flashbacks to where she read a romantic poem aloud in class to her high school crush, a popular boy named Billy Prince, much to his amusement. Later on in the library, her friend Sheila delivers the news that Billy Prince wants to take Josie to the senior prom, making her dream come true.One night whilst out driving with Aldys, Josie encounters Guy Perkins and his gang at a local hangout called "The Court" where promiscuity and underage drinking takes place. Guy is nasty to Josie and Aldys, who claims that nothing exciting happens in Guy's court, but Josie knows form experience that Aldys secretly longs to be popular.Gus loses patience with Josie after a rival paper exposes the truth on The Court, and orders to Josie to become friends with the popular kids. He arranges for her to wear a hidden camera that will report back information to Gus, and soon the whole office become obsessed with Josie's story. Anita, after hearing Josie's recital of Shakespeare, grows unhappy with her promiscuous lifestyle and develops an attraction towards Gus, and he reciprocates.Josie goes home she confides in Rob about fears. She tearfully tells him that South Glen South is simply a repetition of her old high school days and all she wants is to be accepted and not abused. Rob - who was the most popular guy in school in his youth - insists that if Josie can get one cool person to like her, then no one will dare question her. He urges her to let go of her old self and start anew. Determined, Josie goes to school the next day and overhears Guy telling his group about a cool band that are playing in a bar that night. Josie follows and meets Sam and his uptight girlfriend Lara. However she is tricked into eating a hash brownie and makes a fool of herself onstage by dancing wildly in front of Guy, the girls and Sam.The next day Josie sleeps in for school. As her hand was stamped "delloser" the night before at the club, the ink prints the word "loser" on her forehead, unknown to her. She merrily goes to school and is horrified to find everyone mocking her. She runs to the bathroom, sees the mark on her face and vomits in the toilet. She breaks down in tears and remembers the night of her prom. She was overjoyed at the thought of Billy Prince taking her to the prom and waits outside for him in her prom gown. But when Billy arrives in his limo, he has another girl with him and the both of them hurl eggs and insults at Josie, who collapses in tears.As she runs through the school hall, she encounters Rob who has enrolled as a new student and schemes to help her be popular. He becomes an instant hit with Guy Perkins and the other trendy kids, and spreads incredible stories about Josie, convincing the others that she is not a loser. Much to the anger of Aldys, Josie becomes popular and hangs out with the cool crowd.Sam and Josie grow closer but Sam struggles with his feelings as he thinks that she is a student and therefore off limits. Josie begins dating Guy and she recommends that the theme for the senior prom should be "Meant for Each Other", famous couples from around the world. This idea is met with approval and Guy and Josie attend the prom as Rosalind and Orlando from Shakespeare's As You Like It. Anita, Gus and Josie's various other co-workers watch through the camera and are overjoyed as she is voted prom queen.As Guy dances with Aldys, as an alleged act of friendship, Josie dances with Sam and watches, horrified, as Gibby, Kirsten and Kristen nearly pour dog food over Aldys as revenge for her insulting them. Josie knocks the can away from Aldys and spills dog food over the three girls, who turn on her and denounce her as a loser. Infuriated, Josie throws her crown away and reveals her true age and occupation, and that she is disgusted by them. She angrily states how shallow the popular girls are, and praises Aldys for her kindness. Josie warns the students that who you were in high school means nothing outside in the real world and urges them to be themselves. She flees and leaves the students appalled. Sam is hurt by her lies and states he wants nothing to do with her.Josie vows to give Gus a story and write her story of her own high school career. She admits she has never been kissed, and also mentions the students of South Glen South, kindly remarking on Guy's confidance, Gibby, Kirsten and Kristen's beauty, and Aldys's intelligence, and her love for Sam. The entire city is moved by her story and the pain she suffered in her teens. She says she will stand in the middle of the baseball field and wait for Sam to come and kiss her, if he really loves her.Josie waits but Sam has not heard as he is moving to New York. She waits with encouragement from Anita, Aldys, Gus, Guy and the girls. However just when her five minutes on the clock runs out, Sam appears, apologizes for being late and kisses her. | romantic, prank, cruelty, flashback | train | imdb | Actually the first time for me was bad enough and at my age I doubt I could pull it off the way Drew does.Of course the reason could also be that once we leave high school it's like leaving a cocoon and we have to deal with the great big unfriendly world out there.
A girl looking young enough to pull it off, goes through high school at least three times and kills the person who stumbles on her secret.With Drew though it's an assignment.
Publisher Garry Marshall who plays the part like Donald Trump took over the Sun Times gets this brilliant idea and just sees in Barrymore a young enough looking person to pull off the masquerade.
Michael Vartan as her English teacher is the kind I wish there were more of in the education field and Leelee Sobieski and Jessica Alba play a pair of the empty headed cool kids that Drew tries so desperately to hook up with.Still it doesn't inspire me to return to Midwood High School..
Drew as Josie and her romance with the teacher is so sweet and brother baseball wannabee adds to the movie's good feeling.
The gorgeous Michael Vartan was adorable as the teacher (wish there had been teachers like that when I was at high school!) and Josie's boss is fantastic.
I think this movie more than any other shows what a great actress Drew Barrymore is because she plays a ugly duckling in high school which is something I never imagined her being.
I, however think it was painful to watch because I had such a hard time at high school, and I could relate to this movie.It reminded me of "Mean Girls" a lot, although this had a softer edge to it.It was a bit predictable, but, sometimes a good, sweet, romance with a happy ending is what you want in a movie.The acting was good, and the story was believable-if a bit far-fetched.The sound track was awesome!.
It's been a while since seeing this film, but to write this review I re-watched it, and remembered everything I loved about it.Drew Barrymore is a great actress, and this role suited her really well at the time.
In this appealing though predictable teen flick, she's an eager writer for a newspaper given a chance to prove she can do more by going undercover to see what today's teens are up to in high school, and finds that nothing's really changed.Drew is as engaging as ever whether appearing in class way too overdressed or dancing on stage while on drugs (relax, the film's overall pretty inoffensive), and it may have been prophetic that her joke about having been named Josie after the leader of a cartoon rock band goes over the head of her best friend at school (the film version of "Josie and the Pussycats" was a box office flop in America).
Call me soppy, but I like a happy ending, and this does have one (even The Prettiest Girls In School don't turn out to be that horrid in the end).If only the Seekers' "Free To Be You And Me" (which Drew and her friends sing along to in a car in one scene) and some of David Newman's sweet score had been on the soundtrack album, but that's not a problem exclusive to this film; what with this and "Charlie's Angels" (not to mention "Olive, the Other Reindeer") Barrymore's record as a producer is a lot better than, say, Michelle Pfeiffer's.
This film looks like it was written by people who never went to high school, who instead formed their impression of human experience by watching TV shows.
Watching this film, you'll learn:* If a nerd tries to buy a ticket to the high school prom, she'll be turned away.* The prom queen can instantly lose all her friends at the prom by putting a stop to a prank.* If you are a reporter writing a story and you get scooped, you'll be fired immediately.* If a male high school teacher rides on a ferris wheel with a female student, and tells her that men will chase after her when she's older, he'll be the subject of an expose in the local newspaper.* If you're a nerd, and a cute guy asks you to the prom, say no: if you say yes, he'll pass you by in the limo and throw eggs at you.* If you're a newspaper reporter working on an undercover story, you'll wear a little camera in a pin on your shirt, and your exploits will be beamed back to the paper where you work, where all your co-workers will watch everything that happens to you.* A 25-year-old woman who's never been kissed, and who dreams of falling in love with the right guy, will, once she meets the right guy, advertise in the paper that she'll be waiting for him to kiss her in front of an audience of a few thousand people.I don't think I can think of one authentic human moment in the whole movie.
Drew Barrymore stars as Josie, and as usual, she is very cute and charming.This movie is a comedy, but unfortunately, it's not very funny.
I felt sorry for Josie (Drew Barrymore) because she was tortured in high school.
And i think that films like "Never Been Kissed" (Althoug its 8 years of been realized) are another great teen comedy with successful characters that don't fall in an awful cliché, as its plot."Never Been Kissed" told us the story of Josie Geller, a young reporter who has a big job to do.
Starring by Drew Barrymore (Fantastic, maybe in one of her best as Josie Geller), Michael Vartan, David Arquette, Leelee Sobiesky, Molly Shannon, Jeremy Jordan and John C.
Reilly, "Never Been Kissed" is a beautiful nostalgic romantic comedy, with amazing performances, cool music and a funny and entertaining story.Is good to found films like "Never Been Kissed" (Or its Spanish title "Jamas Besada").
Now I don't know what high school was like for the rest of you but our teacher's love lives where usually not discussed at length with students.One also needs to remember what a unbelievably bad actress Drew is.
Josie Geller (the lovely Drew Barrymore) is an editor of a newspaper in Chicago who gets her first chance as reporter in a matter about the life of the high-school students.
On the contrary, her brother Rob (David Arquette) was very popular in high school and became a looser in real life, regretting for not having a chance as a baseball player.
It's horrible to be bullied, but because it's a movie you can laugh because that's what it's made for, except i really felt sorry for Josie and sometimes i often cried while watching this film.
I should know, I go to high school.First Drew Barrymore plays a shy reporter who is walked upon.
The only thing about this movie is to have the socially-adept, but mentally-handicapped kids accept you, you must have somebody just as moronic get you into the good crowd.Drew cannot play this role at all.
I also liked the over all message of how high school people will never change, the popular kids will still treat most like dirt, the dorks will become smart and rich successes in life, and the jocks will only go on about the good old days.
Although, it does have some good stuff in it, mainly the beautiful women, David Arquette, and few other cool supporting characters, but other than that, there isn't really a whole lot going for this movie.The story is fairly interesting, but nothing terribly profound or intriguing, granted this obviously wasn't intended to be a profound or intriguing movie.
I'm not really one to complain about sappiness either, but her character was a little too sappy as well.In the end, I definitely wouldn't recommend going out of your way to see this film, but if you get a chance to see it for free, or just feel in the mood for another love story...then go ahead and check this one out.
Like Drew's character, as she stated in the voice-over in her article at the end, I have never fully recovered from what happened to me back in high school.
If you like watching a feel good movie, there are a lot of reasons to watch this movie.The movie has a message of redemption, in that a woman, with a terrible teenage-hood/high school experience of having pranksters torture her, gets to relive high school and gets to set it straight.The movie sends a powerful overarching message, loudly and well stated by Drew Barrymore's character Josie.
By telling them off, she set it straight and what she says is the truth, despite the unrealistic nature of this movie.But the main reason, I like to re-watch this movie over and over again is two seconds of music from a song I heard many times on the radio, but never seemed to hear the notes, I hear when it plays in the climax of this movie.During the movie's climactic scene Josie (Drew Barrymore) stands on the pitcher's mound prior to a big high school baseball championship game waiting for a man, who she accidentally hurt, to come give her, her first kiss.
I very strongly dislike teen movies.This one sounded like all the rest of them but it wasn't.Drew Barrymore plays Josie Gellar,a former high school geek that everybody couldn't wait to make fun of.She gets a chance to go back to high school, undercovered, for a story for the Chicago Sun Times.She finally fits in thanks to her brother(David Arquette) and she develops a crush on a teacher(Michael Vartan ~sigh~).
'm not a big Drew Barrymore fan but this movie was kind of good.
I hate the way movies now a days make it like smart people can NEVER be popular.Is this the way that suburban high schools are really like?
Drew Barrymore plays Josie to perfection, David Arquette steals the show as Rob, Leelee pulls off the whole geek thing and Jeremy Jordan is lust worthy as Guy.
Maybe people should look at movies like Pretty In Pink and Fast Times and The Sure Thing and you will see a great example of coming of age.
the main character (Drew Barrymore, who is not sexy enough or talented enough to have a movie) is a reporter who sacrifices her career for popularity.The message is as horrible as the acting.
While there is no problem with a movie about a girl who goes back to high school, elevating her for doing so is appalling and shows that the character has de-matured and fallen into a world of fantasy.It was painful for me to watch this as it was not comedic or effective in sparking emotion for me to recommend to anyone.
Okay, so before I start I would like to make it clear that I saw this movie late on in life, and it's already considered kind of old, which I'm sure has had a huge impact on my judgment of the film...
In the film Drew had to wait until she was nearly 25 to get the kiss of her dreams, I had to wait that long to see this movie, and like the kiss, some things are kind of over rated..
Never been kissed (1999) is a very cute, well made romantic comedy starring Drew Barrymore and David Arquette.
Drew Barrymore really does shine in this film, she fills the role of Josie Geller perfectly, no other actress could've done a better job in the starring role here.
Drew Barrymore stars as Josie Gellar, a geeky copy editor for the Chicago Sun-Times who lands her first journalistic gig masquerading as a 17 year-old at a local high school.
Never Been Kissed is a cute little movie with a silly plot- A newspaper editor named Josie Gellar, played by Drew Barrymore, dreaming of becoming a reporter is given a story to go undercover and to write about the high school scene.Having been a nerd and taunted a lot in high school, she sees this as a second chance to be "cool".
Josie manages to become friends with both the popular and geeky kids and her second chance in high school becomes the life she always dreamed of.She becomes well liked in the school and starts to fall for her teacher.As school life and fun as a teen starts to get to her head, she begins to get closer to her deadline and must make a decision between blowing her cover and possibly dating the teacher or simply just writing her story and being done with high school forever.And to top it all off, she hasn't been kissed and would love for her teacher to be her first kiss.
If you're into girly movies and high school movies and feel good movies, you will LOVE Never Been Kissed.
This means a lot to me personally because I am an aspiring screenwriter and I have written a screenplay about high school, that tries to, like this movie, teach the audience.
Drew Barrymore at times can be a bit fake but it the scenes where it counts it makes you feel for the character and relate to her and David Arquette does the same.
Somebody on this board said that he doesn't believe a girl who looks like Drew Barrymore would be so unpopular throughout high school and beyond.
If looks alone would've given her popularity in high school, I'd have girls all over me from elementary school through my senior year.Anyway, within the beginning of the movie it's entirely plausible that Josie Geller would have a tough time shaking her old high school demons while trying to pass as a high school student for an undercover news story.
As Drew Barrymore's character Josie quickly finds out as an undercover reporter posing as a high school student , that's just not the case.
Good so far.Enter her brother, Rob (David Arquette) -- who, despite having spoiled her life when she was in high school by pinning the name "Josie Grossy" on her, is now willing to help her out and get her into that popular crowd.
Watch Ever After if you want a Cinderella story with Drew Barrymore -- a much better film -- and at least there, in a fantasy world, you can suspend disbelief..
I guess what I am trying to say is the movie is good and its fun, "remember high school doesn't change"..only the people attending it do!!!.
Josie tells her brother Rob (David Arquette) about how she gets to go back to high school.
I thought Drew Barrymore was great in the movie as she was able to portray Josie Geller very well, both as a geek in high school and a modern career woman.
Why is that just because you are popular it gives you a license to treat the rest of us like dirt?)Drew Barrymore is such a wonderful actress that so many times during this movie, tears came to my eyes because it was like I was watching myself on screen.
Let's see, this film end at some dumb high school prom like all the other stupid teeny bopper movie do.
Man!I want something new, I don't want the dumb same old crap that I've already seen like a billion of times.If you really want to make an good movie, TRY MAKING YOUR OWN Than copy other people's work.No Stars.
I don't know if I would personally want a second chance to relive my high school years, but I certainly enjoyed doing it vicariously through Drew Barrymore.
This movie had all of the necessary elements to put it in a class of its own - romance, humor, tons of emotion, and lots more.I've been to see it 4 times now, and I don't think I could possibly get sick of watching Drew light up the screen as Josie.
But a Studio Head thought it would be a great idea if they made another movie about high school.
A good time for everyone who might like a second chance to make that first high school impression....
Drew Barrymore was very funny in this film and David Arquette added a nice comic touch as well.
Last year's "Ever After" showed the world that she could carry a film on her own, "Never Been Kissed" proves that was no fluke.Barrymore portrays Josie Geller, a newspaper employee for the Chicago Sun-Times, who is given a reporting assignment to return undercover as a student in high school.
I know that this is a movie, but what suburban Chicago high school is going to let a girl wear a belly shirt that practically cuts off at her nipples?There is charm in "Never Been Kissed", but this is only because of Barrymore.
Drew Barrymore is charming as Josie Geller, a 25-year old reporter who receives the assignment to go undercover as a high school senior.
Josie had always been a geek in high school and is hoping to make a better impression this time.
Twenty-five year old Josie learns that she becomes a high school girl again when she hides as a student reporting for her real job in life is.
What is really neat about this movie is that they go back in time when she was in high school.
"Never Been Kissed", staring Drew Barrymore, is a new comedy about a 25 year-old women named Joise Gellar, who realizes it doesn't matter what your place is in High School.
I like Drew Barrymore and had heard good things about her performance but was not expecting too much.
I thought it was a great film and Drew did a fantastic job of making you relate to Josie and how she must have felt back in high school. |
tt0053318 | Suddenly, Last Summer | New Orleans, 1937. Catherine Holly (Elizabeth Taylor) is a young woman institutionalized for a severe emotional disturbance that came about when her cousin, Sebastian Venable, died under questionable circumstances while they were on holiday in Spain a few months earlier. The late Sebastian's wealthy mother, Violet Venable (Katharine Hepburn), makes every effort to deny and suppress a potentially sordid truth about her son and his demise. Toward this end, she attempts to bribe the state hospital's administrator, Dr. Hockstader (Albert Dekker), by offering to finance a new wing for the underfunded facility (in Sebastian's name) if he will coerce his brilliant young surgeon, Dr. John Cukrowicz, (Montgomery Clift) into lobotomizing her niece, thereby removing any chance that the events surrounding her son's death might be revealed by Catherine's "obscene babbling".Mrs. Venable meets with Dr. Cukrowicz in the primordial garden ("like the dawn of creation") at her estate to discuss her niece's case, and their conversation eventually turns to Sebastian. Mrs. Venable describes him as a poet whose art was his sole occupation... even though he only wrote a single poem each year during the summer months and never published his work... and recounts her own previous vacations with him and of the poems that he kept in a poetry book that she reads from time to time. Mrs. Venable then reads out loud to Dr. Cukrowicz one poem from the book which tells of one particular voyage to the Encantadas a few years ago where her son forced her to witness the horrific sight of birds feeding on newborn turtles emerging from the sand, a ghastly scene in which Sebastian believed he saw the "face of God".Cukrowicz agrees to visit Catherine and begin his evaluation. Catherine has been confined to a private women's mental institution since her return from Europe several months earlier. At first remaining out of sight, Cukrowicz watches as she is caught smoking by Sister Felicity (Joan Young), one of the nuns who staff the facility. When the nun confronts Catherine and holds out her hand, demanding that she turn the cigarette over, Catherine responds by extinguishing the lit cigarette into her palm, burning her. The nun then tells the doctor that this can be seen as proof of her mental instability. Cukrowicz dismisses Sister Felicity and goes on to interview Catherine in her room. She claims that her memory does not extend any further back than an incident that occurred just before she left for Europe with Sebastian, when she "lost her honor" while being driven home from a Mardi Gras ball. Beyond that, she struggles to recall the events that led to Sebastian's death and her subsequent breakdown, but expresses her desire to do so.Beginning to doubt that she has lost her mind, Cukrowicz decides to move Catherine into the state hospital for continued observation. Catherine's mother (Mercedes McCambridge) and brother George (Gary Raymond) pay her a visit and reveal that Sebastian has left them a considerable sum of money in his will. Unfortunately, Mrs. Venable will not give them the inheritance unless they sign papers to commit Catherine to the institution and allow a lobotomy to be performed. Alarmed by this prospect, Catherine tries to escape. She accidentally wanders onto a catwalk suspended over the men's recreational area. With the door at the other end of the catwalk locked, she is forced to fight her way back past the men who are trying to climb up onto the catwalk and grope her, and returns to her room in defeat.Later, Mrs. Venable drops by the hospital to check on the status of Cukrowicz's evaluation. The doctor persuades her to meet Catherine face to face. In the ensuing confrontation, Catherine tries to get her aunt to reveal the true nature of her relationship with Sebastian and the reason why she was left behind and Catherine chosen to take her place as his traveling companion, vaguely hinting that Sebastian used them as "bait" and that they "procured for him". Mrs. Venable responds to these allegations by fainting. Catherine uses this opportunity to slip away again to find another way to escape from the hospital. Catherine finds another catwalk that runs above a rec room filled with women who initially stare at her in silence as she walks overhead. She climbs the railing and leans out precipitously, considering jumping to her death as the women start cackling below, but before she can release her hold, an orderly (David Cameron) comes up behind her, drags her back to her room and sedates her.In a last-ditch effort to help Catherine, Cukrowicz brings her to the Venable estate where he administers a truth serum that will allow her to overcome any resistance to remembering the details of what happened that summer. Before an audience consisting of her aunt, mother and brother, Miss Foxhill (Mavis Villiers), Dr. Hockstader, and Nurse Benson (Patricia Marmont), all of whom have gathered on the patio in the jungle-like garden, Cukrowicz begins questioning Catherine:In a long silent flashback sequence, Catherine recalls how she and Sebastian spent their days on the beach in the Spanish town of Cabeza de Lobo at a posh resort hotel on the beach. On one occasion, he drags her reluctantly into the water, which causes the fabric of her white bathing suit to become transparent. A group of local young men, who had been watching her from the neighboring public beach, start to approach but are intercepted by Sebastian. Catherine gradually realizes that he is using her as bait to attract these local teenage boys in order to proposition them for sex. Since the boys are desperate for money, Sebastian is successful in his efforts; however, he gradually becomes "fed up with the dark ones" and, being "famished for blondes", makes plans to depart for the northern countries of Scandinavia. On one scorching white-hot day, Sebastian and Catherine are having lunch at a local cafe near the beach when they are beset by a team of ragged street boys playing cacophonous music on instruments of scrap metal and begging for money (some of them being the same teen boys he propositioned to earlier). When Sebastian rejects them, they take up pursuit through the streets of the town. Sebastian attempts to flee, but the boys swarm around him at every turn. He is finally cornered among the ruins of a temple located on a hilltop. In the meantime, Catherine has been frantically trying to catch up with Sebastian, but she reaches him only to see him overwhelmed at last by the group of boys. To her horror and revulsion, she realizes that the starving street teens are literally tearing him apart and eating his flesh. She screams for help, to no avail.The film returns to Catherine, who has collapsed upon the ground, sobbing, and then runs outside the house. Mrs. Venable closes Sebastian's book of poems... the pages of which are blank (there were never any poems in the book, for Mrs. Venable clearly made them up as her own deluded way to deny her son's homosexuality to herself). Mrs. Venable then slowly rises from her seat and takes Cukrowicz's arm. Calling him Sebastian, she tells him not to be out in the sun for too long and that they should go inside the boat and inform the captain that they want to leave. Now clearly insane that the truth has come out, Mrs. Venable is led away and Cukrowicz returns to check on Catherine, who has recovered, having learned the truth. They both walk into the house together. | melodrama | train | imdb | null |
tt1855325 | Resident Evil: Retribution | In this fifth Resident Evil film, picking up immediately after the events in the previous film (Resident Evil: Afterlife), Alice (Milla Jovovich) and the others on the Umbrella Corporation freighter Arcadia face an attack by a fleet of airships led by Alice's former ally, Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory), who's been brainwashed by Umbrella through a scarab device attached to her chest. The Umbrella troops kill many people on the freighter. Alice opens fire on the aerial armada and hits one airship, causing it to crash into Arcadia, resulting in an explosion that knocks her out and into the water. The fates of Chris, Claire, K-Mart and the rest of the people on board remains ambiguous.The story switches to a suburban housewife who appears to be Alice living with her husband Todd (Oded Fehr) and deaf daughter Becky (Aryana Engineer). Zombies attack, revealing the suburbia is actually Raccoon City during the contamination. Alice and Becky escape to the streets and are rescued by a student, Rain Ocampo (Michelle Rodriguez), who lets them ride in her car. As the three escape, they are hit by a truck, knocking Rain unconscious while Alice and Becky escape. Alice hides Becky, but is killed by a zombified Todd.The original Alice awakens to see she's been captured. Jill interrogates Alice, who unsuccessfully tries jogging her memory, and demands to know what happened to Chris, Claire, and K-Mart. During a power failure, Alice escapes her cell and the laser grid, finding herself on the Shibuya Square, just at the beginning of the Tokyo contamination. Fighting her way out, she returns into the facility, and encounters Ada Wong (Li Bingbing), one of Albert Wesker's (Shawn Roberts) top agents. Ada explains they no longer serve Umbrella. Wesker appears on a screen, revealing the Red Queen, who was reactivated after the contamination of The Hive, now controls Umbrella. Ada explains the base is underwater, located in Kamchatka, Russia, that served as a former Soviet outpost; as the Hive was designed in producing the T-Virus, the base was designed by Umbrella in manufacturing clones and created simulated outbreaks to show the effect of the T-virus, and thus selling it at high price around the world.To infiltrate the base from outside and help Alice and Ada escape, Wesker has organized a freelance team: Leon S. Kennedy (Johann Urb), Barry Burton (Kevin Durand), and Luther West (Boris Kodjoe). Leon's team plants explosives near the entrance of the base, which will detonate in two hours and trap anybody still inside, to ensure the base's destruction. The group plans to meet with Alice and Ada in the Raccoon City suburbia. In a New York City simulation, Alice and Ada defeat two Axemen, prompting the Red Queen to send Jill after them next. Leon and his team enter a Moscow simulation, but are cut off by armed Las Plagas zombies.Alice and Ada enter the suburban simulation, the rendezvous point, and discover Becky and the dead "suburban Alice". Ada explains Umbrella uses clones for virus outbreak simulations and troops; Becky, Todd, and Rain were clones as well. Despite this, Alice quickly becomes attached to Becky. Blocking their escape are Jill and her mercenaries, consisting of clones of Alice's deceased allies: an "evil" version of Rain, modified after the original, a former deceased Umbrella soldier and Alice's ally, Carlos Olivera (Oded Fehr), and also James "One" Shade (Colin Salmon), leader of the Umbrella group that was sent in the Hive. The group demand their immediate surrender, which Alice complies with for Becky's safety; however, Ada starts a shoot-out, allowing Alice to escape with Becky.Alice and Becky run into the "good" Rain and head to the Moscow simulation, where they meet Leon's team. The group escapes the Las Plagas undead, and reach the elevator; however, an Uber-Licker captures Becky and kills "good" Rain. Alice pursues the Uber-Licker, while the others fight off Jill's group; Barry and One are casualties. Alice rescues Becky despite Leon's discouragement. During their escape, they arrive at a cloning facility where Alice and Becky see copies of themselves. When Becky asks Alice if she really is her mother, Alice says she is now. The Uber-Licker follows them inside, as Alice drops grenades, and fires a grappling hook, escaping the explosion. The explosives at the entrance go off, flooding the place and propelling the elevator upwards with Leon and Luther. Alice and Becky also survive, having used the ventilation system.The group awaits pickup but is ambushed by a Soviet submarine, from which Jill, the "evil" Rain, and a captured Ada emerge. With new orders to kill Alice, Jill attacks. Rain injects herself with the Las Plagas parasite to gain superhuman strength and healing; she knocks out Ada and fights Leon and Luther. Alice manages to destroy the scarab device on Jill, returning her to normal, though, unlike Claire, she retains her memory. Rain kills Luther with a blow to the chest, and knocks Leon out; Alice, realizing they can't kill Rain, shoots at her footing. Rain falls in the water, and vows to get Alice but is dragged under by the Las Plagas zombies. Alice collapses from her injuries, but later awakes in a helicopter with the others.Alice, Ada, Becky, Leon, and Jill travel to Wesker's base: the heavily barricaded and fortified White House, staffed by S.T.A.R.S. and the remainder of the U.S Marine Corps. Alice meets Wesker in the heavily-barricaded Oval Office, where he injects her with the T-Virus, returning her former powers; as only Alice successfully bonded with it, she is the ultimate weapon. On the roof, Wesker explains the Red Queen is trying to wipe out humanity, and all of the remaining uninfected are in the base; it is humanity's last stand. A pull-away shows Wesker's Umbrella army defending the White House alongside the remaining U.S. Armed Forces against enormous hordes of T-virus zombies and other abominations. | murder, violence, alternate reality, flashback, revenge, sci-fi | train | imdb | null |
tt1078940 | Couples Retreat | This movie focuses on 4 couples:* The married with two young kids Dave & Ronnie (Vince Vaughn & Malin Akerman).
* The hyper-organized couple who cannot conceive Jason & Cynthia (Jason Bateman & Kristen Bell).
* The married since they were in high school couple Joey & Lucy (Jon Favreau & Kristin Davis).
* The recently divorced Shane (Faizon Love) and his new 20 year old girl friend, Trudy (Kali Hawk).We see each of these couples go through their trials Ronnie is trying to remodel the house while Dave, who sells Guitar Hero, is uninterested. Lucy and Joey cheat on one another and seem to be waiting for the day their daughter goes off to college so they no longer have to pretend their marriage is real (though they do give good parenting advice to their daughter). Shane wants to buy a motorcycle to keep up with his new girlfriend. Jason and Cynthia are preparing a PowerPoint to show their friends, and Jason insists on checking Cynthias work. They set up their presentation at Ronnie & Daves house during one of the kids birthday party. The friends (minus Trudy, shes downstairs watching the magician with the kids) are all afraid theyre going to see another video about ball cancer but instead they see an island getaway. This paradise offers marital problem-solving, which the others are less keen on, but Jason and Cynthia drop the bomb that they are thinking of divorce, and ask their friends to please take the trip with them, because if four couples sign up, they can get the discounted group rate. Shane, Joey and Lucy seem to like the idea, but Dave and Ronnie argue that they simply cannot drop out of their lives right now, with all theyve got going on. Later on, Jason sneaks into Dave and Ronnies house, waking up everyone to plead with him to help him save his marriage. The kids say they overheard and they dont want their parents to get divorced, so they called Grandpa and he will come watch them. The couples are off.They take a boat out to the Eden resort, and find out that their destination is Eden West, a couples skill-building retreat. Eden East, the other side of the island, is a singles bacchanalia with all the pleasures the flesh could want. Joey and Lucy are both intrigued by this other side of the island. They get to their cabins, marvel at the scenery and agree that this could be nice. The couples join at dinner and are told by Sctanley (with-a-c) that they can either have all the activities of the island (including the couples therapy) or none of it at all. After eating a delicious dinner, they decide it cant hurt to talk to a therapist for a little bit and then get on some jet-skis. They go back to their rooms and Joey tries to pleasure himself to a picture of a girl from the Eden East brochure, but is interrupted by a room service waiter.The next morning, the couples meet Marcel, who has a plan for each of them. They will come to better understand each other in their marriage and find their spirit animal. They face each other and remove their masks, stripping down to their underwear (or in Shanes case, absolutely nothing) and telling each other that they love their bodies. Then it is time for therapy. One of the therapists is Ken Jeong, and he gets the pleasure of seeing Jason and Cynthia. Jason asks him if they have a better or worse chance of making it than other couples hes seen. He even pulls out his fingers in the shape of a gun and tries to get the therapist to give them a number from 1 to 10, but the therapist tells him to holster it. Dave and Ronnie go into their session feeling pretty good about themselves, but the therapist makes them think that maybe theyre just surviving instead of living and being happy together (a theme that goes on for the rest of the movie). Next is a visit with the sharks, where Jason spills the bucket of chum on Dave and Dave receives a minor scratch. Meanwhile, Trudy and Shane went on a bike ride, and Shane is struggling to keep up, which makes him start to realize his limitations in keeping up with her. Lucy and Joey go to get a couples massage, but they end up in different rooms, with masseurs of the opposite sex. Lucys masseuse is gay, and Joeys masseuse turns him on but tells him hes not getting a Happy Ending so he asks her to leave so he can calm himself.That night at dinner, Trudy is mad at Shane, saying he promised her a fun vacation and they havent partied or anything. He consoles her by saying theyre going to have sex in the room, and they leave. Ronnie wants to hike to a waterfall she heard about, a place thats supposed to be really romantic, but Dave is too busy being a baby about his shark attack and heads to bed alone.The next day starts with Yoga, with an instructor who is very touchy feely, and all about encouragement by patting on the rear (men and women). Lucy obviously finds him attractive, asking him to help her go into a deep stretch that involves a sexual looking position. Later at the spa, Ronnie ask Lucy what she thought she was doing, and how would she feel if Joey cheated on her. At Jason and Cynthias therapy session, we learn that Jason blames Cynthia for the fact that she cannot get pregnant. Jason talks to the guys about how sex is so routine and how it is frustrating.Marcel tells the group that they must gather at the beach before sunrise the next morning, and not to eat or drink anything too late. Back at the cabins, Shane discovers that Trudy is missing. They decide she must have gone to Eden East to have some fun. Joey, whos been trying to figure out a way to get to Eden East since they got here, decides theyll take the canoes to try and rescue Trudy. Jason is against the idea, since hes a very follow the rules kind of guy, but they remind him that Marcel said they must all be there, so without Trudy theyd be breaking the rules anyway. Jason goes along, and criticizes Cynthias rowing. A storm suddenly comes up and Jason and Cynthia capsize, which of course was Cynthias fault as well. Finally, Cynthia jumps out of their canoe and swims the rest of the way to shore. She tells Jason that she is sick of being blamed for everything, and that shes done. She runs off into the woods, and the other girls follow her, telling the boys theyll meet up at the giant party. They boys go off and start discussing one anothers problems. Jason is too controlling, and blames Cynthia for everything. Shane should never have tried to be with someone so young, he should have made his marriage work. Joey wants a wife who will listen to all his stories and problems but he doesnt want to listen to anything she says. They do a very funny bit about going to Applebees all by yourself and having no one to talk to. Daves wife loves him, and just wants him to be involved, and he cant seem to find the energy or the attention. Kids and work and the remodel have gotten in the way of their being happy with one another. Meanwhile, theyve stumbled upon what they think to be an empty cabinThe girls talk about how at least Cynthia tries to make it work, while it seems like Lucy has just given up completely. They come to a clearing, where we see the waterfall Ronnie was talking about, and she laments that she cant be here with Dave. The Yoga instructor swims up from the other side of the island (naked) and offers them some island made sweet rum. Lucy and Cynthia want to cut loose and party, while Ronnie just wants to find Trudy and the boys and get back to the other side.The boys discover that the cabin is not abandoned; it is actually the staff quarters, where Sctanley is playing Guitar Hero while the other guys watch. Sctanley threatens to call Marcel on the boys, but Dave makes a bet if Sctanley can beat him at Guitar Hero, he can call Marcel or take Daves bribe. If Dave wins, he gets to keep his money and Sctanley will help them get to Eden East. Dave of course wins and Sctanley gives them directions.A few things happen at this party. Joey goes off with some young hot girls, saying that since he got married right after high school he never got to be young and have fun. Shane finds Trudy, and tells her that hes sorry, and she should go off and enjoy being 20. He is then found by his ex-wife, who says that she thought she wanted more out of life than just being with Shane. She tells him that she loves him, and wants to be with him again. Ronnie gets tired of the partying, and finds Dave, who takes her to the waterfall, and they talk about the fact that theyve stopped paying attention to each other. Cynthia and Jason reconcile, and Joey sees Lucy dancing with the yoga instructor and gets jealous, realizing he still loves her. He punches the yogi out (saying Encouragement) and tells his wife he cheated on her. She yells that she cheated on him, and they yell at each other about going to Applebees and kiss and make up.The couples return to Eden West, after sun-up, and Marcel is angry that they did not follow the rules. Dave tells Marcel that they worked out all their problems and they dont need him to give them anymore couples skill-building, and Marcel smiles and agrees. He gives them woodcarvings of their spirit animals (Rabbit, wolf, honeybee, and donkey) and they go jet skiing.~Wendy~ | bleak | train | imdb | Having enjoyed Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau in Swingers, I thought that this had a pretty decent chance of being a funny movie.No dice.
There are a few hilarious scenes – the yoga session undoubtedly the most memorable – just nowhere near enough.Of the cast Vaughn and Akerman come out best, their natural chemistry and adroit comic timing going a long way to keeping the movie afloat.
Bateman, Bell, Davis and Love all fail to ever get us laughing, whilst the extended cameo from Jean Reno is possibly the worst stuff the experienced Frenchman has ever put on celluloid.If you are looking for an easy comedy with fabulous locations (and women) then this might do the trick, but I definitely could not recommend spending your had earned cash to see this at the cinema.
Short on cash, they enlist help from their friends to offset the cost through a group rate: the kid-raising Dave (Vince Vaughn) and Ronnie (Malin Akerman), the lovelessly married Joey (Jon Favreau) and Lucy (Kristen Davis), and the recently divorced Shane (Faizon Love) and his much younger girlfriend Trudy (Kali Hawk).
The three other couples think they are just going to have fun and help their friends, but they realize they are in for having their relationships examined as well.Couples Retreat is not a bad film by any means, but it never seems to strive to be a great one either.
I can appreciate that, because at the end of the day, everyone wants to be entertained at the movies, and watching characters yell and put each other down in a comedy is not anyone's definition of a comedy (although a well made drama like Revolutionary Road can pull it off).
But in Couples Retreat, the drama and the comedy are balanced so easily that it makes one question how a movie like The Break-Up could have failed on so many counts.The acting is not extraordinary, but it is fairly well done.
The men seem to do a lot better than the women in all cases (likely because of how much more seems to be written for them), but then three of the four main male actors have spent much of the past decade working in comedy.
I liked her better in Watchmen, and she was one of the weakest things about that movie.Far from perfect, Couples Retreat is a decent film that never strives to be more than average.
He made a comment to his wife before he kisses her that was typical classic Vince.However, the movie is a bit too lagging between its laughs to really be a great comedy, and lacked a true heart of pathos for you to really connect with any of the characters.
I disagree with both of these.Sure this movie is NOT what you would expect when you hear the word comedy, but it seems to fall into its own sub-comedy genre, much like the recent Adam Sandler flick, Funny People.
You aren't going to sit on your couch laughing till your "thing" falls off, but you will enjoy a simple and relaxing movie while enjoying a few cheap giggles at the relatable characters and situations they find themselves in.Jon Faverau is gold, as you would expect by now.
Vince Vaughn plays his usual cynical, monotonous character, but you expect this from him by now and the comedy of this style of acting bleeds through.I will not try to say that Couples Retreat is a good movie by a critic's point of view, but it's just a movie that you can pick up on DVD watch and then put away until another time you feel like watching it again..
An idiotic script interpreted by illiterates.Makes Adam Sandler look like the genius he thinks he is.Couple's Retreat was bad in so many ways.
This thing fails miserably as a comedy, except for the few dramatic attempts, which were funny.Might have been a good excuse for a bunch of people to go off to a tropical island and pretend to do work.
I'm not a fan of this genre of film - but Couples Retreat never fails to bore me!It is a much higher standard of a romantic comedy, and has deeper levels than all the wash and reused story lines of most terrible films within this genre that often get high reviews undeservedly.The characters all have their share of screen time and the chemistry between the whole group works hilariously !!
No one tries to steal camera time, and the cast doesn't trip over each other in an attempt to try and be the funniest, they give each other space and the interaction works so organically to the situations within the film.The length of the movie is longer than most romantic comedies as well which is not a problem, but is instead a fantastic opportunity for such a genre to actually explore the individual relationships more personally, instead of using the same old relationship issues that we usually see.I usually pick and choose which actors/actresses I preferred in this movie, but all of the cast just clicked so well for me and kept the movie interesting.A really fun movie, great to watch and watch again and again.
If they have ever tried to write a screenplay or have ever written something even one step above raw sewage, I would be SHOCKED.I do agree with the critique about the movie jumping a little between serious truth-talking about relationships and just plain fun and silly laughs.
I thought perhaps that Jason Bateman could rescue the film, as he has been in some good movies recently, but he proved to be the most unlikeable obnoxious character I have seen in months.
My wife and I go to the movies about 3-4 times a month, so I guess it was time for a loser to appear.The only characters with any redeeming value were the women, with the exception of the 20-year old ditz with a voice like Woody Woodpecker.
A big part of the movie's comedy is the couple's counselors, like Ken Jeong and John Michael Higgins.
Couples Retreat (2009): Dir: Peter Billingsley / Cast: Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Jon Favreau, Malin Akerman: Very funny comedy about friendships but also a celebration of marriage.
Jon Favreau needs to move up a level and start producing movies using the scripts of the next generation of comedic writers who are just waiting to get their material on the big screen.Vince Vaughn could still act in these new movies, but he would have to learn a new Shtick and drop his predictable, no longer funny, Wedding Crasher type character.The movie itself has bursts of humor but are minimal when sitting through this debacle.
The movie is set up to be funny but the characters just don't work well together and the comedy falls with it.
If it did, I would have been up to actually watch it.One word >>> Boring!Couples Retreat is based on an original idea of Vaughn's, the comedy follows four Midwestern couples who embark on a journey to a tropical island resort.
Vaughn gets all the good lines and the script seems oriented for his style of humor, while Favreau gets an hilarious scene where he wants to "play with himself" and gets caught by a resort employee.
It did have a couple of somewhat funny moments, but the entire time I was sitting there waiting for the movie to get good, only to be disappointed.
, because average people likes to see places on the movies that will never see in reality afar from that this movie has nothing more to gives you but only to take from your pockets and from your soul.I bet that commercial video tapes advertising luxury hotels can give you more interesting things than this film.In my opinion this is a bad commercial hotel advertisement.Don't laugh please its like the video tapes that hotels gives you for free at the reception.Bad script bad acting NOT FUNNY AT ALL !!!
This movie brings your problems and stick them in your face if you really want to forget your problems don't watch this movie.In every second trying to make you realize that your life is crap while being married then in the end it tells you "so what?" live your crappy life and be happy its enough with your shrink's time nothing is gonna change so accept it get your wife's back and stop dreaming a better life f**k you this is your life period..and if this was the target of this film "yes my life sucks" the target was pointed correctly..
Bateman, Vaughn and Favreau have worked in a couple of movies earlier and their off screen friendship only adds to their on screen chemistry.
The setting of the couple's retreat is very seductive, like the ideal summer holiday spot.In addition, A.R. Rahman's music is great.This is certainly not the best of the Bateman-Favreau-Vaughn collaboration (I personally preferred the 'Break-up') but it's fun for a one-time watch..
I didn't have to think too hard (at all) a decent ensemble cast, a few genuine laughs and a nice virtual vacation to Bora Bora.Pretty standard romantic comedy, following Jason Bateman & Kristen Bell who in an attempt to save their marriage invite three other couples (Jon Favreau, Kristen Davis, Faizon Love and Vince Vaughn in a nothing role) to join them at an island retreat for a week.
There are mandatory 6 am couples exercises with Jean Reno, hilarious yoga sessions, shark attacks, and escapes to the singles side for fun.Carlos Ponce (in a small but hilarious role) as the yoga instructor is a bright moment even if his character did remind me of Hank "Do you scuba?" Azaria from that hat Ben Stiller movie (Along Came Polly)Couples Retreat is mindless, harmless with fantastic scenery and about what I was expecting, so without any high expectations, no real disappointments.
It doesn't get better than Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Faizon Love, and Jason Bateman.
That's way too long for a movie like Couples Retreat and they still have to quickly tie up every single loose end in the last ten minutes.
The whole film feels like Forgetting Sarah Marshall without the humour plus some bad acting which equals a much needed warning label from Lemony Snicket on the back cover.Jason (coincidentally played by Jason, which is about as imaginative as the script goes) is so clueless with women there was easily enough leg room for humour, however sadly it just left me feeling like Casanova – which is saying something, rather than in fits of giggles like a comedy should.
Equally missed opportunities are shared by the cast which even the cleavage and scarcely clad women can't compensate for.I'm happy to give credit to films where it is due, but I genuinely can't think of a single reason to watch Couples Retreat other than Kristen Bell in a bikini.
What follows is a rom-com with just too many sexual innuendos to make this a comfortable viewing experience with anybody except perhaps same-sex partner.( Trust me, there's a least one scene in the film that will make it uncomfortable to watch with anyone of a different relationship) What you already know is in it--- Attractive women paired with overweight to average looking men, Vince Vaugh with sharks, typical relationship problems that are so mundane the writer don't feel to explain them fully or give them any depth, and long glances at people who are not your partner ( but it's OK, 'cause we're on vacation!!!) What you may not know is in it--- Extremely awkward and unfunny sexual themes and innuendos that will demand the laughter of any audience, because having to endure the uncomfortable silence is far worse; i.e. Is Fabio humping an obese black man?
It makes Couples Retreat look like an actual relationship counseling video; but at least i can watch with someone w/o having to avoid eye or physical contact for the next hour and half..
But in order to get a good deal for the travel, they ask there friends to come along has well,(Vince Vaughn and Malin Ackerman), (Jon Favreau and Kristen Davis) and (Fazon Love and Kali Hawk) to come along as well.
So you choose comedy.Be warned: this is meant to be a comedy film, and on both respects it fails beyond failure....What you get is nearly two hours of therapy - if this is comedy, kill me.Seriously unfunny and utterly soporific.Pseudoclaptrap disguised as comedy with a cast that are totally washed-out and seem totally bemused - and on holiday...There's little here to hate outright, but absolutely nothing to like let alone love.If 2 hours of couples talking about their feelings is your thing then go to the theater and see a great play; but this, this has no place at the cinema - and it will be pure torture for most (especially men)..
So viewers,have a great time watching the movie..A nice comedy in a island with couples...COUPLES RETREAT..
This could be a fun family movie with a good cast of couples.
It's my favorite Vince Vaughn film and a great movie.
I would have expected a riot of a time given what's in the trailers, but what turned out was plenty of bore, with a story that went way off its potential, and allowing mediocrity to barge into the film no thanks to the lacklustre narrative written by Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn and Dana Fox, who all seemed more eager to insert smarty one liners whenever they can, rather than to focus on the predicament of the four couples featured in a paradise island.It's irritating to find that in comedies especially, narratives sometimes get pretty much chopped up due to ad-libbing, NGs, or just for the plain insertion of a funny line that became too difficult to replicate for another shot.
Vince Vaughn's Dave and Malin Akerman's Ronnie seem like the perfect wedded couple with their nice little family, and being the informal leader of the group of friends, and to round things up, Jason Bateman's control freak Jason and wife Cynthia (Kristen Bell) who are on the verge of a breakup due to their inability to conceive, until a foursome package was signed up to bring everyone to Eden West, a paradise island for adult couple therapy.But to get to the island, we got to get through, like the therapy sessions in the film, the boring bits to establish each and every character and key relationships, before a hokey powerpoint presentation and some arm twisting managed to finally shift gears and get the characters to where they should be.
What more, A.R. Rahman was credited to providing the movie music here, but try as hard as I can, I didn't catch anything that was remotely memorable in the soundtrack.Couples Retreat comes with the standard messages of treasuring your loved ones, not taking them for granted and to always continue finding that romantic spark to spice up the relationship, but other than that, it's a tired comedy that has to be injected with cleverer ideas other than the usual frat boy sex jokes..
The cast is really good, Vince Vaughn still got the necessary to make people laugh, Jon Favreau is also very funny in this movie.
But with names like Vince Vaughn, Kristen Bell, and Faizon Love it obviously wouldn't have worked.What we get is a poor comedy stuck in a drama filled plot.
Almost nothing in the film is funny or worthy of the title "humor." Vince Vaughn's quick witted mind is probably the only think that works for this movie.
Just cliché.The scenery in Couples Retreat is the best thing the film has going for it next to Vaughn.
It's undeniably awkward.Starring: Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Faizon Love, Kristen Bell, Malin Åkerman, Kristin Davis, and Kali Hawk.
The plot certainly has the makings of a great comedy, but the final product falls pretty much flat on its face.Not many laughs to be had, as far as I'm concerned, and the whole story just loses its way shortly after the 4 couples arrive at the resort.Sure, I have seen worse, but they could have - and should have - done so much better with this movie.The one thing this film has going for itself is the spectacular scenery.
Here we have a film where couples' marriages might be in jeopardy so this could be a good comedy for them.
Based on 4 couples, who go-for a therapy holiday & finally bond.There's Vince Vaughn & the gorgeous Malin Akerman, Jason Bateman & Kristen Bell & two more.
Why do I keep watching Vince Vaughn movies?
They decide to go to an island with their friends to try and patch up their marriage.If you are in need to see a film that is up lifting and funny, go see Couple Retreat...it works!!.
With such a great ensemble cast and its classification as a comedy you would think that the film would have at least one funny scene but amazingly it didn't!
In isolation, Jon Favreau- top writer and actor, Vince Vaughn- yes always the same character but he is undoubtedly a pro, Kristen Bell- quirky, fun and a great comedy actress, Jason Batemen- who doesn't love Arrested Development, even the great British national treasure that is Peter Serafinowicz pops up in a role plus the man that is Jean Reno from Leon fame!
The movie also stars Jason Bateman, Faizon Love & Jon Favreau.
They might have had fun working together, but for the viewers these films are a huge mess.A group of friends are convinced of going to a couple's retreat in a paradisiacal island because Jason (Jason Bateman) and Cynthia (Kristen Bell) are having marital issues and want to find a solution to their problems.
Vince and Jon have been good friends throughout the years and have even shared screen time together in movies such as "The Break-Up" and "Four Christmases". |
tt1385826 | The Adjustment Bureau | The movie opens with David Norris (Matt Damon), an up-and-coming Senatorial candidate making a public appearance. Norris seems very much a 'people's candidate,' always interacting with people, always empathetic toward their needs and platforms. NBC newscaster Chuck Scarborough makes a news report on Norris increasing an already eight-point lead over his opponent. Norris next appears on the Jon Stewart Show, where Stewart remarks how eight years ago, Norris started his career as a congressional candidate that began with a bang, or a bust... the night he was elected, he was involved in a bar fight and charged with disorderly conduct.Norris is seen riding with a Coast Guard patrol vessel, being endorsed by NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg, and making more public appearances, introducing his campaign manager, Charlie Traynor (Michael Kelly), who says that Norris is up ten points. Norris's campaign is like a comet with no signs of slowing down. At another public appearance, a man in a tan beret cap, Harry Mitchell (Anthony Mackie), is seen watching and politely applauding, though he doesn't appear enthused.It's just about crunch time for Election Day when a campaign aide rushes up to Charlie with a copy of the NY Post with an article about Norris, claiming he is "exposed:" a college reunion prank where he exposed his bare backside has been caught on film.Mitchell is grimly looking at a ledger-like book when his cell phone rings. He's being questioned by his superior, a man named Richardson (John Slattery), and only tells Richardson that he's 'working on it.'Election Night arrives. Norris enters a hotel suite and turns on a news program on CNN. Soon as the program dialogue begins it's clear that a huge portion of Norris' constituents and voter base have turned against him based on the exposé in the Post. Journalist Mary Matalin talks about how Norris overcame the loss of his entire family (his mother and brother when he was just 10, and then his father when he was a high school freshman) to become the youngest person ever elected to the House of Representatives, but the bar room fight added to the exposé photo to make Norris look immature and impulsive. Norris is now trailing his opponent in the polls by a margin almost as significant as his earlier lead.Four men in suits and hats walk across a roof top. Among them are Mitchell and Richardson. Richardson says the four of them have their job cut out for them. At the end of the dialogue he only says, 'let's get him back on track.'At Norris's hotel, he and Traynor are watching election poll results come in. Norris is defeated in the vote counts for Suffolk County, and more painfully, his home county of Brooklyn. He and Traynor know that the vote will be a total landslide victory for Norris's opponent. NBC news coverage predicts this landslide defeat for Norris even before all the county voting polls are complete.Norris slinks off alone to work on a concession speech. He goes into the men's room to think. As he puts together his concession speech, he finally hears noise from one of the private stalls, showing it's occupied... by a woman.Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt) comes out of the stall, barefoot and holding her shoes. She explains that she'd been in there hiding from security after she crashed a wedding on a self-dare. She was in the stall when Norris entered and, too scared to come out and admit that she was in a men's room, ended up inadvertently listening to him working on his speech. Sellas recognizes Norris and understands that he's lost the election. The two start to bond right away; Sellas admitting she thought Norris's reunion prank was amusing. Sellas quickly sees that Norris loves being in a crowd, loves being the center of attention among large groups of people.Suddenly on impulse, Norris and Sellas start kissing passionately, having very quickly grown infatuated with each other. The kiss is interrupted by Traynor, who enters the rest room to fetch David for his concession speech. Norris hurries out after Sellas in hopes of arranging to see her again, but hotel security arrives in search of her and she has to make a very hurried run for it.Norris's concession speech starts out moving and powerful, but suddenly he tosses it out of his head and starts speaking candidly about how his campaign 'analyzed' and 'consulted' (paying large amounts of money to professional consultants) over the color of his tie and how much his shoes should be scuffed. As he takes off one shoe to show his supporters, camera flashbulbs go off.Richardson meets Mitchell in a park at sunrise and tells him that Norris has to spill coffee on his shirt no later than 7:05 am. Mitchell assures Richardson he'll get Norris soon as he enters the park.Norris wakes up and dresses, listening to a morning financial-news report that talks about how he is becoming a senior partner in a company called RSR Venture capital. He is no longer a Congressman, but his concession speech was 'electrifying' to the point of making him a front-runner in the next upcoming Senate race for the other Senate seat for New York, in 2010. Norris's campaign manager, Traynor, is the founder of RSR.Mitchell nods off while waiting in the park and wakes up just in time to see Norris board his bus. The window of 7:05 am passes. He grabs his book from his inside pocket and looks at it in alarm. Desperate, he starts running after the bus, doggedly chasing after it.As Norris boards the bus, he is stunned to find someone else nodding off there... Sellas. He sits down beside her as she wakes up. The two instantly begin re-connecting, and Norris tells Sellas about his new job he's starting (she's opposed to his not running again in 2010).As the bus stops, Mitchell catches up but cannot run across the intersection where opposing traffic has the green light. He checks his watch, seeing it's just past 7:05 am, and gestures at the bus.The bus lurches suddenly, Norris's coffee spilling... but it spills on Sellas's skirt and tights, not on Norris. A second later Mitchell is hit hard from behind by a taxicab. He insists to the gathering crowd he's okay, and is more concerned about his book. He looks inside it and a graph-like display of lines starts to change in a way that Mitchell notes with displeasure.In the meantime, Norris and Sellas are continuing to talk, and it's clear they're both flirting. When Norris's Blackberry rings, Sellas playfully grabs it out of his pocket and sticks it into his coffee. She writes her name and number on a card for Norris so he can call her later.Norris calls Traynor and they briefly talk about a proposal Norris made on investing in solar panels. Traynor believes it will be too expensive and not enough research has been done to show it as worthwhile, but he offers to Norris, 'convince me at the meeting.'Norris arrives at the RSR offices, greetings several workers without noticing they seem to be frozen in time. He enters the conference room to find Richardson there with a number of his men; one of them waving a strange instrument over Traynor, who is frozen in time. Unable to understand how Norris sees him and his men, Richardson orders Norris seized. Norris flees but every turn he finds more of Richardson's men converging on him, seemingly appearing out of everywhere. Richardson himself continues to appear in front of Norris at every turn. Norris manages to lock himself inside Traynor's office and frantically dials 911. Richardson's men come through the locked door as if it wasn't locked. Norris is grabbed, choloformed and dragged through one of the doors-- into an empty warehouse.Norris awakens, listening in complete confusion as Rirhardson tries telling his men that Norris has to be 'reset,' but 'The Chairman' would never sign an order approving it. He listens, dumbfounded, to Richardson and another man arguing over him in terms Norris has no clue as to what they mean. Finally Richardson approaches Norris and follows his colleague's advice, telling Norris about himself: Richardson is part of a group called The Adjustment Bureau, tasked with making sure 'things go according to plan.' The 'plan,' as Richardson calls it, is how current events are supposed to go and how people's lives are supposed to be lived. The Adjustment Bureau (which will be called TAB for short hereafter, in this synopsis) works to correct minor deviations from The Plan. Of course, Norris thinks that Richardson is nuts, but Richardson proves that he is able to read Norris's mind, and further, he's able to bend up a small piece of floor to trip Norris when he tries to run, just by pointing at that piece of floor.Richardson explains how Norris was supposed to spill his coffee, thus missing his bus and arriving at work ten minutes later, which would have prevented him from seeing Richardson and TAB 'adjusting' Traynor to change his mind on Norris's solar panel proposal. Now that Norris has seen TAB in action, Richardson needs assurance that Norris will never tell another soul about what he's seen; something no human is supposed to know exists. Richardson says that if Norris ever talks about TAB, they'll reset his brain, erasing his personality and making him appear to the rest of the world, to be catatonic and insane for the rest of his life. But then, to Norris's horror, Richardson also tells Norris that his meeting with Sellas on the bus was not supposed to happen and he's never supposed to see her again. His men forcibly search Norris to find the card on which Sellas had written her name and number, and they burn it.Two TAB members drag Norris to a door and throw him through it, and he finds himself back in Traynor's office in RSR. Before he can even get back up, Traynor comes in through the other door, upset because he'd called Norris 'ten times' without an answer. Traynor brings Charlie to the meeting and endorses the solar panel proposal. But after the meeting, Traynor is puzzled. Before the whole fiasco with TAB, Norris had told Traynor how he'd run into Elise again, and instead of being giddy with happiness, he's acting like he's in a big fog of confusion about everything. In truth, Norris is; hardly able to believe what he'd gone through and yet not daring to speak a word of it, in case the threat given by Richardson was true.Some time later, Norris is in a small bar/grill, trying to recall Sellas's phone number from memory. Mitchell arrives, wondering why Norris is fixated on one woman when his whole world has been turned upside down. He tells Norris that even if he remembered the number, TAB had many ways to make sure the call never went through. He insists that TAB 'adjustments' only make small changes in the way people reason; tweaking emotions was too intrusive and could end up with many unforeseen and unintended 'side adjustments' (called 'ripples'). Everything that TAB does has to be approved by the 'Chairman,' which Mitchell says is just a name TAB uses (he alludes as to some of the names that people call The Chairman). Finally Mitchell says it's not safe to talk at the bar/grill. He offers to meet Norris on the 4 pm Staten Island Ferry and he'll answer whatever he's allowed to answer there. Before he leaves, however, Mitchell repeats Richardson's warning about resetting Norris if he reveals the existence of TAB.On the boat, Mitchell tells Norris that when he arrived at RSR and walked in on TAB 'adjusting' Traynor, they were simply making subtle shifts in the way he weighs investments, which would shift the direction of the company according to 'plan.' He insists that TAB actually cannot read minds or hear thoughts; they can merely sense when people weigh choices and options, particularly when those decisions veer off plan. Although TAB must monitor the whole world, there aren't enough of them to keep watch on every individual. And, as Mitchell points out, water blocks TAB's power to read people's decision-making processes. Mitchell doesn't know why TAB is preventing Norris from finding Sellas, but he knows that TAB has expended enough resources already to make the need to keep them apart very important. Mitchell urges Norris to move on with his life. Even if TAB wasn't actively working to keep him from Sellas (which they are), New York City has so many people that the odds of running into her again are near nil.Three years pass, and Norris has tried to do as Mitchell recommended. But he continues to ride the same bus he met Sellas on, at the same time as the last time he ran into her there, even sitting in the same double seat the two of them shared. And one day, it happens: he's riding on the bus and spots Sellas walking down the street. Getting off the bus, he hurries after her, to find her reception of him a little cooler than before. But he wins her back over by promising on the graves of his parents ('too heavy, but it's true,' he says) that his wallet, which contained her number, was taken from him in a mugging, and that he googled her first name only to get 757,000 links, none of which led to her because he didn't know her last name.A TAB member rushes into Richardson's office; the man's book shows that Norris and Sellas have met up again. Richardson is in shock; he knows Norris has ridden the same bus every day for three years hoping to find Sellas again, and can hardly believe how he just bumped into her again by chance. Richardson hurries into action, making small 'adjustments,' including cutting power to a studio where Sellas performs; the camera switches to Sellas and Norris talking, and she's telling him that she's a professional ballet dancer at a company called Cedar Lake, and she'll be giving a show at the studio tomorrow. As Norris and Sellas sit at a nice cafe for drinks, Richardson and his cohort, McCrady (Anthony Ruivivar), find that Sellas's decision-making tree is starting to veer toward a large number of unforeseen inflection points. Richardson prepares adjustments that will change the location of the Cedar Lake rehearsal at the last minute. But the plan book shows another major inflection point: If they bond close enough to share a 'real' kiss, any and all attempts by TAB to separate Norris and Sellas again, will produce ripple effects far in excess of their allotted limit.Fortunately, another TAB assistant has veered Traynor to find Norris and Sellas. When Traynor tells Norris that a large crowd is gathered at the Brooklyn Bridge to hear David make another public appearance speech in preparation for a 2010 Senate run, Sellas begs Norris not to put the speech off just for her sake. She tells him she's just heard her rehearsal will be at Pier 17, very close to the bridge. Richardson is relieved as he sees Traynor and Sellas push for Norris to do as he had originally planned. As Norris arrives at the bridge to make his announcement speech for Senate candidacy in 2010, Richardson and his colleague are viewing a text message sent to Sellas announcing the rehearsal had just been moved back to Cedar Lake.But as the speech ends, and Norris and Traynor are are heading away, Norris happens to spot Richardson observing him from a window. Glancing back and forth between the window and Pier 17, Norris figures out what Richardson has done. Refusing to back down from Traynor about the need for a follow-up interview, Norris hurries to Pier 17 and sure enough, finds it closed. But this time Norris has a definite name he can pinpoint: Cedar Lake. He calls 411 to get the address, but Richardson kills his signal. When Richardson sees Norris running to the parking attendant to use the hard line, Richardson cuts that signal as well. Norris sees a restaurant across the street, and Richardson, exasperated, cuts all phone signals in a three-block radius. He personally begins to follow Norris to try and talk some sense into him.But Norris refuses to back down even when Richardson confronts him face to face. He doesn't care if 'The Chairman' personally wrote the 'plan,' he doesn't accept it as right if it's so completely set on keeping him and Sellas apart. Looking intently at Richardson, Norris finally figures out that Richardson himself doesn't know why it's so earth-shakingly important that Norris and Sellas be kept apart. When Richardson cannot answer, Norris is filled with even more resolve. Finally outsmarting Richardson once and for all, Norris walks into the restaurant and politely asks for the attention of all the staff and patrons, asking if any of them have heard of Cedar Lake dance studio, and where he can find it. One of the restaurant guests does know the location. Richardson and his colleague check their plan book, now both desperate. They keep all taxicabs passing through from picking up Norris to give him a ride, but undaunted, Norris decides to run if he has to; taunting Richardson about how many tiny adjustments he's making in how many people's plans, causing more and more ripple effects.Norris finally gets a taxicab to stop for him, but the cab is immediately hit hard by a car. Norris hails an ambulance and police. But when one officer tries too hard to continue asking him questions, Norris figures out he's actually a TAB member and goes to consult with the sergeant, who assures him the police can call him if need be. Norris flags another cab and bribes him $100 to break a few traffic laws to hurry to Cedar Lake.Richardson and McCrady race desperately after Norris, and we see they can go through ordinary doors to use them as teleportation gates. Inflection points appear in the plan book and they see that once Norris sees Sellas dance, Richardson will have reached his ripple limit. Richardson tries blocking the studio's doors, but it's too late; Norris looks into the studio and begins to watch Sellas rehearsing. Richardson's reached his ripple limit and Norris knows it. But as Richardson's mobile phone rings, he warns Norris that the overseeing of his plan will only be 'kicked upstairs.' Ignoring Richardson, Norris turns back to the rehearsal, enchanted at the sight of Sellas dancing.In the TAB headquarters, Richardson is met by his immediate superior, Donaldson (Donnie Keshawarz), who has done some research on all that's been happening with Norris and Sellas. He's found that the reason they met up by chance two times despite all the work that's been done to keep them apart, is because their plans were re-written some time ago. Norris and Sellas WERE originally meant to be together and to fall in love, and it wasn't until 2005 that Sellas's plan was re-written so she would stay with Adrian, the lead choreographer for Cedar Lake. Remnants of the original plan is what keeps pushing Norris and Sellas back together and why they feel so strongly about each other, connecting so easily and deeply.Talking with one of his subordinates, Donaldson says that cleaning up the mess is going to mean bringing in one of TAB's heaviest hitters, an adjustment overseer named Thompson (Terence Stamp), who is nicknamed The Hammer in TAB for his methods.Norris and Sellas have been walking through the streets of Manhattan, talking and connecting, during the whole scene. It's evening, and Sellas wants to bring Norris to a dance club. Norris feels he is a horrible dancer, so Sellas offers him a dare: she'll race him from where they're standing to the nearest lamp post. If she wins, he has to come to the club with her. To sweeten the pot, she agrees that if Norris wins, she'll dance for him back at one of their apartments. Sellas playfully says there are no rules, whereupon Norris instantly takes off and builds an insurmountable lead, as sellas can't run fast in the shoes she's wearing. But in an amusing tortoise-and-hare twist, he stops just shy of the lamppost as Sellas pretends to concede to him, only for her to slug him in the stomach and take off running, reaching the lamppost. Sellas brings Norris to a dance club, which makes a huge favorable impression with the club's patrons.As they're leaving the club, Norris tells Sellas more about how he got into politics: his father took him to the Senate Gallery shortly after Norris lost his mother and brother within a month of each other, when Norris was only in the sixth grade. The camera pans in on Sellas as Norris talks, and it's shown how the story touches her heart. She starts to kiss Norris; the 'true kiss' Richardson had fretted about earlier... and they end up sleeping together.As they are sleeping, the camera pans out from the bed to show Thompson gravely watching them slumber.Sellas wakes up the next morning, finding Norris gone. Her cell phone rings; Adrian is calling. As she talks to him, Norris returns with coffee for her. She tells Adrian she has to go, and as she ends the call, she finds that he called three times while she was still asleep.Sellas explains to Norris that Adrian is her ex-fiance, as well as an extremely skilled dancer and choreographer, and she's surprised that he suddenly called her four times that morning three months after their breakup, almost as if he knew she was with someone (Norris's face changes; he looks very concerned that TAB had a hand in that). But Sellas's explanation why she didn't marry Adrian is touching: once she felt what she felt with Norris, she couldn't imagine being with anyone else. Norris promises never to hurt her, because it's the first time in 25 years that he doesn't feel alone.Norris brings Sellas with him as he leaves to be interviewed on the Jon Stewart show, and she sits in his backstage dressing room, amusedly watching the interview on a monitor. Just as the interview wraps, a crew member for the show tells Sellas that Norris asked him to tell her that he was just called into an urgent meeting, but he'll call her when he's done, and that he'll see her tonight at Cedar Lake when she and her troupe give a live performance. But the crew member is actually a TAB member, and as he opens a door for Norris, he passes through to find himself in the warehouse where he'd been taken by Richardson before. The door he'd just gone though is now locked and he's trapped there, and he knows why.Thompson arrives in the warehouse and introduces himself. After a brief exchange about the nature of free will (Thompson claims that people only have free will on small every-day decisions, not large ones with impact on many other people), Thompson finally reveals why TAB is so set on keeping Norris separated from Sellas. He was supposed to meet her once, and only once; the meeting in the men's room of the hotel was intentional, because talking to her there inspired him to give the concession speech that pulled him out of the brink of political ruin to become the front-runner he is today for US Senate, and that he's destined not only to be a great senator, but a great US President. However, if he and Sellas remain together, her playful, bold nature would rub off on the impulsive Norris, which would severely impede his ability to lead the country as president. When Norris insists that the core of his being is made of the choices he makes, and that he chooses Sellas, come what may, Thompson lets him leave the garage and says he can still catch Sellas's dance recital if he hurries.Norris hurries to the Cedar Lake studio for the performance, watching Sellas dance with her troupe mates. Thompson arrives there a minute later, and finally drops "The Hammer:" he discreetly tells Norris that Sellas is destined to become a world-renowned dancer and choreographer with a stellar future in the art. But if she stays with Norris, her future will likely be teaching dance to young children, running a small dance school, unknown outside of her local community. Finally, before Thompson leaves, he causes Sellas to mistime a jump and hurt her ankle badly in the landing. Distraught, Norris carries her to the nearest hospital. He sits in the waiting room, brooding, while Sellas's feet and lower legs are X-rayed. As Norris waits, Thompson arrives and tells him that what's happened is his fault. Norris furiously belts Thompson with a left hook, but Thompson coolly says that this is what Norris does; what he did to get into a bar fight on his election to congress, what he did to be photographed in the embarrassing article in the Post that cost him the previous election. He's been given fantastic opportunities the average person can only dream of, and he's squandered them on impulsive actions... which isn't being helped by his relationship with sellas. Thompson finishes by saying her ankle is only sprained, but Norris could end up taking away all she's cared about most.Norris goes to see Sellas in the recovery room. Her ankle is bandaged and will recover within a month, much to her relief. Norris gives her an emotional hug and excuses himself to make a couple of phone calls before bringing Sellas home. But as he walks through the halls of the hospital, it's clear he isn't going to return; he's crumpled under 'the hammer' and walked out of Sellas's life.Richardson approaches Mitchell at TAB headquarters to report Thompson's success (the camera switches to see a despondent Sellas being wheeled out of the hospital by one of her girl friends). Mitchell looks guilty. He's begun to question if they're doing what's truly right. Richardson admits he used to feel that way, but TAB members like himself and Mitchell only see part of 'the Plan' as written by the Chairman.It's eleven months later, and Norris is making a public appearance at a small local farming community. A news report gives him a staggering 16-point lead over his opponent less than a month before Election Day.As Norris wraps up the appearance, Traynor hands Norris a newspaper. He knows Norris would find out about the article eventually, and he wanted to be there when Norris did.The front page article for the newspaper gives a glowing review for Sellas; her dance career is starting to shine brightly; the latest Cedar Lake show routine winning national acclaim. But Traynor is pointing to one of the inset photos in the article. It shows that Sellas has gotten back together with Adrian (Shane McRae) and they're getting married in a small civil ceremony next week.Mitchell is seen standing in front of the warehouse, reading the same article. Norris goes to a pier, looking out over the water. Sellas looks over her application form for a marriage license, looking troubled.Norris goes to the small bar/grill he often frequents. As he walks in, Mitchell is seen walking out through the entrance/exit of the building right beside it. The bar/grill's bartender tells Norris that 'his friend' just left him a message. She hands him a folded piece of paper.In the evening, Norris goes to the warehouse and is met there by Mitchell. Mitchell tells Norris that Thompson's claim that Sellas brings out a reckless, impulsive side to Norris, was a lie. However, Mitchell says that Sellas would nonetheless impede Norris's ability to become an excellent political leader: what makes Norris such a good 'people person' is his need to be in front of a crowd, his need to mingle with large groups of people, which stems from the great emptiness in his life created by the death of his family. Sellas would fill that hole in his heart so completely that he'd lose that driving need to be with other people and fall out of touch with them; even any personal dreams of making it to the White House would fade. Why Mitchell is agreeing to help Norris is that he understands that Norris's personal ambitions are important, but not the only thing that matters. Mitchell knows that Norris's father and brother were both very intelligent people, and both of them could have, and wanted to, become much greater and bigger people than they turned out; 'The Plan' didn't 'call for it.'Norris reflects and realizes Thompson wasn't completely dishonest; Norris phones in speeches and is 16 points up, and analysts are already predicting a presidential candidacy in his future. Mitchell, smiling wistfully, acknowledges that the public loves Norris. But, as Norris is beginning to realize is true, this public attention was all he ever cared about, and he's noticing it less and less since he became involved with Sellas. Still, he can't stop thinking about her. He asks Mitchell if he knows where Sellas's marriage will be taking place. Mitchell only says it will be in front of a civil judge, but warns Norris that Thompson will be on the scene in a heartbeat if Norris tries to go to her. Norris realizes that Mitchell is afraid to admit that sellas isn't happy; she's 'settling for second-best' after Norris left her. Knowing that Mitchell does want to help him, Norris asks if Mitchell can help him move the way a TAB person does; to teach him about the doors.Mitchell says the heavy rains outside will stop in one hour, and the rain is the only reason TAB doesn't know about Norris and Mitchell talking. To make all the plans and preparations, therefore, they need a place completely surrounded by water, because they'll need all night to work. The first and foremost thing Mitchell warns Norris is to only turn doorknobs clockwise; to turn them counterclockwise is only for TAB members. Mitchell also mentions that a TAB hat is what allows them to walk through seemingly locked doors.Mitchell takes Norris into the city's main pumping station for downtown Manhattan, ten blocks from the courthouse. He tells Norris to wait where he is, and then goes to a door and turns the knob counterclockwise. Through the partially open door, Norris can see it's bringing Mitchell back into what must be TAB headquarters.Sellas arrives at Cedar Lake and asks the receptionist if the dance floor is open. She's looking to practice as a means of clearing her mind.Mitchell arrives back in the pumping station with a briefcase. He explains to David that lower Manhattan has many layers of 'substrate:' a TAB term for a great many doors that have been added over time, almost like a maze. Even TAB cannot navigate downtown Manhattan as quickly or easily as further uptown. Sellas's wedding ceremony will be in a courthouse on 60 Centre Street. Mitchell's briefcase contains several blueprint books that will allow Norris to navigate the substrate, which will interfere with Thompson's ability to accurately track him.The camera pans back and forth between Sellas dancing on the practice floor in Cedar Lake, and Mitchell and Norris studying the substrate blueprints. Mitchell gives a dire warning to Norris that soon as he passes through the first door, all of TAB will be on crash alert; an all-out manhunt to intercept him. Norris must trust nobody wearing any kind of hat or cap whatsoever. Even TAB members cannot use 'the doors' without wearing their hats; this, and the effect water has on them, are measures taken by the Chairman to limit their power. Norris comes up with another way; improvisation, such as knocking the hat off Thompson's head if Thompson manages to cut him off at a particular door... and making a bold, risky run through an exposed area in complete defiance of what TAB would expect him to do.Morning arrives, and it's raining again, which Mitchell points out is a good sign. The wedding is in ten minutes, but Mitchell warns Norris that getting there early will be as bad as getting there late. He leads Norris to a doorway that will lead into the courthouse, and gives his hat to Norris.Norris runs through a door and makes a bold run through the rain. TAB members rush to mobilize; one of Thompson's subordinates pointing out that Norris is using the rain as cover, showing he knows its effect on TAB. Thompson thinks, and tells one of his men to call the proctor at the wedding. As Norris runs, Thompson and two men with him note with alarm that Norris has a TAB hat and has gone into the substrate.Sellas is met by Adrian at the courthouse. She tells him she needs a minute in the bathroom before the ceremony. As Adrian and Sellas's witness sit in the courtroom, a TAB member walks in to keep watch.Norris arrives at the courthouse; Sellas's witness/girl friend telling him that Sellas is not there. Norris presses her to find out where Sellas is, and walks into the bathroom. Sellas is shocked to see Norris enter. She lashes out at him emotionally for the way he hurt her by walking out on her at the hospital, as he desperately tries to plead for forgiveness.Just then, the TAB member keeping watch at the wedding courtroom walks in. Norris promptly turns and knocks him out with a punch. Completely desperate, Norris finally defies the most dire order given him about not revealing the existence of TAB. He tells Sellas about them and their role in keeping him apart from her. He picks up the TAB member's plan book and shows it to Sellas.Thompson's men quickly notice this. Thompson calls for the Intervention Team to be brought in for a square-one reset, and a whole contingent of TAB people rush to mobilize under Thompson's command.Sellas stands, reeling with confusion at everything happening. Norris finally puts on his hat, takes Sellas by the hand and opens a door in the rest room, leading her through it... onto the field of Yankee Stadium. And then through another door leading them to the stairway of a Manhattan subway station. Norris knows that Thompson will have called for a Reset on him and is urgently trying to think of a way to outrun and outwit him. Thompson and his team enter the bathroom Norris and Sellas had left and locate them running down Sixth Avenue in Manhattan.Norris finally bring Sellas onto Liberty Island, making them temporarily safe. Sellas's head reels with bewilderment, even as Norris tells her more about why TAB is pursuing them and why they've worked so hard to keep the two of them apart, how neither of them will see all of their greatest goals and ambitions come to pass if they stay together. Finally Norris comes up with an idea. He resolves to go into TAB headquarters and try to find the Chairman to make a direct appeal to him. He tells Sellas that he's giving her a choice. If she declines to go with him, she'll never see her or TAB again and her life can go on as it's been going on. If she goes with him, he doesn't know what's on the other side, but they'll be together, which is the only thing he's wanted since meeting her. Sellas looks at Norris for a long moment before nodding and telling Norris she's coming with him.Norris goes to another door into the base of the Statue of Liberty, telling Sellas that the two of them must turn each of the knobs counterclockwise. As the two of them enter TAB headquarters, both Thompson and Mitchell notice; Thompson's face registering total shock, and Mitchell sighing gravely.Norris and Sellas run through a TAB study room; Thompson and team hot on their heels. Being on TAB's home turf and having no idea which way to run, other than to turn all doorknobs to the left to stay within the HQ building, puts Norris at a major disadvantage. Thompson's team methodically cuts them off again and again, forcing them to continually change direction and backtrack.Mitchell is handed a folder by a superior and told that he's wanted in the Chairman's office immediately.Norris and Sellas finally find themselves on the rooftop of the TAB headquarters building. The Intervention Team is closing in and there is nowhere left to run. Thinking the end has come upon them, Norris and Sellas share what they think is a final, emotional goodbye hug and kiss.As they pull back, the Intervention Team is no longer there. They're alone on the rooftop... for only a moment, until Thompson is standing behind them, asking if they truly thought they could reach the Chairman. He admonishes them for thinking they could change their fate, or write their own.Until Mitchell comes up to Thompson, showing him a folder. Thompson looks at it, quietly says, 'I understand,' and walks away. Mitchell tells Sellas and Norris that their appeal to the Chairman worked, even if they didn't reach him; he says that almost everyone meets the Chairman once in their lives, in one form or another. The Chairman saw how unswervingly devoted Norris and Sellas were to each other and was inspired enough to re-write their plan again, allowing them to stay together and be happy.As Norris and Sellas walk down the street, ready to face whatever their new life together has in store for them, a voiceover from Mitchell closes the movie, telling the audience that maybe the Chairman's real plan is to gradually find those people bold enough to defy whatever fate seems to have in store for them, and give them the opportunity to seize control of it themselves... that maybe one day, humanity will each write their own plan, once again. | romantic, boring, psychedelic | train | imdb | Every move you made was in accordance with a master plan, any kinks or imperfections "adjusted" by persons unknown, constantly on hand to ensure you stayed on track.Many people might assume that their lives are quite the reverse, with all the bad decisions they have made, anything resembling a master plan is unlikely.David Norris (Matt Damon) is a rising New York Congressman with his heart set on becoming a young Senator, everything is going according to plan until he meets the beautiful quirky ballerina, Elise (Emily Blunt) in a mens restroom.Elise inspires him in ways that he could not have imagined but any longer term relationship is not part of the plan the "Men in Grey" have mapped out.
A thoughtful and character driven piece about choices and the ripple effect each path taken, or not taken, has on your own and other peoples lives.Terence Stamp, still with one of the best voices in the business, together with Anthony Mackie & John Slattery, do good work as the agents attempting to get everything back on track.There are some good lines and Damon can play an aspiring politician with ease, no doubt he could be one in real life if he chose to move in that direction.The central question of defining who we are by the choices we make is explored and it is good to see another movie messing with our heads, if only just a little.
The final reel is perhaps a little disappointing but that depends on how you would want the film to end, somehow it feels that the easier option was taken.Summary A well made and more thoughtful film than you might be expecting.Well acted with a believable romance, a light dusting of Sci-Fi and a great story.
Hollywood seems to have learned how to add a significant amount thought to their films, just with their usual dumbing-down procedures.David (Matt Damon) has met Elise (Emily Blunt) and based on one spontaneous kiss and one flirtatious encounter, he's determined that she's the one he's supposed to be with.
Theology is not in the plan, just a pattern to prevent mankind from becoming extinct by their own hand.This is a different type of Sci Fi film, and it would take an actor with the flexibility of Matt Damon to play David Norris.
With a combination of elements that included thriller and science fiction themes, and then adding in a spiritual and romance side of things as well, this movie had it all.I thought Matt Damon was excellent in his role and I was captivated for the whole movie in its concept it was drawing onto between fate and free will.It is my hope many people will show up to see this movie.
David and Elise seem so perfect for each other that we root for them.It is good that Nolfi has written such a romantic angle into this Dick tale instead of turning it into another action flick like "Total Recall", "Paycheck" and "Screamers".
Still, the notion of Fates personified could not be taken too seriously - and it would be better to just go along with the flow of the love story so charmingly portrayed by Damon and Blunt - and supported by a sympathetic Anthony Mackie and menacing Terence Stamp as members of the Adjustment Bureau.
What is the reason why David and Elise can not be together?"The Adjustment Bureau" is a romantic and suspenseful sci-fi based on a short story by Philip K.
This film has all the individual elements for a great time: The opening draws you into the story; Blunt is engaging and sensual; Stamp is villainous; Damon/Blunt have fabulous chemistry including a great meet; initial mystery, sophisticated humor, snappy repartee, wonderful score, and superb scenery.
Sample: "All I have are the choices I make, and I choose her, come what may." Well, Tarantino's certainly got nothing on you, Nolfi...For those who are not familiar with Nolfi's oeuvre, here making his unfortunate directorial debut, expect a simple plot, no surprises, nothing new, nothing deep, nothing funny, no new filming technique, a fair insipid Damon, a fair Blunt, no chemistry whatsoever, no opportunity for chemistry whatsoever, a tired and apathetic Stamp, and a ludicrously adapted K.Dick story, some basic elements borrowed from "Dark City" 1998(men in hats which adjust us while we sleep), and "The Lost Room" 2006(doors which lead to far places) which unfolds like a soap opera episode of The Young and the Restless.
For "The Adjustment Bureau," while not any kind of a masterpiece, is one of the most unexpectedly pleasing and wholeheartedly enjoyable movies of the year.Mr. Nolfi's involvement in the third Jason Bourne movie may have had some input in his getting Matt Damon to take the lead as an ambitious but somewhat dubious New York governor candidate.
And as it turns out, the romance between Mr. Damon and Miss Blunt is something that is prohibited in their strategy and the film evolves into a very passionate and exciting story about two people deciding what is more important: to be with who you love, or to do what is better for the world entire.With a plot this extravagant, it is surprising that director Mr. Nolfi did not blunder into an entirely corny yarn.
If you were to take it out and transplant it in some totally different movie, it would still work.The love story is more interesting than the Adjustment Bureau men themselves and that may be one of the weaknesses of the picture.
Some will say this is because I am not a romantic; while that may well be true I did actually like the romance between David and Elise, it was well played and the two had that sort of spark that was required to make me believe in them after so little time, so my problem with the film isn't that the central motivator for the events is this potential love between them.
I'm not suggesting I needed this to be an action movie, but the lack of any sort of sense of threat or urgency really hurts the film because this "idea" is the majority of the film, not the romance – so to mess up the basis for your film is not going to go well.It is a credit to the on screen presence and charm of both Damon and Blunt that the romance side of the film works well, they both held my attention and kept me interested even when the rest of the film was so very light and surprisingly bland.
I guess I shouldn't be that surprised with my reaction to this film - here we have Matt Damon playing the flawed but all-round good guy dealing with yet another conspiracy against him.Emily Blunt was great - she's the only reason this film rates a 2/10 with me.
The film deals with two very important philosophical matters (forces that control the destiny of all men and use of free will) in a very frivolous way.This is very curious for a movie that cost over 50.000.000 dollars.The script doesn't have major plot twists.The characters are one-dimensional,which is a huge drawback for a thriller with almost no action.There is no emotional stimulation for the spectators.There isn't even the slightest passion between the two lovers,so the film doesn't have an impact as a love story either.Matt Damon is efficient as always,but the rest of the actors and actresses offer very unmemorable performances.The direction is uninspired.There isn't any visual satisfaction either,although the film belongs in a genre with opulent visual delights.If you want to see a powerful love story in the form of a thriller,"The next three days" is a must.You won't regret it...The film was on the shelves for quite some time before its release.I think that this fact means a lot...
at least we got a good laugh taking the Mick out of it after.I mean angels that go around like 50's style feds and have a book full of schematics or piping drawings or whatever they were, ipad2 or something,on your life, then towards the end, with the dick Tracey magic hats that can open doors to anywhere...phew, it just sucked, I like sci-fi a lot but not garbage like this, same with tron, biggest piece of junk but load of duds on IMDb think its really good.Ya the premise that your faith is in some other guys hands, hang on, the chairman's, don't go see this....
There are engaging performances to recommend the film, such as those by stars Matt Damon and Emily Blunt; as well as supporting actors Anthony Mackie, John Slattery, and the ever dangerously sexy Terrence Stamp.All the witty repartee between characters, the striking views of New York City, and the driving pulse of the soundtrack make "The Adjustment Bureau" an entertaining film, but not so well pulled together that it demands great thought and consideration after the screening is over..
I really wanted to like this because Matt Damon and Emily Blunt are two of my favorite actors and get a dream of a story based on a short essay by Philip K Dick (he of 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' fame i.e. what turned into Blade Runner).
The film and script ask us all of these questions and then more.I found that the world which David and Emily inhabit is full of seemingly arbitrary rules, that the story was driven by forced coincidences which could not be explained away as semi-ironic, and which sometimes felt more like script conveniences than story, more plot-devices than plot.I found the denouement predictable and was waiting for the last half-hour of the film for Messrs Damon and Blunt to hurry up and get on with it as it was so clunky and PREDICTABLE(ironic given the story-line).
This is billed as 'Bourne meets Inception' and I think it's MUCH more like Inception than a Bourne film.I did find the David Norris congressman/senator thing reminiscent of The Manchurian Candidate but without the strength of purpose that that latter film has and in fact, in Adjustment, it was a bit half-hearted and almost all of the subsidiary characters were very poorly fleshed-out with no characterization or arcs at all.Finally, the end message that this film delivers is extremely naive and slightly disappointing.
I can see exactly what the filmmakers were trying to do but the problem is they've taken a solid PKD short, conceived a film but then effectively spoiled it a little by not spending enough time on developing the story into a fully-fledged all-singing all-dancing screenplay.Perhaps not enough controls were placed on the writer/director: however, I suspect that this script has been rewritten by a number of people, as certain things appear to be inserted as if part of a scientific exercise than as a fluid story, a sort of 'well, the way we managed to do that is...', continually playing the get out of jail free card.And this, I think, is the problem with the film.
The film posits an official bureaucracy that massages everyday human activities – whether or not rising young political star David Norris (Matt Damon) spills coffee on his shirt during his morning commute through a park, whether Elise Sallas (Emily Blunt), a dancer, falls and sprains her ankle onstage – in order to achieve the outcomes the Adjustment Bureau desires.
A protagonist may find himself living out another person's dream, or he may enter a drug-induced state that actually makes better sense than the real world, or he may cross into a different universe completely.' Given this background information about the origin of the idea of THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU, the story adapted for the screen from Dick's 'Adjustment Team' by writer/director George Nolfi (The Bourne series, Ocean's twelve, etc), offers a new appreciation for this well-timed suspense thriller love story - 'Love' being the operative word.
At this point David meets some hatted gentlemen - Richardson (John Slattery) and Harry Mitchell (Anthony Mackie) - who represent the adjustment bureau, a group of men who follow the life plan set by the Chairman to keep people in line with their intended destinies.
In this film the midline is found and the reason the strange story succeeds so well is due in great part to the extraordinary on-screen chemistry between Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, two actors who continue to grow in stature, having that ability to pull off sophisticated comedy with action packed suspense.
Well I could go in to minute detail but simply this film really fails to deliver on its hype as a hybrid love child of the Bourne Films and Inception.the whole story line suggests that your life is laid out for you and basically you are on a set path with the look of free will, with chaps in hats running around by the thousand jumping through doors.what a deity needs with riot police I don't know?.put simply I looked forward to the film and watched it but in the end it really fails to cross any new boundary in film ideas, even as a romantic film the only thing it captures reasonably well was a fleeting moment between strangers that you remember for years, other than that thumbs down from me..
On the brink of winning a seat in the U.S. Senate, ambitious politician David Norris (Damon) meets beautiful contemporary ballet dancer Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt)--a woman like none he's ever known.
Both concepts are very romantic but difficult to sell to a grown-up (or just cynical) audience.Matt Damon plays David, who could have a great future and a positive influence on mankind (or at least on the US), but keeps deviating from this nobler and higher purpose because of Elise– a flirty ballerina he met in the gents room (not the most romantic location
).Throughout the movie I kept thinking that Elise kept popping up at the worst possible time and considered her more as disturbance rather than the romantic interest, which is a clear sign I did not buy into the star-crossed lovers' side of the story.What I appreciated was the minimal special effects and Damon's performance, but I still consider - with regret -this movie a miss, despite the huge potential.P.S. and in real life, people who fall asleep on the job usually get fired, not promoted..
Dick (J.D. Salinger would say "I told you so"), The Adjustment Bureau is a highly entertaining film, filled with an intriguing story line, enough action to keep us awake and focused, and a storybook romance in which the lovers actually have good chemistry together.
These enforcers have been with us throughout human history except for the times when they took a vacation just to stand back and observe us stumblebums get ourselves into mischief like wars, depressions, and going to Justin Bieber concerts.As the film opens, Matt Damon is David Norris, a candidate for the United States Senate from New York and a young man who looks as if he has unlimited promise for future leadership roles.
In the new sci-fi thriller "The Adjustment Bureau", starring Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and Anthony Mackie, though, a twist is added.Based on a short story by sci-fi literary giant Philip K.
The on-screen chemistry between Matt Damon and Emily Blunt was done so well that you may think this movie was a romance rather than a science fiction story.
I realized that Matt Damon is really good at what he does, that the chemistry between his character and that of Emily Blunt worked (in a movie sort of way), and that the adjusters were nothing more than practitioners of a Skinnerian form of tough love.
Dick, and it has stylish directing by George Nolfi.This film is about a politician who risks everything he worked for and even his life as he tries to be with the girl of his dreams.As I mentioned previously, Matt Damon and Emily Blunt had very good chemistry.
However as an action-adventure, an intricate romantic fantasy and even as a diverting philosophical exercise, The Adjustment Bureau succeeds.Why you should see it: You like it when Matt Damon runs around and Emily Blunt has emotions at people.
So, I was not surprised to find that the film The Adjustment Bureau has very few in common with the short story Adjustment Team, on which it was supposedly based; on the other hand, what did surprise me was to find a brilliant movie on its own merit, whose combination of science fiction and romance feels perfectly integrated and intelligently written.It is convenient not to reveal too much about the screenplay from The Adjustment Bureau, because I liked discovering the clues and revelations about the "agents" at the same time of the main characters very much.
On the opposite, The Adjustment Bureau rounds on an intense and credible romance between the characters interpreted by Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, who both have a perfect chemistry with each other, and also make a great work at bringing a genuine life to their characters' feelings.
Emily Blunt & Matt Damon fall in love and question their destiny in "The Adjustment Bureau".
Matt Damon was good too, but Emily Blunt played him off I think.The story is not the of the simple kind which I am used to when watching American movies nowadays.
This makes The Adjustment Bureau work best as a love story; Matt Damon and Emily Blunt are great together as the beautiful, but thankfully unpolished and believable love-birds.Further events of chance, fate and intervention by "the people who make sure things go according to plan" conspire to pull apart and push our lovers together.
The Adjustment Bureau stars Matt Damon, as David Norris, an up and coming congressman of New York, and Emily Blunt, as Elise Sellas, a rising professional dancer.
Essentially this film is a love story between a hot shot politician (Matt Damon) and a up and coming ballet dancer (Emily Blunt) both on their way to greatness. |
tt0102803 | The Rocketeer | The movie takes place in Los Angeles in the year 1938. At an airfield, a flight crew is moving a new plane (the GeeBee) out onto the runway. The pilot, Cliff Secord (Bill Campbell) is discussing the plane with his mechanic and best friend, Peevy (Alan Arkin). Cliff and Peevy intend to use the GeeBee in a national air show within a year. Cliff sticks a piece of Beeman's chewing gum on the wing of the plane for good luck and takes off to test out the GeeBee.Meanwhile, a duo of gangsters are engaged in a gun fight with members of the FBI. Cliff flies overhead and the gangster (thinking Cliff may be law enforcement) shoots at the GeeBee. Cliff's engine begins to stutter as he maneuvers back towards the runway.The gangsters arrive at the same runway and hide in a hanger. The driver, Wilmer, learns that the gunman has been fatally wounded in the shootout. Wilmer hides the package the 2 of them had stolen and heads back out into the fight. Cliff's GeeBee bumps into a car on the runway, crash landing. THe mechanic crew gets Cliff out alive, but he quickly rushes back in to retrieve a photo of his girlfriend. The GeeBee is totaled, and Wilmer crashes his car into a fuel truck, causing an explosion.The FBI refuses to admit responsibility for Cliff's crash. They question Wilbur about the stolen package, who merely responds that it is "blown to Hell." They find a metal device in the wreckage of the fuel tank, and they assume this is the device in question. They report this to the owner, Howard Hughes (Terry O'Quinn) who is upset but decides not to build another device because the theft proves the technology too dangerous.Cliff and Peevy argue with the owner of the air field, Bigelow (Jon Polito) who is holding them responsible for the damage to the fuel truck. He talks them into doing a pitiful "Clown Act" at his annual air shows, which Peevy calculates would result in taking a minimum of four years to settle their debt.Cliff decides to work on the biplane they will be using for the Clown Act, putting his girlfriend's photo in the cockpit. He tries to sit down but finds something hidden under the seat. It is the package from the gangsters (hidden earlier to avoid detection). They open it to reveal a strange metal contraption. Cliff notices a switch on the side and presses it. The device roars to life and rockets round the room, finally crashing into an office. They quickly shut it off again, and Peevy wonders what such a device could be for. Cliff, noticing some straps on the metal, gets an idea. He picks up the item and attaches it to his back. Both men are shocked: the item is a rocket pack.They steal a statue of Charles Lindberg from the local flight school and test it. They confrom that a person could, theoretically, fly with such an item. Cliff wants to use it to make money, but Peevy doesn't think its a good itea (since they have technically stolen this item). Peevy relents, and Cliff suggests they make a helmet to go with it after seeing the head of the statue destroyed because of the landing.The leader of the gangsters, Eddie Valentine (Paul Sorvino) confronts the man who hired him- Neville Sinclair (Timothy Dalton)- about the job gone wrong. Neville is anxious to get the rocket package, and contacts his enforcer Lothar (Tiny Ron), ordering him to confront Wilmer in the hospital and find the package's location.Cliff then goes to pick up his girlfriend, Jenny Blake (Jennifer Connelly). Jenny is an aspiring actress who recently tried out for a part with Neville Sinclair. She then tells Cliff that she wants to see Sinclair's newest movie. Cliff is against it, until he finds out that it is an aviation movie called "Wings of Honor." En route to the theater, Cliff lies to Jenny about the GeeBee test flight, stating that it wnt fine except for "a few bumps" on the landing.At the hospital, Lothar (revealed to be a gigantic physical specimen) confronts Wilmer. Wilmer confesses that he put a fake package in the car before it blew up, concealing it from the Feds. He tells Lothar the package is in an old plane at the airfield. Lothar then proceeds to kill WIlmer by literally folding him in half.After the movie, Cliff and Jenny have dinner at a local restaurant called the Bulldog Cafe. Cliff's old friend Malcolm (Eddie Jones) reveals the truth about what happened during the test flight. Angry that Cliff lied to her, Jenny storms out.Cliff returns home to the place he rents with Peevy and finds the helmet Peevy designed for him next morning. He is not thrilled with the design.Next day, Jenny is performing in a scene as an extra on Neville Sinclair's new movie. Cliff comes by to see her (having decided to be honest with her and tell her about the rocket) and accidentally knocks down part of the set. Outraged, Neville orders Jenny fired. She is devastated and walks off. Neville overhears Cliff talking to Jenny about the rocket and decides to find out what she knows. Neville invites Jenny to be his date to the South Seas Club that night. She happily accepts.At the air field, the stunt show is in process. Bigelow tells Peevy that if Cliff doesn't arrive soon and begin the Clown Act, they will both be fired. Malcolm, selling programs, overhears this and sees a way to help out his friend. Malcolm takes the costume and lifts off in the old biplane.Eddie Valentine and his gang are at the airfield. They did not find the rocket, but took the picture of Jenny that Cliff left in the plane, thinking she may know who took the package.Cliff and Peevy realize what Malcolm is doing and are worried (Malcolm hasn't flown a plane in over 20 years). The biplane begins to stutter and smoke billows from the engine. Cliff decides to take the rocket and save Malcolm. Peevy is hesitant, but lets his friend go (first grabbing a piece of Cliff's Beeman Gum and sticking it to the rocket pack for luck). Cliff blasts off in the rocket, flying over the stands and stunning the crowd. He grabs Malcolm shortly before the biplane crashes and safely drops his friend off on the ground before blasting off again.Cliff flies over the city, passing a commercial plane in the process. He waves at them, but in the process accidentally shuts off the rocket. He falls to earth but manages to turn the thrusters back on again, speeding off in a disoriented pattern. Peevy finally finds Cliff after he's crash-landed in a nearby pond. Cliff is dazed, but thrilled by the experience. They both see cars coming, thinking it is news reporters. Cliff uses the rocket pack when standing in Peevy's truck to help them make a speedy getaway. In truth, the cars belonged to Valentie's gang and they are angry that someone else has found the rocket.Reporters question Bigelow for information about the flying man, and he comes up with the name "Rocketeer" for him. The news boys love it and The Rocketeer is soon front-page news. Neville Sinclair reads the paper and is outraged. Howard Hughes also sees the paper and is upset that the FBI have failed in reclaiming his rocket.The FBI agents go to talk to Bigelow about the Rocketeer, only to find him murdered in a matter similar to Wilmer. Before he died, Bigelow wrote down something on a pad of paper. It turns out to be Cliff & Peevy's addres, which is where Lothar is heading.Lothar confronts Peevy and Cliff about the rocket, which they have hidden. The FBI arrive to question them as well and Lothar opens fire on the agents. The ensuing gunfire tears the house to shreds, but Cliff & Peevy manage to escape with the rocket.Jenny and Neville are at the South Seas Club, and Jenny is enjoying being Neville's date. She meets a number of his celebrity friends, including W.C. Fields. Neville excuses himself to have a meeting with the Clubs' owner, which turns out to be Eddie Valentine. Eddie is not happy about Wilmer's death, or about Neville "romancing some dame" while he is doing all the hard work looking for the rocket.Cliff and Peevy are hiding out above the Bulldog Cafe. Peevy finally convinces Cliff to return the rocket pack to its rightful owners. Cliff is about to call the local FBI office when 2 of Valentine's thugs come in. They demand to know where Secord is (having no idea what Cliff looks like), going so far as to torture Peevy for information. One of them recognizes a photo of Jenny on the wall as being identical to the one they recovered from the plane. They call the number associated with the photo and find out that Jenny is out with Neville Sinclair.Cliff and a few of the patrons attack the gun-wielding thug, knocking him out cold. Cliff puts on the rocket, worried about Jenny's safety and intending to rescue her. He vows to return the rocket as soon as Jenny is safe. Peevy stops him from blasting off, noticing that the rocket is leaking (probably from a ricochet bullet). Peevy pries off the chewing gum he put on the rocket earlier for luck, and makes a rudimentary patch. It appears to work, and Cliff flies off into the night.Cliff infiltrates the South Seas Club posing as a busboy, bringing some complimentary soup to Neville and Jenny. He "accidentally" spills some on her to get her away from Neville. Cliff tells Jenny that his boss Bigelow is dead and the people who killed him may also be after Jenny. He asks Jenny to leave and stay with her mother north of town for the next few days. Jenny is skeptical, but Cliff swears that he is looking out for her best interest and not motivaded by jealousy.The thugs recognize Secord and chase after him. Cliff reclaims the rocket he had kept hidden in the laundry room. The Rocketeer flies out over the main room of the club, stunning the guests. Jenny stays for a moment to watch Cliff fly. The thugs open fire, heavily damaging the club. Cliff manages to escape by flying through the glass tile roof. Neville sees Jenny still at the club and ambushes her with chloroform.Jenny wakes up at Neville's place. He claims innocence, saying that he is being blackmailed. Jenny doesn't believe him, realizing that Sinclair is merely reciting lines from his old movies in an attempt to gain her trust. Jenny knocks out Sinclair with a flower vase and runs off. She discoveres a secret room in his house full of radio equipment. She attempts to call for help, but only heres men speaking in German. She then notices a book with a swastika symbol and Jenny realizes that Neville Sinclair is a Nazi spy. Lothar attacks Jenny and subdues her.Cliff returns to the Bulldog Cafe to find Peevy gone. He gets a phone call from Eddie Valentine saying that they are holding Jenny hostage and wish to trade her for the rocket. They tell Cliff to come to the local observatory at 4 AM to carry out the deal. Before Cliff can react, the FBI agents come in and arrest him.The FBI agents bring Cliff to Howard Hughes, which is where Peevy went. Peevy told Hughes everything about their finding the rocket, and Hughes believes they are telling the truth. Hughes tells Cliff that the rocket pack was stolen from his factory and they must get it back. Hughes shows footage of German scientists working on a similar rocket pack, but their model backfires and the test pilot is killed. He then shows everyone a Nazi propaganda film that features rocket-pack equipped soldiers flying out to other countries (including the United States) as an unstoppable airborne army.Cliff does not relent, and requests that he use the rocket once more in order to save his girlfriend. The FBI agents tell him that the Valentine Gang is merely hired muscle, working for a Nazi agent they haven't been able to identify. Cliff realizes that Neville Sinclair must be the agent, but the FBI just laughs at the thought. Cliff escapes from Howard Hughes' factory by gliding on a prototype "Spruce Goose."The Rocketeer meets up with Neville Sinclair and the Valentine gang at the observatory. They demand he take off the rocket before they let Jenny go. Cliff asks Valentine if he enjoys working for a Nazi. Valentine is shocked, but Sinclair merely laughs off the thought. Jenny supports Cliff's claim by mentioning the Germans on the radio at Sinclair's house. Valentine is disgusted by the thought of working on the side of the Nazi's, and turns on Sinclair. Sinclair has prepared for this, and by his orders a team of German Strike Commandoes emerge from the bushes. They are supported by a Zeppelin, which hovers ominously over the observatory.Searchlights flare up over the site. The FBI, having found the ransom details among Cliff's possessions, order everyone to throw down their weapons. The Germans try to evacuate, so the Feds and the gangsters unanimously open fire on the Germans. They warn each other to keep the fire away from the Zeppelin, which is full of hydrogen gas and highly explosive.Neville takes Jenny hostage aboard the Zeppelin, certain that Cliff (and the rocket) will then come right to him. Cliff grabs a weapon from a fallen German commando and blasts off towards the Zeppelin. He tears through the covering on the tail section, damaging their steering. Lothar attacks Cliff on top of the Zeppelin, held up by a suspension cord. Cliff manages to knock Lothar over the side, where he dangles like a worm on a hook.Cliff comes inside and sees Neville holding a gun to Jenny's head. Seeing no other choice, he takes off the rocket. Before he slides it over to Neville, Cliff removes the patch Peevy put over the bullet hole (which Neville doesn't notice.)Cliff and Neville struggle, and Jenny tries to assist with a gun she found in the storage compartment. Cliff warns her against it but Jenny fires- not realizing that the item was a flare gun. Fire breaks out in the cockpit, and Neville Sinclair decides to fly off in the rocket. Moments after he takes flight, the leak from the fuel line causes Sinclair to burst into flames. Screaming in pain, he crashes into the legendary "Hollywoodland" sign, destroying the last four letters. Neville and the rocket are destroyed.Cliff climbs back up to the top of the Zeppelin with Jenny, explaining that they have almost no hope for survival. Jenny proclaims that she loves Cliff, and they embrace. Lothar returns to fight Cliff again, but the explosions from the Zeppelin cause all 3 to run in fear. Lothar is still held in place from his tether and cannot escape the blast.Peevy and Howard Hughes fly up in Hughes' prototype auto-gyro, dangling a rope ladder for Clifford and Jenny. They escape shortly before the Zeppelin is engulfed in flames.Next morning, Peevy reads the newspaper. The FBI has decided to cover up Neville Sinclair's Nazi involvement, releasing a cover story that Sinclair was killed by debris from the Zepplin in a tragic accident.Cliff, Peevy and Jenny go outside to see a small plane (in similar design ot the GeeBee from the opening) landing in the street. Howard Hughes is the one flying the plane, and he takes Cliff aside and reveals that this plane is a gift hor helping him with the rocket fiasco.Cliff is so stunned that he cannot even thank Howard Hughes. Jenny s states that she also has a gift- for both of them. Jenny reveals that she stole teh schematics for the rocket pack from Neville Sinclair's house. Cliff and Jenny enjoy a romantic moment while Peevy plans to rebuild the rocket pack with a variety of improvements. | good versus evil, mystery | train | imdb | I was also very surprised when the movie wasn't a hit, but I even sort of liked the old Flash Gordon serials, so...Another thing that is disappointing me at the moment is that I can't find any entries for the Spysmasher or Red Skull serials (the latter was the first one I know of with the Commando Cody character, although I don't recall him being referred to by that appellation -- I saw it 40 years ago, and then managed the catch the last hour or so in the middle of the night about 15 years ago one sleepless night, so it's kind of a blur)..
THE ROCKETEER Aspect ratio: 2.39:1 (Panavision)Sound format: 6-track Dolby Stereo SR(35mm and 70mm release prints)Based on Dave Stevens' graphic novel, this very un-Disney-like Disney movie is a joy from start to finish, a two-fisted tribute to the serials of yesteryear which combines nostalgia for the innocence of ages past with the Art deco gloss of a world on the brink of war.
Bill Campbell (from TV's "Tales of the City") plays a 1930's air ace who stumbles on a jet-propelled device that allows its wearer to fly at high speeds, a device coveted by law enforcement agencies, gangland criminals, Howard Hughes (!), and a Nazi villain (Timothy Dalton) masquerading as a Hollywood heartthrob.Handsome and talented, Campbell plays the title role with just the right amount of wide-eyed candor and boyish charm, and he's supported by a veritable who's-who of Hollywood's finest character actors, including Alan Arkin, Paul Sorvino, Terry O'Quinn, Ed Lauter, Jon Polito and Eddie Jones, alongside Tiny Ron as a hulking henchman clearly modelled after Rondo Hatton (courtesy of Rick Baker's rubbery makeup), whose speciality is - you guessed it - *snapping spines*!
That small blip aside, director Joe Johnston (HIDALGO) plays the whole thing straight, without even a hint of camp (when Campbell asks how he looks in his spiffy 'Rocketeer' outfit, Arkin deadpans: "Like a hood ornament!"), and while the characters are mere stock figures, they're played with real integrity by an enthusiastic cast, and the film's many set-pieces culminate in a showstopping finale on board an exploding zeppelin high above the Hollywood hills!
It's the fact that Campbell WASN'T a household name during filming, and that the production dares to celebrate the movies of a bygone era without simultaneously mocking its references, which makes THE ROCKETEER so special.
Meanwhile, his beloved girlfriend and aspirant actress Jenny Blake (Jennifer Connelly) succeeds in an audition to make a small part in a movie of the great actor Neville Sinclair (Timothy Dalton) that is ranked the third in box-offices.
It gives a little history lesson, too (Howard Hughes, Nazis, etc.) The acting is also wonderful- probably Billy Campbell's ("Enough") best performance, Timothy Dalton plays a great villian, and Arkin always does good.
One of their better efforts, 1991's "The Rocketeer," is one of the luckier films."The Rocketeer" soared high and mighty upon its release in 1991, from the graphic novel by Dave Stevens and onto the big screen, with Cliff Secord (Bill Campbell) dawning an experimental rocket pack that is coveted by gangsters and Nazis during World War II.The movie does remind some people of the serials of the 1930s and 1940s, some of which helped to spawn the mega-successful "Raiders of the Lost Ark" in 1981 and this year's "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.""The Rocketeer" is a great movie, and it should be viewed by everyone.10/10.
But I would hope that we would have been given stories just as good as the original film, if not better.In my humble opinion, no only is The Rocketeer is an enjoyable movie, but it's one of the best action films of 1991..
I like it, but there is just something missing.I love the late 1930s look to this film, which has great color and sound and a likable hero in "Cliff Secord," played by Bill Campbell.
The rest of the cast is pretty attractive with Jennifer Connelly, Timothy Dalton, Alan Arkin and Paul Sorvino - another reason this film should have been more memorable.The rocket scenes were terrific.
The excitement of then-new technology leading to a high-tech future is hinted at, but is slowed down by the plot like a sprinter wading through melting tar.Cliff Secord is a stunt pilot (played by the charisma-free Bill Campbell, who I have never heard of) who discovers a prototype jet pack designed and disowned by Howard Hughes himself.
Instead of soaring into the stratosphere by giving a thrill ride into this new invention the movie too often deviates into a sub-plot with Jennifer Connolly as the girlfriend and Timothy Dalton as the villain, and the best thing about it.What the Rocketeer should have done is establish the new-found jetpack within the first 10 minutes, given us about 20 minutes of the origins of Secord as a new superhero, and then spent the remaining 80 minutes fighting villains.
This may not be the worst of mankind's sins, but it's surely in the top-five.Lovingly made by the underrated Joe Johnston and featuring one of the late James Horner's best scores, 'The Rocketeer' really is gee-whiz fun in the absolute best sense of the word.As we await yet another reboot of comic book A-listers like Batman and Spider-Man, I should think there's room at the table for a new adventure featuring this two-fisted retro hero.
When an elderly colleague experiences trouble during a stunt show, pilot Cliff Secord (Bill Campbell) straps on the mysterious prototype jet-pack found stashed in the cockpit of his plane and unwittingly becomes the news sensation known as The Rocketeer; he also becomes the target of dashing Hollywood star/Nazi spy Neville Sinclair (Timothy Dalton), who plans to develop the amazing invention for use in a planned aerial assault on the US by German troops.Even with an undeniably fun concept, a great cast, and every tool in ILM's special effects arsenal at his disposal, Spielberg acolyte Joe Johnston fails to turn pulp-style comic-book Rocketeer into the absolutely awesome movie it could so easily have been.
With too much talk and not enough rocketeering!For a film based on a character who can blast through the sky with the aid of a jet-propelled back pack, The Rocketeer features surprisingly little aerial action, instead spending much of its time set on terra firmer.
There's plenty of intrigue and suspense as Sinclair's hired goons (which include a hulking Rondo Hatton lookalike) try to locate the pack, and Jennifer Connelly as Cliff's gorgeous girlfriend is a pleasantly diverting sight (boy, would I like to get my hands on her massive twin boosters!) but none of this is a truly satisfying substitute for lots of fast and furious, rocket powered action..
Arguably the best superhero comic book film adaptation of all-time, which may in large part be because the comic is a loving tribute to movie serials (ALA Commando Cody).
The film and the comic revolve around 1930s stunt pilot Cliff Secord finding an experimental rocket pack, which he and his trusty mechanic buddy/mentor sidekick uses to fight gangsters and Nazi's infiltrating Hollywood on the eve of WWII.
The sets, casting (which besides the always excellent Connolly, who won the role over the likes of Sherilyn Fenn [who'd have also been excellent], Kelly Preston, Diane Lane and Elizabeth McGovern, includes Billy Cambell as Secord (who is PERFECT casting and won the role over much bigger names like Kevin Costner, Matthew Modine, Emilio Estevez, Bill Paxton, Dennis Quaid, Kurt Russell, Johnny Depp, Vincent D'Onofrio, Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Robin Williams, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Ron Perlman, and Tom Hanks), Alan Arkin as Cliff's sidekick Peevy, Timothy Dalton as Neville Sinclair, a villainous Erroll Flynn analogue, Paul Sorvino as a gangster, Terry O'Quinn as Howard Hughes, and a slew of great character actors such as Ed Lauter, Jon Polito, Eddie Jones, William Sanderson, Margo Martindale, Clint Howard, Tiny Ron (in some great Rick Baker make-up, turning him into a spot-on to Rondo Hatton lookalike), Max Grodénchik, famed stuntman Dick Warlock, and more).
Coincidentally or maybe intentionally, the movie's main villain is portrayed by Timothy Dalton, who took on the role of James Bond two times and is excellent here as the charming but fanatical antagonist.While the screenplay could have been better, the great actors and especially the fantastic, action-packed and visually striking finale make up for what the plot is lacking in direction.
The music by James Horner is fantastic, this film has one of my favorite theme songs of all time which of course is the Rocketeer theme, it fits so well as it has an adventurous tune to it.I really like the story which is a stretch but that's what I love about it and it's true to the pulps most of those stories always had colorful simple outlandish plots.
Jennifer Connelly Plays "Bettie Page" the Rocketeer's Girlfriend (although the name was changed) and Curvacious Pin-Up Queen.The rest of the Cast is Highlighted by some Good Actors like Timothy Dalton as an Errol Flynn Type, Paul Sorvino as a Patriotic Gangster, and Alan Arkin as the Titular Character's Mentor and Friend.
Maybe not the Mood of the Real World of the Late Thirties but certainly the Mood of Hollywood Films at the Time.There are Nazis, Hydrogen Blimps, spitting Machine Guns, Cool and Sleek Little Airplanes Zipping about, and of course the Rocket Pack that was on the Minds of Inventors and Pulp Sci-Fi Fanatics of the Era. There are other Details thrown in for Fun, like a Rondo Hatton (The Creeper) Lookalike, the Hollywoodland, OOOPS, Hollywood Sign, and More for the discovering Movie Goer.
And it succeeds, bringing the real feeling of something like Flash Gordon in every way from it's cool look to it's action packed story.This story starts when a pilot, an everyman named Cliff (Billy Campbell), comes across the strange device that allows a man to take flight without wings and soar through the skies.
And although it wasn't made the exact way he wanted it to be, Dave Stevens, the creator of The Rocketeer character, which was derived from a popular comic book, was happily satisfied with the majority of the movie.In this film, because Disney sponsored it, the story not only will appeal to adults but to teenagers as well.
Rocketeer is a lovingly crafted adventure film, nodding towards the serials of the 1930s, it's awash with period Hollywood delights, Art Deco imagery, has a damsel in distress, square jawed heroics, Nazi villains, wonderful effects and a blunderbuss Zeppelin finale.
Meanwhile some gangsters steal a rocket powered jet backpack from the government but it ends up with Secord and his scientist friend (Alan Arkin)...but the government and gangsters want it...and the evil Neville Sinclair (Timothy Dalton) will do anything to get it.This film has a lot going for it.
The movie never takes itself too seriously (when Campbell sees the helmet he's supposed to wear he says, "He's got to be kidding"), the special effects are good and I got a kick out of the bad guy made out to look like Rondo Hatton.
What I really appreciated were wonderful little homages to the 1930s and 1940s--such as showing Campbell flying a Gee Bee Racer (how they did this scene I don't know), extensive Art Deco styling in the movie, the zeppelin and the villain on the zeppelin that was made to look exactly like Rondo Hatton--a very seldom talked about actor who starred in just a handful of horror-suspense movies of that era.
Beautifully & Stylishly directed by Johnson (who later went on to direct Captain America...I knew he was a super director)The 1930's details are beautifully realised here, Dalton is a great swashbuckling baddie, Campbell a good hero & Ms Connelly simply is Betty Page (just a shame they had to tone the picture down from the comics but then again it wouldn't have been a GREAT family film but rather a GREAT R Rated Movie)YES IT'S ONE OF MY FAVOURITE MOVIES...WITH A GREAT SOUNDTRACK TOO.Rocketeer Flyer says...Up Up and Away..
Indiana Jones meets Iron Man. The Rocketeer is a surprisingly good action/adventure film with wonderful pulp nostalgia.
The man leaves very small impression and isn't quite identifiable or unique enough to stand apart from other adventure stock characters just like him.But luckily the rest of the cast and the rest of the movie as a whole are more than capable to keep your interests raised and to provide you with a charming adventure with surprisingly decent special effects for their time, some great action sequences and that whole early 20th century charisma.
Later, it did and I think I agree to those who still love it that this is in fact of the better superhero movies of the decade beyond the early and late 2000s.The story is pretty interesting and I heard that the users loved it for reminding the adults about the pulp film serials from the 1930s and that it also captured that same feel which was the reason why it received a cult following over the years.
Bruce Campbell played the role of Cliff Secord really well, Alan Arkin is terrific as Peabody, and Jennifer Connelly is a lovely Jenny Blake while Timothy Dalton did a fantastic job as Neville Sinclair, whose charm will soon seduce all of the girls in the world.
Incidentally, I'll be watching presently the former James Bond's other appearance in a film sourced from comics the maligned BRENDA STARR (1989).While lead Bill Campbell as a flying ace is somewhat anonymous if still likable, he's surrounded by pros Alan Arkin, marvelous as his mentor/mechanic; the delectable Jennifer Connelly at her loveliest (with prominent cleavage to boot) as his star-struck girl who becomes a pawn in the subsequent powerplay; Ed Lauter as a hard-boiled yet incompetent Fed; and, of course, Dalton himself who gleefully lampoons matinée idols and Errol Flynn in particular (since the film he's currently working on faithfully reproduces part of the climax of THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD [1938], but replacing the witty dialogue of the original with hilariously stilted lines!).
With this in mind, the film features 'guest appearances' by the likes of Clark Gable, W.C. Fields and Howard Hughes (who, given the central aviation theme of the narrative gets a sizeable part though, obviously, no mention is made of the notorious OCD complex which plagued him throughout his entire life).Despite its generous length (108 minutes), as I said, the film is tremendously entertaining and looks handsome into the bargain providing wonderful characterizations (including a thug/hit-man rendered even more sinister and imposing by the effects of acromegaly!), effortless charm, tongue-in-cheek humor (the design of the Rocketeer's helmet itself being delightfully wacky) and, naturally, plenty of rousing action (capped by a climax set aboard a Zeppelin)..
Joe Johnston does almost exactly the same job as director as he did with HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS, creating an effects-heavy adventure in which he's more focused on stylistics and visuals than he is on real 'meat'.Inevitably comparisons can be made to the modern-day superhero likes of IRON-MAN, although inevitably the special effects of THE ROCKETEER aren't so great, although they're still pretty good for their era.
The movie suffers a fair bit from Bill Campbell's ultra-bland lead - bad guy Timothy Dalton would have been much better - although there's fun to be had from the Rondo Hatton tribute and a still-gorgeous Jennifer Connelly as the love interest..
If you like to watch movies about a hero with small town American values who beats up foreigners who hate us for our freedom, then "The Rocketeer" is the film for you.
Covered in a near spaceman-like helmet and riding jacket(a look that has Peevy thinking Cliff looks like "a hood element"),he becomes the title character,and will need his speed and bravery to rescue(among others)his starry-eyed up-and-comer of a actress girlfriend Jenny(Jennifer Connelly,stunningly beautiful as usual but not asked to flex much range here as she's been known to).Some very good turns here by freshly un-Bonded Timothy Dalton(As the Errol Flynn-like Neville Sinclair,a screen idol with nefarious designs),Paul Sorvino(as a truly Edward G.Robinson/James Cagney-like gangster),Tiny Ron(as a monstrous Nazi thug)and Jon Polito(as a sleazy promoter)add to the kind of brash,retro charm of this film.
Billy Campbell was actually extremely believable in this and, honestly, I don't think that they could have found anyone better to play the evil Nazi Erroll Flynn styled actor than James Bond's Timothy Dalton.But, also, I always kind of feel that Campbell has gotten the short end of the acting stick.In all honesty, it's really a horribly fin superhero movie, right down to that amazing retro 1930s serial feel.The entire thing was great and warranted far more fan fare than it received..
This in case is a young Jennifer Connelly, sorrily underused as DID (damsel-in-distress) Jenny Blake.Like RAIDERS and the other Indiana Jones films behind it, THE ROCKETEER is a festive of stunts, action scenes and special effects.
Alan Arkin is great as the mechanic/best friend/conscience of good and evil, Timothy Dalton plays an over-the-top Errol Flynn-esque film hero/Nazi spy.
The movie is exciting fresh and thats in 2001.ten years after it was made.only now is Joe Johnston getting the praise he deserves thanks to his brill jurassic park 3.bill campbell is likable as the rocketeer.jennifer connelly is absolutely beautiful.and timothy dalton steals the show proving he could do humour.i loved him as bond but if he had played it with the same twinkle in his eye.even moore didnt get it right until the third.this is a must see.disney should make another one of these where the rocketeer has to battle a army of nazi rocketeers.come on we want another.one of the best music scores ever.a classic movie that wont date like terminator 2.
I don't know much about Bill Campbell, but the presence of Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin, Timothy Dalton and Paul Sorvino should have improved the movie a lot more. |
tt1129415 | The Daisy Chain | From the critically acclaimed director of Song For A Raggy Boy, and starring double Oscar-nominee Samantha Morton, THE DAISY CHAIN is a chilling supernatural thriller of obsession, superstition and fear. Blending the unsettling atmosphere of The Wicker Man with the terrifying scenario of Rosemarys Baby, THE DAISY CHAIN explores the dark side of the heart in a way that will devastate audiences everywhere
Tomas and Martha are a couple still in the fresh grip of young love, despite suffering a recent tragedy that has left them heartbroken. Resolute and etermined to get on with life, the pair decide to move back to Tomass home village in the remote Irish countryside, keen to start afresh and to put their unspoken devastation behind them.
As Tomas always hoped, Martha is instantly won over by the breathtaking beauty of their new home. Perched on the cliffs above the North Atlantic, the village is as quaint and as peaceful as they could have hoped - the perfect place to settle down for the imminent birth of their second child.
But tragedy seems to have followed them. Not long after their arrival, they are shocked by the apparent suicide of another young couple also recently bereaved following the mysterious death of their son who set fire to their home in a strangely ritualistic act of violence. Their seven year old daughter survived the fire. Her name is Daisy.
Appalled by this turn of events, Martha sees Daisy as a lost soul in need of love and support, and she quickly persuades Tomas to let the young child stay in their new home. Uncommunicative and clearly disturbed by the tragedy that befell her parents, Daisy is a strange and unsettling presence in their life, but Marthas own tragic history and a growing sense of insecurity makes her recognise the damaged young girl as a kindred-spirit, who can be nursed back to happiness with love and affection.
But soon, the whispering starts. The locals, steeped in folktales, mythology and superstition, begin to question Daisys origins. They tell stories of faeries and changelings, local malevolent spirits that spoil crops, sour milk, steal children But Martha doesnt understand surely they can see that Daisy is just a troubled young girl? An innocent child, cruelly victimiised by her parents, and then witch-hunted by a perverse and outdated community, governed more by superstition than by reason. Daisys just an innocent young child. Isnt she? In the tradition of The Others and The Omen, THE DAISY CHAIN delivers an emotional and terrifying punch.emotional and terrifying punch. [D-Man2010] | fantasy | train | imdb | Mediocre horror with beautiful cinematography..
Female directors are too rare, particularly those willing to approach the horror genre.
Walsh uses the beautiful Western Irish coast to create a bleak atmosphere of isolation and vulnerability.
The plot is somewhat obvious, a young couple move away from the bright lights of London to raise a family, the wife is pregnant, and the husband has inherited his childhood home in Ireland, but the neighbour's child Daisy is suspected of being a fairy changeling, born in a fairy ring on Halloween.
The Neighbour's son is killed under mysterious circumstances and the parents are soon to follow, the child is then adopted by the London couple, the motivation for this aspect of the plot is addressed but remains unconvincing.
The superstitious locals become increasingly scared of young Daisy.
The film lacks originality but has some redeeming qualities, the child actress Mhairi Anderson who plays Daisy is remarkable, providing a genuinely disturbing performance, the cinematography and score combine to give the film a unique character that is tense and compelling.
The theme of fairies and the supernatural remains unaddressed which is frustrating, it is never made clear whether the girl suffers from autism, is very disturbed or is really a fairy changeling, a question left unanswered deliberately by the director, but in a clumsy way, that doesn't encourage the audience to feel sympathy for the girl, who is properly identified neither as victim nor as aggressor.
Despite the flaws The Daisy Chain, a combination of Straw Dogs and the Wicker Man, is a beautiful and at times moving addition to the horror genre..
Intelligent horror that reminds us of what it is to be different.
What a strange and beautiful film this is.
An intelligent horror with the underlying themes of motherhood and loss.
A movie that reminds us all of what it is to be an outsider in a tight knit community and what it is to be different.
Morton plays outsider and expectant mother Martha who has lost her first baby through cot death.
Pregnant at the time of filming this is a brave choice for Morton who looks amazing!!!
Steven Mackintosh plays the steady school teacher husband Thomas.
A departure for Mackintosh and one that shows just how wide a range he's capable of playing.
Into their lives comes a young girl called Daisy.
This role is played by Marie Anderson who's first film this is and although mostly silent throughout she is riveting.
She sets Morton and Mackintosh against one another as she inhabits their every waking hour and we slowly start to fear for their unborn child.
The wildness of the landscape adds an eerie dimension against which the story is played out.
Is Daisy the uncared for child that the community have abandoned or is she the fairy changeling that some say she is????.
A haunting and beautiful film that will stay with you for a long time.
I saw this film at a sold out screening at the recent Raindance Film Festival.
It is a beautiful piece of work both haunting and affecting.
Samantha Morton gives an amazing performance as does Steven Mackintosh but it is newcomer Mhairi Anderson's perfectly judged performance as the waif Daisy that stays with you and keeps you guessing right up until the end.
Shot in the magical but often bleak landscape of the West of Ireland this is a haunting and beautiful film that will stay with you for a long time.
Another very very fine film from one of Europe's finest female directors whose individual voice and point of view is always interesting.
Congratulations..
Horror That Creeps Rather Than Jumps..
Horror movies, such as they are, remain a fairly uniformed experience.
Despite the buckets of viscus and brains that are unashamedly tossed around the screen they typically conform to certain expectations; 15 jumps minimum, casual brutal violence and characters so wooden they have to chop them to pieces to prove they're homosapiens.Horrors that have stood the test of time, The Fly, The Shining, Don't Look Now, The Exorcist, The Wickerman all have one thing in common; they shied away from quick thrills.
Using relatively few easy jumps and the bare minimum of bloodshed, they work on a purer level of dread.
Daisy Chain does just this.The first thing that impresses is the direction.
Aisling Walsh, best known for 2003's Song for a Raggy Boy, may not be working from a script of her own but the direction is calculated and assured.
The imagery retains a painterly quality, the sets are draped in a muddy colour scheme which makes the outside grim and the inside soft and warm.
Images such as the removal of the cross from the wall (only to have left an impression on the wall) and the barren wasteland quality to the setting (shot in County Mayo) leave each shot with a resonant bleakness that is nearly as harrowing as the story itself.The acting from the entire cast is solid but the highlight must be newcomer Mhairi Anderson, playing the eponymous Daisy.
The child actor shifts between menace, and adorable with impressive subtlety.
Between playfully skipping around to suddenly kissing Samantha Morton directly on the lips, the kid manages to scare the bejesus out of you by doing very little.And while people do get killed in this film we usually only see the end of the event rather than the beginning.
The characters don't delve into hysterics, nor do they stupidly allow themselves to be a vulnerable for long.
Instead life is shown to be normal despite the abnormal circumstances.
The mayhem surrounding the main characters is only a by product of the strange intangible fear that exists within the (albeit hazard free) household.
Shots are longer and issues are more repressed- living with Daisy proves to be more scary than living without (in the greater sense of the word).Trust independent film making to lean toward the aforementioned classics above (Daisy Chain even features one or two nods to The Wickermna) and having the understanding to know what really affects in horror.
Daisy Chain doesn't make you jump out of your seat, it instead creeps under your skin and lasts for days..
Decently done.
The Daisy Chain is a pretty decent "spooky kid" thriller that kept me watching and interested throughout.
It focuses on the experience of a couple (the wife is pregnant) who move to rural Ireland (or is it Wales?
) to escape the big city and the traumatic miscarriage of their first child.
They eventually adopt a young girl named Daisy after her baby brother and parents die under mysterious circumstances.It was well acted and well scripted as well.
I found the atmosphere of the setting to be creepy and dismal enough to add to the general feeling of doom and gloom.
I've got a soft spot for movies about dark children, and this one did not disappoint.
As other reviewers have mentioned, it's not filled with cheap scares or gore.
I think that "creepy" is probably the word most often used in comments on this page, so I'll stick with it.
My one complaint is that I found the ending to be less than satisfying, but I suppose that is fairly minor overall..
Daisy, Daisy give me your answer do...
If you like films without unanswered questions and ambiguity then this film isn't for you.
I normally like to discuss these ambiguities and unanswered questions with other but this films ending was very unsatisfying.
It left a gap hard to fill.
The scenery was pleasing and was generally well acted.
The movie was dependent on the charm and eyes of Daisy.
I can't deny that she is charming but the film is a little to in love with her.
The plot is predictable.
Predictable plots are fine if the ride to the conclusion is enjoyable enough.
Despite the charm of the film, the solid acting and lovely Irish scenery this film is seriously lacking.
When a film is lacking something I can't help comparing it to other spooky child films.If you like gore then this one isn't for you.
This film is about suspense and human drama.
This film is very accessible for those with a low horror tolerance.
If horror film were based on curries then this would be tikka masala..
English couple move to Ireland after the death of there child and find themselves fostering a problem child..
This had to be one of the worst movies I have seen.
From beginning to end it was predictable I can't remember the number of times I was able to "call" what happened next.Plot and Script very "High School".
Would advise anyone not to bother and take a pass on this one.At the beginning I had hopes for something like "The Wicker Man" but the similarities ended at the accent.I don't know what more I can say about this movie I feel like I just wasted the last hour and 20 min and I hope this review will dissuade at least one person from wasting there time watching it.
This is a definite pass 3 thumbs down in this room..
Truly Unique & Very Frightening.
Now this is storytelling!
With all of the drivel out there trying hard to pass itself off as Horror, in comes this film with its superb acting and terribly terrifying plot.
Ireland has never seemed so scary!
(I lived there for a year, saw some strange things, etc.
but thank God never saw anything like this!) I give this one a 10 because there are no flaws, and the finale is both tender and utterly shocking!
There's been no film made like this before, and it would be a good thing not to begin a trend or franchise with this one.
Leave it as the singular gem it is, and enjoy!.
Just not worth the effort.
(37%) The sort of film Hammer would have released back in the early 60's as a B- picture to a more memorable film.
The plot itself is somewhat interesting, but it still sort of defies logic as adoption laws in the UK are filled with red tape, but what really lets this down the most of all is the fact that it just doesn't know what to do with itself toward the later stages with a quite poor ending capping off an already so-so film.
The performances throughout are acceptable, with Samantha Morton supplying the strongest aspect, and some of the location work is good; but this still struggles to both scare and fill its quite short runtime even with an unneeded sub-plot surrounding Steven Mackintosh's character.
Overall it's too good to be a must-see bad film, and not good enough to be plain good..
They are saying she's a Faerie Changeling..
The Daisy Chain is directed by Aisling Walsh and stars Samantha Morton, Steven Mackintosh, Mhairi Anderson and David Bradley.Grieving over the loss of their first child to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, newly pregnant couple Martha and Tomas decide to leave England and live on the Irish coast.
They settle in quickly and things seem to be going well, but when their neighbours house burns down, leaving young Daisy an orphan, Martha and Tomas decide to foster care for Daisy in spite of her being a little different and introverted.
Soon enough bad things seem to befall people who come into contact with Daisy, leading to the locals to suspect she may be something terrible from Irish folklore.OK!
There's some pretty venomous reviews of this out there in internet land, but really it's a very well constructed creeper that's not without intelligence.
Firstly it needs to be noted that this is not a horror film as such, anyone searching for a scare fest or Omen like shocks are in for the biggest of disappointments.
Secondly, taking some time out to read something about the legends of Faerie Changeling's will significantly improve your viewing experience.
Walsh's movie firmly deals in the realm of superstitious legend, adds in a heart aching strand involving surrogacy via grief, and then lets it play out in ethereal beats till the chilling conclusion is reached.Morton and young Anderson are superb, the former stoic of motherly instincts but still emotionally cracked underneath, the latter a pallid and unnerving presence that haunts the picture even without much dialogue.
The photography around the coastal hillside location is stripped back for realism purpose, it may be beautiful terrain, but there's a greyness hanging in the air, suitably so as well.
The musical score is a touch irritating, and Walsh is guilty of over doing the slow burn approach, but this definitely has more going for it than has previously been said.
Not one to rush out and buy for sure, but certainly worthy of TV time on proviso you understand the Faerie thematics at work first.
Q: Do you believe in fairies?
The above Q and A took place after last night's debut screening at the Raindance film festival in London, an abrupt exchange between an audience member and the film's director, Aisling Walsh.
And frankly, for me, her disbelief is the problem.
For if she doesn't believe, how can she expect us to?
(I have not included spoilers for the film's ending; I only tell the basic set up.)The Daisy Chain is set in a remote corner of Ireland, but even here the locals (bar your one token nut who nobody's ever going to listen to) do not believe in fairies anymore.
Nonetheless, living amongst them is a 'fairy changeling', an autistic 10-year old Daisy who, with no more reason than that of a petulant child, is using her supernatural powers to kill off anyone who would get in the way of her mission to find someone to play with.
Schoolteacher (Stephen MacIntosh) returns to his hometown with his heavily pregnant wife Martha (played by a heavily pregnant Samantha Morton); they are escaping from London, where their first child died aged only 3 weeks.
Very soon Daisy's little brother and parents die in mysterious accidents and Martha, against her husband's escalating alarm, is stepping in as foster mum.
If you think you know where this is all heading by now, you're probably right.
Comparisons with The Omen are inevitable.
Apart from the setting and substituting a fairy-changeling for the Devil, this is basically a copy, with pretty much the same clichéd twists and psychological 'thrills'.
The difference is in the level of belief.
OK, so The Omen was made in the Dark Ages (1976) when many people still at least half-believed in the Devil.
Today nobody does.
But however silly the story, every highly-researched detail of The Omen carries utter conviction in its pompous, claustrophobic self so that even today, the viewer is still compelled to suspend disbelief and take that ride.
The Daisy Chain clearly lacks belief in itself (or much apparent research) as is evident from unnecessarily sloppy plotting, and from supporting characters and subplot strands that insubstantially manifest out of nowhere and go nowhere.
Ironically, Ms Walsh (the director) seems to have lost sight of all this as a result of herself being mesmerised by the beguiling face of promising newcomer Mhairi Anderson (who plays Daisy), just as Martha in the film falls helplessly under Daisy's spell.
Mhairi's perfectly fairy/urchin-like face and unsettling stare dominates the film but, as effective as she is, this cannot make up for the lack of scripted thrills.
I sensed that much of the audience's enthusiasm afterwards was projected toward Mhairi's presence.
Certainly, those around me with stretching necks looked eager and relieved to confirm that Mhairi is actually a sweetly charming and not-at-all evil young lady.
Phew!The post-viewing Q and A session held one other surprise that possibly explains some of these problems but prompts other questions.
Watching the film, it was immediately apparent that Samantha Morton (whose films I usually always love) was heavily pregnant during the making of the film.
Was Samantha boldly (and unsuperstitiously) taking method acting a step beyond?
No. It turns out that in the original script Martha was NOT pregnant, and that the script was re-written at a very late stage to embrace this casting coup.
This revelation left me reeling.
For, as the film now stands, Martha's pregnancy is absolutely central and essential to the entire story.
In fact, without it, there would be nothing left but Daisy's face.And I still don't get why it's called The Daisy Chain..
'Shut up Daisy, you miserable little fecker!'.
An Irishman brings his neurotically pregnant English wife home to the Irish Republic, where the local villagers are just as weird as you'd expect.
Following a tragic house fire they adopt a troubled girl named Daisy.
The wife is besotted but the husband has suspicions.
As tensions between the parents and their adopted daughter become unbearable, a sinister secret emerges.
Stars Michael Finn Seamus McDonnell O'Flahahaherty as Matthew McDonagh.I rate The Daisy Chain at 9.99 on the Haglee Scale, which works out as a dismal 3/10 on IMDb. |
tt0114180 | Prime Suspect: Inner Circles | At a country club with a golf course, a man leaves in a car while he looks at an older man, James (Anthony Bate). Next, we see the same man, Denis (Gareth Forwood), visiting his mother (Phillida Sewell) in a nursing home. He tells her he will sort things out; she has trouble remembering who he is. Next, three men enter a house at night in order to catch someone who has been seen breaking into the house. Inside, a young man and woman are having sex, but are soon chased out of the house; the man gets away. The police arrive just as one of the men goes back into the house to look for the owner. He finds Denis hanging from a rope, dead and half naked.A man in bed silences his pager, a woman looks at him blamingly. Police officers at the scene of the crime wait for DCI Raymond, who is not returning their calls. Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren) is in her office on the phone with Mike Keenan, but is paged to assist with the murder investigation. She is happy to get something to do other than crunching numbers and is soon at the scene. She learns from an officer, Booth (Thomas Craig), that Denis Carradine lived alone in his mother's house and that he was the manager of the Huntington Country Club. Tennison sets a search in motion for the escaped man, then goes to Hadley Green police station to see the girl who was caught, Sheila Bower (Julie Rice). She turns out to be underage, and Tennison calls in a social worker as well as reinforcements for the investigation. Meanwhile, Booth informs Denis's mother of her son's death.The next morning, Tennison has Richard Haskons (Richard Hawley) by her side, and they gather the local team, including officers Booth and Bakari (Cristopher John Hale) as well as female officer Christine Cromwell (Sophie Stanton). Tennison fills them in on what is known so far and gives them instructions; she says the break-in may be drugs-related, but also thinks there might be a sexual aspect because of the scarf Carradine was wearing. Tennison interrogates Sheila Bower, who denies having killed Carradine. DCI Raymond (Ralph Arliss) walks in during the interrogation, but Tennison takes him outside. He says he can take over the investigation now, but Tennison insists she will stay in charge.Bakari and Cromwell go to the country club to ask about Carradine. They are shown into managing director James Greenlees's office and snoop around until he enters. He has already heard the bad news; he tells them that Carradine had recently retired from his position at the club. Tennison and Haskons listen to the forensic, who concludes that Carradine did not kill himself. The house has been robbed and much of the interior damaged. Meanwhile, house-to-house inquiries pay off when the police find the man who got away, Michael Thomas (Jonathan Copestake), at a housing estate called Larchmont. As they chase him he runs into the street and is hit by a van.At the hospital, Tennison is angry that the search ended up with the suspect in a coma. Back at the station, the team learns that Carradine had re-mortgaged the house, yet was still in dept and struggling to pay his bills. James Greenlees comes to see Tennison about the way he found Bakari and Cromwell handling some letters in his office, and she reprimands them, telling Cromwell she should expect no favours just because she's a woman. Booth interviews Mrs. Henry (Jill Baker), Carradine's solicitor and childhood friend, who says he was a lonely man. At her office, Tennison asks Haskons out for a drink, but he has to go home. She is also informed that Michael Thomas has died. Tennison goes for a drink on her own and meets DCI Raymond, who is with Cromwell at the bar. He tells her she shouldn't think she can come and teach them how to do their job.At the country club, a man named Paul Endicott (James Laurenson) is at the bar commanding his son, Hamish (Nick Patrick), to serve him quicker. Paul's wife (Helene Kvale) is at a table talking to solicitor Maria Henry about how her life with Paul has suffered since he was suspended from his job at the council. Mrs. Henry tries to speak to Paul about something important. Tennison goes shopping; she gets two big bottles of liquor. From her car she phones Dr. Paul Schofield, who she met on her previous case, but gets his answering machine.The next day, Tennison goes to see the pathologist, who gives her his findings: Whoever killed Carradine tried to make it look like Carradine had died by erotic autostrangulation. Superintendent Kernan (John Benfield) comes to see Tennison and takes her out for breakfast. There will be an investigation into Michael Thomas's death, and Kernan thinks Tennison has overstayed her welcome at Hadley Green. She convinces him that Michael and Sheila did not kill Carradine and that she should stay and solve the case. In return, he makes her promise to go to a meeting with the Police Consultative Committee, the head of which is James Greenlees.Tennison goes to the station and tells the squad to start looking for the real killer. She informs Sheila Bower of Thomas's death, and Bowen accuses the police of killing him. It's Christine Cromwell, who like Bowen grew up in the estates, who ends up convincing her to speak. Sheila and Michael were breaking into a different house at the time of Carradine's death. The police also look into Carradine's economy; he paid a large sum to a company based in Bahamas, which is also linked to Mrs. Henry's law firm. Mrs. Henry declines comment due to attorney-client confidentiality.Booth and Bakari talk to bartender Hamish at the country club. He tells them Carradine had been stealing from the club for months and covering it up by fiddling the books. He says the club just found out the week before and that DCI Raymond was brought in to deal with the matter. Tennison confronts Raymond with this information, and he admits that he kept it a secret. Meanwhile, we see Maria Henry's daughter Polly (Kelly Reilly), first inviting a man, Geoff (Thomas Russell), into the house she lives in with her mother, then at the club talking to Hamish; Hamish expresses his dislike for his father.A witness has given a description of a woman seen visiting Carradine's house earlier in the day on which he was killed. The description matches Maria Henry, and Tennison and Haskons go to see her again; she refuses having been in contact with Carradine on the day of the murder and presents an alibi. They also go to Burdett House, a property purchased by the Bahamas-based company from the local council at a price may may have been much less than what it was worth. At the Consultative Committee meeting, Tennison defends the fact that Sheila Bower has been released, then learns that the sale of Burdett House underwent an investigation headed by Greenlees and leading to Paul Endicott's suspension.In the morning, Tennison learns that Denis Carradine's car has been found torched in front of Mrs. Henry's house that night. Mrs. Henry has no explanation. The team look into the financial dealings of the people involved. Haskons interviews Mr. Greenlees, who tells him Denis Carradine was a homosexual and needed money for prostitutes. The interview is interrupted by Raymond. At the country club, Polly and Geoff are at the bar, and Geoff and Hamish have an argument. Mrs. Henry comes in to take Polly away, but is interrupted by the police, who want her to identify a man in a photograph taken of Carradine's stolen car. The photo looks a lot like Geoff, but she says she doesn't recognize him. Tennison and Cromwell go see Paul Endicott to ask him about the sale of Burdett House, but he is unwilling to talk.At the meeting of the local council, headed by James Greenlees, there is shouting and disorder over irregularities in the council's work. When Greenlees sees Cromwell in the crowd she accuses her and Tennison of politicizing. Mike Kernan calls Tennison in and announces she and Cromwell are both off the case and that he will have no more conspiracy theories, but Tennison hints that sensitive information may end up in the papers if she doesn't get her way. At the station, Tennison tells Cromwell that she's not suspended.Meanwhile at Maria Henry's house, Paul Endicott has stayed the night, whereas Polly has stayed out all night with Geoff. We see Polly and Geoff together at his flat at Larchmont Estate. He attacks her, and Polly comes to the police station to press charges. Tennison talks to her, and when Polly gives a description of Geoff she realizes he might be who they're looking for. But when she and the team go to pick him up he is dead in his flat. A witness says a man and a redheaded woman knocked on Geoff's door a while ago.Maria Henry is called in for questioning. Cromwell asks her about the sale of Burdett House, which was sold cheaply to Carradine by the council, but which became worthless when the irregularity was discovered and the valuable planning permissions were withdrawn; Henry denies any involvement. Tennison asks her about her relationship with Paul Endicott, but she denies that they are more than friends. Tennison asks her about Geoff, and she denies knowing him. Tennison tells her she thinks she and Endicott had first Denis and then Geoff killed, but Maria Henry is a lawyer and knows Tennison can't prove it.Tennison and Cromwell interrogate Paul Endicott. He protests his innocence, but they pressure him. He gives a statement that it was Maria Henry who paid Geoff to kill Carradine and then killed Geoff. However, forensic evidence from the flat does not provide evidence against Henry nor Endicott. They continue the interrogation of Maria Henry, but she still denies the allegations, saying Endicott is a drunk and a liar. James Greenlees comes by to ask that Endicott be released, and Tennison bites his head off.Hamish Endicott has been brought in. He confesses that he killed Geoff because someone told him Geoff had raped Polly. He won't say who. Instead, Tennison interrogates Polly Henry, with her mother by her side. Tennison tells Polly she could go to prison if she was the one who made Hamish kill Geoff, but also makes sure Polly understands that it was really Maria. Polly's pain finally breaks Maria's facade. She admits everything.Tennison and Cromwell share a cigarette outside the station and talk about politics. | murder | train | imdb | null |
tt0065143 | L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo | In the opening credits, a person, unseen except for a black-leather gloves and wearing a dark coat, takes photos of a young woman walking the streets of Rome. The next day, the woman is found murdered. The third mysterious killing in several months.Sam Dalmas (Tony Musante) is an American writer currently living in Rome with his model girlfriend Julia (Suzy Kendall). Sam meets with Carlo (Renato Romano) who gives him a check for his most recent gig. But after two years of not writing anything, Sam is practically broke. He tells Carlos that he plans to leave Italy and return to the USA with Julia. On his way home that night, Sam passes a small art gallery where he witnesses the attack of a woman (Eva Renzi) by a mysterious black-gloved assailant dressed in a raincoat. Attempting to reach her, Sam is trapped between two mechanically-operated glass doors and can only watch as the villain makes his escape after stabing the woman.Eventually the police arrive and Sam discusses what he saw to Inspector Morosini (Enrico Maria Salerno). Sam says that he knows where was something odd about the scene, but he cannot place what's wrong about it. The police take Sam to the police station where they interrogate him all night. In the morning, Sam is permitted to leave, but Morosini takes his passport because he considers Sam an important witness and must not leave Italy. Morosini tells Sam that they have been three unresolved murders and that a "dangerous maniac" is loose in Rome. Sam phones the airport to cancel his airplane reservation and heads back to his apartment. On his way back, someone swings a meat cleaver at his head, but an elderly woman on the street warns him just in time. The black raincoat killer flees before Sam can identify him.Later that day, Sam goes back to the police station to report his attack and he is told that a black-leather glove was found at the crime scene and has been analyzed. Apparently, the attacker was left-handed and a smoker. Sam goes to the hospital to visit the woman who was attacked whom is Monica Ranieri (Eva Renzi), the wife of the gallery's owner Alberto Ranieri (Umberto Raho). Alberto asks Sam for a cigarette and Sam tosses his pack to Alberto who catches it with his left hand.A few days later, the unseen killer is seeking out additional women to kill by staking out the local racetrack. Meanwhile, Sam and Julia research the previous victims. Sam visits an antique shop where the first victim worked, and the flamboyantly gay owner tells Sam that a painting was sold that night of the woman's disappearance. The owner lets Sam borrow a black-and-white copy of the painting which consists of a woman being attacked in the snow of a local park.Morosini visits Sam at his home and tells him about the most recent murder and takes him to the police station. There, Morosini returns Sam's passport. By now, Sam has decided to stay and investigate the killings by himself. Morosini tells Sam that he will have a police detective follow the writer around for protection since the killer now is after him for seeing the attempt on Monica Ranieri. After Sam visits Alberto again at his home near the art gallery, Monica is there having returned home from the hospital and thanks him for saving her life. Next, Sam goes to a local prison where the second victim's pimp is there serving time where he asks information about the killer.That evening, Sam and Julia are walking down a dark street with the police detective tailing them, a black car appears and runs over the detective. While the black-clad unseen driver heads off, the car's passenger, a strange-looking man in a yellow jacket (Reggie Nalder) jumps out and pursues the couple with a gun. Julia gets away, but Sam is chased by both the yellow jacket assasin on foot and the black-jacket killer in the black car. After a chase through the streets and a local junkyard, Sam runs out onto a busy street. Sam realizes that the yellow jacket killer will not kill him with witnesses around, Sam then becomes the pursuer. But he loses the yellow jacket assasin who ducks into a hotel meeting room full of yellow jacket men.The next day, Sam visits the pimp in jail again who tells him that he knows a man who can help. Soon after, another man arrives at Sam's apartment and after he is given money, says he will contact Sam later to find out the idenity of the yellow jacket man who chased him. Then, the killer phones Sam and Julia at their apartment and threatens to kill them. The killer also phones the police station and taunts Morosini with planing to do more killings. Sam and Julia visit the police station where they listen to the recorded phone call where they hear a mysterious creaking sound in the background.The hired man returns to Sam's apartment and give him the name and address of the yellow-jacketed shooter. Sam goes to the small aparment of 'Needles', but finds the assasin dead from an apparent drug overdose. Later, Sam and Morosini are told by a voice annalyst that Sam's recorded call and an phone call to the police station placed to Morosini were made by two seperate people. Sam's friend Carlo hears the background noise and says that it sounds familiar. He takes the tape to listen some more. Meanwhile, the killer strikes again and kills another woman, named Tina, who returns to her apartment after an outing with her boyfriend.When Sam and Julia agree that things have gone too far for them, they make plans to return to America. But the next flight will not be until two days from now. Sam decides to visit the painter of the eerie painting, who lives in a run-down house on the outskirts of Rome. The eccentric artist tells Sam that he witnesses the event of the assault on the girl from over 10 years ago. Back in Rome, Julia is alone in Sam's apartment when the unseen killer pays her a threatening visit. Sam returns just in time, and Julia is saved, but the killer has already fled yet again.The next day, Carlo arrives where he tells them that he has finally identified the background noise on the tape which is the sound of a rare bird that can only live in Northern Siberia, and the only one that resides in Rome is in the local zoo. Sam and the police arrive at the zoo and realize that it is near the apartment of Alberto and Monica. When they burst into the apartment, the couple are struggling over a knife. When the police intervene, Alberto flees and falls out a window to his death on the street below. As he is dying after the fall, he admits to being the murderer.With the case apparently wraped up, Sam cannot find Julia who had run out of Alberto's apartment with Carlo and Monica. When Sam tracks them down to a small apartment a few blocks away (the same apartment the killer resides in), he finds Carlo dead and a bound and gagged Julia on the floor. Sam turns around and sees a snickering and wild-eyed Monica holding a knife. At this point, Sam finally remembers what he saw that night: it was not Monica being attacked but it was her husband Alberto trying to stop an attack on HIM! Sam chases Monica through the dark hallways and it leads right back to the art gallery where it all started. Monica drops a heavy sculpture down on Sam, pinning him to the floor. Before she can utilize her knife, the police arrive and subdue Monica.It is revealed by Inspector Morosini that Monica was a victim of a sexual assault and lived with the trauma of it for many years. In a transference-of-guilt, Monica imposed upon herself as the assailent and killed all those women as a way of re-enacting the assault on her and her loyal husband Alberto covered up for her and was the one trying to kill Sam to prevent him from finding out of his wife's murderous activities. With the case finally wraped up, Sam and Julia fly back to America. | insanity, suspenseful, horror, atmospheric | train | imdb | null |
tt2053425 | De rouille et d'os | Alain van Versch, an unemployed father in his mid 20s known as Ali, arrives in Antibes, southern France, to look for work to support his young son, Sam. Having no money, he crashes with his sister Anna, who already has her own share of problems with money and temporary employment.
Ali gets a job as a bouncer in a nightclub but still keeps his passion burning for fighting. On a usual evening in the night club, Ali meets Stéphanie and escorts her safely to her home after she is injured in a brawl at the club. She works at a local marine tourist park where she suffers a tragic accident during a show and wakes up in the hospital to realize that her legs have been amputated.
Ali meets a guy at work who informs him about a kick boxing fixture he can make money from. Stéphanie, now in a wheelchair and trying to adjust to her life without legs, is terminally depressed and gives Ali a call. Ali visits her and takes her to a beach where Stéphanie forgets her self-consciousness and feels freedom when Ali carries her out to the ocean to swim.
Over a period of time, Ali and Stéphanie spend a lot of time together. and Stéphanie starts to feel better about herself in Ali's company. She gets artificial limbs and starts to walk again. Stéphanie accompanies Ali to his mixed martial arts fights and is surprised to learn he has a son.
After a frank discussion, Ali offers to have sex with Stéphanie to help her adjust to her new body and their friendship then evolves to include casual sex, although Stéphanie prevents any true intimacy by telling Ali that there will be no kissing during their encounters.
Ali, Stéphanie, and some friends visit the same night club where Ali used to work. Ali goes to the dance floor and flirts with a girl as Stéphanie watches curiously. Ali goes away with the girl leaving a surprised and dejected Stéphanie with other friends. A man at the bar tries to kiss her but she backs away from him revealing her prosthetic legs. Looking down at her aluminum legs in her skirt, the man apologizes to her and Stéphanie flies into a rage throwing a glass and attacking the man. She has to be escorted out of the club.
The next day a hurt Stéphanie sullenly questions Ali about their relationship status. She tells him that if they continue having casual sex, they have to respect each other's feelings and be more discreet about their other involvements. Their intimacy increases and Stéphanie, letting down her guard, kisses Ali igniting true intimacy. Stéphanie also begins managing Ali's bets for his fighting after his manager leaves town.
Anna is fired from her job when the managers realize she has been taking home expired food products. Anna blames Ali for this, as Ali was involved in an odd job where he installed spy cameras in work areas. He does this at the direction of the management to spy on the activities of their employees. This results in a standoff between Ali and Anna's partner who demands he move out and not to come back.
Ali, feeling guilty and rejected leaves town without a word to Stephanie who is hurt by being thoughtlessly left behind. Sam stays with Anna while Ali goes to a combat sports training facility near Strasbourg (as evidenced by earlier references in the film and the fact that Anna's partner drops Sam off on the way to a delivery in Colmar), losing touch with Stéphanie.
Anna's partner, with her permission, drops off Sam to visit for a day with Ali at the training facility. It is winter and Ali and Sam play in the snow on a frozen lake. A weak spot on the frozen lake cracks and Sam falls through the ice swiftly losing consciousness. He is submerged in the icy waters as Ali turns away momentarily distracted by a call of nature. It takes Ali a while to realize that Sam has fallen through. Once he spots the hole and sees Sam under the ice of the frozen lake, Ali releases a desperate volley of punches to break the surface and is finally able to pull an unconscious Sam out. In the process, Ali fractures almost every bone in his hands.
After carrying him to the hospital a distraught Ali stays at Sam's bed while he's in a coma. Sam survives, coming out of his coma. Stéphanie, who calls after hearing about Sam's accident speaks to Ali at the hospital. Ali breaks down while talking to Stéphanie on the phone and confesses his love for her.
As Ali narrates, he explains how broken bones normally heal stronger than before, but he knows the pain will return in his hands.
After some time passes, Ali is shown celebrating a fight victory in Warsaw as Stéphanie happily watches. After the celebration of the win, Ali and Stéphanie take Sam by the hand and lead him out through the revolving door of a hotel. | violence, realism, flashback | train | wikipedia | null |
tt0097474 | Halloween 5 | The film opens with the last few moments of Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers on October 31, 1988. Rachel Carruthers and Jamie, Michael Myers's 8-year-old niece are being pursued by Michael while in a truck. Michael climbs onto the roof and tries to drive them off the road, but Rachel slams on the brakes, sending Michael slamming onto the gravel below. As he stands up, Rachel floors it and slams into him, sending him flying into a nearby field. At this time, police cars arrive and Rachel leaves the truck to go speak with them, telling Jamie to stay there. But Jamie is too curious and walks over to Michael's lifeless body, taking his hand in hers. Right then, Rachel spots her and yells for her not to touch him. Suddenly, Michael's grip tightens on his knife as he begins to rise. Jamie ducks down as the police begin firing at him. Michael eventually stumbles backwards into an abandoned mine shaft, apparently dead. The police then set up a dynamite, causing the entire shaft to explode, but Michael, who we now know is alive, but mortally wounded, has already managed to crawl out into the river below. Next to the river is a small cottage where a hermit and his pet parrot live. The hermit stands by a stove, stirring something in a pot as the parrot chatters away. Annoyed, the hermit yells at it to be quiet as Michael slowly approaches the cottage outside. The hermit, now suspicious that someone might be outside, ventures out the door, finding nothing at all. As he goes back into the house, Michael suddenly leaps out and grabs him by the neck, but he then falls over, unconscious once again. The hermit stands, shocked, wondering who this strange man in a mask is.The scene then cuts to October 30, 1989, almost a year later. Jamie is in the Haddonfield Children's Clinic, shaking in her bed. She has been attached to several devices and is clearly having a horrific nightmare. She is remembering herself on Halloween, 1988 when she donned the clown costume and murdered her foster mother, Darlene by repeatedly stabbing her with a pair of scissors. Darlene screams and falls into a bathtub, covered in blood. Jamie then rises out of her bed, screaming, attracting the attention of Nurse Patsey, her nurse. But when Nurse Patsey arrives in the room, she dismisses Jamie's hysterics as only a nightmare and leaves.Meanwhile, at the cottage by the river, Michael, still being watched by the hermit, suddenly rises up and puts on his mask, this going unnoticed by the hermit. Jamie, somehow psychologically connected with Michael, envisions this and grabs a chalkboard, writing out "He's coming for me." Michael then creeps up behind the hermit, and grabs him by the neck. The hermit yells in pain as Jamie screams once again. Michael throws the hermit into the air, sending him crashing onto the floor below. Withdrawing his knife, Michael raises it into the air and stabs the hermit. Nurse Patsey goes into Jamie's room once again, this time calling the doctors, who rush Jamie downstairs to an operating room. There, they find Dr. Loomis, who tells them not to do anything, that she will revive soon. The doctors become angry at him, thinking that he only wants her dead, but Jamie soon does as Dr. Loomis predicts.The next morning, Jamie is greeted by Rachel, a surprise visitor. Jamie, in her condition, cannot speak, and they are using signs to talk to each other. After a while, Rachel's friend, Tina, arrives at the window with Max, Jamie's dog. Jamie greets them and Tina reveals a costume that she bought for Jamie, a beautiful pink princess dress. Suddenly, at this moment, Dr. Loomis enters the room, asking what is going on. Tina, a bit frightened, then leaves with Max and Rachel says goodbye to Jamie, telling her that she will return in two days. Outside, Rachel speaks with Dr. Loomis about a note that was found reading: "The evil child must die!" Rachel asks why the people of the town can't understand that Jamie is just a child and is harmless. Dr. Loomis senses the fear in Rachel that this whole ordeal with Michael Myers will start over again, and Rachel leaves to go home with Tina and Max.Upon arriving at Rachel's house, Tina invites her to a teen party at the Tower Farm, but Rachel replies that her parents would kill her if she did something like that. Tina tells her to think about it and leaves. Rachel turns to go inside with Max, who pulls away, barking at something rustling in the trees near the house. Once they get inside, Rachel begins undressing to take a shower and goes to feed Max his dog food. As Rachel goes upstairs to the bathroom, someone stands outside, watching through the window.Meanwhile, at the clinic, the children are decorating a Halloween mural, when suddenly, Jamie senses danger for Rachel and Max. At the Carruthers house, Max stands barking at the back door while Rachel is showering upstairs. Dr. Loomis watches through the door at the clinic as Jamie begins wildly coloring blood-like red all over the mural. This attracts the attention of her friend, Billy Hill, another child at the clinic. He interprets what she is saying and turns to find someone, but Dr. Loomis is already there. While Rachel is in the shower, the phone rings, and, wrapping a towel around her shoulders, runs into the bedroom to answer it. It is Dr. Loomis calling for her to check on Max. Rachel obeys, going downstairs and finds Max gone, the back door open. Rachel then picks the phone back up, reporting that Max has disappeared and Dr. Loomis tells her to leave the house. Rachel, now frightened, hurries to the neighbor's house, finding him working in the garden.Later, after the police have inspected the Carruthers house, Rachel stands outside, nervously pacing back and forth. The police, Deputy Tom and Nick, return, having found nothing in the house. Rachel then inquires about Max, who then comes running down the street. Rachel, completely embarrassed, apologizes to the police. At the clinic, Jamie sits crying at the fact that she was wrong. Billy tries to comfort her, but she only pushes him away. Dr. Loomis begins begging her to tell him where Michael is, but she refuses to speak.Back at the Carruthers house, Rachel finds a cute sweater in her closet and puts it on, not noticing Michael's hand appearing behind the clothes rack. As Rachel looks at herself in the mirror, Michael walks behind her and out of the room. Rachel suddenly feels an evil presence and suspiciously walks down the hallway to Jamie's room. There, she finds Jamie's picture on the floor, the frame shattered. Instantly, Michael appears in the doorway and Rachel sees his reflection in the shattered glass. Spinning around, she screams and is too late as Michael raises a pair of scissors into the air and stabs her in the chest. Jamie, having seen this in a dream, awakes, shaking in her bed at the clinic. Nurse Patsey and the doctor try to calm her.Meanwhile, Dr. Loomis continues to warn Sheriff Meeker about Jamie's convulsions who dismisses it as a trivial matter . He reminds Meeker that his own daughter Kelly was killed by Michael along with many others just a year ago. He shows Meeker his burnt hand which was caused by the explosion at Haddonfield Memorial Hospital back in 1978. Loomis goes on to add that Michael isn't anything but pure evil to the point where even the entity of Hell wouldn't accept him. Officer Markland interrupts the conversation to notify Meeker that he is wanted at the cemetery. Tina arrives at the Carruther's home with groceries. She tries ringing the doorbell, but receives no response. Michael watches Tina inside the house.Tina runs around to the back where Max is chained up in the yard. She reaches for a spare key above the doorframe only to discover that the door was left open. She keeps calling for Rachael but recieves no answer as she enters the kitchen. Michael, watching her every move, stealthily walks from the living room to the hallway. Tina informs Rachael she got her a gift before removing the needle off of the record player. She runs upstairs, laughing, only to look inside of a room and find that Rachael isn't there. She says that she will miss her before she enters a bedroom and looks around. As she grabs a teddy bear off a shelf and lied down onto the bed she suddenly becomes startled by the doorbell. Tina looks out the window to find that it is her friend Sammy. She opens the door only to find that no one is there. Sammy suddenly sneaks up behind her and surprises her. The two embrace. Tina is excited that they have the entire house to themselves for the weekend after it is assumed that Rachael decided to leave the country with her parents. As they leave, Tina returns the spare key to the top of the doorframe. Michael has returned to the living room and watches the girls out the front window. Getting the feeling of being watched, Tina turns around only to find no one at the window.At the clinic, Jamie continues to suffer nightmares. Tina and Sammy arrive at the clinic after Tina expresses an interest in visiting Jamie. They are discussing their plans for the evening as Michael stalks them from a distance. Tina's boyfriend Michael speeds towards the girls in his convertible. Tina hops into the passenger seat when Sammy makes a point that Tina wanted to see Jamie. When Tina postpones, Michael only shakes his head as Sammy aquiesces and gets into the backseat. Jamie hears the revv of the enigne outside which wakes her up. She looks out the window to find Michael staring at her in the distance. She runs towards the front door when suddenly a shadow, presumably Michael's, looms up against the door. Jamie tries to open two other doors but they're locked. After failing to open several other doors, Jamie runs down two flights of stairs to the laundry room where she tears through sheets on clotheslines. She enters the adjoining boiler room where she attempts to climb and hide in a small niche in the wall. The figure following her was only the custodian who calms Jamie down and asks her why she is downstairs. Nurse Patsey enters and also calms Jamie asking if it was one of her dreams again. Jamie shakes her head. She is then returned to her room. Dr. Loomis closes the door. He pleads with Jamie to help him locate and stop Michael reminding her that he made her stab her stepmother. He warns Jamie that she can't hide from him because he will always get to her. Jamie only fears Dr. Loomis and does her best to ignore him. Loomis tells her of the coffin Michael dug up at the cemetery that belonged to an eleven year old girl. He asks Jamie what she thinks he will do with that. Nurse Patsey intervenes and tells Loomis to leave Jamie alone. Loomis continues to offer alliance with Jamie so they can team up and stop Michael together because there is a reason why he has this power over her.Meanwhile, a mysterious man in black clothing with silver-tipped boots exits a Lewis Bros. Stages Bus.Dr. Loomis arrives at the old Myers home armed with a gun. He climbs the front steps and enters through the front door. He looks around for Michael and even calls out is name but receives nothing. Eventually, Michael arrives and kills the cop by banging his head on the dashboard. When Michael gets inside the house, Loomis finds him and tries to reason with him. While attempting to take his knife away, Michael attacks him and goes upstairs. At this time, a police deputy is dangling a rope out of the window and begins to help Jamie climb out. But things do not go according to plan and Michael murders the deputy by hanging him out the window with the rope. However, Jamie manages to run past Michael.She hides in an old laundry chute and is forced to abandon safety after Michael finds her and repeatedly stabs the chute. Michael chases her upstairs. Jamie hides in the attic before spotting Rachel's dog Max hung from a noose, as well as the bodies of Mike and Rachel. Michael finds her, and Jamie tries appealing to her uncle's humanity but ultimately fails after touching Michael's face, sending him into a fit of rage. Loomis appears, using a tranquilizer gun to weaken him and then proceeds to violently beat him unconscious with a wooden plank until Loomis suffers a stroke.In the final scene, Michael is locked up in the sheriff's station, to eventually be escorted to a maximum-security prison. However, the stranger in black arrives and attacks the police station, shooting the officers with a sub-machine gun and causing an explosion. Jamie walks through the station finding the bodies of gunned officers, and goes over to Michael's holding cell to discover that it is empty. The movie ends with Jamie moaning in terror.... | good versus evil, violence, horror, murder | train | imdb | "Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers" was one of the sequels that I wasn't to fond of when first watched it, but after continuous repeat viewings its slightly growing on me, nonetheless still it's not without its problems in what is an unsatisfying exercise.
But by the time you reach this, Part 5, the tension has gone from the series and Michael Myers has descended from a believable shadow-stalking figure into an unkillable Jason 'Friday the 13th' Voorhees clone.For what its worth, the plot of this film involves Myers coming after Jamie, who is now in a childrens' psychiatric hospital after attacking her stepmother.
It seems like every horror movie sequel has to have it, Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street had it, why not include the Halloween franchise as well?
The ending of Halloween 4 had Jamie turning evil, I guess they just totally dropped that idea which could have been great to see, instead we got a silly and typical horror story that was badly acted, edited, and directed.Michael Myers makes his way into a small shack by the river owned by a local hermit.
So if you wanna see the sequels, yeah, do watch it just to see the story continue, but if you are just looking for a scary movie in general, you can skip Halloween 5.5/10.
We're told in the opening moments that Michael Myers (somehow) survived the onslaught of gunfire that was unleashed upon him by Illinois state troopers at the conclusion of Halloween 4 by crawling out of a sewer drain, floating down a river, and taking shelter in a homeless man's secluded makeshift shanty.
Without warning, Michael decides to "off" his caretaker without warning so as to pursue his original plan of finally putting an end to the Myers family name with the murder of his niece, Jamie.I have a few questions about this.First, why was it necessary that the movie take place on year later?
Sure, the psychic connection between Jamie and Michael is a little goofy, ill-explained, beyond the scope of a Halloween movie, and exists for no real reason, and yes, other people wearing a mask similar to Michael and pretending to be Michael is getting old (not to mention predictable.) The mask doesn't resemble any of the previous masks really, the Myers house had an inexplicable make-over .
As for the film's ending, I can't forgive because it lead to the atrocity known as Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers which felt Halloween 5 was extremely flawed but still fun .
The only thing that lifts this picture barely above standard horror, is the performance of Donald Pleasence, his Loomis character really begins to lose the plot in this one.Unquestionably the weakest Michael Myers flick, although Part 6, and Resurrection are only mildly better.
Maybe I cannot describe it because none of it really happened; after all the third Halloween film only included me as part of a television trailer thus disconnecting me from the 'real' world entirely: poor shame.I can get away with anything, because I'm Michael Myers and I'm invincible.
I drive to my new partner's house and pick her up; she dances for me showing me her Halloween costume thinking I'm Michael, which of course I am; she says my name in that wonderful voice she has and attempts conversation but I can't reply for two reasons: it would give the game away and I'm stone cold with adrenaline.
I know that the mask in H4 was trashed during filming but this mask looks like it was made in a kindergarten class.if you were thinking of watching this movie don't.
Luckily I was watching it with someone and was able to riff on it Mystery Science Theater 3000 style instead of going in the other room and slitting my own wrists out of despair that someone actually wasted precious film on this crap.Maybe if they would have given the little girl a blond curly wig, trench coat and an old car horn to honk I could have at least daydreamed myself into a decent Marx Brothers movie.---Shelly.
And I really hate to say it, but I think I liked the Curse of Michael Myers better-and I HATED that movie.
"Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers" is a great sequel that really makes the "Halloween" series great.The cast makes this film great too.It is a year later from the events of "Halloween 4",Michael survived the police and escaped out of a mine,went into a river.A hermit living in the woods,Michael goes to the hermit's home and stayed there the whole year.Jamie Lloyd,Michael Myers's niece is in a children's clinic after she stabbed her foster mother a year ago.Jamie has a telepathic link to Michael.She knows now that he is alive.Michael kills the hermit and is on his way back to Haddonfield.Michael is on his rampage and is looking for Jamie.This time,they know now where he will will strike since Jamie is connected to her uncle.Dr. Loomis is trying to get Jamie to tell him where Michael is at,but Jamie is frightened.Jamie is the only one who can help to stop him.I give this movie 2 thumbs up and 10 stars..
Halloween 5 is slightly better than Halloween 4 in the fact that we see a bit more of Micheal and we get a few more gory killing scenes like with the scissors.The movie uses some more creepy scenes like in the barn house and the Myers house, it may not look the same as the first but it's still creepy.The other scene is the car chase where Micheal is driving after Jamie with the theme music playing that always creeps me out.The Man in Black was another interesting character but sadly we don't enough of him or learn his story until Halloween 6 when his character is revealed, also that symbol that is on Micheal and the Man In Black is also revealed in part 6.A good sequel to the Halloween franchise..
Nothing Special But Not Too Bad. Halloween 5 was one of those films that left one feeling unfulfilled after watching it despite being a fan of the series.Halloween 5 seemed to be trying to emulate the original which just cannot be done.
Set a year after the previous film ended, sequel has Doctor Loomis(Donald Pleasance, still game) trying to help Jamie Lloyd(Danielle Harris) after her mental breakdown from the previous year.
Ellie Cornell returns(all too briefly) as Rachel, and also features a mysterious "man in black", who plays a crucial role at the end...Series hits bottom with this poorly directed and written film that also quite crassly kills a key character, then spends too much time chasing and terrorizing a young girl.
Bad acting, bad effects and a horrible story.They try to surprise us with this guy in black, who has the same tattoo like Michael Myers, although this doesn't fit into the whole Halloween universe.
I recall liking HALLOWEEN 4: THE RETURN OF MICHAEL MYERS (1988) well enough (unfortunately, I lost my reviews for Parts 1, 2 and 4 along with a few others because my computer hard-disk has recently died on me!) – but this takes the franchise back to the mediocrity prevalent in the disappointing second instalment!!
Anyway, the opening shamelessly rips off BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935) with Michael Myers shown to have survived his apparent demise at the end of the previous film; what's stupid, however, is that he should wait a whole year (i.e. the next Halloween) before going after his niece – what the hell is he up to the rest of the year?
Most people point out this movie's faceless characters but again, I would argue that Friday The 13th has done a lot worse when it comes to character development and yet, these films are not criticized for the same reason.While this isn't a great movie and no where close to the original John Carpenter film, I still feel that it includes some of the most epic scenes in the entire series, more so then the highly praised Halloween 4.
Moustapha Akkad therefore looks a lot like the George Lucas of slasher films.Halloween 5 is distinct from the others in the series as being the first since the original to get an R rating in Australia when first released.
Donald Pleasence is not very good in this (he camps it up too much), but Danielle Harris is excellent (again), and the movie at least is not as boringly slow as "Halloween II".
The oddest thing about Halloween 5 is that the film never really ends, it just stops and sets up Halloween:The Curse Of Michael Myers.
A pretty good horror sequel.Halloween 5:The Revenge Of Michael Myers is Rated R for graphic violence, gore, sexuality, brief nudity, and adult language..
Everything: Michael looks stupid, every character makes the single dumbest decision they can make in every moment, the horror is beyond cliche, the acting has reached a new low, the kills are uninspired, the story is vapid...even the lighting is a mess.
This film essentially begins where its predecessor left off with "Michael Myers" (Don Shanks) having been shot several times and then falling down into a deep mine shaft.
And it is now one year later with Michael back in Haddonfield, Illinois looking for "Rachel" (Ellie Cornell) and Jamie-on Halloween.
The film follows them along with Jamie/Loomis leading to an interesting conclusion.'Halloween 5' is definitely the weakest of the original series.
Again Harris puts on a good acting show especially for a child actor as she seems genuinely haunted and harassed by Michael and her visions.Due to the writers Bitterman, Jacobs and Othenin-Girard's prerogative Ellie Cornell returns briefly as Rachel and is sadly missed for the majority of the film, which is a shame given that she set out good foundations for her character in 4.
If Tina, the psychic link and the Man in Black had not been included the film may have perhaps turned out better leaving Loomis, Myers and Jamie being the focal point.
The direction the director went with this movie is strange, there are still the same old themes (murders, Halloween time, Dr. Loomis, the Strode/Myers Family dispute) but this time the movie and Michael both take on a whole new image.
Halloween 5 continues the story of Jamie Myers the niece of Michael Myers who has started to follow in her uncle's footsteps since the last time we saw her.
Besides that, it has a few original killings and the scenes where Michael chases Jamie in the Myers house are chilling.
It's been a year ago that the infamous night Michael Myers (Don Shanks) came back home to Haddonfield, Illions trying to murder his only living niece Jamie (Danielle Harris).
Especially when Michael Myers' character (Who started as a truly frightening killer) turned into a run of the mill slasher movie.
Michael Myers survives his descent into a mind shaft from the previous movie and holds up with a hermit for a year before returning to his hometown in Illinois to attack his niece during Halloween and any trick-or-treaters who get in the way.
HALLOWEEN 5: THE REVENGE OF MICHAEL MYERS is the fifth Halloween picture in the franchise and it was directed by Dominique Othenin-Girard and starred Donald Pleasence, who once again plays Dr. Samuel Loomis and Danielle Harris, who once again plays Jamie Lloyd in this film.The story of the film takes place exactly one year after the events depicted in the last Michael Myers film, HALLOWEEN 4: THE RETURN OF MICHAEL MYERS.
HALLOWEEN 5: THE REVENGE OF MICHAEL MYERS is the fifth Halloween picture in the franchise and it was directed by Dominique Othenin-Girard and starred Donald Pleasence, who once again plays Dr. Samuel Loomis and Danielle Harris, who once again plays Jamie Lloyd in this film.The story of the film takes place exactly one year after the events depicted in the last Michael Myers film, HALLOWEEN 4: THE RETURN OF MICHAEL MYERS.
The main title simply says "Halloween 5".The story is much more bloodier and violent in this film as it was in HALLOWEEN II and HALLOWEEN IV: THE RETURN OF MICHAEL MYERS and it is just very intense and disturbing and that's why the director Dominique Othenin-Girard has not seen a lot of work over the years is because he chooses blood and gory over story and suspense.The film is just intense throughout the whole darn movie and I would have skipped this film, but I chose not to because I like this one, too and it is really good and the Michael Myers character is just mad as heck.
The main title simply says "Halloween 5".The story is much more bloodier and violent in this film as it was in HALLOWEEN II and HALLOWEEN IV: THE RETURN OF MICHAEL MYERS and it is just very intense and disturbing and that's why the director Dominique Othenin-Girard has not seen a lot of work over the years is because he chooses blood and gory over story and suspense.The film is just intense throughout the whole darn movie and I would have skipped this film, but I chose not to because I like this one, too and it is really good and the Michael Myers character is just mad as heck.
Some scenes were trimmed down to keep it R rated, including a Mikey quivering on the ground after he is killed by Michael, a shot of glass embedded in Officer Eddy's face after Michael punches through the windshield and Billy's leg being hit by the Camaro.The music in this film is just stupid, but the new version for the Halloween theme, originally composed by John Carpenter and the film is once again composed by Alan Howarth and he would compose the music for the next film.The acting is amazing.
Some scenes were trimmed down to keep it R rated, including a Mikey quivering on the ground after he is killed by Michael, a shot of glass embedded in Officer Eddy's face after Michael punches through the windshield and Billy's leg being hit by the Camaro.The music in this film is just stupid, but the new version for the Halloween theme, originally composed by John Carpenter and the film is once again composed by Alan Howarth and he would compose the music for the next film.The acting is amazing.
Don Shanks plays Michael Myers and he does a very good job and also, during the production of the film, Harris and Shanks became really great friends in this film and I really can't complain about this film.The rest of the cast is dreadful except for Ellie Cornell as Rachel Carruthers and she does cool in the screen time that she has.Overall, HALLOWEEN 5: THE REVENGE OF MICHAEL MYERS, while it still present some major issues, I still liked this one, so I can't give it my lowest rating, but I will give it my best possible rating and it is 6.2 out of 10..
Don Shanks plays Michael Myers and he does a very good job and also, during the production of the film, Harris and Shanks became really great friends in this film and I really can't complain about this film.The rest of the cast is dreadful except for Ellie Cornell as Rachel Carruthers and she does cool in the screen time that she has.Overall, HALLOWEEN 5: THE REVENGE OF MICHAEL MYERS, while it still present some major issues, I still liked this one, so I can't give it my lowest rating, but I will give it my best possible rating and it is 6.2 out of 10..
Not that I felt HalloweeN 4 was a terrible movie, but I don't think Dwight Little knew how to make a scare scene and provided very little suspense.The director of HalloweeN 5 gives us all that was missing in the 4th installment in order to make a solid sequel.For one here we have the camera follow behind Michael Myers.
And Michael Myers' mask is truly scary looking in this film.It isn't without it's flaws.
The death scenes are pretty good, but after seeing the other Halloween movies, all I could concentrate on after watching this was how weird the mask looked.
Finally it gets into a good story, unfortunately it drags on towards the end...The most annoying thing too is that this film was followed by the sixth instalment, you would of thought after all this time Michael would give it a rest.
Michael Myers is back one year after halloween 4 still trying to kill his family well i am a big fan on the halloween films beside i did not like H20 and the new one.
Halloween 5 is a good film with some alright acting and does have its scary moments but michael mask looked bad.
Oh yeah...and I cant tell whether it was her character or just her, but Wendy Kaplan was amazingly annoying.Theres no storyline in this film, beyond "Myers is back, and he's still killin' people." But thats alright, because who really would be expecting a thought-provoking storyline from a movie called "Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers)At least the movie has some good kills in it.
HALLOWEEN 4 was a good movie, it was an ok sequel to part 1 and 2, but the plot in this film makes it awfull, it could be compared to HALLOWEEN 3, 'cause it's not Michael Myers anymore, he's not the main character anymore.
AVOID THIS TERRIBLE MOVIE, and watch the original 1978's HALLOWEEN, an excelent film that shouldn't have sequels..
We don't get a reasonable explanation about the "man in black" (well, until Halloween : The Curse of Michael Myers - the worst of the sequels), and it seems that everyone lost respect to Michael, he isn't scary anymore.What saves this movie from being buried in the bad cinema graveyard is Donald Pleasance's performance, and I think that Ellie Cornell is the cutest girl in any 80's horror movie.If you are interested in the Halloween series, watch the original, part 2, and... |
tt0050194 | Birds Anonymous | Sylvester is in another chase with Tweety, and is just about to eat him when he is interrupted by his friend Sam, who tells Sylvester to return Tweety to his cage. Sylvester does this, and listens to Sam explain how he can become addicted to birds and "suddenly, without realizing it, you're a victim." Sam gives Sylvester a card linking to an organization called Birds Anonymous, and advises Sylvester to join if he wants to curb his addiction to birds.Sylvester attends a meeting of "B.A." and listens to several cats recount how becoming a member of the organization helped them greatly (one cat even petting a bird on the head). Sylvester proudly tells the club members, "From now on, my motto is 'Birds is strictly for the birds!'", leading to rapturous applause.Sylvester returns home, greeting an astonished Tweety on the way in, convinced that nothing is going to tempt him to chase and eat Tweety now. He turns on the television, to discover a show on cooking birds is playing. The program immediately fills him with temptation. He tries to go after Tweety, but slaps himself repeatedly to stop himself. He turns on the radio to try and get his mind off birds, but the radio happens to be playing songs that mention birds in the title ("Bye, Bye, Blackbird" and "When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along", to be specific). Sylvester then handcuffs himself to a radiator so he is unable to get at Tweety. This prompts the yellow bird to ask Sylvester, "Don't you like me anymore?" This drives Sylvester into an insane rage, and he snaps away from the radiator and captures Tweety. Before Sylvester can eat him, Sam intervenes and fires a plunger into Sylvester's mouth. He apologizes, but admits it was necessary because Sylvester seemed to be weakening.That night, Sylvester is completely unable to sleep because of his obsession with birds. He snatches Tweety again, convincing himself that just one more bird would be okay before he quits. Sam stops him by pouring alum into his mouth, causing his mouth to pucker up. Sylvester then tries to suck Tweety through a straw, but the straw breaks. Sylvester then breaks down in tears, pounding on the floor and screaming, "I gotta have a bird!" Sam attempts to lecture Sylvester on how cats and birds can live together, and proves his point by kissing Tweety. However, upon doing this, his allegedly quashed desire reawakens, and laughing maniacally, attempts to eat Tweety. Sylvester restrains Sam, holding him down and yelling at him to control himself. Tweety, watching all of this take place from a distance, remarks, "Like I said before-- once a bad ol' putty tat, always a bad ol' putty tat." Iris out. | psychedelic | train | imdb | null |
tt0082085 | Blow Out | "Blow Out" opens with the first-person viewpoint of a psycho killer prowling a female dormitory. After spying through the windows at young ladies in various stages of undress and sexual activity, the killer attacks a nude woman taking a shower. She opens her mouth and emits a ridiculous sounding scream that deflates the entire scene. We then realize we've been watching the current film that sound engineer Jack Terry (John Travolta) has been working on. His employer, a producer of low budget horror films, orders him to find a new scream for the crucial moment of this scene.That night, Jack is standing on a bridge recording ambient sounds in a quiet park near a lake when suddenly an approaching car has a tire blow out, causing it to skid off the roadway into the water. Jack immediately dives in to help, not noticing a figure dressed in black emerging from underneath the bridge. The figure escapes while Jack tries to rescue the inhabitants of the car. Underneath the water, he finds the body of the man who was driving the car, now dead. His passenger is a young woman who is still very much alive, and Jack pulls the unconcious woman out of the wreck.Jack takes the girl to a hospital, where he learns the shocking details of what he has witnessed: the driver of the car was the governor, McRyan, who was a presidential hopeful. Detective Mackey questions Jack about the accident, and an advisor of McRyan's, Lawrence Henry, shows up at the hospital, asking Jack to forget he ever saw the girl in the car. McRyan, who was married, was apparently having some sort of illicit affair with her, and the news of her presence in the car would have caused scandal for the dead governor. Jack talks to the girl, whose name is Sally (Nancy Allen). Sally seems confused about what happened, and when the hospital cuts her loose, Jack offers to take her home. Sally instead has him take her to a motel, where Jack watches over her while she sleeps. He listens to the recording he made in the park before the accident; his equipment was running and he caught the entire incident on an audio tape. Jack is positive he hears a gunshot before the tire blows out. Meanwhile, in a dark garage after hours, a man slips into the storage area where the governor's car is being held, and swaps the shot-out tire with another.The next day, Jack wants to talk to Sally about the accident, but Sally is evasive about what she was doing with the governor that night, and she leaves in a hurry. A man emerges in the media claiming to have film footage of the accident; Manny Karp (Dennis Franz) sells his film to a magazine, and Jack buys a copy. The magazine has run a series of frames that Jack cuts apart and assembles into a crude home movie, using his own sound recording as the audio track. He sees the gunshot appear in conjunction with the sound effect, and for him, this is irrefutable proof that the accident was actually an assassination. Jack calls Sally and finds out that she's attempting to leave town; he intercepts her at the bus station and buys her a drink in the lounge in order to stall her. She reveals that Lawrence Henry gave her money to leave town for a few months. He learns that Sally has aspirations of being a makeup artist, although she struggles to support herself with low paying clerk's position. When Sally questions him about his own background, Jack reveals something painful from his past: he once worked with the police department placing a hidden recording device on an undercover informant. The incident ended horribly when the wire overheated and revealed the man as an informant, resulting in his murder. Jack is determined to prove that McRyan's death was an assassination, and he asks Sally to stay in order to help him unravel the mystery.The same man who erased the evidence of McRyan's blow out reappears, stalking a woman who appears to be Sally. He kills the woman, realizing too late that she is not Sally. Confused and upset about the implications of his mistake, he disfigures the woman's body in order to make it look like a sex crime. Through a series of phone calls, it becomes clear that this man, whose name is Burke (John Lithgow), has been hired by McRyan's political rival to stage the entire incident. However, Burke is a psychopath who takes it upon himself to disobey orders and shoot out McRyan's tire, causing the accident that resulted in his death. All he was hired to do was disgrace McRyan by taking incriminating photographs, something ties in to Manny Karp. It seems as if Karp and Sally are in cahoots with one another; together, they work as a team. Sally seduces important men, and Karp arrives to photograph them in compromising positions, at which point Sally disappears and Karp sells his photographs for profit to the highest bidder (either the victim or the victim's enemies). Jack is shocked to discover that Sally was involved in such an operation, as she seems so sweet and naive.Jack visits Mackey to reveal his suspicions about the so-called accident, but Mackey isn't interested, dismissing Jack as a crackpot with a conspiracy theory, but Jack leaves him a copy of his tape of the accident. Burke reveals to his co-conspirators that he intends to tie up all loose ends; he has erased all of Jack's audio tapes, and he intends to murder Sally, hence the reason why he attacked and killed the woman who was unfortunate enough to be her lookalike. Burke's associate disowns him, but Burke continues to act on his own, bugging Jack's phone.Jack discovers that all of his tapes have been erased, and Mackey calls him, furious that the tape he's been given is blank. Any shred of credibility with Jack had with Mackey is now gone. However, Jack is approached by a well-known TV reporter, Donahue (Curt May), who wants to put him on his high profile talk show. Jack and Sally have obtained Manny Karp's original film of the accident, which clearly demonstrates that the tire was shot out, especially when synchronized with Jack's audio recording. Donahue wants Jack to play the film on the air and discuss his experience. Unbeknownst to Jack, Burke has tapped his phone and he eavesdrops on Jack's conversations with Donahue. Burke himself calls Sally, posing as Donahue, and asks her to meet him and show him the film.Sally visits Jack because Burke has disabled his phone, making it appear busy. Jack is immediately suspicious of why Donahue would ask to meet Sally, not to mention how Donahue could have gotten Sally's phone number. Perhaps due to his desire to get Sally involved in Donahue's story, Jack agrees to let her go and meet Donahue, but only if she's wired so he can listen in on their conversation and record it as evidence. Sally agrees to meet Donahue, and Jack wires her with a listening device.Posing as Donahue, Burke has summoned Sally to the 30th Street station, and while he waits for her, he murders another woman in the public restroom, apparently planning on making Sally's murder look like the work of a serial killer. Sally parts with Jack and goes to maker her meeting, but as soon as Jack hears Burke's voice, he realizes it's not Donahue, and rushes to intercept Sally. Burke ushers Sally down into a subway and takes her to another location, with Jack listening in and trying to follow them based on audio clues. Jack loses track of Sally and panics, driving his jeep into the middle of an Independence Day parade. He crashes the jeep, and when he comes to, he can hear Sally is in danger. Burke has taken her to a nearby rooftop and secured the tape from her, immediately destroying it. Confused, Sally realizes too late she is in danger; Burke attacks her as Jack tries to reach them. He finally catches sight of Sally when she breaks away from Burke, leaning over the rooftop and emitting a terrifying scream as they make eye contact at a distance. Jack rushes up to save her, but he is too late; Burke has already killed her. Jack takes Burke by surprise, stabbing him with his own weapon, but he is anguished over the fact that Sally is dead.A denoument finds Jack now utterly despondent and broken over Sally's death, obsessed with the audio recording he made of her in the moments before her murder. In a morbid finish, Jack uses Sally's death scream as the audio in the cheap horror movie he has been working on, both Jack and his producer agree that the scream is perfect. | cult, mystery, neo noir, murder | train | imdb | null |
tt0077631 | Grease | In 1958, during their summer vacation, Danny Zuko (John Travolta) and Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John) meet at a beach. Scenes from their holiday are shown, but then the summer ends, and Sandy and Danny say their last good-byes. Danny seems to not want to let Sandy go, but Sandy is due to return to Australia. She is upset, thinking that this is the end of their romance and that they will never see each other again. Danny tries to comfort her by telling her that "it's not the end, it's just the beginning".However, Sandy's family has a change of plans and does not return to Australia, but Danny is unaware of this. Sandy enrolls at Rydell High School as a foreign-exchange student, where Danny is a student, as is Sandy's new friend Frenchy (Didi Conn), a member of the schoolgirl clique "The Pink Ladies."Danny is the leader of the boys' gang, "The T-Birds." Kenickie, second-in-command of the T-Birds, encourages Danny to tell them what he did over the summer, while the Pink Ladies likewise persuade Sandy. Through "Summer Nights" Sandy and Danny describe their vacation, and it is made clear that Danny is exaggerating; at the time, however, neither is aware of the other's presence at the school.Encouraged by the preppy school spirit girl, Patty Simcox (Susan Buckner), Sandy joins the Rydell cheerleaders. The Pink Ladies decide to reunite Danny and Sandy, but Danny wants to protect his cool image, and his behavior towards Sandy causes her to storm off in tears. Danny stares after her for a moment, but then quickly turns back into a cool guy and goes off with his friends.Frenchy attempts to cheer Sandy up by inviting her to a sleepover at her house with the rest of the gang; Sandy comes along, but Rizzo soon gets fed up with Sandy's goody-two-shoes behavior: Sandy chokes on a cigarette, cannot stand the taste of wine, and is horrified at the idea of having her ears pierced. Frenchy insists and takes her into the bathroom, but Sandy vomits at the first sight of blood. Frenchy announces to Jan (Jamie Donnelly) and Marty (Dinah Manoff) that she is dropping out of Rydell and going to beauty school, which she calls a very strategic career move. Rizzo (Stockard Channing) has had enough and lampoons Sandy, and even Frenchy joins in, singing the sarcastic "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee."The T-Birds arrive outside Frenchy's house. Rizzo leaves the sleepover and she and Kenickie (Jeff Conaway) flirt, then Kenickie invites her into the car, and dumps the other T-Birds. Danny leaves of his own accord while Rizzo and Kenickie drive off together and the other T-Birds go for pizza. Marty, the flirtatious member of The Pink Ladies, decides to write to one of her (numerous) pen pals, while Sandy goes outside, and decides that in spite of everything, she still loves Danny, singing "Hopelessly Devoted to You", a poignant love song that was added for the movie and was a big hit as a single.The scene shifts to Rizzo and Kenickie making out passionately in the back seat of his new car. They plan to take things a step further, but Kenickie's condom breaks. Rizzo, however, is unable to resist Kenickie, and they decide to have sex anyway. They are soon interrupted by Leo (Dennis Cleveland Stewart), leader of rival gang The Scorpions, who damages Kenickie's car.While at work repairing the car, the T-Birds fantasize about what it will look like when it has had a paint job, singing "Greased Lightning". Soon Danny gets the other T-Birds convinced that the rickety old car could actually be a "major piece of machinery". Later, Danny meets Sandy at the Frosty Palace, and tries to apologize for his actions. He sees that Sandy is sharing a soda with Tom Chisum (Lorenzo Lamas), a jock, and decides that if that's the sort of man she likes, he's going to join the jocks to impress her.We next see Danny's disastrous performances in basketball, wrestling, and baseball, where he keeps losing his temper. He finally finds his ideal sport in running, until the sight of Sandy distracts him, and he falls. Sandy leaves Tom Chisum to see if Danny is alright, and they are seemingly reconciled.Danny attempts to go to the Frosty Palace with Sandy so that they can be alone and not worry about ruining his image in front of his friends. They end up discovering the T-Birds and Pink Ladies are already there and Danny finds it hard to charm Sandy without looking weak in front of his friends. After everyone leaves the malt shop, Frenchy, who has been hiding her pink hair under a scarf, imagines a guardian angel to tell her what to do with her life, who turns out to be Frankie Avalon singing "Beauty School Dropout".Later, Danny takes Sandy to the school dance, where the TV show National Bandstand plans to broadcast live. Rizzo, now angry with Kenickie, takes the rival gang's leader, Leo, to the dance, thus enticing Kenickie to take the rival gang leader's girlfriend, Cha Cha DiGregorio (Annette Charles) who is also Danny's ex-girlfriend. The disc jockey Vince Fontaine (Edd Byrnes) is attracted to Marty and the two flirt. The dance features several well-known songs from the '50s covered by Sha Na Na. During the dance-off, Rizzo leaves in a huff, seeing Kenickie dancing with Cha Cha, and Danny and Sandy are one of the few couples still in the dance-off. But soon, Sonny pulls Sandy away from Danny, and Cha Cha starts dancing with Danny. Sandy realizes that Cha Cha was one of Danny's past girlfriends and a much better dancer. Sandy leaves the gym upset, and Danny and Cha Cha end up winning the contest. When they share their spotlight dance, three of the T-Birds run in front of the camera and moon the crowd.Later, Danny takes Sandy to a drive-in movie. Danny tries to remove the class ring he is wearing to give it to her, but in doing so he accidentally elbows Sandy in the chest. Danny gives Sandy the ring and she kisses him on the cheek, saying she realizes now he respects her. The scene cuts to Marty and Rizzo in the drive-in's restroom. Rizzo's unprotected sex with Kenickie has come back to haunt her--she tells Marty she missed a period. One of the T-Birds, Sonny (Michael Tucci), overhears Marty accidentally proclaiming to couples making out outside the restroom to make way for the "lady with a baby", and asks Marty what she meant so she tells him the story and the rumor spreads quickly. When Kenickie asks Rizzo why she didn't tell him about it, she lies and tells him it isn't his out of anger. He thanks her sarcastically, and leaves her standing by herself. Marty has also suffered as a result of her crush on Vince Fontaine--she reveals to Rizzo that she caught him trying to put an aspirin in her Coke.Back in the car Danny has his arm around Sandy. His hand lingers above her chest and she sees it and he starts trying to make out with her. She screams, gets out of the car, slams the door on Danny, throws back his ring (which she calls a "piece of tin"), and leaves the drive-in. Danny laments losing Sandy again, and reveals the true extent of his feelings for her in the song "Sandy" he is helpless without her.The next scene is the race between Leo and Kenickie in the Los Angeles River. Kenickie asks Danny to be his second, and Marty gives Kenickie a lucky penny. She drops it, and as Kenickie bends down to pick it up, he gets knocked out when one of the T-Birds opens the car door. As a result, Danny has to race in Kenickie's place. Sandy sits on the hill watching the neck-and-neck race, which Danny manages to win. While she is happy to see Danny win, she has misgivings about her own image, reflected in the song "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise)". As the T-Birds and Pink Ladies celebrate with Danny, Frenchy spots Sandy and goes over to her. Sandy thinks that Frenchy can help her win Danny's heart, and asks to go over to her house to take advantage of Frenchy's suspect fashion skills.On the last day of school carnival, Danny arrives, wearing a letterman's sweater (earned through track) over his usual black attire. Sandy arrives wearing a black leather jacket, red peep-toe high heeled sandals, skintight black pants, off-the-shoulder top, curled hair, and smoking a cigarette abandoning her usual modest clothing. Danny finds her extremely attractive, falling at her feet, and then the two reunite, singing the upbeat "You're the One That I Want" (another song added for the movie, and a hit single before the movie even came out). Kenickie and Rizzo get together after Rizzo screamed from the Ferris wheel that she is not pregnant after all, and everyone sings the big finale, "We Go Together", and Danny and Sandy fly off in Danny's car and disappear into the sky. | cult | train | imdb | It is a fun musical that makes you want to get up and dance.Grease is the story of Danny Zucko and Sandy Olsen (or Dumbruski) two high school seniors who fall in love over the summer.
Grease is a timeless classic that will have you singing and dancing by the end of the movie..
Sandy and Danny, their names alone mean nothing, together they represent the film we all know and love that brought us 'Summer Nights' and 'Greased Lightnin'.
Grease is an infamous musical-play turned film, adapted and produced by Allan Carr, chartering the summertastic rock 'n' roll of the 1950s, centring on the highs and lows of a group of teenagers at high-school, Rydell High.The film begins with two people having a summer romance, Sandy (Newton-John) an uptight, naïve, nerdy Australian girl and Danny (Travolta), a 'jack-the-lad' 'T' bird.
The rest of the film centres mostly on the relationship of Sandy and Danny, the problems they face, and the ups and downs of their high school chums.
The main characters and the unusual pairing of Sandy and Danny makes for comfortable viewing.My favourite part of the film is the music, this film has such a brilliant soundtrack.
There is also Marcy who loves the men and has lots of boyfriends, and Frenchy who becomes Sandy's best friend who is caring.This uplifting, audience grabbing film may be slightly cheesy but there is just so much to love about it, especially the soundtrack and dance moves!
Grease is the story of bad-boy Danny and good-girl Sandy meeting each other over summer break then happen to returning to the same school.
One of the best Broadway musicals ever adapted for the big screen largely thanks to producer Allan Carr and director Randal Kleiser set at Rydell High circa 1950s with Travolta (in his other iconic role) as leather jacket wearing, hunky hood with a heart-of-gold Danny Zuko recalling his `Summer Nights' with Aussie sexpot Newton-John (in her sunny to sultry iconic turn) as goody-goody Sandy who learns some things from The Pink Ladies' tough yet tender leader Rizzo (Channing, ditto).
Oh and if you ever go to a Karaoke night make sure you do the "Grease Megamix" sometime throughout the night as it'll get the crowd pumped guaranteed.Final Synopsis:Movies : I did see this when I was in high school because it was re-released in the late 90's in theaters but stupid macho me back then didn't care for it.
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John are great in the movie as well as the rest of the cast.
The wonderful actors and actress' give there characters all they've got and bring out a wonderful performance all the way through the movie especially John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing and Didi Conn.
Set in the doo-wop fifties, it centers on a group of high school seniors who share the joys and concerns of all teenagers: dating, popularity, first love, the unknown future, fitting in, sexual awakening.The two main characters, Danny (John Travolta) and Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) are the primary love story and the core of a great ensemble cast.One of the best things about this film is the music--a string of sing-able fifties-inspired gems that entertain and advance the narrative.There are also plenty of humor, fine dancing, and numerous references to fifties culture."Saturday Night Fever" put Travolta on the track to film stardom and "Grease" (released the following year) cemented his place among top cinema stars.
This movie is a favorite because from start to end, the young players put all of their energies into the song and dance numbers., all of them put every bit of themselves into their roles and most of all, in case no one noticed, this movie has a perfect balance of comedy, music , wonderfully choreographed dancing and serious elements.
Now, anyone out there who thinks that it was 'easy' to put a film like this together (and based from a stage play as well), knows nothing about movie making and in terms of dancing, how tough it is for a choreographer to get everyone's movements in synch together.
How can you see a film that's good (based on the fact it did well and people continue to love it 40 years later) only 1 time and say 'this is lousy' (?) If musicals don;t appeal to you, OK that's fair but seen those who aren't into musicals can find something positive.
But the missed musical opportunities are striking.The film's story, about high school romance, is not original.
The film's only appeal comes from its two stars, the only cast members who look young enough to be in high school.
But it features wonderful catchy songs, a charismatic and insanely energetic performance from John Travolta, who has an incredible chemistry with Olivia Newton-John, and characters that almost all of them are fleshed-out.
As some popular character said, "we were idiots back in the fifties", and it would be great for the movie to point it out; problem is that it celebrates the whole idiocy of the times, making satire only to the clichés and actually selling the real misery of social uses and customs as nostalgic empathy.
But it isn't when she finds out who he really is.The movie has songs you can like, characters to enjoy, and fun all over.
Maybe next time when you see a film, watch the WHOLE thing first and then you can judge so you don't look like an idiot.
Granted, looking from today's perspective, many might feel that its love story is a bit cheesy and naive, but then again - which love story isn't that way?Grease is a light-hearted and fun-loving musical which will leave you with positive emotions after watching it.
Most teenagers loved Olivia Newton-John, well I did anyway being a 13 year old Australian.It was probably one or the first movies I saw away from my parents and it has stuck with me ever since and I am by not stretch a fan of musicals at all.
In fact I rarely ever watch them, but this one I have seen more than a few times.There are few films that have had such a lasting impact on popular culture and it is one of the few films, that are parodied and remembered as well.John Travolta and Olivia Newton John were in my opinion very good portraying the cool, streetwise 1950's teenagers, although both at the time were well into their late twenties.
"You're the One that I Want" "Grease" and "Summer Nights" are songs that are unbelievably catchy and songs that are known by pretty much everybody from the first line to the last.This movie always makes me smile and at the end of the day that is all that is important to me, I enjoy it each time I see it..
The first song and Greased Lightning are my favorite songs of the show, but it is a hard choice since all of the songs are amazing.This movie just makes me happy every time I watch it.
Iconic campy musical of high school life in late '50's Southern Cal. Released in 1978 and directed by Randal Kleiser, "Grease" stars John Travolta as a high school greaser in 1958 Southern California, who takes interest in a new clean-cut girl from Australia (Olivia Newton-John).
Starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, this musical from the late 70s will take you right back to the 50s, when boys were boys, girls were girls and having a car actually meant something.
Yes, but in a loving manner.Danny (Travolta) and Sandy (Newton-John) separate after a summer romance, believing that they will probably never see one another again.
Sure, not all of them, like Beauty School Dropout, are all that memorable and some, like Summer Nights, contain somewhat sexist lyrics, but overall the songs are great and the whole film has this energy to it.Grease defines the word fun.
I personally love this movie, however I have been told that you have to be a big fan of musicals to enjoy it.
Greaser Danny Zuko (John Travolta) returns from a summer of love with sweet girl Sandy Olsen (Olivia Newton-John).
Grease is directed by Randal Kleiser and stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing & Jeff Conaway.
It's co-written by Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey (Musical), Bronte Woodard &Allan Carr.1958 and Danny (Travolta) has a holiday romance with the pretty and virginal Sandy (Newton-John).
Since Danny is committed to his gang and doesn't seems cool, if he decides to date her.Directed by Randal Kleiser (The Blue Lagoon, Flight of the Navigator, It's My Party) made an entertaining Comedy/Musical set in the High-School teenager life of the late 1950's.
The most popular movie musical of all time is an entertaining film with enough fast numbers and thrills to keep you occupied.
Rated PG for Sexual Innuendos,Language and Teen Smoking/Drinking Grease is a musical starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John.I must say, im not really a big fan of the musical genre but there are a few that I enjoy.This is one of them.The songs are pretty catchy and the movie has a fairly good plot.Its a teen film set in the 1950's like American Graffiti and Lemon Popsicle only this is not as serious as those movies.The film is about two teenagers who meet and fall in love over the summer but the girl says she has to move back to Austrailia ending their relationship.But their family seems to have a change of plans and she ends up going to the same school.The only thing is, she's a goody goody girl and the boy she fell in love with is a member of a gang.Graese is a fairly entertaining film and even if you don't like musicals, but like teen films then you should check this one out..
The songs were acceptable (even amusing at times), the characterisation was incredible for a stage musical (in a cartoon-character kind of a way) and the comedic moments were actually funny.
Today it seems ridiculous to watch John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John exchanging some lines that wouldn't seem out of place in a twelve-year old girls love story.
That translates real well on the screen.Also contributing to the fun and energy of GREASE are its main characters, portrayed beautifully by John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing and Jeff Conaway.The music is fantastic all around.
The songs, save for the obscenity-sprinkled "Greased Lightning," are pretty bland and sound like overproduced cover versions of 50's R&R, plus, the musical sequences in the film are utter yawns to a generation raised on the jump-cut editing of MTV.
The first time I saw this film in its entirety (prior to this I saw the musical number clips on VH1) was at the cinema when it was re-released for its 20th anniversary when I was 11 and in my first year at secondary school.
Before I saw the film in full, I'd listen to the film's soundtrack on tape on 'Wet Play' days (playtime in the classroom on rainy days) with my fellow classmates at primary school.There are plenty of positive aspects of this film such as the majority of musical numbers being memorable (with the exception of There Are Worse Things I Could Do,' Rizzo's second solo performance that I completely forgot about), especially 'Grease Is The Word,' 'Summer Nights,' 'Look At Me I'm Sandra Dee,' 'Hopelessly Devoted To You,' 'Greased Lightning (and the dance to go with it), 'Beauty School Dropout,' 'Sandy (my housemate does a brilliant rendition of this one),' You're The One That I Want (which I also remember from a Shape yoghurt advert from my childhood) and 'We Go Together (which sounds a little like all versions of 'The Tide Is High') as well as a version of 'La Bamba' being played in the background in the first Frosty Palace scene; the costumes and vehicles that were true to the 1950s setting; the impressive choreography (especially the school dance scene) and the odd funny moment, especially the scene where Jan imitates the beaver in the toothpaste commercial at the slumber party at Frenchy's house - I couldn't help myself laughing at that today!
The songs were very original and people are still basing movies on them such as High school Musical.
I still to this day can't quite believe that, that is the same Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) at the end, all dolled up with her permed hair, fag in mouth, pierced ears and very tight catsuit (which she apparently had to be sewn into!) You can't help falling in love with Danny (John Travolta) as he is gorgeous, you know, the type of cool good looking guy that every girl wants to go out with.I don't have a favourite actor or actress in this movie because they are all brilliant.
At one point she says "Beauty school sure wasn't what I thought it would be" and gets the reply "Nothing ever is." At the school dance she says "How do I look?" and her partner replies "like a beautiful blonde pineapple!" Danny and the boys try to be super-cool macho men but their efforts never quite succeed, especially when the girls are around, which makes for many comic situations.The climax of the movie comes with the Thunder Road scene....
Everyone knows "Summer Nights", "Greased Lightning", "You're The One That I Want", and "Hopelessly Devoted to You", although personally I like the wit of "Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee" (often omitted from TV showings of the film), "Beauty School Dropout" (drippily sung by former teen idol Frankie Avalon).Movie old timers Eve Arden, Sid Caesar, and Joan Blondell (her last film) are in the cast, and add a lot to the proceedings.
It ends with a very funny scene that everyone will laugh out loud at.The movie portrays the 50's as a hot time with cool cars and gangs and high school chicks with fancy diners with jukeboxes and pregnancy rumors flying around town.
With more hummable songs than "West Side Story," and a lot more humor, "Grease" is probably the most fun musical tribute to '50s teen culture.
The principle romantic pair, played by John Travolta (good actor, lousy singer) and Olivia Newton-John (the inverse) are often kept apart by the artificial social barriers of high school, and they each do the silliest things to try to change for each other, but at no point does anyone act as if any valuable lessons have been learned.
As a movie, this story doesn't offer anything new, but it's still entertaining and you care about the characters which I find matters most.Randal Kleiser's film starts off with a young couple, Danny and Sandy believing they will never see each other again.
I saw this film just the other day, sitting underneath the stars in a park with loads of other people, watching the movie on a big screen.
I think that the casting in the film is superb, and the songs are great too.We all know how successful "Grease" has been, it is a movie that has stood the test of time, and I love it.
And i will never ever get tired of the romantic love, the comedy, and the outstanding songs performed by the cast.A lot of people today are talking about how good High School Musical is and what a perfect movie it is.
If you ask me, High School Musical is a 21st century copy of Grease.If you want a good movie, than it's Grease.
There are no bad songs, actors, situations, nothing - it is PERFECT.Travolta and Newton-john couldn't have been better cast, they both look and sound fantastic.
From the opening credits and the Barry Gibb title song, through to the 'hollywood' ending where Travolta and Newton John drive away into the sky, this movie never stops being entertaining.
John Travolta and Olivia Newton John are perfectly cast and the excellent songs like "Grease", "Hopelessly Devoted to you" and "Summer Nights" are extremely well staged and performed.
I'm not into musicals at all, but grease is unique and stands the test of time, and just overall fun, entertaining and deals with serious issues in a fun manner.It's a non-stop sing-along movie for everyone..
I love grease that I have watched so many times that I remember some scenes without me even looking at the actual closed captioning!.
The music is brilliant especially the song "Hopelessly Devoted" because it explains exactly how a girl feels about her crush in high school and how bad it can get when you like someone that much.
In my opinion John Travolta (Danny), Olivia Newton-John (Sandy) and the songs are the ingredients that make this movie great.
The rest of the movie goes through their senior year of high school and the ups and downs of their relationship, as well as their relationship with their friends.John Travolta does an excellent job playing the bad boy Danny Zuko.
There have been many movies made similar to it, like High School Musical and Hairspray.
If you are looking for a musical with a cheesy love story and great singing and dancing, this is the movie for you..
I have seen this film hundred's of times and i think it is the best musical ever.
I would recommend this film to anyone who's wants to watch a good musical.
Songs such as "Greased Lightning", "Sandy", "You're The One That I Want", "Summer Nights" and the opening song are great and timeless, not the movie.Apart the music, there are very little good things about this movie.
after too much nonsense, that's when the flying car comes.John Travolta is great as Danny Zuko and so is Olivia Newton-John in the role of Sandy Olsen.Overall, it is a movie to forget and it doesn't deserve all the attention it gets.
The good part of the movie is when that Danny gets the Greased Lightning to run, and the crew put on the show about it.
I like how "Grease" is filmed, the cinematography is smooth, and the costumes are lovely to look at. |
tt1172994 | The House of the Devil | It is 1983. Frustrated with living in the dorms with her oversexed and messy roommate, Samantha Hughes (Jocelin Donahue) rents a small apartment. Although the landlady (Dee Wallace) agrees not to charge her a deposit, Samantha still needs to come up with $300 for the first month's rent. She answers an advertisement for a babysitter. The man who placed the ad tells her that he and his wife need her that night while they attend a party to watch the lunar eclipse; the moon will be entirely in the earth's shadow at midnight. Although he behaves oddly on the phone, Samantha's desperation leads her to accept the offer.Samantha's best friend Megan (Greta Gerwig) drives her to the job, which is at a secluded house in the woods. There, Mr. Ulman (Tom Noonan), the man who placed the ad, reveals that Samantha will not be babysitting but taking care of his elderly mother in law. Samantha tries to back out but when Mr. Ulman offers her $400 she agrees to stay over Megan's objections. Megan leaves. On the drive home, she stops in a nearby cemetary to have a smoke. When her lighter malfunctions, a young man, Victor (AJ Bowen) suddenly appears in her window and offers her a light. He then asks her if she's the babysitter. When she says no, Victor shoots her in the face, killing her.Samantha meets Mrs. Ulman (Mary Woronov) when she emerges from the basement. Mrs. Ulman explains she was looking for her furs then makes Samantha uncomfortable by commenting on how desirable she must be to young boys. The Ulmans give Samantha half of the babysitting fee plus some money to order a pizza. Mr. Ulman assures Samantha that the mother in law will be no trouble and will probably keep to herself in her upstairs room. They also leave a phone number where they can be reached if anything goes wrong.Samantha tries to do homework but finds the house creepy. She orders a pizza and, while dancing around the house listening to her Walkman, accidentally breaks a vase. While cleaning it up, she sees that the closet is full of fur coats. She also finds a box full of photos of a family other than the Ulmans, posing in front of the house and a car that Samantha saw in the driveway earlier. Victor delivers the pizza to Samantha, then wanders around the property to keep an eye on her.Unbeknownst to Samantha, the family she saw in the photos lies slaughtered in an upstairs bedroom, arranged as parts of a bloody pentagram. Samantha hears strange noises and, armed with a knife, goes to explore the attic. At midnight, all of the lights in the house blow out. Samantha sees a hand open the attic door, and she passes out.When she awakes, she is gagged and tied to a slab in the basement, surrounded by satanic symbols. The Ulmans -- including their son, Victor -- and a dwarfish demon enter. The demon draws a pentagram on Samantha's belly, then tries to force her to drink blood from a bizarre animal skull. Samantha breaks free of her bonds and rushes upstairs. Seeing Megan's body in the kitchen, Samantha grabs a knife. Victor chases her and shoots her in the shoulder but she slits his throat, killing him. Samantha is wracked with abdominal pain and flashes of demonic faces. Mrs. Ulman corners her in a bedroom and tells her that it is too late for Samantha to alter the plan. Mrs. Ulman is distracted when she believes the eclipse is sending her a message from Satan, and Samantha stabs her in the back. Grabbing Victor's gun, Samantha flees from the house, pursued by Mr. Ulman, who was wounded when Samantha escaped from the basement. He tries to calm her down and tells her that Satan will arrive as soon as the eclipse is over. Believing it to be the only solution, Samantha shoots herself in the head.Local newscasters talk about how astronomers are confused that the moon seemed to move through the eclipse more quickly than it should have. Samantha lays comatose in a hospital bed but she and her baby are expected to make a full recovery. | murder, cult, violence, horror, atmospheric, flashback, suspenseful | train | imdb | Once we finally get to the house, we do nothing more than watch Samatha stroll around for the rest of the film.West atmosphere is perfect, his camera work was great, the suspension was brilliant but nothing ever came from these very few moments.
The House of the Devil feels like it should have been released back in 1982, from the feathered hair of the leads, to the Walkman, to the music and sound, to the slow build of the suspense, to the vintage titles.
Most importantly, it has all the slow-burn intensity of the great horror films of that period.The baby-sitter in peril is Samantha (Jocelin Donahue).
The job that Samantha ends up taking, on the night of a full lunar eclipse, is obviously (cue Admiral Ackbar) a trap, more obvious to the audience than to Samantha because we know that the name of the film is The House of the Devil, because her employer is Tom Noonan, the original Red Dragon from Michael Mann's Manhunter and because Samantha is too self-absorbed to notice that she is in danger.There is a danger to read too much into it, but there is a very real sense that this film is pitched perfectly at the divide between the sex and drugs disco party lifestyle of the Seventies and the money-obsessed, self-absorbed Eighties.There is even a sense in which the film (with the benefit of filmmaker hindsight) acts as a horror metaphor explaining how the drugs and sex excesses of the Seventies led to the health catastrophes of the Eighties, especially AIDS.
This movie will stay with you for a few days for different reasons, but my biggest turn on was the feeling throughout the film, an homage to earlier times, and an evil that knows no bounds..
From the opening and end credits, to the walkman, fashion, soundtrack and the slightly faded visuals, even the storyline, centred on babysitters and Satanists feels like the movie belongs back in the 80's.Samantha (Jocelin Donahue) is a college student who needs money fast.
Straight away it is obvious to us, and Samantha's friend Megan (Greta Gerwig), that this job is a setup for some sinister goings down (hence the title 'The House of the Devil').The first 40 minutes of this movie are excellent.
Events pick up at 75 minute mark, but with only 15 minutes left the final act is rushed with no time to generate any scares (apart from some nice gory deaths).The cast do an excellent job, the exchanges between Mr. Ulman and Samantha are deliciously creepy, and the house itself is reminiscent of the Amityville house.
The audience grows attached to the very attractive main character (Jocelin Donahue) who despite her and her friend's best efforts to be sensible throughout the film falls victim to classic horror movie stereotypes.
Director/Writer/Editor Ti West shows a remarkable proficiency for being able to truly scare, through an excellent slow-burn build-up, allowing the atmosphere of the titular house and the anticipation for when it is inevitably released to bring a viewer to nail-biting fear, rather than simply trying to startle with constant Boo!
Sure, the gore may look nice (and indeed it does; not top of the line, but it belies the film's budget), but it completely abandons House's almost regal sense of restraint that worked so effectively for nearly the entire length of the movie.
This problem I believe to later be solved by Ti West's later film "The Innkeepers," a picture I believe (and seemingly in the minority) to be the superior movie.However, despite its eventual letdown, the remainder of House of the Devil was truly a horror experience I rarely see from recent American horror films, this difference between House of the Devil and its peers thrown into sharp relief by the clearly nostalgic feel it gives off, even from the opening credits.
The House of the Devil (2009) 02/13/2010The 1980's were a golden age for horror movies, and many filmmakers today try to recapture that magic in their own films.
Perhaps it's because this is a carbon copy of a carbon copy and guys like Carpenter and DePalma were borrowing from suspense originators like Hitchcock.One scene in the film had me feeling like I was watching an episode of SyFy channel TV show "Scare Tactics." Why the director chooses to show the audience a gruesome scene behind a door at one particular point is baffling.
Sooooo limp and quick.If you really want to watch a blank-faced girl take half an hour to get a babysitting job, then sit around bored for another half an hour, then overcome the "horror" without too much difficulty, then HOUSE OF THE DEVIL is the movie for you!
Ti West's idea to make "The House Of The Devil" look like a forgotten horror flick of the 80's without any ironic self-awareness seemed really cool.
In this last third of the movie West doesn't even stay true to 80's horror anymore: The main villains make-up looks like something out of "The Descent", the quick cuts suddenly turn "The House Of The Devil" into "SAW".It seems, as if a lot of horror fans, who praise Ti West for this picture, are confusing the concept with the outcome.
Cash strapped babysitter Samantha Hughes agrees to take on a very well paid job by rather creepy home owner, Mr Ulman.(Tom Noonan.) As the Night Progresses however, Samantha comes to realize that Mr Ulman and his no less creepy wife(Mary Woronov) may very well have a sinister plan for her...The House Of The Devil may very well divide audiences and fans, as it's a slow burning film, which takes its time to get to its payoff.
(is like a collage of different movies, the omen, devil's advocate, rosemary's baby...).There's a lot of wasted scenes in the house, with no purpose, just silence and a girl looking around, searching for ...
Fifteen minutes of classic 80's horror (i'm not a fan of gore, so i wasn't looking for blood, suspense movies works for me), whit a predictable ending.
Known for some straight-to-video B-grade work, West finally cracked the A-list of horror with "The House of the Devil," his 2009 effort that promises some genuine chills.Samantha is a down and out college girl desperate to get out of a dorm with a lousy roommate and praying to find money for her new house.
It becomes so unbearably suspenseful that the final payoff is satisfying and still quite scary.Another advantage to "The House of the Devil" that old-school horror fans will take delight in is for a movie released in 2009, it certainly doesn't look that way.
The film definitely creeped me out, but I wasn't something I was going to think about and lose sleep over.The House of the Devil is one of the most well made horror movies of the decade as someone pointed on the user boards.
the best thing about this movie is that it is based upon the 80s style horror & thrillers.The film makers really deserve an appreciation for this one.The acting was good,the scenes were well crafted and so all this makes it worth watching,at least for me it did,also because it is based upon a true story(unexplained events)which makes a movie quite interesting (rather than boring).Its not spine chilling or anything like that but still makes an impression on the viewer.I give this one 6.5/10,its pretty decent for a thriller like this one but yes there will be some who would say that it does not contain enough material or terror but as i said its worth watching and you would not regret this one...enjoy!!!.
At one point while watching the movie (actually I'll admit that by then I had a browser open in another window, that's how bad this movie was) I noticed that 1 hr and 15 minutes had gone by, and basically nothing had happened, other than the girl exploring every nook and cranny of this house in agonizing detail and scaring herself a little bit in the process.
Ti West, the 29 year old filmmaker from Delaware, might not be a name you are familiar with -with regards to the horror genre of film-making - but if his future projects are anywhere near as good as his third directorial feature film 'The House of the Devil', then you will no doubt be hearing his name mentioned heavily in the next couple of years.
West has so-far spent his time primarily creating cheap, B-Movie-esquire horror films, however with 'House of the Devil' he changed his tactic and decided rather than ridiculing or satirizing the genre, to instead pay homage to it; in particular the haunted house/slasher subgenre.
And the result is an eerie, well-shot, competently edited, suspense-fuelled ride back into the horror films of the 1970's and 1980's.College student Samantha Hughes (Jocelin Donahue) is the archetypal female lead at the centre of the ritualistic story.
The prospect of watching television all night, while occasionally checking on a child and ultimately getting paid cash-in-hand appeals to her financial stricken nature straight away, however she has no idea what the mysterious Mr (Tom Noonan) and Mrs (Mary Woronov) Ulman have in store for the naive young student.Filmed on 16mm stock to give the film that washed retro stylistic feel, 'Devil' is a technical back-into-the-past cinematic winner.
It pays homage to horror films from that era and uses all those movies' plot devices effectively.
I did read a lot of good thing about this movie, I didn't think i would like it as i knew it was going have a really slow start to the movie.This movie is slow but not as slow as i thought it wold be, it still watchable for the slow part of the movie, some of you will get bored, There was one scene that did shock me, i had no idea that was going to happen, that was really good scene and this movie did have great build up to this secret.The secret itself was little dull and so was creature they could have made him a lot more scary (Even The House on Sorority Row creature was scary then this creature) after the very long build up and this movie did have bloody scenes which i did not expect from this movie.it was good horror but just little over hyped 5 out of 10.
Can Samantha survive a night in the house of the Devil?Ti West, a fairly unknown director, has released a great tribute to the horror genre of this film.
I do not know if the "retro" fever in contemporary horror cinema is due to simple nostalgia or a genuine appreciation for the simplicity and ease the genre had during the 70's and the 80's.Whatever the way it is, I think this fashion will quickly lapse if it keeps being used as a mere ornament of mediocre stories, bad performances and poor narrative.Fortunately, there are a few exceptions in which the "retro" style is executed with purpose and talent, as we can see on The House of the Devil, a very competent horror film.The House of the Devil is not reloaded with cultural clichés from the horror movies made in the 80's, although that did not avoid director Ti West to use some familiar faces from that decade, not only because of their "historical" value, but also because they are solid actors who bring weight and credibility to their roles.They are Mary Woronov, Dee Wallace and the brilliant Tom Noonan.Jocelin Donahue and Greta Gerwig integrate the young cast, and they also bring competent performances (specially Gerwig).The element I mostly appreciated on this movie is the sober and concise narrative language West used to tell the story, something which reminded me of the work from directors John Carpenter and David Cronenberg.Like them, West shows long scenes of leisure to generate an oppressive atmosphere of suspense, with the tacit promise that something horrible is about to happen, and nothing will be done to avoid it.However, that comparison deserves some mitigating...West develops a similar style to the one of those great directors, but The House of the Devil does not reach the intensity and impact from most of their movies.However, I think this young director deserves respect because of his audacious strategy of "less is more", something he completely achieved.I will look forward to seeing more movies directed by him.In summary, it may not be a great film, but The House of the Devil is an efficient and very entertaining horror film which deserves a recommendation, thanks to its good rhythm, competent performances and solid direction.I took a nice surprise with this film..
If those two things don't strike a chord with you then it's very likely that The House of the Devil will drive you nuts - but not in a good way.Plot is simple, Jocelin Donahue plays student Samantha Hughes, who has found the ideal apartment to live in, but needs funds to pay the deposit.
He crafts The House of the Devil so delicately and intricately, making the house the most interesting character in the film (something one would've assumed mainstream horror would've discovered, what with all the haunted house films being made today), building suspense through the use of long, slow takes, and even incorporating some fun and lively 1970's tunes in for good measure.The film revolves around Samantha Hughes (Jocelin Donahue), a college student desperately looking to make end's meet to pay for the expensive new apartment she just bought.
Megan takes off, the Ulman's depart, and it's Samantha, Mr. Ulman's ailing mother, and the house to themselves.West recognizes that despite The House of the Devil being a horror film, he doesn't always have to feel like he's setting something up in terms of momentary payoff nor does he ever feel like he has to constantly find ways to scare and play with the audience's emotions.
The film is pure nostalgia and he does a fantastic job at handling a slow set up which keeps the viewer interested.You fall back in love with the time and more importantly the innocent, struggling student character of Samantha, played superbly by Jocelin Donahue.
This is not your normal thrill-seeking/gore-loving/violence loaded movie, rather Ti West creates a "breathe of fresh air" story driven masterpiece convincing the viewer that the events taking place in the film can be believed by anyone ultimately instilling fear to anyone who watches this.
It's not easy to do, but writer director Ti West makes it seem like a walk in the park with his near flawless House Of The Devil, a gorgeous love note to the satanic works of yester-year that so adeptly recreates that time and place until we really believe we're watching a film that was made then.
The House of the Devil is a 2009 horror film written and directed by Ti West set in the 1980's and has to do with satanic cults.
All in all, The House of the Devil is a great horror film with some highly effective scares that will keep you on the edge of your seat up until the disappointing finale..
"The House of the Devil" is a slow-burn '80s throwback that actually looks and feels like a horror classic of that decade that has just now been discovered.
Writer/director Ti West goes back to the roots of modern horror films with The House of the Devil.Set on a 1980s college campus, we find Samantha (Jocelin Donahue) looking for an off- campus apartment to share with her friend Megan and away from her grungy roommate.
Therein lies the only stand-out problem with "The House of the Devil;" although I immensely enjoyed the movie, it never became more than facsimile of a certain style of film-making.
If I had to guess, I would surmise that the final scene had to be a studio insisted inclusion.Besides being an overall entertaining and tense film, "The House of the Devil" also provides very good cinematography and perfect subtle acting that is missing in many movies of its genre.
I know it isn't necessarily something that should decide whether or not you like a movie but they do such a great job here that it dredges up all kinds of fear that I had forgotten I had since I was a child watching scary films when I wasn't supposed to be.
About all it does for this film is keep you from taking nap.If you're looking for horror like nothing you've seen before, which as a bonus involves two girls and a house as the primary setting, then see Martyrs.
Filmed as a "lost early '80s movie" with such attention to detail that it might actually be a freshly-discovered artifact from a film vault, "House of the Devil" is a little gem of atmosphere, creepy setting, and a mood of slow-building dread.
Ti West is very talented and has a good idea of what the 80's were like and how the horror films functioned back then.
House of the Devil is a good horror movie, but you'll probably need a few (non-spoilery) details to decide if it's for you.
West uses such great orchestra music to build up that suspenseful feeling to keep us at the edge and give us that great scare that every great horror film should have.
In entirety, The House of the Devil gives hope and a fresh sense to the typical belief horror films and adds a nice cliffhanger to it that keeps you wondering even after the movie is long over with..
And in "House of the Devil" Ti West brings a very slow burn movie that uses it's homages fittingly in it's film making.
Now this what I like to see from Ti West and I can take this as a heavy reminder why this guy is a talented film maker even at a young age.But what stops "House of the Devil" from being a great movie for me is it's pasting issues. |
tt0123325 | Why, Charlie Brown, Why? | Janice Emmons is a new friend and classmate of Charlie Brown and Linus, who loves to play on the swings. The special begins with Charlie Brown, Sally, Linus and Janice waiting for the school bus. As Janice boards the bus, she hits her arm on a railing, causing it to bruise; Linus notices that Janice has been bruising easily lately. When they arrive at school, Janice starts feeling ill. She tells Linus that she is feeling tired and has a fever, so she is sent to the school nurse and is later picked up by her mother. Three days later, the class is told that Janice is in the hospital.
After school, Linus and Charlie Brown decide to visit Janice in the hospital, where she tells them that she has cancer (specifically leukemia). Janice explains what tests the doctors did to discover that she had leukemia (blood test, bone marrow test and X-ray). She then shows them her IV line and explains her chemotherapy. Despite her illness, Janice is determined to recover and return to school, so she can play on the swings and be with her friends again.
The news of Janice's illness hits Linus especially hard, as he appears to be falling for her. As Charlie Brown and Linus leave the hospital, Linus asks: "Why, Charlie Brown, Why?". He then walks home feeling both sad and angry, thinking about Janice's condition. When he arrives home, he challenges the ignorance of his sister Lucy towards Janice's illness and tells her cancer doesn't spread like the cold or flu. Some months later, Janice's health has improved enough for her to return to school, but she has lost her hair because of the chemotherapy, and wears a cap to cover her bald head.
At school, this attracts the attention of a schoolyard bully, who teases Janice for her baldness. Linus stands up for Janice and confronts the boy, angrily telling him about Janice's illness and asking him if he would like to go through what Janice has gone through. Then, the boy apologizes to Janice and Linus. As Christmas approaches, Linus goes to Janice's house to give her a present, but one of Janice's two sisters informs Linus that she is at the hospital again, receiving treatment. The other sister complains of the attention Janice has been receiving, and later admits she and her other sister feel left out since Janice got sick. Linus gives her the present and leaves.
By the beginning of spring, Janice returns again and tells Linus she has a surprise for him, and she reveals the surprise at the end of the special while playing on the swings. The surprise fills Linus with joy, as Janice's cap falls off revealing that her long blond hair has grown back even longer than it was before, marking the end of her chemotherapy, and presumably meaning that she has recovered. As the credits roll, the cap falls to the ground, and Janice laughs for the last time. | psychedelic | train | wikipedia | null |
tt0464154 | Piranha 3D | Fisherman Matthew Boyd (Richard Dreyfuss) fishes in Lake Victoria, Arizona. He whistles, Show Me the Way to Go Home (an homage to 'Jaws'). A huge earthquake shakes the lake, and opens a massive underwater trench, creating a whirlpool beneath Matt's boat. Thousands of piranha fish pour out of the newly opened chasm. Matt falls overboard into the whirlpool, and is violently eaten by the school of piranha, leaving Matt's mangled body behind.Meanwhile, spring break descends upon Lake Victoria, bringing thousands of college students to the area. Lake Victoria Sheriff Julie Forester (Elisabeth Shue) is having a difficult time juggling drunken college students, recent earthquake reports, and her normal duties. Her 17-year-old son, Jake (Steven R. McQueen) looks on as his mother arrests a particularly rowdy frat-boy. Jake takes in the spring break party atmosphere as he goes to pick up his little 10-year-old sister, Laura (Brooklynn Proulx) from music class. On the way Jake crosses paths with Kelly (Jessica Szohr), a local girl for whom he harbors a huge crush. Kelly invites Jake to come to a backstage party at a concert, with tickets procured by the local bully Todd. Todd and his friend arrive. They see Kelly talking with Jake, throw a slushy at Jake's shirt, ruining it, and give him the finger. Feeling awkward, Kelly leaves with Todd. Jake goes to find Laura. Laura talks with Danni (Kelly Brook), a local Girls Gone Wild-ish glamour model in town to shoot a video with her boss and porn director Derrick Jones (Jerry O'Connell). Jake arrives, and is reluctantly enlisted to be Derrick's location scout, due to his familiarity with the area. Derrick offers to pay Jake for a day's work and Jake accepts.That night Julie and Deputy Fallon (Ving Rhames) are called out to investigate the disappearance of Matthew Boyd. They arrive at his fishing spot; discover his empty boat, and ultimately his mangled corpse. They consider shutting down the lake. At home, Jake learns about Derrick Jones from a porn-site, and is interrupted by his mother, Julie, who orders him to stay at home the next day, to babysit his little brother Zane (Sage Ryan), and sister Laura. Jake agrees to stay home and watch the kids tomorrow.The next day Julie and Fallon learn that in addition to patrolling spring breakers, they must accompany a team of seismologists to investigate the newly opened chasm in the lake caused by the earthquake. Team leader Novak (Adam Scott), and divers Sam (Ricardo Chavira) and Paula (Dina Meyer) take Julie's patrol boat out to the chasm. Sam and Paula swim down into the chasm. Paula waits at the chasm opening, to maintain radio contact, as Sam swims into the massive underwater lake. There, Sam discovers tens of thousands of unhatched piranha eggs. Sam is suddenly bitten, and bleeds into the water. The piranhas appear and eat Sam. Novak jumps in after them. He attempts to save Paula, who is swiftly eaten. Bringing Paula aboard, Novak and Julie discover a Piranha, which had attached itself to her corpse, flopping around on the deck. They trap the fish, and immediately take it to local Pet Shop owner, Mr. Goodman (Christopher Lloyd). Goodman identifies the piranha as an extremely violent, cannibalistic species which went extinct two million years earlier. They decide to evacuate Lake Victoria.Meanwhile, Jake shirks his babysitting duties, and agrees to pay Laura and Zane $60 in exchange for lying to their Mom and staying in the house. Jake makes his way to Derrick's boat, and watches Danni and another model named Crystal (Riley Steele) dance provocatively on the deck. As Jake is about to board, he runs into Kelly, who confesses that Todd lied about having back stage passes, and asks why he isn't babysitting his siblings. Derrick interrupts their conversation, being both inebriated and attracted to Kelly, he invites her aboard the party boat. Kelly agrees, to Jake's annoyance. On board Jake meets Derrick's camera man Drew (Paul Scheer). The group travels to a remote part of the lake, where Drew and Derrick film Danni and Crystal swimming nude beneath the glass-bottomed boat.Laura and Zane, bored at home, break Jake's promise and take a canoe out to go fishing. They dock at an island, and accidentally lose their canoe, stranding them both. They manage to flag down Jake on Derrick's boat, and realizing that they are the local sheriff's kids, and that he is covered in blow, Derrick fearfully allows them to board. Laura and Zane peer out through the boat's glass bottom, and see many Piranhas swimming beneath them.Back at the beach, Julie and Fallon order an evacuation, which is promptly ignored by the partygoers. The piranhas arrive and kill many partygoers, forcing the survivors to flee for higher ground. Notable deaths include the cowardly Todd, who commandeers a motorboat, runs over and kills many injured people still in the water, until his engine stalls and his boat is capsized. Party Animal (Eli Roth) is decapitated by an oncoming boat. Fallon grabs an outboard motor, and wielding it like a chainsaw, shreds numerous Piranhas until he is overcome by them, and killed when they literally eat his feet off. Novak seizes a skidoo and a shotgun, saving as many people as he can, and the survivors make their way out of the water.Derrick, now high on cocaine, demands that they move to a new shooting location. With Drew driving, the boat is entangled in a mass of seaweed. Angrily, Derrick takes control of the boat, accelerates, breaks free from the seaweed, and slams into some underwater rocks. The glass bottom is shattered, and with Kelly trapped below deck, water and piranhas begin to flood into the boat. Derrick, Drew, and Crystal are thrown overboard. Drew and Crystal are immediately killed as Derrick swims back to the boat. With Derrick clinging to the side of the boat, Jake and Danni manage to pull him aboard, shocked to find that most of his legs, and genitals, have been eaten by the piranhas. Derrick seemingly dies, and Danni places a beach towel over his corpse.More and more piranhas swarm into the boat, threatening Kelly, who is still trapped below. Jake attempts to pull Kelly to safety through a skylight, which is too small for her. Jake finally calls his mother on his phone. Julie answers, and with Novak at her side, they steal a speedboat. Below deck, Kelly bats off Piranhas with a frying pan. Julie and Novak arrive, carefully reverse towards Derrick's sinking boat, and toss a tow-cable across to Jake, who ties it off to the deck. Julie, suspended over the water, shimmies across the cable to Derrick's boat. Danni, Laura, Zane, and Julie cross back over to the speedboat, as numerous piranha leap out of the water, trying to eat them. A piranha snags Danni's long hair. She falls into the water and is quickly eaten alive. Laura, Zane, and Julie make their way to the speedboat, and watch as Jake unties the tow-cable. Intending to save Kelly, he grabs Derrick's still-not-dead corpse, lobs it over the side, distracts the piranhas long enough to swim under the boat with the tow-cable. Jake opens the valves on the boat's propane tanks, lights two flares, and gives Novak the signal to step on the gas. Jake and Kelly are yanked out of the boat, just seconds before the entire boat explodes, killing all the piranha within a few hundred feet. Jake and Kelly are towed back to the speed boat, and hoisted on deck, mostly uninjured.Happily, Julie, Novak, Jake, Kelly, Laura and Zane breathe a sigh of relief. Julie's radio suddenly crackles. Goodman is on the other end. Goodman tells her that upon further inspection, the Piranha specimen he has in his tank, and all the other piranhas in the lake, lack reproductive organs and are fundamentally babies. Novak jokes, wondering what an adult piranha would look like. Suddenly, a giant, shark-sized piranha leaps up on to the deck, eating Novak. | violence | train | imdb | null |
tt4853102 | Batman: The Killing Joke | This animated film starts with Barbara Gordon/Batgirl (voice of Tara Strong) observing Bruce Wayne/Batman (voice of Kevin Conroy) meeting with Commissioner Jim Gordon (voice of Ray Wise). Gordon shone the bat-signal to call Batman due to a robbery in progress. Batman heads off to take care of it while Batgirl pursues the robbers herself.The getaway van is driven by two punks, one among them being Paris Franz (voice of Maury Sterling), nephew of Gotham City's biggest crime lord Carlos Francesco (voice of John DiMaggio). Batman chases the crooks in the Batmobile while Batgirl leaps onto the van. She blows the backdoor open, letting some other criminals shoots at Batman. Paris shoots at Batgirl, causing her to fall off the van. She and Batman end up catching one criminal, but Batman is upset with Batgirl for getting in the way and almost harming herself.Paris and his buddy meet with Francesco. He is pissed at his nephew for Batgirl's intervention, where four of Francesco's men were caught, as well as $100,000. Francesco orders Paris to get the money back, or he'll have him killed.Paris and his goons go to rob a warehouse. Batgirl finds them, which Paris was counting on since he's developed an infatuation with her. He sprays her with knockout gas, but she has enough time to knee him in the groin before hiding out in the vault. Paris and the others get away. After she comes to and the police arrive, Batman meets Batgirl on a rooftop. He expresses his concern for her work on the case and orders her to stay off it. This angers Barbara, making her feel like Batman won't trust her.The criminals are on their boat after a night with some prostitutes. Paris gets a call from Francesco, and when his buddy picks up the phone, he gets shot in the head. Outside the boat are four shooters on a motorboat. Paris and his other cohort make their getaway by rigging the boat to explode as the hitmen board it, killing them all.Paris sends a video message to Batgirl so she can go looking for him. Batman is with her while she watches it. He knows it's a trap, so he tells her to stay off the case. She doesn't listen and follows the clues, leading her to find another phone with a message from Paris. She is led to an apartment where she discovers Francesco's dead body. Two of Francesco's men show up, forcing Batgirl to flee. Batman arrives and starts kicking ass.Batman and Batgirl stand on a rooftop arguing. She is finally pushed over the edge and she begins to attack Batman. He defends himself but is quickly subdued. In the heat of the moment, Batgirl kisses him. She then takes off her cowl and suit, and they start to have sex. This later fills Barbara with regret.The next night, Batgirl calls Batman as he is driving to find Paris. The Batmobile gets hit with an RPG by the docks. Batman ejects himself to safety and is faced by a bunch of crooks. Batgirl shows up on her motorcycle. She finds Paris and beats his face to a bloody pulp, but stops before she kills him.Paris is arrested, but Batgirl realizes what Batman was saying in regards to his concern for her. She meets him as Barbara and tells her she is giving up being Batgirl.A while later, Batman meets with Detective Harvey Bullock (voice of Robin Atkin Downes) at a crime scene where four men have been found dead, all of them with big smiles on their faces. Batman knows this is the work of The Joker (voice of Mark Hamill). He and Bullock go to Arkham Asylum to meet with him in his cell. The Joker appears to be obscured in darkness. Batman tells him that this will end with one of them killing the other. The man doesn't respond and continues stacking playing cards. Batman grabs his hand and sees the man has white powder on his hand. He pulls the man into the light and sees he is not Joker, but a decoy.The real Joker is meeting with another man to buy out an abandoned amusement park for a sinister purpose.We see a flashback of Joker before he became what he is now. He was a struggling comedian tending to his pregnant wife Jeannie (voice of Anna Vocino). The two had been in financial troubles for a while, and he was trying to find a way to support his growing family.Bruce is in the batcave trying to figure out what Joker's motives are. Alfred (Brian George) tells him he can't save everyone.Barbara is with her father in his apartment. She hears a knock at the door, thinking it's a friend of hers. It's The Joker, holding a gun. He shoots Barbara in her abdomen and sends her crashing onto a coffee table in front of Gordon. Two of Joker's men come in and beat Gordon before taking him away.Another flashback shows Pre-Joker meeting with two gangsters at a bar as he tries to come up with some money. The gangsters want him to help them break into the chemical plant where he once worked so that they can pull off a heist at the card company next to it. They show Pre-Joker the mask they want him to wear, which is that of The Red Hood. Two officers find Pre-Joker at the bar and inform him that Jeannie has died in an accident. The man expresses grief and says he has no more reason to go through with the crime. The gangsters give him their condolences but insist that it's too late for him to back out now.Batman finds Barbara at the hospital. The doctor tells him that she will never be able to walk again due to the through-and-through bullet injury to her spine. Bullock also implies to Batman that Joker may have raped her. Barbara wakes up and tells Batman that Joker is trying to prove a point, and that Gordon is "top of the bill".Gordon is taken to Joker's amusement park where he is tortured by some of Joker's freak show henchmen. The freaks take Gordon onto a ride through a house of horrors as Joker puts on a performance with the other freaks. Gordon is forced to see pictures of Barbara nude and bloodied, with Joker's intention being to drive Gordon insane.The last flashback shows Pre-Joker and the gangsters getting ready to pull off the heist as Pre-Joker wears Red Hood's mask and cape. They engage in a shootout with security as Batman arrives on the scene. The gangsters die while Pre-Joker is startled by Batman. He trips over his cape and falls into a vat of chemicals. He is swept out through a pipe into the river. Once he gets out, he sees his reflection in a puddle. His skin is bleached white, his lips are red, and his hair is green. His mind then warps into insanity, and he is now The Joker.Batman finds a clue that leads him to the amusement park. He finds Gordon, who remains sane. As Batman heads to pursue Joker, Gordon tells him to capture him "by the books" to show that their way works. Batman follows Joker into the funhouse as he fends off the freaks who try to kill Batman. Joker taunts Batman by saying the world isn't worth fighting for and how one bad day can turn anyone insane, as it was one bad day that led Batman into becoming what he is now. The two of them fight until Batman throws himself and Joker out the window. Joker tries to shoot him, but the gun only pops out a "click bang bang" sign. Batman tells Joker that he doesn't want either of them to kill each other, and he offers to help him be better. Joker declines, saying it's too late for him. He then starts to tell a joke about two men escaping from a loony bin. After the punchline, both Batman and Joker start laughing together.During the end credits, Barbara is seen in a wheelchair. She goes into her room and onto the computer, where we see the Oracle logo, indicating that she has new work to begin. | gothic, murder, neo noir, violence, flashback, good versus evil, insanity, comic, tragedy, suspenseful, sadist | train | imdb | This is (for better or worse) the Joker's origin story, incendiary though it is, and I can understand why they'd want to flesh out Barbara's character; but it still doesn't work because Batman doesn't recall her horrific fate later on in the movie.
This movie is doomed by a complete misunderstanding of what made the comic great, a bad writer and total lack of respect for its characters (especially Barbara Gordon).
A fan of the comic will hate it and a newcomer will just wonder why the hell the comic is considered a masterpiece, if this is the story people raved about for 30 years.Animation is decent and voice acting is good, so I gave it a 4/10 out of respect for those things.
not very good; besides, the animation was very weak in several scenes, I mean like 10 fps and that's unacceptable Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy's work was the best of the movie, I can't complain about that.
It's been awhile since I read the graphic novel but when I found out they were making an animated movie based on the book, I was excited, I couldn't wait to see it then when I found out it was being shown on HBO & not The Cartoon Network like I expected it was going to be, I was even more excited.I thought it was going to be (For some stupid reason) exactly like the graphic novel.I guess it's true, the book is always better than the movie.Watching Batman: The Killing Joke was like watching an episode/movie of Batman: The Animated Series but with sex & extreme violence.This movie was not for the kids.Since it was more like watching Batman: The Animated Series, the sex & extreme violence felt unnecessary.It didn't add anything to the movie at all.If this movie was supposed to be based on the graphic novel then they should've stuck to the story.At times I also found the movie to be boring.When it was over, the only thing I felt was disappointment.There are kid friendly Batman animated movies that are a million times better than this 1.I suggest watching any of them or picking up the graphic novel instead.
Not to mention how it's presented is silly especially given what room is open with an R rating (the first for any Batman film, ironically you could show this to most kids 12 and up and it'd be fine).Despite this troubling and/or just typical Batman/Batgirl story that squanders potential with really delving into backstory the comic hinted at, or because of it, when that second half of the film kicks in to gear and we get the story of the comic it'S presented largely faithfully and the genius and power of that story comes through; the Joker as a 'sympathetic' being with his own origin story which, by the end, is satisfying as its own story and is brilliant as a circumspect narrative from an unreliable storyteller.I may also be a sucker for Hamill as the Joker but how can one not be when he always sinks his teeth in and makes him a real PRESENCE in a room?
The animation is also top notch (as far as the limited budget allows), and some moments in that fun-house/amusement park are shown to be iconic for a reason; if you get any allusions to the Burton 89 Batman there's a reason for that.I think my high rating is due to finding that main story so compelling - what a hero or villain means when they have to face existential questions and how they relate to one another through "one bad day" (interestingly though Moore recently says he doesn't like his own work here I find he underrated it, that he got under the skin of these iconic figures to show them as people).
This just goes to show that not every comic looks good on the big screen.Really the only thing I liked was the fact that Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill were in it.Would I recommend it?
Lets start with the good:+ The voice work was great especially Mark Hamils Joker+ animation in some scenes look pretty goodNow the bad:Even though some animation in some scenes are good overall its extremely choppy and not worth buying in 3D Batman and Batgirls sex scene.
If it was one with Nightwing it be passable, but Batman????unnecessary side story for the first 30 minutes just to make the movie longer -its like they don't care, they barely ever focus in one scene that the comic great and just rushes itOverall it was a massive let down by DC hopefully Suicide Squad is good.
I nodded, thinking "Cool, this'll set up the Killing Joke stuff that happens with her to have more emotional weight." And it should have, but then it went in a direction I still feel very uncomfortable with every time I think about it-- spoiler: Batman and Batgirl have sex.
Voice acting was really good.(of course) I specially enjoyed the part where Joker sings, thanks Mark Hamill for adding an enjoyable part into this film..
Batman goes on the hunt for The Joker who is kidnapping and torturing Commissioner Gordon and his family in a similar way to his own descent into madness.One thing that immediately stands out about this film is how much it seems to want to be like the graphic novel that it is adapted from.
In fact the connection with the characters in this film isn't really that strong and at times they just seem to be there ,even Batman has this feeling when he is present in some scenes, this can also be said for the character of the Joker (voiced by Mark Hamill) he might be one of the best things about the film but he doesn't seem very understandable in his actions and motives until later in the film when his backstory ,if it is even his real one due to the character previously making up many different backstories making him more mysterious and in some cases creepy, is revealed and we see what his life was previously like and what drew him into the state of madness that has made him one of the most famous and iconic on-screen and comic book villains ever.
As this is done the character of The Joker gets better and better and more enjoyable and the same can be said for the rest of the film as more is revealed and as more events unravel/ occur the pace gets quicker and the film gets better and more entertaining pulling the audience in and providing a more detective style superhero film which at times feels fresh, new and different.If you ignore the first 30 minutes then Batman: The Killing Joke is a fresh animated superhero film that not only shows a new side to the character of The Joker but puts him centre stage as the star of the show.
I was always a huge fan of the Batman's twisted romantic relationship with The Joker, i know of no other clash between antagonists that portrays so wonderfully the duality of man and the absurd reaches and outcomes of the pressure that the world places on individuals, even so, i felt like The Killing Joke took the whole thing to a new level.
It's a far-too-long animated equivalent of a snuff film that fails to acknowledge or correct the problems of the source material as it claimed, instead substituting pseudo-philosophical debates about the nature of humanity and even more sexism and ableism the worst Batman stories are always known for.The only reason it's not a flat 1 is because, as is typical of DC animation, the art and the voice acting is fantastic.
The simple facts are the original novel was not long enough for a feature length, those who don't know Batgirl need some background, animation has never been flawless for any Batman film, and finally...it's just a movie.
The plot was just okay,Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy make sure they don't turn you down with their voices but what really got me into it was the last 10 minutes or so,they were absolutely incredible to say the least,however the first 1h or so was just dragging.Honestly the movie,according to me,would have been a lot better if the length was shorter.
Before you read this review it should be noted that as of the time I am writing this review I have not read the graphic novel on which The Killing Joke is based.Going into this movie I was hoping for one of the best Batman films I've ever seen, and while Batman: The Killing Joke was very good, it was also somewhat underwhelming.
The film tries too hard to match the amazing Graphic Novel in which is basedand i could mention hundreds of other flaws and other things about this movie, i don't get why it got an "R" rating if the whole movie is boring even for a little kid, i've watched this movie in the theater in one of the special screenings in my town and a lot of people got out of the movie really disappointed and i went to the tickets cabin to ask for my money because YES, THE MOVIE IS THAT HORRENDOUS, an episode of spongebob square pants is more exciting and thrilling and more R rated than this piece of garbage.So, anyways...
You probably want your money back too.If you're planning to buy this movie or invest any money on it i suggest you to buy some Disney animated films, specially the classic ones because they are better in animation, story-telling, screenplay and are definitely much more thrilling and exciting than Batman: The Killing Joke(2016)-Lamont Cranston.
Unfortunately, The Killing Joke is a messy unsatisfying waste of great source material.I haven't read the graphic novel, but like every Batman fan, I know the story of The Killing Joke.
There were plenty more ways to expand upon Batgirl's role here, but that wasn't one of them.The Killing Joke hits high when it hits, but it's few and far between, which is extremely disappointing given the fascinating source material.+Hamill and Conroy+Brutal and uncompromising at times-Added Batgirl material-And why is Batgirl pining for Batman's pants?-Big moments aren't necessarily earned5.5/10.
Batman: The Killing joke is an animated superhero film directed by San Liu. It is a direct adaptation of the graphic novel with the same name that came out in 1988.
The Batman and Batgirl sex scene was like a creepy fan fiction that some die-hard fan would write or draw to satisfy their fantasy.Overall rating: Batman: The Killing Joke is basically a giant middle finger to the fans who loved Alan Moore's novel.
Batman: The Killing Joke gives what the title promises yet it gives more than what is necessary: an opening act that has to 'fill-in' for the feature-film length of the production: the problem is that this opening act is completely pointless to the meat-and-bones of the story: The Joker and Batgirl.Scribe Brian Azzarello means well, though he doesn't compliment Alan Moore's 1988 graphic novel masterpiece by adding an unnecessary chunk of plot to the beginning of the story that ultimately adds up to nothing later on.
Batman: The Killing Joke is a animated movie adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name.
The movie starts off with a thirty minute prologue detailing the events (involving Batman and Batgirl) that take place before the main story.
Batman: The Killing Joke was none of those things.I had such high hopes for this movie when it was announced with an R rating, when Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill signed on, when I saw that it was coming to theaters for not one but two night, but even so it did not deliver the way it should have and I can tell you exactly why.Political correctness.PC is what destroyed this film for being as good as it could have been and I'll tell you why.
This prologue was added to the film so that when Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) is later shot and paralyzed by the Joker in the film, like in the comic, we can feel for her, understand her side of the story, and not promote violence against women.Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating violence against women, or anyone for that matter, but the PC train has gone off the tracks when they decide to mess with something like The Killing Joke by adding a whole Batgirl story that has nothing at all to do with the plot just for the sake of showing that "yeah, women can kick butt too!" before paralyzing the only female character in the film.
I seriously wonder how anyone thought the Batgirl prologue was a good idea.The actual Killing Joke story starts about 30/40 minutes into the film, and that itself is left relatively untouched, which is good.
A very good animation, great voice acting as always from Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy, awesome to hear an origin story I have never came across before for the Joker and I'd imagine discovering Oracles origin story would have been an interesting find if I hadn't just discovered it in the Batman Arkham Knight game this past month.
If you've read the graphic novel of Brian Bolland called "The Killing Joke" you know that it's one of the best and most important works of the "Batman" and DC comics universe, as it's somewhat of a significant and universal like origin story of "The Joker" it takes an interesting look at the "Clown prince of crime".
I didn't think that the pacing and overall structure of the story were good.The film itself was relatively short compared to most theatrical films (there were also no movie trailers), but accommodated this by adding a commentary featuring Mark Hamill (voice of the Joker) before the start of the film, and after the end credits, another commentary about the music score.
They were fun to watch.(POTENTIAL SPOILERS)But more importantly, the film was extended from the original graphic novel by adding a subplot with Batman and Batgirl and their conflict against a criminal (not the Joker).
The criminal she and Batman were fighting against added very little lasting importance and soon became irrelevant for the remainder of the film.Then came the second half of the film, and the story is finally about the Joker, who replaces Batgirl as the new central character, as the film now explores his life and point of view.
It made the movie indecisive on who is the most important character, it felt like a story for a different Batman movie, and it did not have enough relevant material to carry over to the second half.The conflict between the heroes and the Joker should have been explored more, they should fight several more times throughout the movie, and whatever more additional scenes need to be relevant and build up to the climax of the movie.
However, unlike the Joker, I felt that the movie did not take full advantage of Conroy's talent by portraying a near-constantly stoic Batman who displayed almost no personal needs or ambitions except to keep his mind on the job and nothing else.This was a movie adaptation of the famous The Killing Joke graphic novel.
It's weird and disturbing like the best stories involving Batman & the Joker going at each other.The Killing Joke is a classic graphic novel (It's like a classic novel (I don't read so I can't suggest a novel) that you are excited they are going to adapt into a movie, and that's the Killing Joke).Anything coming out of DC Universe Animated Original Movies is so great and so adult and way better than anything that the DC Cinematic Universe seems to be doing.I was so stoked that the movie was going to be released in theaters and it shocked me when I saw the movie was going to be Rated R.
The comic book 'The Killing Joke' was such a great comic, but it wasn't one to be adapted into a animated film.
This movie is so poorly made, with frames of animation going slow making it feel like low frame rate, especially when Batman is walking through the prison to the Joker.
I'm a pretty big Batman fan and I have to admit that I like the Joker better when he doesn't have an origin story.
This is an R-rated animated film with the best of the best lending their voices with Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill voicing Batman and The Joker respectively.
This feature length animated film is an adaptation of the best-selling graphic novel, "The Killing Joke." The book was ground-breaking in presenting the origins and background of the most popular supervillain of all time, The Joker.
Batman: The Killing Joke is adapted from the Alan Moore graphic comic.The animation is dark with some bone crunching violence, this is a cartoon not aimed at kids as it examines the violent psyche of the loony Joker (Mark Hamill) but also shows the character in more normal times in flashback.Batman (Kevin Conroy) plays second fiddle here as he tries to look for alternative ways to deal with the clown prince of crime who has escaped from the asylum again.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film.i thought it flowed well and I like the story.it's a bit dark and intense at times.the voice work is first rate here.all the voices fit the characters brilliantly.i thought the dialogue was well written.i like the whole movie from beginning to end,but I especially liked the ending.it was subtle and unexpected.at least,i didn't expect it.not having read the graphic novel the movie is based on,i have no idea how faithful it was to the source material,but i enjoyed it,nonetheless.i have seen a handful of animated batman movies and this was as good as any of them.for me, Batman: The Killing Joke is a well deserved 7/10.. |
tt1219342 | Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole | Soren (Jim Sturgess), a fledgling barn owl, lives peacefully in the forest of Tyto with his family; his father, Noctus (Hugo Weaving); his mother, Marella (Essie Davis); his older brother, Kludd (Ryan Kwanten), his younger sister, Eglantine (Adrienne DeFaria) and Ms. P the family's nest maid. Noctus enjoys telling Soren and Eglantine stories of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, a mythical group of warrior owls, who once saved all owlkind from the evil "Pure Ones" in a great battle in which the Guardians' leader, Lyze of Kiel, defeated the Pure Ones' leader Metal Beak. Kludd, however, thinks Soren soft-headed for believing in such stories. One night, while branching, a jealous Kludd pushes Soren and loses his balance in the process, and they both fall to the ground below. They are attacked by a Tasmanian devil but are saved and also kidnapped by a pair of Long-Eared Owls named Jatt (Leigh Whannell) and Jutt (Angus Sampson).They are taken to St. Aegolious, home to the Pure Ones, where Soren meets an (elf owl) named Gylfie (Emily Barclay) and her captor, a (boreal owl) named Grimble (Hugo Weaving). The two are roughly thrown into a crowd of other kidnapped owlets. Nyra (Helen Mirren), second-in-command of the Pure Ones and the mate of Metal Beak, claims that the owlets now work for the Pure Ones as slaves. Soren and Gylfie protest, and are sent to be pickers, along with most of the captive owls. Kludd denies his brother, and goes away to be a soldier with other selected owls. They are tutored by Nyra in the ways of the Pure Ones, who believe that Tyto owls (barn owls and their relatives) are the strongest owls and that, because of this, they have the right to rule the owl kingdoms.The other captured owls are forced to sleep under the full moon. Gylfie informs Soren that this will cause "moon-blinking", a trancelike state in which owls lose all sense of will and individuality. Soren and Gylfie stay awake, which means that they are not moon-blinked. They are brought to a large cavern to pick through owl pellets for small metal flecks. Soren discovers that the flecks en masse cause weakening pain in owls, when he is ordered to deliver a fleck to the bag they are kept in. The full bag is then carried away by a large bat to a gigantic metal container. Metal Beak (Joel Edgerton) and an unknown owl watch from above, making a bargain in which the unknown owl will receive a portion of the owl kingdoms and the Tree in return for laying a trap for the Pure Ones' enemies, the Guardians of Ga'Hoole.Grimble secretly takes Soren and Gylfie to his library, where he reveals that he is not truly a Pure One. He also tells the two owlets that his family was captured by the Pure Ones and forced into their service. He teaches Soren and Gylfie to fly, so they can warn the Guardians of the Pure Ones' plans.Kludd has become a strong soldier, and his promise prompts Nyra to ask him about Soren's similar potential. Hoping to recruit him, the Pure Ones interrupt Grimble's flying lessons. Nyra attacks Grimble, Soren and Gylfie. Kludd joins the fray on Nyra's side, ignoring Soren's pleas. Grimble sacrifices himself to hold them back, and Soren and Gylfie just barely escape to begin their quest.On their journeys, they meet a (burrowing owl) named Digger (David Wenham); a (great gray owl) named Twilight (Anthony LaPaglia); and Soren's old nestmaid, a (snake) named Mrs. P (Miriam Margolyes). They join Soren with the promise of leading him to the Sea of Hoolemere, the location of the Great Tree and the home of the Guardians.Soren and his allies are mobbed by (crows) on the way to the Sea and they nearly loss Twilight's lute, in which Mrs. P is riding. The battle brings them to the shore of the Sea of Hoolemere and the home of an (echidna) mystic (Barry Otto). The crows deliberately led them to the meeting so that the Echidna could give them their bearings to the Great Tree. Far out over the ocean the group encounters a fierce hurricane, and Digger falls towards the sea. Soren dives to save him, only to find Digger being rescued by an enormous (snowy owl) with an armored mask - a Guardian of Ga'hoole. The Guardian leads Soren and his friends through the storm to the Great Tree.Digger's saviors are Boron and Barran, the king and the queen of the Tree. The king and queen, as well as the ranking officers of Ga'hoole, hear Soren's tale. The search-and-rescue squadron leader, a (great gray owl) named Allomere (Sam Neill), expresses doubts about Soren's story. But battle-scarred (whiskered screech owl) Ezylryb (Geoffrey Rush) defends Soren. Boron decides to send a scouting party, led by Allomere, to St. Aegolious.Soren, Gylfie, Twilight, and Digger begin their training in the different trades of the Tree. During one lesson, Ezylryb takes them out to learn how to "really fly," using a powerful storm to teach the young owls how to use the wind currents instead of fighting them. Soren briefly masters the technique of flying by instinct, only to lose control and to be saved by Ezylryb.After the lesson, Soren converses with Ezylryb in his hollow tree and learns that Ezylryb is, in fact, Lyze of Kiel. Soren is disillusioned with the seemingly heroic stories when he sees his hero's disfigurements and hears that the battle in the stories wasn't as heroic as he thought.Allomere returns without his scouts. He tells King Boron that they were ambushed; that the scouts were killed; and that he barely managed to return with two moon-blinked owlets. One of the moon-blinked owlets is Eglantine, who was kidnapped by Kludd.Outraged, the Guardians go to war. At the urging of Ezlyryb, Soren reluctantly stays to tend to Eglantine. She soon awakes, but with shocking news: she wasn't rescued, but given to Allomere by Kludd. Allomere is revealed to be a traitor, and Soren and his friends rush to the Guardians' aid.When the Guardians arrive at St. Aegolious, they are drawn into a trap. Allomere peels off at the last moment and the Pure Ones unleash the power of the flecks against the Guardians, leaving the owls helpless on the ground. Soren and his friends arrive minutes too late, just as Metal Beak and Nyra send the bats to finish off the defenseless Guardians. Soren sends Twilight, Digger and Gylfie to hold back the bats. He plunges into the burning forest fire, carrying an oil lamp that becomes engulfed in flames after flying through the fire. The band's unprecedented arrival causes Metal Beak to distrust Allomere. Believing that he has been betrayed, Metal Beak orders a group of bats to viciously kill Allomere.Soren plunges into the flecks' magnetic field to drop the flaming oil lamp on the mechanism which holds open the lids over the flecks. The fire spreads across the machine and burns through the ropes. The lids slam down, freeing the Guardians.With his plan disrupted, Metal Beak orders the Pure Ones to fight the Guardians. Ezylryb and Metal Beak square off, as do Soren and Kludd. Their fight leads to them ending up in the burning forest. Soren tries to talk some sense into Kludd, who tells his younger brother that the Pure Ones believed in him when no one else did. He attacks Soren with renewed vigor, sending them both tumbling over a fallen tree and causing Kludd to break a wing. He convinces Soren to save him, only to attempt to pull his younger brother into the flames. Soren dodges the attack, and Kludd falls into the flames instead.Soren sees that Ezylryb, Metal Beak, and Nyra are engaged in fierce combat. Filled with rage, he snaps off a burning branch and flies off to help Ezylryb. He takes Metal Beak by surprise, arriving in time to save Ezylryb. Metal Beak easily overpowers Soren and throws his branch away. Soren regains his weapon, just as Metal Beak moves in for the kill. Metal Beak impales himself on the branch, and Nyra retreats with the remaining Pure Ones.Soren and his friends return to the Great Tree with the owlets, and Soren is greeted by Eglantine and his parents. Soren, Gylfie, Twilight, and Digger are made Guardians of Ga'Hoole.In the epilogue, Soren reveals that Kludd's body was never found and Nyra is still out there with a contingent of Pure Ones. Kludd is then shown to be alive, now with the glowing red eyes of the other Pure Ones. He walks around and stares down at Metal Beak's body and mask, hinting at a sequel with Kludd as the new Metal Beak. | good versus evil, cute, fantasy | train | imdb | null |
tt0357277 | Elektra | After being killed in Daredevil, Elektra Natchios is revived by a blind martial arts master called Stick. She is brought to his training compound to learn Kimagure, an ancient martial arts discipline that provides its practitioners with precognition as well as the ability to resurrect the dead. Elektra soon is expelled because of her inability to let go of her rage and fear from seeing her mother's killer as a child. She leaves and uses her training to become a contract killer.
Years later, Elektra infiltrates a heavily guarded area and succeeds in slaying her target DeMarco. Elektra's agent McCabe receives an unusually large offer from an anonymous client wishing to hire Elektra's services. The only stipulation; she must spend a few days in a rented home on the island where the assassination is to be performed before the names of the targets are revealed. During the wait, Elektra catches a girl named Abby trying to swipe her mother's necklace. She sends her away, and later meets and befriends her father, Mark Miller. Abby later invites Elektra to dinner on Mark's behalf. Elektra develops a romantic interest in Mark, but soon learns he and Abby are the targets she has been hired to kill. Elektra spares them and leaves, but later returns in time to protect them from assassins sent by The Hand, a crime syndicate of ninja mercenaries.
Meanwhile, Roshi, master of The Hand, learns of the failed attempt and permits his son Kirigi to lead a new team of assassins to kill Elektra and return with Abby, referred to as "The Treasure". Elektra tries to leave Abby and Mark with Stick, but he scolds her into protecting them herself. She then drives Mark and Abby to McCabe's country house, but is followed by Kirigi, Typhoid, Stone, Kinkou, and Tattoo. Elektra flees with Mark and Abby through a secret underground exit to the orchard, while McCabe sacrifices himself to allow them to escape.
Kirigi and the assassins hunt down the trio in a forest nearby. Elektra manages to kill Stone, while Abby and Mark kill Kinkou with one of his own daggers. As Elektra is distracted by the revelation that Abby has martial arts skills, Typhoid gives Elektra the "Kiss of Death". Abby is captured by Kirigi. Suddenly, Stick and his Chaste ninjas arrive, forcing Kirigi, Typhoid, and Tattoo to retreat. Stick manages to save Elektra from death and takes them under his protection.
Stick confirms Abby is a martial arts prodigy which is the "Treasure" of martial arts whom the Hand seek to use. Elektra learns that she was a Treasure herself and her mother was a casualty of the fight between The Chaste and The Hand with her as the reason. She also guesses that Stick set up the hit on Mark and Abby in order to test Elektra's propensity for compassion. Elektra is not pleased, but does not follow up with that line of inquiry after getting the comment that some lessons must be lived. Elektra astrally projects herself to a meeting with Kirigi and challenges him to a fight; the winner claiming Abby for their own purpose. Elektra returns to her childhood home to face Kirigi, and finally remembers he was her mother's killer; whom she had been seeing as a horned demon in nightmares all this time.
Elektra is at first defeated by Kirigi, but Abby arrives and engages him long enough for Elektra to recuperate. Elektra and Abby then escape and hide in a hedge maze but are separated when Abby is captured by snakes dispatched by Tattoo. Elektra finds Tattoo and snaps his neck, freeing Abby in the process. Elektra engages Kirigi a second time and manages to stab and kill him. Typhoid poisons Abby, the same way she did to Elektra earlier, killing her in the process. Elektra throws her sai into Typhoid killing her and successfully resurrects Abby, overcoming her rage. When Mark comes to take Abby, he and Elektra kiss and go their separate ways. Just as Elektra leaves the grounds of her childhood home for the final time, she meets Stick and the two exchange words to each other. Elektra departs, knowing Abby and Mark will be safe. | violence, entertaining, flashback | train | wikipedia | fun, or quirky, or in some other way entertaining - and this is where Elektra comes in, complete with her trademark red assassin warrior outfit.It is fun to watch Jennifer Gardner work her craft as she threads her way through the dialogue and scenes in this film.All things considered, she is a good casting match for the Elektra character.As for the story itself .
who she really is (and is not), and various situations that led her into th e profession she has become so skilled But, if you happen to be an Elektra fan (from the comic / graphic novel realm), you'll appreciate the extent to which this character has been translated to film .
I wasn't expecting much because comic book movies are usually disappointing, but this one was actually good.
Just when you think you have it all figured out she pull the wool over your eyes and gets her way.This movie was fairly weak on the dialog, the acting wasn't particularly convincing, and the action was spotty.
I was really looking for something more along the lines of Frank Miller's book "Electra Assassin." Which is much darker than anything in this movie.Special effect where cool, action was interesting at times, but more often than not the story and plot was slow or illogical.
This is absurd - aside from the fellow Australian who has reviewed this flick, I can't help but think that everyone else who has submitted a review so far was some way involved in the production of Elektra, considering how generous they were with their praise.Admittedly I'm not really a fan of comic-book-to-movie conversions so I didn't go in with many expectations, yet still I found Elektra to be incredibly underwhelming.
The thing that irked me the most was the fact that there was SO MUCH in this film which went by unexplained, that left you thinking "huh, what relevance does that have to the plot?" or "so how did that aspect of the character come about?" I can only hope that these are things which are perhaps explained somewhat in Daredevil, which I have no intention of seeing.Furthermore, the behaviour of the characters in this film appear to do an about-face at random moments to suit the storyline, and don't even get me started about the utterly pointless romantic sub-plot.
I'm also (still) scratching my head over the fate of Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa's character, which seems to have gone by unexplained.If I can give kudos to this movie for anything it would have to be the fantastic locations in which it was shot, but otherwise I gained little enjoyment from Elektra.
I know we're supposed to suspend our disbelief for fantasy/action films, but almost everything in this film was so improbable or confusing (even by action film standards) that it simply frustrated me.Well, hell, at least Jennifer Garner looks damn good..
At the end takes place an epic facing off between Elektra and nasty Kirigi ( Will Yun Lee) and partners , as demolishing the man mountain stone , bendy-guy Kinkou , the Animalistic Tattoo and decease-dealing typhoid (Natassia Malthe, subsequently Uwe boll's fetish actress playing Bloodrayne II and against 3º Reich) .The flood of Hollywood superheroes goes on with Marvel Comics' lithely combative Elektra .
I thought this might be just another "kung fu" type of flick but I was pleasantly surprised that there was a good story line, some romance, and (of course) plenty of action scenes that were well crafted and interesting.The supporting case was strong and good cross section of "evil" people.
I suggest people not familiar with Elektra, The hand, or other aspects of the Marvel plot lines stay away from this movie.
I liked the visual aspects of the movie which includes the special effects, settings, and Jennifer Garner.
It has great action, pretty darn good visuals, and is everything a comic book movie should be.The story?
The acting was good enough, no one did a horrible job, everything was watchable.And, most importantly, Jennifer Garner is smokin' hot in this movie.
However when she actually meets Mark and his young daughter, Elektra has a change of heart and joins the Millers to defend them from the Order?Having seen my fair share of films I rarely find one that is totally without value, so often I'll give things a try even if I fear the worst.
However having seen Elektra I can honestly say that if you're looking for a template to make a bad film then this is as good a place to come as any.
Speaking of development, don't expect any in your characters either Elektra's past is a collection of flashbacks and "sudden waking-up" moments but nothing more than that; she is just a bit of eye-candy who will "find her heart again" at some point and the sad thing is that she is the best developed character in the film.With such a thin frame to work within, Garner does nothing that look determined or, as she "finds her heart again", simpers and weeps for the camera.
Even die-hard Garner fans will struggle to enjoy this dog January and already I think I've seen one of my least favourite films of the year..
Jennifer Garner plays the role well, the fight scenes are awesome (if you liked Buffy this kicks a just as well).
Jennifer Garner returns as Elektra from the film "Dare Devil" who is now an assassin.
Personally, Natassia Malthe looked so much better than Jennifer Garner, plus she actually looked more like the Elektra character from the comics.
If you like most of the Marvel movies that have come out recently, then you should enjoy Elektra.
The biggest problem here is that a lot if important info is left out IE Who are the villains, What is the story behind the Good vs Evil battle, Why was Elektra's mom targeted and other stuff.
I've always been a fan of all of the superhero movies out, especially since Marvel makes really great ones (yeah Catwoman and Batman and all those were good...but Marvel won't ever disappoint) - Elektra had great design elements, the acting was superb, I do wish they had provided more information, but it isn't like it's necessary.
Since I haven't read comics is quite a few years, and having never really followed Daredevil or Elektra, I don't really have any comments on how true to the books this movie was.I do believe it's definitely worth seeing.
The story makes no sense and the dialogue is terrible (Terrence Stamp as a white haired English Yoda-type isa prime offender), but it compares favorably to Marvel's worst movies - Blade 2 and 3, the Hulk, Punisher, Daredevil.It's definitely entertaining, the villains are really interesting (despite one is called "Kinko") and the action scenes are a lot of fun.
Elektra Is The Spin Off From The Comic Book Adaptation Daredevil.I Never Thought We Would See A Spin Off As Daredevil Only Made Just Over $100 million In the USA.I Have to Be Honest I Wasn't Really Exspecting Much.And When You Look At The Quality Of Female Superhero Movies(cat-woman,tank girl,super-girl)who can blame Me.But I Was Pleasantly Surprised By This.Jennifer Garners Character Elektra Was Always The Standout Character In The Weak Daredevil,But To Be Honest I Was Always Fearing A Big Budget Bomb.But I Was Proved Wrong.The Acting,Special Effects And Script Are All Well Above Average.Jennifer Garner Definitely Deserves To Be The Next Big Actor On The A-List.She Fits The Character Perfectly.Something Is Wrong If This Is Not A Big,Big Hit.I Recommend You See This Movie.
It had great plot elements or ideas, Amazing visuals, a very sexy Jennifer Garner, and as far as i've been told a "pretty accurate" characterization of Electra in comparison to the comics.
Elektra (Jennifer Garner), a "superhero hitperson" when the film begins, is sent on a routine mission where she has to arrive a couple days early.
On this interpretation, it may be no coincidence that the "bad guys" are those who are still living in a magical reality, whereas the "good guys" are those who achieve spectacular results through years of learning and honing more down-to-earth skills.On a more superficial level, Elektra is a relatively fast-paced, fantasy-oriented actioner/thriller, loaded with suspense at the right moments, good performances, great direction, intriguing special effects and exciting fight scenes.
(Apparently, those movies are the gage by which all live-action comic movies will be judged.) As with most good movies, the story and the characters are the strong points of the film.
The special effects and action sequences are well done; however, they are toned down a bit to allow Elektra (who is human) to be the featured element of the movie.
Since director Rob Bowman may be at the helm of the X-Men series in the future, it was good to see he knows how to bring a comic character to the big screen in a non-comedic manner.There is no getting around the fact that this is a girl power film that many guys will enjoy.
This movie, unlike recent annoying bad films such as Blade Trinity, spent time to develop a script and its characters.
This movie looks like a comic book come to life, no matter how cheesy that may be at times to some people.
Some of the intellectual stuff in the movie (yes, things like that happen quite often in the better comic adaptions, at least in my opinion) deserved much more time on the screen then it actually did.
And finally, Stick, the "Yoda figure", that's what I like to call the just as inevitable mentor of the hero, was just as misplaced and flat as the villains.Now to the fun stuff: Why do I still think that Elektra was 1) worth viewing and 2) one of the better action flicks of the last two years?
Luckily, the movie dedicates a good deal of screen time to this plot element, and this is what heaves Elektra out of all the other comic adaption rabble and far above catastrophes like "Catwoman".
It truly had so much potential that unfortunately was not used to its greatest extent, Elektra suffers just like Catwoman did, so that goes to tell you that even if a popular and beautiful actress stars in a comic book adaptation , it won't necessarily be successful..
The story was interesting, the special effects quite good, and Jennifer Garner in a those outfits is not a bad visual.
I love daredevil, but most of all i watched Elektra yesterday and man to me that movie is the BOMB.
i loved it..when its because I'm a huge fan of jennifer garner and i would love to meet her someday, but i really liked the movie.
Jennifer Garner plays Elektra, an assassin who is called upon to kill a father and his thirteen year old daughter.
Only now, she has also made herself a target.Jennifer Garner is great as Elektra, a sexy ass-kicking woman.
I look forward to seeing Elektra 2 and Daredevil 2.If you know who comes back to play our favorite blind superhero.Action just looks amazing in this picture.
i look forward for this movie mainly because its from marvel's comic and also because of 'jennifer garner'.
I like it way more than Daredevil.This movie however by itself was great to me without having knowledge of the history, and even though there were a few problems with it, overall it was pretty flawless as far as how much it had my eyes glued on the screen.
I guess some people going in to expect this to have something to do with Daredevil would be a little disappointed as it only relates by the title character, as people were with the 2004 Catwoman and Batman, but I am simply tired of all the negativity on female superhero films of the 00s that deserve more appreciation..
Best reason to watch this movie - watching Jennifer Garner getting kissed by a woman who kills people with her kisses - AND RESPONDING.
In may be that since comic titles like "Elektra" are basically sexploitation, the money people looked at the of casting Jennifer Garner and Natassia Malthe and saw huge sexploitation potential.
But at the end: the movie is not worth to be seen, not even on DVD or for free.A vague story about "good against evil" and a superhuman female warrior in the center of this fight.
The movie looked nice the acting was good but it was just all together dull nothing much happened at the start and it pretty much finished the same way.
We are supposed to root for Elektra, not because she's Jennifer Garner, not because we already saw her in Daredevil, not because we read any of the comic books, but because the character is inherently likable and/or sympathetic.
I don't get all the hate for this movie, there is enough character development and plot that you care what happens to the characters, Garner is charming as always as Elektra.
Jennifer Garner, (Elektra) plays the role as a woman who works as an assassin-for-hire who also has great super powers which she learned from a mystic.
Jennifer Garner is surprisingly effective in this dark, sexy if a bit convoluted adaption of the Marvel comics/Frank Miller character.
Terence Stamp is very good here and the movie moves at a brisk pace.Garner really looks and acts the part right down to the sexy costume, the flashbacks are useful and innovative.
Elektra not only lived up to my expectations, it surpassed them mainly because of the great action and, of course, phenomenal acting by the great Jennifer Garner.The movie has a X-MEN appeal to it, with bad guys doing supernatural things.
In this case, the formula given (1 beautiful woman+special effects+easy and uncomplicated plot= decent tribute to original material) works well enough to be seen a few times or owned on DVD, but without proper and level support, you people will destroy move-making single handedly by being so selfishly involved in this.Elektra was really great; give others the chance to decide for themselves and lighten up!.
and I consider this a good movie.No need for any excuses like "Dont expect too much, its from a comic book" or something like that, I really enjoyed it: Jennifer Garner is an excellent kick-ass superhero I would compare to Lara Croft's Angelina Jolie, she acted believable looked awesome.
Well, 'Elektra' being a spin-off from 'DareDevil', and starring the same actress in Jennifer Garner, one wouldn't have had high expectations for this film if you weren't a huge fan of the Affleck vehicle.
Though Daredevil wouldn't be considered one of the best comic films, it does, however, run circles around this terrible spin off starring Jennifer Garner as Elektra, brought back from the dead to become one of the deadliest assassins the world as ever known.In Daredevil, Elektra was the daughter of Nickolas Natchios, lover of Matt Murdock, was rounded, showed emotion, and had a believable storyline throughout.
Instead of killing them, she protects them from the mythical Hand group, waiting to take the daughter and turn her to their evil ways.Jennifer Garner truly deserved much more than she got in this terrible film.
the viewer starts to wonder, "Why are they sending ninjas instead of commandos with assault rifles?" Elektra is one of the bad comic book movies to come out which is disappointing since the character of Elektra really is interesting and would have made a better film if put into the hands of a director more open tot he fact that Elektra is a real person who dealt with real situations, not a superhero who is involved with all this supernatural mumbo jumbo magic.
Jennifer Garner is still good at emoting anguish (a la alias)and at looking and acting like an assassin.
I'm not big on comics and I knew nothing of who or what the Elektra character was about so this movie doesn't just appeal to existing Electra or Daredevil fans (I was really disappointed with Daredevil by the way).
I know I didn't have a good time watching it.Jennifer Garner is on record as saying she disliked making this and frankly it shows.
In addition, Elektra was marginally better than Daredevil, which was the most boring and pointless action movie I've seen in quite a while.
Elektra: 4/10: When people said Jennifer Garner, as Elektra, was the best thing in the movie Daredevil.
The flow and the action scenes were great and it feels like there's a nice level of character development in this (unlike DareDevil), I don't have a clue who Elektra is in the comic book world or how she is supposed to be but you don't need that to enjoy this film (as it should be).
The movie was well done and is good enough for me to be expecting a sequel, just keep in mind, this is more of the definition of Elektra and finding who she is.
You'll find this 'Elektra' film fairly entertaining; easy to wacth to pass the time.Jennifer Garner plays Elektra well and she is a really good martial artist due to her training from Alias (2001).
Jennifer Garner was so good in the movie though, the fighting she can do and the twirling of her three pronged knives are amazing.
ELEKTRA * (out of ****) Jennifer Garner, Goran Visnjic, Terence Stamp, and Kirsten Pout Directed by Rob Bowman 97 minutes long There is nothing worse than a comic book adaptation gone wrong.
Then there is the acting, Jennifer Garner did OK with the same role in Daredevil, but here she has a hard time transferring to the main character.
I feel so bad for Jennifer Garner, because she was pretty much required to do this role, even though this is a movie that should never have been made.Jennifer looks like she got into great shape for this role, but it was all in vain because her lines were few and far between for a starring role.
I've been an Elektra fan since her first appearance in Daredevil comics, and over time, she became simply my favorite character. |
tt0066769 | The Andromeda Strain | A military space capsule has brought back to earth something - a disease, a biotoxin, an organism - which has destroyed a small town in New Mexico where everyone - including the soldiers sent to retrieve the capsule - has died either in bizarre and unusual ways or have committed suicide in grisly fashion. Except for two residents, an infant and an old man. A group of scientists at a secret underground laboratory in Nevada must determine why two essentially opposite subjects survived, essentially untouched by the otherwise lethal organism, and how to prevent the organism from spreading and causing a potentially worldwide catastophe. Due to an error in the design of the lab, the organism may trigger an even worse catastrophic disaster, possibly cause their own deaths as well.=========== A More Detailed Synopsis Follows ==========The Universal movie based on the Michael Crichton book opens with the Universal logo then "Acknowledgements. This film concerns the four-day history of a major American scientific crisis. We received the generous help of many people attached to Project Scoop at Vandenberg Air Force Base and the Wildfire Laboratory in Flatrock, Nevada. They encouraged us to tell the story accurately and in detail. The documents presented here are soon to be made public. They do not in any way jeopardize the national security." Title and credits follow.FIRST DAY (February 5, 1971)Two Air Force men, Lt. Shawn (Mark Jenkins) and Sgt. Crane (Peter Helm) peer at the little hamlet of Piedmont, New Mexico, population 68, through night vision goggles. They drive their van into town, all the while they are in direct communication with Vandenberg AFB, Scoop Mission Control. They talk to Lt. Comroe (Carl Reindel) and report progress. They report, "We see bodies, lots of them." Before they can retrieve the satellite they are attacked by, "something in white." Lt. Comroe calls Major Mancheck.Major Mancheck (Ramon Bieri) requests a reconnaissance flyby over the town. He requests, "Infrared. A FLIR scan, all sectors. Film to come direct to Scoop." An F-4 Phantom jet criss-crosses the area taking photographs. The pilot is surprised to see all the dead bodies. Mancheck and Comroe review the film. Mancheck declares a State of Emergency, and restricts all personnel to base. He enters a small closet, unlocks a red telephone, and calls a special number. He leaves a message, "I recommend calling a Wildfire Alert. We have evidence here on film of unnatural death caused by Scoop 7 returning to earth." He hangs up the phone. Five scientists are activated and collected: Stone, Leavitt, Dutton, Kirke and Hall.A party in an upscale Berkeley neighborhood in California is underway. Mrs. Allison Stone (an uncredited Susan Brown) answers the doorbell. She is surprised when MP Capt. Morton (John Carter) and his aide (an uncredited Michael Bow) appear and insist on seeing Dr. Stone. Dr. Jeremy Stone (Arthur Hill) reacts as if he knew they would arrive which upsets his wife even more than she already is. Morton calmly tells Stone, "There's a fire, sir." Morton assures Mrs. Stone that Dr. Stone will be fine and they leave. Stone reviews a file on Project Scoop on the drive to San Francisco International Airport. Allison Stone frantically calls her father, a U.S. Senator, and tries to report the strange abduction of her husband. The phone line is cut and a voice warns Mrs. Stone, "This communication is being monitored. The connection has been broken for reasons of national security. You will be briefed at the appropriate time. Thank you for your cooperation, Mrs. Stone." General Sparks (Peter Hobbs) calls Dr. Stone, who is alone on a large commercial jet airliner, and tells him, "I just wanted to inform you that all members of your team have been cleared and are now being called in, except for Professor Kirke. He's in the hospital: Appendectomy."At the Dutton residence, Clara Dutton (Frances Reid) packs a bag for her husband, Dr. Charles Dutton (David Wayne). His daughter enters the bedroom with a cup of coffee and asks, "Germ warfare people, Dad? A lab accident?" His grandson enters the bedroom, and excitedly exclaims, "Grandpa, there's a car, and they got guns." Outside in the snow is a green military vehicle surrounded by three soldiers. At her lab, Dr. Ruth Leavitt (Kate Reid) is working when two Air Force officers inform her of a fire. Her assistant, Bess (an uncredited Midori), gets her some water to take a pill, and tells one man, "All Dr. Leavitt needs is rest." The major (Richard Bull) is in no mood for Leavitt's brand of humor, but is relieved when she tells him, "Relax. I'm going with you." In a hospital Operating Room, Dr. Mark Hall (James Olson) is just about to make an incision on his patient when the hospital administrator (an uncredited Paul Bellantyne) tells him to break scrub and be in the surgeon's conference room in thirty seconds.SECOND DAY (February 6, 1971)A helicopter takes off from Vandenberg AFB at 8:00 a.m. The pilot, Dempsey (an uncredited James W. Gavin) flies Doctors Stone and Hall, in white space suits, to Piedmont, New Mexico. Stone explains to Hall that the satellite isn't radioactive, but may have brought back a space germ. Hall asks why he was chosen. He is told he is an MD, he knows blood chemistry and most importantly that he is single. Stone is annoyed that Hall has not been reading the Wildfire materials he has been sending the doctor.We jump ahead in time to April 14, 1971 and the closed hearing of the Senate Committee on Space Sciences in Washington, D.C. Senator Phillips, the senator from Vermont (Eric Christmas) chides General Sparks about Dr. Stone. Senator McKenzie (an uncredited David McLean) from New Mexico expresses disagreement with his colleague about Dr. Stone. Sparks relays that Dr. Stone didn't know anything about Project Scoop. He and Stone were consultants with NASA on the Lunar Receiving Lab. Stone felt a more advanced lab was required to isolate and study any extra-terrestrial germ that may be encountered in the future. Stone wrote a letter asking that a facility be funded and built for such a purpose. Phillips objected to the cost, $90 million.The helicopter approaches the small town. Buzzards are picking at the dead bodies, so gas canisters are dropped to kill the birds. Stone and Hall investigate the town, while the helicopter hovers a safe distance away. They find the townsfolk cut down in mid-stride, all dead. Some appear to have committed suicide. They retrieve the satellite from the residence of Dr. Alan Benedict (an uncredited Jason Johnson), the town doctor. Hall notes that Benedict's blood has turned to powder, and realizes just how dangerous this new organism is to the world. On their way out they hear a baby cry. They only find two people in town still alive: Jackson (George Mitchell) a wino, and an infant, Manuel Rios (an uncredited Robert Soto). Before they leave, Stone tells Mancheck by radio, "The town is finished, contaminated beyond all...Order up a 7-12."In the White House Situtaiton Room, the time is 2:40 p.m. EST. Mr. Grimes (Richard OBrien), special assist to the President, meets with Dr. Robertson (Kermit Murdock), science advisor. A Cabinet Secretary (an uncredited Glenn Langan) advises, "It's against the Moscow Treaty of 1963 to fire thermonuclear weapons above ground." Grimes gets a call from the President. He is told that the National Guard will cordon off the area around Piedmont, and a decision to cauterize the area, via a 7-12, will be delayed 24 to 48 hours. Ed, the Assistant to the Cabinet Secretary (an uncredited Walter Brooke) is told to handle the National Guard deployment.Back at the hearing, Sen McKenzie asks who decided on the location for the Wildfire Lab. Sparks tells him that Dr. Stone wanted an uninhabited area.It is close to noon and Dr. Dutton is driving Dr. Leavitt to the Wildfire facility in southern Nevada. The surface structure is disguised to look like an old building run by the Department of Agriculture. They enter the building, and after Dutton provides the guard a pass-phrase, they walk to a storeroom. The floor drops away and they are taken down some distance underground to the first level of Wildfire. Stone and Hall enter a decontamination chamber in their white suits and are irradiated. Dutton tells Leavitt he thinks the capsule may have been brought back with the infection deliberately. Their final step before entry is a palm print analyzer that verifies identification. Dutton tells Leavitt, "It gives you final clearance to enter Wildfire." Hall and Stone greet Dutton and Leavitt, then they all proceed to the communications room on Level 1. Stone asks Sgt. Burk (Joe Di Reda) if there are any messages from the White House. Burk is annoyed, but gives them the brief tour of the teletype machine. "I listen for a little bell in here. Ding-a-ling. That means a message coming in is for the Wildfire Team. No messages yet."The team changes and meets for a briefing. Stone gives Hall a special red metal key on a chain. Stone arms the nuclear device at the bottom of the complex. He explains that in an emergency it is activated automatically, and Hall's key is the only thing that can disarm it. He further explains, "There's a five-minute delay between the time detonation locks in and the bomb explodes." Hall is confused and Leavitt tells him, "You should have done your homework, sport." She explains the "Odd-Man Hypothesis" that unmarried males are best suited to decide on the use of nuclear weapons. Stone shows Hal, via an electronic diagram, where he can find the stations where he can cancel self-destruct with his key. He also explains that it will take 16 hours to descend to Level 5, and that each level is cleaner than the one above. They start the decontamination and immunization process, the time is 5:10 p.m. On Level 4, they rest for 6 hours and are told to meet after that in the cafeteria.THIRD DAY (February 7, 1971)Hall joins the others at a table in the cafeteria. All they consume is a glass of Nutrient 42-5, which Hall describes as tasting like orange juice. Stone explains, "Developed for the astronauts. Eight ounces satisfy all daily nutritional requirements." Stone tells the team he has planned the work in three stages: 1) detection, 2) characterization and 3) control: how to contain and exterminate. They head for Level 5. It is now 4:33 a.m.Hall asks Dutton how he can examine his patients if they are sealed off. He is told that entire rooms are set up like glove-boxes. The two men join Leavitt and Stone in Main Control. Stone is using robotic "hands" to open the satellite. They use a lab rat to see if the open capsule has contaminated the air inside the sealed work chamber. Sure enough, when the sealed cage is opened, the animal quakes and shutters and dies in a few seconds. Next they expose a rhesus monkey to the air, and like the rat, it dies in a few seconds. Stone decides that he and Leavitt will scan the capsule, Dutton will do the necropsies on the animals, and Hall will examine his patients.Hall enters the patient exam/med lab complex. He meets Karen Anson (Paula Kelly) and asks, "What's been done for them?" Karen replies, "Just plasma for the old man, dextrose for the baby." Karen explains the computer, Medcom, handles all medical decisions and lab work. She briefs Hall on the equipment and the body suit glove box. Hall orders blood work, then Karen and Hall enter the exam room via their suits. In the Main Control Room, Stone and Leavitt are examining the satellite with remote scanners. She intimates that what they are searching for was deliberately brought back to Earth. In autopsy, Toby (Ken Swofford) is the technician helping Dutton with his vector studies. Like the medical facility, Toby is in a full body glove box suit. Dutton chides Toby to be more careful and use the "hands" to minimize exposure. They verify that Andromeda is still present and still lethal and transmitted by the air. The use of various filters yields knowledge that the size is 1-2 microns: the size of a bacterium. Dutton calls Stone and Leavitt to let them know what he has discovered, so far. Stone and Leavitt start their scan on the inside of the satellite. They eventually concentrate on a small pebble and some green substance that looks like paint. Hall examines his patients and reviews the blood results. He talks to Jackson but gets very little useful information. He tries to examine the baby, but it is clear he has no experience with babies. Dutton calls to show him the isotope scan: it shows how Andromeda gets into the body. As they suspected, it is inhaled, "The clotting begins in the lungs and spreads outward." Ruth is tired, and annoyed that Stone will not concentrate on the obvious clue, the indentation and pebble, and of course, the green stuff. They zoom in on the green substance and it flinches and grows under 440 magnification. They examine the green material at 1,000 magnification and both see it move. Stone calls for a technician, then operates the hands to remove the pebble for microchemistry examination. The MIC-T (an uncredited Michael Pataki) arrives and praises Stone's technique with the equipment.Hall now knows Jackson's blood is too acid, but not why. He learns the man has an ulcer, but the still doesn't know why the baby is still alive. A pilot flying over the Piedmont area at 23,000 feet experiences trouble. The oxygen mask he is wearing begins to disintegrate. His F-4 Phantom jet crashes in Utah near the Four-Corners area. At the hearing, some months later, it is disclosed that messages for the Wildfire team were routed but the alarm, "was knocked out by a sliver of paper...the sliver had peeled from the roll and wedged between the bell and striker, preventing the bell from ringing." It is now Noon, and Dutton tells Hall he thinks they are being held incommunicado and that what Scoop found was no accident. "I suspect they were looking for the ultimate biological weapon." Stone and Leavitt enter the break room to join their colleagues. Stone proudly announces, "We've isolated the organism. It's in microchemistry." At the crash site in Utah they learn about the rubber dissolving. An investigator informs them that the F-4 does not contain rubber, but a new synthetic called Polycron. It is similar in characteristics to human skin, which explains the human bones found in the Jet.The entire team is now in the Microchemistry lab. Their analysis of the rock indicates it is a plastic of some sort. The green substance is even simpler, it is composed of only four elements: Hydrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen, and Oxygen. A more detailed analysis indicates the total absence of amino acids. Stone refocuses the group to study of the organism, specifically, "We're halfway home if we find out what will keep that from growing." Hall wants to concentrate on his patients, specifically what they have in common. Ruth reviews the growth results, but misses the culture in Alkaline, due to a red flashing message, "No Growth." Ruth zones out and does not hear the alarm for the midnight conference.FOURTH DAY (February 8, 1971)Hall, Dutton, and Stone are meeting. Hall concludes it must be a blood disorder. The bickering between Hall and Leavitt prompts Stone to call for a 6-hour rest period. Dutton suggests they requests a code name be obtained: Andromeda Strain is assigned. Hall notices that messages for the team were never relayed to the team. The 7-12 was never carried out over Piedmont. Stone is furious and calls the communications center to chew the Sergeant Out. He demands to talk to Dr. Robertson in Washington, D.C. Grimes and Robertson inform the Wildfire team of the Phantom Jet that crashed and the dissolving rubber. Stone emphasizes that the 7-12 must be expedited. At about 3:00 a.m. the team isolates a piece of the green substance. They discover it is a crystal. It converts energy into nourishment. Despite its isolation in the electron microscope the crystal divides and multiplies. Stone exclaims, "In a vacuum, bombarded by electrons? It shouldn't even be alive?" Ruth explains that the growth program shows Andromeda can live on anything, "Only gas and light affect it." They finally conclude, to their shock and horror, that a thermonuclear detonation would only allow their new discovery to mutate and grow into a super-colony. They call Dr. Robertson back and Stone directs Robbie to disarm the self-destruct mechanism at Wildfire. When they tell the computer to explain Andromeda's function, it overloads and returns the message: 601. They now know that Andromeda divides and mutates with no Earth-bound checks and balances to stop it. Stone calls up a map simulation to show how it might spread. Dutton and Leavitt are shocked and disappointed to see and learn that Wildfire was developed for germ warfare simulations and Andromeda was already programmed in as the designated weapon. Stone tries to mitigate the situation, then deflect criticism by redirecting their efforts to finding an antidote.As Hall and Karen are with the baby, a yellow light flashes and a bell rings an alarm. Karen points at the light and explains to Hall, "Contamination!" A voice over the PA explains, "A seal has broken in autopsy. Emergency procedures are in effect." Hall gets Leavitt on the way to the autopsy lab, but Ruth is frozen in place when she sees the flashing red alarm signal light overhead. She falls to the floor and foams at the mouth with a seizure. Hall has trouble getting help with Leavitt, as the personnel around think she is infected with Andromeda. Karen assists with the treatment when Hall tells her it is only epilepsy. Dutton is in the autopsy lab and admits, "I'm scared. Oh, Lord, I'm scared." Stone feeds Dutton pure Oxygen as Hall explains what happened to Leavitt. Hall is surprised that Dutton is still alive. Hall finally concludes that blood pH is the answer. Andromeda can only survive in a narrow band of pH: Acid vs. Alkaline between 7.39 and 7.43. Then Stone notices the lab rat, exposed longer than Dutton, is also still alive. He concludes, "Andromeda's mutated to a noninfectious form." Unfortunately, Stone also notices a message on the console, "EARLY DEGENERATIVE CHANGE IN GASKET." Then Level 5 is contaminated when the gasket fails. A red light and alarm sounds and the doors in Level 5 begin to seal off. Hall is unable to get to a substation to deactivate the 5-minute countdown to detonation. Hall cuts his way through the glove box suit and enters the central core. Gas and lasers protect the area from escaped lab animals. Hall climbs to Level 4, but it is now sealed. He shakes off the shock from being struck by two laser shots: one to the back of his hand and one to his face. He gets to Level 3 and inserts his key in the substation.Hall wakes up in the Infirmary some time later with Karen standing next to him. Ruth Leavitt, with her usual brand of irony, tells Hall, "Eight seconds to spare. Hardly even exciting." Dutton tells Hall the super-colony is now off the coast and rain will wash it into the ocean where it will die.At the Senate Hearing two months later, Senator Phillips asks Dr. Stone, "This cloud seeding business, you absolutely sure it worked?" Stone replies, "All reports indicate the experiment was successful." He further admits they are continuing to study Andromeda at Wildfire and postulates that another biological crisis can occur. The senator tartly asks, "What do we do about that?" Stone redirects the question with, "Precisely, Senator. What do we do?" We close with a view of a computer simulation of Andromeda growing, and then the ominous error message, "601" flashing on the screen and then the cast list. | suspenseful, flashback | train | imdb | null |
tt0454987 | Let's Go to Prison | John Lyshitski (Dax Shepard) has spent most of his life in prison, serving three different sentences. Each of his three trials were before Judge Nelson Biederman III, who habitually imposed resentfully tough sentences. After being released from his third sentence, John decides to take revenge on Biederman. John tries to determine when Biederman will be presiding over his next case, only to discover that Biederman died three days before John's release.
He turns his attention to the judge's brash son, Nelson Biederman IV (Will Arnett). At a dedication ceremony for Nelson III, John breaks into Nelson's BMW, wrecks the interior of it and empties Nelson's emergency inhaler. After the ceremony, Nelson drives off and, finding his inhaler empty, panics and hyperventilates. He stops at a pharmacy and frantically searches through the shelves, desperately seeking a replacement for the empty inhaler, which he finds and immediately opens to use. The pharmacy owners think he's a junkie seeking a fix. One owner mistakes the inhaler for a tiny pistol and calls the police.
Nelson is arrested and charged with assault and armed robbery. He demands that the Biederman Foundation do everything possible to have him acquitted. The board nearly complies with Nelson's demands, but, as they are fed up of him and his behaviour, they see an opportunity to be rid of him. They get him a terrible defense lawyer for the trial. Nelson is found guilty and sentenced to three to five years. John, not satisfied with Nelson merely going to prison, decides to join him in prison by committing a crime. At his trial before the same judge Nelson had, John pleads guilty and asks for the same sentence (3–5 years) at the same prison that Nelson is in. He manages to become Nelson’s cellmate, pretends to be his friend, and gives Nelson wrong advice on surviving life in prison.
Nelson gets himself out of the many situations that John's misinformation creates. He meets gang leader Barry (Chi McBride), an imposing, brawny gay fellow who engages Nelson into a relationship. Despite his intimidating appearance, Barry is a sensitive romantic – he likes smooth jazz, he supplies potential romantic partners with his finest toilet-made Merlot, and he has transformed his prison cell into a candle-lit, rose-bedecked passion parlour. Nelson first submits to being his partner out of fear, but then he genuinely grows fond of Barry and continues to play along with the "relationship" to keep Barry happy.
Nelson reaches his one-year parole hearing not only relatively unharmed, but the "top dog" in the prison hierarchy. However, John will not allow his target to escape prison so easily. He manages to get Nelson's parole denied. Enraged, Nelson confronts John who then confesses to putting Nelson in jail. The two get into a fight. John quickly realizes that he is now Nelson's target. The guards set up a death match between the two. However, John and Nelson secretly hatch a plan to inject each other with a coma-inducing drug. The guards and prisoners, believing that they are dead, bury the pair in the graveyard. Nelson has given Barry access to funds, to bribe the mortician to avoid an autopsy. Barry later digs up the two. John, Nelson and Barry begin a new chapter of life, starting a winery (the product being "toilet wine"). The film ends with Nelson, Barry, and John now the best of friends, happily living free life in society. | revenge, comedy, flashback | train | wikipedia | null |
tt0120737 | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring | The prologue, spoken by Galadriel, shows the Dark Lord Sauron forging the One Ring which he can use to conquer the lands of Middle-earth through his enslavement of the bearers of the Rings of Power powerful magical rings given to individuals from the races of Elves, Dwarves and Men. A Last Alliance of Elves and Men is formed to counter Sauron and his forces at the foot of Mount Doom, but Sauron himself appears to kill Elendil, the High King of Arnor and Gondor, and Gil-galad, High King of the Noldor. After Elendil falls his son, Isildur, grabs his father's broken sword Narsil, and slashes at Sauron's hand. The stroke cuts off Sauron's fingers, separating him from the Ring and vanquishing his army. However, because Sauron's life is bound in the Ring, he is not completely defeated until the Ring itself is destroyed. Isildur takes the Ring and succumbs to its temptation, refusing to destroy it, but he is later ambushed and killed by orcs and the Ring is lost in the River Anduin, into which Isildur fell.The Ring is found two-and-a-half millennia later, and eventually it comes to the creature Gollum, who takes it underground for five centuries, giving Gollum "unnaturally long life." The Ring leaves him however, and is found by the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, much to the grief of Gollum. Bilbo returns to his home in the Shire with the Ring, and the story jumps forward in time sixty years. At his 111th birthday, Bilbo leaves the Ring to his nephew and adopted heir Frodo Baggins. The Wizard Gandalf soon learns it is the One Ring, and sends him to Bree with Sam, with plans to meet him there after Gandalf goes to Isengard to meet the head of his order, Saruman. Saruman reveals that the Nazgûl, or Ringwraiths, have left Mordor to capture the Ring and kill whoever carries it; having already turned to Sauron's cause, he then imprisons Gandalf atop Orthanc. Gandalf sees Saruman's ultimate plan; he has begun to destroy the forest surrounding Isengard for fuel to forge weapons for an army of large orcs, the Uruk-hai.Frodo and Sam are soon joined by fellow hobbits Merry and Pippin. After encountering a Ringwraith on the road, they manage to reach Bree, and there they meet a Man called Strider, who agrees to lead them to Rivendell. They agree only because Gandalf isn't there to guide them. After some travelling, they spend the night on the hill of Weathertop, where they are attacked by the Nazgûl at night. Strider fights off the Ringwraiths, but Frodo is grievously wounded with a morgul blade, and they must quickly get him to Rivendell for healing. While chased by the Nazgûl, Frodo is taken by the elf Arwen to the elvish haven of Rivendell, and healed by her father, Elrond.In Rivendell Frodo meets Gandalf, who explains why he didn't meet them at Bree as planned. In the meantime, there are many meetings between various peoples, and Elrond calls a council to decide what should be done with the Ring. The Ring can only be destroyed by throwing it into the fires (that is, lava) of Mount Doom, where it was forged. Mount Doom is located in Mordor, near Sauron's fortress of Barad-dûr, and will be an incredibly dangerous journey. Frodo volunteers to take the Ring to Mount Doom as all the others argue about who should or shouldn't take it. He is accompanied by his hobbit friends and Gandalf, as well as Strider, who is revealed to be Aragorn, the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor. Also travelling with them are the Elf Legolas, the Dwarf Gimli and Boromir, the son of the Steward of Gondor. Together they comprise the Fellowship of the Ring. The Fellowship set out and try to pass the mountain Caradhras, but they are stopped by Saruman's wizardry. They are forced to travel under the mountain through the Mines of Moria. After journeying partway through the Mines, Pippin accidentally gives away their presence to a band of orcs. The Fellowship then encounter a Balrog, an ancient demon of fire and shadow, at the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. Gandalf confronts the Balrog on the bridge, allowing the others to escape the mines, while he falls with the creature into the abyss below.The group flees to the elvish realm of Lothlórien, where they are sheltered by its rulers, Galadriel and her husband Celeborn. After resting, they decide to travel on the River Anduin towards Parth Galen. Before they leave, Galadriel gives Frodo the Phial of Galadriel. After landing at Parth Galen, Boromir tries to take the Ring from Frodo, who manages to escape by putting the Ring on his finger and vanishing. Knowing that the Ring's temptation will be too strong for the Fellowship, Frodo decides to leave them and go to Mordor alone. Meanwhile, the rest of the Fellowship are attacked by Uruk-hai, larger and stronger orcs that can withstand sunlight. Merry and Pippin, realizing that Frodo is leaving, distract the orcs, allowing Frodo to escape. Boromir rushes to the aid of the two hobbits but is mortally wounded by the orc commander Lurtz, and Merry and Pippin are captured. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli find Boromir, who regrets attempting to steal the Ring and dies. They decide to pursue the orcs and rescue the hobbits, leaving Frodo to his fate. Sam joins Frodo before he leaves, and together the two head to Mordor. | mystery, boring, fantasy, stupid, cult, horror, atmospheric, flashback, good versus evil, action, romantic | train | imdb | null |
tt0020699 | The Booze Hangs High | The scene opens with a close up shot of a cow's rear end. She moos as she walks away, tail and udders swaying in time to Turkey in the Straw. Bosko appears and does a Mexican style dance with the cow. At one point, the cow's "pants" drop, revealing polka-dotted underwear. Bosko points and laughs, at which the cow pulls her pants back on and walks off in a huff—with her nose up and tail held erect.
Next, Bosko laughs heartily at a horse and the horse laughs back. He then climbs onto the horse carriage and uses a whip to play the horse's tail like a violin. He tunes the "horse" by twisting his ear. The horse seems to enjoy the music and dances in an odd fashion. He skates along, floats a few feet above the ground and makes swishing movements, with his hoofs, as if mimicking a mop. Bosko then takes a rake and starts playing it like a fiddle, as the horse begins trotting on two legs.
The scene cuts to three ducklings and their mother. Whilst walking in single file, they start bouncing on their rears in tune to the music. The mother duck starts to sway and the ducklings follow her lead. One of the ducklings, crosses its legs and whispers something in the mother duck's ear. She undoes a flap on his rear, as if he was wearing pants, and motions him off screen, presumably to relieve himself. When he returns, she replaces the flap and they all jump into a pond.
The scene moves back to Bosko and the horse. It seems to be an exact repeat of the earlier dance routine, with Bosko playing the horse's tail while the horse goes through his unique dance moves. Bosko eventually slides down the horse's neck and goes to feed the pigs, who seem to be squealing in hunger. He tilts a trash can into their trough, and they eat greedily. One of the piglets finds a bottle of booze and tries to loosen the cork. Eventually, he manages to open it using the other piglet's tail as a corkscrew. Bubbles begin to float out, and the piglets pop them merrily, making xylophone-like sounds that play How dry I am. They start drinking it and soon get drunk. Their father comes over and starts drinking from the bottle too. He laughs with a deep bass guffaw and sings One Little Drink, using nonsense syllables. He gestures expressively and flings the bottle away which shatters against Bosko's head.
Bosko becomes soaked in booze and inebriated. He walks over to the pigs and they sing Sweet Adeline together, barbershop style. The father pig launches into One Little Drink again, but the effort causes him to belch up a corn cob. Looking embarrassed, he uses his belly button like a knob to open the door to his stomach and puts the cob back inside. He starts to sing again and Bosko helps him reach for the final low note by pulling his tail, which deflates him temporarily.
Bosko and the pigs dance some more until the end credits. | psychedelic | train | wikipedia | comedy loves booze.
Bosko, the very first Looney Tunes star, appeared in Warner Bros.
cartoons from 1930 to 1933, when his creators moved to MGM (they continued making cartoons featuring him until 1938, after which he faded into obscurity).
"The Booze Hangs High" was one outing for the high-voiced character, showing him dancing around with some farm animals and playing them like musical instruments.
The menagerie includes some inebriated pigs (and this cartoon got released during Prohibition!).Drunkenness is quite often a source of humor.
Cartoons occasionally depict a besotted stork delivering babies.
"The Andy Griffith Show" had Otis.
It seems like it's only been during the past twenty years (approximately) that alcoholism became socially unacceptable.
I assume that most people would consider it such, despite its continued existence.Anyway, this is an OK cartoon, despite the limited plot line..
On the farm with Bosko.
The Bosko cartoons may not be animation masterpieces, but they are fascinating as examples of Looney Tunes in their early days before the creation of more compelling characters and funnier and more creative cartoons.None of the previous Bosko cartoons were great, most of them being hit and miss, but they were interesting and mostly quite decent.
The fifth Bosko cartoons 'The Booze Hangs High' is the weakest of the five so far.
By all means it is a long way from awful and is watchable, but is more a very average one-time watch that is forgettable after a few days, for Bosko at this time this is somewhat of a disappointment.Certainly there are good things about 'The Booze Hangs High'.
The animation is not bad at all.
Not exactly refined but fluid and crisp enough with some nice detail, it is especially good in the meticulous backgrounds and some remarkably flexible yet natural movements for Bosko.
The music is 'The Booze Hangs High's' highlight component, its infectious energy, rousing merriment, lush orchestration and how well it fits with the animation is just a joy.Some parts are fun and intriguing, including the imaginative ways of playing instruments.
Bosko is never going to be one of my favourite cartoon characters, or among the all-time greats, but he has more personality this time round and it's more endearing than before which compared to the previous four cartoons is saying a good deal where he had not found his stride.
The supporting characters are okay enough, and the sound is not too static.However, 'The Booze Hangs High's' story is paper thin and has some pedestrian stretches.
The humour, with some potty humour and some really bizarre elements like the getting drunk scene, is too far and between and is not that funny.Generally, the cartoon is not that imaginative outside of the ways of how the instruments are used.
Pacing is pretty dull.Overall, alright cartoon but without the desire to see it again in a hurry.
5/10 Bethany Cox. Not Too Interesting, Until.......
This is a typical 1930's cartoon, featuring Bosko, until the last few minutes.
At the beginning, it is a series of overused sight gags with Bosko, his horse, and a cow.
But when the pigs appear, we are introduced to the glories of drunkenness.
The drunk is a staple of this period in film.
When one of the little pigs discovers a bottle of bootleg hootch, he and his mate drink it and become soused.
Soon an adult pig joins them and a concert of "Sweet Adeline" ensues.
It's pretty funny, to be honest, but probably not what the censors would have approved..
Decent but you can see that Disney had nothing to fear from Looney Tunes at this point in time....
The early star for the Looney Tunes cartoons from Warner Brothers was Bosco.
I've seen a few of his films and still have no idea what the character is supposed to be--so I looked him up on Wikipedia.
They indicate he's supposed to be a black young man.
Regardless of who he is, these cartoons directed by the Harmon-Ising team tended to be rather cute and less edgy than many of their competitors.
They weren't bad--they just weren't very good either.
Not surprisingly, most folks today have never heard of the guy.In this installment, much of the film is pretty bland and cute.
However, there is fortunately a bit of potty humor (believe me, it needed it) and a portion at the end involving pigs drinking booze.
Otherwise, there just isn't a lot of plot here and the cartoon is pretty forgettable.
If you care, the animation was done by Friz Freleng--a guy who later directed many of the classic Looney Tunes shorts..
The High Crime of Capital Treason on the part of "actress" Patty .
. Hearst's Grandpappy, Willy Randy, is on full display in this animated short, THE BOOZE HANGS HIGH.
Willy Randy, no doubt the financial backer of BOOZE, made his fortune by promoting the "Demon Rum" and demonizing the alleged REEFER MADNESS.
The consensus of public policy think tank experts is that Willy Randy essentially MURDERED at least 48.4 MILLION Americans by bamboozling an easily fooled U.S. Public and Congress to switch the Government's blessing from Founding Father George Washington's Medicinal Pot to the drunken Lot's incest-promoting Booze.
When social scientists tally up all the young daughters dying in childbirth from liquor-induced incest to more than a million DUI traffic deaths to thousands of wood alcohol fatalities among the desperate hooked Alkies "Down in the Hollers" to millions of Hootch-caused cardiovascular slayings not to mention hundreds of thousands of sauce-facilitated suicides and murders, the tally is Pretty Darn Near 50 million genocidal killings and counting.
All of this so Willy Randy could replace high quality hemp newsprint for his scandal rags with cheap acidic self-destructing pages made from the Empire of Tree Plantations in exploited Third World Nations (giving rise to the so-called "Yellow Journalism").
Surely Willy Randy (the Real Life basis for director Orson Welles' CITIZEN KANE) was one of the most evil, venal, crass criminal masterminds in human history, deserving to be dug up even Today and shot by firing squad posthumously!.
Bosko goes down to the farm in an okay, if unspectacular short..
This is the fourth Bosko short and it has some engaging moments.
Since I'll be discussing in a bit of detail one or two scenes, consider this a spoiler warning: Bosko continues to get music out of fairly atypical places, such as a horse's tail played like a violin and a pitchfork played like a guitar or banjo.
Like most early Bosko shorts, this is very musical in nature and has one extended and fairly amusing bit centering around three pigs who take turns drinking from a bottle (the "Booze" of the title) and lurching around.
First, two small pigs find the bottle and sample the contents and then a larger pig commandeers the bottle and takes a few liberal swigs before tossing the bottle.
The bottle then comes into the possession of Bosko, who himself partakes of its contents and staggers over to join the pigs to join them in a spontaneous (and off-key) rendition of "Sweet Adeline".
A low-rent barbershop quartet.
There's one brief gag that's possibly a bit unsettling with an ear of corn making an unscheduled (and no doubt unexpected) reappearance, but it's really rather mild by today's standards.Entertaining, if rather pedestrian in tone and substance, it would definitely be worth watching at least once. |
tt0457510 | Nacho Libre | Ignácio (Jack Black) is a young orphan boy dreaming of becoming the world's greatest luchador (Spanish wrestler) and decides to test his fighting skills in a monastary graveyard. He is discovered by monks and is taken to be cleansed and made into the orphanage chef. This does not bode well for young Ignácio, but he does his duty and continues to do so even after fifteen years, although not entirely successfully..As an adult, Ignácio still dreams of becoming the ultimate luchador, but has been taught that wrestling is a sin. To make matters worse, he meets his soul mate, a nun, Sister Encarnación (Ana de la Reguera) who has been hired as the orphans' teacher. He is smitten with her, but knows the relationship will never work for they both have take an oath of celibacy.
Nevertheless, he goes to speak with her and invites her to have toast with him in
his quarters, but is interrupted by the lead monk (Eduardo Gómez) who tells him to visit a man sick with influenza. Ignácio reluctantly obeys.Upon arriving at the man's house, Ignácio meets the man's wife, but sees that the man is apparently dead. He begins to give a eulogy, but as he does so, the man awakes from a deep sleep. This terrifies Ignácio and he leaves to take care of other duties. As he travels through the village on his trademark chariot (a motorized chariot-like shopping cart), he stops at a local eatery to pick up the free chips that the restaurant's owner leaves each day for the orphans. He is unexpectedly attacked by an extremely skinny street urchin (Hector Jiménez), who steals the chips and leaves Ignácio bruised and disgraced.That night, on the way back to the orphanage, Ignácio witnesses a luchador, the great Ramses (Cesar Gonzalez), being adored and worshipped by his many fans. Ignácio finds out that a tag-team tournament will be offered to new luchadors, and this grabs the attention of our dismayed hero.Ignácio and Encarnacion later enjoy toast in Ignácio's quarters and he sheds some light on his past. He then goes on to tell Encarnacion of his feelings about the monastary, and tells her of the luchador he encountered in the village. She tells him that luchadors are false idols, and to be patient, for his passion to fight should soon pass away.The next day, the monks complain about the missing chips. Ignácio tries to explain the situation, but his efforts fall on deaf ears. Angered, Ignácio leaves the monastary and heads to the village with a handful of leftover chips. He throws them into the alleyway where he was previously attacked. He waits behind a wall for the homeless assailant to pounce. He almost succeeds in sneaking up on him, but gives himself away when he breaks wind.He tackles the man and they begin to fight. During the fight, Ignácio asks the man if he would join him in the tournament. At first, Steven, the homeless man, ignores the proposition, but after hearing that there is a grand prize of two hundred pesos, he decides to team up with Ignácio. They make two makeshift luchador uniforms out of stolen items, train themselves with unusual methods, and then enter into the tournament.Ignácio and Steven now go by the names Nacho and Esqueleto (Nacho is a nickname for Ignácio; Esqueleto means "skeleton" in Spanish which suits malnourished Steven perfectly),
and face their first two opponents, El Semental (Ignácio Camarena) and El Pony (Carlos Barroso). Esqueleto is struck down by El Semental, but Nacho gives El Pony a run for his money.
At one point, it seems that Nacho and Esqueleto are nearing victory, until Nacho is knocked unconcious by El Semental.Although they failed to win the tournament, Nacho and Esqueleto are given a well-portioned
consolation prize. Nacho spends his part of the winnings on better food for the orphans' meals, and begins to draw out plans for a new uniform, a baby-blue and red one. Luckily, Steven has a knowledge of sewing and helps Ignácio create their new outfits. Chancho (Darius Rose), an orphan child, catches Nacho trying on his outfit in the monastary, but promises to never tell a soul.As Nacho and Esqueleto prepare for their next fight, Nacho hassles Esqueleto about his beliefs
in science, and not in the Lord. He unofficially baptizes him, and then they head on to the fight.
This time, they are pitted against two midget wrestlers known as Satan's Cavemen (Agustin Rey
and Ricardo Castillo). Although they are small, they prove worthy adversaries for our heroes,
and after a struggle they defeat Nacho and Esqueleto. Once again, however, the duo are paid a hefty consolation prize.This time they spend their cash polishing up their physical appearances. Ignácio buys new clothes and boots, and Steven gets a pedicure and a charicature. Ignácio tells Steven about his feelings for Encarnacion, and Steven concocts a plan. He proposes that Nacho should take Encarnacion on a date, and that he would show up with some of his hobo buddies to beat Nacho up, but that they would let him win. Ignácio likes the sound of this idea.That night, Ignácio takes Encarnacion out, by telling her that he wants both of them to minister
to a bum he claims he saw previously. Once they get there, Nacho says a few cheesy lines,
but then notices two gentlemen walking down the street. Thinking that they are Steven's friends, he challenges them to a fight. They ignore him, but he runs up to the two men and
rips one of the mens' jackets. They turn and face Ignácio, but he is already in his fighting position. However, he hears Steven's voice far off and sees him with his real hobo friends.
This distracts Nacho, giving the two men enough time to sucker-punch Ignácio, knocking him
unconscious.The next day, Nacho is humiliated and expresses his anger at Steven for being late. Steven feels
bad for Ignácio, and tells him about a secret water gypsy who uses magical eagle eggs to grant
peoples' desires. Nacho sees this as an opportunity to gain power as a luchador and the two
embark on a journey to see the gypsy. When they arrive, they sail over to a cliff in the water where
an eagle's nest is precariously perched. The gypsy tells Nacho to climb the cliff and to eat one of the eggs, and that this will give him the strength he needs. Ignácio makes the strenuous and difficult climb to the cliff's peak, and cracks open an egg and swallows the yolk inside. He then dives off the cliff into the sea below.Contrary to the gypsy's promises, Nacho and Esqueleto's next fights against the luchadors Paradise (Albert Madrid), Sage (Lauro Chartrand), and many others prove disastrous. Nacho feels that he was lied to and tells Esqueleto that they need to go pro if they wish to advance in their wrestling careers. He makes a plan to go to a party being thrown by Senor Ramon (Enrique Munoz), the best manager in wrestling.The next day, Ignácio takes the orphans on a field trip to see the village. He humorously gives insight into the town's various locales, and then he and the orphans see Ramses and other luchadors leaving the gym. The orphans ask Nacho to get Ramses's autograph, but after trying to persuade the wrestler for his signature, Ramses gets annoyed and shoves Nacho into a melon cart. Nacho then gives up trying.That night, after Steven once again sews new outfits for himself and Ignácio to wear to the party, Ignácio tells Encarnacion not to worry about getting the orphans food, but that he would do this himself. Nacho and Esqueleto then head to the party. After failing to get past the party's bouncers, Ignácio boosts Steven over a wall so that he can get in. Although Steven cannot lift Nacho, he is able to sneak in by pretending to be a member of the hired mariachi band. Steven strikes up a conversation with Senor Ramon, who who tells him about an upcoming tournament known as the Battle Jam. The winnner of this competition receives eight hundred pesos, and is given a chance to fight against the current champion, Ramses. Steven accidentally attracts the attention of Ramon's plus-sized daughter, Candidia (Carla Jimenez), and she is instantly love-struck.Meanwhile, Ignácio tries his best to pretend to play the bass guitar with the band. Steven goes upstairs to relax and finds Candidia's extensive doll collection. He accidentally breaks one of the dolls, but is surprised to find Candidia sitting right next to him in the room. She instantly forgives him. Naturally, Steven asks how she got upstairs so fast. Her reply is that she installed secret tunnels throughout the house. Obviously freaked out, Esqueleto makes a mad dash to leave, but Candidia travels down her secret tunnel.At the same time, Ignácio is asked to sing a song, so he makes one up right on the spot. However, his composition doesn't go over well, and Ramses shows his disapproval by pouring out his wine on Nacho's shirt. Screams can be heard over the crowd though, and Nacho goes over to see what the matter is. He finds that Candidia is trying to pull Steven into her secret tunnel, and tries to help by slamming her with his bass. He misses, and accidentally hits Steven. The two are then kicked out of the party.As they travel back to the chariot, they see two rival luchadors, whom Nacho and Esqueleto almost beat, slashing their tires. They engage them, but keep their disatance because their foes have knives. Steven uses an ear of corn he had been munching on as a projectile, and lands it in his foe's eye socket. The duo push the cart back to the orphanage, and then Nacho remembers that he forgot to the get the groceries. It's too late to go back however, because it is now approaching daybreak, so he takes his anger out on Steven. He blames him for his shortcomings and Esqueleto replies by saying that he hates all the orphans in the world.Later that day, Ignácio attends mass and prays for forgivness and that God would bless him in battle so that he could win money for the orpans. He goes to light a candle at the altar, but accidentally sets his robes on fire. The congregation sees the luchador outfit Nacho was wearing underneath his robes, and soon realizes what he has been doing. Nacho tells the monks
and Encarnacion about his plan to win the Battle Jam and give his winnings to the orphans for all of their needs. He leaves the orphanage to go to the Battle Jam, where he must fight several fighters all at once. The fighters include Silencio (Donald Chambers), El Snowflake (Craig Williams), Dynasty (Brett Chan), El Chino (Mike Ching), Muneco (Abelardo Hernandez), Carlos Rosales (Emiliano Quiroga), and his trusty companion, Esqueleto. Dynasty, El Snowflake, Muneco, and Carlos Rosales are defeated in the beginning, and Silencio takes out El Chino and Esqueleto at the same time.Nacho approaches Silencio but for some odd reason, Muneco trips Nacho from outside of the ring causing Nacho to fall in front of Silencio. Silencio picks Nacho up and then drops him, once again knocking our hero unconcious, also once again leaving him defeated. Nacho sullenly returns to the orphanage and decides to give up wrestling and spend the rest of his days in the wilderness. Chancho gives Nacho his lucky machete (his mother gave it to him before she died) and then Nacho heads into the wilderness.Ignacio creates a makeshift shelter and lives off of cactus water. The next day, however, Steven drives into the wilderness on the chariot and tries to persuade Nacho to come back to wrestling. As it turns out, it was easy for him to find Nacho because although he thought he was in the wilderness, Nacho was really right next to a small village. Esqueleto tells him that Silencio cannot fight Ramses because he got injured (which is humorously shown in a clip where Esqueleto runs over Silencio's foot with the chariot after Silencio was mean to a poor orphan child) and that Nacho gets to fight Ramses because he came in second place. Nacho is reluctant at first, but agrees to fight him.Ignácio writes a letter to Encarnacion which Steven delivers, which tells her of his love for her and of the fight he will be in against Ramses. While in the locker room, Nacho sings a very comical song to Esqueleto which he wrote for Encarnacion, but he is interrupted by an arena worker who tells him that the fight will now begin. Nacho goes into the ring and the battle against Ramses commences.Although there are many close calls, Nacho makes it to the second round. Ramses ignores the bell and begins an all-out street fight against Nacho. Ramses seems to have Nacho pinned until Encarnacion enters the arena with the orphans. The sight of his lover gives Nacho the strength to fight back, and he eventually flings Ramses out of the ring. Nacho then climbs up one of the corner pillars of the ring and dive-bombs towards Ramses. It is here that the eagle powers finally kick in and give Nacho the needed air time to reach Ramses and put him into an unbreakable submission. Against all odds, Nacho comes out victorious and is declared the luchador champion.A week later, Nacho takes Encarnacion, Steven, and the orphans on a field trip to see the Mayan pyramids of Chichen Itza in a newly-purchased bus and closes out this movie with a somewhat disturbing smile. | bleak, cult, comedy, entertaining | train | imdb | null |
tt1191111 | Enter the Void | Oscar (Nathaniel Brown) lives in Tokyo with his younger sister Linda (Paz de la Huerta) and supports himself by dealing drugs, against the advice of his friend Alex (Cyril Roy), who attempts to turn Oscar's interest toward The Tibetan Book of the Dead, a Buddhist book about the afterlife. The first segment begins with Linda leaving for work (at a local strip club) and then follows Oscar's nightly routine through strict point-of-view shots, including momentary blackouts that represent blinking, private internal thoughts, and extended sequences of a DMT-induced hallucination.
Next, Alex meets Oscar at the apartment and they leave so that Oscar can deliver drugs to his friend Victor (Olly Alexander). On the way, Alex explains parts of The Tibetan Book of the Dead to Oscar: how the spirit of a dead person sometimes stays among the living until it begins to experience nightmares, after which it attempts to reincarnate. They arrive at a bar called The Void. Oscar enters alone and sits down with a distressed Victor, who mutters "I'm sorry" before they are swarmed by police officers. Oscar seals himself in a bathroom stall and attempts to flush his drugs. When the flush does not work, he yells through the door that he has a gun and will shoot. In response, a police officer opens fire and hits Oscar, who falls to the floor.
Oscar's viewpoint rises and looks at his body from above, and then we begin to witness his life in a roughly chronological order. His loving parents were killed in a violent car crash; Oscar and Linda, devoted to each other, were sent to different foster homes; Oscar moved to Tokyo and earned money through drug dealing until he could afford to bring Linda to live with him; Oscar sleeps with his friend Victor's mother in return for extra money to help bring his sister over; Linda found work as a stripper for the nightclub owner Mario, to Oscar's distress; Oscar increased the scope of his dealing operations and started using potent psychedelics—in particular, DMT—more frequently; Alex discovered that Oscar slept with Victor's mother; and finally, we again see Oscar meet Victor at The Void to sell him drugs, only to be shot in the bathroom.
Afterwards, a disembodied Oscar floats over Tokyo and witnesses the aftermath of his death. Linda becomes withdrawn and despondent, especially after getting an abortion; Oscar's dealer, Bruno, destroys his stash; Alex lives in hiding on the streets; and Linda wishes she would have been with Alex instead of Mario, as Oscar had wanted. On one occasion, Linda wishes that Oscar would come back to life; Oscar then enters Linda's head, and experiences her dream in which he wakes up at the morgue, from which his body is taken to be cremated.
Meanwhile, Victor and his mother scream at each other because she had had sex with Oscar, and because of that Victor had informed the police about Oscar's drug dealing; Victor is then thrown out of his parents' home. He shows up at Linda's apartment and apologizes for having had her brother killed, but says Linda is partially to blame since she hung around with creeps. This angers Linda, who repeatedly screams that Victor should just go kill himself.
The perspective now hovers high above Tokyo and enters an airplane, where Oscar's mother breast-feeds a baby to whom she whispers Oscar's name. The view then drops to Linda and Alex, who take a taxi to a Tokyo love hotel and have sex. The perspective moves among hotel rooms and observes several other couples having sex in various positions. Each couple emanates a pulsating electric-like pink glow from their genitals. Oscar enters Alex's head and witnesses the sex with Linda from Alex's point of view. He then travels inside Linda's vagina to witness Alex's thrusting, then observes his ejaculation and follows the semen into the fertilization of his sister's ovum. The final scene is shot from the perspective of a baby being born to Oscar's mother. (According to the director, this is a flashback to Oscar's own birth in the form of a false memory). | boring, violence, cult, plot twist, flashback, psychedelic, romantic | train | wikipedia | null |
tt0838221 | The Darjeeling Limited | An American businessman (Bill Murray) speeds through city streets of India in a taxi. He arrives at his train station, only to see the train, The Darjeeling Limited, pulling away. He frantically chases it, but eventually gives up and is overtaken by a younger man who manages to climb aboard.The young man, Peter Whitman (Adrien Brody), is the second-oldest of three brothers who have not spoken in the year following their father's death in a car accident. The youngest, Jack (Jason Schwartzman), had been living in Europe and undergoing a rocky relationship with an ex-girlfriend (played by Natalie Portman in the short introductory film "The Hotel Chevalier"). The eldest, Francis (Owen Wilson) was severely injured in a recent motorcycle crash (eventually revealed to be a suicide attempt) and wears bandages on his face. Francis had summoned his brothers to reconcile and take a spiritual journey through India together. While the brothers initially act happy to see each other, their lack of trust is evident.All three Whitmans dose heavily from Indian prescription pain medications throughout the film, though Francis uses his injuries as an excuse. The two younger brothers soon grow tired of Francis's overbearing and bossy demeanor, and Jack confides in Peter his plan to leave early and meet his ex-girlfriend in Italy. Peter reveals that his wife, Alice, is seven months pregnant, and he behaves anxiously when speaking of the situation.Francis is annoyed that Peter has kept many of their deceased father's personal items (sunglasses, luggage, car keys, etc.). This pushes their distrust even further. Jack is still conflicted and stoically depressed about his ex-girlfriend. Francis and Peter share a brief moment of agreement, as neither of them approved of the girlfriend, and they attempt to help Jack move on. Jack, meanwhile, romances and befriends a beautiful stewardess named Rita (Amara Karan).Francis has planned the trip to an obnoxiously detailed level. His personal assistant Brendan (Wally Wolodarsky) occupies a different compartment of the train and prints out the schedules and itineraries that Francis provided. Their first stop is a beautiful temple, which the brothers enter after shopping at the nearby market (Jack buys a tear-gas gun and Peter buys a small cobra in a box). As they attempt to pray inside the temple, Peter becomes annoyed with Francis and moves to a different altar. Jack, whom Peter had sworn to secrecy, tells Francis about Peter's upcoming child. Returning to the train, the three brothers finally talk openly together and Peter admits that he never planned to have children because he never expected his marriage to last; not because he does not love his wife, but because of his low self-esteem. They re-board the Darjeeling Limited and continue their journey.The next morning, the brothers awaken and learn with horror that Peter's cobra had escaped its box. They cannot find it in the compartment and run screaming into the hallway, leaving the head steward (Walis Ahluwalia) to capture it. The snake is confiscated and the brothers are forbidden to leave their compartment for the rest of the train ride.Sharing the small compartment, the brothers' tempers begin to escalate. Francis chastises Peter for taking their father's possessions, and Peter, enraged, throws a belt at Francis, drawing blood. The two begin to brawl, until Jack ends the fight by spraying his brothers with tear-gas. They abandon their room during the ruckus, and the head steward kicks them off at the next stop.The brothers walk with their luggage down a rural road next to a river. They spot three boys ahead, crossing the stream on a rickety pulley-raft. The current swells, the raft capsizes, and the boys fall in. The Whitman brothers immediately spring into action, jumping into the water and attempting to save the boys. Francis and Jack haul two of the children to safety, but the third is torn from Peter's grasp by the current and is taken over a small waterfall. As Francis and Jack rush to them, Peter emerges from the river, bloodied and extremely shaken, with the lifeless boy in his arms. Devastated by the child's death, the Whitmans are lead to the nearby village by the two surviving boys. While the boy's family and village elders frantically tend to the body, Francis, Peter, and Jack are given clean clothes and food. The two boys had explained that the Whitmans had saved their lives, and that Peter had done everything he could to save the third child. The Whitmans prepare to leave by bus the next day, but, to their surprise, they are invited to stay for the boy's funeral.As the funeral takes place, a flashback shows the three brothers the year before, on the day of their father's funeral. They, along with Peter's wife Alice (Camilla Rutherford), are en route to the funeral when Peter demands that they stop at the mechanic's and pick up their father's car, which was under repair. After much bickering and making themselves late for the funeral, they find that the car is still not working, and that their estranged mother will not be attending the funeral as promised. However, the brothers band together in their grief for the moment, reveling in the fact that they are all in the same situation for once.The Whitmans decide to end their spiritual quest, and prepare to board a plane home. As they wait for their flight, Peter calls his wife on a payphone and reveals to his brothers that she found out that their child is a boy. Francis and Jack congratulate their brother, and Francis offers his $6,000 belt (a prop passed back and forth throughout the film) as an inheritance gift for his nephew. The brothers veto their trip home, and resolve to visit their mother, who is now a nun near the Himalayas.Upon their arrival at the convent, they are greeted by their mother, Patricia (Anjelica Huston). She warns them that the area is dangerous due to a man-eating tiger that is loose nearby. As they settle in for the night, the brothers confront their mother and ask her why she did not appear at their father's funeral. She says she simply did not want to go, and that she was needed at the convent. Peter tells her about her upcoming grandchild, and they plan to continue their talk in the morning.When the brothers awaken, they realize their mother had left the convent in the night (which, they are told, she often does). Realizing they will never be able to truly trust her, they begin to trust each other instead. They arrive at the station to catch a train, having decided to return home to America. The train pulls away as they arrive, and they chase after it, dropping their father's suitcases at they run and leaving the past behind. They board the train and happily head for home, as brothers once more. | comedy, boring, flashback | train | imdb | null |
tt0250081 | Storytelling | Fiction, the first half of Storytelling, opens with Vi having sex with her boyfriend, Marcus, who is afflicted with cerebral palsy. When they finish, Vi is anxious to leave, which Marcus suspects is because she no longer finds his handicap kinky.Marcus writes terrible short stories and, though Vi and her other creative writing classmates realize this, everyone flatters him because they are afraid of critiquing someone who is handicapped. Eventually, a classmate finally vocalizes criticisms before the black professor, Mr. Scott, unleashes a diatribe of insults ("Katherine is right. Your story is a piece of sh*t. You expressed nothing but banalities."). Marcus, hurt that Vi had not provided genuine criticism breaks up with her. Subsequently Vi meets Mr. Scott in a bar and she goes home with him. While freshening up in his bathroom, Vi discovers naked photographs of several of her white female classmates. "Don't be racist", she whispers to herself in the mirror. Upon exiting the bathroom, Mr. Scott asks her to take off her clothing and proceeds to sodomize her while demanding that she scream, "N*gger, f*ck me hard!" She returns to class, having written a thinly-veiled account of these events as a fictional short story. Her classmates immediately attack her with criticisms, calling the story racist, misogynistic, and the ramblings of a spoiled white girl.The second half Nonfiction stars Toby, a loser documentary filmmaker, and his subject Scooby, a directionless adolescent. Scooby is constantly at odds with his parents, a war that is waged nightly at the dinner table. Toby soon realizes that his documentary is aimless. It is revealed to the audience that Scooby is bisexual when he is shown apathetically allowing a male schoolmate to perform fellatio on him as he fantasizes about his parents set aflame. Toby's documentary soon changes from a respectful, educational documentary about high school students into a condescending, exploitative mockery of Scooby and his family. Scooby sneaks into an early screening of the film only to discover the audience laughing uproariously at the representation of his family. While Scooby is out, the family's ex-housekeeper, embittered by her recent firing, poisons his family with gas. Scooby returns to his home to discover that his family is dead and tells Toby coldly to not feel sorry for him because, "the movie is a hit." | thought-provoking, comedy, cruelty, murder, satire | train | imdb | Before we have a chance to pass judgment on Solondz, his character writes about the event in the 3rd person and reads the story in class.
Probably Director Todd Solondz' most mature work to date, Storytelling is split into two parts `Fiction' and `Non-Fiction' - yet similar themes underlie both and pose questions about what we call reality when it comes to prejudice and taboo subjects.
Whilst in previous attempts (such as `Happiness') Solondz' work has merely been controversial, in this film he berates political correctness more accurately and more entertainingly.
But part of the film involves the story of a `documentary' being made within the main story, by an exploitative screwed up filmmaker who wants to do his own thing in the name of art, so in this sense, Storytelling even turns on itself and questions the validity of using the subject matter that it does.
I got the strong impression that this part was only included to make the movie full-time.The second story, "Non-fiction", is clearly stronger, and told with much more passion from the writer/director.
It would have been impossible to make a whole movie out of "Fiction," and I think it was impressive that Solondz had the daring to just change over to another story without trying to link them, which would have been tedious.
The graphic sex scene between Selma Blair and Robert Wisdom is blocked out in the R-rated version; Solondz has a big red rectangle over the characters in a successful attempt to show how the MPAA censors can ruin a movie with their silly rules.
Not just physically, but also in the way he was criticized for making fun of the characters in his documentary just as Solondz has been criticized for doing the same in "Welcome to the Dollhouse" and "Happiness." Many people who dislike Solondz films just can't stand the often vicious or disturbing denizens that inhabit his works.
These people should stick to watching "Titanic" and "A Walk to Remember" as they have no appreciation for the daring and honest way Solondz makes his movies..
Not as focused as Dollhouse or as filled-out as Happiness, Storytelling does seem sparse, and that's one of the things I like best about it (I've seen it 4 times now)- how T.S. didn't feel the need to conform to what the majority of film goers (even his OWN crowd!) expect when they enter a theatre.
Like That Thing On Your Neck, It's Grown On Me. At first viewing I though this was the weakest of director Todd Solondz films, however like all of his works, it's impossible to forget once seen.
Here Solondz shows us yet another dysfunctional upper middle class Jewish family in chaos, but this time as a "documentary", which shows us the pathetic film maker, the cruel or otherwise ignorant family, and the audience who laughs and scoffs, at it all.
But if you've already seen these films, watching Storytelling can only make you feel bad, like a quickie, it's so good then when it's over, poof, you're bored and you want something else just like it, but different.
I mean let's face it; where else are you going to find a great performance from John freakin' Goodman!Sadly though, I find it hard to convince certain TYPES of people as to why Solondz's work is so good.
This is why it's depressing watching the film, you see how brilliant this man is and how clearly he can speak his mind and say to you: "I hear YOU, I feel this way, and I know you do too, and this is here for US to enjoy, not just something for everyone." Some people say Art is something everyone can universally appreciate.
You can look at Storytelling or actually Happiness is better for this as formulaic, or formal art, the technical way the film is put together is brilliant, that's its universal art.
Those who were heavily turned off by Solondz's last effort, "Happiness," (a film I still regard as brilliant) might not be as turned off by "Storytelling." Other than an explicit anal sex scene (which is blocked off by a cheesy red box in the R-rated version), the material is quite innocuous.
I wouldn't say this movie is anywhere near terrible, and I still look forward to Todd Solondz's next film, but it just needed more.
This film, from indie director Todd Solondz is really two different movies, both of which have to do with storytelling of a sort...the first tale set in a college writing course has Selma Blair as a young woman involved with a cripple who has an affair with her professor and the second story is about Paul Giamatti as a down and out documentary filmmaker who follows a depressed high school kid and his family (including John Goodman and Julie Hagerty) around.
This is a story of continuous failure and humiliation, told through the eyes of feature film maker Todd Solondz, using the perspectives of an aspiring writer (Selma Blair) and an actor-turned-documentary film maker (Paul Giamatti, of "Sideways" acclaim), who use pen and camera to distance themselves from their subject matter in turn.
Todd Solondz is a very good filmmaker, and it's evident with "Happiness" and "Welcome to the Dollhouse," but this film was something that should never have been made.
Not the same types of films as this, but it shows I have an open enough mind when it comes to non-mainstream films.But this film was worthless except as a reminder that going to film school and making one good movie like "Welcome to the Dollhouse" (which I enjoyed) doesn't guarantee you can't make a piece of crap later.I seriously kept waiting for the punchline, but all I got was a lame ending that seemed to be trying to teach me something, but wasn't sure what it wanted to say.If the only problem were a confused message, then maybe the message could be its very lack of a message.
I guess that's fine if you want to be experimental; but I think Solondz should decide whether he's conducting psychology experiments or making movies.
I had seen Todd Solondz' previous work Happiness and thought it clever enough to give Storytelling a try.
This movie is a comedy.From reading others' reviews you might surmise that it has all kinds of deep meanings, hidden messages to critics, juvenile "shocking" moments, and pretentious contempt for the audience.Nonsense!It's just really, really funny.As for it being "hard to watch"...Ridiculous!It's just as funny and rewarding the 10th time you see it.Relax, enjoy..
Solondz splits the film into two parts: 'fiction' and 'non-fiction', both depicting a different scenario exploring characters who are involved in the process of the titular process of storytelling.
Furthermore, Solondz must be extremely sensitive, because he also used the American Movie director to film American Scooby.
The thing that gets me about Solondz, that makes him so different from a lot of other directors, is the way the movie is so black that it's incredibly serious.
As a huge admirer of Todd Solondz's 'Welcome To The Dollhouse' and (especially) 'Happiness', I was eagerly looking forward to this movie, but I can hardly put into words just how let down I was with this awful film.
The movie is populated by unloveable losers and those that exploit them; the inhabitants are either the freakish and ignorant or the depraved and sadistic.Unfortunately his latest film is billed as a comedy, but even an uncomfortable chuckle seems inappropriate in the depressing wake of this vituperative two-part 'expose' on the nature of truth.And while that lofty theme is only intermittently and haphazardly explored, Solondz is unquestionably successful in what one imagines was a primary objective -- to shock the audience with an unabashed combination of sexual taboo and craven human instincts.He's enlisted their services before to much better effect."Happiness," a painfully funny and scary film, offered a twisted sliver of hope that the family at its center would endure after it weathered a series of bizarre interpersonal storms and scandals.
Solondz reportedly took inspiration for his "uneven diptych" from the highly regarded films "Carnal Knowledge" and "Full Metal Jacket," ignoring the fact Kubrick's film didn't just haphazardly explore hypothetically related themes in two entirely unrelated narratives, but developed a series of characters and had them weather the stresses of battle later in the film.In "Storytelling," the parts feel like rough drafts of two different, though no less repugnant movies, and at times it is painfully obvious that Solondz just didn't have enough material or inspiration to make one good movie.
Unfortunately, the ugly subject matter is mirrored by the film's uninteresting camera work, about as solid and distinguished as a South American soap opera.The performances -- from a cast of principals who have nearly all appeared in brilliant comedies -- range from overbearing to underwhelming, not surprising considering the bewildering and sometimes pointless lines they have been given to speak.A dream sequence involving the burning and crucifixion of the mother and father and an appearance on Conan O'Brien is futile and embarrassing, and Solondz's examination of racial and sexual attitudes is almost as foolish as the offensive 1986 stinker "Soul Man."Solondz spares no expense in relating his bleak belief that life trapped between the malls is a living hell for anyone with any sort of sensitivity.
They are as self-serving and stupid as everyone else, and even murderous.Solondz fleshes out the misanthropic round-up by making the few characters with real intelligence in the film -- a precocious younger brother, a Pulitzer Prize winning professor -- predators that use their wiles predominantly to humiliate and defile the weakest people around them.
(In an extended, oblique pun, "American Movie"'s Mike Schank appears as the "Scooby" cameraman.)Oddly, there is little that distinguishes the preachy humanism of the Oscar winning film from Solondz's strident, smarmy brand of outing social hypocrisy.And whatever treatise on fact and fiction was intended, ostensibly how an artist's evocation of truth can become more powerful than the truth itself, is ultimately obscured by a very angry young man's swipe at all of God's creatures.Solondz's nihilism and hatred may be explained by what he has suffered at the hands of the world around him.
If you want to see a gonowhere movie that you can discuss with your friends who all majored in "film" but are now unemployed, watch "Storytelling"..
It was not close to the excellent 'Welcome to the Dollhouse'- which was up there with films like 'Kids', 'Gummo' & 'River's Edge'...With 'Storytelling', Solondz runs out of ideas.He writes a film that is a dead end- the (yawn) relationship between fiction and non-fiction, art & life.
Storytelling is a great movie, at times Solondz could have done better but everything was good.
From "Welcome to the Dollhouse", through "Happiness" to this film, he seems to thrive in misanthropy, delving into the worst aspects of human nature."Storytelling" has two separate segments: "Fiction" deals with a college student (Selma Blair) who breaks up with her disabled boyfriend and has a brutal one-night stand with her creative writing professor.
In my opinion "Storytelling" is better than the over-rated "Happiness" (which just went too far at times).When you want something to make you feel good about life and humanity, don't watch this film..
It is also about, well, storytelling and how easily stories and plots are manipulated for effect.The first half hour, "Fiction," is devoted to a story of a college student, Vi, who is tired of "dating the undergraduates" and ends up a violent and racially charged sex scene with her African American creative writing professor.
Still, if you ever seen any other of Solondz's movies, you can see the whole point of this section coming from a mile away (the dangers of political correctness, the prudishness and hypocrisy of the American middle class, even those claiming to be liberal or progressive, etc.) And I just couldn't believe that Vi would only say "Don't be racist, don't be racist" in the bathroom scene.
What is also funny about "Nonfiction," which is supposed to be "real," is that it contains completely fictional and even forced plot points: someone is injured and slips into a coma, someone else is hypnotized and told what to do, and even the final, terrible act seems more to come out of a bad TV movie than real life.
that almost encapsulates the entire film:"I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you." "But I'm not laughing."The film is about two different forms of storytelling: "Fiction" and "Non-Fiction."In the first story, "Fiction," Solondz shines an interpretive light a creative writing class.A woman with writing aspirations and her cerebral-palsy boyfriend with the same.
hopefully."Like all of Solondz films, people will either be mesmerized by it or despise it, but it's a movie that many should see.
`Storytelling,' a film written and directed by Todd Solondz, is actually made up of a pair of stories combined into a single work.
Despite the excellence performances and the assuredness of the direction, this opening section comes across more as a clever conceit than as a fully developed work in its own right.The second story, which is almost twice as long as the first, creates much more of an impact, due largely to the fact that it gives itself more time for the development of character, milieu and theme.
The story focuses on young Scooby Livingston, a high school senior so devoid of ambition, drive and motivation, that he is literally drifting through life, indifferent to family, school, peers, anything but his pie-in-the-sky dream of becoming a talk show host like Conan O'Brien (who makes a fun cameo appearance in the film).
I'll admit there's some wit and cleverness in the way Solondz weaves every single one of these complaints (and more besides) into the fabric of the film itself, but that's all the wit and cleverness there is; and this doesn't change the fact that the charges are - every single one of them except for the incomprehensible one levelled by Catherine against Vi's story in the first segment of the movie - true.
Filmmaker Todd Solondz once again dips into the pitch dark genre of black comedy/social satire checking out the underbelly of New Jersey suburbia with equal parts repulsion and fascination at how stereotypes often are too good to be true by separating them into two sections: "Fiction" with Blair (giving her best onscreen performance to date) as a coed who's creative writing class is a thorny lesson in life's trickier twists and "Non-Fiction" with dweeby Giamatti (ditto) as a novice documentary filmmaker attempting to depict the evolution of teenagers in America by focusing his camera on disassociatedly brain dead Webber (deftly daft) and his dysfunctional family.
Todd Solondz's Storytelling could be looked at as a film about film (the second part),and a film about fiction in general both parts).
But once again, Solondz jabs us with the theory that "once you begin writing it all becomes fiction." Within this first short section of this movie, Solondz has set everything up for us: an impenetrable, self-referential mobius strip of a movie.In the second portion of the film, we are told the story of the documentary.
The director generally does 'care' about his subjects but like the typical Solondzian ending "don't be sorry, your movie's a hit", we see the struggle of a filmmaker seeking to please his audience as well as 'staying true' to the art.What is ironic here is that Solondz' characters aren't really "mean-spirited" and "banal" people.
I liked this part of the film better, because it deals with a subject that I think about often, that being the way documentaries work.
STORYTELLING is by the director of WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE and HAPPINESS and, surprisingly, is his most disturbing film.
I do like Todd Solondz and the way he writes his films in general.
On the whole a good film but a disappointment for the Solondz fan whom might have been expecting something brilliant like "happiness" another deconstruction, that of the american dream done before and better than american beauty won oscars for mining the same material..
I think you will miss a lot of what the film has to say about Art, Truth etc.All in all, I thought the movie, allthough harrowing at times, revealed an artist who is achingly honest, someone kind hearted but disturbed by what he sees around him, someone who can still see the beauty in people's screwed up lives.
I've not seen any of Todd Solondz's other films but I sense that he is a truly great director and I would recomend this great movie to anyone who is able to aproach it with an open mind and evaluate it on its merits.
I couldn't watch this film all the way through the first time, as to viewing the "fiction" part of the movie first, and had to force myself to finish the other half to view the other half, which had some humor in it, as to soften the creepiness of some of the characters that you witness.
As in "Welcome to the Dollhouse", Todd Solondz ventures in to the dark themes of suburbia that we don't most often like to talk about, but this film almost leaves you helpless, taking you through cruel experiences of the characters, with nothing to save them..
And besides, the best way to watch any Solondz movie is to not have any idea what it is about.
In The Storytelling, director Todd Solondz introduces a character who are feeling inconsistency with their dreams and their reality, who are reliant of others for achieving their dreams, who are playing their life unplanned.
In The Storytelling, director Todd Solondz introduces a character who are feeling inconsistency with their dreams and their reality, who are reliant of others for achieving their dreams, who are playing their life unplanned.
Todd Solondz Storytelling is too short of a movie. |
tt0117420 | The Quest | Comments by Actor / Writer Roy C. PetersonThis a very good movie with Jean Claude Van Damme as the hero triumphing against all odds. Van Damme also directed and did a very fine job. It's like a synthesis of Indiana Jones with Bloodsport. The story is set in the 1920s and the tournament is not the Kumite, but an equivalent called the Ghang-gheng. The script is actually based upon an amended version of the Bloodsport story which never got produced. The pageantry here is greater. Really exotic settings with a more spectacular tournament venue. More diverse ethnicity via costume. I don't know enough about any of this to comment upon authenticity. For some reason I enjoyed this movie much more the second time I saw it. | violence, intrigue | train | imdb | null |
tt0042928 | The Scarlet Pumpernickel | At the Warner Bros. Studio in Hollywood, a frustrated Daffy is talking to his boss J.L., complaining that he's been typecast in nothing but comedies. He appeals to J.L. for a dramatic role, and demonstrates by presenting a ridiculously long script he's written, entitled "The Scarlet Pumpernickel". He begins reading it to J.L.The script presents Daffy in the title role, as a daring swashbuckler who always evades the Lord High Chamberlain (played by Porky Pig) and his evil henchmen. The lord's lady, Melissa Duck, is madly in love with Scarlet, although the Chamberlain does not want her near him. One day, he gets an idea-- he decides to marry Melissa to the Grand Duke (played by Sylvester), which would quickly bring Scarlet into town for his men to kill. The Grand Duke is both happy at the opportunity to marry Melissa, and furious at the prospect of the Scarlet Pumpernickel getting involved.Melissa is heartbroken when she hears the news, being locked in a tower to cry her eyes out and lament that she will never marry Scarlet. The Scarlet Pumpernickel does make it into town, albeit disguised as a gentleman. He takes up lodging at an inn (the innkeeper being played by Elmer Fudd) and prepares to visit Melissa. Back at Warner Bros, Daffy is 192 pages into his script and is getting exhausted, but a fascinated J.L. implores him to continue.The disguised Scarlet Pumpernickel visits the Lord Chamberlain, who tells him that Melissa does not want to be seen until after the wedding. At that moment, the Grand Duke enters and declares that since the Scarlet Pumpernickel is in town disguised as a gentleman, the wedding must take place that night. The lord agrees, and Daffy immediately returns to the inn, changes into his Scarlet Pumpernickel garb, and goes off to rescue Melissa. He jumps from the inn window and prepares to land on his horse, but misses. Dazed, he mutters, "That's funny... that never happens to Errol Flynn."The wedding is taking place at the Lord Chamberlain's castle. Scarlet stops outside, and scales the ridiculously high wall by poking himself in the buttocks with a pin (labeled "Ye Little Olympic High Jumper"). He lands in the wedding area, and mutters, "I'll have to check with Errol..." just as Melissa notices him and flees the wedding with him. Daffy is 1,666 pages into the script now, but J.L. is still riveted to the story, and an exhausted Daffy continues reading.Scarlet takes Melissa to the inn, and leaves, this time using a parachute to successfully land on his horse ("Here's a wrinkle Errol never thought of."). At that moment, the Grand Duke enters the inn. He is pursuing the Scarlet Pumpernickel, and desires refreshment. He notices Melissa in the room, and goes up and threatens her. At that moment, Scarlet swings from a tree, meaning to go through the window, but instead smashes through the wall. The Grand Duke and Scarlet engage in a sword fight.By this point, Daffy has reached the end of the script, and begins wildly improvising an ending (which includes events like an erupting volcano and food prices skyrocketing) without revealing who won the sword fight. A frustrated J.L. asks, "Is that all?" An exhausted Daffy simply says, "There was nothing for the Scarlet Pumpernickel to do but blow his brains out, which he did." He then takes out a revolver and shoots himself in the head. He gets up for a moment to remark, "It's getting so you have to kill yourself to sell a story around here!" Iris out. | action, melodrama | train | imdb | Spectacular Art; Inside Jokes Pretty Good.
Daffy the actor is in the boss' office, pleading for a new role and a new image.
He's tired of being typecast as a comic.
He brings a script for a film he wants to do: The Scarlet Pumpernickel by Daffy Dumas Duck.
He starts reading it and we see the images as the story unfolds."Once upon a time," Daffy starts...and then stops to say, "Great opening, huh?" Anyway, "in merry old England......."We get the story with Daffy as the hero, and Porky Pig and Sylvester the Cat playing key roles.
The colors and the art in depicting the castles, streets and costumes of the day are spectacular.
The story is good; not a ton of laughs but smart enough with inside jokes (Errol Flynn references, Jewish jokes and lines) to be enjoyable for us adults.
Daffy Duck cartoons, from what I've seen, are geared more for adults than kids, anyway..
What does it take to get a movie made around here?.
Blowing your brains out is the answer and that's just what Daffy Duck ends up doing.The cartoon opens in the office of one of the Warner Brothers producers.
Daffy is trying to get him interested in making a movie from his 1000 page script 'The Scarlet Pumpernickel'.
Daffy plays a swashbuckling hero/thief who would like for no more than to marry his maiden in peril.
But Sylvester is out to catch him and take her for himself.The producer likes Daffy's script but need a bigger ending.
How about a tidal wave?
And a volcano explodes?
Not good enough.
Not good enough.
But there's nothing left for the Scarlett Pumpernickel to do but blow his brains out?Blam!I love that Duck..
You're Killing Me J.
This cartoon starts out with Daffy Duck in J.
L.'s (Jack L.
Warner's) office pitching for a dramatic role.
He's tired of having anvils drop on his head and never getting the girl.
In his buildup of the proposed plot, he has J.
L., and us, on the edge of our seats.This is not your typical Looney Tunes fair.
It's a roller coaster ride of slapstick comedy, cameos and that special brand of humor from writer Michael Maltese, all beautifully animated by one of the best crews ever assembled.
It's a welcome departure from the formulaic series that the Warner Bros.
cartoon factory from this era did so well, but the recipe from this one was to be tried out again with great success in later Daffy Duck shorts (Duck Dodgers, Stupor Duck)..
Thou fair cartoon!
Mel Blanc and Chuck Jones have rescued thee from boredom!.
We've all seen the images of up-and-coming writers trying to pitch their work to studio heads.
Well, in "The Scarlet Pumpernickel", Daffy Duck is trying to pitch his 2,000-page script to studio head J.L. The script casts Daffy as the Scarlet Pumpernickel, an 18th-century rogue.
Seeking to trap the guy, the dastardly Lord High Chamberlain (Porky Pig) comes up with a most devious scheme: marry fair maiden Melissa off to the unpleasant Grand Duke (Sylvester the Cat).
So, it all comes down to a sword-fight between Daffy and Sylvester.Actually, it doesn't come down to that.
Daffy never wrote an ending, and so at the spur of the moment, he comes up with an ending that seems a little strange to put in a cartoon.
But, as he notes, that's apparently what you have to do to sell a script these days.
The cartoon makes fun not only of movies starring Errol Flynn (whom Daffy mentions by name), but also of everything Hollywood-related.
Chuck Jones, Mel Blanc, and that whole team probably knew all about such things.
Another classic cartoon..
Interesting take on the Dumas classic.
The Scarlet Pumpernickel is a great and very interesting take on the Alexandre Dumas classic The Scarlet Pimpernel.
The short starts with Daffy getting frustrated at only being typecast in comedy, and reads HIS version of the classic to the producer.
The rest is a roller-coaster of priceless performances from the toons, swashbuckling and sight gags complete with references to Errol Flynn, with an unexpected ending to boot.
The animation is pretty much spotless, and the music is rousing.
The story is fun, and there are some many good moments, so much so I cannot think of my favourite part.The toons however are the real stars here; Daffy takes on the role of "The Scarlet Pumpernickel" and does so with gusto.
Porky is given little to do but does what he can with The Lord High Chamberlain, while Sylvester relishes his part as the Duke.
Also Melissa is a very beautiful and cute duck I think.
All thanks to the marvellous vocal talents of the immortal Mel Blanc.
All in all, hugely entertaining.
9/10 Bethany Cox. A very good Daffy Duck episode!.
With TWO good themes carried off in a hilarious way, good characters chosen and a good plot, this Daffy Duck episode is pretty tough to beat!
Yet another good thing about this episode, is the clever, brilliant mux-ip of the modern and the old Daffy Duck (this episode was made in 1950, when the new greedy, sly, mean Daffy Duck that most of us know was just starting to appear) and the choosing of so many Looney Tunes characters - including a new one!
The episode begins with Daffy feeling hyperly angry and stressed at doing so much comedy and he has had the nerve and steel to write a script which focuses on a more serious theme - or as serious as Daffy can possibly be.
The story is not the Scarlet Pimpernel - but the Scarlet Pumpernickel, as Daffy!
Also appearing is Porky as the High Chamberlain and who seems to be a new character, a yellow duck, as the fair Melissa.
She is to marry the Grand Duke, who is Sylvester, but she loves the Scarlet Pumpernickel, who is an outlaw.
It's the start of a grand adventure, with good gags along the way...Good for people who like comedy versions of famous book people and good for people who want to watch Daffy's attempt at a more serious episode.
Enjoy "The Scarlet Pumpernickel"!
pretty good.
Daffy Duck goes to Jack Warner to pitch his take on "The Scarlet Pimpernickel" in another good looney Tunes short.
This kinda broke away with the formulaic nature of the other Tunes shorts of the period.
And as such it's able to stand out from the pack a bit more and it's better for it.
This short is delightful.Furthermore, The ending is intact unlike what you'll see in the TV versions.
So the cartoon goes out with more of a bang for your buck hehehe.
This cartoon is on Disk 2 of the "Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 1".
It also has an optional commentary, as well as a music-only track.My Grade: B+.
WB Take on Classic Tale of Romance.
Daffy is tired of being cast in comedy roles.
He writes a script where he will appear as the Scarlet Pumpernickel, a highwayman who gets what he wants.
In this case, it is the hand of a princess (whose father is a pig and who is, herself a duck).
Don't ask.
Anyway, on her way to marry Sylvester who is a viscount, Daffy/Pumpernickel absconds with her.
No wedding takes place.
Very crisp animation of Chuck Jones makes this work.
Even though he is playing a serious role, Daffy continues to be Daffy.
His script appears to be several thousand pages long.
I've seen this so many times.
It is somewhat endearing..
"The price of foodstuffs skyrocketed!".
Chuck Jones' funny send-up of swashbuckling adventure stories.
The title is a pun on The Scarlet Pimpernel and there's even repeated Errol Flynn references.
The plot has Daffy once again upset with his career at Warner Bros.
He's tired of doing comedy and wants a chance to do drama.
So he shows an executive the script he's written about a hero (Daffy) trying to save a damsel in distress from a forced marriage.
The cartoon cuts back and forth between the story Daffy's written and him in the exec's office making his pitch.
It's very funny with lots of Daffy silliness and great gags.
The cast includes not only Daffy but Porky, Sylvester, Elmer Fudd, Henery Hawk and a few other recognizable lesser characters.
The animation is nice and colorful.
The music is lively.
The voice work is top notch.
It's a great Daffy cartoon but the added appearances of the other characters (specifically Sylvester) bumps it up a notch.
Beware some versions which cut the final scene and leave the cartoon with an abrupt ending.
Thanks censorship!.
The Scarlet Pumpernickel is an amusing parody of swashbucklers and studio pitches.
In this one, Daffy plays himself as an actor tired of comedy roles so he pitches J.L. a script called "The Scarlet Pumpernickel" by Daffy Dumas Duck.
The duck's the title character hoping to rescue the fair Melissa from the evil Porky Pig. The pig tries to get Sylvester to marry her to keep her from Daffy.
Also involved is Elmer (done for the first time by Mel Blanc instead of Arthur Q.
Bryan) and the Mama Bear from Chuck Jones' Three Bears cartoons.
Nice humorous touches throughout with Daffy, especially, in fine form.
I noticed Sylvester doesn't have any whiskers here.
Essential viewing for any Jones fan or anyone who loves animated spoofs of old movies..
A great swash-buckling Daffy Duck cartoon.
I love it!
it's my favorite (and only) Daffy Duck cartoon, I'm not too crazy about him.
Also I'm not to keen on parody too.
In fact, I HATE IT PERIOD!
But I can accepted this great swash-buckling cartoon by Chuck Jones with animation by Phil Monroe.
I do love the Chuck Jones/Phil Monroe collaborated cartoons.And since this short was inspired around the title of the story "The Scarlet Pimpernel," I would like to point out, that I've seen the movie version of the book "The Scarlet Pimpernel" from 1935 starring Leslie Howard on T.C.M and I had even taped it too.
I'm even thinking of reading the book too; I'm crazy about literary movies.So overall I really love this cartoon..
Nice try but not great.
Tired of being typecast in comedy-duck roles, Daffy pitches an adventure story to a studio executive.
He tells the story of the Scarlet Pumpernickel, a gentleman bandit that befuddles the authorities, until, that is, the Lord Chamberlain devises a cunning plan to draw him out and trap him.This cartoon is a mix of period piece and studio-spoof; it starts and ends in the studio and has a vague Errol-Flynn tale in the middle.
The main story is surprisingly unfunny and really could have used a great deal more spark to really make it enjoyable.
As it is it only has a few gags, such is the time given to the array of characters and the frame of the plot.
The studio set bits are quite funny due to the joke of how hard it is to sell the story, the idea that Daffy is a real actor worried about typecasting and the delivery of the duck himself - but these aren't enough to carry it.The cast are very good on paper, the problem is there are too many players.
Daffy is funny in his twin roles as actor and character, but Porky is given too little time to really do anything.
Likewise Sylvester is pretty much wasted.
The feeling of an ensemble cast is not necessarily a good thing in a 4 minute long film - sometimes things need to be scaled down to be more effective.Despite the promise shown by the film, it tries to do too many things and the end result is that it doesn't do the main story or the studio stuff justice.
If anything I was surprised by just how average this cartoon was!.
Daffy.
Daffy.
Scarlet Pumpernickel, The (1950) *** (out of 4)Daffy Duck, tired of playing comedy roles, goes to J.L. Warner with a new swashbuckler screenplay and begins to read it.
It features our hero (Daffy) trying to save the woman he loves from her evil father (Porky Pig) and the man he wants to marry her off to (Sylvester).
This film has a lot of heart and imagination but not enough laughs to make it one of the best from Merrie Melodies.
The visual animation is top-notch from start to finish with some beautiful looking backgrounds especially those inside the castle.
The wedding scene in pedicular stands out as does the ending where we see a volcano go off as well as a dam break.
Sylvester is pretty much wasted in the film as is Porky but we do have Daffy going all out..
An all-star take on the Errol Flyn style caper.
Chuck Jones's 'The Scarlet Pumpernickel' is something a bit special.
Starring Daffy Duck, this ripping yarn casts several Warner Bros.
favourites in a take off of 'The Scarlet Pimpernel'.
It's a joy to see these rarely coinciding characters (including Porky Pig, Sylvester, Elmer Fudd, Henery Hawk and Mother Bear) interact with each other and the roles bring out the best in some of the characters.
Porky Pig relishes the chance to play the villainous Lord High Chamberlain while Sylvester hams it up gloriously as the Grand Duke.
At the centre of it all, of course, is Daffy, spectacularly blundering the role of romantic hero ("parting is such sweet stuff") as he strives to emulate Errol Flyn.
The story is framed by the frantic Daffy we all know and love pitching his script to unseen studio boss J.L. J.L's demanding expectations lead to the grisly and memorable finale in which a spent Daffy commits suicide by shooting himself in the head.
'The Scarlet Pumpernickel' was an exciting all-star experience when I was a kid and it remains a remarkable piece of work when I witness it as an adult.
It manages to be funny while still masterfully tapping into the spirit of the adventure stories it spoofs.
Daffy DUMAS Duck?!.
"The Scarlet Pumpernickel" is a wonderful Warner Bros.
cartoon that stars an unusual grouping of familiar characters - Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Sylvester, Elmer Fudd, Mama Bear, and Henery Hawk.
I love Daffy's earnestness in the opening scene as he pleads with the high & mighty Jack L.
Warner to quit typecasting him in comedy and allow him to appear in a dramatic role, namely as the Scarlet Pumpernickel, for which Daffy wrote the story.Here are my favorite moments from this cartoon.
Porky, as the Lord High Chamberlain, is very funny in his initial appearance, stating that he is "simply furious" and shouting at Lady Melissa (a yellow duck) to keep away from "that masked stinker" the Scarlet Punpernickel.
Our "hero" is quite funny as he sneezes, swings face first into a stone building, and makes use of an "olympic high jumper".
But the funniest of all is Carl Stalling's great music score as Daffy changes into his Scarlet Pumpernickel outfit, dashes out the window, and misses his horse.Directed by Chuck Jones and written by Michael Maltese, "The Scarlet Pumpernickel" is a brilliant cartoon that clearly pokes fun at medieval action/adventure stories.
This cartoon has been "captured" on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 1 Disc 2 (a disc that specializes in Daffy Duck and Porky Pig)..
A "snuff" film, in EVERY sense of the word .
. Warner Bros.
animated short THE SCARLET PUMPERNICKEL is one of America's first flicks to draw a correlation between tobacco usage and suicide-by-gun.
Powder proves to be Daffy Duck's downfall.
First, his title character suffers uncontrollable spasms and fits from ingesting the Demon Snuff.
Then, gun powder powers a bullet into Daffy's skull.
Daffy's motivation toward self-destruction here seems to be his strong desire to be a chain-smoking movie star like Errol Flynn.
Big Tobacco paid billions in bribes to put the Wicked Weed in the mouths of stars such as Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, John Wayne, and Flynn in a successful effort to get 1900s America smoking like a rusty muffler.
(These tobacco shills also introduced the illogical concept of the post-coital cigarette, realizing that the American Race would peter out and die from the effects of their product--hurting sales growth and year-end bonuses--unless smokers started to reproduce at rabbit-like rates).
So what if kissing a smoker is akin to licking an ashtray?
With Humphrey, Errol, Bette, and Daffy pushing coffin nails, why NOT succumb and then shoot yourself in the head to avoid a lingering Death by Cancer?.
Poor Melissa.
This is a one of these uncountable 7-minute cartoons from Warner Bros and it was made 65 years ago.
The star is Daffy this time and he is out to save Melissa who is kept prisoner at a castle.
And she is in all kinds of trouble.
Not only is the world's least capable superhero out to rescue her, she also gets in trouble with Porky and Sylvester.
All these are voiced by Mel Blanc once again and the filmmaker duo are Chuck Jones and Michael Maltese as always.
Melissa is voiced by Bea Benederet (Betty on "Flintstones").
All in all, I did not find this cartoon as funny as many other Looney Toons from that time.
The jokes just did not really do that much for me.
Maybe this is because I am not familiar with The Scarlet Pimpernel that this cartoon obviously spoofs.
So yeah, I cannot recommend it.
Better stuff out there from the 1950s. |
tt0110997 | The River Wild | A Boston couple, Gail (Meryl Streep) and Tom (David Strathairn), are having marital problems, due to his inability to spend time with his family because of his work as an architect. She, a water rafting expert, decides to take their son, Roarke (Joseph Mazzello), on a holiday rafting trip down the Salmon River in Idaho, along with their dog, Maggie. Their daughter, Willa (Stephanie Sawyer), accompanies them to Gail's parents' house in Idaho. At the last minute, just when they are about to leave for the almost week-long trip, Tom joins them. As they are setting off, they meet a couple of other rafters, Wade (Kevin Bacon) and Terry (John C. Reilly), who appear to be friendly. Thus they leave for the trip, leaving Willa behind to be taken care of by her grandparents.
After a day's rafting, they make camp for the night, but Tom continues to work on his renderings rather than entering fully into the experience, which agitates Roarke. They are joined by Wade and Terry, who help to celebrate Roarke's birthday that night. Gail becomes friendly with Wade. However, after a while he begins acting suspiciously, and she decides it would be best to part ways. During the morning's rafting, he reveals to Roarke that they have a gun with them. As they raft down the river, Gail and Tom discuss a strategy that will allow them to leave the two men behind, and at lunch they attempt to leave on their raft and get away before Wade and Terry realize what is going on.
Their attempt fails, and Wade pulls the gun on them and assaults Tom. Maggie runs off during the melee, avoiding a shot by Wade. Gail then realizes that an armed robbery she had heard about was actually carried out by Wade and Terry, and their rafting trip is actually a way for them to get away. Having found out that they are criminals, the family is forced to raft at gunpoint down the rest of the river before they all set up camp for the night.
During the night, Tom attempts to steal the gun from the sleeping Terry but is heard and has to run into the bushes and to the river. Wade gives chase and believes he has shot Tom when he hears a loud splash into the water.
A park ranger named Johnny (Benjamin Bratt), who knows Gail, is whitewater canoeing down the river. He bumps into them. Wade holds the gun to Gail's back, and they pretend everything is okay. Later, Johnny reappears. Wade shoots him and throws him into the rapids.
Wade and Terry plan to escape by rafting a set of rapids named the Gauntlet, where rafting is no longer allowed because in recent years one person was killed and another was left paralyzed. Aware that Gail is one of only three people to have ever survived the deadly waters, they force Gail to raft down through those rapids despite her repeated declarations that she can no longer navigate such big water, especially not with novices and her son.
Unbeknownst to anyone Tom has been racing to try to get ahead of the raft, in a desperate attempt to save his family. After a harrowing ride in which Terry is nearly drowned, the group manage to make it through the Gauntlet. Tom reappears, and manages to flip the raft. As he struggles with Terry, Gail is able to get the gun.
Wade tells Gail there is no need to kill him, and that if she does, it will haunt her because she will never have a way to know if she truly had to. Gail, knowing Wade believes the gun has only one round, points the gun into the air to fire it, but it only clicks on an empty chamber, after which Wade orders Terry to kill Tom and Roarke and goes after Gail. Gail opens the revolver, sees the remaining cartridge, chambers the last round, and kills Wade. The film ends with the family and Terry, who has been arrested, being helicoptered out. | suspenseful, comedy, murder | train | wikipedia | River Wild is not really great or thrilling, but it's very entertaining due to the good acting by the entire cast and the beautiful nature scenery.
How Kevin Bacon's character first strikes a bonding with the son, in order to win Meryl Streep's trust, and how this friendly atmosphere slowly glides to threat was very realistic.
Meryl Streep plays a part out of her normal range in Curtis Hanson's 1994 actioner, as an expert whitewater rafter, who has to save herself and her son - eventually with the aid of hubby - from a couple of desperados, who insist on being taken through some awesome rapids.
Kevin Bacon is very effective as a regular guy, who just happens to be a psychotic criminal in his off moments; John C Reilly plays his weak, shifty sidekick; and Joseph Mazzello is the son, who initially finds Bacon more fun than his dad.
The teacher Gail Hartman (Meryl Streep) is facing problems with her marriage with her husband, the workaholic architect Tom Hartman (David Strathairn).
On the birthday of their son Roarke (Joseph Mazzello), Gail decides to leave her daughter with her parents and take her family to raft down a wild river where she was a guide.
Curtis Hanson's box office hit 'The River Wild' is well-shot and even gripping in parts, but what really stands tall in this thriller and balances the film even when it dips, are the performances by it's talented star-cast.
Because of that, Kevin was one of the most terrifying movie characters that I have ever experienced.Seriously, in real life, Kevin Bacon may be a nice guy, may be a sweetheart, may do volunteer work, may go to church regularly, may be a good dad, may be a coach for his daughter's soccer team.
The human plot, involving a couple of hostage-takers, is less spectacular, but the film still gets by thanks to the calibre of the cast.Meryl Streep, although a little too earnest in some places for my liking, takes plaudits as the outdoors expert who has to use her wits to survive both nature and the evils of mankind.
This at first calm and beautiful journey gets unexpectedly dangerous when the family meet on their way two strangers (played by Kevin Bacon and John C.Reilly), who also for their own reasons go to a journey with the same route.
Finally, it is worth to mention nice score, written by Jerry Goldmith, with excellent main theme.In the conclusion The River Wild is not great but quite a good movie, with good casts, acting and one of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen.
To celebrate her son Roarke's birthday and help build his relationship with his father (and her), Gail takes the family unit up to where she used to work as a river guide for a bit of white water rafting.
"The River Wild" isn't among the best or most exciting thriller/action movies ever made but it's a very well made one by acclaimed director Curtis Hanson and with a great cast.A movie set entirely on a river, with as the central piece of the movie a family, complete with kids and a dog.
It's perhaps not as good and prominently executed as it could had but nevertheless the movie gets points for the attempt, that also I must say mostly works out due to Kevin Bacon's fine role.Watching this movie sort of makes you think what a shame it is that Bacon doesn't really play villainous roles anymore.
But also credits have to go to Meryl Streep, who plays a fine strong female lead and other great actors such as David Strathairn, Joseph Mazzello and John C.
THE RIVER WILD is not the most original thriller ever made , it's premise is " a clean cut family bump into a couple of desperate criminals in the sticks and their lives are now in serious danger " but it deserves some credit in not trying to paper over its flaws with ridiculous action sequences or other type of melodramatic plot twists .
Meryl Streep,(Gail Hartman), earned her salary in this film, not just acting but having to take part in some of the water scenes.
Kevin Bacon,(Wade) meets up with Gail and takes a great liking to her, as well as, her son and it looks like things are going to work out for a great vacation.
Kevin Bacon is great as a creepy bad guy, it's a natural role for him.Sure, the plausibility gets a little thin in spots, but hey, it's a movie!
With all due respect to Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon, the one who really steals the show is young (at that time anyway) Joseph Mazzello as Roarke.
This is a pretty good action adventure which is enhanced by the against-type casting of Meryl Streep as the woman who finds herself held hostage by a couple of robbers on the run while on a rafting family with her near-estranged husband and difficult son.Although Streep is good she is matched by David Strathairn as her city-type husband who initially looks so at odds with the outdoor setting simply by the way he moves - and even sits.
One of those films that makes you wonder "why?"Why, if Streep's husband could *run* past the dreaded Gauntlet rapids, couldn't the bad guys just *walk*??
Meryl Streep gets a totally different kind of role in "The River Wild".
She and her husband (David Strathairn) and son (Joseph Mazzello, of "Jurassic Park") go on a rafting trip and encounter some guys (Kevin Bacon and John C.
The River wild is a fantastic movie which shows Kevin Bacon at his best as a psycho.
The River Wild (1994) Streep plays a family woman on holiday enjoying some white water rafting when who should appear, but nasty old escaped convict Kevin Bacon.
The irritating kid, and a husband (David Strathairn) who unfairly was the object of scorn for much of the film, made me lose the enjoyment of watching this on subsequent viewings.If you haven't seen it, it's definitely as good adventure story of a woman (Meryl Streep) and her family terrorized by a wacko (Kevin Bacon) out in the wilds.
In the end the movie turns out to be pretty formulaic, with movements and plot points that we've definitely seen before - many times, in fact.Meryl Streep was an interesting choice as Gail - mother and white water guide - and while she was interesting (basically because this isn't what you'd think of as a normal Meryl Streep role) I didn't find her convincing in the part, either (which is probably why it's not a normal Meryl Streep role!) Kevin Bacon was somewhat more credible as Wade, the guy apparently in charge of the robbery, who decides to take the family hostage in order to use Gail's rafting expertise to run a particularly deadly river in the hopes of escaping the law.
All is well at first, but the good times turn bad rather quickly, as the two buddies are revealed as criminal types who have committed a robbery and are on the run, and need Streep's expertise to make it through a treacherous pass on the river.
I was unexpectedly disappointed in the normally reliable Jerry Goldsmith's score, succumbing to the turgid grandiosity of too many film composers these days...trying to take advantage of digital THX sound systems, perhaps?Anyway I watched it through to the bitter end in order for that final gratifying moment when Meryl shoots Kevin Bacon, loathsomely and all-too-convincingly playing a murderous villain.
Gail (Meryl Streep), brings her workaholic husband Tom (David Strathairn) and son Roarke along on a white river rafting trip for a bit of family bonding and partially to salvage what's left of her declining marriage.The family vacation turns awry however, when they stumble across two mysterious strangers (Kevin Bacon & John C Reilly) who are in need of help as, so they claim, they are stuck in the middle of nowhere and need Gail to help them get out.
The River Wild does what it says on the tin, all the while refraining from hiding behind any CGI effects, instead just using good old fashioned stunt work and great acting.Directed by Curtis Hanson who had previously directed 'The Hand That Rocked The Cradle', he uses his previous skill in pumping up the tension successfully and there are some great moments that make you wonder what is going to happen next.Meryl Streep is great as usual and plays the strong, level-headed female lead well, yet still with an air of vulnerability at the same time.
Wade (Kevin Bacon) as the bad guy scared me because you would never know what he would do next, even though he mostly focused on getting out and being cleared of trouble then killing a lot of people, like some guy on a rampage and his sidekick Terry (John C.
Reilly) really was a ignoring sidekick, not much dialouge with his character but he was really a klutz in standing guard and how to control the family.The family played by Gail (Meryl Streep) the mom, Tom (David Strathairn) the dad and Roarke (Joseph Mazzello) the son showed a very good performance in this movie and had the brightest concepts of escaping danger, things from sign language to swiss army knife and to smoke signals really kept the movie alive and it was spectacular.I do recommend this movie to anyone who is a Kevin Bacon fan, I have been for a while and I love his movies, this movie is very suspenseful and will keep your heart beating to the end, It was worth renting a good adventurous thriller set in the Rockies, Just a very good 112 minutes of sitting on the edge of your seat..
There are times when I agree with the people who bash this film, and then there are times when I agree with the people who think this movie is one of the best action films ever (which it isn't by the way).Meryl Streep acts decently here, but there are a lot of things that just don't flow right.
Curtis Hanson directed this exciting thriller that stars Meryl Streep and David Strathairn as Gail and Tom Hartman, who are taking their son with them on a white water river rafting trip in the mountains while on vacation.
Gail is the real expert rafter, which will come in handy as they are intercepted by two men named Wade and Terry(played by Kevin Bacon and John C.
Good film with solid direction and performances, especially Streep and Bacon.
This is a good drama, set to nice scenery and enough action to keep it afloat on a "river Wild" of course.Three bandidos (sounds cooler than bandits, so I'll say it) are on this "river wild", as are a man, his wife, and their son.Issues arise between the couple, and when the two groups meet, one of the bandidos is dead, and the husband becomes weakened, which of course you know, because Meryl Streep has to be the star.This is all leading up to a final confrontation with the psychopath played by Kevin Bacon.So what makes this interesting is the wild card.
Not even the estimable Meryl Streep can save this waterlogged "thriller," sort of a cross between "Deliverance" and..oh..I don't know.."Up the Creek." Kevin Bacon is not exactly threatening as Ms. Streep's number one nemesis, and David Strathairn makes no impression at all..
Curtis Hanson made the excellent 'L.A. Confidential', and Meryl Streep has a fine reputation as an actress, but 'The River Wild' is generic adventure fare.
Streep plays the ex-rafting guide kidnapped by two criminals on the run, one stupid and one psychopathic (the latter resembling Beavis off MTV, but actually Kevin Bacon), who plan to use her to escape down the rapids: her cute child, neglectful husband and Lassie-style heroic dog are also part of the package.
As usual Meryl Streep plays a very convincing role and her efforts should be commended, however, the plot is very predictable; and I don't know about you but I'm getting fed up with the good old American hero saves the day film.
Plus, the ending (to be more precise, the last 20 minutes or so) is a roller-coaster of intensity, thanks to the breathtaking (and very dangerous!) rafting scenes in the most fierce part of the river.Overall, this is a decent Summer movie - good to be watched anytime of the year, but particularly in hot weather.True, the plot has a certain lack of strength but it's still okay.
Gail goes takes her son and the family dog to a white water rafting trip, something she excelled in when she was younger where she was a river guide and would take on the wild rapids.On the trip she meets Wade (Kevin Bacon) and Terry (John C.
Curtis Hanson's "The River Wild" lives up to the challenge, even for someone who knows a thing or two about going down rivers like these (albeit not as violent).Storywise, it's pretty much your stock story from the genre: A family with a crumbling marriage goes on a trip where they meet up with some seemingly nice people who turn out to be criminals of some sort.
And it helps that Curtis Hanson's direction compliments the script nicely.Meryl Streep may have top billing, but while she is excellent in the quiet scenes, she's less impressive as when she turns into the action heroine.
Reilly would have been miscast, but this role just shows his range and versatility."The River Wild" isn't perfect, but when it comes to an adventure movie, this is a great trip..
Curtis Hanson (LA Confidential) directs this little thriller with style and Meryl Streep keeps the audience riveted with her excellent portrayal of a woman whose family rafting trip has turned into a nightmare.
The music and lush scenery is another reason to rent this sleeper hit.+ (GOOD THINGS) 1.) Performances from Streep and Bacon 2.) Curtis Hanson's direction 3.) The nice scenery 4.) Performances from Mazzello, Reilly and David Strathairn 5.) The suspense 6.) The music(BAD THINGS) 1.) Benjamin Bratt's character 2.) The slow beginning
Meryl Streep does an action heroine turn as Gail, a river guide in an unhappy marriage to David Sraithairn.
Basically, this is about a family that goes on a rafting vacation...They meet these bad guys that end up kidnapping them so that Meryl Streep's character can take them down this very dangerous river as their guide so they can escape far away.
The River Wild (1994): Starring Meryl Streep, David Strathairn, Joseph Mazzello, Kevin Bacon, John C.
David Strathairn, more often seen in supporting roles, here achieves leading man status as Tom. There is also a good performance from Kevin Bacon, generally a reliable villain, as Wade, at first friendly and plausible, later a raging psychopath.
He just has the extraordinary ability to hold his breath underwater for 5 minutes!) The rest of the cast continues down the river until later on, when the father makes a surprise appearance, saves his family, the main bad guy gets shot (conveniently by the mother, who earlier in the movie swore to kill him, and after doing so shows absolutely no emotion of any sort.
The family now lives happily ever after, with both parents now getting along marvelously (with lots of kissing, too!) and the young, impressionable son agrees to not talk to strangers anymore.The plot is fiendishly predictable and boring, and the characters are ones that are often used as well: the athletic, courageous, intelligent, protective, and pretty much flawless mother (Meryl Streep), her loser husband (David Strathairn) who later on in the film gets to show that he does have some good qualities as well!
Reilly) who tries to make friends with the kid, says that he 'don't wanna go back to jail,' and that he 'never knew anybody was gonna get hurt!' Yawn.This movie is riddled with thoroughly average acting, with the exceptions of Kevin Bacon as Wade (he's so good at being villainous!) and, despite his age, Joseph Mazello as Roarke, giving a similar role, but much better performance than in Jurassic Park.
Personally, I would have expected Meryl Streep to have done a better job; she's renowned for being an excellent actress, but I wasn't particularly swept away by her performance.The setting was perfect, and the scenery was beautiful - it really complimented the movie, and the camera work showed it off perfectly, with lots of zooming out to demonstrate the whole scene, then zooming back in to focus on the actors again.
The River Wild (1994): Dir: Curtis Hanson / Cast: Meryl Streep, Kevin Bacon, David Strathairn, John C.
In THE RIVER WILD, he white-waters into mediocrity as the Bad Bacon, holding a family hostage to help him navigate Montana rapids after a heist.
"The River Wild" stars Meryl Streep as Gail, a young woman whose holiday rafting trip is hijacked by small-time criminals.
Basically white water rafting expert Gail Hartman (Golden Globe nominated Meryl Streep) takes her family, son Roarke Hartman (Jurassic Park's Joseph Mazzello) and father/husband Tom Hartman (David Strathairn) on a trip down the river to go to their house.
Gail (Meryl Streep) is a white water rafting guide.
She, husband Tom (David Strathairn) and son Roarke (Joseph Mazello) are kidnapped by robbers Wade (Kevin Bacon) and Terry (John C Reilly), who see rafting down the river as an effective escape route.It's pretty easy to understand the casting decisions for Bacon, Reilly and Strathairn, but Streep isn't the most obvious choice for action Mom Gail.
And so it is here.Gail (Meryl Streep) is a teacher for the deaf who takes her family on a white water rafting trip for her son's birthday.
And Roarke is just the obnoxious brat who gets them into trouble.The River Wild is Curtis Hanson's first attempt at an action film. |
tt0049169 | Earth vs. the Flying Saucers | Opening scene
We see a montage of UFO sightings including Air force pilots, farmers and civilians. After collecting and examining these reports the military decides they are a threat and orders a shoot on sight orderThenDr. Russell Marvin (Hugh Marlow) and his recently married wife Dr. Carol Marvin (Joan Taylor) are driving through the desert to a rocket testing ground - Project Skyhook, when they are buzzed by a UFO. Although they don't realize it at the time, a recorder used to dictate research notes has picked up and recorded the UFO encounter.General John Hanley (Morris Ankrun) arrives at the rocket range and begins trying to postpone the launch. However Marvin and other scientists advise it is too late to abort the launch. During this conversation we discover that Carol Marvin is his daughter, and although pleased for the couple was unaware of their recent marriage.Rocket 11 launches without incidentThat evening over dinner the General discusses with the Marvins the failure of the previous 10 rockets launched in the program. Dr. Marvin surmises that UFOs might have shot the rockets down; he then reveals the recording he made during his encounter with the UFO. As dinner is finishing the three of them see glowing lights in the sky, Carol explains they are fog lights, and no one knows what they are. A few seconds later the wreckage of rocket 11 enters the atmosphere and burns up.Against everyone's better judgment, it is decided to launch rocket 12. During preparations for the launch a UFO is seen buzzing the rocket range before landing in the middle of the facility. Three suited occupants emerge and are fired upon by soldiers. The aliens retaliate, as one of their group is killed. Returning to their ship with their fallen comrade the aliens take off and begin to systematically destroy the rocket test area, kidnapping General Hanley in the processTrapped below ground by fires started during the attack, the Marvins begin to consider rescue unlikely. With their air running out, they decide to make a recording of the events that led up to the alien attack. The tape recorder they are using starts to lose power slowing the playback down. Rewinding the tape the Marvins realize the noise they heard was greatly sped up message from the aliens asking them to meet at the rocket installation. Dr. Marvin understands that a terrible mistake has occurred and fears what might come of it.To their surprise the Marvins are rescued and race to Washington to reveal what they have learned. The authorities expressly forbid Dr. Marvin from making contact with the aliens. Ignoring this, Marvin does contact them and gets new instructions for a meeting place: a beach on the California coast.Carol and Major Huglin (Donald Curtis) discover his plan and try to stop him, racing to the rendezvous point, where the aliens have already landed. Marvin ignores them and approaches the ship. A voice explains it is safe to enter, which they do.Once inside the ship a disembodied voice explains the aliens' mission. They come from a dying star and need to find a new place to live. They demand that Earth surrenders and let them control of the planet. The aliens then admit they have Carol's father onboard and have sucked all memories out of his brain, reducing him to a zombie-like state. Finally, they give Earth an ultimatum of two lunar months to surrender or they will attack with their fleet. Once this is understood, the humans are released, except General Hanley.Back in Washington, the group is debriefed over events on the ship. Further debate breaks out over exactly how to handle the situation. Dr. Marvin explains given his interactions with the aliens he might have an idea for a weapon that could stop the attack. The military embraces the idea of a weapon that uses sound to disorientate UFOs causing them to crash. With only sixty days to the attack the military begins talking to other nations to help speed up and build enough weapons to fend off the attack.Weeks pass and the development is better than expected. During a final test of the weapon a spy drone sent by the aliens is spotted. During a final test of the weapon, an alien spy drone is spotted observing the area, the scientists destroy the drone, but fear the aliens now have valuable information regarding the weapon and its location.The scientists evacuate but during the final stages of the process an alien ship arrives. Seeing an opportunity the weapon is deployed against the ship. The ray works and the aliens are driven off, but not before one of them is killed and left behind.Opening the alien's suit reveals a highly atrophied corpse, it is thought that the aliens are quiet fragile and need the suits to survive. In a matter of minutes the corpse rots and disappears to nothing. Before any more can be done the UFO returns and destroys the installation where the weapon had been housed. As the UFO leaves after the successful attack, two bodies are seen falling from the craft. One of them is Carol's dead father, General HanleyThe next day further examination of the suit reveals a communication device, with which the military is able to interpret the attack plan of the aliens. It also appears to be able to amplify both sight and hearing. Examining how the attack succeeded the day before, a disadvantage is discovered in that the ray only has a range of 1500 yards.The aliens interrupt the discussion with a worldwide broadcast threatening to manipulate the sun in such a way as to cause severe meteorological convulsions in eight days . The aliens insist that all the world leaders should meet in Washington to discuss surrender termsThe military believes rather than discussing anything the aliens intend to destroy Washington. As predicted, the solar eruption takes place. It is further realized that there are only nine days to prepare, and those preparations are going to suffer due to worsening weather conditions.We now see a montage of the increasing disruption by the weather. This causes delays evacuating civilians, and there is still 60% of the population still in the city when sirens begin to sound indicating the attack has begun.The aliens brush past a combined aircraft and artillery attack and three crafts begin to assemble over Washington. Dr. Marvin fires the sound weapon and downs one of the alien craft. Artillery batteries open fire again to distract the remaining ships as Dr. Marvin repositions his weapon to attempt a further attack.The aliens respond by opening fire on various buildings around the White House and Capitol building. Dr Marvin races with their team to re-deploy and defend the White House. A second ray unit is destroyed and the aliens land. Local soldiers attempt to slow down the invaders as the second machine deployed.The two remaining ships are brought down in quick order. On the other side of Washington more ray units deploy and yet another ship is brought down crashing into the Washington monument. A running battle breaks out around the Supreme Court trapping the Marvins amid the wreckage.An emergency broadcast announces that more saucers are landing in front of the Capitol building. A battle intensifies as more ships appear and the aliens leave their craft in one final assault. This is beaten back with a combination of ray machines and infantry. Suddenly everything goes quiet and slowly the realization comes that the battle is over and the aliens have been repelled.Some time has passed and we now find the Marvins relaxing on a beach. Mrs. Marvin reads a newspaper article that her husband has been placed in charge of rebuilding Project Skyhook and that the United Nations is going to award him a gold medal.The two go for a swim in the ocean as the final credits roll. | cult | train | imdb | Great 50's Sci-Fi. Ray Harryhausen developed the flying saucers for this film, and they are worth seeing to be sure.
Soon after seeing this movie I was bitten by the movie bug which resulted in a lifelong passion for films and animation, which I have to credit to the intense effect that Earth Vs the Flying Saucers had on my young mind.
This is a great example of 1950's sci-fi movies and the flying saucer scare craze that was sweeping the nation and of course parallels the cold war threat and the resilience and ingenuity of American science and military might.
(Seeing her perambulate through the verdant Sicilian countryside, I felt like singing Dean Martin's "That's Amore!") Yet, my favorite scene in "Earth Versus the Flying Saucers," was at the film's conclusion, when, Ms. Taylor and Mr. Marlowe are sitting on a beautiful beach as the sun is starting to set, and she says to Mr. Marlowe: "Do you think that the aliens will ever return to Earth?" To which, Mr. Marlowe (looking at his beautiful bride, attired in her extremely-flattering one-piece bathing suit) dreamily replies: "Not on such a beautiful day as this." And, hands held-together, they both happily and somewhat, "saucily" scamper into the water!.
Thus, this film (complete with all the other stalwarts of '50s and '60s "Bs" who appear therein) can be seen as a progenitor of later low-budget productions which rely on a cheap yet capable cast.At the time it was released (1956), Ray Harryhausen was proving his expertise with stop-motion special effects, later to be given much larger budgets in '60s colour productions.
Ray Harryhausen's flying saucers, the alien's "exoskeletons" and sound effects in this movie are especially standout..
Personally, I love this kind of stuff.But it isn't just unseen invaders annihilating victims in a rampage; there's a great story with well-organized sub-plots: efforts by the aliens to actually communicate with Earthlings, minds being taken over, aliens who want to make Earth a subservient colony, scientists and military devising weapons (in a strangely short period of time), and some of those classic Ray Harrryhausen special effects that made these types of flicks so fun.Some of the stuff you see in this movie inspired (a nice way to say ripped off) by other movies: the trucks with ray-transmitter machines, the method of disrupting the alien spacecraft in flight, the design of the alien armor, and many more.
Reports of flying saucers start coming in thick and fast until sure enough alien invaders begin to attack the Earth.
Focal point of their attack is the U.S. Space Programe, can hero in waiting Russel Marvin conjure up a defence weapon to save the day?Obviously a template for many an alien invader film since its release, Earth Vs The Flying Saucers never quite reaches the heights that perhaps it should have.
The lead cast are poor and this hurts the film even more, Hugh Marlowe as Russell Marvin bores us with the scientific speak when really he should be fascinating us, whilst scream queen duties fall to poor Joan Greenwood who forgets that she is actually supposed to emit some sort of terror when the alien hordes attack!
However, on the plus side the aliens themselves are certainly creepy enough to grab your notice, and Ray Harryhausen's flying saucers animation is of course top dollar for its time, whilst the final battle across Washington DC is classic gold, an all buzzing assault with splurges of death rays at every turn.
Credit Ray Harryhausen's dazzling special effects for much of the film's appeal; the scenes of the saucers zipping through the atmosphere still look great.
Above-average sci-fi which I had missed on its solitary TV broadcast years ago and one that I had been eyeing as a possible DVD purchase for what seems like forever; I'm overjoyed, therefore, that I managed to get my hands on it at long last.The film is basically an amalgam of THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951) with Hugh Marlowe convincingly making the leap from despicable villain to intelligent hero here and WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953): even if its outlook is a naïve one (while also displaying something of an obsession with technology) and the plot rather contrived, it is nonetheless generally absorbing and tremendously entertaining along the way.
The special effects (by Ray Harryhausen) must have looked spectacular back then but come off as pretty shaky nowadays; still, this takes nothing away from his achievement and doesn't affect one's enjoyment or involvement in the film in any way (the design of the aliens' metallic suits and the briefly glimpsed creatures themselves is also quite impressive).This is actually the first black-and-white Harryhausen film I've watched, and also the only one which doesn't have to do with prehistoric or mythological monsters of some kind; as such, it's not as juvenile as his other work and makes me look forward to the effects wizard's other sci-fi outings IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA (1955), TWENTY MILLION MILES TO EARTH (1957) and FIRST MEN IN THE MOON (1964).
Dr. Marvin: "Then it's been decided that we'll fight?" General: "When an armed and threatening power lands uninvited in our capital, we don't meet it with tea and cookies." The paralysis of fear (of nuclear war) was giving way to a defender's resolve.Along the course of the movie, the saucers attack and destroy some obviously logical targets, such as artillery or planes which are shooting at the saucers.
There are only a few standouts in the crop of sci-fi movies, among them the original The Thing, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Forbidden Planet, Godzilla, and Earth vs the Flying Saucers.
There's not a lot of philosophizing in this one, just a set of aliens as bad and as weird as they come.With special effects by Ray Harryhausen that still look pretty good today, and a simple but effective and consistent storyline, it didn't get much better than this.
They contact one scientist (Hugh Marlowe) and tell him to set up a meeting with the world's leaders in 56 days to arrange surrender of the Earth to the alien invaders.
With a deadline looming, the scientist works on building a weapon to stop the flying saucers.Great sci-fi movie directed by Fred F.
I began looking for his name on movie posters to choose movies.The ball lightning-like "Foo fighters" were interesting and tied into the UFO hoopla of the 1950s (having them turn out to be alien spy drones was a nice touch).After the sparse saucer effects of movies like "Invaders from Mars", Harryhausen's putting his saucers front and center in detail with lotsa screen time for his stars (the saucers) was a welcome change (most other 1950s movies had a few seconds of good special effects as an establishing shot with a sound effect or musical cue, after that relying on the cue to imply or suggest the danger).The faceless, handless spacesuits of the aliens were spooky.
The aliens triggering solar flares to disrupt weather and communications created an atmosphere of helplessness, giving urgency to the search for a counter-weapon.What cre-e-eped me out most of all was when captive General Hanley's brain was scanned for the "Infinitely Indexed Memory Bank" (we later see him as a mindless zombie and after that, the aliens unceremoniously drop him and another captive into a forest fire; these were not your friendly ETs).The Operation Skyhook in the movie is based on Project Orbiter and Project Vanguard which started in 1954 and 1955, timed to put a satellite in orbit for the IGY 1957.The saucer design, it turns out, was based on several independent descriptions given to Maj Keyhoe of a disc shaped craft with a stationary central cabin and a spinning outer disk with vanes or slots.
The movie is tight, taut & crisp, with action scenes abounding, and great special effects by one of the Masters of Stop-Motion Animation: Oscar Winner Ray Harryhausen, and for this fact alone the movie should be considered a classic.
Other films in this genre include: Battle in Outer Space & Independence Day. Earth vs the Flying Saucers begins back the Saturday afternoon matinees and is still great fun after all these years..
If "The War of the Worlds" is the definitive sci-fi "alien invasion" film of the 1950s, then "Earth vs the Flying Saucers" is the definitive "flying saucer" one.
Ray Harryhausen's magic provided us with the prototypical "flying saucer"; his marvelous special effects are indeed the axis upon which all else in the film revolves.
One of special-effect expert Ray Harryhausens best work with the footage of the movie used in dozens of Sci-fi films all throughout the 1950's and 60's.
Earth vs the Flying Saucers is one of the better alien invasion movies of the 1950's.Rockets that are being sent up to Earth's atmosphere as part of Operation Skyhook suddenly start disappearing.
The script, the action, the characters are all from the Fifties-- but still watchable, even NOW, as a Saturday night flick.Best to watch with friends so you can tear it to pieces together!If anything, the aliens in TODAY'S films do a lot better job of flying than these do.
Not much happens in this 82 minute story, but if you like the serious tone and special effects of the '50s, then you'll like this movie.Basically, it involves, aliens (via flying saucers) attempting to take over earth.
The story is visibly inspired in the storyline of the classic "The Day Earth Stood Still", with humans seeing flying saucers in the sky; then the aliens asking for a meeting with leaders of mankind and showing their power, but with a different conclusion.
Later, a flying saucer lands on the military base where they work and an alien comes out.
After half an hour or so I started skipping scenes and moving forward because unable to stand it much longer.The whole principle of the story is the worst part of it, because, why-oh-why the scientists were never believed by the military men and they always shot first and listen later??The aliens came over with good intentions, but the earthlings didn't give them time to say Hello!
Scientist Hugh Marlowe and partner/wife Joan Taylor are contacted by aliens whose flying saucers are becoming more frequently seen.
He's told to get all the members of the world together and get them to surrender to them...or be destroyed.The dialogue is terrible, the acting is wooden (Marlowe tries too hard but Taylor does have a few good moments), there's absolutely no characterizations and the story is silly...but when the special effects are on screen this is a lot of fun.
Blast off into orbit with this classic Sci-Fi Alien-Invasion Flick, featuring some truly remarkable flying saucer effects courtesy of Ray Harryhausen.EARTH VS.
THE FLYING SAUCERS pits puny, little earthlings against mighty alien humanoids in a violent battle for Earth's survival.When the robot-like aliens arrive at a U.S. Army base in search of help for their dying planet, they attempt to make friendly contact with scientist Dr. Russ Marvin.
But the military gets into the act and greets their fleet of saucers with non-stop gunfire, and so, the aliens are automatically forced to retaliate.Can Dr. Marvin invent the ultimate weapon in order to counter their terrible attack of mass destruction and save the human race in this deadly game of beat-the-clock?
It's a typical science-fiction movie from the '50's, in which aliens with their flying saucers are invading the world.
FLYING SAUCERS is a neat sci-fi film which obviously shows its '50s origins, the kind of thriller that was much in demand during all the stories in the tabloids about flying saucers and UFOs, not to mention the craze for anything involving aliens from outer space.HUGH MARLOWE plays the hero here in a straightforward way, earnestly trying to solve the riddle behind his rocket ships being shot down by flying saucers that intend to take over the planet, starting with Washington, D.C. JOAN TAYLOR makes little impression as his wife, but nobody in the cast really has a chance against the Ray Harryhausen special effects that steal the show.
As Maltin points out: "Solid Ray Harryhausen special effects make this a winner that belies its B origins nearly every step of the way".A forerunner of all the big sci-fi dramas that came along much later on (like "Independence Day") with far more superior CGI effects.
The flying saucers look pretty damned real even today, and must have been astonishing to any lucky child of the 1950s who was priveleged enough to see it on the big screen in their youth.Unlike modern movie nonsense (like MARS ATTACKS, and INDEPENDENCE DAY) the aliens are here for one reason and one reason only: not to make you laugh, but TO F**K YOU UP!
Studly Hugh Marlowe ("The Day the Earth Stood Still") is the egghead hero of this classic example of alien invasion sci-fi.
Blake ("Creature with the Atom Brain"), Clark Howat ("Billy Jack"), and Harry Lauter ("Escape from the Planet of the Apes") co-star, and the great Paul Frees - actor, author, composer, songwriter, and prolific voice-over artist - performs the voice of the alien intelligence.Good fun, and essential for anybody who enjoys this sort of entertainment; subsequent blockbusters like "Independence Day" may outdo it for sheer spectacle, but this movie isn't nearly as stupid as that one.Seven out of 10..
The movie starts out with two recently married scientists, Dr. Russell and Carol Marvin (played by Hugh Marlowe and Joan Taylor) on their way to see Carol's father, the general, when a flying saucer comes out of no where and hovers over them.
The stop motion animation master works his magic into the story, making you believe that aliens really are invading Washington, despite the hokeyness of the movie.
Featuring top-class special effects (for the day) by Ray Harryhausen, this mid-50s sci-fi film can still hold its own.
The stop-action effects used to animate the saucers were used by many later SCI-FI movies.
Stock footage is used with astonishing artistry: Harryhausen doesn't just splice in stock scenes of crashing Air Force planes and exploding warehouses, he actually COMBINES his special effects with these background shots in ways that demonstrate his unique artistic genius.Huge Marlow (`The Day the Earth Stood Still', `World Without End') and Joan Taylor (`2o Million Miles to Earth') star as Dr. and Mrs. Russell A.
One of the most memorable sci-fi films of the 1950's, it stands up well today, mostly due to Ray Harryhausen's superior, stop-motion saucer action!
THE FLYING SAUCERS Aspect ratio: 1.85:1Sound format: Mono(Black and white)A scientist (Hugh Marlowe) struggles to convince authorities of an imminent alien invasion after he's contacted by sinister beings who threaten the entire planet.Typical 1950's B-movie fodder, with stock characters and a predictable narrative arc, directed with humdrum efficiency by Fred F.
Sears directed this Science Fiction story that stars Hugh Marlowe as Dr. Russell Marvin, who, along with his new wife Carol(played by Joan Taylor) is driving back to the rocket ship program he is working on, when he encounters a flying saucer overhead, and manages to record it.
Special-effects-wise, Harryhausen does his level best with this sadsack, and the saucers do look pretty good, but it's painfully obvious that the whole thing was shot on a shoestring budget, with scenes lifted from "Day the Earth Stood Still", music reused from "Sahara", and lots and lots of stock footage.
the Flying Saucers', do yourself a favor and watch 'Independence Day' and 'Mars Attacks!' right after you're finished.You can see the progression of the "50s alien paranoia" into spoof over 40 years and yet people will try to making a serious version of it much like 'ID4'.
the Flying Saucers is a science fiction "B movie" about an encounter between the Earth and a seemingly advanced alien civilization.
This effect may be a little cheesy but it's all good fifties fun.However, the really impressive special effects take the form of the flying saucers, portrayed in wondrous stop-motion animation by that king of the genre, Ray Harryhausen.
Events in the film climax to an excellent battle between Earth and the flying saucers, with rockets having no effect on the alien technology.
Hugh Marlowe, wife Joan Taylor and scientists around the world discover the weaknesses of the invaders.I think the real star of this film is special effects guru Ray Harryhausen.
the Flying Saucers" is one of the best of the 1950s Sci-Fi movies.
While this isn't as good as INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS or THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, it is one of the better sci-fi movies of the 1950s.
Even by today's standards, the Ray Harryhausen special effects are pretty good (except in a few spots) and it's great fun watching the city of Washinton, DC being destroyed by these evil aliens.
After his rockets (meant for exploration in space) are shot down ("Operation Sky Hook") and a flying saucer flies over his car while on the way to the factory/facility launching them, scientist, Russell Marvin (Hugh Marlowe) is actually "contacted" by an alien race escaping a solar system that disintegrated.
Simply plotted (but not dumb which is always nice) sci-fi "watch the skies" B-movie is one of the best of its kind thanks to superior Ray Harryhausen special effects.
No, this movie isn't greatit's clearly not the best of the genrebut it's clearly not the worst, either.In this film, suddenly, one day, flying saucers show up on earth.
The next day & Marvin is overseeing the launch of a space rocket when the flying saucer returns & lands, being a Government facility an attack on the alien craft is ordered.
The good news is that Ray Harryhausen's special effects are pretty impressive even today, there are some nice scenes including a shot of a flying saucer crashing through the window of a train station & one crashing into a lake. |
tt1082868 | Quarantine | Angela Vidal (Jennifer Carpenter) and her cameraman Scott Percival (Steve Harris), a late night television host and crew duo, set out to film a report on the night shift of a Los Angeles fire station. Angela and Scott are introduced to firefighters Fletcher (Johnathon Schaech) and Jake (Jay Hernandez).A medical emergency at an apartment complex is reported and the night shift is sent in. Yuri (Rade Serbedzija) the building manager leads everyone and two police officers, James (Andrew Fiscella) and Danny (Columbus Short), to the apartment of Mrs. Espinoza (Jeannie Epper), the source of prior screaming. Yuri knocks, waits, then unlocks the door and a dog runs out. Inside, Espinoza is hysterical. While trying to subdue the crazed elder, James gets bitten by Espinoza. The police and firemen save him and leave her in the apartment, with Fletcher to keep watch over her. Lawrence (Greg Germann), a veterinarian, tends to the injured policeman when Fletcher falls off a railing and hits the floor of the lobby several stories below. His neck is broken and his bones are shattered, and there are signs of him being bitten as well, though a pulse is still detectable. Danny and Jake go upstairs, and Danny is forced to shoot Espinoza after she growls and charges at them, even more hysterical than the prior times she is shown on camera. Upon return downstairs, Danny, Jake, Angela, and Scott learn that all exterior windows and doors are sealed from the outside due to a containment process by police officers outside the building; all cell phones and cable connections to televisions are jammed, as well. Everyone except two people, and a sick woman named Elise (Stacy Chbosky) are brought downstairs by the fire department. During a short lull in the action, Angela interviews Briana (Joey King), the five-year-old daughter of two tenants who is sick with bronchitis. Briana reveals that her father took her sick dog, Max, to the animal hospital, which is why he is not around. Lawrence incredulously concludes that the symptoms of those infected are similar to rabies, only much more fast-acting.Bernard (Bernard White) and Sadie (Dania Ramirez) introduce themselves as a music teacher and his student. In the middle of their interview with Angela, Fletcher, foaming at the mouth, stands up on his broken legs and attempts to attack everyone, but Lawrence sedates him. Bernard, Sadie, Angela, and Scott sneak upstairs to Bernard and Sadie's apartment, where they have a television hooked up to an antenna; without the use of cable television, they will be able to watch the news reports and learn more about what's going on. Upstairs, they witness Espinoza's dog attack a man who refused to come downstairs when he appears in the elevator. Shaken, they continue to Bernard and Sadie's apartment, and watch as a news report on television states that everyone was evacuated from the apartment complex before the police began to quarantine the building, an obvious lie. The power goes off moments later, and a noise is heard from another part of the apartment. Elise, rabid and hysterical, attacks Angela, though doesn't succeed in biting her. Scott repeatedly beats Elise's face in with the camera and later cleans the blood off the camera. After a few seconds of letting the moment sink in, the four of them return downstairs leaving Elise in the apartment unconscious.Danny rounds everyone up and informs them that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agents are coming in to give blood tests. Lawrence corrects him by saying the only way to test for rabies is through a brain sample, but Danny insists on what he was told, refusing to accept that it is rabies. While performing a role call of all the tenants to make sure everyone who is still alive is in the room, Yuri reveals that the attic is being rented by a man from Boston who has been absent for roughly three months.CDC agents arrive and take a brain sample from Fletcher, who, shortly after, breaks his restraints and attacks one of the agents. Danny, Jake, and the other agent escape, and lock Lawrence in the room with Fletcher the injured man; Lawrence gets bitten. The surviving CDC agent reluctantly explains the situation: a dog in a local animal hospital was found to be infected with an unknown rabies-like illness and attacked all the other animals in the facility. When they checked the collar, the owner was tracked to live here; the dog is Max, Briana's dog. The tenants all become frightened of Briana and insist that her mother Kathy (Marin Hinkle) allow the CDC agent to run tests on the girl to make sure she didn't catch the illness from Max prior to his being admitted into the hospital. Kathy stubbornly tells them repeatedly that nothing is wrong with her daughter other than a touch of bronchitis, until Briana rapidly shows signs of being rabid and bites Kathy in the neck. She runs upstairs, and Kathy is handcuffed to the stairwell after she tries to prevent them from finding Briana. Danny, Jake, Angela, and Scott bring a needle with sedative and look for Briana in the dark floors above. They find her hiding, and while attempting to inject her with the sedative, Danny gets bitten. Angela, Scott, and Jake run downstairs, terrified.A few men downstairs fight to contain the infected, but the hungry monsters get them and attack Kathy. Scott, Angela, Jake, Yuri, Wanda (Elaine Kagan), Bernard, and Sadie run into an apartment and lock the infected people out. The CDC agent sitting in an adjacent room reveals that he has been bitten, and it's shown that Sadie was bitten in the hysteria, as well. Bernard, refusing to allow any of the others to harm her in order to protect themselves, tears the plastic from the window in an attempt to obtain help. In response, he is shot by a sniper who misses the others. Yuri remembers that, in his apartment, there are keys to get to the sewers from the basement, but is then attacked by the CDC agent in the other room. Wanda is attacked by Sadie, forcing Jake, Scott, and Angela to run to Yuri's apartment in a frantic search for the keys. After they find the keys, Jake and Scott fight off several infected tenants until Yuri bites Jake. Danny barrels up the stairs roaring and chases Angela and Scott into the attic, belonging to the aforementioned absent Bostonian.They discover evidence - including newspaper articles, a recorded tape, and more - that explains the man from Boston was part of a doomsday cult, which broke into a military biological facility to steal the Armageddon Virus that started everything in the apartment. Scott investigates a noise in the attic and ducks from being attacked by an infected boy, who destroys the light on Scott's camera. Angela and Scott use the night vision setting on the camera to discover an emaciated man (Doug Jones), most likely the man from Boston, as he emerges from another room. He walks past them, just barely getting by without encountering either survivor, but attacks Scott when Angela inadvertently makes a noise. The infected man starts eating Scott, but then hears and attacks Angela, knocking her and the camera to the floor. Angela tries to crawl back to the camera, but is dragged screaming into the darkness. | violence, claustrophobic | train | imdb | I found it to be just too much and actually pulled me out of the horror and towards comedy instead.'Rec' felt a bit more organic and gritty than 'Quarantine.' The performances are decent in both but you feel less of a connection to the characters in 'Quarantine.' Many are clearly there to serve as fodder with no attempt to seriously develop them.
So - if you want to see what a GOOD low budget horror film is like, leave this one on the shelf and rent the original - you won't regret it..
Comparisons to 2008's earlier films Cloverfield and Diary of the Dead are unavoidable, and remains squarely in the middle; a far-cry from the ingenuity and atmosphere of Cloverfield, but avoids the horrendous acting and scripting of Diary.Mirroring (Rec) Quarantine begins with a reporter, Angela Vidal (Jennifer Carpenter) who hosts a late night television program.
But the strange thing you may notice if you educate yourself is that the ORIGINAL had a plot, where as this one, sadly, comes out with little to NO plot.Now if you like the common films that have no regard to your intelligence or sense of accomplishment that one can get from watching a good film.
The 1st person views, the sense of confinement/hopelessness, and the great acting (especially ms carpenter, extremely believable job of someone going hysterically frantic) One of the key things about this horror is the scares never let up, there is rarely a "breather scene" where you get to relax for any amount of time, it just keeps hitting you and hitting you.haha, phew.
May be my vote is so high, because I haven't seen the original, however it makes my judgment more objective, because I didn't have to compare anything except other horror movies, which use cheap camera from first person, which seems like is a new trend of all horror movies.
The fact that the movie is shot from one camera had some people disappointed since it didn't involve too much of a story as to what is being "quarantined", but that is to be expected.I would say that the movie could have been a heck of a lot better with a solid story and a bigger climax/plot.
Kind of wish she would have shut up near the end.Pretty good jumps, some decent little gore parts- so overall, not a bad movie.
Even with Jennifer Carpenter as the lead actress whom I believe is a great talent, especially for the horror/suspense genre, it is my opinion that this movie just wasn't written sufficiently to show her talent here.
Acceptable remake full of eerie scenes with zombies and creepy scenes .This following packs a sinister and horrifying atmosphere by means of shaky camera and videotape as well as the former Spanish films titled REC 1, and 2 .
The group attempts the getaway but they only encounter that have been sealed off and try to avoid the bloody attacks .This sequel to one of the highest earning horror movies of the last years titled ¨Rec¨ is realized in similar premise to original and contains a good cast as Jennifer Carpenter, Jay Hernandez , Johnathon Schaech ,Steve Harris and Rade Serbedzija.
Awful and boring!I could watch REC (The original movie) million times.
In the end, it is her performance that stays with you even after the credits begin to roll.Typically, I grow pretty tired of the "first person" shot films, but in Quarantine, Harris' Scott utilizes his news camera believably, not only as that of a news cameraman but also as the tool to escape.
Like he is going to still be filming..." There is enough unseen footage and plot questions left at the end to cash in on some serious DVD extras which this film will no doubt contain when it is released on disk.If you have seen the Spanish "REC" as I have and think that Quarantine will be just another American remake like so many of the J-Horror flicks like I did, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how many times you'll jump and fidget watching Quarantine nonetheless.
Jay Hernandez was also very good in the film but sorry,Rec was better,except for the fact that it had subtitles,which I don't like sometimes,so,this was great!!
But I found myself still entertained.The plot is just as simple as the original: A TV crew gets stuck with some firemen in a large apartment house that is the heart of a zombie outbreak.QUARANTINE does depart in some interesting ways from REC.
That said, like any good found footage movie QUARANTINE has a few ingenious things that happen with the "first person" perspective, which you'll appreciate if you're a fan of the "genre".
Not exactly, especially as not only happens to be a remake of the Spanish-horror film 'Rec', but borrows elements from George Romero's zombie flicks and applys them to a found-footage installment that owes similarities to 'Cloverfield'.
This is film may feel like a rehash of popular cinematic elements from both the found-footage and horror genre, but director John Erick Dwindle's competently crafts this movie into a terrifying ride..
Supposedly "dead" people became alive again, giving the Spanish film more of a zombie horror feel instead of a movie about a biological hazard.
Romero),but very few movies have used that trick on an intense and credible way.And,besides of that,REC had had natural performances and creepy situations.The final result was an excellent horror film with a lot of suspense,blood and tension.That great achievement was noticed by Hollywood and following their tradition,they decided to remake REC.I had very little expectations for this movie but it was much better than I expected and it is clearly beyond the average of Hollywood remakes.In other words : Quarantine is obviously very far away from the original film but,on its own merit,it is a competent movie.First,I'll mention the negative elements from this movie.There are various forced things on the screenplay and some scenes do not result as tense as they should be.Another disadvantage are the performances.I usually like the work of Jennifer Carpenter very much (specially,on the brilliant TV series Dexter) but she is too over the top on this movie and she was not natural at all.She felt like an actress trying to seem scared.Manuela Velasco,in the original film,had been completely natural and credible.The same that happens with Carpenter happens with the rest of the cast.And,although I liked this movie,it feels unnecessary...why fixing something which is not broken?.But this movie has many positive elements.As I said,Quarantine is a good movie on its own merit.Plus,very few people saw REC,so,for them,it will be an original experience.The story from this movie is well written (with the exception of some forced things) and the frenetic tone makes of it an entertaining movie.And the last take,although it was better done on the original film,results very tense and truly creepy.Quarantine is one of the best remakes from Hollywood of horror films,but that is not saying too much,because these remakes are usually crappy.REC is a much better film than Quarantine but I still can recommend it because,on its own merit,it kept me entertained and tense..
A lot of people were saying that the camera work made them throw up or get headaches but I could see things clearly and I really felt like I was in there with them which added to all the suspense and horror.
The isolation Angela feels is really horrible and Jennifer Carpenter does an amazing and moving performance.This year has been a really bad year for horrors but with Quarantine 2008 has finally had a successful and really scary movie and hopefully 2009 will provide more movies like this.The movie is well worth the 10 euro I paid.
I wasn't expecting much from this movie I thought this would be a normal horror movie but I was wrong cause this movie just freaked me out.Before watching it I didn't even know about the original (REC)and after watching it I also watched REC but honestly I liked Quarantine much.For me,this is the most scary,nail biter and terrifying movie that's why it is my favorite horror movie(believe it or not).This movie really gives you an intense and high tension and I was in very much high tension and also scared during the movie.There's one more reason of liking this movie is that my favorite actress (Jennifer Carpenter) in it in a leading role but honestly her performance is really great.Her screams were great this also helped to make movie more intense.I was never been scared like this but when I watched this movie,I did.My heart was pounding loudly at the climax.All the settings were great to make the atmosphere according to the movie.So all I can say is that it was a really scary and intense ride and it will scare the hell out of you just like I did so if you ever get a chance to see this one then DON'T MISS THIS MOVIE..
When they return to the lobby, they find that they are sealed in the building and trapped with the residents claiming for an explanation and dreadful screams upstairs in the beginning of a chaotic and nightmarish night.The claustrophobic and scary "Rec" is certainly one of the best zombie movies I have ever seen, with the story disclosed through the lens of a camcorder.
What we've got here is a horror remake that delivers the scares, but unfortunately also delivers a lot of laughs and nothing new in the originality department, rather borrowing from other horror and thriller films, particularly 28 Days Later, Cloverfield, and Saw III.Let's start with the obvious Cloverfield comparisons, foremost of which is the shaking camera.
Only a few times did the use of the camera become a bright spot of the film (and boy, those were great, especially one of the most hilarious and awesome scenes in any horror movie).I really found the 'acting' in this film to be laughable, outside of Nicholas Gonzalez and Jennifer Carpenter.
A good ol' fashioned rabies movie is great, but when you go out of your way to tell the viewer that the "villain" is NOT regular rabies, you get more questions, and Quarantine lacked answers for it.Basically, what you've got here is a cheap and horribly scripted remake with occasional scares and non stop laughs.
They could have just dubbed the original, put it out in the US theaters, saved on production costs and made more cash for everyone.Long story short is watch the original, don't bother with the remake, character development is much better, Angela Vidal is better is Spanish and more human than Carpenter, and notwithstanding overall character development is better in the original.From what I've heard it's even wore is that the director doesn't even mention during the commentary that the film is based on REC, doesn't mention i.e.
Yeah, this was cool...and scary too - in a sense.However the camera work - as it was filmed with a digital camera and not a studio camera was very irritating.There were a few plot holes as to how to escape - and just getting around the building, but still kept the movie interesting.This didn't look like a $3 million dollar project - much more like less than 2 million.The good thing about this is there was a reason that people were turning into freaks and it was explained - unlike most zombie / freak movies.It could have used some more color and a lot less camera shaking - but I liked it enough to finish viewing it in complete.Would like to see another one...but with less camera shaking..
Yes folks, mainstream American cinema can't stand the fact that a non-American country has made an absolutely genius horror film that happened to be scariest film that many people, myself included, has seen, I'm of course talking about the excellent Spanish horror film REC and i can applaud that film till the cows come home but let me now vent my frustration with something like Quarantine.
Released in 2008, barely a year after REC, Quarantine sought to bring true fear back to mainstream horror by not doing anything original of course but by making a carbon copy of a really, really good film.
With Rec, if I wasn't trying to enjoy a movie(as I should), I can easily feel as if I'm watching a play.As far as script and plot, of course it was the same for the most part, but this was in no way a shot-for-shot remake as some claim.
If the makers of the original didn't want them to make this movie, they wouldn't have let them.If Quarantine was made first, this argument would switch right around; and Rec would look like a silly imitation.
Both Rec and Quarantine are undoubtedly two of the best horror films I have ever seen; and I don't like many.
Her performance as Emily Rose was one of the best horror performances I've ever seen, but Quarantine just gives the feeling that she's waiting for an opportunity or a good reason to do some real horror acting.Overall the movie is not bad, but it is overwhelmingly casual in its presentation of a typical horror movie, this time with the slight variation that all of the victims are trapped in close quarters with the zombies.
Never had this happen before when watching a movie, and Cloverfield didn't affect me this way, but I was suffering from the camera work.Secondly, the movie makes no sense, there are so many things left out story wise that it seems like a bad B movie.
But if it's not the ridiculous lemming-like tendencies of the characters, it's the Hollywood cast, and no doubt thoughts of what their next projects might be, constantly pushing you out of a fairly enjoyable but ultimately forgettable experience.A tinsel-town remake of the 2007 Spanish film Rec, Quarantine takes you into a downtown Los Angeles apartment building on a seemingly routine call with the local fire-fighters.
Casting well-knowns in most Hollywood movies is expected, but given that Quarantine comes crawling from underneath the Blair Witch/Cloverfield stable of frights, we're expecting a level of reality here that familiar faces - unless their performances are truly stellar - cannot deliver.Ultimately only the last act can provide any real scare value as you start to forget about the chosen cast (or they're now off camera being eaten/eating someone!) and we're thrust head first into darkness with a palpable sense of doom and the feeling that there is something more disturbing and nefarious at work than we've been led to believe.
Never seen the original, which is a good thing, so now my preview CANNOT be biased, nor can i base my review based on the old one.But i thought this movie was AWESOME...it starts out being VERY funny and realistic....etc.Then it picks up alittle bit....then it slows down....and keeps following those lines.Eventually it hits full throttle and gets Insane/Freaky.This movie really freaked me out, the way the zombies/infected looked!
This movie (story, text, characters, directing) are all so bad, sadly predictable and profoundly stupid that it is NOT the slightest scary nor interesting for a second.This really is in the bottom 3 WORST movie of the year and obviously a huge WASTE of time to watch and worst to buy.What a disappointment after all this hype about the so acclaimed original which I'm not even sure I'll see anymore.Pass over and go for better things.There are so many other great movies to watch.And "Dexter's sister" is totally pointless and disappointing here.
But overall the worst thing was the shaky camera and horrible lighting that made it so you couldn't see what was going on half the time, it completely ruined the whole movie.
Stop acting like Quarantine isn't a good film and REC is miles superior because the plot is almost 100% similar, this is simply just critics hating on Hollywood like usual..
There are two ways of looking at 'Quarantine.' The first is that it's actually the (Hollywood) remake of Spanish classic horror film 'REC.' If you've already seen REC then you probably don't need to see the remake.
It doesn't bring anything new to the story and is – almost – a shot for shot remake, albeit in English without the subtitles.However, if you can't be bothered watching the Spanish film with English subtitles (and you're also a bit of a horror/zombie fan) then you may appreciate Quarantine.
It actually has a great resemblance to the witches in Valves video game creation "Left 4 Dead" and "Left 4 Dead 2".I am not going to get into specifics with this movie as it will just be a waste of time, but I will tell you this, if you are looking for a well done zombie flick with a good story line and interesting characters then don't bother, if you want to see some gnarly zombies then it's worth a quick view..
I was surprised when people say that this film is a shot for shot remake because it really wasn't.QUARANTINE is like REC, yes, recopying the essential scenes from the original, like the ending.
The actors did a good job and, if you were aware beforehand that they'd be using that first-person camera work you probably weren't disappointed there either (though it gets a bit tedious and annoying after awhile).Though my view of this movie is pretty negative, it's hard to say how I'd feel if I'd never seen the Spanish language original.
Worth watching Go see it Very good If you like suspense/Thriller movie, then this is for you.I enjoyed it and jumped on my seat at least 2 times.
Of course the original feature didn't have many character moments either, but they were enough to deliver the movie's main selling point of pure horror; Quarantine is less concerned with atmosphere and more about things jumping out into the camera. |
tt0268695 | The Time Machine | Alex Hartdegen is a scientist living at 1899 in New York City. Obsessed with the idea of time travel, he teaches at Columbia University as a professor of "Applied Mechanics and Engineering" and gets into trouble for his radical theories. He is a pen pal of Albert Einstein. As he goes to the park to meet his girlfriend Emma, he becomes distracted by an early motor car beside the park gates. He puts himself in immediate good graces with the driver who, while refueling, forgot to activate the parking brake something Alexander does quickly when it threatens get out of control.Forgetting the flowers, he meets Emma at the skating rink; they walk through the park where Alexander proposes to Emma. However, the romantic moment is short-lived: a robber emerges from nearby bushes and holds a gun on them. As the thug attempts to take Emma's engagement ring, Alexander tries to intervene; during the struggle, the gun goes off and Emma is fatally wounded, dying in Alexander's arms. For the next four years, Alexander spends every waking hour in his laboratory working on his time travel calculations. Eventually, he succeeds in building a working time machine.His self-imposed exile has led to him being ostracized from his oldest friend David Philby, who eventually arrives at the lab to confront Alexander who in turn flies into a rage. Philby invites Alexander to dinner in the hope it would cause him to leave the lab and eventually return to a normal life, but Alexander postpones the dinner until the following week; after Philby has left Alexander remarks that in a week they "wouldn't have had this conversation".With the time machine finished, he travels back to that night four years ago and intercepts Emma before she was destined to meet his 1899 counterpart. Escorting her away from the park, they walk back to her apartment where he leaves her out in the street to purchase some flowers. However, despite Alexander having removed her from the danger of the robber, Emma is knocked down and trampled by a horse and carriage outside. The horses were spooked by the early motor car.Alexander realizes bitterly that if he prevents one means of Emma's death, another will take its place. Disenchanted with the prospect, he decides to go forward in time to find out if there are any answers in the future.[edit] The time travel
Alexander stops in 2030 and learns that the Moon is being prepared for colonization. He visits the New York Public Library where he talks with Vox 114, the library's holographic, artificially intelligent librarian. He is given information on H. G. Wells, Isaac Asimov, Harlan Ellison and even one of his own papers, but the library does not have any information on time travel theory; Vox states that such a thing is impossible.Frustrated, Alexander asks about the time machine itself and is given information on H.G. Wells' novel. Finding nothing of use, Alexander moves on to the future, until he hits a 'bump' seven years later in 2037, where he finds that the Moon mining operation has disrupted the lunar orbit. As a result, the Moon is breaking apart and showering Earth with massive chunks of rock. His presence outside of a shelter leads to an attempt by two military personnel to arrest him, but he escapes. He makes it into the machine just as the city is being destroyed, but is knocked unconscious and fails to witness the destruction of civilization. Alexander and his time machine speed through hundreds of millennia.Regaining consciousness, Alexander brings the machine to a halt in 802,701 AD, and finds that civilization has devolved to a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Calling themselves the Eloi, these survivors have built their homes into the side of a cliff on what resembles Manhattan. Alexander begins to develop a relationship with a woman named Mara, a teacher, and one of few who recall some of the Time Traveler's now obsolete language. He also realizes the Moon is now broken in pieces.As Alexander is introduced to Eloi society, he is shown a collection of stone fragments and signs from what was once New York, including a sign from Tiffany and Co, the Empire State Building and a section of tiled panels from Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall Subway Station.While Alex is inspecting the machine after seeing an Eloi memorial for their parents, Mara tells him to go back to his own time and take her younger brother Kalen with him. Suddenly, the Eloi are attacked by Morlocks, monstrous, pale, ape-like creatures that hunt the Eloi for food. The Morlocks capture Mara and carry her off. Trying to find out where she has been taken, Alexander is told that "the Ghost" might know. As it turns out, the Eloi are speaking about Vox 114, the holographic librarian that Alexander had talked to before the destruction of the Moon, who is still functioning after all these years.With Vox 114's help, Alexander finds a way into the underground realm of the Morlocks, but is captured and taken to an underground chamber where Mara is kept in a cage, and where the Morlocks' leader, the Über-Morlock (played by Jeremy Irons), is waiting. The Über-Morlock reveals that they have a caste-like society, with each caste (nearly a different species in itself) fulfilling a different role in Morlock society. The ruling caste of this society are super-intelligent telepaths, while the hunters that Alex has encountered so far were bred to be predators. Attempting to explain his actions, the Über-Morlock reasons that he and his people are not evil. He asks "Who are you to question eight hundred thousand years... of evolution?" He also indicates that there are other clans similar to him.The Über-Morlock then reveals the reason why Alexander cannot alter Emma's fate: he is caught in a temporal paradox. Since Emma's death was the prime factor that drove him to build the time machine, he cannot use the machine without her death being incorporated into the timeline, as otherwise he would have had no reason to build the machine in the first place. The Über-Morlock also states that the Morlocks would not exist without those like Alexander in their quest for science and technology.Alexander learns that the Morlocks were people who chose to stay underground after the Moon collapsed and the Eloi were those who chose to brave the fallout. His time machine has been found by the Morlocks and taken underground. To escape, Alexander jumps into the machine and sends it hurtling forward in time, taking the Über-Morlock with him. The two of them fight until Alexander pushes him outside of the time sphere. He watches as the Über-Morlock ages and dies outside of the time bubble.Alexander slows the machine as the sky appears overhead. He has traveled to the year 635,427,810 AD, and the landscape is now a desolate wasteland, completely dominated by the Morlocks.Finally accepting that he can never save Emma, Alexander travels back in time to rescue the trapped Mara. After setting her free and before escaping, he sets the time machine to travel to the future and uses his pocket watch to jam the controls, causing it to malfunction and explode, creating a time distortion stream. Alexander and Mara escape just as the explosion kills off the Morlocks.Trapped in the future, Alexander resolves to build a new life for himself with Mara. He begins to rebuild civilization, Vox telling the Eloi the stories in his memory. This closing scene is shown side by side with a sequence in the year 1903, where David Philby chats with Alexander's elderly housekeeper, Mrs. Watchit, before leaving and throwing away his bowler hat on the street. | murder, suspenseful, alternate history, storytelling, sci-fi | train | imdb | null |
tt0465502 | Igor | In this fantasy world that contains elements of the horror film and steampunk genres, Malaria was once a sunny, thriving village that relied on farming for its economy, but a change in the climate caused the crops to die, and the farmers to become poor. It is the new leader, King Malbert (Jay Leno), who proposes the town can prosper with a new economy of evil inventions that would kill and wreak havoc, and making evil scientists rich tycoons. Anyone born with any type of disfigurement would have their fate automatically led in the direction of becoming a slave to their masters named "Igors", and are typecast as being foolish, slurring, and stupid.However, one particular Igor (John Cusack), tired of the mistreatment and stereotyping against him, is actually scientifically intelligent, despite being shunned by his own master, Dr. Glickenstein (John Cleese). Behind his master's back, he has brought a sarcastic rabbit named Scamper (Steve Buscemi) back to life from having been run over and making him immortal. He also transports a brain that formerly belonged to a man named Brian into a life-support robot, named Brain (Sean Hayes).Dr. Glickenstein invents a rocket as his entry into the annual Evil Scientists Fair, but he is killed during a malfunctioning test run. Knowing his chance at becoming more than what the world sees in him, Igor decides to keep his master's death a secret and participate in the Fair himself. He assembles a huge, monstrous being from human tissue and places the Evil Bone -- the key to pure evil -- inside the finger of this monster. Only, when he brings her to life, he discovers the giant is completely gentle, polite and affectionate. When explaining how she's supposed to act, the giant (Molly Shannon) mispronounces the word "evil" and converts it to "Eva", which becomes her name.Igor surmises that the Evil Bone had not activated properly, and immediately brings Eva to the "Brain-Wash" to correct this by making her watch violent acts of horror on television. Brain absentmindedly changes the channel in the midst of the treatment, and causes Eva to adapt the personality of a kind Hollywood actress. Igor uses this to his advantage by telling her that the Fair is an audition for the role of Annie in the famous musical, and she agrees to obey him at last. While preparing for her role, Eva becomes close friends with Igor, and supports him in his goal of becoming different.Meanwhile, the greatest, richest, and most acclaimed evil scientist in town, Dr. Schadenfreude (Eddie Izzard), is at odds with the King, as he has won the last seventeen Evil Scientists Fairs in all the past years, and yet, he has failed to earn the respect from the King into making him the new ruler of Malaria. He begins setting things into his own hands when he discovers the death of Dr. Glickenstein and his slave's invention. He first tries to take the creation by force during a carriage chase through the backroads, which fails. He then talks to Igor in person during a civil visit to his own laboratory, and offers him a deal: give him Eva as his creation for the Fair, and become the richest evil scientist instead. Igor discovers his true intent, and he narrowly escapes.Through time, Igor feels like his emotions toward Eva have overshadowed his own intentions, and tries to shake himself out of it. While on the balcony, Dr. Glickenstein's former assistant, Heidi, pays a visit. Eva spies them through the window, and approaches Heidi to ask what is going on. Heidi admits she has fallen for Igor during his self-transformation, and mentions what he would do with someone as ugly as her, which puts Eva's opinion of herself in question.The night before the Fair, she sees Igor in a kiss with Heidi, which is revealed to be Dr. Schadenfreude's girlfriend, Jaclyn (Jennifer Coolidge), in disguise. Igor is arrested by the King, who also found out about the cover-up, and throws Igor into the "Igor Disposal". Eva is then approached by Dr. Schadenfreude, who draws her into giving up Igor's apparent lies and come with him. He reactivates her Evil Bone by pushing her into committing her first act of evil (throwing him backward), which transforms her into a growling monster.Scamper and Brain follow Igor into the Disposal, and free him. All three rush toward the Fair to save Eva. While sneaking around, Igor discovers that the dark weather Malaria has had for years was the result of a weather-controlling machine built into the King's home and the Fairgrounds, which means that the King had actually orchestrated this whole evil-invention industry himself. Igor rushes into the arena where the inventions are all fighting, including a deranged Eva, and tells her that everyone has an Evil Bone inside them, but it is up to that person to choose whether or not to use it. Eva regains her sanity, and forgives him. Scamper and Brain deactivate the weather device, shining the sun back over Malaria, and exposing the King as a fraud.For his heroism, Igor is soon dubbed the new King. Dr. Schadenfreude takes the throne for a brief few minutes, until he is also stripped of his occupation and respect. The Fair is changed to an annual musical theater showcase, with Eva as the centerpiece of the first event, and all Igors are now seen as equals to everyone else. | brainwashing, comedy, fantasy, psychedelic, dark | train | imdb | Well, I Liked It. I don't know why this movie doesn't get more positive recognition; I thought it was terrific, and I've seen most the feature-length animated films of the past several years.
This holds it own against most of them.For an animated film, it has exactly what you want: fantastic colors and colorful characters -most of them very funny and entertaining to view and hear - and a good story with some interesting twists to it.
I mentioned that to a friend and he said, "That's because he looks like one in real life." I wouldn't go that far, but I understand where he's coming from.Actually, all the leading voices - Buscemi, John Cusack, Molly Shannon, Sean Hayes, John Cleese, Jay Leno and more were all great.
It lacked a bit of depth at some times, but it is still amusing and entertaining.Overall Igor is a good animation movie.
It's definitely worth seeing for animation fans, people who like Tim Burton's work (as the design in the movie is similar to his style), and anyone who wants to enjoy a light story with a happy ending..
In this animated comedy adventure, John Cusack plays the titular character, a sweet, intelligent lab assistant to an evil mad scientist who creates life, much to the chagrin of the mad-scientist community, in the, uh, person of a giantess named Eve. Although it's completely computer animated, the movie recalls such stop-motion-animation fare as The Nightmare before Christmas and the recent Coraline, not to mention the old Universal monster classics, whose old clichés get tweaked a few times.Igor (it's both his name and his profession) works for Dr. Glickenstein (John Cleese), who's desperately trying to make an evil invention to enter into the Evil Scientists Fair.
Igor, in fact, has already made two inventions - a snide, suicidal-yet-immortal rabbit (Steve Buscemi), and a dumb robot with a brain (Sean Hayes).Circumstances lead Igor to try to make his own evil entry - the creation of life itself, something the real evil scientists have never been able to accomplish.
This is because her Evil Bone must be activated, see; to do so, Igor even takes her to get brainwashed, but instead of horror images Eva somehow watches an episode of Inside the Actor's Studio with James Lipton, so when she emerges she's a struggling actress who's on her way to a big audition.Personally, I found this movie a whole lot of fun, probably because a) I love the old monster movies that are just skewered here and b) I love animated movies, too.
John Cusack, one of my all-time favorites (I've seen more than thirty of his films) is great as the not-quite-evil lab assistant, and the animation is top notch, with wonderfully realized backgrounds that recall those old monster movies quite well.
Will Igor manage to live up to his dreams, and create an invention to win the science fair..?I recommend this fun, watchable film to people over the ages of 8 (this may look like a children's' film, but some children might be scared easily by this film, as there are a few gruesome bits), to people who like madcap creepy fantasy films and to people who like CGI animation.
Naturally most fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas who saw this trailer were interested in seeing Igor, it was the dark humor we craved around Halloween, not the typical safe humor used in most children's movies.
So I saw this opening day with great hopes, but I left the theater a little disappointed, while it's a cute movie and is fun to watch at times, this was technically a failure when it comes to what I was expecting.
I'm not saying this movie was a total disaster, it's cute, it's worth the look, but like I said, the story doesn't add a special touch to make Igor stand out against other animated films.Igor is...
After trying to brain wash her, she gets the wrong message and wants to become an actress, Igor figures a way for her act evil and win the competition, but realizes that maybe having a heart of gold isn't so bad.
But he still has one more problem, another inventor who is trying to take over will do anything to get ahold of Eva and rule the city.This movie is worth the look, I'd just say if you're going to go to the theater for it, I'd recommend a matinée, it's fun for your kids and I will say that there are some fun laughs and despite the story's predictability, it's still enjoyable.
But one Igor (John Cusack) is different; he dreams of becoming a scientist as well, and has already made a few inventions of his own: his sidekicks Scamper (Steve Buscemi), the immortal Energizer bunny with a deathwish, and Brian (Will & Grace's Sean Hayes) the dyslexic brain who might be a bit too gay for his own good.
His master Dr. Glickenstein (John Cleese) continues to falter and does not heed the advice of his subordinate or that of Igor's creations including a robot named Brain (Sean Hayes) although labelled with permanent marker incorrectly, much to his chagrin, as "Brian" and Scamper (Steve Buscemi) a suicidal reanimated rabbit.
This strange inventive movie is straight out of the same ghostly, nightmarish imagination of the same company which produced such great films as 'The Nightmare before Christmas.' In the far away land of Malaria, there lives a odd population of Evil Scientists and their able hunchback assistants all called Igor, who together via yearly for the coveted award of Mad Scientist of the Year.
(i actually really like the actors themselves,i just don't think either they were right for the parts,or if were that they did as good as job as should have).The story itself is not i felt something kids would relate to very well,but overall it was enjoyable enough,i just wouldn't go out of way to recommend it like i would, say, Tim Burtons nightmare before xmas.
The film's portrayal of the pursuit of evil as if it were a virtue (arguably) mirrors the way a significant sector of modern society chooses to vaunt such negative qualities as oppression and the deliberate instilment of fear.Maybe that was why I didn't particularly enjoy the film (although to be fair maybe the fact that I was the only person watching the screening I went to wasn't conducive to an enjoyable experience either!) I went expecting to spend a couple of hours of escapism from what the media sometimes persuades me is an all-too-brutish humanity - instead I found myself being rather uncomfortably reminded of man's inhumanity to both his own kind and many of the planet's other inhabitants.Having said that I think the film is very well made, has numerous moments of wit and humour and is extremely imaginatively illustrated.Some comments have described Igor as a purely children's' film.
Nevertheless, as far as children's entertainment goes, Igor isn't the worst production of the year, and although the laughs are few and far between, younger viewers should still have a lot of fun with the zaney, off-the-wall characters dreamt up by writer Chris McKenna; yet this doesn't mean that they'll want to revisit the experience on DVD, probably opting to put Kung-Fu Panda and WALL-E on that Christmas list instead.Following the untimely death of his evil scientist master, loyal servant Igor (John Cusack) takes it upon himself to impersonate his master in order to show the world what an evil scientist he can be.
Of course all involved give it all they have too, helping flesh out their caricature characters into something a little more dynamic than the script provides, yet for all the good that Buscemi, Hayes and Cusack do, the anchor that is the pacing, plotting and general writing from McKenna is what constantly keeps such rays of lights from truly shining.Kudos must be given to the animation department however for coming up with a look and feel that in turn rivals this year's visually arresting Horton Hears a Who!
That phrase could describe a big number of animation films, from the good ones (like A Bug's Life or Finding Nemo) to the horrible ones (like Bee Movie or Doogal).Unfortunately, Igor is a new addition to the second group, and it punishes us with 90 minutes of forced humor, far-fetched design and generic action sequences.Igor tried to make likable references to the horror cinema, but it could not achieve that because of its lack of ingenuity and grace.We are in presence of another pathetic animation film with a bland and insipid screenplay.The only thing I liked on this film was the character Scamper, thanks to Steve Buscemi's solid voice work.Pity that character has a very limited appearance on this movie.I am not among them, but I know many people excuse even the weakest screenplays when the animation is good.Well, Igor will also disappoint them, since the animation is absolutely generic and insipid.Igor may be better than the previously mentioned Bee Movie and Doogal...but that is the same as saying that drinking poison with lemon flavor is better than drinking poison with buttermilk flavour.In fact, saying "less bad" is more proper in this case than saying "better".In summary, Igor is a horrible animation film and an authentic waste of time..
With wonderful animation flicks like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride being tentpoles for animation touching on darker themes and realms (as with festival darlings such as Fear(S) of the Dark), Igor would find itself in good company, and it lives up in certain terms to belong.Voiced by the excellent John Cusack, Igor is a typical hunchback and because of his physical disability and rights (or lack thereof) in the land of Malaria, Igors in general have a single career path, and that is slave to the scientists of the land.
So in a tussle between the actual being and her intended role comes an unlikely romantic story that somehow managed to touch the hearts, resembling how in relationships one tend to change the other subconsciously (or consciously for some), and vice versa.Adversary comes in the form of scam scientist Dr Schadenfreude (Eddie Lizard) and his chameleon wife Jacklyn (Jennifer Coolidge) who scheme to steal Eva away from Igor and fulfill her intended evil purpose, and it's up to Igor and his crazy creations and sidekicks Scamper (Steve Buscemi) and Brian/Brain (Sean Hayes) to save the day.
Some of the best lines were reserved for the banter between Scamper and Brain, and I thought these two characters actually lift the movie when it fell prey to the tried and tested story formula, providing some genuinely funny moments when you least expected.The animation here really challenged the notion of having everything aesthetically pleasing.
And it is this cheery disposition in spite of a gruff exterior, that exudes throughout the movie as well.With a surprisingly star-studded supporting voice cast with the likes of Christian Slater, Jay Leno, John Cleese and even Arsenio Hall, Igor may not have scaled new heights in animation techniques nor with its fairy-tale story, but for what it lacked it made it up for with plenty of heart.
Like a lot of computer animated movies these days, Igor is long on inventive visuals but short on good scripting.
I was half right, it was a great film definitely but it was unfortunately somewhat overlooked.It was a great experience the jokes were clever, the story is nice enough, and it's surprisingly dark for a children's film(which made the movie a bit more enjoyable for me) well bottom line this isn't by all means a perfect movie but it has a certain charm to it,it's definitely worth a look-see your kids will like it and it's enough to keep adults entertained..
this animated film is sort of a riff on the original Frankenstein film.but it adds its own elements to the mix.it is entertaining and has some amusing moments,but it's not what i would call hysterical.there's romance angle which works well here.and there are a few good action sequences.the whole thing is only about 81 minutes(minus the end credits)but it does drag a bit at times.the voice work is excellent though.i was particularly surprised to find that Jay Leno voiced one of the characters.he did a really good job.and it's not the character you might think.overall,though i liked the movie,i can't say it was stellar.it passed the time for 81 minutes,and like i said has some amusing moments.for me,Igor is a 6/10.
Igor is a movie which attempts to be witty and bring a dark animated comedy to children.
This movie should not have worked.It had fairly standard characters--the henchman who wants to be a great inventor, the bitter immortal, the stupid brain, the not-so-evil Frankenstein-esquire Monster.
Man, I really wanted to like this movie, I am a big fan of fantasy settings, interestingly designed characters, cool story premises, all that noise
and from the trailer and concept art I viewed, I thought this could turn out to be a great flick.Not so much.
Dreamworks' new animation is perhaps mainly for kids, but I'm sure it will also be enjoyable for accompanying parents.Quite an experimental movie being an animation spoofing the horror genre.Igor really wants to be an evil scientist, when he decides he wants to create an evil monster.
John Cusack voices Igor, the hunchback who wants to a evil scientist.
A solid film with great animation, quirky characters, wonderful voice work and good writing.
Never did I expect that to be worked into an animated movie.There was some intensity in the movie, and one of the main characters "turns on" the evil in the end, which can be frightening and perhaps confusing to small kids.It was good to watch on the big screen, and I'm looking forward to its release on DVD for at least rental, and a probable buy..
Up until now the only scenes that stood out were those where Igor's creation calls herself Eva when he tells her she was doing evil things and those that referenced 'Annie (of of my favourite musicals as a child).' When I heard this film was showing on Viva (a music and entertainment channel in the UK), I decided to give it another chance and I found it even more entertaining second time around.While the animation was decent and the dialogue was dark and witty, the characters were modelled in unique, surreal ways, although Heidi in particular looked a bit plasticky, a lot of the backgrounds were not as colourful as the characters and props and the special effects were rather cheap.
Having made a note on the title for a few years (!) due to it appearing to be a cartoon Horror which has weirdly been forgotten,it felt like the best time to at last meet Igor.View on the film:Displaying a confidence in his writing debut (with additional material from John Hoffman/Dimitri Toscas and director Tony Leondis) of playing around with genre staples which would work wonders with Jumanji 2 and in the MCU, the screenplay by Chris McKenna moves pass the big-name monsters in order to follow the daily grind of the lab assistants and evil henchmen such as Igor, who have dreams of becoming mad scientists themselves, but always get stuck following the demands of their masters.
Dipping into off-beat Horror Comedy with a talking brain and a suicidal immortal rabbit, McKenna gives the movie dollops of heart via Igor's Frankenstin's Monster-style creation Eva learning that she does not have to sit in the pigeon-hole others attempt to place Eva in.Brimming with enthusiasm in the detailed audio commentary with McKenna and producer Max Howard, Director Tony Leondis shows a real promise here, which has sadly not continued (his next project was 2017's The Emoji Movie.) Looking back to the Gothic Horror films of the 1930's, Leondis gives his monsters an excellent grotesque appearance, with the smoothly-handled CGI animation not taking the rough edges off the put together with odds and ends, fading into a metallic grey, character designs.
One Igor (John Cusack), who serves tedious-minded Dr. Glickenstein (John Cleese), is a talent inventor and aspires to be an evil scientist himself, he has already invented a re-animated immortal rabbit with a death wish, named Scamper (Steve Buscemi), and unintelligent human brain transplanted into a life support jar named Brain (Will & Grace's Sean Hayes).
But this Igor is smart and has good ideas that he wants to try inventing, but in this land an Igor is looked down upon.The movie is filled with good vocal actors, including John Cleese as Dr. Glickenstein, Steve Buscemi as the immortal rabbit Scamper, Sean Hayes as the constructed Brain (who wrote Brian on his transparent brain bubble and people call him Brian instead of Brain), Eddie Izzard as Dr. Schadenfreude, and perhaps the best of all, Jennifer Coolidge (of 'Legally Blond" fame) as Jaclyn / Heidi.
IGOR (2008) ** (Voices of: John Cusack, Molly Shannon, Steve Buscemi, Sean Hayes, Eddie Izzard, Jennifer Coolidge, Jay Leno, John Cleese, Arsenio Hall, Christian Slater) Disappointing animated fare attempting to do what SHREK did for storybook characters this tries for classic horror characters ; to wit: the titular hunchbacked assistant to mad scientists (a game Cusack) decides to create his own 'evil' monstrosity and the end result is a gi-normous patchwork gentle giantess named Eva (Shannon also a good sport) who is far from being what he wanted her to be.
he works as an assistant or let me say as an Igor for the evil scientist Dr. Glickenstein who died trying to invent a new dark monster ...
For Igor (John Cusack), the main character, had probably the best graphics in the whole movie.
The voice cast (John Cusack, Steve Buscemi, Eddie Izzard, Jennifer Coolidge) is excellent, and the movie has a unique and striking look to it - kind of like The Nightmare Before Christmas with the volume turned up to 11. |
tt0443632 | The Sentinel | Pete Garrison (Michael Douglas) is a Secret Service agent and one of the personal bodyguards for the First Lady of the United States Sarah Ballentine (Kim Basinger), with whom he is having an affair. He is one of the oldest and most experienced agents, having been involved in saving Ronald Reagan's life during the Reagan assassination attempt. A fellow agent and close friend, Charlie Merriweather (Clark Johnson), is later assassinated in front of his home. He gets wind from a trusted informant that the killing of Merriweather is related to an assassination plot against the President. The information provided by the informant revealed that a mole with access to the President's security detail had provided information to the assassins. The Secret Service Protective Intelligence Division, led by Garrison's former protégé and ex-friend David Breckinridge (Kiefer Sutherland) with rookie partner Jill Marin (Eva Longoria), is tasked with investigating the plot, which begins with polygraphs for every agent. Meanwhile, the mole discovers the discussion with the informant and Garrison's affair with the First Lady, and attempts to blackmail him by luring him to a coffee shop known to be a meeting point for Colombian gangs. Along with failing the polygraph test (for lying about the affair), Garrison becomes unwittingly framed by the mole and becomes the prime suspect for providing the information to the assassins.When Breckinridge confronts Garrison at his home and begins to interrogate him about his dealings with the plot, the source of the two's estrangement comes to light: Garrison supposedly had an affair with Breckinridges wife and caused the breakup of their marriage, which he denies. Garrison escapes capture and conducts an independent investigation of the assassination plot, while making brief contact with the First Lady to deny his involvement. He tries to contact the informant who gave him the tip, but finds that he has been killed. He briefly encounters Breckinridge while finding the informant, but Breckinridge refuses to kill him, despite giving other agents "shoot to kill" orders. Using his contacts with sympathetic agents and family members, he stumbles onto an apartment rented by one of the assassins, and finds information that the assassins are headed to Toronto to attack the president at the G8 summit. He tells Jill Marin of the discovery as he leaves but later finds that any incriminating evidence has been removed before she can arrive.Meanwhile, the First Lady discloses her affair with Garrison to Breckinridge, who catches up to Garrison in Toronto and tells him that he believes that Garrison is innocent. Together, they discover the identity of the assassins and the mole, senior agent William Montrose (Martin Donovan), who was never polygraphed. Montrose is in charge of directing security at the G8 summit. The leader of the assassins, a man known as the Handler (Ritchie Coster), tells Montrose to give him the President, to which Montrose refuses, not caring if he goes to prison for treason or if the Handler kills him. The Handler then states that should Montrose not cooperate, his children and wife will be killed, showing a photo of each of them, leaving Montrose with no choice. The Handler then says that all Montrose has to do is jam the communication radios and nothing more. He then leaves Montrose to make the sad decision as well as leaving him the photos, saying "You can keep those; I got doubles".Breckinridge and Garrison race to the summit, trying to whisk the President away to safety, with the assassins, dressed as RCMP ERT operators, trying to kill the President while the Handler, disguised as an RCMP officer, grabs the First Lady as a hostage. Several agents are killed, including Ed and Pamela. Montrose is killed by a fake ETF officer while in his last act of protecting the President, in spite of the threats against his family. Ultimately, Jill Marin and Breckinridge are able to successfully save the President while Garrison kills the Handler and saves the First Lady before the assassin leader can shoot anyone. However, Garrison is forced to take an early retirement due to the disclosure of the affair with the First Lady, who looks on sadly from her window as Garrison leaves the White House. | mystery, murder, dramatic, violence, action, suspenseful | train | imdb | For even after all the trouble he had with an adulterous romance in "Fatal Attraction," here he is in "The Sentinel" playing the role of Pete Garrison, a veteran secret service agent who's having an affair with none other than the First Lady of the United States.
Prime credit goes to Douglas, who after all these years, could clearly do these roles in his sleep, and to Keifer Sutherland, who plays a fellow agent with personal reasons for doubting Garrison's probity and loyalty to the institution.
Kim Basinger also does a fine job as the beautiful First Lady torn between duty towards her husband and the man she loves.You'll probably forget this movie the moment you walk out of the theater, but you should have a reasonably fun time while you're still in your seat..
Michael Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland go down a well worn road in a good movie that really should have gone straight to cable.
Michael Douglas is a secret service agent framed in a plot to kill the President of the US.
Kiefer Sutherland is the agent on his tail.Its not a bad movie its just been there done that with form over content film making.
There is no real tension because the actors are in roles they've played a dozen or so times before (Sutherland in 24 each week)so you can pretty much walk them through whats happening.Thats the problem here, its all been done before, better.The real question is: Do I really need to pay 10 bucks a head to see whats a essentially a big screen TV movie?
The veteran agent of the American secret service Pete Garrison (Michael Douglas) saved the life of president Ronald Reagan in the past and became a legend.
When his informer Walter discloses that there is a traitor in the secret service and a plot to kill the president, his former friend David Breckinridge (Kiefer Sutherland) and the chief of the secret service William Montrose (Martin Donovan) are in charge of the investigation and all the agents are submitted to a polygraph test.
He escapes, and in spite of chased by the secret service, he conducts his own investigation trying to find the responsible."The Sentinel" has a reasonable idea, of an agent failing in the polygraph test due to his love affair with the first lady, but the screenplay does not have any care for the characters.
The revelation of the true bad guy in conspiracy films normally elicits at least some form of surprise or intrigue; instead, in "The Sentinel" the character is far too obvious and the scene reveals a tangential and unexplained back story that should instead be much more central to the plot.The rush to cram details in every fleeting moment ruins this movie.
Eva Longoria appeared out of place, and the rest didn't seem very interesting.When the film finally ended, I was not completely displeased for I had seen a decent thriller that could have been much better, had the responsible parties taken a little more care to watch for the narrative gaps and given a little more care to character development.
In 'The Sentinel' Michael Douglas plays Pete Garrison, a veteran Secret Service agent.
He is being investigated by David Breckinridge (Kiefer Sutherland) when it comes to light that there may be a traitor in the Secret Service who might be involved in an assassination plot.
I cannot possibly think of one good thing about it, it's all so generic, so factory-made and so lazy assembled that it really only exists as an infomercial on how to make money from the unsuspecting, undeserving public.A plot about a Secret Service Agent planning to assassinate the Prez could well be entertaining.
As usual in a film like this the role of the Prez himself is nothing more than a tool, a token and is very badly written.Clark Johnson's, he who gave us the equally as pathetic SWAT back in 2003, mechanical direction lacks any kind of signature and has all the visual sophistication of a cheap TV-movie.
The movie even is a bit boring to watch to be honest and even though it's fast moving it still is a slow going movie because it often takes too long between sequences that any action or anything else good is happening.And then to think that people actually thought this was a serious Oscar contender before its release.
It's also the sort of movie that tries to make us believe that the secret service has all knowing and all seeing agents and all oh so well magically blend in with the crowed, despite big sunglasses and tough way of walking and looking around.
The fact that the story and approach of the movie is so far fetched makes this also a very unbelievable movie to watch.The movie focuses mainly on Michael Douglas and his view point, which means that the Kiefer Sutherland and Eva Longoria get pushed to the background.
The acting is torpid at best; Kiefer Sutherland phones in his worst impersonation of Jack Bauer, and Michael Douglas looks like he realizes he made a bad choice leaving Catherine Zeta-Jones for the duration it took to shoot this turkey.
This looks to have all the makings of a great film Top TV Series actors and Michael Douglas thrown in for good measure.
I thought that The sentinel was going to be a totally mediocre movie.When I finally saw it,I took a good surprise.The movie isn't great thing but it's fun and the action scenes are well done.This movie reminded me TV series like 24 or Alias.It's very similar to that series and it reminded me too,to the Wolfgang Petersen's thriller In the line of fire.If you're going to expect one of the most original and and one of the greatest thrillers in the history of movies,you will be disappointed.But if you go with moderate expectations,you will enjoy The sentinel.Rating:7.
whether this was revealed by whatever ghosts of a good script that happened to make it to the screen or a director who was generally more competent than outrightly annoying is something only to be ferreted out by further viewings I have no desire to go through.My final word on this thing is to simply not see this movie unless you like looking at a movie and thinking about how Brian DiPalma or Micheal Mann could have done it all much much better..
Instead the movie was slow, at times boring and far from what I expected to see from a movie with top actors like Michael Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland.
If you like the whole "secret service" and plots to "kill the president" then the movie might still be entertaining if you need to kill a couple of hours, but if you are looking for a good action movie, then don't waste your time on this one..
I hate movies -- or novels -- that do that, where it turns out that the DA prosecuting the innocent accused killer turns out to have done the murder himself, or the Vice President turns out to be the mole from the whatever enemy who poisons the President -- or in the case of the Sentinel, the head of the Secret Service turns out to be the Bad Guy about to kill the Prez.
I liked that Michael Douglas gets to act his age, and the plot doesn't let him get away with being a 60 year old superstud who can outrun the young agents under his charge.
And it was good to see Kim Basinger again, after all those years when she dropped out.If you ignore the plot holes and the revolting spoiler, you could really like the movie for what it shows you about the inner workings of the Secret Service, one of the all-time real success stories of government service.
It's unfortunate that none of the elements in the script distinguishes the movie from other action/crime/thriller movies.A short description: Pete Garrison (Michael Douglas), a secret service agent, is framed as the mole in an assassination attempt on the president.
Sutherland is a wrong choice either, because you feel as if you watch Jack Bauer and somehow, its character is one of the reasons which make the film like a TV movie, Eva Longoria Parker is a strange choice, of course she is too passive or straight in this movie, because she is a soap opera actress.
I was enthusiastic about this film being the '24' fan that I am and I knew it was going to be a bad movie but had to see it for myself.The story line is crud, Michael Douglas has done much better and there have been hundreds of films such as this in the past before.The only remotely interesting part of this film was the parts at the beginning when they go into detail as to how the President is protected.Kiefer Sutherland was probably paid a barrel load for this movie and it will certainly be one he wont be remembered for.Script - Poor Beginning - Average Ending - Poor.
Kiefer Sutherland(in full 24 form, Kim Basinger and Eva Longoria(why???) have nothing to do but to try and figure out how they all ended up in a movie this predictable.
See, Dave thinks that Pete had an affair with his wife, so he really doesn't mind investigating his former best friend for treason.That's when Pete makes a run for it, hiding from the law and the bad guys at the same time, desperately scrambling to find the truth, a la "The Fugitive." As you may have guessed, this film, directed by Clark Johnson, stars Michael Douglas as Pete Garrison and none other than the illustrious Keifer Sutherland as Dave Breckinridge.
kiefer Sutherland's character takes a back seat to Michael Douglas's character, who is impossible to like and even more impossible to feel sorry for.The action is sub-par, and the "big climax" that they spend the entire movie building to is a snooze.Bottom line.
In the end it is a bit disappointing because it gives up too soon and takes an all too familiar plot turn.The scenes with Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland barking at each other like two frat boys chasing the same girl are easily the highlights.
Michael Douglas, a veteran Secret Service agent who actually took a bullet on Reagan's failed assassination attempt, becomes the prime suspect due to a hidden affair he is having with the first lady (Kim Basinger).
The only other secret service thriller I can think of is "In the Line of Fire" with Clint Eastwood and this movie far surpasses it in feel and accuracy.
Well those days are back thanks to The Sentinel.Michael Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland unite friendly demographics and Eva Longoria and Kim Basinger provide solid eye candy throughout this well-oiled never-boring entertainment.
Douglas and Sutherland have plenty of on-screen time together and largely act like intelligent good-intentioned Secret Service agents hell-bent on protecting the presidency.There's plenty of story-line and a plot that just keeps unfolding and unfolding without getting too far out of control.
First of all, the performances are great (Michael Douglas, Kim Basinger, Kiefer Sutherland, and Eva Longoria.
Micheal Douglas, Keifer Sutherland, Kim Basinger, and the sexy Eva Longoria(she should do more films) all turn in credible performances.
It is especially interesting because its protagonist, Secret Service Agent Pete Garrison (Michael Douglas), is having an affair with First Lady Sarah Ballentine (Kim Bassinger).
The usual shiny black SUV's, drum rolling music, and international baddies make this a usual spy thriller with the added fillip of a fit, charismatic Douglas, ditto Bassinger, very ditto Eva Longoria as a new agent, and an underplaying Kiefer Sutherland as David Breckenridge, Garrison's former partner.
Kiefer Sutherland and an aging Michael Douglas costar in THE SENTINEL, a D.C.-based thriller about a plot to assassinate the president.
There is a mole in the Secret Service, someone is trying to assassinate the President, Agent Pete Garrison (Douglas) has been wrongly framed and must clear his name whilst simultaneously foiling the attempt on the leader of the free world's life.
Hiring Keifer Sutherland to play Jack Bauer, in a film where he isn't actually Jack Bauer is just plain confusing and Eva Longoria as a Secret Service Agent?
The Sentinel is not all bad, Michael Douglas convinces as the crinkly old Special Agent out to save his own hide, and Kim Basinger adds some much needed class as the First Lady.
There is a serious competition going on between: the main-character's relationship with the first lady, his feud with Keifer Sutherland's character, the secret plot to kill the President, the rookie agent played by Eva Longoria, and finally the question of which member of the Secret Service is a mole.
With the presidential plot lines, the search for a suspect and Kiefer Sutherland, it might appear like nothing less than "24: The Movie." However, that would be a grave insult to 24.
Kiefer Sutherland deserves better, as does Eva Longoria, who's role is basically to stand around and look pretty (which she does better on Desperate Housewives).If you want a good film with a similar plot line, go see IN THE LINE OF FIRE or go rent the second season of 24.
At the helm is Michael Douglas gives a fair performance as Pete, a veteran in the Secret service, and even though he handles the role quite well, there is still one big factor working against him he is way too old!
In a movie which depends mostly upon action scenes, it isn't logical to cast Michael Douglas in a role which is given lots of importance.
The cast was breath-taking: Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria, Kim Basinger.
Michael Douglas is the agent under fire who spends nearly the entire film running for his life while trying to piece together clues about a possible hit on the President.
Kiefer Sutherland, Kim Basinger, Eva Longoria and Martin Donovan are among the big cast names and the movie delivers fine action scenes and the usual intrigue and tight spots.
When the head of the President's protection detail (Michael Douglas) is accused is being a mole, lead investigator Dave Breckenridge (Kiefer Sutherland) and his rookie partner (Eva Longoria) are called in to investigate.The simple reason this film was made was as a vehicle for the rising stars of Sutherland (who pretty much plays Jack Bauer of 24 in this film) and Longeria (sex symbol from Desperate Housewives trying to branch into more serious fare).
The Sentinel is a rehash of several better films, like "In The Line Of Fire" this does not have any originality in it, and watching Michael Douglas run around, felt kinda silly in my opinion.
Secret Service veteran Michael Douglas (as Pete Garrison) once helped save President Ronald Reagan's life, during a 1981 assassination attempt.
The 2006 film "The Sentinel," which stars Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland and Kim Basinger is a fair movie that makes a decent rental.
It's the story of a Secret Service man who is framed for an assassination attempt on the President (David Rasche) and sets out to find out who's framing him while Sutherland is after him.Unfortunately, the casting gave away one of the subplots, and as to whom was framing Douglas, that was apparent as well.What could have been a really excellent thriller is spoiled by a clumsy script that lets the viewer down at the end of the film.Eva Longoria has a supporting role which was basically thrown in there for no apparent reason.Kim Basinger makes a lovely first lady and Rasche, who has little to do, is effective as the President.
The rivalries within the Secret Service between agents played by Michael Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland also could have provided the material for a pretty good film.
You know you are watching a bad film when you are spending more time trying to spot Michael Douglas's cosmetic surgery scars than you are following the plot..
Like the Clint Eastwood vehicle "In the Line of Fire" from the nineties, "The Sentinel" is a crime thriller about a veteran Secret Service bodyguard who has to foil a plot to assassinate the President of the United States.
There is a decent performance from Kiefer Sutherland as Garrison's colleague David Breckinridge, but Eva Longoria as another colleague has little to do except to serve as the film's Official Eye Candy.
Pete Garrison (Michael Douglas) is a secret service agent assigned to protect the First Lady.
Pete Garrison (Michael Douglas) was the American secret service agent who once saved the life of president Ronald Reagan.
sorry I mean Kiefer Sutherland, Michael Douglas, the lovely Eva Longoria and a host of other recognizable faces including Kim Basinger(as the 1st lady no less) and Martin Donovan.
A good cast including Hollywood stars like Michael Douglas and Kim Basinger and TV hots Kiefer Sutherland (at only earplugs difference from his role in the '24' series) and Eva Longoria does a fair job, but overall the action is too much on the expected side, the suspense is almost completely absent, and no interesting character development balances all these..
This time, the conspiracy is inside the Secret Service, as an agent wants to assassinate the President and frame another agent (Michael Douglas) for it.
The action was fairly tense, and the cast was excellent (Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria, Kim Basinger), but the drawback was that it followed a formula.
Keifer Sutherland and Eva Longoria, two TV stars jumping to the big screen, are the leads here, but the film quickly shifts focus to veteran agent Michael Douglas, who turns into the film's central character and protagonist.
The result is terrible and loaded with plot holes.Michael Douglas stars as Pete Garrison, a Secret Service agent who "took one" for Reagan during the attempt on his life.
I thought it was an excellent political thriller about something that's never happened before - a Secret Service agent going bad and involved in an assassination plot. |
tt0377309 | Three | Jack (Billy Zane) and Jennifer (Kelly Brook) are a well-off married couple. He is a millionaire, and she is young and sexy. They share a private boat with some other friends like Maggie Richards (Isabelle Constantini), the wife of the captain of the ship, Captain Richards (Gary "Tex" Brockette). Brazilian young worker Manuel (Juan Pablo Di Pace) works at the ship. As the boat is leaving Manuel is seen striking a woman, presumably his girlfriend. Jack is accustomed to do as he pleases and thinks that his money will grant him every caprice in the world, which doesn't prevent him to feel jealous about his young wife. Jack is much older, and there is a feeling in his head that his wife may be with him because of his money. There is a fight between Manuel and Jack concerning Jennifer. Manuel quits his job on the boat after the conflict with Jack and throws a dish towel on a lit stove. This causes the boat to catch on fire and everyone to evacuate. There are only three survivors: the love triangle of Jack, Manuel and Jennifer in the middle. At first, Manuel and Jennifer think they are alone on the island and are having a hard time surviving without the ability to make fire. They go swimming together and Jennifer discovers that the woman Manuel struck was his girlfriend and he struck her because she claimed to be pregnant. Soon they find Jack in a pool and he has a lighter.Jack is constantly jealous of Manuel and Jennifer. The couple build a hut on the beach, - they consider the island jungle uninhabitable because of the swarms of mosquitoes - and Manuel builds his own hut next to them, but with clear limits between one home and the other. They worry constantly about getting food, the always-prowling sharks on the shore, the sharp reef, the keeping of the fire - Jack has got his own lighter, but they always have fear that it will extinguish. Manuel is younger and stronger. He tries to keep his distance with Jen, but it's difficult, as the island is not that big, although is big enough to have fresh water. Manuel is the main food provider: he climbs palm trees to get coconuts, he dives to fish... Jack seems unable to do those physical things, but it doesn't prevent him to keep from threatening Manuel to finish him off as soon as they leave the island. Manuel says that Jack's money is useless in the island, meanwhile Jack insists that he will boycott Manuel in their future lives post-island.Antagonism between Jack and Manuel escalate. Jack forbids Jen to eat the fish Manuel has caught, as from that moment on he wants to be the "breadwinner". Jen talks to Manuel nicely, so he offers her some fish. She doesn't tell Jack, but he finds it out. She defends herself, saying that she has stolen it from Manuel, in spite of which he isn't angry with her. Jack tries to fish even harder.One day, Jen and Manuel get caught in a fight, and they finally end up making love on the beach. Jack realises that, so he attacks Manuel. The Brazilian is stronger and Jen switch sides: she goes to Manuel's hut.Jack creates some goggles with parts of a plastic bottle. That way, he can rescue the sunk boat. Jen and Manuel run to him, but he doesn't want to share his recovery. Manuel and Jennifer plot to steal Jack's boat when he is distracted.Jack is eavesdropping while Jennifer and Manuel are making love in the water and they make up their plan. The next morning, Jack says that he's going to create a sail for the boat, and is going to fish before he leaves. Jen and Manuel run to get away in the boat, while Jack makes believe he's really angry, but sits to see what happens instead.When Manuel and Jen are two kilometres away, they realise that the boat has some missing parts, so water is going to flood it. They have to swim back all the way to the island. When they reach the island, Manuel is so tired that Jack can beat him up. Jack hits Manuel in the back with a spear though Manuel is eventually able to fight off Jack. Jen tries to stop them to no avail. She ends up tied to a pole where Jack threatens to rape her in front of Manuel. Manuel shows up and he and Jack fight which is enough time for Jen to escape. Jen and Manuel escape into the jungle.This separates the two groups even more: they steal each other's fish, they design traps for one another, and they hate each other more and more. Jack realises that there is a trap intending to kill him. At this point, the audience begins to see the images of a Manuel's pregnant girlfriend doing a voodoo ritual: she's setting a curse to Manuel. That's what helps Jack to realise about the trap. He sees Manuel and Jen who have climbed up to the top of a tree. He throws a spear and aims at Manuel. Manuel falls down. He tries to fight, despite Jennifer's attempts to reason with either of them. Manuel is weak from his wounds, his fall to the ground, and in the ensuing fight, Manuel is about to kill Jack while Jen holds him down but the voodoo woman makes Manuel fall over with her spell and he lands on a sharp stick, killing him. Jen hates Jack at this point, but she has to keep on living with him.A year or maybe more has passed since the three castaways reached the island. Jennifer is sleeping on her hut, when two children (Summer Davis & Keera Ann Davis) wake her up. They have gone to her hut in the beach attracted by the weird construction. The parents realise that she is a castaway and leave with her in their small boat.Jen takes the lighter with her. Jack is fishing, and she doesn't mention him to the family who has rescued her. She sees him swimming from the boat but doesn't call back to the captain. She is abandoning her husband for good.At first, on seeing the boat, Jack is overjoyed, but when he sees the boat living without him, the smile goes off his face. | romantic, flashback | train | imdb | Having said that I did manage to watch it all, mainly because I was totally transfixed by the jiggling and kind of hoping that her character would come good in the end.
'Three' is described as a steamy erotic thriller guaranteed to create an atmosphere so tense you can barely swallow for fear whilst at the same time it is full of hot performances with lavish sexual tension on the screen.This is what we are led to believe by the studio.Alas, like so many promises in life I fear these comments are a well intentioned attempt to try and hide the truth of the matter.And the truth of the matter is really very simple.The truth is printed on the front cover of the DVD where the crafty devils at the studio placed a rather attractive picture of the lead lady on the front cover of the DVD along with the words "Kelly finally exposes all." This, I believe, is a far better description of the true merits of the movie.If like me, you rented this film because you heard on the grapevine that Kelly Brook was actually filmed in the buff then I feel you represent the vast majority of aficionados of this rather delightful film, and let's be honest the storyline is ropey as hell, and the acting poor, and the characters are dislikeable.
The story started out well by quickly going into action where we see two couples, including Billy Zane and Kelly Brook, chartering a boat in some area like in the Caribbean.
I suppose the movie can be both but if that was the case, the movie was not well executed for that purpose.I also had problem with Billy Zane's character in that we don't know whether his behavior is influenced by voodoo or whether it was innate within him.
Billy Zane plays Jack, a wealthy Texas businessman who takes a trip with his trophy wife, Jennifer, played by Kelly Brook in a private yacht in the South Seas.
Billy Zane delivers a solid performance as always and Kelly Brook is reminiscent of Nicole Kidman in Dead Calm: a captivating natural beauty.
Three (known as Survival Island in the good old' U.S. of A., which is a horrible title), is best known as that movie where Kelly Brook gets her knockers out.
You know, late-night cable cheesecake movie, and it's true that the spectacular Kelly Brook spends almost all of her screen time in a tiny white bikini, gets naked and has very hot sex with abandon with both of her costars.
Kelly Brook delivers a very solid and believable performance, and Billy Zane completely nails his part in a deeply human and nuanced tour de force.
When I imagine the same situation, only in the company of busty Brit babe Kelly Brook, whose entire wardrobe consists of a tiny white bikini and a green chiffon scarf, being so far away from civilisation suddenly seems much more bearable
In Three (AKA Survival Island), boat-hand Manuel (Juan Pablo Di Pace) finds himself stranded on a deserted island with Jennifer (played by voluptuous Brook) after a fire on a chartered yacht forces them overboard.
Manuel takes a liking to Jennifer ('cos, you know, he's not blind, or gay) but he's barely had time to acquaint himself with the lovely lady before another survivor is washed up on the island: Jennifer's husband Jack (Billy Zane), who's none too happy at seeing Manuel eyeing up his tasty wife.
Kelly Brook can't act to save her life but she's got a killer set of curves, and with the gorgeous gal strutting around in her swimsuit, occasionally taking it off for a swim or to have sex in the surf, I was never bored.
It's amazing that Kelly Brook's character can actually be more dislikeable as the film goes on.
Billy Zane seems to revel in the role, but I think it's because he gets to spend the shoot on an island and he doesn't have to shave his head.Juan Pablo Di Pace plays a good hornball..
The three survivors are unfortunately played by Kelly Brook, Billy Zane and Juan Pablo Di Pace.
You'd probably never expect a low-budget indie movie that you'd never heard of staring Billy Zane to actually be any good, but "Three" actually surpassed my expectations by quite a bit.The plot itself is pretty standard fair; it's your basic lost on a desert island 3-way love triangle, with Billy Zane playing the part of the jealous husband, Kelly Brook playing the part of the wife, and some random model-looking Hispanic guy playing the part of the random model-looking Hispanic guy.The fact that the plot has been done many times before (including with Billy Zane in Dead Calm) does not surprisingly subtract anything from the film.
I guess that just goes to show you what good writing, acting, and directing can do, because the movie is a very well done suspenseful thriller.One of the greatest assets to the film and at least for me what made it stand out from the crowd aside from what I've already mentioned is the incredible Kelly Brook.
After watching countless Hollywood films where the lead actress is so horrendously skinny that she looks like she never went through puberty seeing Kelly Brook here in this movie, with all her parts completely natural is really a sight for sore eyes.
In addition, I was actually surprised to see that Billy Zane can actually do some pretty convincing acting.I would define this film as a pretty good thriller with a picture-postcard background.
Okay you can send your brain to sleep while watching this but it's certainly watchable and a topless Kelly Brook, makes up for any failing in the acting, or script.
All in all it's actually a decent movie, if you get past the premise that being stranded on an exotic island with Kelly Brook, is way more remote (in chance), than the idyllic location..
Focus on the other couple, balding but rich Billy Zane (as Jack) and his beautifully proportioned wife Kelly Brook (as Jennifer).
Brook never stops titillating and never has to try.***** Survival Island/Three (11/16/2005) Stewart Raffill ~ Kelly Brook, Billy Zane, Juan Pablo Di Pace, Maria Victoria Di Pace.
this is the worst film I've seen in a long long time, never mind the fact that so many useful things keep appearing on this island "how convenient!!!!", the acting is beyond poor from the outset, its like one of those really badly scripted soft porn films on channel 5, a complete waste of time, and i cant remember the lead actors name but i cant believe he still gets work!!!
I give it 9/10 because I think that with not much money they have made a 10 times better film than most of the big budget movies that came out the last few years.
Kelly Brook walks out of the water onto the beach just like Ursula Andress in that Bond film.
The difference is that Brook is much hotter.After a fire on a charter boat, Jennifer (Brook) and her husband Jack (Billy Zane) are stranded along with Manuel (Juan Pablo Di Pace).Now, this is not a good mix by any stretch of the imagination: a hot Latin lover-boy, a beautilicious babe, and a husband that is insanely jealous and full of himself.Things come to a head and they are full at it, trying to kill each other.
I watched it without expecting much, but I got more than I expected.Luckily for them, the island has coconut trees, and they have water and food from them as well as fishes and lobsters from the reef.Survival themed programs were popular when this movie was made, and it reminds me of watching Survivor or some other reality show, but the actors were lot better in this movie.I kind of liked this movie, it wasn't as boring as some reviewers have mentioned.
If you want to feel like you just wasted what seems like an eternity on the worst film ever created then by all means watch this movie.
Survival Island is a film that I happened to come upon on one of the cable movie channels a few months ago.
It's a bit of a slow-going film with no real suspense until the middle and end of the movie.
When i first heard about this film i thought it was going to be bad, then the reviews said it was bad so i expected a bad film as you do, on actual fact the film is pretty good in a way, its a good story, decent cast, decent acting but in my eyes very bad directing and even worse editing.The story is very basic, all you need to do is watch the trailer to basically know what happens through out the film, the main attraction of course is miss kelly brook who does quite a lot, show a lot of flesh.
Billy Zane was actually excellent as the paranoid and obsessed arrogant husband and Juan Pablo Di Pace was also good as the young Brazilian (or Spanish) love rival.
Kelly is a lovely looking girl and my wife said Juan Pablo isn't bad either!.
how many people rented this movie just to see Kelly Brook's boobies?
I've seen plenty worse (for the genre, then "Swept Away", aka Ritchie's Folly springs to mind) and the characters are reasonably developed.Occasionally the script is trite, and you can't help but feel a little sympathetic for Jack (Billy Zane, Brook's real-life boyfriend) and the way he's been treated.
Take two guys (a husband and another man), put a pure bombshell woman in the middle of them, ad a deserted island, subtract all her moral issues, ad a whole bunch of moral issues to the men and mix it in a big bowl of arguments, fish and a zippo lighter and you will come up with a piece of junk movie like this.
Three people wash ashore of a deserted island: we got your basic WASP (the always underrated Zane), his trophy wife (the beautiful Brook) and your basic mcjob cabana boy.Without a link to 'the world', things start to go "lord of the flies": in isolation, where your knowledge, money and social status mean nothing and you are measured by your primal abilities - hunt for food, build a shelter - the woman truly becomes a trophy as the cabana boy finally has his day, being supreme to the so-called "educated man".Now I believe some people would call this movie thin and questionize the main trio's actions and reactions.
Okay, this isn't Oscar material, or even on the A list of films most likely, but I enjoyed this entertaining, spicy romp in the sand immensely.Lots of delicious scenes of Kelly in her bikini and a few even more delicious shots of her not in the bikini, also some nude back shots of Juan Pablo DiPace.
And some high-intensity love making scenes, definitely make this film worth watching.First of all we've got the gorgeous girl with the killer body in a white bikini played by Kelly Brook.
Then we've got Manuel, played by Juan Pablo DiPace, a very handsome, very sexy actor from Argentina, that I certainly hope I see more of in future films.The premise is simple and straight forward, and the plot is driven by the characters and their circumstances.
A wealthy older man, Jack, played by Billy Zane - looking mighty fine, and his beautiful wife, Jenny, along with some friends of theirs, have rented a nice cruiser for some fun time out on the ocean.During the outing, there's friction between Manuel, a crew member, and the wealthy businessman, Jack.The boat catches on fire and sinks, and we see beautiful Jenny struggling ashore.
but if you are a fan of thriller and enjoy a good suspense, you CAN't miss out this one.The whole setting of this movie is quite simple: a small island located somewhere in the middle of the sea, where three people got trapped.
The plot is so intense and got some twist that will keep you guessing till the end of the movie.Billy Zane, Kelly Brook, Juan Pablo Di Pace, all three leading actors delivered impressive performance.
Kelly Brook is really HOT and surely knows how to act.
And so in tradition of the Big Bounce, After the Sunset and Into the Blue, comes Three, a paper thin thriller with some completely gratuitous sex scenes and a nonsensical plot.On the plus side, we get 90 minutes making a very compelling case for Kelly Brook winning a high profile poll recently regarding the greatest bikini bodies of all time, and she is truly a sight to behold.
The location certainly looks nice, though it is rather hard to believe we are on a deserted remote island.The performances are all what you'd expect, with Zane easily stealing the film from his rather wooden co stars.
We see her having wild sex with Jack while tied up in the opening 15 minutes, even sounding open to the idea of a threesome and as the movie develops we can't help but think that Jennifer is the exact type of woman who'd go rolling around in the sand on a deserted island with a hot Spaniard, making her husband's paranoia perfectly understandable.But in the end Three does exactly what it says on the label, and will probably help Kelly Brook top best bikini body polls for years to come..
Aside from being well endowed and great to look at, Kelly Brooks' character just totally disgusts me, as does the worthless Latin lover that conveniently winds up on the island with her and her husband.
The whole voodoo thing was just absurd and contributed nothing at all to the movie.The only character that I can empathize with is Billy Zane's character, but somehow he's made out to be a villain, apparently because he's not screwing anybody's else's wife, doesn't want anybody else screwing his, and has the gall to be upset when his wife quite willingly and intentionally bangs another guy right in front of him.
like a Harlequin romance novel on a desert island, with an inconvenient husband getting in the way of a wife that dreams of banging a hot, young, Latin guy.Oh and by the way, apparently people on desert islands don't need nearly as much water as people living on the rest of the planet, but they do need an awful lot of food, since they only take a few swigs off of some coconuts, and drink a little rain water that they catch the ONE time it rains on the island in the entire movie.
In short, if you just was to see Kelly Brooks topless and don't care about a good script, good acting, or a good ending, then by all means watch this.
Then Billy Zane (Jack, Kellys characters husband) shows up and of course, two days without knowing what his wife has been doing whit this gorgeous Juan P, he is a little bit jealous.
It should be said that Kelly and Billy seems to have a working relationship before this island incident, at least, they have intimate sex on the boat and talks like people do when they like each other.
Billy Zane plays a not very nice person, and Juan P isn't actually much better if you really think about it.
If you where the Kelly character, would you consider cheating on your husband, knowing one day you'll be back in real life, and all of a sudden Billys maybe not that horrible person after all.
Spoiler for the Movie Survival Island [2006} BIG TIME SPOILER!.
In this film, Manuel fills the role of the man with more practical skills, while Kelly's husband, Jack, comes across as less skilled in basic survival technology, and thus is envious.
You may not believe in the power of voodoo, but that is the reason it is included, like it or not.....In the rape scene, Kelly runs into the water after livid Manuel, who is carrying his fishing spear and hoping to catch Jack, who stole his goggles so that he could be successful in catching reef fish.
I think, in part, Manuel's action is a way of getting back at Jack for stealing his goggles......Should Kelly have told the rescuers that husband Jack was also on the island, if off fishing on the reef?
The story is no great shakes, we've seen many people marooned on desert islands in movies before from Tom Hanks in "Castaway" to Lee Marvin in "Hell In The Pacific." What we have here is a love triangle between a married couple (Brook and Billy Zane) and a Hispanic deckhand called Manuel.
Kelly Brook's character plays a woman cheating on her partner with another man.
Very bad movie but fun if you're a Kelly Brook fan.
The story is this: two guys stranded on an island after a freak yacht accident fight it out for the attentions of the beautiful Kelly Brook.
One of them, Billy Zane, plays Brook's soon-to-ex boyfriend and the other, "River City" actor Juan Pablo di Pace, plays the Latino hunk she leaves him for.There is some voodoo backstory to the plot but this is mostly irrelevant.
To many lusty males out there, this isn't going to be a bad thing.If you like Kelly Brook, you will love this movie.
It is one thing when a fine film like American Psycho deliberately tries to get us to empathise with the villain but in Survival Island I felt like I was watching a movie about Ted Bundy but the director failed to make him unlikeable and instead made us hate his victims.
It's written and directed by Stewart Raffill and stars Juan Pablo Di Pace, Kelly Brook and Billy Zane.
Kelly Brook is incredibly hot and wears little to nothing for the whole movie.
First off, I just watched a movie on SHOWTIME called Survival Island.
It says it was a 2006 movie with Billy Zane and since I like him and couldn't sleep I thought I would check it out. |
tt0095882 | Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach | Captain Harris finally finds the goods he needs to push Commandant Eric Lassard out at the Police Academy: he is one year late for mandatory retirement. But before he retires, Lassard is chosen as "Police Officer of the Decade," and brings his favorite graduates—Sgts. Hightower, Jones, Tackleberry and Hooks, Lt. Callahan, and new graduate Officer Thomas "House" Conklin—to the National Police Chiefs Convention in Miami Beach to celebrate with him. While there, they meet his nephew, Sgt. Nick Lassard of the Miami Police Department. Lassard unwittingly takes a bag belonging to jewel thieves containing stolen diamonds.
As the jewel thieves try to get the bag back, and Captain Harris tries to prove to Commissioner Hurst that he's the right man to replace Commandant Lassard, the usual hijinks ensue, including Lassard trying to guess the annual procedural demonstration. When the jewel thieves kidnap Commandant Lassard, he goes willingly, thinking it's indeed the procedural demonstration. It launches a negotiation, which Captain Harris botches, getting himself captured as well. A chase across the Everglades ensues to rescue the oblivious Commandant. In a standoff with the smugglers, Nick explains to his uncle that the situation isn't a demonstration and that his kidnappers are in fact real criminals. Lassard, upon hearing this information, promptly disarms and subdues his assailants to the amazement of all the officers. At a ceremony at the end of the film, Commissioner Hurst announces that Commadant Lassard will be allowed to continue his duties as Commadant until he sees fit to retire, much to Harris' chagrin, as well as Hightower's promotion to Lieutenant. | comedy, prank | train | wikipedia | The first "Police Academy" movie was good.
Time seems quite distended and relative when watching any Police Academy film, but the awfulness of PA5 tends to send one into an alternate dimension where seconds seem to take weeks.
Kind of like watching the Benny Hinn show with a fantastic hangover in the middle of a hospital ward, in other words.Anyways, at some point in the film, our cast decide to indulge in a limbo-dancing event.
If that isn't irony, I don't know what is.It is scenes like the one I've just described that Steve Guttenberg and Bobcat Goldthwait obviously read before telling their agent that not working at all was preferable to appearing in this drivel.
As we endure endless scenes with extras falling over for no readily apparent reason (although the golf balls sell the illusion effectively enough) or characters tanning the word "dork" onto each others' chests (and that is about as adult as the humour gets here), one of the great theories about family-friendliness is proven.
The makers of Police Academy 5 might have made a Police Academy film that is suitable for four-year-olds to watch, but in so doing, they have made a film that only four-year-olds would want to watch.If your four-year-old is able to read at what we laughingly refer to as an adult level such as I was at that age, they will most likely turn to you when the credits roll and say something along the lines of "well that was stupid, wasn't it?".The plot revolves around something that probably should have been done at the end of the last film: putting George Gaynes out to pasture.
After seeing him in previous Police Academy films and Punky Brewster (often within days of each other), I have a tremendous respect for the man, but he really is just getting too old to do this.
Granted, there are actors who put in great performances at similar ages (Christopher Lee is only about five years his junior), but given that George has started to speak at a rate of about one word an hour, I don't think he's got another film left in him.
Getting back to the plot, anyway, as Commandant Lassard is scheduled to retire, Captain Harris senses an opportunity to become Commandant of the Academy, while his old trainees sense an opportunity to pay respect to a man who had quite the positive impact in their lives.It sounds like a very flimsy foundation for a film, and to be quite frank, when you've got writers of this calibre putting it together, it is.
George Gaynes, in spite of being so old that you aren't sure anymore that he's pretending to be completely unaware, is the only actor in this mess who *doesn't* phone in his performance.Matt McCoy is a poor substitute for Steve Guttenberg, as is exemplified by the quality of the jokes played on Captain Harris demonstrates.
We've seen Mahoney smear shoe-polish on a megaphone, cast dispersions on Harris' sexuality, as well as make a laughing stock of the man by spreading the word about an unfortunate accident involving a motorbike and a horse.
By the time of this fifth Police Academy film we can view these misfits as old and familiar friends.
The plot involves Police Chief Lassard heading off to Miami Beach to accept an award.
I don't know how the "Police Academy" series ever got any more productions after the second or third film, but they did.
The "Police" are back and Miami's got them!And they can have 'em."Police Academy 5" would be a disappointment if a college film class had produced, directed and starred in it.
Okay, let's continue.Guttenberg cut out in the last movie, which leaves McCoy as the "romantic/humorous" lead.
Of course, there's the usual complications of jewel smuggling, kidnapping, chases in the Everglades, purse snatchers in drag....You want the truth, here's the truth: the best part of this entire movie is watching Jones gallivant around in a swimsuit.
While there, they meet Lassard's nephew Nick (Matt McCoy), who is a poor replacement for Mahoney.And so here we are: the first Police Academy movie without Steve Guttenberg and the first sequel without Bobcat Goldthwait.
Gun man who likes guns - I burst my colon and shat myself: so amusing.This was was notable for the silly men slipping on golf balls and for Captain Harris' trouser falling down in the airport.I am laughing still.
Y'know, I loved the Police Academy movies when I was a child....
I was never a fan of the way-too-long-running 'Police Academy' series back in their Eighties heyday, and always did my best to avoid them.
There were only a couple of things I laughed at in the whole ninety minutes of film, one scene that just sticks out, is the mistaken first class trip, Harris and Proctor take with a few farmyard animals.
Lassard, who's passed retirement age (this hidden info discovered, thanks to our two bumbling unlikeables who reveal it so of course, the long avenging Harris can take Lassard's place) has been invited to Miami for a commendation farewell party, so he invites his favourite academy of misfits along, where they inadvertently bump heads with a band of bumbling jewel thieves, lead by a familiar snooty face, Rene Auberjonois from the Benson t.v. show, and he laps the bad guy up wonderfully.
Too we meet Lassard's likable grandson, also a cop, and a damn fine one (Matt MCcoy) where the laughs and gags, just keep on misfiring, Auberjonois and the beautiful Miami bird watching sights, the best things about this dreaded Academy entry.
This is just one of those one's, where the intended funny bits, just keep missing, where our lovable Academy's traits, like Jones's sound tricks, even Tackleberry's over enthused gun play and new choices of weapon gags missed too.
sadly there is a nr.5 movie in the series about the police academy.
you can see on the actors that they had a fun time making the movie, and thats a good thing.
Choosing plot over simply adding in numerous characters proves to be the downfall of the Police Academy series.
Gaynes, who had been in the background most of the time in these films, becomes the main focus as he's forced into retirement, but also being honored as police officer of the decade (or was it century?).
This may not have been THE best of the Police Academy film series, but it also wasn't the worst.
OK, I'm starting to see the slump in the police academy sequels, it is number 5, Assignment: Miami Beach, where we've lost Steve Guttenberg and the jokes are not as funny as they used to be.
Again, the only thing that makes it worth it though is the original cast members, like Bubba Smith, Michael Winslow, and G.W. Bailey, but it seems like they're almost getting sick of the sequels too.
Not to mention, not only do they not have Steve Guttenberg back, but there is no Zed or Sweetchuck, I loved those characters.The Class of '84 are going to see their favorite Commandant Lasard get an award for all his hard service in Miami, they are all invited together.
Off the flight, Lasard gets the wrong bag where he thinks his fish is, but instead has a camera with hidden jewels, not knowing he is being followed by thugs to get the diamonds back.Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach isn't a bad movie by any means, like I said there are still some good laughs in it.
"Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach" falls into the latter category.
The bumbling cops of "Police Academy" are, very unfortunately, not.Steve Guttenberg has, by this time, finally come to the over-due conclusion that the series is going nowhere, and so he has left the ongoing string of sequels to enter into fresher territory -- by appearing not very many years later in joyless remakes of older films ("It Takes Two," a.k.a.
Finally realizing that the police officer's daily routine gags are no longer fair ground for comedy, the filmmakers have moved the series to Miami Beach, land of ample spoofing and lampooning!
As the police of the film can never seem to do anything right, the series itself can never seem to be funny.The plot involves Commandant Lassard (George Gaynes) being called to Miami to receive a special lifetime achievment award of some sort (the biggest plot hole being, of course, that he does not deserve it at all after the many disasters instilled by him in the predecessors.
(The awful joke I wrote above comes into play, here!) But instead of just losing his luggage at the airport, he accidentally picks up a similar briefcase belonging to a band of jewel thieves -- and they're pretty eager on getting their stash of diamonds returned to them.Commandant Lassard is kidnapped and the doofus cops from the previous entries (save Guttenberg's Carey Mahoney and Bobcat Goldthwait's missing Zed) embark on a mission to save him.
Don't ask."Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach" proves that everything is ample ground for comedy -- Florida, jewel thieves, fat men, and alligators.
If anything, the entire "Police Academy" series just stands as a landmark reminder that Hollywood has been taken over by ruthless film executives who want nothing but money.
After the disappointing Part 4, it was great to see Police Academy 5 return to form.Fans of Mahoney from the first four films will be disappointed to learn he is not in it.
But it's a great story and truly funny.Commandant Eric Lassard and the gang take a trip to Miami to attend a police convention.
As usual, Captain Harris and Lieutenant Proctor are out to grab all the glory.Scenes to watch out for include the crook who farts in the lift, the battle between Hightower and an alligator (or crocodile maybe)and the end chase in boats.Police Academy 5 was enjoyable..
As always, the Police Academy team make another humorous comedy, Captain Harris and Procter were hilarious (particularly when Procter goes on the Ski Jump and Harris gets DORK written on him) as usual and Comandant Lassard was also really funny, a great blend of humour.
It isn't great and will never be a favourite comedy or overall film of mine, but it clearly knew what it wanted to be so it was easy to take it for what it was and what it set out to do.It was followed by six sequels, and none of them were as good or even on the same level as the first, though admittedly some are worse than others.
The best performance by a large margin comes from Rene Auberjonois, who seems to be having fun and really makes an effort to liven things up (and he succeeds).Even with the presence of George Gaynes, G.W. Bailey and Michael Winslow, high points previously, only Auberjonois comes close to giving a good performance.
Matt McCoy is an incredibly bland and wooden lead, filling in for Steve Guttenberg (him leaving the series was a very wise decision for him).'Police Academy 5' looks cheap, with budget and time constraints written all over it, and generally it is also one of the most ineptly directed films of the series.
The music, so catchy and infectious in previous instalment, is forgettable at best here and often that is being too kind on it.Anybody who disliked the writing in the previous three 'Police Academy' sequels will outright hate it here.
They suffer from pedestrian timing and from taking immaturity to a whole new level that one feels their IQ has dropped.While it has been well established that people don't see the 'Police Academy' films for their stories, the story here feels repetitive and incredibly lazy in execution, and it's only with the kidnapping subplot (which doesn't gel with the rest of the film) where there's a little more momentum.
Lassard (George Gaynes) is forced into retirement but he does get a trip to Miami Beach and of course his gang goes along.
I'm sure fans of the film, including myself, will get a few grins out of the movie and the cast members do have a certain amount of charm but this should have been it for the series..
I would not recommend seeing it, although the next one wasn't all that bad.Steve Guttenberg being out of the series definitely made a difference and a lot of the gimmicks that made the original work were not present in this one.
being forced at gunpoint to watch all Police Academy movies in succession?
But then I saw Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach.
This time the remaining recruits (Smith,Winslow, Ramsey and Graf, Guttenberg and Goldthwait obviously abandoned a sinking ship) go to Florida (You know things are lame when we are ripping off Revenge Of The Nerds II) to assist Lassard (Gaynes) in accepting a career lifetime reward, while jewel thieves pop up in this painful sequel.
As people notice Steve Guttenberg was barely in Police Academy 4, here he's not even in this muck.
Naturally this is unfunny garbage and the only real laugh comes from watching comedy that fails so bad that it actually becomes funny again.
Miami Beach, Florida, where lots and lots and lots of crime are to be found, and are needed by the police academy to go where they belong - to the slammer!
Oh, sure, the police academy does that - as well as many other funny things in this movie!
I should expect all the other "Police Academy" movies to be that way as well.
Michael Winslow still manages to get a few chuckles, if not laughs, all the rest is a convoluted mess of scenes, which are supposed to be funny but could have been shot better by a bunch of teenagers with a camcorder and too much time on their hands.Some kind of story involving a trio of dimwitted international thieves hiding their loot in Commander Lassard's luggage is thrown in around the edges.
Granted I did not think it was the best comedy ever, I just thought it came closest to being good since the second movie in the series.
However, it still needed more work, for one Bubba Smith was never my favorite character yet he gets to much focus now that Guttenberg is gone, the jokes are still repeated to much, and the franchise had way to many sequels in way to short a time span.
Still, it had a more interesting plot than the previous two sequels and more laughs, if they maybe took a couple of years to write a story and shoot the film the movie might have been a more polished less repeated jokes movie..
So I'm not going to lie, I was raised on most of the Police Academy movies.
With the departure of Steve Guttenberg and a dominant lead character, many feared the fifth movie would not be as good as the rest.
Throw Captain Harris (MASH's G.W. Baily) and Proctor in town in hopes of getting Harris the promotion to Lassard's old job by placing him in a good light with the up and up's (a hilarious scene on the beach involves someone writing DORK on Harris' chest in sunscreen while he is asleep...oh might mighty me is it great!) make the mix one heck of a ride for our boys in blue.
In a rare moment of thoughtfulness, Proctor appeared to me to look at the gum and discover the stretching and breaking are pretty much the same thing.At any rate, it's telling that such a simple thing should come across as one of the most creatively meaningful things in the series, but I do have to say that Police Academy 5 is not nearly as bad as I have read that it is.
As you know, this is the first Police Academy movie that's missing Steve Guttenberg as Mahoney, and he's replaced by the charming Matt McCoy, who plays Commandant Lassard's nephew Nick, an ace Sergeant on the Miami Beach force.
Of course the fourth sequel in the Police Academy franchise is not a good movie, but it was never made with any Academy Awards in mind.
this movie almost has no laughs,and it's the second worst in the series.
I really don't get it with these movies; thought the makers that after so many bad movies that THIS, this fifth would really break threw with it's extremely original story and laughs - well, no.The movies don't get a bit better, they just keep getting worse.
Lassard, Proctor, and Harris get the best laughs and at least try with their performances.
Like the last few sequels in the POLICE ACADEMY series, Assignment: Miami Beach is a tedious instalment in the franchise that's happy to repeat all the best gags from previous movies and add little in the way of freshness or originality.
If anything, it spurs Captain Harris to fly to Miami Beach where the award is to be presented so that he can hob-nob with the police commissioner in order to further his ambitions of becoming successor to Commandant Lassard.
Even so, being the 5th movie of the series this film still had a hard time duplicating the success of the first or second pictures and as a result I have rated it accordingly.
Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach.
Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach.
Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach.
Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach.
Steve Guttenberg said a firm "no" to being in this or any other sequels that may (and did) follow, good choice, this is probably the worst of the sequels, not even the self-made sound effects of Winslow can save it, nothing to laugh at, lovable characters not doing anything exciting, just a complete waste of time.
Bubba Smith, Michael Winslow, David Graf, Leslie Easterbrook, Marion Ramsay, Matt McCoy, Janet Jones, Rene Auberjonois, G.W. Bailey, Lance Kinsey and George Gaynes star in this 1988 comedy sequel. |
tt1232829 | 21 Jump Street | Morton Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Greg Jenko (Channing Tatum) are former classmates who meet again at police academy. Schmidt was a nerd while Jenko was a jock. They end up becoming friends at the academy as they help with each others' weaknesses with Schmidt helping Jenko study and Jenko motivating Schmidt through physical activity. They graduate together as partners, but are assigned to park patrol. They catch a break when they spot a group of drug dealers and arrest their leader Domingo (DeRay Davis). However, the department is forced to release him as Jenko forgot to read the Miranda rights. The two are reassigned to a revived specialty division on 21 Jump Street.They are introduced to Captain Dickson (Ice Cube), who explains the division specializes in infiltrating high schools and that they were chosen because of their youthful appearances. Schmidt and Jenko are assigned to go back to their old high school to stop a new synthetic drug from spreading to other campuses by finding the supplier. They go undercover as brothers, living at Schmidt's parents' house, and see that their high school has changed. Jenko accidentally switches their identities and they get each others' classes. They learn the lead dealer of the drug is the popular Eric (Dave Franco), but he is not the supplier.They go to the dealing room where Eric forces them to take the drug right there and not wait. They attempt to throw it up but are unsuccessful, and they undergo the phases of the drug while talking to their P.E. teacher, Mr. Walters (Rob Riggle), and also while running track and during band practice. The mistakes that happen at the track meet causes Eric to take a liking to Schmidt.Schmidt manages to fit in with the popular kids and takes a romantic interest in Eric's friend Molly (Brie Larson), while Jenko becomes friends with the nerds in his AP Chemistry class while his teacher Ms. Griggs (Ellie Kemper) takes a sexual interest in him. Jenko discovers that his new friends secretly tap into other people's cell phones to listen into their conversations. Schmidt decides to throw a party at his house to gain Eric's complete trust and Jenko takes the opportunity to tap into Eric's phone. Despite Captain Dickson ordering them not to serve alcohol and drugs to minors, they nevertheless buy alcohol and steal confiscated marijuana. When Eric arrives with Molly and his other friends, Jenko steals Eric's phone for his friends to tap into while Schmidt fights off a rival of Eric's and earns Eric's trust.Schmidt now pretends to sell the drug for Eric but is actually giving it to Captain Dickson to be confiscated. While at Eric's house, Schmidt asks Molly out to prom while Jenko listens through Eric's phone. He also insults Jenko to Eric with Jenko listening. Schmidt and Jenko learn that Eric is making a deal soon. When Jenko spots Eric leaving school, he takes Schmidt to follow him. They see that Eric is dealing with Domingo and his gang and they follow them, but are forced to run away when Domingo spots them. Back at school, Jenko accuses Schmidt of his earlier insults, possibly ruining the case, and getting in too deep, but Schmidt brushes him off. Jenko and Schmidt get into a fight that results in them getting expelled and fired from Jump Street.Later that night, both are confronted by Eric and his friends, who want to bring them on as security after hearing about what happened with Domingo. He tells them about a deal with Domingo happening during prom where they get to meet the supplier. At prom, they are surprised to see that the supplier is Mr. Walters. When Domingo and his gang arrive, he recognizes Schmidt and Jenko as police officers, and tells two of his men to kill them. However, the two men reveal themselves as DEA Agents Tom Hanson (Johnny Depp) and Doug Penhall (Peter DeLuise), who were a part of the Jump Street program when it began. Hanson casually talks to Schmidt and Jenko during the standoff which gives Domingo the opportunity to kill him and Penhall. A gunfight ensues between Schmidt and Jenko, Mr. Walters, and Domingo and his crew. Mr. Walters and Eric escape in a limo with Molly as a hostage, with Domingo and his crew in pursuit of them in another limo. Schmidt and Jenko pursue all of them in another limo where Jenko creates a homemade chemical bomb from his knowledge in AP Chemistry to kill Domingo and his crew. They then confront Mr. Walters, who shoots at Schmidt. Jenko jumps in front of Schmidt, saving his life and getting shot in the arm in the process. In response Schmidt shoots Mr. Walters in the groin, severing his penis. The duo successfully arrest him and Eric and make amends with each other. Schmidt makes amends with Molly and the two share a kiss. They are rehired into Jump Street where Dickson gives them a new assignment in a college setting, to Schmidt's excitement but to Jenko's dismay. | entertaining, violence, humor, comedy, flashback | train | imdb | there was the usual expected Jonah Hill trademarked myriad of penis jokes and one extremely unnecessary shock gag but the majority of the movie was, to me, surprisingly satirical/smart/relevant in today's society, self-aware, and situationally hilarious.
The thing is that all the buddy cop movies after Rush Hour 1 have been either too dull to comprehend or just mildly interesting and could just pass as a movie you've seen just to mark the register that you've seen it.Based on a TV series of the same name which aired on Fox Network between 1987 and 1991, the series focuses on a squad of youthful-looking undercover police officers investigating crimes in high schools, colleges, and other teenage venues.
The directors and writers made sure you didn't have to go see the original to get the full taste of 21, as the film made do of the current pop culture in our time and how ironic and dumb it looks to make a fun movie and enough juice left to make another.21 makes fun of everything in its path, even down to drugs, and how we kept expecting things to blow up and they just don't.
The jokes keeps coming in from every corner making you laugh although.The high moments in the movie was whenever the duo were together, the low moment was when they were apart.The plot had the duo Hill and Tatum as Morton Schmidt and Greg Jenko (respectively), get deployed as undercover cops to a high school to bust a drug ring, and everything you'd expect to happen, doesn't.
So if you like Jonah Hill and comedies with really great cameo appearances, I think you would definitely like this film.I must admit I expected this to be at the same standard as maybe The Change-Up or The Hangover Part II which weren't terrible movies, but they weren't the funniest movies I have seen either.
There were actually a lot more clever jokes than I expected and there were some scenes were I couldn't even control my laughter in a full cinema.All in all, I'm not saying this movie is for everyone but the way I would tell you to see it is if you like Jonah Hill's ridiculous dialogue with sometimes unnecessary swears and you have no expectations of it being anything like the original TV show, I would definitely recommend this one!
The result is a smart, exciting and often hilarious action-comedy with real stakes and a surprising amount of heart.Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum star as Schmidt and Jenko respectively, two rookie cops who went to high school together, though belonging to different social circles.
While the TV show was primarily a drama, the film is essentially a satire of movies and shows like 21 Jump Street, fully aware of all of the clichés of its genre.
It embraces the stupidity of its concept too, by constantly acknowledging that Hill and Tatum are way too old to be posing as high school kids, or by having Ice Cube play the stereotypical black police captain from every 80s movie ever, and then outright acknowledging that.
While Jonah Hill is without a doubt the star, having had tons of experience in films like Superbad and Knocked Up, Tatum does a fine job as well and the two actors have great chemistry together.
It's easily the funniest comedy in well over a year, but it's not just a vehicle for jokes: 21 Jump Street tells a great story, too.Phil Lord and Chris Miller seem to love surprising us.
Think Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are too old to play high school kids?
But what really stands out about 21 Jump Street is that it's not just an enjoyable and hilarious time at the theater, it also tells a genuinely interesting and emotionally compelling story, developing its characters in a way you probably wouldn't anticipate from a raunchy high school comedy..
Jonah Hill will have you laughing, and Channing Tatum actually did a good job in this movie.......not surprising seeing that the role called for him to be a douche bag.
They bounced off each other for an hour and a half, and the result will surely be one of the best comedies of the year, and an outside shot for my 2012 top-25(back-end)if it can hold-on.Watch out for a sneaky cameo(spoiled by the cast list if you look).Nice surprise.Deserves it's ranking here.Stuck between 7-8, but going with 76/100, so I'm rounding to 8.You'll enjoy this if you liked:The Other Guys, Starsky and Hutch, If Looks Could Kill, or Blue Streak - even though I think this is actually a clear notch above all of those films..
It is filled with pure and sincere laughs from start to finish, certainly one of the funniest comedies I've seen in a long time, mostly made brilliant with the terrific chemistry between leads Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, you could tell that they got along very well on the set and enjoyed working together.
Absoluteky hilarious and very enjoyable, I would highly recommend 21 Jump Street to anyone looking for a good comedy New police officers Schmidt and Jenko are sent on an investigation to a high school to find and catch a group of people involved in a drug ring occurring in the school.Best Performance: Jonah Hill Worst Performance: Jake Johnson.
Rob Riggle and Ice Cube each provide inspired supporting roles that are nearly laugh out loud funny each time they're on screen, never feeling forced or overused.Does the film have problems?
There's the (inevitably) love story between one of the main characters and a high school girl feels too forced and only is there to serve as a 'love story.' But, for the most part, I completely enjoyed it, though I can't ever see myself taking time to watch it again.So if turning a serious-themed show like '21 Jump Street' into a very good raunchy comedy does make me wonder if other old 80s TV shows would make a similar transition.
For all those naysayers out there, this big-screen version of 21 JUMP STREET is surprisingly funny and very entertaining as well.Like the TV show, the movie revolves around Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum), two young-looking cops who both transferred to the 21 Jump Street division where they will be going undercover posing as students to infiltrate the drugs-dealing business that has been going on at a local high school.
Overall, 21 JUMP STREET is one of the best action comedy movies really need to be checked out for.
And I guess you would think it's funny if you love the same old jokes about penises over and over from beginning of the movie to the very end, literally.I thought the movie was going to show how two older, wiser guys go back to high school as undercover cops, and show those young kids what's up.
It's about two rubbish cops (Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum) going into a police program to pretend to be in high school so to infiltrate a drugs ring that's killed a kid in the school.NOW STOP, no not hammertime but don't worry.
I know that sounds like a very rubbish stupid comedy film but very early on makes you realise it knows its stupid when the guy in charge of the operation explains something about the program to the two cops, I quote "
a revived undercover program from the '80s, revamped for modern times; the people who make these things up are old and out of ideas, so they try updating (stuff) like this and hope we don't notice".
The film isn't too plot heavy which is good as it adds realism to the pair and allows them to branch out to allow some story with the side characters, which stops too many sight gags and fart jokes being used as filler.Looking at Channing Tatum's IMDb page (I don't think I've seen many of his films) he seems to be in mainly rom-coms and what are essentially girly movies.
Jonah Hill is Jonah Hill which doesn't need any more on it and the side characters and pretty funny with a good cameo right at the end.It has that problem all Hollywood comedy's have of having a sad bit 3/4 the way through the film, which by the way one of my favourite comedies - pineapple express - does not, but I can't really bring it down too much for as it's probably forced to include it by the company behind the film.
Starring an odd couple with a difference in Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, the film mostly follows the standard buddy-cop formula but deviates enough to both keep your interest and produce a handful of laughs.Seven years ago, two kids on opposite ends of the social spectrum graduated from high school.
The cameos by a couple of members of the original series are good fun too.Speaking of making roles work, Hill reverts back to his Superbad roots with his performance, but it is Tatum who is surprisingly funny as the dim-witted do-gooder Jenko.
It took some guessing to identify the drug supplier, more a fault of the bizarre writing—there isn't an adult figure in the school who cares about the well-being of students.Despite sharing a title and cameos from the most famous leads of the series, 21 Jump Street bares so little in common with the TV show that the only comparable films is the unrated home release of 2005's The Dukes of Hazzard.
21 Jump Street released with a movie of a similar genre "This is war" and boy that's what you call comedy.This is about 2 cops, one (Channing) a stud and one (Jonah) a dud.
The film is based on the TV series of the same name that launched Johnny Depp and has now turned funny-man Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum into producers.
Right off the bat we meet our two main characters, polar opposites in high school, Channing Tatum's character being the popular jock who makes fun of Jonah Hill's character, the dork.
I AM fairly tired of Hill's comedy schtick, but combined with the poking fun of clichés and even at the film itself, it's a pretty consistently funny movie.
Heck, there's even a cameo that almost makes it worthwhile, though I am sure you can probably guess what that is.With so many films coming out that really are nothing to write home about, 21 Jump Street isn't a bad way to kill time at the theater.
Then, one day, I was on a plane, and since I loved the original series, I decided to watch it......If you think of it as a satire of the original show and remember that it's probably aimed at 14 yr old boys, yes it's kind of funny.However, since what I really liked about the original show was that they took these matters (homophobia, bullying, teen prostitution, drugs) seriously -- turning it into a comedy was rather jarring.Things I was disappointed in: the other 2 main characters, Holly Robinson & Dustin Nguyen's characters were not mentioned at all, I guess the two other sneering officers shown for about a minute were supposed to represent them?
If dumb, stupid, mindless comedy so predictable a grade school child could of written better sounds like fun to you, then by all means watch this movie.
Not enough laughs in this for me...there's a couple of funny moments here, but over an hour and a half of a film it's just not enough.Jonah Hill has lost too much wight to play a 'fat' character anymore.
Probably the most funniest movie for 2012....and yes funnier then Hangover!....I watched with my headphones on and laughed like hell make other people wanted to know what I was watching and they were also surprised by this movie.Great ending with a small connection of 21 jumps street TV series.I really like chemistry between these two guys (Jonah & Tatum) the jokes are Hilarious.
The old Jump Street program that was in an abandoned chapel is being revived for the new millenia and Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum have been selected for the program because of their youthful demeanor.Their rather impatient captain, Ice Cube sends them into a high school to bust a drug ring after the death of one of the students.
But I've seen it all before and done better even in the Police Academy movies which never pretended to be comedy of the lowest common denominator.The film has some comic moments, but will disappoint people who think they're going to see a big screen version of what was a big hit in the late 80s..
This time around we see Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum), playing an ex-high school nerd and jock, who are forced into an unlikely pairing after enrolling in Police Academy and using their combination of brawn and brains to get through basic training.
After an enthusiastic and somewhat optimistic drugs bust goes amusingly array the two are shipped out to 21 Jump Street, an undercover unit run by Captain Dickson (Ice Cube), set up to infiltrate high school drug networks.It is here that the film and indeed the Hill and Tatum double act finds its feet.
21 Jump Street is super funny at times unreal Jonah Hill famous in school?
It works better as a high school fish out of water comedy than it does an action movie, but even these scenes have their highlights.Funny supporting roles, exceptional cameos, and pacing that knows how to advance the plot, excite, build on characters, and make you laugh out loud, all at the same time.
Oh, and it's really funny.The film reveals its intentions early when Nick Offerman's Dep. Chief Hardy assigns our heroes Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) to 21 Jump Street where they'll be debriefed on going undercover as high schoolers, but not before rambling about how the higher-ups like to waste everyone's time reviving dead programs from the '80s.
You can even see through the awkward quasi-romance between Schmidt and Brie Larson's character, Molly, because no one would find romantic catharsis in a budding relationship between a 25-year-old and high school senior.Like most modern comedies, "21 Jump Street" has a number of misses in spite of its many successful laughs, but the majority of them work, especially because in painting this typical picture of high school, it adds a few fine details of what high school is really like these days.Best, however, for those familiar with the TV show to divorce themselves from anything related to it, as the movie merely leeches off the name and premise, then tosses everything off to the side minus a few obvious in-jokes.
Also, treating the premise with a much more a comedic touch helps to counteract its inherent implausibility.For those unaware of the movie's premise, it's that a pair of young cops (Channing Tatum & Jonah Hill) are given an undercover assignment at a local high school with the goal of taking down a drug ring.
Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are good as the mismatched duo and some side characters are quite funny.
Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are good as the mismatched duo and some side characters are quite funny.
Who would have thought Channing Tatum would be the perfect comedy partner to Jonah Hill?Some really funny scenes throughout the film, that have made it one of my most watched films of all time.
'21 Jump Street (2012)' is an infectiously fun, downright hilarious comedy reboot of a 1980s TV show and is surprisingly good, ending up a real treat and a truly great time from beginning to end.
Go watch "The Other Guys" is you want a good funny cop movie.21 Jump Street is just average.
This film follows Schmidt (played by Jonah Hill) and Jenko (played by Channing Tatum), two men reuniting seven years after their high school graduation to attend a local police academy.
21 Jump Street is an exciting comedic endeavor that shows that Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum make an effective team when tackling the buddy cop genre.
I like how they mix typical high school humor with police movie clichés and make fun of both genres.I liked both Hill and Tatum in this one, there was good chemistry between the characters and they really looked like partners.
For long stretches though 21 Jump Street leaps so high above what this could have been as a generic remake of a popular TV show; it's like actual clever ideas and gags on display, and a lot of it comes down to behavior as well, whether it's the main two actors or with Ice Cube, or Brie Larson as one of the supporting women set at the high school, (or Dave Franco of course), and there's plenty of times where it comes down to the actors saying one thing or another and finding just the right moment to make something funny.Not every single joke clicks, but so many do that 21 Jump Street makes the cop (undercover) comedy conceit fresh and fun.
Before these jump Street films I never knew how good or funny this guy was but he is fantastic in this movie and is also really funny.
Jonah hills love interest was good in the movie and was more then just a simple character and was actually believable in the film.
Now the story of the them going back to high school was great and I liked how as time passes things change with stereotypes and they played on that in this movie.
It starts off a bit slow but gradually transforms into a fun action- comedy ride.21 Jump Street involves story of two cop-buddies Scmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Chaning Tatum) who are assigned an undercover operation to track down drug dealers and suppliers at their own high school where they had studied.
I love how they chose Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum to play in this movie. |
tt0051207 | The Wrong Man | For the only time in his many films, Alfred Hitchcock starts this picture talking to the camera and says that "every word is true" in this story.
Manny Balestrero (Henry Fonda), a down-on-his-luck musician at New York City's Stork Club, is in a money crunch. His wife, Rose (Vera Miles), needs to have her wisdom teeth extracted at a cost of $300, but the couple does not have that much money. Though he has already borrowed against his life insurance policy, he goes to the life insurance company to attempt to take a loan out against Rose's policy. He is immediately recognized by the clerical workers in the store as the man who had twice held up the insurance office. They inform the police, and he is taken to the 110th Precinct by detectives. Without being told why, Manny is instructed to walk in and out of a liquor store and delicatessen, both scenes of a robbery earlier that year. He is then asked by police to give a handwriting sample, writing the words from the stick-up note at the insurance company. Manny misspells the word "drawer" as "draw"—the same spelling mistake the robber made in the note. After being picked out of a police lineup by the women from the insurance company, he is then arrested and charged with robbery, and his family finds out that he will be in court on the following morning.
Attorney Frank O'Connor (Anthony Quayle) sets out to prove that Manny cannot possibly be the right man: at the time of the first hold-up he was on vacation with his family, and at the time of the second his jaw was so swollen that witnesses would certainly have noticed. Manny and Rose look for three people who saw Manny at the vacation hotel, but two have died and the third cannot be found. All this devastates Rose, whose resulting depression forces her to be hospitalized.
During Manny's trial a juror, bored with the minutiae of one witness's testimony, makes a remark which prompts the judge to declare a mistrial. While Manny is awaiting a second trial, he is exonerated after the true robber is arrested holding up a grocery store. Manny visits Rose at the hospital to share the good news, but, as the film ends, she remains clinically depressed; a textual epilogue explains that she recovered two years later. | dramatic | train | wikipedia | This is a very underrated Hitchcock film that features amazing performances from it's two stars, Henry Fonda and (especially) Vera Miles.
It is a brilliant performance that ranks alongside Bergman's role in 'Notorious' and Wright's 'Charlie' in 'Shadow Of A Doubt' for best female acting honors in a Hitchcock film.'The Wrong Man' has a sentimental, tender yet dark atmosphere.
The sentimentality is perhaps due to the fact that the central action revolves around a family grouping in this film.There are no elaborate scenes of courtship and romance as in 'Vertigo' or sexy double entendres seen in 'Notorious'- Instead, we get the feeling that this is a real, normal family we are watching unravel at the seams due to the crimes of another.Appropriately slow-moving to keep in check with Hitch's low-key approach for this one.
Not your typical Hitchcock film but one well worth seeing if for no other reason than to see one of Henry Fonda's better performances as the quietly stunned Christopher Emmanuel (Manny) Balestrero who sees his life, career and family endangered by forces he has little control over..
Entirely based on true events, and without any sense of chase, romance, or high intrigue, and without special effects or even witty dialog, he makes you feel for the main character, Henry Fonda, a man accused of a crime he did not commit.It's often pointed out that Hitchcock had an enormous fear of the police, and of being accused when innocent.
In New York, the Catholic Italian musician of the Stork Club Christopher Emanuel "Manny" Balestrero (Henry Fonda) is a simple man, married with his beloved wife Rose (Vera Miles) and having two sons.
Vera Miles gives a particularly fine performance as Rose, contrasting with Henry Fonda's baffled but stoical Balestrero.The film is not "scary" in the way that a normal Hitchcock thriller is scary, but is nevertheless frightening.
Certainly, some of the elements of criminal procedure shown would not be permissible today (suspects being arrested without being informed of their rights or of the crime of which they are suspected, interviews being conducted without a written or taped record being kept, two witnesses allowed to be present together during an identification parade), but this does not lessen the film's impact; anyone with any knowledge of the law will be aware that innocent people can still be convicted in the twenty-first century.Apart from "Psycho" this was Hitchcock's last film made in black and white, and he makes good use of the medium, with some striking photography.
Not his usual ostentatious style, but it plays on the theme of a wrong man caught up in extraordinary events beyond his control (REAR WINDOW, NORTH BY NORTHWEST, PSYCHO).It may be Hitchcock's most cynical film.
Though Henry Fonda's Manny Balestero is told of his charge after being arrested, the whole 'procedural' nature of the film's story, of how the system can be the damnedest thing, makes it downright gripping.
It's a filmmaker saying, 'look, I'm giving you Henry Fonda, maybe the most, if not one of the most, good-hearted movie stars from the 40's- Grapes of Wrath, My Darling Clementine, The Lady Eve, etc- but I'm putting him in a situation where he's in this strange scenario of not playing himself, or rather being in a society that is brutal and unflinching'.Fonda was the perfect choice considering the material, and while it is based on a true story and Fonda is terrific at his role, that Hitchcock leaves out certain details of his innocence (says the trivia on IMDb) adds a certain level to the subject matter.
On an existential level almost Hitchcock delivers a kind of very recognizable world with the terror on a different but just as engaging level as his 'popular' films.If Fonda is our fatefully unlucky protagonist, Vera Miles is equally compelling as his wife, who can't seem to take what has been going on with her husband.
Using real locations in NYC, the great many character actors that make up the police and everyday people (there is some very good casting in the insurance office scene), and a musical score that is decidedly vintage Herrmann, Hitchcock uses this sort of documentary realism to heighten his own subjective approach (all the images of prison bars, the film-noir type lighting and staging, the use of space in the rooms).
They are replaced by a different kind of suspense, still done with Hitchcock's usual craftsmanship.Henry Fonda and Vera Miles play a factual ordinary couple whose lives are thrown into turmoil when the police confuse the husband with a man who has been committing a series of robberies.
Fonda's convincing acting, along with Hitchcock's detail-oriented filming, enable the viewer to feel the anxiety and helplessness of an innocent man being horribly misjudged.
In the second part of the movie, as Fonda gets ready to go to trial, the ordeal finally starts to take its toll on his wife.Although this has to be ranked as a minor work compared to Hitchcock's long list of masterpieces, it is a worthwhile film in its own right, as long as you have the right expectations in watching it.
THE WRONG MAN is a bleak Alfred Hitchcock movie filmed in suitably low-key style with crisp B&W photography and two very deeply felt performances by HENRY FONDA and VERA MILES.Hitch's fear of police (traumatic experience as a youth) serves him well in crafting the kind of intimidation a man feels when he's unjustly accused of a crime he hasn't committed.
Eyewitnesses place him at the scene of the crime and the police are ready to lock him up and put him away in prison.The only one who believes in him (or his innocence) is his wife, VERA MILES, but she begins to undergo serious mental stress as the situation seems to get more and more hopeless.
Vera Miles is excellent in the role, subtle and completely believable.What distinguishes THE WRONG MAN from other Hitchcock films is that it's all filmed in a brisk, documentary style that leaves no room for the usual gimmicks.
It's about as straightforward in its story-telling manner as any of his films has ever been, based on a true life incident in the life of a man falsely accused.Summing up: Well worth watching, but not unless you're willing to be more than a little depressed by the somber mood..
He even introduces it himself in person, speaking directly to the audience explaining so.Normally, Hitchcock films revolve around murder, intrigue, suspense, the anticipation of disaster, deception, extreme human emotions like paranoia and obsession, characters doing risky things and hoping to not get caught.
But novelty does not equal brilliance.Henry Fonda is the title character, a club musician named Manny Balestrero mistakenly pegged for a hold-up man while trying to borrow some money from his wife Rose's (Vera Miles) life insurance policy.
Hitchcock even does a voice-over telling us how unusual a story this is for him to tackle, because "every word" of it is true.The problem with "The Wrong Man" is the way it makes real life feel like a trip to the dentist's.
Sequences of Fonda's head revolving inside a lens and later of him seen through a cell latch hole get much of the attention, but just as interesting, and more in keeping with the realistic aesthetic, are the numerous POV and high-angle shots that play up the claustrophobia in less showy ways.I have a hard time understanding how people might view "The Wrong Man" as an underrated masterpiece.
Miles certainly has effective moments in her spotlight scenes, enough to make one wonder what she would have done with the part she was offered in "Vertigo", but her crack-up as written is too abrupt and capped by a laughably pat end frame.Once you get used to his no-frills performance, Fonda is interesting to watch in his offbeat way, and the secondary players are all good.
Otherwise one could influence the other on their choice of person.I think that the real robber did have a remarkable similarity to Fonda and it was brilliant the way Hitchcock superimposed the two faces.Vera Miles' gradual descent towards mental breakdown is brilliantly acted as is Fonda's continual look of astonishment at his wrongful arrest and process by the police.
Never has this been more abundantly clear than in Alfred Hitchcock's The Wrong Man, a true story about a simple, hard-working musician who is mistaken for being a local robber that has eluded the police for some time.
The cast also bolsters strong performances from Henry Fonda as the accused Manny and Vera Miles as his supportive wife Rose.
The name of Alfred Hitchcock, the Master of Suspense, is and will be eternally linked to his most well-known masterpieces such as "Psycho" or "The Birds"; sadly, this has left "The Wrong Man" in the obscurity as an overlooked gem that in fact deserves to be seen and appreciated by film enthusiasts worldwide.The true story of Emmanuel Ballestrero (played superbly by Henry Fonda) and his unfair imprisonment when he is accused of a crime he did not commit, is represented faithfully in Hitchcock's "The Wrong Man", with all its frightening realism.The most important thing about this movie must be the fact that it is based on a real life tragedy, this is a big difference from the rest of the Hitchcock's work.
In fact, Hitchcock himself decided to turn his cameo into an "introductory speech" because he felt that a cameo would take away the realism of the movie.As I wrote above, the script is very simple, and without plot twists or a clear McGuffin to look at; nevertheless, the master guides us through the suffering of this man as he is humiliated by the police in sheer realism.
Whether it is a car moving across a bridge through light and shadows or a close-up of a woman's eye peering suspiciously at us, the cinematography alone held my attention.Fonda and Vera Miles do a great job in playing how a man and his wife react to false accusations, with Fonda playing the innocent who is trying to deal with a bad situation in a most responsible and rational manner and Miles cracking under the pressure.
True story of an innocent man called Manny Balestrero (Henry Fonda) mistaken for a criminal and detained by policemen .
this Alfred Hitchcock film may be based on a true story,but it failed to fully engage me for some reason.it was mildly interesting,enough to keep watching.it wasn't boring by any means.strangely enough,although the movie focused on the title character played by Henry Fonda,i actually thought it was Vera Miles as his wife who outshone Fonda in the acting department.Fonda played the everyman role,but Miles played a more complex role,(which i won't go into here)which i think required more of her.i found her character and her scenes very compelling,which elevate the film in my opinion.still,of the Hitchcock films i have seen,this is not his best.for me,The Wrong Man is a 5/10.
Christopher Balestrero (Fonda) is mistaken for a bank robber and has no evidence to support his innocence.The first film of the greatest British director to be based on a true story Alfred Hitchcock gleefully sets the viewer up for the ride by standing in the middle of an unknown place and telling us so.
As the screen fades and we meet Henry Fonda in his home with Vera Miles and kids we have a set up for a tantalizing story of mistaken identity and criminal injustice.Initially the build up is fairly sluggish as Christopher is leading a pretty standard family portrayal and after ten minutes or so we follow the main character into the bank to enquire about a loan and then the ante is generated.The bank recognizes the face of Christopher to be the face of a recent robber in the area, and after skilfully denying the application, the bank turn him away.
This spices up an added sense of drama and contributing to the real story scenario, it is a credit to the actress.The plot moves slowly with a few action sequences and bearing in mind this is a real event that was inevitable but for Hitchcock you expect more and the film is almost a sad let down because of it.Nevertheless this is still well shot with a glorious exploration of the law order with some wonderful performances and excellently set up scenes..
There are three major elements that makes this film such a chilling, engrossing, uneasy film to watch: 1) Alfred Hitchcock's masterly command of this genre, combined with its stark realism; 2) the way both Hitchcock and Henry Fonda make us identify with the character through his entire ordeal; and 3) the way Hitchcock makes it appears as if this could happen to anyone, given the right set of circumstances.Few circumstances are more compelling than a good man unjustly accused of terrible crimes.
I have to say, usually in this country it's an African-American man who gets arrested as the 'Wrong Man', but this Hitchcock film is indeed based closely on a true story.
Yes, Hitchcock was very fond of the 'wrong man' type story, but this is the narrative at its most pure and undiluted, a thorough exploration of the flaws in the justice system.Henry Fonda is outstanding as the innocent man caught up in a growing nightmare, and he's lent excellent support by both Vera Miles as his suffering wife and Anthony Quayle as his inexperienced lawyer.
I'm told that Hitchcock filmed the story in the very apartment, insurance office, precinct house, and jail cell where the real events took place.One watches in fascination as Henry Fonda's character, an ordinary man in spite of working in the fashionable Stork Club, endures one fearful event after another, until his misery spreads to his wife with terrible consequences.
Hitchcock's "The Wrong Man" is based on the apparently true story of Manuel Balestrero's arrest and imprisonment for crimes he did not commit.
" It's the true story of Christopher Emanuel 'Manny' Balestrero (Henry Fonda) a simple nightclub Musician who is arrested on his way home for robbery.
Master director Alfred Hitchcock proves this biblical maxim in his sparse black and white documentary-style thriller based on the real life account of C.E. Balestrero (played by Henry Fonda in an appropriately understated performance).
The Wrong Man. It was Henry Fonda's turn to star in an Alfred Hitchcock film with his 1956 feature The Wrong Man. Co-starring with Fonda was Vera Miles, in a film based on a true story which explored what happens when to a man's life when he is falsely accused of a crime.
Can even the best lawyer in New York get Manny out of jail when every piece of the case is against him?An especially intriguing part of The Wrong Man was the brilliant score and film sound Hitchcock used in the film.
It is the emotion that pours through a perfectly cast Henry Fonda that really makes you feel the anxieties Hitchcock must have felt when selecting stories in which a man was wrongly convicted of a crime; the fear of suddenly having your world taken away from you and being isolated from your friends and family.
The Wrong Man is a wonderful Hitchcock film, which owes a great deal of its success to the inimitable and perfectly emoting Henry Fonda..
The trial goes badly for Manny, but life is worse for his wife, Rose (Vera Miles), who falls apart under the strain of his ordeal.I love Henry Fonda, I love Alfred Hitchcock and Vera Miles is alright (though I find her character here rather disappointing).
The Wrong Man is not the typical Hitchcock movie, although there are the familiar trademarks (beautiful, symbolically charged closeups supporting the action, e.g. a silver hairbrush raised high up, like the knife in Psycho, to strike the main character on the head, the reflection of the main character in the broken mirror seconds after the blow).I do not know why Hitchcock for once decided to make a film that supposedly sticks close to real facts and leaves little room for elegant stylistic means.
As the detectives tell wrongly accused bass player Manny Balestero (Henry Fonda) (picked up for holding up an insurance office at gunpoint) that if he's innocent he has nothing to fear, you realize that once placed in the criminal justice system, he has everything to fear, especially the prospect of losing his wife and family who adore him.
This time, however, Hitchcock follows a different formula by tackling a true story about a wrongly accused man.For a basic plot summary, "The Wrong Man" tells the story of Emanuel Balestrero (Henry Fonda), who is falsely accused of committing numerous crimes around the neighborhood in which he lives.
As Manny's unbelievable story unwinds before the viewers, we can't helped be sucked in by asking ourselves "what would I do in his situation?".Thus, though not a traditional Hitchcock thriller/mystery by any means, "The Wrong Man" is a solid effort based on factual events, even further proving Hitchcock's extraordinary range of directing talents (the ability to turn a true story into gripping film)..
Alfred Hitchcock directed this realistic(based on fact) story that stars Henry Fonda as Manny Balestrero, who works in a jazz band in the Stork Club.
The Wrong Man is in many ways a typical Hitchcock movie, but the fact that it tells a true story makes all the difference.
Looking very mysterious, Catholic musician Henry Fonda (as Christopher Emanuel "Manny" Balestrero) goes home after work at New York City's famed "Stork Club" to find beautiful wife Vera Miles (as Rose) reclining with $300 in dental problems.
He plays guilt, but isn't...******* The Wrong Man (12/22/56) Alfred Hitchcock ~ Henry Fonda, Vera Miles, Anthony Quayle, Esther Minciotti.
It was well known that Hitchcock had a fear of the police and you have to think that he wanted to make this film because he could feel the terror of being falsely accused of something and even though you're innocent there's simply no way to prove it other than you're a good person.
This is an enjoyable film: Henry Fonda is at his very best when he is in the role of the innocent man who is wrongly accused of robbery. |
tt4972582 | Split | The film opens with a birthday party for Claire (Haley Lu Richardson). Her classmate Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy) was invited out of pity, as Claire tells her father (Neal Huff) that Casey frequently gets into trouble with teachers and gets sent to detention. Casey calls for a ride home but is told the car broke down. She's about to take the bus, but Claire's dad insists that he go home with them.The girls leave along with another friend, Marcia (Jessica Sula). Claire's dad is approached by an unseen person. Moments later, the person, a man named Kevin (James McAvoy), gets into the car. Claire thinks he just got in the wrong car by mistake, but Kevin puts on a face mask and sprays the girls with some kind of toxin that knocks them out. Casey slowly attempts to open the door to get out, but Kevin gets her too.Kevin brings the girls into a windowless room in an unknown location. He pulls Marcia out and takes her outside. After a brief moment, Marcia runs back into the room after she peed herself. She tells the others that Kevin wanted her to dance for him. Claire says they need to fight back together to get out. Casey is calm and says they need to find out what they are there for before they make any sort of move.We see a flashback in which a 5-year-old Casey (here played by Izzie Leigh Coffey) is with her father (Sebastian Arcelus) and her Uncle John (Brad William Henke). They are both hunters, and they teach Casey how to hunt. Uncle John talks about hunting a deer but being distracted by the buck.A therapist, Dr. Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley), is watching a news report on the three missing girls and how Claire's father woke up to find the girls and his car gone. Karen then receives an email from someone named Barry, saying they need to speak and it is urgent.Barry is really one of Kevin's multiple personalities. This "alter" is a sketch artist with a heavy Boston accent. He meets with Karen regularly in this persona.The girls continue to try and find a way out. They look through a crack in the door and see what appears to be a woman talking to their captor. Claire and Marcia call to the woman for help. She approaches the door, but it is just Kevin wearing a skirt and high heels. This alter is known as Patricia, a polite British woman. Patricia assures the girls that their captor knows why they are there and that he is not allowed to touch them.Karen is in a conference via Skype in which she discusses her patients, most of whom are suffering from DID (dissociative identity disorder), including Kevin. Karen talks about how some identities have capabilities that the other identities may not possess, as well as the way she can sense who has come to "the light" (which alter is in control). She adds that people with DID can change their body chemistry with their thoughts.The girls meet another identity, Hedwig, who has the mannerisms of a 9-year-old boy. He claims that Patricia and Dennis (the persona that captured the girls) are mad at him and that he is in trouble. Casey talks to Hedwig in an attempt to get a way out of there by telling him that Patricia and Dennis are still mad at him and that he's in trouble. Hedwig leaves, and the girls start looking for a way out through the walls. Claire finds a hollow spot in the ceiling and starts breaking off the plaster. Hedwig starts to come back, but Casey and Marcia hold the door back as Claire tries climbing out. Kevin reverts to Dennis as Claire starts crawling through the vents. She finds an exit and starts running for help. She hides in a locker but her trembling breath is so loud that Dennis finds her. He orders Claire to take off her shirt because it's dirty. He then locks her in a room by herself.In another session with Karen, Kevin returns as Barry. Karen doesn't believe she is really talking to Barry. She has noticed certain characteristics that Barry is displaying normally seen with other alters like Dennis, such as OCD. Barry insists that he's gotten better. Karen mentions that Kevin has 23 distinct identities. Kevin then becomes Dennis as Karen mentions a 24th identity, "The Beast", whom Dennis says is indeed real.Patricia brings Casey and Marcia out for some food. Marcia is forced to remove her skirt and Casey takes off her flannel shirt. Patricia brings the girls into a dining room and starts to make another sandwich. He becomes upset when he accidentally cuts the sandwich crookedly, so he starts making another one. Marcia seizes the opportunity to take a chair and strike Patricia in the back with it. She runs out for help, and Casey tries to run too, but Patricia catches her and orders her to go to her room. Marcia is eventually caught as well and is locked in a room by herself.Karen and her assistant Jai (M. Night Shyamalan) review security footage of outside the building. A trash bin is knocked over with garbage spilled everywhere. One couple walks around it, but Dennis walks right through it, which is something Karen believes is deliberate.Hedwig talks to Casey playfully. He asks to kiss her, and she allows him to, though it is awkward. Hedwig mentions his music collection and how he likes to dance to some Kanye West. Casey asks him to show her his room and his music collection. He brings her in there, and she mentions a window that's next to his music. It's just a drawing of a closed window over another drawing of an open window. Hedwig starts to realize that Casey is trying to escape. She becomes frightened and attempts to placate him. He pulls out a walkie-talkie, which Casey uses to start calling for help while fighting off Hedwig. Hedwig subdues Casey and takes the walkie back.We see another flashback with Little Casey on a hunting trip. With her dad not around, Uncle John starts wanting to "play". He strips down to his underwear and tells Casey to take off her clothes because "animals don't wear clothes". Later, John emerges from behind a rock and sees Casey holding a rifle at him. He manages to take it back from her before she pulls the trigger.Claire and Marcia attempt to escape using a wire to unlock the door from the outside Marcia's room. They are unsuccessful.Karen goes to Kevin's home and is greeted by Dennis. He invites her inside and they continue to discuss The Beast, as well as "The Horde", which is the name given for the major identities that control Kevin (Dennis, Barry, Patricia, and Hedwig). Karen then becomes genuinely terrified. She goes outside and finds Claire trapped in her room, but Dennis pulls Karen away before she can help.Casey finds a laptop with videos on every one of Kevin's identities. She sees one called Orwell, who discusses philosophy, and another named Jade, who is diabetic.Dennis goes to an abandoned train car and starts to transform into The Beast. He is significantly taller and stronger than any other identity. He returns home and finds Karen writing something on a piece of paper. She grabs a small knife as he crawls on the wall and grabs her. Karen starts trying to stab him, but the knife breaks. The Beast then squeezes Karen until her spine snaps and she dies.Casey gets out and tries to find the other girls. She finds Marcia dead with her stomach having been ripped open. Casey then finds Claire alive, but she gets dragged as The Beast starts chewing into her stomach. Casey finds the paper that Karen wrote on. It says "Say his name - Kevin Wendell Crumb". The Beast finds Casey, but she repeatedly shouts his name, making him revert to normal. We briefly see a flashback of Kevin's mother yelling at him as a child by saying his full name and telling him he's made a mess. Present Day Kevin has no memory of what he's done as Casey tells him he killed Karen, Claire, and Marcia. He tells Casey there's a gun in one of the cabinets, and that she must kill him. The major identities start to take control all at once. Casey runs as The Beast starts to come back.Casey finds some shells and loads them into the gun. The Beast starts crawling up on the ceiling and starts taking out the lights, leaving Casey with no sight to shoot at him. The Beast attacks Casey, ripping her shirt and biting her leg, but she gets away. She closes herself in a cage and loads the gun with more shells. The Beast starts bending the bars to get in, but he then notices multiple scars on Casey's body. Another flashback shows Little Casey after her father's funeral, and John telling her he will be her new guardian. The Beast then proclaims that Casey is pure-hearted, and he leaves her alone.Not long after, a man goes downstairs and finds Casey. He carries her outside to safety. She looks around on the outside and sees many animals in an enclosure. Medics arrive and take Casey in.Kevin is somewhere by himself, with The Horde controlling him completely now. Patricia says that The Beast will protect them now.The last scene is in a diner where people are watching a news report on what Kevin did. The anchorwoman mentions how The Beast identity displays characteristics of the animals in the enclosure where he worked. A patron mentions that the case is similar to a man in a wheelchair from 15 years earlier. When she can't remember his name, someone next to her replies, "Mr. Glass". We see that it is David Dunn (Bruce Willis; his character from "Unbreakable" in a surprise cameo). Fade out. | insanity, violence, horror, flashback | train | imdb | This movie will keep you watching waiting for the next character coming out of James McAvoy.
I was surprised to see that this movie was released last year (as I'm writing this) and I didn't heard about it, taking in consideration how promising the plot is.Split is about three girls get kidnapped by a man with dissociative identity disorder (DID) that has 23 personalities.
It doesn't try to be strictly realistic though, so it's an awesome thriller anyway.The movie gives you chills since the very start with an awesome acting by James McAvoy and some seriously good still scenes.
That makes this thriller stand out in a good way.Maybe Split makes a unrealistic representation of dissociative identity disorder, and that can be a big turnoff, but this is a great movie nonetheless..
Let me start off by saying that I haven't really like Shyamalan's work since "Unbreakable", but I have to admit that this movie made me believe in his vision again.
He deliveres a great performance that really helps to carry this film, and Betty Buckley also gives a notably outstanding performance in her supporting role.Is it as good as THE SIXTH SENSE?
It is a subtle commentary on many many things, violence, abuse, human nature, relationships, sexism, modern society, the potential of a human being, racism, the idiocy of the average people, our traumas, madness, the virtue of patience, existential angst etc It is true that it is a horror movie about a sick person, which may not be politically correct but is a very old and common trope in horror flicks.
I won't reveal too much about the film as others will do that, except to say it was a great film to watch in the theater, full of suspense and in some ways quite touching and meaningful, even if you do or don't like the final twists you'll be drawn in to this story and on the edge of your seat in more of a suspense mode.
I was sorry to see a review that put this film down, those reviews are off the mark this time round in my opinion I hope there is more to come from the M Night daring to be different again, his lower budget work is outstanding and easily brings out his best storytelling.
Splits first 45 minutes are the best part of this movie with an intriguing look into the split personalities of Kevin, played by the excellent James McAvoy.
The girls have limited time before The Beast is unleashed and although paralysed by fear, their escape depends on protagonist Casey's (Anya Taylor-Joy) proactive deconstruct of the good and evil personalities that reside in Kevin.
To her advantage and through revelatory flashbacks, we learn that this wouldn't be the first time Casey would confront a monster.If Edward Norton's dual personalities was chilling in his debut film Primal Fear, wait till you get a load of James McAvoy in what is simply an outstanding performance of versatility (or should I say two dozen performances in one film?).
I wanted to watch a horror film, so I browsed on the "Free Movies" section on Xfinity Demand.
I read the plot synopsis, and I really liked the concept and watching the film for the first time was one of the best movie watching experiences I've ever had.
James Mcavoy in this film has an oscar worthy performance, playing 23 different personalities.
Anya Taylor Joy also had a very good performance in this film and she played a very interesting character.
At first I didn't understand the twist ending, but after browsing the internet, I found out it involved a character from Unbreakable, and watching that movie was also a treat.
12 years back at Sreekumar theatre Trivandrum , I was going berserk over Chiyaan Vikram's multiple personality magnum opus Anniyan - and all of a sudden James McAvoy has outweighed that very specific standard of enactment with his once in a life time role in Split.
Using the disorder of DID, and a true story (!), to create its bonkers premise, McAvoy plays Kevin, a man who possesses 23 distinct personalities, some of which are male and some of which are female, some of which are young, and some of which are old, some of which are homosexual and some of which are heterosexual, some of which have OCD or require insulin for diabetes, and some of which are really rather volatile and dangerous.
While eventually serving a narrative purpose, in the early scenes, Shyamalan's switching to this doctor's narrative grinds the movie to something of a halt, leaving you longing for the far more interesting story to develop and ultimately resolve.
That being said, the movie never bores for a second, thanks to Shyamalan's distinctive style and an ominous score, as well as Anya Taylor Joy, so impressive in The Witch, who proves she isn't a one trick pony.
Despite al this, Split is a worthy work from Shyamalan that will deliver a jolt of high octane thrills to your nerves, one which will certainly be needed in the doldrums of the January dumping ground of films..
James McAvoy Has acted excellently in this film in all of his characters.This is one of the best movies I have ever seen.
James McAvoy gives what could have potentially been an award-worthy performance if it had appeared in a different film.He plays a man with multiple personalities who kidnaps three young girls as a part of a plot two of the personalities have hatched to unleash a powerful and unstoppable identity.
Night Shyamalan, who hasn't made a movie I've wanted to see since "Signs," crafts a nifty and effective thriller with three fourths of his film, and then sort of if not completely ruins it by taking his idea too far and pushing the supernatural elements to the point where we realize we're not even watching the same kind of movie we were at the beginning.
Just like "The Visit" a year earlier, Shyamalan's new movie "Split" offers a great mixture of psychological suspense, horror elements and an emotional drama with a lot of depth.
The restricted space in the basement, the calm and precise camera work, the gloomy light effects and the sinister soundtrack progressively increase the uneasy atmosphere of the movie.James McAvoy has the challenging task to portray eight different personalities all at once and his acting performance alone elevates this movie to a very high level.
Overall, the cast is really convincing and easily the best in the psychological horror genre since Martin Scorsese's "Shutter Island".The only reason why this movie didn't get all ten points are a few minor lengths in the story telling during the first half of the film and the fact that the movie didn't come around with a stunning twist in the key of many of Shyamalan's previous works.
Even those who like to criticize Shyamalan should admit that "Split" is a success and one of the best movies in his career.
I think Split is one of the best Psychological thriller movies in the past few years.
In the end I feel the beast lives on the mind of people like Kevin (not all the personalities ) who strangely/accidentally accept the devil with a different set of ideas(Dennis and Patricia take control of Kevin's life-"we are in control") which in turn helps the beast to live and spread itself farther.
Night Shyamalan but I thought this movie would be different given the fact that it is advertised as a thriller.
For two decades his movies have attempted to impersonate the films of true humans, but they are oddly written imperfect interpretations because his brain chemistry is radically different from our own.Not a single spoken line in "Split" is something that a human being would ever actually say.
Split was sold on the performance of Mr. James McAvoy as 24 different roles and judging by the box office and the high ratings the hype seems to have worked.
He is indeed the high point of the film and the reason for the second star in this rating but compared to the hype he's slightly underwhelming - McAvoy spends the majority of the running time as just 3 or 4 characters, effectively making the whole 24 personalities thing purely a marketing tactic.The acting by the remainder of the cast is awful across the board.
Betty Buckley flounders helplessly through her lines and while she's universally terrible it's difficult to know whether to blame her or the batsh*t directing and writing as she's expected to deliver some of the worst dialog ever put on screen.By the end the whole affair devolves into a hilarious dumpster fire the likes of which we've seen in "The Happening" but by then it's far too late to find any sort of enjoyment in the spectacle.
From the start I had a bad feeling about this movie because the intro was so awkward and the dialogue was so cheesy with poor acting.James Macavoy is a very talented and versatile actor.
Amazing sci-fi and I loved it to a point where I even started asking questions whether it is possible and I have to say great split performance act by James McAvoy (Split, I know) Great film and spectacular directing and the cast was brilliant.
I've said that many times that anything, any film that is presented as a "convoluted", "complicated", "complex" story or plot will make the majority of audiences and critics to laud it as something good."Split" is another example of this type of behavior/reasoning.But in reality the whole thing is idiotic, the story has plot holes the size of Texas (e.g. the three girls could easily subdue the child personality), the child molestation subplot is totally unnecessary, the whole DID gets old very fast, and the twist (yes, there is a twist, since this is is a Shyamalan film) only works for those who watched another film released in 2000!Waste of time and waste of money....
Let me make it short, James McAvoy's best role yet....He knocked it out of the park, you'll know what i mean when you see the movie.
Casting is great, especially the performances of Anya Taylor-Joy as Casey Cooke & Betty Buckley as Dr. Karen Fletcher are remarkable....West Dylan Thordson score gets extra marks...Great Psychological Horror-Thriller with a powerhouse performance by James McAvoy under the brilliant direction by M.
"Split" is an outstanding return to form for Shyamalan and one of the best horror-thrillers in years..
Night Shyamalan who also co-produces for the second time with Jason Blum and Marc Bienstock of Blumhouse Productions, which gave us horror franchises like "Paranormal Activity".James McAvoy is Kevin Wendell Crumb, a man with 23 different personalities inside his head, but who is still able to function in society.
With the obvious exception of their captive state, the girls are unharmed, but it becomes clear that something bad is about to happen."Split" is an outstanding return to form for Shyamalan and one of the best horror-thrillers in years.
Although "Split" doesn't feature one of his trademark mind-bending twists, it's his best film in 10-15 years.Here, he has made a movie with an original concept, a compelling narrative and genuine tension which gradually builds.
Knight in this one..I don't know how someone with his kind of talent let this one slide by.Look forward to watching more of his work in the future.I have loved his work in the past and hope for his sake this doesn't set him back in creating his next project.Until than ill just watch his other films and skip over Split!.
It's sort of a sado masochism type of film in a way, except it's captor(McAvoy) has many personalities running around, all the while still under supervision of a psychologist.Shyamalan goes through all the predictable steps to make us care about the victims and the villain, we get a surprise ending as to why we have to sit and watch this predictable rubbish, and it's end is just to make the studios buy into Shyamalan's work yet another time, it's all about money to further his venture's for another feature film.Watching the entire film, and after seeing it's final scene, I felt annoyed, and I wouldn't watch this film again.
It's been a rough few years, but M Night Shyamalan's latest film Split proved that this director still has it.Firstly, James McAvoy's performance is the best part of this movie, his performance carried this film for me and kept me invested.
McAvoy charms the audience with his brilliant (at times comedic) portray of the Hedwig personality, and does a good job making other personalities like Dennis, Ms Patricia and the beast frightening and creepy in their own ways.
McAvoy does a good job separating the personalities from one another, making each seem like individual characters.The other performances in this movie are also good, Anya Taylor-Joy played her character fairly well, especially during the more dramatic scenes, and i hope to see more dramatic work from her in the future.
Shyamalan's camera-work and writing also seemed to be a bit messy at times, mainly during the first act of the movie, but was fine for the majority of the movie.However, although this isn't a perfect film, it's definitely worth a watch, and it's a good sign for Mr Shyamalan's career.
James McAvoy is too talented for this silly movie, which had a big potential in terms of plot, but it was reduced to the regular Shyamalan garbage.
Lots of actors are capable of this and I'm sure many will cite McAvoy's performance as being a key element of the film, but for me it doesn't save the movie.
Long story short, 'Split' is very different from any movie I watched and that is why I truly hope the story will not end here.
While McAvoy portrayed a convincing crazy person, his performance could not make up for the bad screen writing, nonsensical plot, and awful character development.
SPLIT - M NIGHT SHYAMALAN - The Real DealThe movie is about a man suffering from a disorder of multiple personalities.
(I do realize why Shyamalan made this creative decision, and you will too, after watching it and then reading up on it.) But I still think that this would have been a perfect film if the majority of it focused on McAvoy's personalities either aiding or misleading his psychiatrist, with Taylor-Joy's fate hanging in the balance.Two, this film seemed to suffer from the too-many-endings syndrome that people often associate with Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" movies.
And this isn't even counting the significance of the movie's final line, which works as a fantastic framing device.About that line
if you're a Shyamalan fan, then you simply must watch the film until it's very end, as the camera pans through the coffee shop.
McAvoy's outstanding performance of Kevin, a man with multiple personalities, would be enough to keep my attention through the movie, and yet, that was just a minor part of Shyamalan's thriller.
Even better news is while James McAvoy has fun in the role it's never enough to actually take you out of the movie .
McAvoy is of course a Scottish actor from a working class background and it's usually a distraction watching "one of us" in a commercial Hollywood movie but here McAvoy delivers a pivotal role playing a character suffering from dissociative identity disorder .
I think among the Shyamalan *bad* movies, and this is bad make no mistake, it's directed like a pro and the actors are all on their game, and becomes the best of them..
Night Shyamalan.I put the word thriller in quotes because I felt that it wasn't a thriller at all, but rather a drama with tense moments.Split tells two stories rather than just one and I think that's what hurt the film the most.
The first story we have is Kevin, played by the brilliant James McAvoy, who suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder.
On the plot the main character, a man with 23 different personalities, kidnapped three girls and kept them in an underground room for some time.
Shyamalan works around this as best he can by naming DID and devoting exposition to it in the form of Betty Buckley's character Dr. Karen Fletcher, the foremost expert on DID and a therapist with a longstanding relationship with Kevin (James McAvoy), who has 23 distinct personalities.
McAvoy owns them to the point that we actually see them as different characters when they're on screen.Yet it's the mystery of Kevin's intent and what he might be capable of that keeps things tense throughout most of the film, a tension that shifts from mystery-driven to horror-driven in the final act.
At this point, "Split" becomes a much stranger movie and we're surprised at just where and how far Shyamalan will go.
Even though I have no regrets watching this movie, I found it - to put it bluntly- well, 'meh.' That being said, I don't mean to discredit McAvoy for his role as Kevin and the few other personalities.
It could have been much more.'Split' is an average horror-thriller movie, which does not belong to Shyamalans worst work, or his best.
Still, it is not a bad movie and worth to watch, because of the great acting jobs of McAvoy, Taylor-Joy and Buckley..
i can't believe the bad reviews of this film, James McAvoy is outstanding and the movie as a whole is outstanding, my advice is watch it for what it is and not what you want it to be.
Very exciting movie with excellent acting by James McAvoy.
You'd think a film with a main character who has 23 personalities would be interesting...well it wasn't.
Now I saw this film from Redbox for like a dollar so that's the best way to watch it.Another disappointment from M Night.
James McAvoy was okay I guess but if he should have developed the characters of the 23 personalities which we only saw 8 on screen a bit more instead of just changing his voice.Oh the main actress what was the point of her flashbacks in the film? |
tt0120877 | Vampires | Jack Crow (James Woods) is a professional and Vatican-funded vampire slayer. He and his team of slayers have just rooted out a nest of nine vampires in the New Mexico desert but, disappointingly, the master vampire--Jan Valek--was not there. Still, the team is partying at the Sun God Motel, rejoicing in their victory. Unbeknown to the slayers,
Valek (Thomas Ian Griffith) is in the adjoining room, seducing and biting Katrina (Sheryl Lee), a hooker hired for the party. Before Jack is even aware of Valek's presence, Valek has viciously slain his entire team as well as all the hookers. During the battle, Valek says Jack's name, which takes the slayer by surprise. Only Jack, Katrina, and Jack's partner Montoya (Daniel Baldwin) manage to escape.After beheading and burning the bodies of his team (to make sure they don't turn into vampires), Jack goes directly to Cardinal Alba (Maximilian Schell) for further instructions. Alba has more bad news. Their European team was also wiped out three days ago near Cologne, Germany, and a portrait of Jan Valek was found there. According to archivist,
Father Adam Guiteau (Tim Guinee), Valek was a 14th century priest who turned against the church and was burned at the stake for heresy. After his death, however, Valek became a vampire, the first of his kind. The Vatican wants Jack to rebuild his team, and they give him Guiteau as his first replacement. Jack wants nothing to do with the milquetoast bookworm, especially because he suspects the team's slaying was a setup, and it could just as easily have been Guiteau as anyone else in the church. After physically abusing Guiteau a few times, Jack levels with him. He shows him a map of where nests of vampires have been killed in the Southwest since the 1800s.It shows a pattern of an ever-widening circle, and Jack thinks that they're searching for something. Furthermore, he thinks they might be searching for a black cross that he heard of when he was young.Meanwhile, Montoya and Katrina are holed up in a hotel. Katrina hasn't turned yet and, when she finds out that she's been bitten by a vampire. Montoya wants to keep her around because of her telepathic link to Valek. She tries to commit suicide by jumping off a ledge but Montoya manages to pull her back through the window, but he cuts his arm while doing so, and Katrina grabs it and starts sucking. Montoya knocks her out and then burns the bite with a lighter, hoping to sterilize it from the sickness that will convert him. When Katrina awakens, she starts having visions. The first one is of Valek in a church in San Miguel County. The next vision shows Valek looking at a map and then killing a priest. Guiteau offers to get a list of all the churches in the county, a clue that leads them to Father Molina, whose body was found decapitated and laying alongside a dirt road.After further brutal interrogation by Jack, Guiteau finally confesses that Molina was the only one in the world who knew the whereabouts of the black Bersier cross, an ancient relic that was used in the exorcism meant to drive the demons from Valek's body. Unfortunately, the exorcism resulted in turning him into a vampire was never completed, leaving Valek vulnerable to the sun. He needs the cross now to finish the ritual. If he succeeds, he will be able to live in the daytime. A master vampire able to walk in the sun would be unstoppable.It's sundown and Valek with a new group of vampires are rising from the ground where they sleep. Through her telepathic connection to Valek, Katrina can tell that he is accompanied by seven other master vampires. She can see them headed into a small Spanish mission. She can see the vampires brutally slaying the mission clerics. And she can see Valek taking down the black cross. "He's got it!" she smiles.The next day Katrina leads Jack and Montoya to the small, deserted town of Santiago where she says Valek is hiding in the best-contructed building in town -- the jailhouse. With only three slayers and as many as 30 vampires, Jack, Montoya, and Guiteau have their work cut out for them. As the day wears on, Guiteau lures out the vampires, Jack shoots stakes into their chests from his crossbow, and Montoya drives the winch that pulls the vampires out into the sun where they burn up. With the sun setting rapidly, it is time to end the day's work before the other vampires wake up. Montoya and Katrina escape in the jeep, Guiteau hides behind a counter in a restaurant, finding a shotgun, but Valek catches Jack and ties him up.Jack wonders why Valek just doesn't kill him. Suddenly, Cardinal Alba steps out of the shadows. Admitting he was the one who betrayed the slayers, he says he's struck a deal with Valek, to give him immortality for finishing the ritual that will complete Valek's transformation.Meanwhile, Katrina has completed her change. She bites Montoya's neck, drinks some of his blood, and then leaves him for dead in the jeep and rejoins Valek and his vampires. Montoya shoots off a few rounds with his gun and then places the hot barrel to his neck, hoping to sterilize the bite.The ceremony is beginning, and Jack discovers that he is to part of it, because the ceremony requires a ritual sacrifice by crucifixion of a slayer at the moment of dawn. The vampires tie Jack to a cross, and Alba begins by slicing Jack's leg, collecting the blood, and passing it to Valek to drink. As the sun begins to rise, Guiteau (who has been listening to everything from his hiding place in the restaurant) shoots Alba. With no priest to finish the ritual, Valek tries to force Guiteau to do it, but Guiteau turns the gun on himself. Just when it looks like Guiteau might have to shoot himself, Montoya appears in the jeep. He fires a stake into the cross and, using the winch, pulls it down. Guiteau leaps forward and cuts Jack free. As the sun continues to rise, the vampires run for cover, with Jack and Guiteau following.They trap Valek, who leaps at Jack. Jack holds up the Bersier cross and Valek lands on it, impaling himself. As Valek attempts to pull out the cross, Jack pulls down the dilapidated ceiling. The sunlight streams in, and Valek bursts into flames.In the final scene, knowing that they have more vampires to kill, Montoya finally admits to Jack that he's been bitten twice by Katrina, who is lying in the back of the truck in order to stay out of the sun. He also says that he can no longer function as a slayer and that he intends to take Katrina south where he can take care of her. Guiteau tries to kill Montoya, but Jack steps between them. Knowing that Montoya was first bitten two days ago but still saved his life in the fight with the vampires, Jack figures he owes Montoya two days. However, he promises that, when those two days are up, he will hunt down Montoya and Katrina and kill both of them. The soon-to-be-turned vamp Montoya and the vampire Katrina drive away while Jack and Guiteau stay behind to clean up the town of the surviving vampires before pursing them.[Original Synopsis by bj_kuehl.] | comedy, gothic, murder, violence, cult, good versus evil, revenge | train | imdb | James Woods is great as the grim, dedicated man sworn to destroy all vampires and as the true shocker, the generic Baldwin appearing in the movie does a really good job as well!
While fans will always compare Carpenter's later movies with his early genre classics, "Vampires" is excellent entertainment, even if it isn't an "important" or "milestone" horror event.James Woods is not the most likable of heroes here but he's very watchable.
Callan's explanation of how he views god, as well as several other references by Crow and Montoya underline the basic belief of the vampire hunters while maintaining their no-nonsense attitude.With that back to why I liked the movie so much: it is in its own way as stark and streamlined as the best samples of its genre; the cinematography is just perfect with the right mixture of visual and non-visual storytelling; the dialogue is engagingly humorous throughout, feels real and allows each character his or her own voice; there are several deeply moving scenes, either visually or characterwise moving, which will stay with the audience; there are enough novelties incorporated to make this rendition of the vampire theme fresh and quite frankly, I liked Carpenter's score a lot too.What wins me completely over is the very obvious fun all the actors had with their roles.
The movie opens with a trained, fully-equipped team of vampire slayers, led by Jack Crow (James Woods), methodically purging a "nest" of its fanged occupants.
Be that as it may, this movie does have some good dialogue, interesting characters, a unique idea or two, and an actual plot--which makes John Carpenter's "Vampires" stand head and shoulders above most of the horror movies that are out today.
The modern American west has been overrun by bloodsucking ghouls, and the Catholic Church hires a crew of fearless exterminators to hunt down the undead and drag them into the sun.I can certainly sympathize with Jack Crow's (James Woods) partner Anthony (Daniel Baldwin).
The crusader Jack Crow (James Woods), Anthony Montoya (Daniel Baldwin) and their team are vampire slayers working for the Catholic Church under the command of Cardinal Alba (Maximilian Schell).
However, Valek comes to the motel, bites the hooker Katrina (Sheryl Lee) and kills all the vampire slayers but Jack and Montoya that flee taking Katrina with them.
Will they succeed?John Carpenter's Vampires is an entertaining underrated film with a perfect combination of terror, action and humor.
Despite a few fake looking wounds or rubbery stakes, Carpenter delivers a polished & stylish film, on par with movies costing 10 times as much (better in some cases).
Ever since first renting this on it's first release on video i absolute loved & went out & brought it straight away,JAMES WOODS is Fantastic as Jack Crow a very violent vampire hunter who leads a team of hunters & WOODS performance is so much fun to watch & my favourite of his movies.
The vampires themselves are very scary & wild like savage beasts so yeah carpenter has made a fantastic Vampire movie with plenty of brutal Action & gore & great fx & some very funny moments with James woods!!!
James Woods is really funny as Jack Crow at times, altough Daniel Baldwin isn't really "great", nor is Tim Guinee.
Okay staring this review off I want to say I do love this film but I'm I'm no way going to let my love for the film get in the way of my review if there's flaws with this film I will surely point them out.........okay so we follow Jack Crow the head vampire slayer played but James Woods which did a really good job you can defiantly feel John carpenters hands all over this film as it feels almost like a western and vampire mix the characters are very sharp and had a lot care put into the script which isn't unordinary coming from a novel based film.......the vampires are scary,bloody and what vampires are suppose to be the plot overall works but at times I find myself wanting more vampire scenes!
Other than that the direction the film took I think couldn't have gotten much better John carpenter as well as all the other people involved with the making of this film did an excellent job and this film deserves more cult followers than it has I being one of the only ones if your a fan of vampires and classic scary vampires then defiantly give this film a watch.
It's just good fun.It's in my opinion that in Carpenter's old age he's become too tired and cynical to make films that audiences or critics would find to be works of masterpiece, for example, his Apocalyptic Three (Thing, Prince of Darkness, Mouth of Madness).
No, he's instead content with making sarcastic films that lampoon mainstream movies.Ghosts of Mars is much like Vampires in this way...
Now Jack, his partner, the prostitute and a naive but a young helpful priest (Tim Guinee) have to fight Valek before has the omnipotent power to walk in the daylight.Directed by John Carpenter (Escape from New York, Ghosts of Mars, Memoirs of a Invisible Man) made a flawed but strong entertaining horror/action/thriller.
Her character is the only mature character in the whole thing and the only one with any sense...As for Mr. Woods' character Jack Crow...I have never seen a character I've hated so much since watching that other travesty of a vampire movie "From Dusk Till Dawn" and having to put up with Quentin Tarrentino until he is thankfully killed.
It is easily one of the worst films I have ever seen, and I am a massive John Carpenter fan who like vampire films!One of its many problems is it looks so cheap and is so unexciting.
I like Carpenter's earlier work like The Thing, Halloween and The Fog among others but Vampires fails to be a great horror film.
Carpenter is legendary horror director but this time he seems to be pretty tired.The film deals with a vampire hunter played by James Woods who is catching vampires with his "army".
John Carpenter's Vampires is a straight and serious horror film, although it's not Carpenter's best, I had a blast watching the action unfold.
With that said, Vampires only goes to show that whatever talent Carpenter may have had is virtually gone for good.Jack Crow (James Woods) is a vampire hunter working for the Vatican.
At the same time, with the help of a young priest (Tim Guinee), Crow discovers that Valek is looking for the Berziers Cross, which if done correctly in an incantation, can grant all vampires the ability to walk in broad daylight.A plot like that would you to believe that Vampires would be full of tension, suspense, and action.
John Carpenter proves that he is still capable to make very good films even if they're not busting through the roof of the box office.Unlike John Carpenter's classics like "Halloween", "The Fog" or "The Thing" I think this movie was not intended to be scary.
Daniel Baldwin does okay and Sheryl Lee is a hot...uhm...actress.A very enjoyable film overall, not scary but perfect to spend your Saturday evening with.My rating: 8/10 (if you want more information: DVD contains an interesting audio commentary by John Carpenter himself!).
The characters are their lines are straight out of cliche hell.Now I know John Carpenter's style is a little quirky, almost cheesy at times, but this is the guy who literally created the art of tension building in scary movies.
John Carpenter's Vampires (1998) is very underrated vampire horror slasher action movie that I love it to death!
Also the film is worth of watch because it is fun on all the actors had with their roles.James Woods was perfect as sardonic, illusion-free Crow and his brushing "campiness" with the tip of a finger, yet withdrawing just in time, is priceless.
After Vampires is the last good John Carpenter film.
The main plot about this film: In the blood-chilling tradition of Halloween and Village of the Damned comes John Carpenter's unique vision of the ultimate killing machines, VAMPIRES.
When Master Vampire Valek (Thomas Ian Griffith) decimates Jack's entire team, Crow and the sole team survivor, Montoya (Daniel Baldwin), set out in pursuit.
As Valek nears the climax of his 600-year search for the Berziers Cross, Jack and the new Team Crow do everything humanly possible to prevent him from possessing the only thing that can grant him and all vampires the omnipotent power to walk in the daylight.I am giving this film a 10/10 because it doesn't deserve all the hate from fans and critics!!!
Adapted from the novel Vampire$ by John Steakley, the film stars James Woods as Jack Crow, leader of a Catholic Church-sanctioned team of vampire hunters.10/10 Score: A Studio: Film Office, JVC Entertainment Networks, Largo Entertainment, Columbia Pictures Starring: James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee, Thomas Ian Griffith, Maximilian Schell Director John Carpenter Producer: Sandy King Screenplay: Don Jakoby Based on Vampire$ by John Steakley Rated: R Running Time: 1 Hr. 48 Mins.
Perhaps the movie's creators felt the plot was too weak to develop a story that is spun from the interactions of James Wood's gritty, no bs character and the vampires he kills.
As allways in John Carpenter film there's a kick ass soudtrack (which i listen to this day) that gives the movie a western, action and horror vibe to the viewer.
James Woods carrys the movie on his own, Baldwin does an ok job i guess, Tim Guinne probably had his best on screen appereance perfomance of his career as a young priest and he nails it, and we even have the great Maximilian Schell wich is reason alone to adore the film.
A band of professional, Vatican-sanctioned vampire hunters, led by hardened slayer Jack Crow (James Woods), battle a powerful master vampire called Valek (Thomas Ian Griffith), who is attempting to repeat the ritual that turned him into a vampire and which will enable him to walk in daylight.Director John Carpenter is, of course, capable of much better than Vampires, but the film is also a long way from his worst (Ghosts of Mars, please stand up!).
The plot plods at times, especially when the director focuses a little too much on style over content, but any film that features James Woods as a mean sonuvabitch vampire slayer, the gorgeous Sheryl Lee as a sexy hooker turned bloodsucker, some impressive set-pieces (the vampires burning up in sunlight being amongst some of the best bloodsucker deaths committed to film), and lots of outstanding gore effects by the brilliant KNB effects group is never going to be a total waste of any horror fan's time.6 out of 10, bumped up to 7 for Mark Boone Junior's awesomely bloody demise (split up the middle by Valek's talons), the savage decapitation of a priest, and Sheryl Lee's nude scene (we don't really get to see her 'twin peaks' but we are treated to her delightful derrière)..
Vatican-funded vampire hunter Jack Crow (James Woods) and his sidekick Montoya (Daniel Baldwin) search for centuries-old vampire Valek (Thomas Ian Griffith) that killed their friends.
They find a prostitute (Sheryl Lee) bitten by Valek and, using her telepathic link to the vampire, they try to track him down.James Woods is really the whole show, hamming it up like the expected Carpenter cheesy macho anti-hero.
The combination of Carpenter, Woods, Baldwin and vampires got it made, and it made its money back, so it was exactly as good as it needed to be.
I think the idea is an interesting one--I enjoyed James Woods' hilariously brutal scenes with the Priest--but I just can't watch a film in which the female characters are simply there for...
They're all trying so despretly to be "cool" you feel like watching a couple of really young teenagers hallucinating about horror movies.One time mister highest Vampire flys faster then a car on full speed, then he somehow is unable to move a few steps sideways in less the 5 minutes.
Not because it's a masterpiece by far, but because it is entertaining for what it is.Jack Crow (James Woods) is the leader of a pack of Vampire hunters working under the leadership of the catholic church.
The Vampire movies i appreciate the least are ones like "Queen of the damned" which is basically two hours of moaning and sexual innuendo.James Woods delivers a solid performance as usual, and he really seems to enjoy himself here.
However, in this day and age, when all the vampires seem to be brooding, good looking teenagers who try to avoid killing people, it feels good to watch a movie in which vampires are what they're meant to be: monsters.The film starts with a group of vampire hunters, lead by man named Jack Crow, attacking a nest of vampires in New Mexico.
Jack decides to hunt down Valek who turns out to be the oldest and most powerful vampire.This film is not meant to be anything more than an entertaining popcorn movie to relax with and then go on with your life, and it works like that.
So VAMPIRES is not truly memorable film, but if you want to watch a little better film from director John Carpenter's 1990's works, where James Woods is at his best and vampires are not brooding teenagers, then this is a film for you.
An atmosphere typical of spaghetti-westerns.Carpenter creates good characters like Crow, a great and rough James Woods, the faithful friend of fatigue Montoya, very acceptable and cool Stephen Baldwin and a terrifying villain like Valek, great acting and characterization of Thomas Ian Griffin.The action is well filmed, the secondary ones are quite correct, like the novice curate and the bite bitten by Valek, it has a good arid and gothic atmosphere and the music of Carpenter fulfills so much.It has pretty good sequences like the massacre of Crow's team, that of the priests of the monastery, which I thought was brutal, like almost all of Valek's murders, the girl's telepathic connection with, as well as Crow's dialogues, which are discouraging.
John Carpenter's desire of making a movie closely resembling a western which features blood-sucking vampires, truly payed off.
There's also a special appearance by Maximilian Schell, who is remember by his spectacular award-winning performance in Stanley Kramer's Judgment at Nüremberg.A fine addition to the collection of any self-respecting fan of vampire movies, made by the master John Carpenter.
Mind you, that you need to have several years pass in between every time you do sit down to watch John Carpenter's "Vampires".The story is fairly simplistic if you think about it, and actually is rather generic for a vampire movie.
I saw this movie because of my love for vampires, and John Carpenter being one of my favourite directors.
This film follows Jack Crow (played by James Woods), a vampire hunter seeking vengeance against the blood-thirsty monster Valek (played by Thomas Ian Griffith) who brutally slaughtered his crew at a motel room, with Anthony Montaya (played by Daniel Baldwin) and a wounded Katrina (played by Sheryl Lee) who is endangered of turning into one of those bloodsuckers.
Without the heavy weight of expectation for a return to form for John Carpenter, it proves to be a schlocky and bloody good time.James Woods stars as a Vatican backed vampire slayer, something he does with considerable relish.
Jack Crow (James Woods) leads a group of vampire hunters organized by of the Catholic church.
This movie dose not take long at all, it goes straight into the vamps actions in first 5 to 10 mins and I liked how the vamps were killed in this movie.I did not expect this movie to be as gory as it was, the party scenes in the movie, blood and guts were flying all over the place and the vampires were decent and kind of creepy at times.The acting was great from cast, as was the effects and make up effects were really well done.
John Carpenter takes a dive into vampire terrain, and the film gets off to a cracking start, with James Woods as Jack Crow, one of the coolest protagonists in Carpenter's work, leading his vampire-slaying team into a nest of bloodsuckers in New Mexico.
After dealing with them, it's time to let their hair down for some hellraising and hookers, despite Crow's intended target, master vampire Valek not being at the nest as he'd thought.Things take a turn for the extreme worse for our protagonists when Valek himself strolls in, has a little fun with Sheryl Lee's hooker character, before single-handedly slaughtering most of the vampire hunters in a spectacularly gory orgy of ultra-violence.When the three survivors, Crow, Montoya - played by Daniel Baldwin, and Sheryl Lee, escape, the film seems to lose it's vibe.
Sheryl Lee has just become infected by a very powerful Master Vampire, and Woods exploits her psychic link with the master to try to hunt him down.Like most of Carpenter's work, the film uses special effects subtly, minimally and very effectively.
sometimes i get tired of seeing all of the digitized effects on movies today so carpenter gets a thumbs up on this even though they might be a little over the top.so all in all great one-liners,great special effects,great action,great cinematography,great music score.by the way don't waste your time with vampires 2 it is an absolute piece of trash.`.
Pretty good, for a bad John Carpenter movie.
Like so many other John Carpenter films, this one combines a rebellious attitude with action and enough of a plot to carry a story.
James Woods' acting usually has its moments; sadly, none of them are in John Carpenter's "Vampires".This movie is so bad and the expectations preceding it have been so high that the whole thing makes me furious. |
tt0117966 | Trilogy of Terror II | Story I: The Graveyard RatsA wealthy man by the name of Ansford (Matt Clark), discovers that his young wife Laura (Lysette Anthony) having an affair with her cousin. Having video proof he threatens Laura to be faithful and honest or he will turn the video over to the news stations and cut her out of his multi-million dollar will. Meanwhile, her lover Ben (Geraint Wyn Davies) comes up with the idea to murder Ansford and collect all his money. After Ansford is pushed down the stairs and killed, Laura and Ben are more than happy to collect their winnings, however all doesn't go as planned. Before dying, Ansford transferred all of his millions into an account in Zürich, Switzerland and microfilmed the access codes, which were buried with him. Now, Laura and Ben have to dig up his grave, and Ben climbs into the opened coffin to retrieve the microfilm. Soon after, Laura shoots and kills Ben to claim all the money for herself. All of a sudden, the body of the dead millionaire is dragged through a hole in the side of the coffin by flesh-eating rats, and Laura is forced to crawl in after him through a network of underground graveyard tunnels. Eventually the advancing rats corner her into another buried coffin. Laura tries to keep the rats away by firing her gun at them but quickly the rats pour into the coffin and devour her, in the end the grave is revealed to be her own.Story II: BobbyIt has been some time since Bobby "accidentally" drowned, leaving his mother Alma (Lysette Anthony) depressed and guilty. However, while her husband is away on business, she determines to raise her son from the dead. Armed with a magic book and a "Key of Solomon" (in this case, a talisman rather than a book), she conjures dark forces to bring her son back. Before going to bed, a vicious thunderstorm approaches the luxurious beach mansion. Hearing a knock, she opens the door to discover her son. After cleaning him up, she begins to make him feel at home again. However, all doesn't work out when Bobby goes completely mad and begins to terrorize his mother in the dark house with a sledgehammer and a butcher knife. The mother soon realizes that it isn't Bobby who returned to her, but a demon that had taken his place, as he says "Bobby hates you, Mommy, so he sent me instead," revealing his demon-like face and the screen blacks out.Story III: He Who KillsThis segment, about the Zuni fetish doll "He Who Kills", is a sequel to the third segment of the original Trilogy of Terror, "Amelia".After finding the double homicide of Amelia and her mother from the first movie with the doll at the scene, the local police drop off the charred Zuni doll to local Dr. Simpson (Lysette Anthony). As she begins to examine the doll she learns that the doll comes to life when a gold chain is removed from his neck and that the doll has a desire for flesh. It also seems to regenerate (the idea itself initially laughable to both Dr. Simpson and her assistant) as when she chips away the charred wood, the doll seems to be brand new.After a quick pizza break, she discovers the doll missing. One of the officers investigates the surrounding museum, only to be shot down by an arrow from one of the exhibits, courtesy of the doll. After minutes of looking, she finds the doll attacking and running towards her with a lab knife as a weapon. Now, Dr. Simpson is all alone in a large museum with a tiny killer on the loose. Much like the first movie, Dr. Simpson catches the doll in a suitcase, giving her time to try to reach her keys. As the doll cuts through the case, Dr. Simpson tries twice to grab the knife, only to get cut as in the first film. The doll eventually breaks through, meeting the stabbing force of a screwdriver-like object from Dr. Simpson. Making the same mistake as the first movie's protagonist, Dr. Simpson opens the briefcase to be bitten ferociously by the doll. She eventually regains control, and tosses the doll into a large rectangular container of sulfuric acid. As the doll comes to a halt in its motion, Dr. Simpson goes to grab tongs in an attempt to remove the doll, only to be possessed by He Who Kills, the spirit inhabiting the doll.Later that night, the possessed Dr. Simpson kills her boyfriend with the same axe she tried to use against the doll. | murder | train | imdb | Anyone born before 1980 can't help but remember that video cover that stared up at them from the spooky horror section shelf at the "Video Library." It was the one all the little kids loved to rent...it was also the one all the little kids loved to fast-forward through 80% of to get to the Zuni-doll story.
And about 20 years later, the Trilogy of Terror is back, and the Zuni-Doll once again steals the show....but not entirely.
The third story (saving the best for last) marks the return of the infamous Zuni-Warrior doll.
She seemed at least somewhat enthusiastic about this gig, and filled Karen Black's shoes nicely.All in All, TRILOGY OF TERROR 2 is good, clean fun for the whole family.
That is of course, sarcasm...but, it IS good clean fun for that son of yours who makes a B-line for the Horror section whenever you visit Blockbuster Video....6.5 out of 10..
In the original movie, Karen Black starred in three separate stories.
The first story is "The Graveyard Rats." It's about a millionaire's young wife and her lover/cousin (Geraint Wyn Davies), who murder the old guy but find out all the money he had left was in Swiss bank accounts.
But it's got Geoffrey Lewis using an Irish accent so it's not all bad.The second story is "Bobby," about a mother who uses witchcraft to bring her son (Blake Heron) back from the dead.
Weakest story in the movie.The final story is "He Who Kills." This is a sequel to the most popular segment from the original film, the Zuni fetish doll story.
From here, in typical sequel fashion, we get a retread of the first film where the doll comes alive and tries to kill Anthony.
Lysette Anthony takes over for Karen Black in this trilogy of scary stories in which she is the star in each tale.
The second tale is about a mother who uses black magic to bring her dead son back to life.
The final and best tale is about the demonic African doll from the first film stalking Anthony.
Lysette Anthony is a good choice for taking over the Karen Black.Rated R; Violence and Profanity..
I really like this movie, Lysette Anthony does a super job in all three tales, like in the first trilogy movie the doll episode is the best and thanks to the technology of nowdays that freaking doll can now seriously run to stalk its victims.
I wish they used the same voice actor, Walker Edmiston, who did the Zuni screams for the original Trilogy Of Terror.
Of course Trilogy Of Terror is a 10, but for a sequel, this does the job.It was a blast to see the Zuni again.
It looks great and will have pictures of the original "Hero" or main cable controlled Zuni puppet used in the film.For some reason IMDb is NOT doing their job and is not posting trivia from people who actually WORKED on the film.
OK, I know that Dan Curtis directed the original Trilogy of Terror, but come on, this was just insulting the original story.
The third story was just a total rip off the the original Zooney hunting doll, the exact same stunts were used along with the exact same lines, the funny thing is, I don't think it was possible, but the woman was definitely more stupid and deserved to be...
you know.Well, the first story is about a woman where her husband dies and she discovers his grave is missing and encounters horrible things when she finds out there is more than what meets the eye.
Then the third story was about the Zooney Hunting Fetish Doll that has murdered two women, but the police think it's a cult type of murder and give the doll to a scientist in a museum, but little does she know the horror that comes with having this doll by her side.The only thing I enjoyed about the last story was that I did get more than a few laughs, especially where they did her grabbing the blade of the knife from the doll when he is trying to get out of the suitcase she locked him in, and she goes for the blade once, gets cut, she acts surprised, but does she learn anything?
Trilogy of Terror II is the obvious sequel to the 70's made for TV film which featured three scary stories.
This one has the same number of stories, and each have a satisfying ending to them like the original film.
The first story is "The Graveyard Rats" which tells the tale of a woman and her lover who plan to murder her old rich husband for his money.
And the final tale (the best one) continues the killer Zulu fetish doll story from the original, this time it attacks a woman alone in a museum who was brought in by police to look at it.I really enjoyed 'Trilogy of Terror II', I thought it was a very good sequel to a strong film made years prior.
The first two stories are scary and creepy, and are actually more creative ideas than the first two tales told in the original 'Trilogy of Terror'.
Continuing the Zuni fetish doll story from where we left off with Karen Black in the first film was a brilliant idea!
It's basically the day after Karen Black's character killed her mother while possessed by the doll.
Good stuff.Acting all around was brilliant, starting with Lysette Anthony who was the lead in all three tales.
There were also some really good stand out performances by the supporting cast particularly in the first story 'The Graveyard Rats' from Matt Clark and Geraint Wyn Davies.
I never got around to watching the original Trilogy Of Terror,but in some form or another I would either in passing hear from someone about the first entry and even in one situation find myself staring face to face with a model replica that my local comic book store had perched high above one of the shelves.
So One night I was scrolling through films to watch when I came across Trilogy Of Terror 2.
THE GRAVEYARD RATS:It starts off rather basic with a story of a cheating wives attempts to bump off her debilitated old husband with the help of her lover.
I really liked this one since it hearkens back to that sort of Tales from the crypt and house of Mystery vibeBOBBI: A mother Loses her son in an accidental drowning.
Twenty years after the original "Trilogy of Terror", starring the one and only horror queen Karen Black, Dan Curtis revives his concept of presenting three unrelated macabre stories with the same actress in the lead role each time.
It's actually a pretty decent movie and one major class above the majority of horror films released in the decade of the 1990's.
The 70's original became legendary thanks to Richard Matheson's segment about an uncontrollable and mega-hyperactive Zuni voodoo-doll going on a murderous rampage.
That segment had no real plot, but it offered non-stop excitement and thrills and its huge success is probably the main reason why the TV-movie got remembered and even spawned a (belated) sequel.
Of course the sequel's final segment also revolves on the Zuni doll; in fact it's a direct continuation of the events in the first film.
"Bobby", the second story, is the best one and arguably even one of the finest horror-moments of the 90's.
Lysette Anthony is obviously not as charismatic as Karen Black, but she does really good work and makes the most out of her one-dimensional characters.
Don't focus too much on the Zuni Doll gimmick exclusively, as this is a pretty good horror wholesome and definitely deserves a little more attention..
Lysette Anthony heads up the cast in Trilogy of Terror II.
The Graveyard Rats, Bobby, and He Who Kills are the three tales and they are all very good.
The film is a trilogy, a collection of three horror short stories.
The first time you see the film, it might be reasonably scary, but on repeated viewings it quickly falls apart, due to the low-budget cheap special effects and less than impressive acting.
I'd like to see the first Trilogy of Terror film, from '75, since it seems to be far better, judging from all of the reviews.
After twenty years, made-for-TV horror maestro, Dan Curtis finally made his sequel, TRILOGY OF TERROR 2.
STORY 1- THE GRAVEYARD RATS: Laura (Lysette Anthony), afraid of being cut out of her zillionaire husband's (Matt Clark) will for infidelity, decides to kill the old boy.
STORY 2: BOBBY- A distraught mother (Anthony) resorts to occult means, in order to resurrect her dead son, Bobby (Blake Heron).
This segment is a remake of the original BOBBY from Curtis' horror anthology, DEAD OF NIGHT.
STORY 3: HE WHO KILLS- Set immediately after the events of PART 3 of TRILOGY OF TERROR (1975), police are stumped by the bloody murders in the apartment.
They find the Zuni Fetish doll, and take it to Dr. Simpson (Anthony) for her insights.
A decent follow-up to the first Zuni story, its one weakness is in showing too much of the crazed doll.
She of course is not as great as Karen Black, though its fun to see her playing 3 totally different characters in each story.This is more an horror movie than its predecessor was.
Again, the last story of the movie features the Zuni doll, which also was the highlight of the first movie.
The movie is longer than "Trilogy of Terror" and every story this time is about 30 minutes long instead of 20-something minutes.
The parts that make it good are the stories about the doll.
The stories with the doll are very funny, and still good.
Apparently despite making a lifelong career from the occult, the director never heard of Tetragrammaton.Worst of all is the last segment, a simpering rehash of the original, which featured Karen Black assailed by a very creepy and authentic-looking voodoo doll.
The second story in my opinion was really dull and clichéd - all we have is a woman's dead son come back to life who terrorises her around the house.
I was glad when it ended.The last story of course concerns the famous Zuni fetish doll, and so by default is the best story of the three.
I do think he needed to kill a few more people though.Overall, this is an OK time waster, and of course recommended to fans of the first Trilogy of Terror.
Incidentally, if you're a fan of Trilogy of Terror you may want to seek out a film called "Attack Of The Beast Creatures", which is about a bunch of Zuni type dolls that live in trees on an island and attack people..
**SPOILERS** Trilogy of spooky stories starring Lysette Anthony that ends where the original "Trilogy of Terror" left off with the blood-thirsty and murderous Zuni Fedish Doll coming back to life, after being burned to a crisp, and going on a rampage in a closed and darkened city museum.
The rats not only got to Ashton, and his watch, before she did but also had Laura to dine on for a late night snack.Bobby's mother makes a deal with the Devil to bing her dead ten-year-old son back to life.
After finding two women, mother and daughter, savagely slashed to death in their house there's a burnt Zuni Fedish Doll found in the oven at the murder scene.
The Fedish Doll suddenly comes to life and attacks both the museum night watchmen, killing them both, and then goes after Dr. Simpson.
But sadly enough, like in the the previous "Trilogy of Terror" with Karen Black,The Zuni Fedish Doll survives in the person of Dr. Simpson herself; to kill and kill again for another day or in another movie..
If you like good horror stories you need to see this movie..
Trilogy of Terror II (TV 1996)I liked this a little better then first oneThe Graveyard Rats S1Not bad at all, Good start old nasty man who blackmail is younger wife, who sleeping her Cousin, after recoding them sleeping togetherShe want to leave him, he giving everything to her in her will (Who know how the story goes after)I felt some of the segment drag a little to long, i found some parts very slow and I wondering if if story as anything do with Rats,One point I thought it was a Title of the story but as movie went on, it made more sense, I am clad i stuck in theirI did enjoyed the ending of the story, Giant kill rats were a bit silly but they were kind of Cheesy in good way , which was a little funny.The last scene on that segment was decent, I really liked curve ending.Bobby S2This was great story (I heard it's a remake?
of what?) I found this segment best of the bunchThe mum who lost her son, who drowned, while her husband away, she tries to bring back with Vodoo book.Soon he come knocking back on the door, and acts like evilThis story did have some really good creepy moment and tense feeling at times, it dose seem a lot scary with human face on!The ending was just very funny, the Demon face was so bad .
He Who Kills S3it's about killer doll again, it come back to life and starts to attack people, the same thing happens just like first one.Maybe this was little be more bloody then first one and doll dose look a bit odd in this one.
An incredibly uninspired television anthology sequel that has little to do with the first fantastic film, except that the lead character in all three stories is played by one woman.
It goes something like this: Lysette Anthony goes all gravedigger and gets chased by giant rat puppets.
Lysette Anthony gets chased by the infamous zuni fetish doll from the first TV movie except the special effects are somehow worse two decades later.
~Spoiler~ Trilogy of Terror II is Dan Curtis' sequel to his wildly popular 1975 television movie.
Just like the first film starred Karen Black in all three tales, this time it's Lysette Anthony's turn.
Anthony this time plays a distraught mother who holds a seance to bring back her drowned son.
The last story is a direct sequel to the final story in the original Trilogy of Terror.
I think you all know which one I'm talking about: the Zuni Fetish Doll story.
Distributor: Paramount Pictures Plot: Unleashed in the original cult hit Trilogy of Terror, the demonic Zuni fetish doll carved it's way into movie history.
And the last story is "He who kills" which is about the crazed doll killing people.Audio/Video: Excellent from Paramount.Extras: None.Final thoughts: This movie is great.
Wasn't that great, especially the Third Story it was almost exactly the same as The first movie if you've ever seen it!
If you have not seen the first movie then give it a shot because you may like but being a fan of the first one, I thought there was nothing new added but The same story but not as well executed as the first film.
This sequel to the beloved Trilogy of Terror is a complete misfire, a lousy and even desperate attempt to recapture the elements that made the original film work.
This time we have a mediocre, occasionally inept actress named Lysette Anthony playing different roles in the three stories, instead of the brilliant Karen Black.
The second story involves a woman who tries to bring her son back from the dead and apparently succeeds.
This story is so poorly executed, from the laughably bad acting from the actor playing the son to the horrible final shot, it's just not worth commenting on.
In that one, Black played a young woman who is terrorized in her apartment by an African Zuni fetish doll.
Trilogy of Terror 1 and II are to me a A- of all movies.
The rat scene is so cool, their nasty looking they look so real and creepy and freaky looking so, to me it was really great.The boy one where he plays hide and seek and just is a little basic but still really good.
Makes you think a little bit.The last one where do start on this masterpiece, the whole doll scense are perfect i even claim these doll scenes the best of any doll movie i seen as in term of doll, its the most freakish, creepiest, the little fool is scary, he can kill a whole army, i never seen a creeper doll, and Chucky was, annabelle was and even through hated the ending Dead Silence dolls were freaky looking.
"Trilogy of Terror II" is one of the best Anthology entries around and a more-than-deserving sequel.**SPOILERS**One woman appears in three unrelated horror stories as different characters and persona's.The Good Story(ies): The Graveyard Rats-After murdering her husband, Laura Ansford, (Lysette Anthony) and her lover Ben, (Geraint Wyn Davies) travel to the countryside for the funeral.
This was a very entertaining and certainly worthwhile segment.He Who Kills-Taking in a Zuni fetish doll found at a crime scene, Dr. Simpson, (Lysette Anthony) begins to restore it and finds that it's perfect condition.
The stalking scenes in the film, near the end where the doll goes psychotic and really starts in with the realization when she's alone.
Considerably tame tales of terror with Lysette Anthony portraying the female victim in each story.
In the second tale, she's the grieving mother who calls son Bobby back from his watery grave, after using some sort of witchcraft, only to find that he's not the same boy he once was.
The third tale, the best and yet silliest, has Lysette portraying a museum scientist studying a Zuni fetish doll which was found burnt in an oven at a vicious crime scene. |
tt1197628 | Observe and Report | The movie opens with shots of people in the mall followed by shots of the parking lot where a man in a trench coat runs around flashing different women. Ronnie (Seth Rogan) is reprimanding the two Asian twin security guards saying that they made him look bad. Another guard, Dennis (Michael Pena), tells them that they hurt Ronnie and that no one hurts Ronnie. Ronnie dismisses them.Outside of the mall, a reporter is talking to Ronnie about what happened at the mall. She calls him a security guard and he yells cut and tells her that he is head of mall security. The camera keeps rolling and he asks if shes going to keep going even though she messed up his title, so he calls her doctor.Cut to Brandi (Anna Farris), who is a make up counter salesperson. Ronnie is watching her from a distance. She is talking to her gay friend, Bruce, about a client that she had and laughing. Ronnie walks up laughing hysterically and Brandi stops laughing. Ronnie stops laughing and asks what they were talking about. She asks why he stopped by in a way that shows that she is uninterested. He tells her about the pervert in the parking lot and to be careful. She says shell be fine.Cut to Ronnie and the Yuan twins at the gun range shooting really accurately. They talk about guns and how much cooler it would be if the could carry guns as security guards (there is a gun ban in place). However, they can only carry tasers and mace.Ronnie is now home with his mom watching the news where the interview from earlier that day is playing. The news shows him threatening to murder the pervert. His mom tells him that she is very proud of him. She slurs her words and Ronnie tells her that shes just drunk and she says she isnt. He confesses that part of him thinks that the pervert is the best thing thats happened to him because its his chance to be great. He goes to bed on the couch but wakes up when he hears his mom falling to the ground. He covers her up with a blanket.The next day he gets a cup of coffee from a place at the food court where he meets a girl, Nell (Collette Wolfe), whos new. She had ankle surgery and is in a cast. Her boss comes over and kicks her leg and tells her to keep the traffic area clear and walks away. Ronnie says he disagrees with the bosss methods, but it is a fire hazard. She asks if there really is a pervert and he says yeah and that its his job to protect the people of the mall.Brandi drives to the mall and gets out of her car. The pervert comes up to her, exposes himself and tells her to touch his dick. She screams. In the mall, shes at work, where mall security is asking her questions. Ronnie comes running in and tells the twins to set up a perimeter. The police ask her to come to their office, but she cant walk due to shock so Ronnie carries her. A detective (Ray Liotta) comes to the mall to talk to Brandi. She describes the pervert and the detective thanks her and tells her that hell talk to the other women and go on from there. Ronnie says that Brandi was targeted because shes the prettiest person in the mall and that the pervert will come back to finish the job, which means murdering Brandi. She starts to freak out, but the detective calms her down and leaves. Ronnie gets upset because this was supposed to be his case and now the detective is taking over.Ronnie holds a meeting with all the other guards and explains that they need to catch the pervert. He instructs them to report to him only and dont talk to the police. Later that night, someone breaks into the mall and steals a bunch of sneakers. The next morning the police are called in and the detective is there again asking if the manager has seen anyone suspicious. She says no and he seems satisfied and is about to leave when Ronnie asks her who robbed the store. She says she doesnt know and he asks her again. He then talks to a janitor who doesnt speak English and tells the detective he did it. The detective asks what he said and Ronnie says that he doesnt know because he doesnt speak Spanish. He then accuses another man so the detective asks him if hes seen anyone suspicious. It turns out that the man accused has a restraining order against Ronnie and that Ronnie accused him of having intentions to bomb a Chick-fil-A.The detective and Ronnie are in the office of mall security and the detective goes off on Ronnie saying that he messed up the investigation and he wasted the whole day getting nothing because Ronnie is incompetent then he storms out.Ronnie enters a police station to find out what they are looking for in an applicant. The recruiter gives him some forms to fill out for a background check. He mentions that Ronnie can take a ride along where he can ride with a police officer to see what a typical day would be like. Ronnie fills it out when he gets home.He goes to work the next morning and gets coffee from Nell. He says that the coffee tastes different and mentions that he applied to become a police officer.The detective comes out of the police building and gets into his car. Ronnie is in the back seat and scares him. He says that he is there for his ride along and he cleared it with the captain and that paybacks a bitch. The detective drives with Ronnie in the passengers seat into a bad neighborhood and Ronnie sees all this crime going on in the streets. He stops and points out a corner that he claims is the worst corner hes ever seen. He and other officers have tried to clean it up but theres still a lot of work left. He tells Ronnie that he will let Ronnie patrol it himself that night to make it up to him for getting off on the wrong foot. Ronnie is excited for the opportunity and gets out. The detective drives off and Ronnie yells after him. A young boy and a friend approach him and ask him if he wants to buy crack. Ronnie tries to arrest him but is interrupted by the boys dad. He informs the dad that his son tried to sell him drugs. The dad says its because he works for him. Ronnie says he is going to take his son to jail, and the dad points a gun to Ronnies head. Ronnie lets the boy go. The dad says hell kill Ronnie and Ronnie gets down on his knees. Ronnie stealthily pulls his extendable police baton from out of his sock and unleashes hell. Everyone is beaten and Ronnie is the only one left standing.At the police station the detective is laughing with his friends who cant believe he left Ronnie on the corner. Ronnie comes into the station yelling for the bad guys to sit down. He accuses the detective of setting him up. The detective admits it and asks Ronnie what hes going to do about it. Ronnie says he wants to thank him because he knew that the detective was testing him to see if he had the ability and Ronnie found out he did and that there are 6 to 8 crackheads who can confirm that. He thanks the detective for believing in him. The other detectives laugh silently as Ronnie gives him a hug.Scenes between Ronnie training at the police academy and him at the mall making plans to catch the pervert are shown.Brandi walks out of the mall at night by herself and she thinks someone is following her so she starts to run. It turns out to be Ronnie in a little security car and he offers her a ride. He asks her out to dinner and she points out her car. He keeps driving and refuses to stop until she agrees to go out with him. She says fine and tells him to pick her up next Friday. He starts stroking her hair and she tells him to stop.Nells boss goes off on her again for not keeping her area clean. Ronnie comes for a cup of coffee and asks if shes married because she wears a ring. She says its a purity ring but shes not a virgin, shes a born again virgin. Ronnie says he thought if she was married, she could help him with his date with Brandi.Ronnie is home getting ready and his mom says he looks really handsome. She talks about her first date with his dad. Ronnie asks why he left and she says that he freaked out when Ronnie was born and couldnt take the pressure. He asks if she thinks its his fault that his dad left and she says definitely.Ronnie is waiting outside Brandis place when a car drives up. Brandi gets out of the car and sees Ronnie and asks what hes doing there. He says they had a date and she says she forgot and its late. Ronnie says its OK because he made several reservations. Theyre at a restaurant/bar and Brandi downs a big glass of alcohol. She calls the waitress nurse and asks her for shots of tequila. She talks about how much she hates working at the mall. Ronnie pulls out some prescription pills and Brandi is impressed because she didnt think he partied like that. He claims he parties like that... looks at the instructions on the bottle, "every 4-6 hours." She asks for one and he gives her the whole bottle. She admits that she thought the date was going to suck because she thought he was weird. She downs several shots and then Ronnie takes her home on his motorcycle. She can barely walk and Ronnie kisses her and takes her into her house. He is having sex with her but she seems passed out. He stops and she asks why he stopped so he continues.Ronnie is at the station getting a psych exam and tells the psychiatrist that he took medication for bipolar disease but is currently off. She asks him why his doctors took him off and he says they didnt. She asks him why he wants to be a police officer and he tells her he has this dream where everyone is happily playing in the park but a dark cloud of bad things comes and he steps up and shoots it with a shot gun and then everyone thanks him. Then he starts using his fingers as guns and shoots the psychiatrist, which makes her uncomfortable.Ronnies security guard friends and his mom throw a congratulations party for him. The cake is in the shape of a gun and his mom starts crying and saying how proud she is of him. Dennis gives her a tissue and she starts flirting with him.Brandi is working and putting make up on a customer, when Ronnie stops by with a rose and starts stroking her with it. He tells her to wait for him. Ronnie walks to the food court where Nell tells Ronnie to wait as she wheels herself out from behind the counter to give him his coffee. He smiles and walks out as she watches him. Ronnie arrives at the police station and knocks on the detectives door. The detective is with his friend and says dont say anything or hell give it away. He tells Ronnie to enter. He tells Ronnie that he cant join the academy because he failed the psychological exam. The psychiatrist wrote that Ronnie suffers from delusions and would be dangerous to others and himself. The detectives friend leaves saying that he thought it was going to be funny, but its really just sad. The detective says there is no chance of Ronnie joining the academy. Ronnie leaves and returns to the mall.Nells boss and coworker are making fun of her when Ronnie comes up to the counter. She asks why hes not with the police, and he says he had made it and tried it out for a couple days and didnt like it so hes back. She offers him coffee, which he refuses, saying its the last thing in the world he wants. She starts to cry so he changes his mind and asks for the cup of coffee. Nell says that Roger (her boss) is so mean to her. She cant quit because of the doctor bills and insurance. Ronnie bursts into the kitchen area and bashes Rogers head into the oven. He threatens to murder Roger if he says one more thing to Nell. He walks out and tells Nell that he was never there.Ronnie and Charles, one of the security guards are putting a boot on the car of the guy Ronnie accused of planning to blow up the Chick-fil-A. He starts flipping out and Ronnie tells Charles to take out his taser. Ronnie grabs it and hits the guy.Ronnie is in the guards office when the Yuan twins come in with a clue about the pervert. Its a Polaroid of a penis, which Ronnie identifies as Charles. Ronnie opens up to Dennis saying he is a dick and puts the picture on his forehead. Dennis opens up to Ronnie saying that he looks up to Ronnie and reveals that he knows how to mess with the system. He asks Ronnie if he is ready to learn from him. Ronnie accepts.Ronnie and Dennis do drugs, drink, graffiti walls, watch women, attack skateboarders, etc. Dennis admits to Ronnie that its him who robs the mall after hours while taking jewelry. Ronnie gets serious and says he cant be a part of it. Ronnie asks him to stop and Dennis hits him over the head with a board. Dennis steals the raffle car and drives away.The security supervisor is yelling at Ronnie for not knowing it was Dennis and letting him get away. Ronnie has another Polaroid of the perverts penis (real one this time). The supervisor says that hell hand it over to the police. Ronnie says that finding the pervert is his last shot at redemption so he cant give it to the police. Ronnie decides to go undercover to catch the pervert. He does a Batman monologue. He sees Brandi get into her car and follows her just to see that she is having sex with the detective (Liotta). He storms into her work the next day and yells at her and blows his cover.The detective is looking for Ronnie who wont leave the mall. He tells the police officers who are with him to get Ronnie. Ronnie starts defeating them one by one while the detective looks on. Ronnie is eventually taken down and Charles comes to the rescue. Ronnie and the detective start fighting and Ronnie is taken down and taken to jail.Ronnie goes home and tells his mom that he lost his job. His mom starts talking but she doesnt know what shes talking about because shes drunk. Shes thankful to Ronnie for not throwing her away and shes ready to make a change by switching to beer. She gives him a postcard from Dennis in Mexico. Dennis admits that he respects Ronnie for caring so much.Ronnie is at the food court where Nell walks up to him with a cup of coffee. He asks how much he owes her because he doesnt have free coffee rights anymore. Nell kisses him. The streaker flashes them and runs away. He is running with his jacket flapping open so everyone can see everything. Ronnie chases him and punches bomb threat guy on the way. Ronnie runs into some people and falls on the floor. The streaker stops by Brandis place and runs up to her. Brandi drops her tray of samples and Ronnie appears and shoots the pervert. The security supervisor comes and yells at Ronnie for killing him. The pervert moves and the supervisor relaxes. The Yuan twins come and point a taser at the pervert. The supervisor says to call an ambulance and Ronnie says that hell take him to the station himself. The supervisor gives Ronnie the mall keys back. Brandi says good job and Ronnie announces to everyone, "f you want a slut that will have sex with you and then fuck your sworn enemy, THIS IS THE GIRL!" People clap as Ronnie leaves.Ronnie gives the pervert to the detectives and tell them that he doesnt need their badge or gun to know who he is. He drives off and is interviewed by the news lady and reveals that he and Nell are together and that he intends to make her break her promise to God by having sex with her. | cult, comedy, humor, violence, melodrama | train | imdb | Taboos are there to be exposed and smashed, and if you like your comedy to be near the knuckle and ground breaking then you will definitely love this film.Seth is fantastic in the lead role.
It is a comedy and the suspension of disbelief is paramount to the viewer's enjoyment.In a nutshell, if you are not easily offended, like your humor to be in your face and boundary pushing (and most importantly, fairly sick) then you will love this film and laugh out loud throughout.One other thing, the soundtrack is absolutely awesome with a great cover version of The Pixies' 'Where is my mind?' during one of the funniest scenes in the film, as well as a rocking song by Pyramid (a band I'd never heard of) during the end credits.One of the best comedies I've seen in recent years, up with Bruno and Black Dynamite.
'Observe and Report' marks a big step for Seth Rogen; as opposed to his good-natured, man-child teddy bear image from 'Knocked Up' and 'Zack and Miri Make an Porno', O&R sees Seth playing a bi-polar mall cop determined to save his workplace from a serial streaker.
Rogen is excellent as Ronnie Barnhardt, who is rude to most people, yet is still kind of likable and ia infatuated with Brandi (Anna Faris) the blonde makeup consultant, even having sex with her when she's virtually unconscious.The thing that sticks out in this movie is the violence, which is brutal at times.
This movie surprised me in a very positive way, i really liked the balance of dark and gritty comedy but at the same time also cute and beautiful (often in a very twisted way).It was a refreshing movie to watch, maybe not as good as Bad-Ass (exact same kind of twisted humor) but nevertheless a movie that shouldn't be missed by anyone who loves dark comedy.With comedy and horror it's impossible to go by the IMDb score, i think a 6 a way too low rating for this movie, but if you're frequent IMDb visitor you know about this already.
At one point later, there is mention of his being a bipolar case, but not just to lend clarification to his behavior but more to ground him in a real-world everyman situation which makes his heroic, narcissistic delusions all the more unexpectedly genuine.Seth Rogen's Ronnie Barnhardt exemplifies both the old-school hardass and the modern-day dumbass, and while he merely defends the domain of Forest Ridge Mall, he does so with an aggrandized self-image and the most brutal of temperaments.
Rather, he's an archetype of misled masculine vigor on a mission: to stop the flasher who has been threatening his territory.One would imagine it'd be a light storyline, one convenient for the cheaper tendencies of SNL or MAD TV, yet Rogen and writer-director Jody Hill extract a subversively funny character study about a depraved man and his perverse perception of what it means to be a hero.
It is a boring, stultifying environment where banality is seen as the highest good and crass consumerism is the almighty God. Certain professions like security guard seem to attract nutballs, guys who dream of a police badge and a gun yet have to settle for chasing off skateboarders from the mall parking lot while carrying mace and at most a tazer.
Hill's direction is well done, but the film is an absolute mess.Seth Rogen's performance is one of the best and hilarious performances from a comedy since probably Steve Carell's in 40 Year Old Virgin.
Seth Rogen plays a hyped up mall security guard who wants nothing more than to be able to carry a gun and carry off Anna Faris' character
a hot counter girl at the mall.While it will receive obvious comparisons with Paul Blart: Mall Cop, the world of Observe and Report makes Blart's look like Rodeo Drive on a warm spring day.
Hill has a gift for mining comedy out of the mundane, and he effectively populates his mall with a hilarious food court of human pain.Rogen adds a surprising depth to his usual comic genius as the bipolar Ronnie.
Like Hill's previous film, The Foot Fist Way, what Observe and Report really needs is a few more laughs.
I like Seth Rogan, and Anna Faris, and I like this genre, too.Instead of the funny, goofy, and escapist trip I expected, I saw a very sad and even depressing movie.
If there's anything this movie did, it reminded me that a bad enough script can turn even the most likable people (Seth Rogen who I normally love) into annoying losers that you want to shut up and die.I can't believe people are trying to call this "a dark comedy".
"Well, i'm gonna do a comedy starring Seth Rogen, but it will have these really deep sub- plots that are really serious and emotional, it will be this insane combo like nothing you have ever seen in a movie before"...
all of them!!!) "I can totally just poop out a garbage script with no relevance or thought and it will be funny anyways because it's Seth Rogen and no one will notice how non-linear, shallow, and terrible the movie actually is..."I feel bad for the person who wrote this movie.
Seriously...I could easily crap out a better movie than this in a day.The only thing that gave the movie a 2 instead of a 1, is because of the guy they picked to play the pervert/flasher...his full frontal performance during the finale was one of the only memorable scenes in the film.
It is easy to prejudge Observe and Report, because the plot summary from this movie seems to indicate that it will explore the same territory as the atrocious Paul Blart: Mall Cop, because we also have a security guard from a shopping whose detective fantasies and delusions of greatness contrast with his ineptitude and zero authority.So, I started watching Observe and Report expecting a horrible movie, but I ended up taking a very nice surprise with it, because this comedy shows unexpected audacity and a twisted sense of humor which is much more dark and subversive than many comedies which imitate director Judd Apatow's style (like Semi-Pro or Forgetting Sarah Marshall).The result was a simultaneously funny, dramatic...and also disturbing experience.Although it is structured as a comedy (and it really has various hilarious moments), I think it would be more precise to describe Observe and Report as a perverse parody which uses the bipolar disorder as a replacement of the generic stupidity which usually motivates the immature characters from the new North American comedy.By adding a medical condition as an excuse of the inappropriate and scandalous behaviours from the main character, the movie achieves to set itself on a different level, where the jokes keep being funny but they leave a bad taste which stays with the spectator for a long time.To explain this more clearly, I will compare two similar scenes on their shape, but deeply different on their effect: on the film Role Models, Paul Rudd's character insults a kid with enthusiasm, and that made me laugh because it shows the immature adult catching up to the level of his child rival; on Observe and Report, Seth Rogen's character makes the same, but his face expresses genuine aggression which borders on the abuse, and although that scene made me laugh, it is accompanied by a sensation of pity on the character.The best element is that things like that feel very natural in this movie.The fails I found on it are some forced moments and other ones which feel a bit unnecessary.However, I liked Observe and Report pretty much because of its audacious intention, grotesque humor and solid performances.Rogen shows a lot of conviction on his character; Ray Liotta perfectly transmits intensity on his role; Anna Faris is very funny (as always); Michael Peña is brilliant as a Mexican security guard; and Patton Oswalt has a short but funny appearance.It may not be a great film, but I found Observe and Report to be a very competent comedy, and I recommend it with confidence..
This movie was one of the worst movies I have seen in years I watched it because people said it was funny there was a couple scenes that me me chuckle but nothing really laugh out loud.
Observe and Report is supposed to be dark and twisted, but it's nothing more than you're average Norbit or Bedtime Stories-a generic comedy with pathetic laughs aimed at the masses, using violence in an attempt to pretend to be something more.That being said, I would like to urge everyone to see Big Fan, which should be coming to theaters soon.
Wow. With every 'Knocked up,' 'Superbad' and 'Zack & Miri,' I guess we had to expect a dud like 'Observe & Report.' After all, doesn't Seth Rogen make a new movie/comedy/cartoon every 15 weeks?
The premise of the film is basically about a Naive Mall Cop (Seth Rogan) who suffers from Bi-Polar, his aim in life is to become a Police officer, without going into too much detail and spoiling it, he sets his target of finding a Flasher that is terrorising customers of the Mall to prove to an investigating police officer (Ray Liotta) he is capable of doing his job.
Very Dark and Very Funny, But That's Not All. I went in to the movie theater to see "Observe and Report" knowing it was going to be a lot darker than a typical goofball comedy.
After all, if it came out two months after another slapstick film like "Paul Blart: Mall Cop", it better not be the same movie.
Just like Adam Sandler in "Punch-Drunk Love", if you come in with more of an open mind, you'll see that Seth Rogen's darker side can carry a movie very well.
An anonymous pervert (Randy Gambill) begins flashing women in the parking lot, and after he exposes himself to cosmetic hottie Brandi (Anna Faris), Ronnie takes it upon himself to find the flasher and bring him to justice.Observe and Report, the second film about a mall cop this year after Paul Blart: Mall Cop, is one of the most polarizing films I have ever seen.
His performance is the most mean-spirited in the film (saying a lot for what kind of person Ronnie is), and Liotta's twisted sense of morality and judgment makes for a great character to play off of Rogen.
The movie seemed to come out of nowhere and did not get a lot of publicity which is rather odd for a film starring Seth Rogen.
Seth Rogen being the nice humble guy he is, probably couldn't turn down the role no matter how unfunny he thought it was.The movie had jokes that give you a chuckle and not a huge laugh like in his other movies.
All in all Observe and Report is an unfunny comedy, which I guess wouldn't make it a comedy, so I guess you can just call it a movie starring Seth Rogen with other actors trying to make jokes..
If you thought My Best Friends Girl(2008) was bad, and it still is, but Observe and Report is a half a second behind it.The story begins with Ronnie(Seth Rogen) a security guard at a mall, who longs to be a big shot police detective, and he longs for the make up girl named Brandi(Anna Faris).
Jody Hill may hate the fact that his movie is constantly getting compared to the other mall-cop movie of the year, "Paul Blart", but "Observe And Report" is in many ways the complete opposite of "Paul Blart".
It's like Hill has no idea what comedy means.In the end "Paul Blart" and "Observe And Report" do have one thing in common: They are both extremely low on laughs.
When afore-mentioned perv flashes the sexy shallow make-up counter girl Brandi(Anna Faris,shedding any reserve here,if she ever had any),Ronnie goes from "heading up" the investigation to making it some sort of personal mission,a Quixotic endeavor to augment his dual sense of duty and an empty but destiny-bound personal life.I have yet to see either writer/director Jody Hill's first film,Foot Fist Way,or his HBO series "Eastbound and Down",but his sophomore effort had heightened my curiosity.
In this film,Hill presents Ronnie as somewhat of a contradiction: a near-fascistic believer in law and order whose sense of creating that order is something out of a violent,sadistic nihilistic nightmare/fantasy,peppered with quasi-racist and thick-headed assumptions,all the while he's holding fast to his dreams while setting brave face against the very real facts(that he's become almost blissfully oblivious to)of his bi-polar disorder,the fact that he's generally mocked or not taken seriously by most anyone outside of his close group of friends(including but not limited to the same Police department he so longs to join) and that his heavy-drinking mother(Celia Weston,fantastic in what could be considered a strictly ancillary role)seems as oblivious to his problems as he is to his own.This is another movie that seems to garner a lot of "10"s,"9"s,"8"s,"3"s,"2"s or "1"s;in other words,not much middle ground of opinion.
I will have to say that it isn't Seth Rogen's best work, but is still worth going to see because he always produces a few big laughs which are very hard to do for people like me that only like weird humor.
But that aside, movie itself is loaded with dark humor that sometimes may seem out of line, but if you go in the movie with the right mindset you are able to experience comedy, in a sort of similar style as Jody Hills previous works as "Eastbound and Down" and "Fist Foot Way", of course there are many situations where you just have no idea who to root for, and who is supposed to be the good guy, but that is the whole point, making the main hero sort of anti-hero with his crazy antics and little to no regard to safety of those around.
It's not the 'offensive factor' I'm bothered about, and I love Seth Rogen's other performances...just that the movie is devoid of any humour for 95% of the film, and I was under the impression it was supposed to be a comedy.Basically....avoid it like the Ebola virus, it's pants..
And for all those people that disagree with this and think it shouldn't be in movies, well too bad, not all movies are going to be in Pleasantville.Personally i thought it was a real good movie, some of the violence caught me off guard and made somewhat uncomfortable but after some of the earlier parts of this movie, you can't be too surprised.The trailers were a lie, this is not a goofy comedy of Paul Blart style, this is not a date movie, and this is most definitely not something most people will love like Superbad or 40 Year Old Virgin.
I had never heard of Seth Rogan before I saw this film and had to look up his credits on IMDb. This movie is a real black comedy like Doctor Strangelove and The 'burbs only not as good.
I think this was supposed to be funny, but it's just awful, filled with cringe-worthy moments and terrible comic timing.Ronny (Rogen) is the head of security at a suburban shopping mall.
Even the crime Rogen is bent on solving - a portly flasher running around the mall terrorizing shoppers - is ridiculously mediocre in terms of dramatic effectiveness and leads to a completely underwhelming finale.If there is a single fun or funny moment in this film, I must have missed it, but credit writer/director Jody Hill with turning an appealing, talented case (Ray Liotta, Jesse Plemens) into charmless, unlikable bores.
i don't see the appeal of this movie.apparently it's part comedy,but i guess i didn't get the memo about that,because i didn't find it funny.check that.i did actually laugh out loud once.but i forgot exactly what it was i laughed about before the movie was over.so there there are no real laughs.there is however an abundance of crude language,and there's even some male full frontal nudity,if that's what floats your pontoons,though i'm not saying these are good things.for me,the characters are mostly unsympathetic and shallow and inspire nothing more than indifference towards them.the only decent character in the whole bunch has very little screen time.there are a few things that keep it from being a complete wash.the main character has one or two scenes in which he actually seems like he could almost be a decent human being.there's also good action sequence in the earlier stages of the movie,and it isn't boring.best of all though,it's mercifully short,at less than ninety minutes,even with the end credits.for me,Observe and Report is a 4/10.
But this inexcusable attempt at comedy as I have witnessed this atrocity driven picture, Observe & Report is his worst performance to date.Not to say Hollywood hasn't been beating a horse that was never funny in the first place, Mall Cops, this film takes it to uncreative places.
Watching Observe And Report, I remembered who Seth Rogen's character reminded me of.
They can make films that are mass-appealing, we know that...now it's time to have a little fun.In Observe And Report, you can tell that Seth Rogen and Jody Hill are getting slightly bored with the whole comedy thing...but just slightly.
It's too bad the makers of this film didn't take that line out because it gives reviewers like myself a perfect tagline to sum up the whole film.Seth Rogen plays Ronnie, a determined - if obsessive - mall cop who one day plans of becoming a Police Officer, enforce the law and conquer his love in the form of an Anna Faris.
What both films do seem to miss though is the fact that literally no-one finds the subject of an overweight mall security guard interesting.With very little to like and a supporting cast chiseling away at your patience, "Observe and Report" features minimal laughs and an unlikeable Seth Rogen. |
tt0480249 | I Am Legend | Dr. Krippen (Emma Thompson) is interviewed on TV about her great discovery: she has changed the measles virus genetically so that it attacks cancerous cells. She explains that all the cancer patients which her cure has been tested on have recovered so far. The scene jumps to three years later. We see New York City has become an empty and desolate place, devoid of human life. Grass covers roads and buildings, abandoned cars line the highways and the city is silent. It seems that the apocalypse has arrived.Robert Neville (Will Smith) is driving through the deserted city accompanied by Sam, his dog. A herd of deer leap across his path and he follows them gives chase at speed in the car. He tries to shoot them and we realise it's a hunt. The deer split up and run down a road blocked with abandoned cars. Neville gives chase on foot, trying to hunt one deer down. As he rounds a corner he gets the deer in his gun sights only to be beaten to the kill by a lion that presumably escaped from the NYC zoo. Robert is torn as to whether to shoot the lion and its family who also enter the scene or leave the deer to them. At this point Robert's watch alarm starts beeping and he leaves, taking Sam with him. We see Neville's home. It is the typical American detached house, but it looks as though it were in the middle of a war zone. Robert and Sam have had a seemingly normal evening, eating processed food and watching tv. After a bath, Neville shuts, locks and protects every door and window with massive steel shutters. He sleeps with Sam in a bathtub, rifle in hand, with sounds of screaming surround the home.He dreams of how Zoe (Salli Richardson-Whitfield), his wife, their child, Marley (Willow Smith), and Sam, as a puppy, try to leave New York. We see Robert dressed in a military uniform: he decides to stay in New York on his own in order to try to stop the virus as he is a military doctor. They tell Marley they are going on holiday. The dream scene is interrupted by Neville waking to once again face his lonely reality.At his fortress-like home, Robert exercises and goes down to the basement, where he keeps a small but hi-tech laboratory. We see that he has been experimenting with a vaccine for the virus that has wiped out most of the human race. He's tried the vaccine, evidently only one of hundreds, on some mice in order to find a viable cure. All the mice act incredibly aggressive, except for one. Robert makes note of this mouse and deems that specific compound ready for human trials.Later, Robert goes to a video-rental store where he talks to some mannequins he has set up, his only form of contact with the human form. It seems he has created a game for himself to prevent madness from taking him. He later visits some condo flats nearby, searching for supplies and coming upon a room with a bed surrounded by plastic wrap and another room with two cribs. We see the pain in his eyes as he empathises with the loss of loved ones. Later, we hear the radio message Neville has created and plays over all AM radio frequencies. It says that he's alive, and that he'll be waiting for more survivors at the docks of the bay at midday everyday.Sam spots a deer again, so Robert and Sam go after it. The deer runs into an old building at ground level, and Sam goes after it, although Robert has tried to hold Sam back. Robert enters the building as Sam will not return of his own accord. Carefully, Robert searches the darkened rooms. He finds the corpse of the deer and Sam, hiding under an old desk. An Infected male then leaps out of the darkness to attack Robert and is shot dead. Both Sam and Robert start running away through the building. Some more of the infected appear and chase them. He fights them all and both are able to get out of the building. The leader of the infected (Dash Mihok) cannot run after them because his skin burns as soon as he comes in contact with the sunlight, and after screaming at Neville, he retreats back to the safety of the darkness. Soon afterwards, Robert sets a trap to catch one of the infected. He succeeds and takes the captured female infected (Joanna Numata) home to his lab. He tries the vaccine that made the mouse less aggressive, but it fails and the woman flatlines. He revives her with an adrenaline shot and continues to adapt his serums in the hope of finding a cure.That night, he again dreams of the past, when his wife and child try tried to leave New York in the chaos of its evacuation. He relives the panic and terror on the streets as the citizens of the city try to escape before the infected take control. Neville wakes again, with a deeply sad face.The next morning, he remembers it's his birthday. When he goes to the video store, he finds his mannequins have been moved. During the night the infected have set the same trap he organized for them the previous day.. Neville is caught by the trap and passes out. When he wakes up, he is badly hurt, hanging upside down and bleeding. Sam is faithfully waiting for him. He cuts himself free finally just as dusk falls, but he falls on his knife and impales his leg. The infected leader then appears with infected dogs who attack Robert, but Sam defends him, who succeeds in crawling back to his car to retrieve a pistol, shooting the infected dogs dead. He looks over to see Sam collapse from a bite wound and picks her up and lays her in the car. When he gets home he puts Sam on a table, and injects her with an experimental vaccine. The vaccine fails in helping Sam as Neville realizes her hair begins to fall out and she attempts to bite him, so he is forced to kill her by strangling her as she struggles in his arms. Tears stream down his cheeks as he says goodbye to his only friend. He then goes and buries her in the streets on New York City.In a grief stricken rage he decides to fight all the infected face-to-face. He drives his car at speed into the hoards of infected who roam the streets at night. He crashes and the infected overpower the vehicle. Just as he is about to die a bright light shines on him and he blacks out. While blacked out, he has dreams about the past once more. This time he dreams of the helicopter his wife and child used to escape New York. As it takes off it, a nearby helicopter is attacked by infected and crashes into the helicopter carrying his family.He wakes up in a his house to Shrek playing on the TV and stitches in his knife wound. The people who rescued him are Anna (Alice Braga) and her son Ethan (Charlie Tahan), who have heard Robert's radio message and went to find him the previous day. Anna explains a plan to leave New York, and go to a colony of immune survivors in Vermont. Robert, however, insists that he wants to be left alone and that he doesn't believe that such a place exists.Later that evening, Robert realizes that the infected are attacking the house. The previous night they had followed Anna back when she rescued Robert. Although Robert's home defenses are comprehensive, the infected are so great in number they breach the shutters and make their way into the house. Robert, Anna and Ethan retreat to the basement lab.During the hectic fight, Robert has time to realize that the infected female he had captured earlier and tested the virus vaccine on, has come back to her human form. He takes a sample of her blood in a syringe and gives it to Anna, telling her to leave through a small trap-door with Ethan. Robert stays back to kill as many of the infected as he can, blowing them to pieces along with himself, including the vicious alpha-male who has made a personal quest out of hunting Robert down.Anna and Ethan reach a strange place in the middle of the countryside: the road is cut by a castle-like wall and a steel door. There, some human survivors live in that enclosed community. Anna gives the syringe with the antidote to the human leader of that small community and her voice over tells us of the legend that Robert Neville has become.Alternate Ending:During the fight between Robert and the Infected, Robert realizes that the infected female he had captured earlier and tested the virus vaccine on, has come back to her human form. Alpha vampire makes cracks in the glass chamber (in shape of a butterfly) indicating he wants the female back. Robert removes her drug drip and moves her outside the glass chamber, saying that he's listening (to God). The alpha vampire directs other vampires not to attack Robert, who now vaccinates the female to return her to vampire form. The alpha vampire picks her up and leaves with other vampires while Robert says sorry to them for killing some vampires in his experiments.Robert, Anna and Ethan now live together and keep on searching for other human survivors by sending messages in AM broadcasts. | suspenseful, neo noir, depressing, horror, flashback, action, revenge, sentimental | train | imdb | null |
tt0074906 | The Missouri Breaks | Tom Logan is a rustler experiencing hard times. He and his gang are particularly upset by the hanging of a friend by Braxton, a land baron who takes the law into his own hands.
Logan's men pull off a daring train robbery, only to lose much of the money. They decide to seek vengeance against Braxton by killing his foreman Pete Marker and by buying a small property close to Braxton's ranch, then rustling his stock. First the gang, without Logan, rides off across the Missouri River and north of the border to steal horses belonging to the North West Mounted Police. In their absence, Logan plants crops and enters into a relationship with Braxton's virginal daughter, Jane.
Braxton is obsessed with both his rustling problem and his daughter. He sends for Robert E. Lee Clayton, a notorious "regulator" who, for a price, will take care of rustlers personally. Clayton arrives with a fancy wardrobe, a perfumed scent, an Irish brogue and a Creedmoor rifle (a Model 1859 Sharps rifle) with which he is deadly accurate from a very long distance.
Quickly suspicious of Logan, who doesn't strike him as a farmer, Clayton dons a variety of disguises and begins to pick off Logan's gang, one by one. Identifying himself as "Jim Ferguson," he kills Logan's young friend Little Tod by dragging him with a rope through the raging Missouri.
Clayton spies on Logan with binoculars and taunts Braxton about his daughter's affair with a horse thief. Braxton attempts to discharge him but Clayton is determined to finish what he starts. He amuses himself by shooting two more of Logan's partners, Cary and Cy, from a distance and then by wearing a "granny" dress while brutally killing Logan's closest friend, Cal, with a handmade weapon.
Logan knows it's kill or be killed. He also wants vengeance against Braxton for having hired the regulator in the first place, despite his feelings for Jane. One night after a campfire goes dark with Clayton serenading his horse, Logan slits his throat. He then comes after Braxton, who has lost his mind — perhaps having suffered a stroke — as well as losing his daughter. Braxton pulls a weapon on Logan, but is himself shot in the chest.
Logan abandons his farm and packs up to leave. He acknowledges to Jane the possibility that they can renew their relationship another time, another place. | violence, revenge, murder, sadist, romantic | train | wikipedia | null |
tt0404390 | Running Scared | The movie begins with Joey Gazelle (Paul Walker) driving with a boy, Oleg Yugorsky (Cameron Bright). Oleg has a blood stain on his shirt, implying that he had been shot. The movie then flashes back eighteen hours before the unfolding scene. Joey, a low-level mafioso, is attending a drug deal with his boss Tommy (Johnny Messner) and associate Sal when a trio of masked men burst in and try to steal the drugs and money. When Tommy shoots one of the hoods, a shootout commences in which all the drug dealers and two of the hoods are killed, forcing their leader to flee. Tommy then discovers that the men were dirty cops. As the mobsters flee in a panic, Tommy gives the murder weapons to Joey, telling him to get rid of them.Rather than dispose of the guns, Joey goes home to his wife Teresa (Vera Farmiga) and son Nicky (Alex Neuberger), and hides the guns in the basement. Unknown to Joey, Nicky and his friend from next door, Oleg, are watching from a hiding place. Oleg goes home to his abusive stepfather Anzor Yugorsky (Karel Roden), the outcast nephew of the Russian mob boss Ivan Yugorsky (John Noble). He runs a meth lab in the back yard. When he once again abuses Oleg's mother Mila (Ivana Milievi), Oleg shoots him with a nickel-plated .38 that he had stolen from Joey's basement. Next door, the Gazelle family is disrupted by the gunshots and Joey rushes next door. He finds Anzor wounded and Oleg gone. When Anzor describes the weapon to Joey, he realizes that Oleg had stolen one of the murder weapons, and rushes out in a frantic search to find Oleg and the gun.Oleg runs to a nearby park, where he is caught by a homeless man, who takes his gun and drags him into a public toilet and drug den. Joey and Nicky follow, trying to find him. The criminals shoot each other, alerting Joey and giving Oleg time to escape with the gun. Oleg runs until he finds a pimp named Lester smacking around one of his prostitutes, Divina. When Lester pulls a knife on the prostitute, Oleg pulls his gun on him and pulls the trigger, but the revolver is empty. The pimp threatens to cut the boy but the prostitute knocks Lester unconscious. She prepares to run but notices Oleg coughing. Indebted to him, she takes him to a pharmacy to get him an inhaler. When the pharmacist refuses, she draws the gun and gets the inhaler at gunpoint.The surviving dirty cop Rydell (Chazz Palminteri) informs Tommy that Joey has lost the gun, and that it is out on the street in the hands of Oleg. Joey goes to meet the boss of the Italian mob, Frankie Perello (Arthur J. Nascarella) at a diner to say that the gun used to shoot Anzor was not from the shootout with the cops. Frankie says that he wants Oleg found, because Frankie and Yugorsky are working together on a 'gasoline deal', and he wants them to remain in good standing. Outside, Nicky sees Oleg and and the prostitute Divina enter the same diner, and follows them into the restaurant. Oleg finds Nicky in the bathroom and they stash the gun in a toilet tank. Oleg and Joey leave, and Oleg tells his father the gun is stashed in the toilet tank. They return to the restaurant but the gun is not there.After Oleg leaves the restaurant and tries to convince Divina to take him with her out of town. The police show up and arrest her and take Oleg with them to the police station. There, the dirty cop, Rydell, interviews Oleg and tries to get him to reveal the location of the gun. The boy lies, and is released into his stepfather's custody.At home, Teresa tries to convince Mila to go to a shelter. Mila tells her that she was a prostitute in Moscow who was brought over by Yugorsky. She became pregnant and refused to have an abortion, so Yugorsky sent Anzor to kill her. Instead, he married her in order to give her protection.Anzor takes Oleg to an ice cream parlor and attempts to get him to reveal the gun's location. Oleg runs away and hides inside a parked van. The couple who owns the car, Dez (Bruce Altman) and Edele (Elizabeth Mitchell), take him with their two children back to their apartment. They take Oleg to a large playroom filled with various toys and a camera, and Oleg thinks Dez and Edele are acting weird. He complains of an upset stomach and asks to go to the bathroom. Oleg tries to escape the apartment, but instead finds Edele's purse by the door. He takes her cellphone and Edele tells him where the bathroom is. He calls Teresa Gazelle. She tells him to find look in the medicine cabinet for a prescription with an address, and surreal, threatening shadows dance on the wall behind him. She promises to come get him as Dez and Edele begin to try and force their way into the bathroom. They catch Oleg just as he hides the cellphone.Teresa drives out to the apartment, breaks glass to get in the front door, and knocks on the door. Edele instructs Dez to take the kids back to the bedroom before emerging in nothing more than a robe. Teresa tells her that Oleg called her from that address. When Edele refuses, Teresa threatens to call the police, and Edele lets her inside. Edele searches the entire apartment, including the bedroom where Edele's "children" are in bed asleep, Teresa cannot find Oleg; but just before she leaves, she suddenly realizes something is odd. She forces herself back in, pointing out that there was not a single photograph of their children in the whole house. Edele insists that they have just moved in and that everything was still in storage. Teresa desperately searches the apartment. Dez nods towards a closet in the playroom, and Teresa finds Oleg tied and gagged with a plastic bag over his head. She holds a gun on the husband and wife as she revives Oleg with CPR. They threaten to call the police and she tells them to go ahead.When Oleg revives, Teresa frees him and tells Oleg to get the two other children and wait outside. Dez offers Teresa a hundred thousand dollars in diamonds from their safe if she will just take Oleg and leave. Ignoring him, Teresa looks in the closet and sees children's costumes, plastic body bags, surgical instruments, and shelves of DVD cases with children's names on them. Teresa notices that the playroom floor is completely covered in plastic. Horrified, Teresa demands Dez's phone and calls the police, reporting that she heard gunshots at the apartment's address. She hangs up and shoots Dez and Edele.Joey continues to search for the gun, tracking it to the owner of a body shop, only to find out that he sold it to Lester the pimp. Joey takes Oleg with him to go retrieve the gun, but just as Joey sees the pimp with his gun, Tommy and Sal show up. They coerce Joey into following them to an abandoned train yard, and leave Oleg in the car. Tommy threatens to kill Joey for his screw-up but suddenly kills Sal. Tommy explains that Sal had been arrested and had walked by agreeing to become a snitch on his friends. He then calls Rydell who's arrived at the train station to pick up the bag that he thinks contains the gun. Tommy activates a bomb in the bag, killing Rydell.Tommy drives Oleg to a hockey rink and Joey follows. They meet the Italian and Russian mob bosses along with Anzor. Mobsters hold Joey down on the ice and Russian hockey players shoot pucks into his face several times. Yugorsky demands that Oleg tell them where he got the gun. When he lies, the boss of the Russian mob orders Anzor to kill Oleg. Joey pleads with Anzor and he hesitates. He finally drops the gun and his uncle shoots him for being weak.Joey tells Yugorsky that Frankie had wanted to kill Anzor for cooking meth in the neighborhood, and that the gun was Tommy's. Tommy pulls a gun to kill Joey and a shootout begins between Frankies's mobsters all of the mobsters except Frankie. Frankie kills Yugorsky and walks over to kill Joey. Joey reveals that he is an undercover FBI agent and even his wife doesn't know. Oleg levels a pistol at Frankie, who hesitates long enough for Joey to grab Frankie's shotgun and kill him. As Joey and Oleg leave the hockey rink, the FBI arrive, and an agent explains that they lost his signal in New Jersey.Joey takes Oleg out for breakfast, but as they leave, Lester the pimp walks in. Lester threatens Oleg with a knife. Joey intercedes but Lester pulls out the chrome-plated snub nose 38, the one Joey has been looking for. They fight, and Joey kills Lester. Joey and Oleg flee the diner. As in the scene at the beginning of the movie, Joey and Oleg drive away at high speed, both bloodstained. But the blood on Oleg isn't his, it's Joey's, who was wounded by Lester.Mila has locked herself in the shed containing the meth lab behind their house. She looks at a picture of Oleg, believing he is dead. She holds a lighter to an open propane tank and blows up the meth lab in her backyard, killing herself. Teresa and Nicky come out of the house to investigate and see Joey weaving down the street, losing consciousness from blood loss. Joey crashes the car and Teresa holds him as he goes limp. Oleg stands in front of his house, watching it burn. Fire trucks arrive.Days later,Teresa, Nicky, and Oleg attend Joey's funeral. They leave the city and drive to a small farm house, where Joey's newly repaired Mustang is parked in the driveway. Teresa, sitting on the car's bumper, seemingly talks to herself when she says "Don't ever ask me to bury you again, Joey." Joey emerges from under the car and hugs Nicky and Oleg, who's now part of their family. | depressing, cult, neo noir, murder, violence | train | imdb | There are great transitions, effective dynamic time warping (speed up or slow down a shot, like a bullet flying through the air), and if you thought Maynard, Zed, and the Gimp were bizarre in "Pulp Fiction", wait until you meet the creepy married couple who through their sick hobby make every other evil character in this film look like Buddhist Monks.
Tarantino comparisons will abound as with any clever and violent film these days, but Wayne Kramer imprints Running Scared with his own wonderful style.
I wasn't expecting much from this movie with Paul Walker as the star attraction, but this movie was thoroughly entertaining and I would highly recommend seeing it.Paul Walker gives a good performance although Cameron Bright steals the show even though I've always saw the kid as creepy after seeing him in The Butterfly Effect.
The way the movie was shot and the effects were showed off somewhat, and that's what appealed to me the most about the trailer.I thought I was going to see a gangster flick, great, but I got something else, which turned out to be better.
I loved the story, the characters, and the twists and turns this movie provided.The acting was quite good and believable.
I never have been a Paul Walker fan, but when i found out the talented Wayne Kramer was making a new movie i had to go see it.
I think this is one of the best action/mobster movie of the year so far, if the movie is still playing near you and you are over 13 i think you should give this one a try, the movie is full of twists and turns, although i think the final twist should of been left out and i think some of the vulgar language could of been left out, but those are minor issues.So if you are looking for a fun, action packed, dark,edgy, and very stylish film i suggest you go see Running Scared..
The gangster Joey Gazelle (Paul Walker) is in charge of getting rid of the guns that killed dirty cops in a transaction of drugs between Italian mobsters and Afro-Americans.
Along the night, Joey, the Russian and the Italian mobster and the dirty cops chase the little boy trying to retrieve the gun and disclose who ordered the boy to shoot his stepfather."Running Scared" is a great surprise and pure action, recalling the style of "Pulp Fiction" and "Reservoir Dogs".
Not believable.Horrible stereotypes and ill-researched lingo -- The pimp, hookers, Mexicans, thugs, thieves, weirdos all were obvious clichés appearing as if they had been fabricated by a man with the intelligence and street knowledge of an 8th grader.John Wayne -- An attempt to create a memorable character that failed before it began; the audience never knew enough of why this guy loved The Duke so damn much.Why was the gun so damn precious -- it was passed like a nugget of gold, I suppose one has to have firearm know-how in order to understand why EVERY hood in town wanted the gun.Child Pornographers?
Why not add them into the mix, we have no idea where they came from but whatever, they've been thrown into every other crime drama film to gum up the works, why not here.End scene, the Mexican Standoff -- not enough information about the Mob or the Russians to care whether or not they lived or died or who won the battle.I can't believe Walker came out of that mess of excessive violence with a few abrasions and nothing more.Horrible pimp with a horrible Scarface reference -- felt like a Junior High School kid's idea to throw that in.No research done in street lingo, other directors have portrayed gangsters and thugs properly, I guess this writer was l-a-z-y.Its tough to buy that EVERYONE in a ten mile radius is evil -- Walker and the kid never ran into anyone remotely normal.Too many evils in the course of a night -- child porn, gambling, murder, prostitution, grotesque torture sequences, crooked cops, Russians, not to mention everyone seems ready to commit homicide and is waiting for the opportunity.The cops didn't play a crucial enough role and even when it seemed as if they added SOMETHING to the plot, the primary cop involved was blown up, quite randomly.Bad monologues -- John Wayne and the one by Paul Walker, the emotional one, or lack thereof.
After piling bad events on top of each other the entire movie (yeah, the kid-killing snuff couple was creepy but why were they there if not so just more bad things could happen - and don't say that line about the wife realizing paul walker is not an evil man) it ends with a very predictable confrontation and incredibly unbelievable/unexplained miraculously happy finish.
This movie is the type that has combined enough "flashy" techniques with enough "real life" (apparently real life is not just gritty, but craps all over you in the form of pimps and cop-killing drug dealers) that a meat-head (no offense paulie, you just play them in every movie) like Paul Walker would think he has made an awesome, training day-esquire movie..
Honestly, this is one of the worst movies I have seen in quite a long time.First of all, Paul Walker couldn't act his way out of a pre-school.
Finally, why did Oleg's mother kill herself, and why did Oleg not seem to care all that much.It is probably safe to say that I will be "Running Scared" from the next movie that this director decides to become involved with.P.S. John Wayne???
I watched this movie in a near empty cinema a day after it opened in the UK after seeing adverts on the television, it looked like my sort of film and it certainly was there are plenty of people missing out on this one it seems!
The casting is exemplary Paul Walker and Cameron Bright are the standouts as the lead Joey Gazelle and young Oleg Yugorsky respectively, in fact there is not a poor performance throughout the film so very well casted!
In the end, we get more plot twists than Paul Walker can count and a movie that just tried too hard.
As it is, I can only recommend this movie to action/crime/thriller junkies & Paul Walker fans..
I like the actors in the movie but I could not help but think I was watching some college film made by someone who really, really wanted to shock his classmates.
BUT, then come plot, acting, tone, plot, casting, plot...Anyone who's seen the previews knows that Walker plays a basically good dude who's in the mafia, has a family, and has to get rid of a gun used to kill a cop, but loses it "Tommy used it to burn a dirty cop.
If they find it, I'm dead." The gun has been stolen by Walker's son's best friend Oleg (played by the wooden and ever irritating Cameron Bright of "Godsend" and "Ultraviolet" who I think is only in films because he has creepy eyes) who tries to kill his abusive daddy with it and then takes off.
Meanwhile Paul Walker has to try and enlist the help of his son while avoiding arrest/death.Sounds like it could be a pretty good flick, right?
If they realized how silly it all was they could have had something not unlike "Pulp Fiction" on their hands, but because they expect you to stay perched at the edge of your seat for two hours, long after you've tired of the characters, it comes closer to something you'd find in the straight-to-video action section back around 1996.The movie is jumpy.
The gun goes missing when his son's Russian friend steals the gun to try and kill his abusive dad, and Joey is sent on what will be the night from hell.I like the blue tint in the movie, it really gives the feel of the overall tone of the movie.
The cinematography of New Jersey gives the characters' foul mouthed background a lot more depth and style as he ventures to find the boy and his gun.Paul Walker gives an exceptional performance as the protagonist Gazelle, who's having a very bad day, or rather, night, similar to John McClane in the four Die Hard movies.
Paul Walker has certainly come a long way as far as acting goes since his days as Brian Spilner in Fast and The Furious (Into the Blue is also worth a watch).
Characters are introduced with no warning and disappear just as quickly, adding little to the story besides some laughably cheesy dialogue that leaves you honestly wondering how anyone would ever consider actually making this movie after reading the script ("I'm a mack daddy pimp and I'm gonna cap yo' ass!").Add this to a series of overblown, melodramatic shootouts with very little emotive value or explanation, leaving you honestly wondering how you go there and also who is on what side and why the two sides are fighting in the first place.
I went to see this movie expecting nothing more than an action flick involving the mob - Paul Walker trying to get some piece of evidence back.
Mix up a bunch of great movies such as A Clockwork Orange, Reservoir Dogs, Fight Club and more, add some David Fincher-style directing, and you've got Running Scared.
The trailers do a great job of hooking you with the "just an action flick" look, then surprises you with a huge storyline covering multiple characters, multiple subplots and some of the most _bizarre_ situations one could ever run into - in real life or in fiction.
The basic story, of a missing gun used in a drug confrontation between two groups of bad guys (of which there are many, many, many) and a bunch of cops, which is then used by a kid to shoot his stepfather, who belongs to another group of bad guys, the kid then going on the lam with the gun, which must be retrieved or Paul Walker, the foul-mouthed anti-hero who was supposed to dispose of it in the first place (can you follow this because believe me I'm simplifying!) passes from hand to hand in the most unlikely of circumstances with sleazier after sleazier characters.
This gun will come into possession of his sons best friend, who lives next door, which will take Joey (Walker) and Oleg (Cameron Bright) on a night long odyssey as Joey runs from his past while trying to avoid his future demise.
There is a pride factor Paul Walker exposes in his country that sums of the film as good as any other scene in the movie.
"Running Scared" is more than just a shoot-em- up action film, it bevels its way into the inner darkness of the world that we inhabit and it explores both the good and evil within a person, and sometimes there is no good.
The gun fights are amazing, they would drop John Woo's Jaw. I rewound the opening gun fight about 3x just to get all the details in.The characters are all top notch in great form and absolutely believable.The story was a work of art,and had some of the craziest subplots ever written into a movie.The production values, sets, and direction are all perfect in my opinion,everything fit perfectly.Johnny Messner was as charismatic and evil as they come, he played his roll to perfection.Paul Walker seems to be showing up in every movie coming out of Hollywood now day!
The only good Paul Walker movie I have seen was The Fast and the Furious, until i rented this (and when I rented it I didn't think it would be that good).
This movie is pure genius...it has everything you would want in a movie...cops, mafia, tons of action, twists and turns in the plot, vulgar language (some people like it) and very importantly..all around great acting, and yes i mean everyone's acting in this movie was incredible.
You actually feel like your a part of the events.I give this movie 10/10, because of the good script, the amazing actors and the unusual camera-work..
...or, as Paul Walker would say, "you've f***ng got to be f***ng kidding me, f**k!"DISCLAIMER: If you loved Running Scared, skip reading until the last paragraph.****You know a movie has little to say when the hero expresses despair by yelling the F word at the top of his lungs.
I was eager to see this film because it looked exciting; I had no idea who the director was, people were saying that Paul Walker was actually *good* in it, and overall it just looked like a fun thriller.Seriously now, people.
Paul Walker might be f**ng Michelangelo when it comes to waiting tables or working as a bouncer, but Hollywood ISN'T HIS SCENE!The plot is there...somewhere...something about a gun which Paul has to recover if he doesn't want to die, and some kid meeting hookers and pedophiles, and an abusive dad who likes John Wayne, and a mob boss...whatever.
I do, however, need some of the following (are you writing this down for your next project, Wayne?):1) Good actors (no where to be seen in this movie)2) A solid script (I mean, "a f***ng solid f***ng script!")3) Good direction (and by that I *don't* mean filming people's chins and cheeks at extreme closeups and putting a blue-gray filter over every single scene, Wayne!)Running Scared has none of these things.
What it does have is lots of badly filmed violence, lots of bad acting, lots of pseudo-controversy, lots of unbearable dialogue, lots of F-words, one of the worst kid actors in history (seriously, this guy makes the kids from Santa Clause Conquers the Martians look like Hayley Joel f***ng Osment!), and, well, a dude who's running scared.
Granted, Farmiga is the only bright spot in this hackneyed tale of action-crime stupidity, and with her superb performance in "Dummy", it is no wonder she found her way into Scorcese's "The Departed".What amazed me more than the complete disregard for police procedure, physics (when people get shot they do not get launched into the air, they just drop like a sack of spuds), and intelligent dialogue, every corner the characters turned led them into another aspect of the urban nightmare - to the absolute extreme.
I would have rated it a whole star higher if Oleg had been played better, and those ready to defend Paul Walker's performance should remember there is more to showing emotion than screaming and saying the f word 300 times.I really wanted to like this movie, but after having watched through the confusing story line and suffered through bad line after bad line, in the end Running Scared ultimately let me down.
He is just stunning here from start to end.Cameron Bright deserves huge applause for his portrayal of the abused Russian kid, and Vera Farmiga was impressive as Joey's wife, especially in the scene at the Pedophiles' apartment.The suspense is nearly unbearable for the whole length of the film, and as for my yardstick for any action thriller, it kept me riveted the whole time, with no thought of a snack or a pee break.
I don't normally get much enjoyment from this level of swearing, but here it was right at home in the storyline.The camera-work was dangerously close at times to going over the top, but fortunately the director seemed to know when enough would be too much and managed to rein it in on time.And the icing on the cake for me was the twisty-turny surprise ending, which I'm certainly not going to give away here.So, take it from me: I am not an easy viewer to please, and this is the best movie of its genre I've seen for years..
For his last movies he got a lot critics but in Running Scared he shows everybody what an excellent actor he is.
If you are in the mood for blood, violence, guns and a lot of action then go and watch the movie.
One of the best actors of his time.Running Scared is a bloody good time of an action movie..
This movie is full of really great bits, of surprising twists, good hard "real" action (not the computer game stuff), manly good acting and an above all a good story.
By the end of the film I was only wondering why they would waste so many good ideas to make a confusing movie.
Paul Walker plays a brilliant "fall guy" character, who has depth and believability, something that is lacking in roles of this sort of late.You could compare this to such films as 'Training Day', 'Sin City' and 'Scarface' but these films lack something this great piece of work has, EVERYTHING YOUR LOOKING FOR.
I will always keep this movie close to my heart it has inspired me to one day write and direct a great film like this one..
the story was good some really good plot twists some of it is so r rated that it makes other films like it look like a kid movie and the acting is so well done.
Films like Running Scared are the reason I watch movies.
Pretty graphic scenes and strong language, enough to develop the plot and characters, but not done to excess like some movies.
anyhow Kramer's direction and writing is flawless, this is one of the best films of 2005, a real suspenseful action thriller, good ones don't come out in this genre too much anymore.
From start to finish Running Scared was like a roller coaster ride of a movie.
Running Scared is a terrifying and dark action movie about a man, Joey, who is being slowly betrayed by the mob he works for.
Joey, his wife, and his son together try to find Oleg and instead find out some more interesting information instead.Running Scared was an extremely scary movie in my opinion and one of the most intense I've seen in my life.
One of the best Action movies I've seen in a long time. |
tt0914863 | Unthinkable | An American Muslim man and former Delta Force operator, Yusuf (Sheen), makes a videotape. When FBI Special Agent Helen Brody (Moss) and her team see news bulletins looking for Yusuf, they launch an investigation, which is curtailed when they are summoned to a high school, which has been converted into a black site under military command. They are shown Yusuf's complete tape, where he threatens to detonate three nuclear bombs in separate U.S. cities if his demands are not met.
A special interrogator, "H" (Samuel L. Jackson), is brought in to force Yusuf to reveal the locations of the nuclear bombs. H quickly shows his capability and cruelty by chopping off one of Yusuf's fingers with a small hatchet. Horrified, Special Agent Brody attempts to put a stop to the measures. Her superiors make it clear that the potentially disastrous consequences necessitate these extreme measures. As the plot unfolds, H escalates his methods (with Brody as the "good cop"). Brody realizes that Yusuf anticipated that he would be tortured. Yusuf then makes his demands: he would like the President of the United States to announce a cessation of support for puppet governments and dictatorships in Muslim countries and a withdrawal of American troops from all Muslim countries. The group immediately dismisses the possibility of his demands being met, citing the United States' declared policy of not negotiating with terrorists.
When Brody accuses Yusuf of faking the bomb threat in order to make a point about the moral character of the United States government, he breaks down and agrees that it was all a ruse. He gives her an address to prove it. They find a room that matches the scene in the video tape and find evidence on the roof. A soldier removes a picture from an electrical switch which triggers a tremendous C-4 explosion at a nearby shopping mall visible from the roof. The explosion kills 53 people. Angry at the senseless deaths, Brody returns to Yusuf and cuts his chest with a scalpel. Yusuf is unafraid and demands she cut him. He justifies the deaths in the shopping mall, stating that the Americans kill that many people every day. Yusuf says he allowed himself to be caught so he could face his oppressors.
H questions whether Yusuf will reveal the bombs' location unless Yusuf's wife is found. When she is detained, H brings her in front of her husband and threatens to mutilate her in front of him. Brody and the others begin to take her away from the room in disgust. Out of desperation, H slashes her throat and she bleeds to death in front of Yusuf. Still without cooperation, H tells the soldiers to bring in Yusuf's two children, a young boy and a girl. Outside of Yusuf's hearing, he assures everyone that he will not harm the children. Yusuf's children are brought in and H makes it clear that he will torture them if the locations of the bombs are not divulged. Yusuf breaks and gives three addresses (in New York, Los Angeles and Dallas), but H does not stop, forcing the others to intervene. Citing the amount of missing nuclear material Yusuf potentially had at his disposal (some 15–18 lbs. were reported missing, with about 4½ lbs. needed per device), H insists that Yusuf has not admitted anything about a hence-unreferenced fourth bomb. H points out that everything Yusuf has done so far has been planned meticulously. He knew the torture would most likely break him, and he would have been certain to plant a fourth bomb, just in case.
The purpose of the preceding torture was not to break Yusuf, but rather to make it clear what would happen to his children if he did not cooperate. The official in charge of the operation demands that H bring Yusuf's children back in for further interrogation. H demands that Brody bring the children back in, because her decency will give him the moral approval that he needs to do the "unthinkable". When Brody refuses to retrieve the children for H, he unstraps Yusuf, sarcastically setting him free. The official draws his pistol and aims it at H to coerce him into further interrogation. Yusuf grabs the official's gun. He asks Brody to take care of his children and kills himself. Brody walks out of the building with Yusuf's children.
=== Extended version ===
An FBI bomb disposal unit arrives at one of the disclosed locations and resets the timer, preventing the bomb from going off. As the FBI are celebrating however, behind a nearby crate, the originally unconfirmed fourth bomb's timer counts down to zero. | suspenseful, psychological, philosophical, sadist | train | wikipedia | Carrie-Anne Moss represents the average citizen watching this movie, having a facade of superior human rights beliefs (that we tend to have in western countries) that gradually get whittled away as the situation in the movie get more desperate.How far are we really willing to go to save millions of people?
This movie flaunts that idea.Unthinkable has excellent mind-play and dialogue that really gets you thinking and challenges what we really believe about human rights..
this is one of the best films I have ever seen hands-down, regardless the low ratings many other reviewers have given it thus far.While the premise of the movie is a bit far-fetched, the film itself is superb and has an excellent cast, great acting and a good script.
I do not believe the extreme violence has been added for shock value or entertainment, but rather to shake the hell out of the audience in order to make them reflect upon their humanity and what it means to be human.Also, while I do believe that having yet another film depicting the bad guy/terrorist as a Muslim does have the potential of perpetuating certain negative stereotypes about Islam and Muslims, I feel that the "bad guy" could have just as easily been from any another religious tradition or political ideology and I did not consider it to be offensive or deliberately anti-Muslim and I say this as a Muslim myself.I was thoroughly engaged till the very end and was left absolutely speechless, staring at the screen.
Although many viewers are thinking this film is offending Muslims, I personally do not agree with them.Michael Sheen was playing very well and he did a good job -as always- here.
Jackson was very "deep" in this movie and his acting was excellent.The film grabs you and takes you to it's world.
But it very strong stuff that poses some serious questions about a subject that I don't like to think about; torture in the pursuit saving lives.Samuel L.
Carrie-Anne Moss is an FBI agent caught in the middle of their deadly cat & mouse.The movie's biggest strength is that we believe that Jackson's "H" is capable of doing ANYTHING to save innocent lives including the "unthinkable".
I'd heard nothing about this film until I had a look at some reviews on here, sounded like something which might be my cup of tea and had a decent cast......what a good film.I have no idea why people have watched this and called it propaganda - it's a film!
This film is great simply because it makes the viewer ask themselves important and tough questions.If you are an open minded person, Unthinkable makes you think about things you definitely should ponder, even though you would probably rather not have to think about them.This film essentially brings up the old adage that few things in this world are truly black and white, even though politicians, media, films, etc, usually like to pretend they are.
Time is ticking as three bombs are hidden in American cities, and a terrorist Steven Younger (Michael Sheen) is tortured for the information of their locations, however, is he telling the whole truth.Genuine nail-biting performances from Sheen and Matrix's actress Carrie-Anne Moss as 'Brody'.
There is depth his character, ruthless yet a family man, emotionless, yet sensitive and the viewers moral standpoint can only decide if he is right or wrong.Principles, religious beliefs, good and evil are questioned and touched upon in Peter Woodward's screen-play.
With a great score that builds the tension, Unthinkable is intriguing and gripping as it unfolds at a pulse pounding pace with an ending to die for.It's a topical thriller wonderfully directed by Gregor Jordan and certainly worth every second of your viewing time..
Lots of praises went for Samuel L.Jackson as hard-core interrogator, in my opinion he did a good job but its easy to admire him as we are familiar with his earlier work, he is known actor and people would always take him to hearts simply because they recognize him.
Carrie-Anne Moss as FBI inspector has very difficult role in a man's movie because she is basically on everybody's way, Jodie Foster might have been better choice here.
This is a fictional scenario wherein US authorities have a verified terrorist in custody and simultaneously happen to know that unless they can squeeze info from said terrorist in a short time span, hundreds, thousands, or millions of people will be killed by that terrorist's plot.There are multiple problems with the Ticking Bomb Scenario, such as the unlikelihood of authorities simultaneously having a genuine terrorist in custody that they genuinely and verifiably know has the information they want, concurrent with verifiable knowledge that a mass terror act is about to occur.
Jackson performing the most odious and vile tortures, with hapless Carrie Ann Moss forced to watch and enable such depravity.This film is full of damned lies and disinformation that go unchallenged, and these damned lies are too numerous to list in this review.
And even more astonishing that people can suspend common sense and be convinced this nonsense bears any resemblance to the reality of counter-terrorism.Suckered into watching this film due to the previous reviews and the strong male cast, the only jaw dropping moments for me were at the ludicrous plot and gratuitous violence.Shame on those who were fooled by such dreadful blatant propaganda.
Samuel as always superb in portraying his character, Carrie-Anne Moss also did good job, but most impressive character is "Younger" played by Michael Sheen.
But there is a problem with rest of the cast, it felt like director got his 3 lead actors, and didn't care rest of them, especially seeing superman as FBI agent was kinda odd.The idea of the movie is so controversial, that it will definitely cause to question what is right and what is wrong.
The very thought of enjoying this torture film is, in itself, rather disturbing, and the fact that this movie got good reviews is also disturbing.
Is the movie making a political statement or maybe asking use to think about how far the government would go to save itself?
This film is supposed to make you think about the choice of torture and murder if that action could save millions of lives.It tries to portray "both" sides of the argument.In reality, the presupposition that the lesser of the two evils is being scoped is actually false.This type of torture is ongoing - not because we need to "save a million lives" but rather to keep the powerful, powerful.The public needs these reasons to allow exceptions in law or to turn a blind eye in "such cases".
Nothing has changed in that respect.The good teachings found in Christianity and Islam go out the window when it comes to maintaining power for the corrupt.Unfortunately, this movie will sway many to think that this form of torture may be necessary to get results.That was the aim.Smokescreen..
The story focuses on a young American man Stephen Arthur Younger who has become an Islamic terrorist, planting three nuclear bombs in three American cities, setting up his capture, and then resisting revealing the information about his plot as he undergoes torture.
It is alarming to watch what all he goes thorough at the hands of the very secretive government torturer Henry Herald 'H' Humphries (Samuel L Jackson), only slightly deterred by another US government official Agent Brody (Carrie-Anne Moss).
But the film does not flesh out any of the characters well enough to make us care about them and in the end it is a rather messy replay of what likely goes on in POW camps around the world - on every side of the concept of who is right and who is wrong.
Many things seem strange and go without explanation of any kind.Anyone who thinks this is a good movie and by that most likely agrees with it's message stopped being human and should really rethink his/her place on this planet..
The terrorist played the best part of the movie, rest of all characters were very poor and Samule Jackson, i don't like you anymore.
What I remember from Action movies before 9/11 was that the good guys (Americans) would do anything to save the world, but keeping their traditional moral values intact, while the "Terrorists" where the ones that torture, kill or sacrifice human lives.From 2001, I've seen all that changing, starting in Jack Bauer and that "all matters to save human lives and to keep the American way of life" motto.And I will let my self be a little paranoid, but understanding Hollywood cinema as the fastest American culture spreader around the world and inside the US, I feel that all these new "tactics" used by our new "heroes" are somewhat a message "somebody" wants to spread.And Unthinkable is the newest chapter of this new "American hero" thing.
This movie is a sophisticatedly constructed justification for torture that uses the hoary-old "ticking time-bomb" device to contrive an extreme and unlikely scenario in which few would object to its use.If there was a real risk of massive casualties, time was quickly running out and the authorities had custody of person who created the threat, I think no-one would object to the use of the most extreme methods to extract information if they were deemed necessary.
However I would have had more respect for the creators if they had credited their audience with more intelligence and constructed a drama around the questions surrounding the real-world use of torture and not used the clichéd Hollywood "ticking time-bomb scenario" that has never actually happened..
the whole mumble jumble going on here is intended to justify torture and especially the "war on terror", and the producers ( the department of defence) are determined to convince the regular American citizen of "us versus them" minimalist approach.the way i see it, this movie also promotes genocide.
just imagine for a second while watching that this movie was made by some non-American government and i am confident you will see the unthinkable...and this is the last time i will be viewing Samuel L.
Jackson's character bad because what his role does in the movie is the call of duty - something he HAS to do and you will know why - but you can't call his role good either as some of the things his character does is beyond Human.You definitely can't call Michael Sheen's character a good man, but you can't call it bad either because his real motives - his real asks - lies in the good of the world.
Carrie-Anne Moss' character will warm your heart - will give you the feeling that she is the only good person in the movie, but then her decision in the end doesn't serve for the best of many people.
However, her character is the most compassionate and if there were more people like her, the world would be a better place.This is such an ambivalent movie that it will leave you hanging, you will ask questions in your mind, but perhaps the only people on whom we can pass off a definite judgment are the ones in power, the ones who can make the decisions, the ones who let the others do the dirty job for them and in the end take the moral high ground - those are the real hypocrites (you will know what I am talking about once you watch the movie - saying anything more would lead to spoilers).Acting, brilliant; Michael Sheen might as well have won an Oscar if his character wasn't so controversial.
Nothing needs to be said about Samuel Jackson, but only one thing: if you think that his roles in Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown were the most bad-ass you ever saw him play - just watch this movie, you know realise that those roles are nothing "bad- ass" compared to this.
This film is propaganda attempting to justify the use of torture on terrorists.There were two terrorists in this flick - the Muslim prisoner (NOT "detainee")(Michael Sheen)who had planted nukes around the U.S., and his interrogator (Samuel Jackson) who terrorized him.From what I've heard, torture is considered unreliable as a means of getting reliable information.
While watching this movie some people will be wanting shoot Samuel Jacksons character because while he claims the moral high ground of saving lives, he takes the lowest road in trampling upon all of Americas strengths such as love of liberty, respect for the law, respect for duly appointed superiors.
It neither demonises nor martyrs the religion, its merely the topical vehicle out of which the focus is an interrogation of a self-ascribed "terrorist" (Sheen) by Samuel L.Jackson's character, employing the most vile, inhumane methods possible to extract information that will potentially save the world.Overblown alleged "thriller" is essentially memorable only for one scene, earning the title name, and while it seems implausible, the film is asking you to suspend disbelief and open your mind to conspiracy theory.
after watching this movie, can you chitchat with your friends, whether torturing a person to save a city is moral or not, you can.
The scenario assumes a highly improbable array of variables that runs something like this: —First, FBI or CIA agents apprehend a terrorist at the precise moment between timer's first tick and bomb's burst.—Second, the interrogators somehow have sufficiently detailed foreknowledge of the plot to know they must interrogate this very person and do it right now.—Third, these same officers, for some unexplained reason, are missing just a few critical details that only this captive can divulge.—Fourth, the biggest leap of all, these officers with just one shot to get the information that only this captive can divulge are best advised to try torture, as if beating him is the way to assure his wholehearted cooperation.I started watching 'Unthinkable' and now have paused it before seeing the entire film, so you may consider my opinion incomplete.
And, of course, "damn it, we're running out of time!" Meanwhile, Carrie Ann Moss plays "the reason character", representing the sane part of the audience, arguing that using torture on them means the terrorists have won.
If this situation were presented to you, would you torture and maybe save millions or would you stay true to your morals and act like a real human being should?
I think the movie is really awful..It feels like torture is the right thing to do, and that nobody should be blamed for that as if it is a national duty?!!!!
Unthinkably Bad. This movie was like a bad CSI episode where morally conflicted characters cannot make up their minds on whether the end justifies the means.
Maybe that's the brilliance of it--this movie is torture of a very special, unending kind.You might and should ask why in the world did I watch it to the end?
The movie unthinkable ask or explores the questions like what is terrorism, what is brain drain, what is meant in the feeling of patriotism, and who and where are terrorists.
3. Are you who you think you are?The 1st half of the movie was pretty much stuff you've seen a dozen times before.The evil Black ops guy, who's got every1 by the balls cus his heartless methods are going to save the day; The woman who's basking in the facade of her morals; The bad guy who's portrayed in a way he'd end up being the audiences favourite character.
But of you have read the synopsis Im not giving anything away so its safe to read although not advised for the woolly minded.The movie centres around one man who has planted three nuclear weapons in three US cities set to go off in less than four days and his interrogator (Samuel L Jackson)and their relationship if it could be called that.The only obvious politically correct facet of the film was that the bad guy was an American convert to the Muslim faith and i do understand why the film-makers chose to go down that route.
SJ is a no compromise Interrogator, Michael Sheen is the Terrorist and Carrie-Anne Moss plays the hand wringing conscience filled FBI agent demanding we keep our humanity intact.
But as long as our good human nature is intact then those millions of lives don't matter such is the hand wringing mindset, a point made in the film by Carrie Ann Moss.Yet, a good number of reviewers are adamant that there is no justification for torture even in such circumstances.
Many here are offended at the idea of torturing one man to save millions, but quite frankly I don't believe them because they have never faced such a reality and they simply like to think their more enlightened than those of us who would advocate doing what is necessary in such a situation.
Mr. Jackson keeps torturing the prisoner with all kinds of techniques, thinking to himself it is for protection of the lives of millions, while on the other side we see FBI agent who blindly plays the good cop.
I don't see him as a political puppet, but after this...I changed my mind!Totally political movie, that attempts to fool you into thinking agencies work is justified and could not be even called in question.Sorry to burst your bubble, I highly doubt people would like this groveling type of concept here..
Unlike most action thrillers, this movie almost exclusively focuses on the psychological interrogation of the terrorists as Jackson's and Moss's diametrically different approaches are revealed in dramatic ways.
The set up is laughably cheesy including Samuel L Jackson's character who is supposed to be the greatest interrogater in the country who is better than the CIA or military.Also the third act and the end of this movie make the whole movie feel like a complete waste of time.
Well done movie,great acting but its unthinkable to watch it again..
Unthinkable is a movie that could lead every person who believes in human rights to think between right and wrong.
And the point of this movie isn't justifying torture, for 1 on that subject, why would it be called "unthinkable"? |
tt0088763 | Back to the Future | The title logo appears on a black background. The scene opens in Dr. Emmett Brown's (Christopher Lloyd) garage/home laboratory as the camera pan over a large collection of clocks. A robotic tin can opener opens a tin of spoiled dog food and empties the contents into an overflowing dog food bowl marked "Einstein". The television set and radio turn on. On the TV, we see the ending of an advertisement, followed by a woman newscaster announcing the recent theft of a case of plutonium.The front door of the garage opens, and Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) comes in. Marty calls out, then reaches down to partly lift up the doormat. He places a set of keys under the doormat, then drops it back down. Marty enters the garage, calling out for Doc and whistling for Einstein. He comments on the mess the place is in.Marty puts down his skateboard and it rolls along the floor until it hits a hidden box of plutonium. He turns on Doc's amplifier system, turning all the settings to maximum. A hum grows louder in the background. Marty plugs his electric guitar into a huge amplifier, pauses, and then plucks a string. The amplifier blows up, the impact throwing Marty back against a bookshelf, which falls, causing the books and papers on it to fall off and land on his head. Marty lifts up his sunglasses and we finally get to see his face."Whoa... rock and roll," he says, when a loud ringing fills the garage. It sounds like a fire alarm, but then turns out to be just the telephone. Marty scrambles off the ground and answers it. It's Doc, who asks Marty to meet him that night at the Twin Pines Mall at 1:15 a.m. Marty asks him where he's been all week. Doc says that he has been working. Marty tells him that his equipment had been left on all week. Remembering, Doc tells Marty not to hook up to the amplifier. "There's a slight possibility of overload," he says. Marty glances at the destroyed amplifier, and says that he'll keep that in mind.Just then, every single one of the numerous clocks go off at once, chiming loudly, and Doc asks about them. Marty tells him that it's eight o'clock. Doc is elated at the information, as it means that his experiment has worked and all his clocks are 25 minutes slow....meaning it really is 8:25, and Marty is late for school. He exclaims this news into the telephone, slams down the receiver, retrieves his skateboard and rushes out of the garage. Marty gets on his skateboard and skates through the streets, hitching a ride first on a pickup truck and then on another Jeep to get through town.Marty arrives outside Hill Valley High School. He hops off his skateboard and flips it up into his hand. His girlfriend Jennifer Parker (Claudia Wells) is waiting for him. She warns him that the principal, Mr. Strickland (James Tolkan) is looking for him. Marty tells her that his lateness is not his fault, because Doc set his clocks slow. Strickland suddenly appears at the sound of Doc's name. He demands to know if Marty is still hanging around with Doc, and hands him and Jennifer a tardy slip each; it is Marty's fourth in a row. Strickland warns Marty that Doc is a dangerous nutcase, and if he continues hanging out with him, he'll get in trouble. Strickland also harshly tells Marty that he is a slacker, just like his father. "No McFly ever amounted to anything in the history of Hill Valley!" he says, bringing his face closer to Marty's until their noses touch. Marty counters that history will be changing soon.We change to the auditorium, where a band has just finished playing. Four judges sit on chairs before the stage and request the next band. Marty and his band get up on stage and he introduces them as The Pinheads before launching into the opening bars of The Power of Love. One of the judges (the song's artist, Huey Lewis, in a cameo appearance) cuts them off and tells them that they are too loud.After school, Marty and Jennifer are walking through the Courthouse Square as a mayoral campaign van drives past, blaring "Re-elect Mayor Goldie Wilson!" over its loudspeakers. Marty tells Jennifer about how he doubts he'll ever get anywhere with his music. Jennifer tries to reassure him with her opinion that he's really good, and encourages him to send in his audition tape to the record company, but Marty expresses fear that they'll reject him. He looks up as a new 4x4 Toyota pickup truck is delivered to the Statler Toyota dealership across the street, and admires it, musing about taking Jennifer in it for a weekend trip to the lake. Jennifer asks if Marty's mother knows about their plans for the next night. Marty assures her that his mother thinks he's going camping with the guys, and that she would freak out if she knew the truth. Marty fears his mother was probably born a nun. Jennifer assures him that she's just trying to keep him respectable. Their lips come closer, but just as they are about to kiss, a tin can is shoved in their faces by a woman shouting "Save the clock tower! Save the clock tower!" The woman asks them to deposit money that will be contributed to a fund to save the clock tower, which has been frozen at 10:04 ever since it was struck by lightning at that exact time on the night of November 12, 1955. The mayor would like the clock to be replaced, the Hill Valley Preservation Society thinks that it is important part of their heritage and should be left alone. Marty gives her a quarter just to get her to go away. She thanks him and hands him a flyer, before going off to target more unsuspecting passersby.Marty and Jennifer, now rid of the collection lady, are about to kiss when a car pulls up and beeps its horn loudly. It's Jennifer's father, coming to pick her up. Jennifer hastily scribbles her number on the back of the clock tower flyer with "Love You!!!" next to that. She gets into the car. Marty looks at the back of the flyer. He smiles.Marty gets back on his skateboard and grabs a police car to tail behind. He makes his way back to his home neighborhood, Lyon Estates. Marty lets go of another car and skims down this opening towards his house.As Marty rides up to his house, he passes a wrecked BMW sedan being pushed back into the driveway by a tow truck. Inside, Marty's father George McFly (Crispin Glover) is arguing with his supervisor Biff Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson). Biff is exasperated that George loaned him a car without warning him that it had a blind spot, leading him to have a head-on collision with another vehicle. George insists that he never knew the car had a blind spot. He sees Marty and gives him a weak greeting, as Biff demands to know who is going to pay for his cleaning bill, seeing as he spilled beer all over his coattails. Biff then asks George if he's finished filling out Biff's reports. When George admits he hasn't done them yet, an annoyed Biff taps him several times on the head, reminding George that he needs time to retype them because he'll be fired if he hands in his reports in George's handwriting. He expresses despair that all they've got in the fridge is "light" beer, and helps himself to a beer before leaving. After Biff leaves, George hesitantly admits to Marty that he isn't good at confrontations. Marty asks about the car, which he had been planning to drive up to the lake with Jennifer. George apologizes.The whole of the McFly family later sits down to dinner - George, his wife Lorraine (Lea Thompson), and their children Marty, Dave (Marc McClure) and Linda (Wendie Jo Sperber). Lorraine drops a thin cake onto the table. It says 'Welcome Home, Joey', next to a picture of a bird flying out of jail. Uncle 'Jailbird' Joey has failed to make parole, again. Linda chides that he's an embarrassment to the family. Lorraine reminds her that everyone makes mistakes in life.Having enough of the conversation, Dave leaves for his job as a Burger King cashier, while Linda tells Marty that Jennifer called asking for him. This upsets Lorraine, who lectures Marty that 'any girl who calls a boy is just asking for trouble.' When Linda tries to defend Marty, Lorraine grows upset, insisting that when she was Linda's age she never 'chased a boy, or called a boy, or sat in a parked car with a boy.' Linda asks how she's supposed to meet anyone if she is to go through life like Lorraine did. Lorraine explains that it will happen just like she met George. Linda rolls her eyes, as Lorraine once again relates the story of how they met: supposedly, George was up in a tree (just what he was doing, George has never explained), when he slipped, fell into the street and was hit by Lorraine's father's car. After taking him inside, and taking care of him, Lorraine felt sorry enough for George that she asked him to the Enchantment Under The Sea dance, which happened to be the same night the lightning bolt struck the clock tower. When they had their first kiss at the dance, she knew she was going to spend the rest of her life with him.Sometime after midnight, Marty is awoken by a call from Doc, who asks Marty to stop by the lab and pick up his video camera that he forgot. Marty does so, and heads to the Twin Pines Mall. When he gets there, he finds Doc's van sitting in the parking lot, with his dog, Einstein, sitting nearby. When Marty goes down to greet Einstein, the rear of the van opens up, and a heavily modified DeLorean DMC-12 sedan is backed down the ramp. The driver's door lifts up, and Doc emerges from the vehicle, greeting Marty, then instructs Marty to start recording.Doc places Einstein in the DeLorean and buckles him in, having Marty note the time on the watch around Einstein's collar, and in Doc's hand. Both are synchronized to the same time. Doc then closes the DeLorean's door, and pulls out a remote control, that he uses to maneuver the DeLorean around the parking lot. When the vehicle is a specific distance away, Doc puts its brakes on, and starts ramping up its speed, before turning off the brakes, sending the DeLorean streaking right towards him and Marty. Suddenly, a bright light is seen from inside the DeLorean, as additional fire and lights are set off around it, and suddenly, upon hitting 88 miles per hour on the speedometer, the car vanishes in a puff of light and electricity, leaving a pair of fire trails behind from the red-hot tires. Doc excitedly cheers, but Marty is in shock, as it seems that Doc has just disintegrated Einstein.Doc excitedly exclaims that he actually sent Einstein into the future... one minute into the future, to be exact. He also remarks excitedly that he built the time machine out of a DeLorean because it has style and because the steel body panels were a good conductor for the flux energy that propels the car through time. As if on cue, exactly one minute later, the DeLorean materializes where it disappeared, still traveling at the same speed as it was before, and screeches to a stop, now iced over. As Doc opens the door, Einstein is revealed to be alive and well, with his watch now one minute behind Doc's. Doc explains that Einstein likely believes that the trip was instantaneous, unaware of any change in time at all. Doc shows Marty a device in the cabin called the "flux capacitor" which makes time travel possible. Doc explains that, after an accident in his bathroom in 1955 where he hit his head, he had a vision of the flux capacitor. Though it took 30 years of research and most of his family's fortune to develop it; the project is a success and Doc plans to travel through time. As he talks to Marty, Doc absently sets the vehicle's destination time to that date, November 5th, 1955.When Marty asks what the DeLorean runs on instead of gasoline, Doc tells him it needs plutonium, explaining that a nuclear reaction is necessary to generate 1.21 gigawatts to power the flux capacitor. Marty is alarmed, asking where the Doc could possibly have gotten such a substance and Doc tells him that he hired a couple of Libyan terrorists to steal it for him with the promise of building them a bomb. Doc, however, cheated them, delivering a fake bomb.Doc and Marty, clad in yellow radiation suits, load another pellet of plutonium into the DeLorean and Doc begins his farewell address to Marty and the camera.Just then, a Volkswagen van races into the parking lot. A man pops out of the roof with an AK-47 and begins shooting . Doc yells for Marty to run; in the van are the Libyans that Doc cheated. Doc tries to hide as well but that is when the Libyans' van comes to a stop in front of him. Doc throws away his revolver, showing that he intends to surrender, only for the Libyan to shoot him full of holes. Marty screams and tries to hide but is found as well; when the Libyan tries to shoot him, his rifle jams. Marty jumps into the DeLorean and races off, the van close behind. As Marty swings back into the parking lot, he decides to see if the van can do 90 mph.As he races towards a photo kiosk, Marty fails to see the speedometer creeping toward 88 mph or the fact that the time clock is set to November 5, 1955. Suddenly, there is a flash of light and the kiosk and parking lot are replaced with an empty grassy field, and the car plows through a scarecrow. Marty is startled, loses control of the DeLorean, and crashes into a barn full of cows. The noise wakes up Otis Peabody and his family, who live in the farmhouse next door, and they come outside to investigate the noise. When they open the barn doors, they are shocked at what they find: what appears to be an airplane without wings has crashed on their property. Peabody's son Sherman decides that the DeLorean is actually an alien spaceship, showing his family a comic book depicting an alien arrival. Just then, the driver's door lifts up and Marty climbs out, still clad in his radiation suit. Peabody and his family scream in terror, thinking Marty is an alien, and flee towards the house.Marty attempts to apologize for the damage, when suddenly Peabody returns with a shotgun and begins shooting at him. Marty jumps back in the DeLorean and speeds out of the barn, Peabody continuing to shoot at him. As Marty flees down the dirt path leading to the road, he inadvertently plows through one of two small pine trees lying next to the path and protected by a picket fence. Peabody shoots at the car, in the process destroying his own mailbox, shouting, "You space bastard! You killed our pine!"Marty reaches the two lane road and speeds off, muttering that the experience must be a nightmare, heading for home. When he gets to Lyon Estates, he finds the stone gates marking the entrance to the neighborhood, but to his surprise, instead of a street lined with houses, there is just an empty grassy field with several construction vehicles sitting idle and a large billboard advertising the future housing development that is breaking ground that winter.Marty, still clad in his radiation suit, sees a car coming along the road and attempts to hitchhike, but the occupants are scared by Marty's suit and continue driving. Discovering that the DeLorean is out of gas, Marty removes his radiation suit and pushes the DeLorean back behind the billboard to hide it from passing motorists, then notices a sign reading "Hill Valley: 2 Miles."Marty is next seen walking into the courthouse square of downtown Hill Valley. Hill Valley of 1955 is a lot different to Marty. The courthouse square is an actual garden instead of a parking lot. The Essex movie theater is showing Cattle Queen of Montana instead of a porno film. The town's record store advertises new records: 16 Tons by Merle Travis and The Ballad of Davy Crockett by George Brun. The Texaco station is a full service station where attendants not just fill up the tank but also wash the windows and check the customer's engine and tires. A mayoral campaign car drives around the square, blaring announcements to remind residents to "Reelect Mayor Red Thomas!" Most importantly, the clock tower is still functioning, as indicated when Marty is surprised to hear its half hour chime. Marty still believes that he is in a dream, but realizes this is reality when he picks up a newspaper tossed into a trash can and sees the date "November 5, 1955" on the top of the paper.Marty steps into Lou's Diner (which is the outlet for an aerobic class in 1985), at this point only inhabited by Lou Caruthers, the owner, and another customer eating breakfast at the counter. Marty goes to the phone booth and looks up Doc's address in the phonebook, tearing the page out so he can look it up later. As Marty tries to ask for directions, Lou demands that Marty either order something or leave. Marty gets himself some decaf coffee after misunderstandings about Pepsi Free and Tab.After Lou sets a coffee cup down in front of Marty, we now notice that the customer Marty is sitting next to is his future father. Just then, the doors fly open and in walks Biff and his friends Match, Skinhead and 3D, who have come to harass George. It turns out that Biff has been forcing George to do his homework, something George has been slacking off on. When George admits that he hasn't completed Biff's homework, figuring that it is not due until Monday, Biff gets annoyed, and raps George on the head, reminding George that he will get expelled if he hands in his homework in George's handwriting. George finally agrees to finish up Biff's work and hand it over the next day, and Biff and his friends leave.After Biff and his friends leave, the diner's busboy, Goldie Wilson (Donald Fullilove), chides George for letting Biff harass him all day. George insists that Biff is bigger than him, while Goldie points out that he doesn't expect to spend the rest of his own life working as a busboy, and he plans on becoming someone famous one day. Marty immediately recognizes Goldie and before realizing it, blurts out to Goldie that he's going to be mayor in 1985. This plants the idea in Goldie's mind and he begins to think about how as mayor of Hill Valley, and how he will clean up the town (to which Lou responds by giving him a broom and telling him to start sweeping the floor).After George leaves the diner, Marty's curiosity is piqued and he follows him into another neighborhood. He momentarily loses track of him until he finds George's bike parked beneath a tree. He looks up and notices George on a tree branch, using a pair of binoculars to spy on a girl getting undressed in her bedroom across the street -- Marty is shocked to find that George is a Peeping Tom. As he strains to get a better look, George suddenly slips and falls out of the tree, landing in the street in front of an oncoming Cadillac. Marty instinctively rushes out and pushes George out of harm's way. The car slams on its brakes, but it hits Marty, who hits his head on the pavement and is knocked unconscious. George gets on his bike and rides away as Sam Baines, the driver, yells to his wife that another kid has jumped in front of his car.When Marty comes around, it's night time and it is raining outside, and he is lying in an unfamiliar bed. His mother's voice tells him that he's been out for nine hours. Marty, still semi-conscious, quips about having a dream that he went back in time. Lorraine's voice reassures him that he's safe and sound in 1955. This prompts Marty to bolt upright just as a lamp is turned on, and he is dumbstruck to see Lorraine, in 1955 a very attractive teenage girl. Lorraine begins to hit on Marty almost immediately, thinking his name is "Calvin Klein" (due to that being the brand of underwear Marty is wearing). Marty instinctively panics when Lorraine tries to make advances on him and looks like she is trying to kiss him. Fortunately for Marty, this is interrupted when Lorraine's mother Stella calls her down for dinner.At dinner, Marty meets the rest of Lorraine's siblings, including her brothers Milton and Toby, her sister Sally, and in the crib nearby, little baby Joey. Stella admits that Joey loves his crib, and cries every time they try to take him out. Marty recognizes Joey as the future prison inmate, and can't resist the urge to joke to the baby to "Better get used to these bars, kid..." The family eats while watching an episode "The Honeymooners" on the new television set that Sam has just brought home. Marty immediately recognizes the episode they are watching as one he has watched in 1985, which he explains by saying that he saw it in a rerun, a word that puzzles Lorraine's younger brother. Marty asks how to find Doc's address, which Lorraine's father says is over on the east end of town. Marty knows that area as "John F. Kennedy Drive", a name that Lorraine's father doesn't know. As Marty leaves the house, Sam says that Marty's an "idiot" & warns Lorraine that if she ever has a kid like Marty, he will disown her.Marty makes his way over to Doc's house (which will be destroyed in a fire sometime in the next 30 years, which is why Doc lives out of his garage in 1985). When Doc, who does not recognize Marty, answers the door, we see that he has a bandage on his forehead from where he hit his head trying to hang a clock above his toilet. Without saying a word, he immediately hooks Marty up to his newest invention - a thought reader. Doc determines that Marty comes from a great distance, and wants him to make a donation to the Coast Guard Youth Auxiliary.Frustrated, Marty tells Doc directly that his time machine works and he is from the future. Doc is skeptical, even when Marty shows him his future driver's license and a family photo. Doc comments that the photo must have been forged as Dave's hair is missing from the picture. However, Marty is able to convince Doc of the truth by mentioning the wound on his head that prompted the vision of the flux capacitor. To prove that Doc has invented it, Marty has Doc drive him out to the place where he's hidden the DeLorean. Doc is overly delighted when he compares the drawing he made of a flux capacitor and sees the real device installed on the DeLorean.After returning to Doc's estate, they manage to plug in Marty's "portable television studio" to see the video Marty had filmed in 1985. Doc becomes quite excited and panicky when they reach the point on tape where he will say that time travel requires 1.21 gigawatts of energy from the plutonium to power the flux capacitor. Doc explains that plutonium is very hard to come by in 1955 and that the only energy source capable of that amount of power is a lightning bolt. Predicting the strike zone of a lightning bolt is impossible and Doc tells Marty he may be stuck forever in 1955. But then Marty remembers the flyer the woman gave him about the lightning bolt that is going to strike the clock tower at exactly 10:04 PM next Saturday night and hands it to Doc.Now that he knows a date, Doc begins working on a plan to harness the power of the bolt and send Marty home. When Marty says he can hang out in 1955 for a week, Doc objects, warning him that it could be detrimental to future history and jeopardize his entire existence. He asks Marty if he had any interaction with anyone in the last few hours and Marty drops the bomb about preventing the first meeting between his father and mother. Doc asks to see the photo of Marty and his siblings again; Dave's head is now completely gone. This means that in order to go back to 1985, Marty first needs to make his parents fall in love and have their first kiss within a week.Doc takes Marty to the high school the next morning. Marty is amazed to find that there is no graffiti on the building, unlike in 1985. After peeping through a classroom window and watching Lorraine cheating on a test, they spot George in the hallway during a passing period, seeing him being picked on (in part because of the large "KICK ME" note taped to his back). George is further demoralized when Strickland (who in 1955 is down to his last dregs of hair) appears and tells him he's a slacker. Doc is baffled that Lorraine could fall in love with someone like George, and Marty admits that his best guess is she originally felt sorry for him after her dad nearly killed him. Doc recognizes their relationship as a version of the Florence Nightingale effect, which happens when nurses develop romantic feelings for their patients.Marty tries encouraging George to talk to Lorraine, however, an attempt to simply introduce them to each other fails because Lorraine is already smitten with Marty. Doc finds that the situation is more serious than they'd thought; George lacks the self-confidence to ask Lorraine out, as he fears that he couldn't handle a rejection if she said "no", and getting them together permanently could be impossible. Over lunch, Marty tries again to convince George by saying Lorraine has been talking about him and that he should ask her to the Enchantment Under the Sea dance. George spends his lunch by himself writing science fiction short stories. Marty asks to read one of them and George refuses, saying he's afraid people would be critical. He also suggests that Lorraine may want to go with someone else to the dance, namely Biff, who we see is across the cafeteria, sitting with Lorraine and trying to grope her. Marty immediately marches over to them and pulls the much larger Biff off his mother. Biff begins pushing Marty, however, Marty, unlike his meek father, begins pushing back and is about to fight Biff when Strickland breaks it up.Marty follows George home and begins pleading with George to ask Lorraine out. George continues to refuse and tells Marty that no one in the world will make him change his mind. That night, Marty sneaks into George's room in his radiation suit, places his Walkman headphones on George and gives him a blast of ear-splitting Eddie Van Halen guitar riffing. Marty claims he is Darth Vader, an extraterrestrial from the planet Vulcan, and intimidates George into asking Lorraine out, threatening him with a "brain melting gun" (actually a hairdryer). To keep George from calling for his parents, Marty chloroforms him, before jumping out the window and into Doc's car.The next day, George rushes up to Marty at the Texaco station, disheveled and frantic, having overslept, while Marty is trying to open a Pepsi -- George pops it open with the bottle hook on the machine. George knows he needs to ask Lorraine out but he doesn't know what he should say. Marty takes George back to Lou's diner, where Lorraine is hanging out with her friends. Marty suggests to George that he tell Lorraine, "Destiny has brought me to you." George orders a chocolate milkshake to calm his nerves before approaching Lorraine. It gets off to a shaky start when, in a fit of nervousness, George accidentally mangles the lines Marty gave him. Though Lorraine seems charmed by him, George's attempt comes to a grinding halt when Biff and his friends come in to toss him out. As Biff demands money from George, Marty, sitting at the counter, "accidentally" trips Biff. Biff turns his anger on Marty, and is about to punch him when Marty tricks him into looking away, giving Marty the opportunity to shove Biff and bolt out the door.Once outside, Marty grabs a passing girl's scooter, tears off the crate and turns the bottom into a skateboard. Biff and his goons chase Marty in Biff's car around the town square. Marty is able to avoid serious injury. While riding on the hood of Biff's car, he distracts them by suddenly jumping up, jumping over the hood, the windshield and the backseat, and then hopping off onto the waiting skateboard at the rear. Biff and his friends are confused, and then see they are barreling towards a manure truck parked on the curb. They can only shout "SHIIIIT!!!!!" as the car slams into the back of the truck, which dumps its entire load of manure on them. Watching the chase from the diner, Lorraine becomes even more attracted to the adventurous Marty.Back at Doc's shop, the inventor shows Marty how he'll use the lighting bolt to power the DeLorean. He'll string heavy cable down to the street, building a circuit. A long hook attached to the back of the car will channel the energy from the bolt directly into the flux capacitor. The timing will have to be precise. The demonstration goes well, though it sets a garbage pail on fire. As Doc uses a fire extinguisher to put out the flames, they are interrupted by a knock at the door. To Doc's shock, it's Lorraine, who has followed Marty. Doc and Marty quickly cover the DeLorean with a tarp before letting Lorraine in. Lorraine asks Marty if he wants to be her date to the Enchantment Under The Sea Dance. Marty attempts to back out, suggesting she go with George, but Lorraine balks at the idea, saying a real man stands up for the woman he loves, referring to the fight Marty just had with Biff.Marty suddenly sees a way to get George to win Lorraine's heart. Marty approaches George while George is doing his parents' laundry, and tells him to find him with Lorraine in Doc's car in the school parking lot at a certain time, where Marty plans to appear to "take advantage" of her, which he believes will make her angry. George is to pull Marty out of the car and pretend to beat him up, proving that he's the bigger man.The night of the dance arrives. George is already there, in a tux, waiting for his cue, as the all-black band known as the Starlighters performs on the stage. At Lou's Diner, Marty writes Doc a letter on a piece of stationary warning. He slips the note into the pocket of Doc's coat while Doc is in the middle of using $50 to bribe a cop who asks him if he has a permit for his "weather experiment".Marty arrives at the dance in Doc's car with Lorraine. As they stop, he asks her if they can "park" for a while. To Marty's astonishment, Lorraine produces a small bottle of whiskey and begins to smoke, two bad habits she has in 1985. Marty warns her she may regret it later and Lorraine dismisses it, exasperated that Marty sounds like her mother. She also is aggressive in coming on to Marty in the car, much more than Marty had anticipated, though when she kisses Marty rather hard on the lips, she admits afterwards that she feels like she's kissing her brother.Just then, the door is opened and Marty is pulled roughly from the driver's seat. But to Marty's shock, it's Biff, drunk, and seeking revenge for the $300 in damages Marty inflicted on his car in the manure truck accident. When Biff sees Lorraine in the car, however, he throws Marty to Match, Skinhead and 3D, climbs into the car, and begins to molest her. Match, Skinhead and 3D take Marty out behind the school and toss him into the open trunk of the first car they see, then slam the lid shut. Unfortunately for them, the car belongs to Marvin Berry and the Starlighters. They scare Biff's gang off and they realize that the keys are in the trunk with Marty.George arrives at Doc's car, opens the door as planned, and delivers the lines Marty told him, but is taken off-guard realizing that he is not only dealing with Biff, but his "rescue" is now the real deal. He takes a half-hearted punch at Biff, who grabs his arm and begins to twist it. When Biff roughly pushes a pleading Lorraine off and begins laughing, George summons up the strength and courage, curls his left hand into a fist, and punches Biff squarely in the jaw, knocking him out. Marty, freed from the trunk thanks to Marvin Berry himself, races to the scene just in time to see Biff slump to the ground at George's feet. George takes the grateful Lorraine's hand and the two go into the dance hall.Marty, knowing that his future isn't sealed until George kisses Lorraine, goes back to the band and finds that Marvin is unable to play guitar having injured his hand while freeing Marty from the trunk. Marty agrees to play guitar in Marvin's place and the band strikes up again, playing a romantic song ("Earth Angel"). Marty, already weak because his parents' love is not confirmed, begins to fade into non-existence when a fellow student cuts in between George and Lorraine on the dance floor, however, George regains his courage, takes Lorraine back and kisses her passionately. Marty is instantly revived and finishes the song and sees his mother and father happily in each others arms.Berry asks Marty to play another number with the band. Reluctant at first, Marty can't resist the opportunity and launches the band into "Johnny B. Goode". While Marty plays, Marvin Berry calls his cousin Chuck (the soon-to-be-famous rock n' roll star), telling him that he found the "new sound" Chuck was looking for. Marty does Chuck Berry's trademark duck walk, and then gets carried away imitating other guitar heroes - windmilling his arm and kicking over his amplifier in imitation of Pete Townshend, lying on the stage kicking his legs in imitation of Angus Young, playing behind his head like Jimi Hendrix, and tapping in the style of Eddie Van Halen. In the face of uncomprehending stares from the audience, while lost in heavy metal riffing, Marty stops and tells the students "I guess you're not ready for *that*. But your kids are gonna LOVE it." Marty turns to leave the dance and runs into George and Lorraine. Lorraine asks if it's OK for George to take her home and Marty heartily agrees. He also advises them that if they have a son who accidentally sets fire to the living room rug when he's eight years old, to go easy on him, implying that he's talking about himselfAt the town square, Doc waits impatiently for Marty. Marty arrives, saying he needed time to change back into his 1985 clothes. As they prepare for the event, Doc discovers the note from Marty in his pocket. Refusing to know too much about his future, he tears up the note without reading it. Just then, a falling tree limb disconnects the cable he has installed from the clock tower to the street. Doc climbs again to the clock tower and has Marty feed him the cable. Marty also tries to warn Doc about his death but is drowned out by thunder. Marty runs back to the DeLorean and races off to the starting point Doc has painted for him. While waiting for the timer to go off, he resets his destination time to arrive 11 minutes earlier than he left so he can warn Doc. Just then, the car stalls and Marty frantically tries to start it again. When it does restart, after the timer goes off, Marty begins speeding toward the town square. Despite some difficulty, Doc reconnects the cable just as the lighting bolt surges through the line and the DeLorean speeds off into the future, leaving behind a pair of fire trails. Doc celebrates joyously in the street.Back in 1985, around 1:19 AM, a homeless bum is seen sleeping on a bench in the town square when he is woken up by three sonic booms, just as the DeLorean materializes and slams into the porno theatre just down the block. The bum, Red, quips "Crazy drunk drivers." Marty backs the DeLorean out and turns around, only for the car to promptly ice up from the time travel trip. Just then, the Libyans' blue VW minibus passes by, driving recklessly. Marty jumps back into the DeLorean only to have it stall on him.Marty is forced to run to the mall where the initial experiment is taking place. As he arrives, we see that the sign now reads "Lone Pine Mall," another indication of how Marty has accidentally altered the past when he crushed Peabody's pine tree. He sees Doc get shot, again and watches from a distance as the Libyans chase his previous self around the parking lot. When the DeLorean vanishes and Marty's counterpart goes back to 1955, the Libyans lose control of their van, which and crashes into the photo kiosk & tips on its side, trapping the Libyans. Marty runs down to Doc. Marty is devastated that he couldn't arrive in time to save Doc. Doc, however, suddenly sits up. Marty is stunned until Doc opens his shirt, revealing that he's wearing a bulletproof vest. Marty asks him about the consequences of changing the future and the space-time continuum and the Doc admit, "Well, I thought, 'What the hell!'". Doc drives Marty home and tells him he plans to venture about 30 years into the future. He then ramps the DeLorean up to 88 mph and drives off into the night in a flash of light.Marty wakes up the next morning to find that the furniture in his house is arranged differently. Dave is wearing a suit and working an office job. Linda seems to be having trouble keeping track of all the teenage boys who keep calling her for dates, much to Dave's exasperation. George and Lorraine arrive home from a tennis match, happy and even a bit frisky. Lorraine asks Marty about the camping trip he has planned with Jennifer, to which Marty mentions that the car is wrecked. Everyone starts barking about it until George shows them that Biff is waxing the car, a late model BMW, in the driveway. Biff now runs an auto detailing service and now is working for George, rather than the other way around. George seems amused at Biff's efforts to get away with as little work as possible (but now confronts Biff to complete the work he was hired for; two coats of wax instead of only one). Biff jokingly says that he'll complete the work properly.Moments later, Biff comes into the house carrying a box filled with copies of George's first published book, the cover of which resembles Marty's appearance in the radiation suit. Marty is unsure how to take everything in when Biff hands him a set of keys. They are for the Toyota pickup truck he'd been thinking about purchasing with Jennifer back at the beginning of the movie. As Marty goes into the garage and looks at the truck, quite astonished that the future had been altered so dramatically for himself and his family, Jennifer appears behind Marty. He's relieved to see her and happy that his family is happier as well.Suddenly there is a burst of electricity and the DeLorean screeches to a halt. Doc gets out, dressed in wild clothing and tells Marty he needs to come with him to the future; something is wrong with his and Jennifer's kids. Doc gathers "fuel" by rummaging through a garbage can and loads it into a new addition to the car's engine called Mr. Fusion. All three pile into the DeLorean and it backs out of the driveway. Marty tells the Doc he needs to back up further to get up to 88 mph, as they have no road. Doc replies, "Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads!" Doc has converted the car to a hovercraft. The car takes off, and flies at the camera... and the words "To be continued..." flash on the screen. | entertaining, comedy, mystery, fantasy, whimsical, cult, alternate reality, clever, psychedelic, humor, romantic, alternate history, sci-fi | train | imdb | It is my favorite time travel sci-fi, adventure epic comedy in the 80's and I love this movie to death!
This movie is one of the best masterpiece time travel epic adventure film.
Music theme score by Alan Silvestri is excellent I could listen to it whole day.Back to the Future (1985) From the Academy Award "- winning team of Steven Spielberg" and Robert Zemeckis** comes the hilariously groundbreaking adventure that thrilled critics and audiences alike - and sparked one of the most successful movie trilogy ever!
But things went wrong when scientist Dr. Emmett Brown/Doc (Christopher Lloyd) wanted Marty's assistance for his new invention.At that night Marty went to assist Doc's invention the Time traveling Car "DeLorean".
Scripted by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale for the story of Bob Gale himself, tells a science fiction adventure in a family oriented tone.They really work hard to sculpt that sci-fi thread into a thrilling, culture clashed family movie.
Mr. Lloyd's versatile performance as the madman and genius scientist Dr. Emmett Brown is one of the great memorable roles in his carrier.Last but not the least, it was Crispin Glover who steal the show as the nerdy teenager/father as George McFly. It was an interesting portrayal as a boy who was transformed to a man.
Above all I want to remember this as a romantic movie and it couldn't be made without the songs "The Power of Love," and "Earth Angel".The rating I am giving is 10/10 the original and the best one of all time.
Lea Thompson is cute and vivacious and Crispin Glover is good.'Back To The Future' is one of the most enjoyable time-travelling classics.
It is the ultimate feel good movie, the weed overcomes the bully, the dreamers wishes come true and all because a nosey old bird thrusts for a nickel "Save The Clock Tower!"It's popularity spawned 2 sequels and although it got decreasingly good in terms of quality as a film, Back To The Future remains the best film in my repetoire and a safe bet when you need to feel good.It gets a solid 9 out of 10, comedy, fantasy, the gorgeous Lea Thompson, the insane but comic Doc and the typical teenager Marty make this film a must for all young at heart..
A whimsical but very clever time travel story that bedazzles you leaving you wanting more.The charasmatic Michael J Fox plays a wonderful bumbling high schooler searching for love, a guitar gig and his existence which he himself threatens to erase.Clever and humourous references litter this fun flick; references which are further improved upon in the sequels.
I had the good fortunate to see all three 'Back to the Future' movies in cinema last year and it was such an experience to watch this timeless classic with people who enjoy this film as much as I do.
He is aided by Doc Brown played brilliantly by Christopher Lloyd who tries to get him back to 1985 without causing any damage to the fabric of time.The movie is great-and I feel it can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of their individual tastes in film genres.
Very popular and very entertaining sci-fi comedy that made Fox a movie star after success with tv's "Family Ties", casting him, after Eric Stoltz was dropped, as Marty McFly who winds up in a nuclear-powered DeLorean time-machine and is sent back in time to 1955 by his quintessentially eccentric friend Dr. Emmet Brown (Lloyd doing a fine Art Carney).
Well, obviously, this is my first review for the first Back to the Future and when I came her to IMDb, I knew this was a well loved movie, I was just amazed at it being on the top 250, but I can't give it a lower rating because Back to the Future was an excellent film that was ground breaking for it's time and still today.Marty McFly and his good friend, The Doc, are two science nuts.
Fox) is accidentally sent thirty years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr. Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd), and must make sure his high-school-age parents unite in order to save his own existence.After almost thirty years (2014), this film loses none of its charm, and actually gains respect.
In some ways it's as if MAD magazine made the film in an attempt to be serious.With such an automotive obsession as this film has, one must wonder if George Lucas was involved.Overall, I have to praise this movie for its inventiveness and originality, even if it created most of our time-travel cliches.
My true love of this film came as a result of watching all the behind the scenes material - which if you haven't seen, you must see it if you're a fan of this movie.
In addition to the overall element of science fantasy spectacle there's action, adventure, romance, comedy & even surprising dramatic depth at times.However, the story may not have come to life so vividly without the movie's well-assembled cast.
Not only has he got to adapt to this entirely new environment, he also has to make sure that nothing is changed, because that might have serious consequences for the future...I guess the best reason why this movie works so well and feels so timeless is because they don't use the time machine to go forward.
I feel that there is no such thing as a perfect film,but in today's cinema,"Back to the Future" comes amazingly close.It has laughs, AND thrills,always a great combination.I am amazed at the attention paid to nearly every single detail here.For example,at the start of the film,Doc and Marty are in the parking lot of the "Twin Pines Mall".Then,shortly after Marty arrives in 1955,he accidently runs over one of old man Peabody's beloved pine trees.Toward the end, after Marty returns,the name of the mall changes.This is something you just don't notice until you see the film several times as I have.
and there's nothing better.Back to the Future is a smart inventive all-time masterpiece and I have never known any other movie that I have seen that I have watched over and over again and again, that's how much I love this movie.
Fox as Marty McFly is an energetic teenager with a passion for music and someone who does not want you to call "chicken".Christopher Lloyd as Dr. Emmett Brown is a scientist who wants to invent something unique that works and to change the world.
Fox) travels back to 1955 in a time machine (named the DeLorean) invented by his scientist friend, Dr. Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd).
In meets his high-school-age parents and inadvertently disrupts their first meeting; therefore, he must unite them in order to save their eventual courtship and marriage, and ultimately, Marty's own existence.Despite being an '80s film, the special effects team really did an awesome job in making the time travel elements seem spectacular but realistic-looking, especially the DeLorean.The direction by Robert Zemeckis was well-paced from start to finish, making the film engaging throughout, from Marty traveling back in time to save Emmett Brown to him meeting his future family.
You can't review each movie alone, the trilogy is so bond together that it's impossible.Must say that this is one of the most memorable Sci-fi comedies or movies related to time- travel in the whole film making history.
Yes it's great to watch if you enjoy good comedy, science fiction and are interested in the concept of time travel.I was 13 years old in 1985 and, like most kids who watched this film, I wanted a really super cool time traveling delorean just like Doc and Marty.
It seems like a lot of fun but the paradoxes that time travel could create might be a bit bizarre just as Doc (Lloyd) and Marty (Fox) found out.This sci-fi is a wonderful classic and is still great by today's film standards.10/10.
But the wasted time with Stoltz created an opening for Fox to play Marty McFly as well as work on the show; the result would turn out to be one of the most beloved fantasy trilogies of the modern era.It's honestly hard to find anyone who seriously doesn't like Back To The Future part one.
Back To The Future is one greatest films ever made,an excellent and unforgettable classic that combines terrific direction,a wonderful cast,an amazing score and soundtrack,a fantastic script and great special effects.
All of those elements make Back To The Future one of the best films of the 1980s that is Popcorn entertainment at it's best.Set in the fictional town of Hill Valley,California,Back To The Future tells the story of teenager Marty McFly(Michael J.
After an unfortunate incident Marty gets into the time machine and is accidentally transported back to 1955 where he not only meets Dr. Brown but also meets his parents George(Crispin Glover)and Lorraine(Lea Thompson)as teenagers.
With the help of Dr. Brown Marty must find a way to get back to the year 1985.Released in 1985,Back To The Future is a brilliant and entertaining film that was without a doubt the biggest Box Office hit of 1985 grossing over 300 million dollars world wide and is just an instant classic from the moment you watch it and is one of those movies that is the definition of what a blockbuster should be and where everything from the direction,the cast and story work to absolute perfection with no false note or missing beat.
The movie is also the first feature of one of the most beloved movie trilogies of all-time and while all three Back To The Future films are classics as a whole the first is still the best.
There have been many classic movie duos throughout cinema and among the great duos are Marty and Doc. The scenes between Marty and Doc are truly funny with terrific back and forth banter and have some of the best scenes in the film that are unforgettable.
Christopher Lloyd is brilliant as Dr. Emmett Doc Brown,with Lloyd being delightfully over the top and having a fantastic chemistry with Fox. Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover are wonderful as Lorraine and George McFly,Marty's parents.
Claudia Wells(Jennifer),Mark McClure(Dave McFly),Wendie Jo Sperber(Linda McFly),Jeffrey Jay Cohan(Skinhead),Casey Siemaszko(3-D),Billy Zane(Match),George DiCenzo(Sam Baines),Francis Lee McCain(Stella Baines),Harry Waters Jr.(Marvin Berry),Donald Fullilove(Goldie Wilson),Will Hare(Pa Peabody)and Norman Alden(Lou)give good performances as well.The direction by Robert Zemeckis is amazing,with Zemeckis always moving the camera while giving the film with great camera angles,pace and atmosphere.The score by Alan Silvestri is outstanding and one of best scores in movie history,with Silvestri's score being epic,suspenseful and uplifting.
Great effects,ILM.In final word,if you love Comedies,SCI-FI,Robert Zemeckis or Films in general,I highly suggest you see Back To The Future,one of the greatest films ever made and an excellent,unforgettable classic that you will watch again and again.
The one balm in Marty's life is his friendship with eccentric scientist Doc (Christopher Lloyd), who at present is working on a time machine.
Recipe for fun: take one teenaged boy from 1985, a "mad" scientist who's obsessed with finally getting his 30-year experiment to work, and a very special Delorean--mix in some family troubles and a complicated love triangle; cut in some quotable dialog; heat it up with plenty of action; remove from the '80s and let cool in the '50s; and top it all with Huey Lewis and the News.There may be one or two people left on the planet who don't know the plot to Back to the Future.
All these good times are helped along by having the easily likable Michael J Fox in the lead and the incomparable Christopher Lloyd as the hyperactive Doc -- a role he was born to play.
Back to the Future is popcorn entertainment brought to its absolute pinnacle in fun, color, romance and gorgeous, spirited music that has helped this movie become an all renowned classic that stands out from every other film in the 1980s.
Back to the Future has been referred to many times as one of the finest and most fun movies ever created by human talent, and I think that the praise is well-deserved for this funny, character-centric, feel-good and adventurously exciting movie.
Another great aspect of the story is its message which argues that you can travel back in time to the years when your parents were teenagers, and straighten them out right at the moment when they needed help the most.The second reason why Back to the Future is an impossible movie to hate is the amount of memorable scenes and quotes that anyone who has seen the movie knows the most about!
Two genius actors playing off one another, along with the perfect supporting cast, makes this a must-watch movie at any time in history.
Whichever way you look at it, BACK TO THE FUTURE is one of the most intelligent of the Hollywood blockbusters from that era, a film which perfectly merges crowd-pleasing entertainment with a complex and well-written storyline that gets to grips with the thorny subject of time travel.The underrated Michael J.
Fox stars in the role of his life as Marty McFly, a guy who unwisely gets involved in time travel thanks to the machinations of his kooky inventor buddy, Doc Brown.
I never grow tired of this film, I know the story inside and out now and I still happily watch it every time, laughing at the same parts, watching at the edge of my seat with others, it never gets old for me, it's a pure eighties classic, and one of the few movies that all generations tend to enjoy.
The cast is fantastic and one of the most vital parts of making this movie work, they didn't seem like easy characters, particularly Marty and Doc, they have a lot of layers and certain requirements for portraying them accurately, but every actor nails their role, the script has some very funny bits, but also dramatic parts, and the cast succeeds in all areas of acting.
After ending up in the year 1955 through his friend Doctor Emmet Brown's time machine, Marty McFly must make sure his parents get together to ensure his existence after ruining the moment they fell in love.
Ranging from the stereotypical bully played by Thomas Wilson, to Marty and the similarities between him and his dad, played by Michael J Fox who at times, sums up a teenager precisely, but most of all the manic facial expressions and insane dialogue from Christohe Lloyd, who plays the mad Doc "Einstein" character with such vigour it just makes me smile when he's in the shot, let alone doing something.
My only regret about the experience was that I didn't get a chance to redeem the "Free Pepsi with purchase of large popcorn"discount coupons they were giving out that day!In a pleasant,average California suburb,ordinary teenager MArty McFly(Michael J.Fox,who was a youngish 24 when he filmed this) dreams of being a rock guitarist as he works his way through school,helping out brilliant-but-fringe local scientist Dr.Emmitt Brown(Christopher Lloyd,adding to his wide range of characters).
Besides Fox and Lloyd,Crispin Glover(lovably strange and pathetic as Marty's once and future dad,George),Lea Thompson(cute and vapid as once and future mom Lorraine)and Thomas Wilson(thick-headed bully Biff,who is a lost treasure here,too) are excellent in fleshing out the characters that stick in one's mind regarding this film.
Fox) is accidentally sent back to 1955 in the time machine that his friend Doc Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd, in a zany, unforgettable, over-the-top performance that creates one of the best characters of all time) has built, and he accidentally interferes in the meeting of his parents, so that instead of his grandpa hitting his father (Crispin Glover in another over-the-top but crucial and memorable performance) with his car, he hits Marty instead.
Back to the Future is a great movie and it is part of a great trilogy.Many people may not like the time travel movies but I do and BTTF trilogy is the movies for ME.I just love the fact that one of MY favorite actors Christopher Lloyd is in all three of them and I just love the way he is in them.And not to mention Michael J.
Largely due to it's brilliant writing (and great line readings) Back To The Future is easily one of the most quotable films ever made (perhaps only GHOSTBUSTERS packs more quotes) and that particularly holds true for Doc Brown, who not only has most of the movies best lines, but also puts the most enthusiasm into said lines.
At the heart of the film is a unique, one-of-a-kind vehicle (a HEAVILY MODIFIED DeLorian) of Doc Brown's creation, (without it there would be no Back To The Future) that enables it's operator to travel any where in time AND in highly dramatic fashion an unlucky Marty McFly does just that - and not exactly by design.
Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown.
Dr. Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd) has invented a time machine, and wants his young friend Marty McFly (Michael J.
Great, amazing basic story, but what really makes this one of the most iconic time travel films ever made is the amount of detail they put into the world and the characters.
Back to the future — it is a movie made by Robert Zemeckis, which gave rise to one of the most iconic franchises in cinematography about time traveling teenager Marty McFly and his friend and inventor Emmett Brown.
Best time machine film I've seen.Michael J.
I love the story line and you get to know each character quickly and you can relate to each one of them especially Marty played by Fox, I understand he was working on family ties and back to the future all at the same time wow he must have been tired.I would like to point out how cleaver this movie is because of the time travel element this is not easy to pull off but they do it so well. |
tt0365270 | Wild Things 2 | Brittney Havers (Susan Ward), a South Florida high school senior, lives with her wealthy stepfather, Niles Dunlap (Anthony John Denison), after her mother ran her car off the road in "Gator Alley" and was presumably eaten by alligators a year earlier. When Dunlap is killed in a private plane crash, his will calls for Brittney to receive a small stipend until she finishes college, after which she will receive only $25,000 a year for life from the estate. The rest of Dunlap's assets, totaling $70 million, are to be left to a corporate trust, unless a blood heir can be found.
Brittney's brash, relatively poor classmate Maya (Leila Arcieri) suddenly claims to be Dunlap's illegitimate daughter as the result of her mother's extramarital affair. She is ordered by a judge to submit to a DNA test, the result of which proves she is Dunlap's child.
At the Dunlap home, Brittney hears a noise on her way to the wine cellar but it turns out to just be rats. Suddenly Maya appears and the girls reveal they are lovers before being joined by Dr. Julian Haynes (Joe Michael Burke), who had arranged the DNA test. The trio are in cahoots, running a scam to secure and share Dunlap's fortune.
Insurance investigator Terence Bridge (Isaiah Washington), investigating the circumstances of the plane crash, finds out from Dunlap's medical records that Dunlap had scarlet fever as a child, one of the side effects of which can be sterility, and asks Dr. Haynes how Dunlap could have fathered a child. Dr. Haynes gets nervous about the plot unraveling and contacts Maya. He agrees to meet her and Brittney that night at the docks, where Maya shoots him. The two girls dispose of his body in Gator Alley.
After Bridge learns the entire affair was planned, he shows up at the Dunlap home and demands half the money in return for not going to the police. Brittney, refusing to give up any of the money, gets a gun and points it at Bridge, but instead kills Maya. She tells Bridge that he has to earn his half. He loads Maya's body into the trunk of his car and he and Brittney drive off to dispose of it.
When they stop at a traffic light, Brittney gets out of the car and walks away as a police car pulls up behind them. Bridge can do nothing but drive away when the traffic light turns green and the police car honks at him to get moving. Brittney phones in an anonymous tip that Bridge's car trunk has a girl's dead body in it. He is soon arrested and jailed. A videotape from the Dunlap home security system shows Bridge demanding half of the inheritance money from Brittney and Maya.
Later, Brittney flies off in a private plane with the very much alive Dunlap, who had faked his own death to escape prosecution for misappropriating millions of dollars of corporate funds to pay his gambling debts, and also to avoid the Cuban gambler to whom he still owed millions. Brittney and Dunlap don parachutes, planning to bail out over swampland and disappear together. As Dunlap is poised to bail out, Brittney reveals that she packed his chute with newspaper and pushes him from the plane to his death. She then bails out, landing safely in the swamp, where her mother (Kathy Neff), also very much alive, is waiting for her in a swamp boat.
It is revealed that Brittney and her mother orchestrated everything, including the deaths of Brittney's co-conspirators, in order to steal Dunlap's fortune, and they relax in the sun on a tropical island. Brittney comes down the stairs of their villa overlooking the ocean with two drinks and hands one to her mother. As Brittney watches intently, her mother takes a sip and remarks that the drink is strong. Brittney replies "They do make them strong here, don't they?" with a wry smile, the implication being that she has poisoned the drink. | murder, flashback | train | wikipedia | The original 'Wild Things' was hardly a classic, although the movie had some apparent attraction (I'll leave it to your imagination what they are exactly).
Names are changed, sure, events are slightly different, right, but it all adds up to the same thing.So, if you've actually seen the original Wild Things there's really no reason to watch this one as well.
The ironic thing about this movie is Susan Ward starred in "The In Crowd," an enormous box office bomb that came out way too soon after the original "Wild Things"--the earlier being like a bargain-basement version of the latter flick.
Sure, one of the trademarks of the original movie is the outpouring of plot twists, and not all of them made perfect sense.
Like the original "Wild Things," the film contains a 3-way with two girls and a guy, but it's not nearly as steamy with moments where one of the actresses was obviously switched with a body double.
but i did not expect something as insipid as this.This film goes out of its way to insult your intelligence, and to prove the fact a script can be written within 2 hrs and actually end up as a real life movie.Gigli to me wasn't a bad film, its more misunderstood, and a bit different from usual fare, without Lopez and Affleck in it, i doubt many would make as much fuss..
I just don't get why they have to be so bad, it really isn't hard to write an average script and at the very least make some sense, but to write something as completely moronic as this, and have it take up 2 ft on a Blockbuster shelf defies all logic and reasonable belief.I am someone who can watch an average movie, a film that doesn't quite hit the spot, or truly achieve its potential..
The people who wrote this, are not intelligent, i hope there was a lot of red tape going on, and no one actually had any creative control, because that is the only way to forgive the people behind a film like this.
If i was given the job to make a straight to video sequel, of a guilty pleasure film like Wild Things, i knew i wouldn't make a classic, but i knew i could take the basic ingredients of that film, twist it a bit, and still make a fun movie..
Everyone went to see Wild Things, for the threesome scene, and expected little else, but instead got a good pulp storyline that was genuinely entertaining..
Wild Things 2 (2004) Susan Ward, Leila Arcieri, Isaiah Washington, Joe Michael Burke, D: Jack Perez.
This carbon copy goes through the paces, with plot turns you see coming from a mile away and only get dumber and dumber; you're not likely to care about anything except maybe Ward's tan lines.
Watch this film if you dare, but don't expect to much out of it other then one hot scene followed by complete boredom.
In addition to a cast that was very pleasant to look at, doing some things that were equally pleasing to the eye, it had a credible plot that read like an everyday event in parts of America.
It is almost as if an entire half-hour of footage was deleted from throughout the film, all from between one scene or another.Another feature of Wild Things that Wild Things 2 left out is the plot twists.
After the half-hearted attempt to recreate the threesome scene, and its ability to demonstrate how "wider audience" seems to mean "children/adolescents only" in Hollywood, I'm sure nobody who's seen the film will be surprised that I tend to think of this mess as Wild Things Lite.In all, I gave this mess a two out of ten.
While the original "Wild Things" has it's moments of thrilling scenes and a memorable plot twist, this sequel has only sex and hot women running around in skimpy outfits trying to figure out some stuff.I won't get into detail because believe me, this one does not deserves your time or your money.Susan Ward and a threesome scene (better than the one from the original!!) are the highlights.
So my recommendation is: watch this on late cable and wait for the sex scenes to happen.This movie is a total robbery and a poor excuse for nudity..
Here's what I think you'd expect from a sequel to Wild Things: plot twists (check), breasts (3 pairs), a few good belly laughs (the vet steals the show), and an entertaining way to spend an evening (check and check).
A) No Denise Richards B)No name actors C)Being a crappy direct-to-video sequel D) No Denise Richards NAKED.What does WILD THINGS 2 have going against it after the fact .
A) A script attempting to overcompensate its lameness with enough twists to make your head spin B)ONE sex scene; a threesome -- One of the only links to the original C)Sexy actresses in a sexy movie who refuse to show some skin (This leaves us with a body double and bare back) D) Just plain bad acting (The femme fatale comes across more as a foul-mouthed, petulant 6-year-old) .
All the same: the same American South, the same physically precocious American schoolgirls in bikinis, that do not disdain of same-sex or murder for the millions inheritance, the same cascade of deception and fraud.Actually copying the original story, Jack Perez does not bring to life his own movie.
Similar patterns need actor's charm, possibly negative.And if Neve Campbell and Denise Richards was (at least) just a pleasure to watch, in the second part the actresses from the local drama club were taken.The only notable figure against the cardboard villains is an insurance agent, played by Isaiah Washington.
Wild Things 2 isn't a sequel; it's a cheap emulation, an imperfect carbon-copy that takes nearly all of the elements from the first film and simply replays them with a slightly modified script and a different (ie., less memorable) cast.
As in the original, the noir-style plot revolves around a group of morally bankrupt characters out to get rich any way they can, meaning that double-crosses, murder, and sex are once again the order of the day, all of which leaves the viewer with a very strong feeling of deja-vu.Bisexual rich girl/poor girl combo: it's there!
The first Wild Things was great, but it is not the kind of movie that can be watched over and over.
The plot was also more fun, and more enjoyable.Other reviewers said that this film "copied", or re-did scenes from the first Wild Things, but that really is not true.
Susan Ward is the Troubled Heiress (played by Denise Richards in the first), Lelie Arcierno is the Brainy Girl from the Wrong Side of the Tracks (Neve Campbell in the first one), plus the suspicious investigator (Kevin Bacon in the original) and the sleazy yuppie (Rob Lowe in the original).lots and lots of bad language and some sex, so definitely not for family viewing.
Ms. Ward and Ms. Arcierno are quite hot (look for the taking-off-the-work-shirt scene).best thing about the movie is the Florida setting; a nice change from the usual Hollywood/SoCal scene.all in all--well, like I said, if you liked the first one, you'll probably like this..
It is an interesting movie with many twists and turns.at the beginning story seems to be a simple one but as it progresses,the plot thickens.In between erotic scenes,it has held on to it's plot.girls have done well.watching this movie today may not be as exciting as it would have been 10 yrs back but it's a good revenge story..
Unfortunately , even that element is weaker compared to the threesome in "Wild things".Better watch the original.
I thought this movie was going to be different than the original one but it seems to be a cheesy B-List copy in almost every way.It contains the same plot as the first Wild Things.The actors and the characters they play look like,act and talk almost identical to the characters in the original.They chose Susan Ward for the Denise Richards spoiled-rich girl role because she looks like Richards.They chose Joe Michael Burke for the Matt Dillion town-respected city worker role because he looks like Dillion and they chose Linden Ashby for the Kevin Bacon obsessed cop role because he looks like Bacon.The only difference between this one and the original is that in this one the rich girl gets the money and the poor girl dies,where a in the first movie the poor girl gets the cash and the rich girl dies.This movie is very predictable after the first fifteen minutes.
This movie is exactly like the first Wild Things, a scam + a threesome (FFM) + murder + corruption.
If you've seen the 1st Wild Things, there's no reason to watch this movie- they have the same chain of events (more or less).
If you haven't seen the 1st Wild Things, there's still no reason to watch this movie, unless you only want to see hot girls frolic in a pointless movie, then by all means watch it.
this followup to the original Wildthings falls short in a lot of ares.it is nearly a carbon copy of the original plot structure.basically people betraying each other and being betrayed by others.however,there is no originality in this movie.the basic story has been done and much effectively in the original.there are a lot of twists and turns in this one,but they are very predictable,although ridiculous at time.the acting,while decent in the original,is less than decent in this movie.this is unfortunate,because the story itself is not good enough to carry the movie.you may find your eyelids drooping while watching this thing,as it is painfully slow at times.and you're eyes will glaze over and roll back in your head at the absurdity of the plot twists.i believe many of these plot twists were simply added to keep the movie at a certain running time.this movie is a much less than average effort 3* out of 10.
The movie is the same exact plot of Wild Things except this time the case is different and the actors are different.
Wild Things was a pretty good movie and this remake/sequel is absolute garbage by comparison.
Overall, if you have any desire to see this movie, just watch Wild Things.
If you have already seen Wild Things, watch it again and then you can say you saw this movie.
The original Wild Things is a decent movie...kind of a guilty pleasure of mine.
I watched it with my best friend and at one point she turned to me and jokingly suggested a ludicrous ending.Imagine our surprise and disbelief when that WAS the real ending.Wild Things 2 lacks the sensuality, the intelligence, and the imagination of the original.
This movie is a piece of crap, all it was is a reworking of the Wild Things without the original skilled Generation Y actresses.
The movie would of been better if they redone it with an original thought out script and a plot that had so many holes in it to drive a Sherman Tank through.
The plots twist along with the unbelievable situations make this so called film a complete waste of time do not watch it..
Everything is built like the first one, a miserable story with a tribunal to get 70millions dollars, a girl (the neve campbell's double) who wants the money and lives in a mobile home, the good girl who is really rich and actually really aged to be in college...
The success of the original WILD THINGS (a great little film, by the way, and well worth tracking down) led producers to demanding a second helping of the pie, so along comes this sequel (and a further two down the line, so somebody somewhere must like them).
Sadly, WILD THINGS 2 turns out to be a lukewarm retread of the original, down to using almost exactly the same plot except with the character names changed.Unfortunately, the thing that helped WILD THINGS to achieve its success was the novelty: it stands alone as a uniquely thrilling compendium of twists upon twists, manipulating the story constantly to keep the viewer guessing.
We've already seen and dealt with all that by the time of WILD THINGS 2, and it all feels very passé as a result.It doesn't help that this straight-to-video outing lacks any decent cast members (and low rent action star Linden Ashby playing a cop doesn't count) and as a result the acting is pretty poor.
Almost like a kind of parody of its predecessor.Someone asked 'which are the movies in which the stories will almost be similar but the actors will be different?' The other answered 'porn movies!!' This is the similar kind to the wild things 1 in the sense the plots and sub-plots are the most unexpected.
Watch the original Wild Things before you even think about watching this.
And while you didn't care about the cheats that much in the first one (because it was good), you will not be able to watch this completely and enjoy it as a movie (depending on your likings, you might enjoy the "bodys" on display here ...
But cruel, obnoxious school girl Maya King (Leila Arcieri) claims Britney's stepfather was HER father and she deserves all the money...Pointless "sequel" to "Wild Things".
I was surprised to see Susan Ward in this considering she had already played the same type of character in The In Crowd (which, is a lot better than this in terms of being a trashy, guilty pleasure), Isaiah Washington (what's he doing in this??) and a newcomer Leila Arceri who seems to try too hard.Anyway, don't waste your time on this.
It's not so much a sequel as it is an example of what the first movie might have been like if it had been made by a group of complete hacks.In the original, it was important to the plot that the two girls dislike each other.
The plot is very similar and the characters are imitations of the original ones - but I recommend this film for a great night out.
There isn't too many surprises, but who cares.The two leading ladies were great to watch and most of the performances were quite good for a direct-to-video film.
(Loud fart noise!)Yes, you can see the plot twists coming a mile off AND the film does rip off several scenes (with minor tweaking) from the original (swamp scenes, double crossing, the courtroom, end credits, menage a trois, the assembly hall, etc...), but give it a go!
(If you don't think that she looks like Jack Lord, have yourself a side-by-side look at the close-up pictures of both in the image galleries.)In Wild Things 2, the rich girl's stepfather dies in a plane crash (or so it seems), and the will stipulates that only a blood descendant will get any significant amount of inheritance.
The rich girl, played by Susan Ward, then gives us a re-enactment of the outrage displayed by the Denise Richards' character in Wild Things when the poor girl breaks down under cross and admits to their conspiracy to get their teacher put away.
At this point some guy walks in to re-enact the sordid 3-way scene from Wild Things, and other than the fact that some sort of successful plot is implied by all this celebrating, you're not at all certain that you even know who this guy even is, or how you should attempt to reinterpret anything that you have witnessed thus far.They kill this poor guy right away, and it is clumsily revealed that he is the coroner who falsely certified that the body in plane crash was that of the rich man who isn't really dead, and it is clumsily revealed that the real conspirators were the rich man and his stepdaughter.
Wild Things had one of the most clever plots of any movie in recent memory, and it deserves to be recognized and remembered for that.
SPOILERS-MANY OF THEM-THROUGHOUT: Actually with Wild Things Two it is quite easy to come up with your own spoilers while your watching the movie.
And actually, this is a great movie to watch if you want to really miss the first one.
Just remember: what you absolutely can't believe is really what this movie will give you....that's Wild Things two!.
Wild Things 2 is not a great film.
Towards the end, in the attempt to make the film either as bad as possible, or to destroy all sense of character depth, he becomes money- crazed, bitter and imprudent, gives up his morals out of sheer and sudden enlightenment that his job was rather unfair and made those teenagers wonder if there was going to be another dreadful threesome sex-scene.
This man was the worst idea of the film and his only use was a convenience to the plot and his abs for the threesome sex-scene.
There are a lot of things in common with this movie to the first one:sex, greed and murder in Blue Bay. Considered a sequel, it really isn't, because none of the characters from the first film appear in any shape or form in this home video version (Although one actor from the first film is playing a totally different character in this one).Brittney Havers (Susan Ward)is the step-daughter of Niles Dunlap (Anthony John Denison, famous for his villainous role in the 80's TV show "Crime Story"), an incredibly wealthy guy.
Lots of plot devices are recycled from the first film (Including some sex scenes).
If you have seen the first Wild Things film and enjoyed it, don't see this one.
In the first film I was pleasantly surprised by the great storyline, thinking it was just some lame story with two girls making out (based on the trailer I saw in the theatre).Well, in part two they did exactly what I first expected of part one. |
tt1438176 | Fright Night | In the opening shot during the credits, there is a shot of a sub-division suburb of Las Vegas. It's night, and all the houses look exactly the same, with desert and nothingness not far from this quaint little slice of suburbia.Inside one of the homes, a small dog climbs through the pet door of the back door and walks past a big screen TV with the local news describing the latest in a bizarre string of attacks, where people say someone is trying to bite them in parking lots and other odd places. The television also plays an advertisement for Peter Vincent's "Fright Night", which is a Las Vegas vampire-themed illusion show at the Hard Rock Hotel that's a mix of David Copperfield, Chris Angel, and Vincent Price.Inside the house, the dog senses something's wrong as the camera shows a boy being tossed out of a room like a rag doll... a woman inside the room clearly being eaten by something with nasty, grayish claws and very long nails. The boy regains enough of his senses to head upstairs, trying to hide from the creature. In a bedroom, the parents of the house are both dead, the mother on the bed exsanguinated and the father on the floor with his neck slashed open while he was trying to unlock and load up a rifle. The boy dives under the bed and tries fumbling with the gun himself, snagging the key to the lock from the dead man's pants. As he's fumbling, the creature comes into the room and starts to drag the man's body away. He hears the boy drop the bullets for the gun, lifts up the bed, and kills him.The next day, we are introduced to Charley Brewster (Anton Yelchin), a classic, all-American teen, with a motor bike he's trying to fix up and an inexplicably hot girlfriend named Amy (Imogen Poots) who tools around in a lime green Volkswagon Beetle. Charley is a recovering dork, who until recently was more interested in making Power Rangers-style YouTube videos with his friends Ed and Adam than girls... but all that seems to have changed with Amy. Charley's now running in a faster social circle, and has coldly severed ties with his dorkier friends.Charley's mother, Jane (Toni Collette), is a Nevada real estate agent, constantly filling up her car with For Sale signs (important later), since people in Las Vegas are transient by nature. No one is "from" Las Vegas, and few stay in Vegas for long, with many of them up and leaving very quickly without much notice or fanfare. Jane laments this to Charley, as beloved neighbors the Perrys moved away, leaving their home vacant for a long time... until a new neighbor, named Jerry, purchased it and started renovating it somehow. Jane's confused because she sees a lot of concrete being removed from the house, though she knows Jerry is not installing a pool. Charley tells her to stop spying on the neighbor and to stop obsessing over the construction dumpster in his yard, but Jane says she's only trying to keep up the look of the neighborhood, since she needs homes to sell so she can make money.A neighbor from across the street, Doris, is a go-go dancer in one of the Vegas casinos, and walks around the neighborhood in skimpy little outfits. A lot of the people who live around there work night jobs on the Vegas strip, so it's not uncommon to see homes with the windows blackened or curtained shut, since there are many people in this town who sleep all day. Jane informs Charley that Jerry the neighbor works night construction downtown, and that's why they've never seen him. Charley's motorcycle isn't working again, so he accepts a ride to school from Amy and her friends.When they get to school, Mark (Dave Franco) and Ben (Reid Ewing) hassle Charley over the mocha frappachino he's drinking, since he rode to school with all the girls. Charley is the new addition to the cool crowd, since he's dating Amy, and that means Mark and Ben have to be nice to him instead of picking on him like they did in the past. Charley wants to ask Amy to the prom, but Amy says she's too cool to go to a school dance, and Charley then backs off and realizes he has a lot to learn about being cool. This is clearly and obsession with him. In school, the teacher takes morning roll and several students are missing...including Adam, who used to be good friends with both Charley and "Evil Ed" Lee (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). Charley doesn't seem to care that Adam is missing, but Ed looks incredibly concerned.After class, Ed pulls Charley away from Mark and Ben long enough to tell him that he's worried about Adam and the other kids who have gone missing lately. Charley doesn't want to talk to Ed, and so Ed has to threaten to release all the videos they made together dressed up as superheroes in tights if Charley won't meet him at Adam's house after school. Charley, obsessed with his new reputation as a cool kid, agrees to meet Ed.After school, Charley blows Ed off and goes home instead, where he finds his mother talking to Jerry Dandridge (Colin Farrell), their new neighbor. It's already dusk/dark out, and Jerry's helping Jane with a sprinkler or something else that's broken on the property line. Jerry flirts heavily with Jane, who loves it, while Charley feels uncomfortable. Amy appears and joins the conversation. Charley then gets a text from Ed with a sample of the video he will release if Charley does not meet him at Adam's house in ten minutes (it's a video of Charley dressed as Squid Man, doing martial arts in the front yard with Adam and Ed). Charley then races off to meet Ed, leaving everyone abruptly.At Adam's house, Ed explains that he believes Adam was killed by vampires, and that in fact Charley's new neighbor Jerry is a vampire. Charley thinks he's insane, but Ed convinces him to break into Adam's house with him. We see quickly that it's the house from the opening of the movie, because Ed uses the pet door to gain entry. He carries with him a satchel that has crosses, holy water, stakes, and other vampire-fighting gear in it. Ed slinks through the house looking for signs of Adam and his family, but finds nothing. He explains to Charley that he and Adam were doing surveillance and have deduced that all the disappearances of late are localized to Charley's neighborhood, and that on a map these vanishings radiate from Charley's house... or, rather, from the house next door to Charley's. Ed says that he and Adam had been following Jerry for a while and that they just need to figure out how to defeat him. Ed wants to go to Peter Vincent (David Tennant), since he is billed as the world's foremost expert on vampires (in addition to being the star of a Las Vegas magic show with a vampire theme). Charley says he wishes he had never been friends with Ed and that his life finally got better when he stopped talking to Ed and Adam and grew up, instead of playing make-believe. Charley decides to go home and ignore Ed and his suspicions.Ed leaves as well, and is accosted by Mark on the street while riding his skate board. While running away from bully Mark, Ed loses his satchel with all the vampire fighting gear in it, as he drops it while trying to hop a fence. Jumping from yard to yard in the Vegas neighborhood, Ed eventually lands in a yard where Jerry's waiting for him. Jerry confronts Ed and asks him why he's nosing around and spying on him, and Ed uses a paint can to smash through a window of the home... only to find it is vacant inside. Ed doesn't realize that the "vampires have to be invited in" rule only applies if the house is occupied... and so Jerry walks right into the abandoned place. Ed runs upstairs and tries to escape through a window, and then a jump down into the yard, but Jerry's already outside waiting for him. Ed falls into the pool, and Jerry walks in, towards him, while Ed brandishes a crucifix to try to stop him. Jerry just tells Ed to calm down, that what's going to happen is what's best for him, since Ed is a misfit and he'll never fit in with regular people anyway, so becoming a vampire won't be so bad. Jerry then takes ahold of Ed, bites him, and pulls him under the water to drink his blood.The next day at school, Charley notices that Ed is missing when the class roll is taken, as well as a few other missing students. Charley asks Amy if she thinks that's weird, but Amy says it's senior year and kids are skipping school, like kids do. Charley is still walking that thin line between thinking it's ridiculous to believe in vampires and knowing that vampires are behind what's happening to all these missing people.When he gets home from school that night, Charley is surprised by Jerry outside on his front lawn, who wants to borrow some beer because Jerry claims that he has a hot dating coming whom he wants to get drunk. Charley says he will loan Jerry a six pack and goes to get it. Jerry wants to come inside, but can't unless he's invited, and Charley tries to test Jerry by talking to him and seeing if he will come inside without an invite. Charley's nervous, so he drops one of the beers on the floor and cuts himself a little. Jerry gets excited from the sight of blood and presses for an invite so he can help Charley clean up the mess. But, Charley never invites him in and brings the beers over... which Jerry cannot touch until Charley hands them to him over the threshold. Then Jerry starts talking to Charley about sex, and specifically about how sexy Jane and Amy are, and what a responsibility it is for Charley to watch out for these two women who have such strong and obvious sexual needs. He leaves Charley to supposedly have drinks with his mystery date.Charley goes up to his room to find Amy there waiting for him. Amy wants to have sex, and make that particular night the first time that she and Charley go all the way. Charley catches a glimpse of his neighbor Doris coming across the street to visit Jerry, and Charley realizes SHE is the woman that Jerry was having over. Jerry sees Charley watching and flashes a look of anger up at him. Amy gets mad that Charley is more interested in spying on Jerry than having sex with her, and so she storms away.Charley keeps listening to what's going on at Jerry's and very quickly hears a scream. He calls the police, and a squad car comes to investigate, but when the two officers talked to Jerry, he charmes them and said, "Of course a woman was here and I made her scream... I gave her what she wanted". The men laugh, bonding over Jerry's sexcapades in a boys-will-be-boys way. Charley is disgusted the police were that stupid. As soon as the squad car leaves, Jerry also gets in his big black pickup truck and drives away. Charley decides to break into Jerry's house to investigate.Going next door, Charley uses his iPhone to find a "How to Pick Locks" app. When that fails, he hunts around in Jerry's back yard for the hollow rock that hides the keys to many homes in suburbia. Once inside, Charley sees that Jerry's kitchen is totally empty, and the house is a giant mess except for a giant screen TV in the living room. Upstairs, Charley goes through Jerry's things and finds a closet full of different emergency responder and police uniforms, as well as a sort of altar with candles and an ancient tapestry with a medieval crest on it. Jerry returns from wherever he went and Charley hears him outside. He's now trapped in the house. The only place he can think to hide is the closet, but once he's inside he realizes there's a false wall that leads to a small hallway. Inside, there are small rooms like the dressing rooms in a department store. All the rooms are locked, with the keys missing from some of them. Charley looks through peep holes in the rooms and determines that Doris is being held prisoner in one of them. He tries to get Doris out, but Jerry returns before he can pick the lock and Charley had to hide in one of the other, empty rooms. Jerry walks right over to where Doris is kept and takes her out of the room to feed on her. Charley watches as Jerry drinks from Doris, with Doris motioning for Charley to stay quiet unless Jerry would find him too. When Jerry is done feeding, he locks Doris back up in the room and then leaves. Charley goes back to picking the lock to get Doris out of the house safely.The two of them wait and start sneaking down the stairs into Jerry's living room. Doris is panting heavily and is having problems walking. Jerry's watching a TV show with big-breasted Jersey Shore-type babes, enjoying himself immensely. Charley and Doris play mouse and cat with Jerry for a while, with him near-missing them as they try to sneak around the stairwell and a living room wall, trying to get out. Finally, they make their dash to freedom and we see that Jerry knew they were there the whole time and was just playing games because the moment Doris walks out into the sun she bursts into flames. Charley is stunned and races back to his house while Jerry's inside, laughingCharley knows he's dealing with a vampire now, and decides to fortify his house with garlic, crosses, and everything else he can find to ward off all the evil. His mother, of course, thinks he's going insane, but humors him as he tells her that all of this is just some sort of joke he's playing on Amy. Charley insists his mother not invite Jerry into the house or have anything to do with him, though Charley stops short of telling his mom that Jerry is a vampire.He leaves for school, and on the way stops at Ed's house. Ed's parents haven't realized their son is missing, since he kept odd hours and did strange things. Ed's mother is inexplicably played by a woman who looks and sounds just like Lisa Loeb, and has one or two lines telling Charley how much he's sprouted and how happy they are to see him (since he and Ed haven't been friends in a while, he hasn't been around). Lisa Loeb tells Charley that Ed must have left early and Charley asks Ed's mom and dad if he can go up to Ed's room for a book they need for something. When he gets up to the room, we see it is covered in Magik the Gathering and World of Warcraft posters... and Ed's computer has tons of videos of Ed, Adam, and Charley playing "Squid Man versus the Knights" and other oddball things the three of them used to do together. Charley's sad about having ditched these two friends from his childhood, who are both dead now...and finally sees what ended up getting them killed. Charley finds all the videos that Ed and Adam took where they were spying on Jerry... with Jerry never appearing on the film because he is a vampire. (Since vampires in this reality cast no reflection, they also do not appear on film or video images). Ed narrates that Jerry is getting out of a car, but the car door opens and closes on its own. Ed and Adam never realized Jerry knew he was being spied on. As Charley is closing up Ed's computer, he sees that Ed had Peter Vincent's website up on the screen and Charley makes a note to go see Peter Vincent.Charley decides to get serious about learning to fight vampires, like Ed had told him he wanted to do originally. Charley then heads to the Hard Rock Hotel and grabs a Las Vegas newspaper on his way in. He also steals the sport coat and event name badge of some conventioneer, and rips off the logo of the paper to slip inside the plastic badge, making him look like he has a press credential. He then bluffs his way into a rehearsal of Vincent's "Fright Night" show, under the ruse that he has an interview scheduled with him that night. We see a bit of what Vincent's show is all about...with female vampires writhing on a bed and flying around on wires, with another woman on the bed rising up into the air like Linda Blair in The Exorcist. That woman is supposed to burst into flames, but the effects don't work, and so Vincent yells CUT! and walks off the stage, demanding a break. Charley seizes the opportunity to run after him and get his interview. Vincent at first doesn't want to do it, but then agrees, and takes Charley upstairs to his penthouse home somewhere in the hotel tower. There, Charley sees the immense collection of occult objects that Vincent has collected --- some of which he says he bought on Ebay -- that are stored in row after row of ornate glass cases. There are axes, swords, guns with silver bullets, chalices of sacred holy water, and more stakes and sharp things than a Buffy the Vampire Slayer convention.Vincent invites Charley into his living room/bar, where Vincent pours himself a Midori and Charley continues pretending he is from the newspaper, asking him how to kill vampires for real. Vincent says none of this stuff is real, and takes off his wig and goatee, to reveal a very nerdy kind of guy who is uncomfortable in the sort of hot leather he has to wear on the stage for his show. Charley keeps pushing Vincent, and even takes out pictures he that he snapped inside Jerry's house, in particular showing Vincent the ornate tapestry crest that clearly meant something special to Jerry. Vincent then kicks Charley out, demanding his girlfriend/assistant/stage actress Ginger throw Charley out.Crestfallen, Charley heads home, where his mother Jane is disturbed by all the crosses and Charley's edginess all of a sudden.Meanwhile, Jerry's out in the neighborhood and kills Mark and Ben as they were hanging out in their car, looking at Charley's house, wondering why he suddenly got all religious with crosses everywhere. Jerry takes the bodies into his house, off screen, just like he's been doing with all the bodies he's been collecting.Amy comes over to Charley's house, and not long after that Jerry pops up by the door, trying to get invited in. Jane almost lets him in, but Charley begs her not to. Jerry tells Jane that Charley broke into his house and has been harassing him, and he says that either he comes in to talk about it or he calls the authorities. Jane tells him to just call the authorities then. Jerry storms away, back to his house, but the three of them can see him clearly through the window. He comes back to Jane's house with a shovel and a blow torch, and heads straight for the back yard.There, Jerry starts digging into the ground with super human strength, taking up large hunks of dirt with each shovel full. After three big digs, he reaches the gas line for the house. Just as Charley was saying that Jerry can't get in unless he's invited, Jerry yanks the gas line loose from under ground, filling Charley's kitchen with gas. Then Jerry takes the blow torch and send some fire through the line and into the house.... which then EXPLODES. Jane, Charley, and Amy leap over the couch to avoid a blast of fire, and then escape into the garage as the house burns down around them. They get into Jane's SUV and flee the scene, as Jerry tries to leap onto Charley's motorcycle to catch them... but the bike is broken. As they are fleeing down the street, Jerry hurls the motorcycle (still running with vampire super-speed) after them, smashing through the back of the SUV and almost killing Amy. Charley orders his mother to speed away.Since they are out in the desert, there is no cell service... and Jerry's following them in his truck. He catches up and tries to run them off the road, but Jane successfully maneuvers the car away from him. Finally, Jerry speeds up and decides to block the road so they can't pass... but Charley slams his foot on the accelerator and forces Jane to run Jerry over and keep driving. Jerry is hurt, but sticks to the SUV's undercarriage and starts trying to claw his way through the metal to get at Jane or Charley. "Do you see that freaky hand clawing up through the car? NOW do you believe me he's a vampire?" Charley demands of Jane and Amy. Jerry is able to reach up and slam his hand down on the brakes, which causes the car to make a sudden stop. Just as everyone is about to get their bearings, a car behind them slams into them and the three of them are smashed in the face by the air bags.When the driver of the other car gets out, he is a middle-aged businessman-type called Jay Dee (played by Chris Sarandon in a suprise cameo who played the original Jerry Dandridge in the first "Fright Night" movie). Jay Dee tries to see what's going on... and is then promptly bitten and killed by Jerry. Jerry, having endured some roughing up under the car, has morphed into a monstrous vampire creature with dark gray skin, red eyes, giant predatory teeth and a weirdly shaped head... which then smoothes back into his human features after eating Jay Dee. Charley's now holding a wooden cross and is moving towards Jerry, who taunts him. Jerry just touches the cross and it catches fire and burns to cinders and explains that Charley needs faith for crosses to repel him. Since Charley doesn't really believe in religion, so the cross doesn't work as it would if a true believer held it. Jerry then has Charley backed up against the wrecked SUV, and is about to kill him, when Jane grabs one of the Century 21 signs from the back of her SUV and impales Jerry with it, getting him all the way through his body, though missing his heart. Jerry is in immense pain and desperately tries to get this sign out of his body, but the wooden post that runs through it is too long for him to get a handle on. Jane, Charley, and Amy pile into Jay Dee's car and drive away, smashing into Jerry and the SUV as they do so. They speed away, leaving the vampire behind where it is seen that Jerry's starting to heal and that the sign through his body did not kill him.Jane needs to go to the hospital, so the three of them rush there. They only tell the doctors that Jane has been in a car accident, and leave out the part about vampires, since Charley says "the last time I called the cops on them they almost went to Chili's together". Charley hangs a bunch of crosses all over Jane's hospital room, telling the nurses she is very religious.Meanwhile, Peter Vincent, drinking more Midori, sees the photo of the tapestry that Charley gave him earlier in the day and tells Charley to come meet him immediately. Amy and Charley then head to Vincent's penthouse.When they get there, Vincent tells them the tapestry is the emblem of an ancient kind of vampire tribe from the Mediterranean from more then 400 years ago, and that this particular vampire nested and created a sort of tribe of vampires who were interested in creating more of their kind and taking over whole regions. He tells Amy and Charley they will need an army to stop these things. He starts to tell them what he knows about things that will kill vampires when the security guard downstairs rings him to let him know there is a package delivery. Vincent tells his girlfriend Ginger to go sign for it and has the guard send the delivery person upstairs. Vincent then says it must be more stuff he ordered from eBay, since he has a habit of getting drunk and then ordering things. Charley then asks if he ever gets deliveries from eBay this late at night, and Vincent says come to think of it, no, and they all realize too late that it's a trap.Charley sees it's Ed, dressed as a delivery man, with a fake package for Peter Vincent. Ed didn't know Charley would be there, and was dispatched to kill Peter Vincent or turn him into a vampire too, since Vincent has knowledge of vampires and was a threat to the nest. Ed is relishing being Jerry's living minion, and calls Jerry on his cell phone to tell him that Charley and Amy are at Vincent's place. Jerry then starts to make his way there too. Vincent, spooked, makes a mad dash for his panic room. Ed tries to stop him, but the panic room door closes on Ed's arm, severing it. The arm keeps twitching inside the room, with Vincent locked in there watching the TV monitors.Ed and Charley battle, with Charley knocking various things out of Vincent's display cases to use as weapons, including knives, battle axes, swords, etc. Ed's handicapped with just one arm, but slashes at Charley's chest with his giant claws, and almost gets the better of Charley a few times. He tells Charley that he wishes they could be experiencing evil together, like they used to do as friends, and that they would be having this rush together if only Charley hadn't met Amy and decided to be cool instead.Meanwhile, Amy is running through the Penthouse trying to escape, while Jerry kills the security guard downstairs and heads up to join the fight against Vincent, Charley, and Amy. Jerry confronts Amy just as she finished loading up a gun to shoot him... she turns around, fires at Jerry, and gets a good four shots into him. Jerry, unfazed, just plucks the bullets out of his flesh. "Silver", he says. "For werewolves". Amy looks around and sees a chalice under glass with water in it. She breaks the glass and tosses the holy water at Jerry and says, "For vampires!" and Jerry's face starts to burn and melt. Amy then runs back towards Charley, getting to him just in time to smash Evil Ed with a medieval mace that was hanging on the wall. That gives Charley enough time to stake Evil Ed through the heart, making his former friend turn to flaming dust.Charley and Amy run out of Vincent's penthouse and down an emergency flight of stairs that deposits them into the hotel's kitchen, from which they walk into the Hard Rock's nightclub (which is full of people, many of whom are drunk or on drugs, none of whom pay any attention to Charley and Amy). They see Jerry following them, but Amy thinks he can't do anything to them in a room full of people, but Charley says that no one would notice if he killed them right there. As they try to make their way out of the place through the crowd, they get separated by the thong of partiers. Jerry makes it to Amy and carries her into a VIP lounge, where he pricks his skin and smoothes blood all over her lips, intoxicating and hypnotizing her. Charley tries to get a security guard to help, but he says that the girl looks like she is having fun, and then he kicks Charley out of the club. He knows Amy is lost now, and sees Jerry bite her neck, right in the middle of a crowd of people, with no one paying attention.Charley then heads back up to Peter Vincent's penthouse. Vincent is out of the panic room, drinking heavily. He thinks Charley has been turned, but Charley tells him to check his cameras and sure enough Charley appears on the screen, so he is alive and well. Charley tells him that he has to rescue Amy, because either Jerry has her alive as hostage or he has killed her or turned her, but either way Charley doesn't want him to keep her. Vincent says that he is too scared to follow him, but he will give him a special stake that was blessed by Saint Michael and has the power to not only destroy a vampire, but also to free everyone from vampirism who was turned by that vampire. Vincent also relates to Charley that years ago he had an encounter with vampires... and that is what made him start collecting all of this stuff, even if he eventually convinced himself that it was all in his imagination and none of it was real. It turns out that Vincent's parents were attacked by a vampire, and that Vincent only survived because he successfully hid from the creature. Charley says he doesn't want to live as a coward and that he isn't hiding from anyone, so Vincent can stay there if he wants but he is going to take down Jerry. Vincent offers one good piece of advice, and it's to somehow set Jerry on fire so that he is distracted, and being distracted Charley would then have a chance to get close enough to stake him. Charley doesn't know how he can set Jerry on fire AND be close enough to stake him, but thinks on it as he leaves Vincent's place.He comes up with a solution at a sporting goods store where he buys all sorts of materials like a crossbow and fire retardant clothes, telling the store clerk he's hunting vampires, which the man behind the counter thinks is a joke.Charley then heads to Jerry's house, passing his own burned-out, ruined house, smashing all of Jerry's windows to let sunlight in. He's startled by Vincent, who decided to man up and help take down Jerry. Vincent is outfitted with all the vampire-killing gear he had been buying through the years on eBay -- some of it very untested. The two of them search the house, coming to the secret hallway with all the little rooms Jerry carved out for his victims. Amy's in one of them, but before Charley could open the door, Amy slid down a trap door in the floor, which Vincent is familiar with since he used them in all his magic tricks. Charley and Vincent head down the shoot and end up in Jerry's basement, where a giant mound of dirt is on the floor. The walls of the basement have been chiseled away in places, making giants holes that have also been filled up with dirt. It looks like a catacombs cemetery, with various antechambers carved out into the desert earth, like little caverns under the house and street. This is clearly what Jerry has been doing down in his basement instead of digging a pool.Jerry appears and separates Vincent and Charley, locking Charley into a cave room with Amy, who is now a vampire. Amy is meant to eat Charley, and really vamps it up in a white dress and tons of menace, (much like Amanda Bearse did as the original Amy in the first "Fright Night"). Vincent is left to fight Jerry, and starts taking aim at him, while Jerry just throws a small pebble at Vincent's face. It draws just a tiny drop of blood, which falls to the ground. Vincent laughs at Jerry at first, until he sees the blood has summoned vampires from the mounds of dirt all around the basement. Jerry has been turning all the people he drank from, making them vampires too, and the blood has called them all to life. Vince uses a stake-gun to shoot wooden stakes at the vamps, and manages to kill one of them, with the vamp turned to ash. Then the gun jams and Vincent exclaims "Stupid eBay!". He then resorts to using his shotgun to try to blow holes in the floor above, to let in light to keep the vamps at bay. Though 400 years old and very crafty, Jerry is very afraid of the light, and can't go near the spots where Vincent has exposed to daylight. The other vamps near Vincent maneuver around the light and start feeding on him.Upstairs, Charley outsmarts Amy by staking her with the St. Michael stake just as she was about to bite him. It wounded her enough that he can get away, but does not kill her. She thinks Charley missed, but he didn't want to kill her... he wants to kill Jerry with the St. Michael special stake so that Amy can be brought back to life. Charley then heads to the main room of the basement to fight Jerry and rescue Vincent.He discovers that Vincent is starting to smoke in sunlight, which means that he is turning into a vampire himself. Jerry gloats that all they have to do is wait until the sun goes down, and then Charley will be theirs, so there's no hope for Charley to escape. Charley then starts putting a hood, mask, and glasses on himself and tells Vincent that he's using his idea, though modified. He sets HIMSELF on fire and then runs towards Jerry, who is surprised by all this. Jerry starts burning when Charley jumps on top of him, and keeps trying to fight Charley off. Meanwhile, Vincent starts shooting more holes into the floor above so that the sun can come in. The other vamps all howl and Jerry is terrified because he realizes the end is near. The combination of the fire and the sun is too much for him, and he starts to melt away, just as Charley jabs the stake right through his exposed heart. Jerry turns to dust and drifts away... and out of all the other vamps, an evil black spirit appears leaving their bodies and flying away.(The spirits look very much like the evil spirit used on the original poster for the first Fright Night, so it could be a little Easter egg/homage to the first film.)When the evil is out of all the vamps, they turn back into people with absolutely no memory of how they got in the basement. Both Mark and Ben and several of people we never saw before are brought back to life. Presumably Adam and his family are down there too, though Charley and Amy don't point them out.Some time later, Charley's house is rebuilt and his mother is back to doing real estate. Everything seems back to normal, and Charley and Amy seem to be good friends with Vincent, who lets them hang out in his penthouse at the hotel. Charley and Amy start having sex in Vincent's living room and he appears, before sneaking off again, telling them not to do anything he wouldn't do, before the two of them get back to making out.The movie ends, and the credits start to roll as stills from the movie come up onto the screen showing all the various actors when their names are listed in the credits.(original synopsis by Kevin D) | revenge, gothic, murder, violence | train | imdb | After all, beloved films are dumped on all the time by would-be filmmakers out to make a quick buck for the safe Hollywood studios.Most of the central story is intact: Anton Yelchin leads the cast as Charley Brewster, a used-to-be high-school misfit who comes to the realization, thanks to childhood buddy Ed (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) that his new neighbor Jerry (Colin Farrell) is a vampire.
Director Craig Gillespie (LARS AND THE REAL GIRL, "United States of Tara") earns respect for pulling off (for him) an unfamiliar genre; he also pays homage to a few memorable scenes in the original without trying to copy or disrespect them.Most of the performances are engaging and authentic (aside from Mintz-Plasse in his later moments), with Tennant's wry turn a real treat, and the ever-wonderful Collette's naturally grounding presence adding a needed weight of normalcy.
Some of the best work of his admittedly spotty career is on display, including the film's most brilliant moment, where Jerry's fidgety impatience with being invited into the Brewster home is both hilarious and nerve-wracking.FRIGHT NIGHT is a solid film in its own right; if there's not enough love from the original's fans to spread out to its remake, that's unfortunate..
This film succeeds on that promise, quickly turning itself into the quintessential "fun" horror flick perfect for Friday night.Styled after Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window" (which inspired its own modern retelling, "Disturbia") with a suave vampire living next-door instead of a mysterious stranger, this plot is very similar to its original.
Things are looking oh-so-grand for the little flake (I mean, come on, any guy who hurtfully tells his friend "the day my life got better was the day I stopped hanging with you" is well a douche), he gets a new next-door neighbor that his mom (Toni Collette; "The Sixth Sense") takes a liking to: Jerry Dandrige (Colin Farrell; "Horrible Bosses").
Ed's attempts to convince Charley that Jerry is actually a vampire fail, but when Ed himself goes missing and Jerry shows proof of what he is, Charley goes to the only person who might have the answer: Peter Vincent (David Tennant; "Doctor Who"), the Las Vegas magician who boasts of supernatural knowledge on how to kill vampires.The choice to modernize the original 1985 "Fright Night" doesn't like that bright an idea considering the current rule that all horror remakes suck, but somehow this became a unique effort due to diligent actors, a reliable director, and successful laugh and scare gags.
It takes what we liked about the original and comes up some clever changes that update the story 26 years to the present.From an ingenious kill method at the end to wickedly suspenseful chase scenes, "Fright Night" boasts some surprisingly memorable scenes – some of which are incredibly suspenseful considering we think we should know what to expect from a vampire thriller.
With Craig Gillespie's (the outstanding director of "Lars and the Real Girl") imaginative direction and Ramin Djawadi's (scorer of "Iron Man" and "Mr. Brooks") jarringly effective and wholly memorable musical score, the film hits all the beats it strives for with manic zeal.The all-star cast deliver a gratifying romp of suspense and chuckles, but the movie belongs to its villain and its anti-hero, Colin Farrell and David Tennant.
So, when I first heard that they were planning on remaking the film I was skeptical as I felt it would be very difficult to match the original film.Boasting an impressive cast which includes Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, David Tennant, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Toni Collette, the remake does not try to reinvent the wheel, but instead takes the formula of the original and creates an entirely new entry into the saga.For those unfamiliar with the series, Yelchin stars as Charlie Brewster, a young man who is trying to balance watching over his single mother, and his growing relationship with a girl way out of his league named Amy (Imogen Poots).
The two unlikely allies soon find themselves in a deadly race against time to defeat Jerry and save their loved ones before it's too late.The film cleverly combines horror and comedy and does a good job of providing some suspenseful moments in between the blood and gore, managing to squeeze in more than a few laughs along the way.
Tom Holland's 1985 vampire romp "Fright Night" was a fun, campy little horror flick that had some good laughs, good scares, and some pretty awesome effects.
In the end, I find the original "Fright Night" to be one of the most underrated horror films of the 80's.Frankly, I was actually quite excited for this remake, knowing that it had a great cast and Marti Noxon(who commonly wrote for "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") was at the helm of the script.
Nobody believes him before it's too late, and it's up to him and Hard Rock celebrity Peter Vincent to kill this sucker(pun intended) once and for all.While it pays so much respect to the original movie, "Fright Night" also adds a few new elements that elevate it above other remakes.
There are some scenes that are lifted right from the original, even two of the original's most classic lines, but the movie breaks several horror movie rules and invents new ones, like whether or not a vampire can come into another person's house.The CGI effects in this remake are surprisingly quite good.
I didn't see the film in 3D(which I heard doesn't do much for the movie), but in its 2D format, the geysers of blood shoot out magnificently without going over the top, and the makeup is true to the original vampire look in the 1985 film."Fright Night" boasts a fantastic cast of well-known actors.
Basically, Colin Farrell bathes in his role like the character bathes in human blood.Marti Noxon's script is clever, funny, and smart, and by the looks of other recent horror outings, it's a script that's better than it should be.I'll just say that "Fright Night" is not particularly scary.
He does truly embody the inhuman menace of the shark from Jaws, but is somewhat hampered by the direction and editing that occasionally sets him up as a vampiric Pepé Le Pew. Though largely robbed of any kind of a backstory or motivation beyond being a vampire – and what little we do get to learn about his kind mostly goes to waste – Farrell does his best to make this movie work.The problem is that he isn't enough.Anton Yelchin, an actor who has yet to impress me in any role I've seen him in, is the lackluster lead.
Yelchin does have a couple of good scenes, but he – or director Craig Gillespie – doesn't know what to do with them.Instead of giving an actor as good a role as they did with Roddy McDowell in the original, David Tennant (as Peter Vincent) is required to start off with what looks like a Ben Stiller impersonation of Johnny Depp in any of the Pirates movies.
In summary, the 1985 original film may be considered a new classic, worshiped by a legion of fans.This teen remake is simply awful, with explosions, car chase and a cynical and charmless Colin Farrell in the role of Jerry Danridge.
The film premiered at The O2 in London on August 14, 2011, was produced by DreamWorks Pictures, and widely released by Touchstone Pictures on August 19 in Real D 3D.8/10 Grade: B+ Studio: Touchstone Pictures, DreamWorks Studios, Reliance Entertainment, Michael De Luca Productions Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Starring: Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, David Tennant, Toni Collette Director: Craig Gillespie Producers: Michael De Luca, Alison R.
It's not until he hooks up with a vampire expert and Vegas illusionist ( David Tennent ), aptly named Peter Vincent, ( a homage to Mr. Cushing and Mr. Price, I'm sure ) that the battle against pure evil begins.Craig Gillespie takes this film remake and sucks all the life out of it with pedestrian direction and an over reliance of cheesy CGI effects.
Hell, even the presence of Amanda Bearse wasn't too offensive !!On the other hand, I've just watched the remake and find it hard to believe that, even with some of the absolutely awful movies that are being released now, that this unutterable piece of crap could have EVER made it to a screen.There is NOT ONE likable character in this version, and to add insult to injury, they're all so badly played that you won't know whether to laugh or cry.All in all, unless you are a teenage girl with an IQ that pretty much matches your bra size, and thinks that the completely ridiculous "Twilight" things are "Like, soooo coool, avoid this horror story of a horror story LIKE THE PLAGUE...which, come to think of it, probably would have been more fun to watch..
Film is a remake of the 1985 film of the same name, also written by Tom Holland, it sees Yelchin as Charley Brewster, a teenager living in a suburb of Las Vegas who finds the new handsome neighbour, Jerry Dandridge (Farrell) is actually a blood sucking vampire.
With nobody believing him and the vampire homing in on his mother and girlfriend, Charley turns to enigmatic playboy magician Peter Vincent (Tennant) for help.Ah remakes, a word that often spells trouble in film fan circles, especially when populated by the horror faithful.
FRIGHT NIGHT has two saving graces: Anton Yelchin, who plays Charlie Brewster with the right mix of humor and a good grip on his character, and David Tennant who plays the TV vampire destroyer with a good deal of cultivated arrogance and outlandish attitudes.Beyond these performances, the rest of the film is only mildly successful in the casting.
Fans of the original film will hardly recognize what has been done to the story, much less the characters.However, Toni Collette as Brewster's mother and Imogen Poots as his pretty girl friend are excellent, given what material they have to work with, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse gets some comic relief from the Evil Ed character that he becomes after "the bite." In this case, his Evil Ed is much less effective than the one in the original film.So many of the key scenes are played in virtual darkness, making it impossible to see what is actually going on at important moments in the action sequences.
With more blood, more fun and better acting than the original, "Fright Night" does not concern itself with exposition; instead it recognizes that Colin Farrell ("The Way Back") is a vampire and focuses on the thrill of mixing badassery and clever, creepy, comedy.
However, the fact the performances of the rest of the cast are above average for a horror film, along with a new vampire swagger Colin Farrell brings to his character, are the reasons why the remake is a success.The main issue people may have with the film is that it bases its horror around knowing that Jerry is a vampire instead of making his existence a mystery.
I feel like it still wouldn't have played out so well.The story centers on high school student, Charley Brewster (Anton Yelchin), who begins to sense that something isn't quite right about his new next door neighbor, Jerry (Colin Farrell).
There are also some clever updates that improves upon the original film, like how the setting is now in Vegas, where people work and party all night and sleep all day, which is a perfect location for a vampire to hunt if you ask me.With all the changes, the remake does retain the original's wackiness without taking itself too seriously.
Evil Ed, played by Christopher Mintz- Plasse, is also changed dramatically (and for the better) and gone is his cheesy line, "You're so cool, Brewster!" However, I will say that he is the weakest link in the film, mainly because I couldn't take him seriously (which is due to the fact that I still remember him as McLovin).The film's main character is played well by Anton Yelchin, but the more colorful supporting actors really outshine him here, especially David Tennant, who plays Peter Vincent.
Awful CGI (Amy's vampire scene with Charley is incredibly lame and doesn't look half as good as it did in the TWENTY FIVE year old original) and a final battle scene that belongs more to "Underworld" than it does to the "Fright Night" legacy.
At the time it came out, a remake of Fright Night seemed like one of those unnecessary movies - what was so wrong with the Tom Holland original, which gave us a subtle/over-the-top performance from Chris Sarandon and some cheeky humor from Roddy McDowell as a vampire named Jerry and the would-be 'celebrity' vampire hunter?
More than that, he is necessary for the movie to work: he has to be believable as a young guy who starts off somewhat unsympathetic (trying to be 'cool' by ditching his nerdy friend for an attractive girl), and over the course of the story has to man up and not do what his dad did, which was ditch the family behind.Yelchin plays the 'straight man' to a point where we can find him believable as being both completely scared and yet ballsy enough to go for what he has to go through to save and protect the ones he cares about - his mother and then, when she's taken by this 'Jerry' fella, Amy - and it's interesting to see this *after* Green Room, where he played a somewhat similar character though in a different setting (actually substitute Nazis for vampires and you got a somewhat similar premise, with Yelchin as the vulnerable but strong-willed and tough protagonist).
Practical effects could have taken more time or been more intensive, but the results would last longer and not take one out of the movie like here.If one can look at the substance of Fright Night it does work - the screenplay comes from Buffy the Vampire Slayer creative Marti Noxon, and the sense of whip-smart timing in the dialog and come-backs about how people look at vampires is especially funny, even from Peter Vincent most of all - and is a fitting tribute to the original.
The acting performances are good, with Colin Farrell clearly enjoying his role as modern vampire and the Scottish actor David Tennant stealing the show as Peter Vincent.
Yelchin has help in this film from an all-star cast that includes, Farrell, Toni Collete, Christopher Mintz-Plasse-Mclovin, Dave Franco, and of course the original vampire, Chris Sarandon.
This remake of Fright Night is one of the few films that I liked that is aimed towards my (teenage) age group.With the same idea as the original, a teenager finds that his neighbor is a vampire.
This 2011 version of the latter-day classic _Fright Night_ is as good a time you will have watching a vampire movie these days.
This scene, like most of the effects shots, works even better in the original 3D.There are many other pleasures to this movie, including solid performances by Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots and Toni Colette as the frightened but sophisticated protagonists.
Fright Night is a good movie with a well written storyline and a great cast that are able to jump from comedy to horror in different scenes.I normally don't like horror comedies because they usually try too hard to be both scary and funny and they end up failing at both,but this film managed to maintain both of them very well,there were scenes that had me laughing and also just as many scenes that had me in fear.I enjoyed Anton Yelchin's performance and he had great chemistry with Imoogen Poots as well,but my favourite performances are from Colin Farrell and David Tennant,they are the main reasons this worked out as a horror and comedy,because Farrell was genuinely,and quite surprisingly, terrifying as a vampire,he was dark and nothing like any character he had ever played previously,and David Tennant brought in most of the laughs,his character was hilarious even when he was suppose to be serious and was certainly given the best lines.Its nothing outstanding,but Fright Night works out pretty well as both a horror and comedy and I would recommend it to anyone looking for either of those if you have some time to kill.
I also really enjoyed the entire cast; Anton Yelchin as 'Charlie' does a great job, Toni Collette as the mother, David Tennant was excellent (and hilarious) as Peter Vincent and Colin Farrell, while a strange choice as a vampire was definitely charismatic and super sexy.
Moments that were as classic as this one got incorporated into the film in a slightly different scenario, which made it a pleasant easter egg each time fans get to spot something the survived the remake.Directed by Craig Gillespie whose pedigree is as varied as Lars and the Real Girl and Mr Woodcock, Fright Night started off quite wobbly when it tried to establish its characters, jumping directly into the fray with Charley Brewster (Anton Yelchin) being too cool for his geeky best friend Ed (Christopher Mintz-Plasse in a stereotypical role) who suspects that Charley's new neighbor Jerry (Colin Farrell) is actually a vampire responsible for the many mysterious disappearances and deaths of their satellite town.
Added into the female quotient for any vampire film, because sinking one's fangs into a long female neck is always deemed as sexy, are Toni Collette as Charley's mom who develops a crush on Jerry, as well as Imogen Poots who plays Charley's hot girlfriend Amy.It's the excellent visual effects that made this version of Fright Night work, while balancing a fairly engaging story with a light dose of comedy that made this a walk down memory lane of many past horror comedies that entertained without being too campy or silly.
Yes, I am a fan of the original 1985 version of Fright Night, so much so that I consider it as one of the best in the genre of vampire movies. |
tt0052646 | The Brain That Wouldn't Die | Dr. Bill Cortner (Herb Evans) is a brilliant surgeon who saves the life of a patient that his father Dr. Cortner (Bruce Brighton) is operating on. Bill uses one of the techniques that he has been researching in his studies on amputated limbs and the ability to keep them alive. The research Bill has used is controversial because the ethics involved include using body parts of expired patients. Dr. Cortner appreciates his sons assistance but warns him to proceed carefully. As Bill meets up with his fiancée Jan Compton (Virginia Leith) to make plans for the weekend a call comes in from Kurt (Leslie Daniel), the doctor assisting Bill at his country house, that there is a problem in the basement. As Bill hurried drives toward the house with Jan by his side the car accidentally goes off the road and Jan is decapitated. Bill rushes the head of the woman to his country house and keeps it alive with the intention of killing a woman for her body and transplanting it onto Jans head. One of Bills earlier experiments is being kept locked in the basement and becomes more violent as time proceeds. Jans surviving body part, her head resents being kept alive and communicates with the thing living in the closet, telling it to break out. As Bill searches for the perfect female body for Jans head, he meets several women, finally meeting up with a former friend Donna Williams (Lola Mason) whose scarred face Bill promises to eradicate with plastic surgery. As Bill brings Donna back to the country house a startling reaction from the creature in the closet causes astounding results.================ A More Detailed Synopsis Follows ===============The movie opens with a black screen and a woman's voice pleading, "Let me die. Let me die." Title and credits follow. A man is on the operating table covered with sheets. He is surrounded by three doctors and a nurse in surgical gowns, caps and masks. The patient stops breathing and the senior Dr. Cortner (Bruce Brighton) laments, "I should have known he was a good as dead when they wheeled him in." Nurse Jan Compton (Virginia Leith) tries to comfort her soon to be father-in-law, "You did everything possible. Everything you could Dr. Cortner." His son, Dr. Bill Cortner (Jason Evers as Herb Evers) seizes the opportunity and asks, "Now, Dad, do I have permission to take over and try things my way?" Father reluctantly agrees and assists his son by working on the heart while Bill takes over the brain. They manage to revive the patient, his outcome is still uncertain, but he is now alive. Bill admits he has been working in his laboratory with similar results. Dr. Cortner does finally admit his son did perform a miracle, "I may not approve of your methods, but I am proud of your results."After the patient is wheeled out of the Operating Room, Father and Son wash up and discuss the medical ethics of experimentation on humans. Bill tells his father he is close to perfecting a drug that will assist in transplantation without rejection. They walk back into the O.R. to talk, and Jan joins them. Bill reminds his father about the medical convention in Denver. Jan checks on his reservations. Dr. Cortner reveals that the hospital has been making inquiries about missing human parts. He tells his son, "But I can't cover up for you anymore. The Superintendent had it out with me. He thinks it's you whose been stealing those limbs from the amputee operations." Bill admits he needs them for his work. Before he leaves, Dr. Cortner asks his son about his weekend plans, cautioning him about the country house, "Place gives me the creeps. I should have sold it when your mother died." Bill promises Jan they will be married in a few weeks.A nurse (Doris Brent) catches Bill and Jan before they leave the hospital. She tells him about an important phone message from Kurt at the country place, "Something terrible has happened and he wanted you to come right out." Bill drives Jan's car up to the country house. He drives too fast and crashes the car. Bill is thrown clear of the wreck, but Jan is trapped inside the burning car. Bill retrieves her head, wrapping it inside his jacket. He runs back to Dad's house in the country carrying Jan's head in his arms like a football. When he gets to the palatial estate he calls to his assistant, Kurt, while pounding on the front door. Kurt (Anthony La Penna as Leslie Daniel) answers the door, still wearing his lab coat. His left arm is paralyzed, his left hand is drawn back into a claw, the skin dark and leathery. Bill explains there has been an accident. He is cradling Jan's head in his arms, he is frantic. "I've got to save her," he tells Kurt. Kurt tries to relay his concern about the thing in the closet, but Bill insists, "For Gods sake Kurt, this is urgent. Do as I tell you before its too late. I can't waste precious time arguing with you." The two walk downstairs to the lab and hook up equipment. Bill carefully pours a test tube of liquid into a flask. The time is now 10:20 and we see what all the frantic work involved. Jan's bandaged head sits in an enamel pan, attached to various tubes and wires. Kurt is astonished and tells Bill, "The eyelids, I saw them move. It can't be. My eyes are deceiving me." Bill replies, "What you see is real. What's done is done, and what I've done is right. It's the work of science." Jan starts to revive and mumbles, "I remember fire. Burning. Let me die. Let me die." Bill reminds Kurt he's had transplant success, but Kurt asks, "Transplant her to what?" Bill considers the question, then replies, "I've brought her back. She'll live and I'll get her another body. I can make her complete again." Kurt disagrees and voices his objections. Bill does admit he can only keep her alive for 48-50 hours in the pan. We learn that Kurts arm, withered and deformed, was an earlier unsuccessful experiment using an earlier formula. Kurt reminds Bill about the creature in the closet. Bill approaches the heavy door, padlocked on the outside. Something inside is breathing abnormally. Bill peers inside through an observation door near the top. He is horrified by what he sees. "Keep it locked," he tells his assistant. He then turns his attention back to his fiancée, "I've got to think about her now. I've got to find her a body." "How are you going to go about getting one?" Kurt asks. Bill assures his assistant that there are ways.It is late evening and Bill decides to go cruising at a local strip club, The Moulin Rouge. Outside the entrance, he sees two cut out display boards of strippers, a blonde and a brunette. He likes what he sees, obviously the discriminating shopper. Inside the blonde stripper (Bonnie Sharie) does her show for the patrons of both sexes. Bill wanders in and takes a stool at the bar. Blondie wanders over and bumps and grinds to get Bill's attention. The brunette stripper (Paula Maurice), a bit masculine looking, is jealous of her co-worker. When the blonde finishes her act, she heads for the dressing room. This gives the brunette a chance to make eyes at Bill. A table becomes available and Bill sits down next to the brunette and chats. Blondie comes back and joins Bill at his table. At the house, Jan is resting in her pan. Blondie goes back to her dressing room, and Bill follows. They chat. Jan begins to mumble again about dying. Bill is getting a little anxious and tells the stripper, "You may be just what I'm looking for." Before Bill can close the deal, the brunette enters the dressing room and changes. Bill is concerned that a witness is more than he can handle. When the girls get catty with each other, Bill excuses himself. The brunette tells Bill, "Come back later, I'll remember you." "That's what I'm afraid of," he replies. The blonde and brunette strippers get into a fight. We close this charming scene with a camera pan up the wall to a pair of cat paintings and someone meowing. [Note: Yes, we get it, a cat fight!]Jan awakens and looks around the lab. Her brain waves register high on the equipment. She calls out to the creature in the closet, "What has he done to you?" It is mute, so she directs it to knock once if it hears her. Kurt is attracted by the noises downstairs. Jan expresses her anger and disappointment at Bill for what he's done to her. She invites the creature to join her in a plot of revenge. Kurt goes down to the lab and Jan pretends to be asleep. Kurt tip-toes over to the closet and listens at the door. It pounds on the door and Kurt jumps. Jan laughs hysterically. Kurt runs over to the lab table and confronts his tormentor. Jan asks Kurt, "What's locked behind that door?" "Horror: no normal mind can imagine. Something even more terrible than you," Kurt replies. But Jan corrects him, "No, my deformed friend. Like all quantities of...horror has its ultimate, and I am that." Kurt explains that Bill's experimental mistakes are summarized by the creature behind the closet door. Jan realizes what Bill has been doing at the country house and Kurt's part in the grotesque work. Kurt lost his arm in a lab accident, and Bill promised to restore it. Jan realizes that Bill intends to transplant her head onto another woman's body. Jan explains the new serum has given her power Bill never expected. She demonstrates for Kurt. The terrified lab assistant runs when the creature tries to force the closet door off its hinges. Kurt runs into Bill in the living room and asks if he was successful in finding a woman. Bill explains he can't be the last person seen with a woman before she disappears.The next morning Bill goes cruising in his car. He runs into a woman acquaintance, Donna Williams (Lola Mason). Donna suggests a bathing beauty contest, so Bill invites her into the car. He makes an excuse to stop at home first, but they run into another woman. A friend of Donna, Jeannie Reynolds (Audrey Devereal as Devereau), joins them in the car. Now with a witness, Bill's plans for Donna are scuttled and the three go to the beauty contest. They sit down just as the M.C. (Bruce Kerr) starts the show. The first contestant is Helen Appleton (uncredited). She is wearing a one-piece swimsuit. Bill nods his approval. Next up is Betty Brockton (uncredited), a blonde with her hair in a single braid and wearing a modest two-piece swimsuit. Terri Lund (uncredited) is the third contestant. She is wearing a one-piece and the crowd applauds. Peggy Howard (Marilyn Hanold) is the final contestant and Bill leers approvingly. Donna notes, "She has the second nicest body I've ever seen." Bill assumes Donna is just trolling for a compliment and asks, "Second to you?" But Donna quickly corrects Bill and reminds him of Doris, the girl in school who was disfigured by a jealous boyfriend. Donna mentions that Doris is seldom seen and has few friends. Bill is thinking Doris may be perfect for his needs.Jan continues her one-way chat with the creature in the closet and concludes they must stop Bill. Bill drives over to see Doris Powell (Adele Lamont) at her apartment. He walks in and she is posing on a platform for five photographers. Bill sits on the couch and observes the display. Doris stops and puts on a robe and dismisses the photographers. Art (an uncredited Sammy Petrillo) hangs back and suggests some unprofessional work. Doris makes it clear she is not interested and tells him to leave. She confronts Bill, "See it all, mister? The show's over. Next time bring a camera and buy a ticket. I'm not running a charity." Bill reminds her they were class mates, but Doris is bitter and tells him she hates all men. She reminds Bill by showing him the scar on her face. Rather than being repulsed, Bill explains that he is a doctor and that his father is a very good plastic surgeon and they can fix her face. Doris is not convinced and tells Bill, "I've been doctors. It's no use: the scar tissue is too deep. No one can help me." But Bill convinces her that new techniques are available. He talks her into a consultation at his home with his father. When Doris asks his motive, Bill tells her his version of the truth, "I'm gonna make your face beautiful again, cut it off and give your body away." Doris laughs and explains that she believes him. Doris changes her clothes and they drive to the country house.At Jan's direction, the closet creature has been pounding on the door working the hinges loose. Kurt enters the lab with food for the creature. He is in a sarcastic mood, so Jan taunts him with, "Your formless, sniveling fear becomes you more." They bicker and Jan directs Kurt over to the closet door. As she distracts Kurt, she summons her friend behind the closet door to attack Kurt. It reaches out through the observation door and pulls Kurt's arm inside. As Kurt struggles, the creature pulls his good arm off at the shoulder. Kurt wanders around the lab and house, smearing blood all over the walls. In cinema's longest death scene, Kurt wanders back to the lab and collapses and dies of shock and blood loss. All the while Jan giggles and laughs.Bill arrives home with Doris. Bill tells Doris he will mix some drinks and they will wait for his father to return. Bill discovers Kurt's body in the lab and covers it with a sheet. He closes, but forgets to lock the observation door and then he mixes the drinks. He adds a powerful sedative to Doris' drink. Bill walks back upstairs and gives Doris the spiked drink. Doris consumes the drink, and then accuses Bill of putting something in her drink. She collapses and Bill carries her down to the lab in his arms. Bill proudly announces to Jan, "I told you I'd bring you a body. A beautiful one. Soon it will be yours." Bill rationalizes his intentions to Jan as he prepares for surgery. Jan tells Bill, "You must be stopped." Bill needs quiet, so he places a strip of tape over Jan's mouth. Just as Bill prepares to cut off Doris' head, a pounding sound comes from the closet. Bill walks over to the door. He does not notice the observation door is unsecured. He looks back at Jan. The observation door opens and a large hand and arm reaches out to the doctor. It pulls him back and the door pulls loose from the casing. A grotesque creature (Eddie Carmel) emerges, still holding Bill Cortner through the door. It is a misshapen mess with one bulging eye, folds of scar tissue for a face and a pointed head. It carries the door and its victim across the lab. It manages to knock a flask of flammable liquid on the floor starting a fire. It throws Bill to the floor, discards the closet door, and approaches the doctor. It easily picks Bill up in its arms and chews a sizeable piece of his face off. At Jan's direction, it carries the unconscious Doris off the operating table and out of the burning lab. A stunned and dazed Dr. Cortner is still lying on the floor. Jan tells him, "I told you to let me die." We close to a black screen and Jan laughing. [Note: The end title card reads, The Head That Wouldn't Die and a copyright year as 1960.] | cult, violence | train | imdb | Today it is difficult to imagine how anyone could have taken the thing seriously even in 1959; the thing is both lurid and lewd, but it is also incredibly ludicrous in a profoundly bumptious sort of way.The story, of course, concerns a doctor who is an eager experimenter in transplanting limbs--and when his girl friend is killed in a car crash he rushes her head to his secret lab.
In fact, she seems mightily ticked off about the whole thing, particularly when it transpires that the doctor plans to attach her head to another body.As it happens, the doctor is picky about this new body: he wants one built for speed, and he takes to cruising disconcerted women on city sidewalks, haunting strip joints, visiting body beautiful contests, and hunting down cheesecake models in search of endowments that will raise his eyebrow.
On the whole THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN'T DIE comes off as even more unintentionally funny than an Ed Wood movie.Director Joseph Green actually manages to keep the whole thing moving at pretty good clip, and looking at the film today it is easy to pick out scenes that influenced later directors, who no doubt saw the thing when they were young and impressionable and never quite got over it.
The cuts made before the film went into release are forever lost, but the cuts made for television have been restored in the Alpha release, and while the film and sound quality aren't particularly great it's just as well to recall that they probably weren't all that good to begin with.Now, this is one of those movies that you'll either find incredibly dull or wildly hilarious, depending on your point of view, so it is very hard to give a recommendation.
The acting ranges from very poor(the two strippers), barely professional(Herb Evers as the leading man), gothic overstatement(Leslie Daniels as the assistant Kurt)to first-rate with Virginia Leith in the title role as the headless victim alive against her will for the benefit of science and her fiancee's lustful passions.
But this one has a woman's head in the tray, fighting with the doctor, yelling at the monster in the closet, and engaging the assistant in metaphysical questions usually not heard in such low-budget potboilers.Nice dynamic that it's his fiancé that he wants to save...but she has become so bitter since becoming a disembodied head in a tray of water.
I remember watching this for the first time on TV in the early 70s and being amazed they used to make movies like this.Better than average camera work, also, trying to get a sense of vertigo and movement throughout.
Some 80 minutes later, the same film is strangely billed as THE HEAD THAT WOULDN'T DIE in the end credits.
Jason Evers (who would later lend his considerable talents to such memorable efforts as A PIECE OF THE ACTION and A MAN CALLED GANNON) stars as a wacky doc who thinks it'd be just super to keep his fiancée's head alive in his laboratory after her untimely decapitation in a car accident.
He's understandably not content marrying a head, so he seeks out an appropriate (though not necessarily willing!) body donor.Much of the "action" takes place in the mad doc's basement lab (likely marking one of the final times the traditionally cheesy horror film lab set was put to use).
Those are just some of the questions you'll find yourself asking.THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN'T DIE comes to us in the tradition of PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE and THE BEAST OF YUCCA FLATS, though it's not quite on par with those films in terms of "so bad it's good" appeal.
They're so jaded with mega-million dollar budgeted, hyperactive action films, they have no idea what movies were like before "Star Wars" ruined the market for drive-ins and one-screen sidewalk theaters."Brain That Wouldn't Die" is a personal favorite of mine.
Everyone's stomach turned over at the arm tearing out scene and my mother used to excuse herself from the room at that point, she found it so disturbing.Like Abbott & Costello before them--and MST3K after them--the Medved brothers ruined films like this by burlesquing them in their 1980 book, "The Golden Turkey Awards." This and the post- "Star Wars" culture have doomed these movies to an eternity of sneering contempt from a younger audience weened on endless laser blasts, propane explosions and hyperactive CGI effects.Happily, I got to see and enjoy "Brain That Wouldn't Die" while it was still considered relevant.
With all the "teasecake" in Brain (shot in 1959 but released in 1963), the locations (a loner wandering through strip clubs, swimsuit contests, a model's studio, in a convertible following and picking up women on the street) and the wolfish emphasis on full-length shots of near-naked stacked women, the movie has the sensibility and style of the men's magazines of that time (with symbolic titles like Rogue, Knave, Dude, Bachelor, Caper, etc.).
When he has a car accident with his girlfriend Jan Compton (Virginia Leith), he saves her head only, and tries to find a woman with a beautiful body to transplant Jan's head against her will.I found the low budget movie "The Brain That Wouldn't Die" very underrated in IMDb. The story is not so bad, and certainly inspired "Frankenhooker" and "The Man with Two Brains".
Granted, I didn't rent it because I wanted a deep, fulfilling cinematic experience...but would anyone in his or her right mind actually expect that from a movie with the phrase "that wouldn't die," in the title?It has everything a cheesy sci-fi/horror flick from the '60s should: right down to inherently over-dramatic line, "You men are all alike."Realistic?
The Brain (or head) that Wouldn't Die is one of the more thoughtful low budget exploitation films of the early 1960s.
I am really not sure what point the film was really trying to make, but it seems clear that it strives for an unusually edgy and raw sort of horror (without the blood and guts today's audiences expect).Another unique and interesting aspect of the Brain is that there really are not any heroes in this film, and none of the characters are particularly likable.All considered, this is a fairly painful and disturbing look at early 1960s American pop sexuality, from the viewpoint of a woman kept alive despite her missing body after what should have been a fatal car crash.
In fact, this movie has elements of Hershell Gordon Lewis AND a little Russ Meyer thrown in for good measure.Anyway, I recommend this for anyone who likes trashy, sleazy, black and white horror films from the early '60's (I think the date at the end of it read 1960)..
We might call "The Brain That Wouldn't Die" a B-movie, but it actually wasn't too bad.
The plot of course has Dr. Bill Cortner (Herb Evers) keeping lover Jan Compton's (Virginia Leith) decapitated head alive.
Meanwhile one of his monstrous creations lurks in the cupboard in the lab...Like a number of similar cheap sci-fi/horror productions of the time, this film includes a lot of scenes with scantily clad women; in this case dancers and a photographic model.
Bill and his lab partner, who helps the doctor in hopes he will get his amputated arm treated, keep the head alive with a special device and a new type of liquid they invented that works like blood.
It's pretty well filmed besides the fairly lame car accident, and main actors, Jason Evers as the doctor and Virginia Leith as Jan, the fiancée, are pretty good.
Anyone who would like to watch this flick (which I would not recommend) will soon realize that the title totally misses the point: actually,the head WOULD die,the actress tells us so during one long hour ,and it is a very talky movie at that.An umpteenth variant of Mary Shelley's immortal Frankenstein,where the scientist ,for a change, is not the old dad ,but the son .He wants to bring the dead back to life ,in spite of his old man's good piece of advice .In a car crash on a winding road (they should have looked at the road sign ),nothing is left of his dear wife but her head;hence the necessity to find a body.And while you're at it,try to find the most beautiful body you can.People who play with fire must expect to get burnt..
This plot has got to be the most original, and surprisingly ahead (excuse the pun) of its time idea I have ever seen come out of the 60's sci-fi/horror movies.
Slinky babes, sleezy music, severed heads, a closeted monster, a body-beautiful contest, a model who doesn't date men because she hates them all (just like the title character in KISS ME, KATE).
The plot line is actually pretty decently thought out despite some tragically terrible acting that only add to the humor of the movie as a whole.After surviving a car crash that his fiancé had been decapitated in, scientist Bill Somethingoranother takes the head of his dead love's body from the scene of the crash and keeps it alive through the use of his new, special serum in hopes that he could transplant the head to a new body.
The disembodied fiancé's head and creepy monster thing form a tight bond through the Power of the Serum and form a brave attempt to stop Dr. Bill from maiming any more people in the name of science.The most hilarious scenes involve arm-ripping and over-exerted acting, and an obnoxiously long death scene from one of the doctor's maimed cohorts.
though not well-made or even truly "good" by film standards, I've come to the conclusion that this could quite possibly be the most hilarious horror movie ever..
Having experimented with body parts in the science of body transplantation for years without much success, both Kurt and the thing locked in the closet are some of his failures, Dr. Bill has now developed a new serum that if injected into the original body, the head in this case, that will keep it from rejecting any other body part or parts no matter how different in blood-type and DNA they are.
The severed but alive head has the thing, through it's new found brain power, in the closet grab Kurt, when he was about to give it it's lunch and tear his arm off having him bleed to death.
But - did you have a good time watching "Head," er, "Brain that Wouldn't Die?" Did you think you got your 75¢ worth that afternoon?
Good Dr. Bill is next seen recklessly driving himself and his sweet, horny fiancé Jan out to his country house; the car crashes, he salvages Jan's head from the burning wreckage, wraps his prize in his jacket, and runs the rest of the way with it like he's going for a touchdown during a football game.
His search takes him to strip joints and a beauty contest, to name two avenues he tries before he finds someone he believes to be a suitable candidate, telling her, "I'm going to cut your face off and give away your body, ah ha ha!" as she innocently laughs along.To add to the fun, there is of course the wretched assistant with a mangled arm; one of the doctor's earlier "mistakes", and the "thing" locked in a closet in the lab.
As far as the gore factor, this movie is actually pretty gruesome for its time, although the blood seems to be rather conveniently spilled (downstairs, but not upstairs, for instance), and "Jan in a Pan" laughs more maniacally as the movie progresses.You can find this movie on Amazon.com in a DVD version that has the original film by itself, and also the film as part of an episode of Mystery Science Fiction Theatre 3000, the now-defunct hit TV show.
Then, because of a car accident, his fiancé Jan is decapitated and he keeps her head alive while he searches for a woman with a great body (that was apparently his main interest) to transplant her head onto.
"Brain" was a black and white preview of the drug drenched hell soon to engulf America, with the mad scientists' Dwight Frye-like assistant getting his arm torn off by the monster locked in a closet, and staggering along a wall, leaving a bloodsmeared trail behind him.
It is obvious that the monster in the closet was added because the living head was not scary at all -she was even pretty- and they thought they needed something more impressive; they failed here too (the make up is awful even for the late 50's, rather funny).The film shows clearly why Director Joseph Green's career as such and also as a writer never materialized; he was really bad at both.
How often have we seen this: A guy's fiance is killed in a car wreck, so, being a mad scientist, he keep her head "alive" in a tray of what looks like grape Kool-Aid until he can find a suitable replacement body.
But the other Ms. doesn't take kindly to having her mouth taped shut (long story), so she chums up with the Frankenstein monster in the closet (even longer story) and kills the doctor and herself, the suicidal maniac (short story, really.) It's amazing - Virginia Leith (who acted for Kubrick - I can't recall which film) shows off more acting ability from her head up than most of the actors in this flick can project from their entire body.
There seemed nothing wrong with a talking head in a pan, no body, same voice without a windpipe, vocal chords and diaphragm.Fun to watch today just because people actually paid money to see this 50 years ago, to either get a few hours away from the kids in a Saturday matinee theater, or to get a date in a car at the drive-in.If made today, it probably wouldn't even go straight to video.
Iconic campy sci-fi/horror film about a mad scientist who keeps his girlfriend's head alive following a car crash.
This black and white cheapo effort from 1962 is built from precisely the kind of deliciously demented concept that makes fans of B-movie schlock horror go weak at the knees with excitement: Bill Cortner (Jason Evers), a surgeon obsessed with perfecting limb transplants, searches for a top-of-the-range female body to carry the decapitated head of his girlfriend Jan (Virginia Leith), which he has kept alive using his revolutionary life giving serum.
Meanwhile, Jan's head, its mental powers boosted by the serum, communicates with the obscene medical experiment gone wrong that occupies a nearby locked room, convincing it to seek revenge for their hideous existence.Sadly, being a product of the early 60s, the film is a long way from delivering the excesses this incredibly trashy premise deserves; Director Joseph Green goes as far as he dares, with a touch of blood towards the end, a suitably gnarly creature, a cheesecake dance routine from a curvaceous burlesque performer (accompanied by a suitably sleazy soundtrack), and a shapely photographers' model posing in a bikini, but much of the film is also very drab, with a large portion of the running time padded out by dull monologues from the severed head as she ponders her dire situation.It's a real shame this film wasn't made just a few years later, when HG Lewis had pushed the envelope with his extreme gore, and the sight of naked female flesh was no longer restricted to nudie-cutie features—then we might have seen a film genuinely worthy of the sordid story, the 60s equivalent of Stuart Gordon's 80s gore-fest Re-animator (which develops themes from The Brain That Wouldn't Die with delightfully outrageous results).
The severed head makes friends with the failed experiment in the closet and the conehead comes out of the closet and rips off the assistant's remaining "good" arm (his other is not right from a scientist's earlier failure), and the whole place burns down.The movie scared us so much as kids that my friend wouldn't go into his basement for a year after seeing it.
Either way, it's not a good movie but is a must-see (for one time only) for horror and gore fans.Also the head's laugh is pretty creepy.
Classic film about a woman's head in a dish and a monster in the closet is a must see for movie monster fans.
The story of a mad doctor's girl who gets into a car accident that mangles her body but finds her head saved by her beau is as schlocky as they come.
I remember watching a censored version of this on TV back in the 1970's,they cut out part of the operation in the beginning,someone getting his arm ripped out from its socket,and some of the stripper scenes.its a very gory movie for 1962.i believe it was filmed earlier like 1959 but i could be wrong,this DVD is available everywhere you look.for as low as a dollar,i spotted it at a dollar store from a company called PC treasures,with a second feature;beast of yucca flats with the late great;Tor Johnson,with a bonus cartoon superman the Arctic giant.anyway brain that would'nt die is such a classic b-movie,very campy.Jason "herb"evers as a very mad doctor trying to graft his fiancés head on the body of a bikini model,why not?there's also a mutant creature that lives in a locked room,made by the spare parts of unsuccessful experiments,i believe everyone who has seen b-movies had to see this at least once.how about a remake?on the VHS version released by warner brothers its censored.i don't know why,maybe they got the TV print and didn't bother to check it.this movie is a bit much for kids,i think even today it can give children nightmares.beware of Jan in the pan.this was released by the notorious;American International Pictures.6 out of 10..
I've seen a lot of bad films, and "The Brain that Wouldn't Die" would not be in that list. |
tt0087622 | De lift | In a building in Amsterdam, an elevator inexplicably begins to function alone after a lightning storm causes a power failure, trapping four people in the elevator. The elevator will not open, even after a subsequent power restore and the passengers almost suffocate. Subsequent malfunctions prove fatal: an elderly blind man falls to his death when down the elevator doors open to an empty shaft, a night watchman of the building is decapitated by the elevator doors, and a janitor is snared in the shaft with his body dropping through the elevator ceiling hatch. Felix Adelaar, a technician from the elevator company Deta Liften, begins to examine the electrical system in an attempt to find any anomalies. During the course of several inspections, he meets journalist Mieke De Boer from The Nieuwe Revu, a local tabloid that Felix remarks he often finds in his friends' cat litter.When inspections reveal no apparent problems with the electrical system, Felix becomes obsessed with the continuing malfunctions of the elevator, not even taking pleasure in the occasional bowling with his wife Saskia and their mutual friends. Felix's continuing obsession causes Saskia to suspect that there may be another woman involved. Meanwhile, Felix continues his investigation by examining the manuals with wiring diagrams. When Felix pays yet another visit to the building he notices outside a van for Rising Sun, a manufacturer of microprocessors for automation (and a secret supplier of experimental microprocessors to Deta Liften). With Mieke's help, Felix collects the archives of newspaper articles about Rising Sun, and they decide to meet up with the head of the company. Mieke disguises herself as a co-worker and with Felix, tries to get information on the manufacturing process of the microprocessors and their possible faulty behavior. The director of the company gets nervous and answers abruptly, making very little time for the interview.Felix's wife finds out about his spending time with Mieke and fearing infidelity, angrily confronts him at dinner. Their argument is interrupted by a call from Mieke who invites Felix to meet with her former university professor who specializes in electronics. The professor explains microprocessors' sensitivity to external factors such as electric fields, magnetic fields, radioactivity, etc., which undermine the proper functionality and tells about a computer built years ago which had suddenly begun to self-program and went out of control.The next morning, Felix is summoned to the elevator factory by his boss who angrily suspends him for his unauthorized visit to Rising Sun. That evening, the owners of Deta Liften and Rising Sun have a secret meeting in a car near the building with the problematic elevator. Both businessmen get nervous as their secret experiment of building an elevator controller out of organic material is getting out of hand and killing people.Felix's wife leaves with their children. Feeling that he doesn't have anything left in life, he decides to solve the elevator conspiracy once and for all and see the experiment for himself. He sneaks into the building at night time, where the lift reveals itself to have a sentient mind as it operates properly until he tries to access the shaft, at which point it crushes the chair he was using. He then goes to the top floor with the elevator machinery and finds the metal enclosure containing the microprocessor is empty. He enters the elevator shaft, climbing onto the carriage to inspect the shaft for the replacement chip by plugging into the emergency controls on the elevator roof, resulting the microprocessor sensing this and stops him. He sees a faintly pulsating box above so he climbs wires up to it, where he uncovers the cover plate and sees viscous sticky goo crawling around a silicon chip making the sound of a heartbeat. Unnerved, Felix attacks the gooey silicon chip with his screwdriver where in response, the microprocessor starts the elevator at high speed and attacks Felix with its counterweight. Felix falls but manages has to catch onto a ledge below a set of elevator doors. As the elevator car hovers above him, Felix furiously scrambles to open the doors from the floor below and tries to hoist himself out, but his hands slip on the glossy floor. Due to the continuous high-speed attacks of the elevator, the cables break apart and the car falls after Mieke reaches in and pulls Felix out.Rising Sun's CEO arrives and realizing that his experiment failed, pulls out a pistol and fires into the biocomputer to finally kill it. In its last burst of madness, the computer shoots one of the broken cables out of the shaft, dragging the CEO into the shaft and hanging him. A shaken Felix and Mieke decide to take the stairs. As they walk downstairs and the credits roll, the screen fades green and the biocomputer's heatbeat continues (possibly indicating that is still active). | cult, comedy, murder | train | imdb | null |
tt2474972 | Outpost 37 | The film begins with a couple of text blocks explaining that in 2021 aliens invaded the planet. After crashlanding all over the earth, the next day begin the attacks by the aliens, which are called Heavies. After unifying the planets resources, men begins to fight back and the Heavies are driven off, leaving thousands of Heavies stranded on earth. After most of them have been disposed off, outposts are build to keep the rest of the world save from the remaining Heavies. Most of the people on earth move on and forget about the war, while the outposts are constantly undermanned and understaffed.10 Years after the initial attack: Three new recruits and their documentary film crew are dropped of in the vicinity of Outpost 37 where they are ordered to serve. They get a short ride from a crew from another outpost, but need to leave the vehicle as enemy fire is detected in the area. They make it to outpost 37 to find it deserted and not respondent to hails. They enter and are pulled into a prank which the crew of outpost 37 plays on all their newcomers.Later the camera crew is summoned by Captain Spears, who gives them each a gun, telling them that everyone on the base is a combatant. Shortly thereafter the base comes under attack by the local population. The outpost is build within their sovereignty and after 10 years of putting up with it, they are beginning to lose their patience with the soldiers. After calling in air support the locals are driven back, but not before wounding soldier Hollis, who needs to be transferred to the nearest other outpost, Mako, to have a bullet from his shoulder removed.After returning, Captain Spears informs them that Hollis won't be returning, but will be recovering back in the civilized world. He also informs the men that he put in a request for reinforcements, but this request is denied.The crew of the outpost teases Frankie, one of the new recruits, about the picture of his mother, which they took and put onto a poster of a topless model.Later, a new soldier arrives on foot. He is questioned about his coming to outpost 37 and says he volunteered for the assignment, as no reinforcements will be send from command. Saleem, their local translator and friend, comes to visit and tells them they need to follow him to a man who says the soldiers killed his goats during the last attack.An attachment of soldiers goes to meet the man, who says the soldiers owe hem twelve goats. Upon examining the goats, the men come to the conclusion they did not kill the goats and suspect a Heavy is in the area. With tensions high a young boy suddenly begins to move toward them. After being stopped by another man, he suddenly explodes and a Heavy appears. Taking heavy fire they retreat, only to find that soldier North has gone missing. After finding his helmet and examining the camera footage from his helmet cam, they see he's taken hostage by a Heavy. The crew wants to go find him, but are thwarted by high ranking officers who came to investigate the case. They are not allowed to leave the base.At night, when looking at the camera footage of the area around base, they see Saleem being attacked by a Heavy. They disobey orders and leave to rescue him, as soldier Brick fires a drone, to stop the Heavy. The soldier save Saleem and take the heavily wounded, but still alive Heavy back to base. When Captain Sears finds out, he shoots the Heavy and tells them to follow their orders. Saleem then volunteers to look for North and goes out in his own.When he comes back, he's checked at the gate for bombs, since the boy they saw earlier exploded. He checks out, but Brick, who is in the camera room, sees that Saleem has a very low body temperature. He tries to warn Frankie, but it's too late and Saleem shoots Frankie in the head. Captain Spears bursts out of his office and kills Saleem. After examining the body of Saleem, the doc finds a small incision in the back of Saleems neck. He doesn't know what to make of it.After the funeral of Frankie, Captain Spears orders the men to gear up as they go out to find North. They find him, he is still alive but unconscious, and they bring him back to base. Though he's been shot three times, his vitals are stable and strong. He however doesn't regain consciousness. In the camera room, the men see North's eyelids moving and discover he's using tap code to give them a location. After informing Captain Spears he then asks North, who is still unconscious, what is at that position. Using his eyelid method, North spells out Steel Rain. He then wakes up suddenly and begins to attack Captain Spears, all the while screaming, kill me, kill me! Spears shoots him and North thanks him when he dies. The doc cuts open the scar in Norths neck, only to reveal an alien device which they think is used to control North with.Spears wants to explore the location given to him by North, but is forbidden so by General Dane. A short while later a combined group of Heavies and locals begins to attack the outpost. After contacting command they are told the attacks are happening all across the outpost line and it will be at least an hour before they can get air support. Gearing up, the men blow cover fire as Andros rigs the base to explode. They leave at the last second and blow up the base, buying the other outpost some time. Brick is killed by a blast from a Heavy while in the truck.Spears refuses to go to the Mako outpost and asks the men if they are willing to follow him to the coordinates North has given him. They all agree and make their way to the coordinates where they encounter a large alien structure, protected heavily by Heavies and locals alike. After making it into the facilities they find multiple rooms which house the missing soldiers and locals. They all have the same scar in their neck. After more resistance in the structure, they come across a power station, which is gearing up. Spears orders Andros to rig the station to blow as he and the other men give cover fire. After a heavy loss of casualties, in which one of the camera men is fatally wounded, most men run for the exit. The wounded camera man takes the detonation device and is seen exploding the charge as a Heavy comes upon him.With the power station, the whole building blows and the soldiers, who are by now in their truck, see the building collapse. Moments later something big falls from the sky. After stopping, Omo investigates. It turns out the building was designed to disrupt the network of defense satellites who have been put around the earth after the first attack. In the moments the building was active, until the time it collapsed, hundreds of pods could come to the barrier to resupply the Heavies who stayed behind after the initial attack. The collapse of the building causes to defensive satellites to regain their effectiveness, stopping more pods and possibly new Heavies, from entering the atmosphere.As the film comes to a close the camera man asks what Steel Rain means. The soldier answers with: Second Wave....Movie ends. | suspenseful, murder, violence | train | imdb | Plop a couple famous faces in here and I think anyone would be hard-pressed to tell the difference from a Hollywood production.The only explanation I can see for the poor ratings is that people were expecting a sci-fi flick and are judging the movie's compliance with that expectation.
It's my hope that people disregard the low ratings and give movies like this a shot anyway..
The title Outpost 37 is much better than the alternative Alien Outpost, the latter seeming to suggest some crappy Uwe Boll type film.In fact I was very pleasantly surprised by the premise, the acting, and the cinematography.
Although very aware that this was a low budget film with a necessary limit on special effects, I was engrossed by the story all the way to an end - which, albeit a little obvious some way before, was a satisfactory one.
It left some questions and highlighted a couple of plot holes, but it was still way better than its budget would suggest.What effects there were were effective, the cinematography and the editing sharp and snappy, and the actors surprisingly above par and very comfortable in their roles, making the film believable all the way through.All in all a good couple of hours well spent..
I have heard people say that the special effects are cheep, but honestly i have no idea where they get it from, first of all there aren't that many and the ones that are there looks perfectly fine.Regarding the story, its feels like what a sequel to "Battle Los Angeles"could have been.
It delivers a sic fi action film on a fraction of the budget of a Hollywood Studio flick, but because of its low budget it can afford to take time to build the characters and take risks that the Studios wouldn't allow..
Most people are very critical in ratings and many 5 star films I have liked and few big budget I thought were waste of time and money.
Once you get through the low budget look and the long "what the heck is going on here?" the movie sucks you in and by the time the long final scene comes, you are totally immersed in the story and come to care for the characters.
Alien invasion movies are going to keep coming; no matter how god awful the recent stock of them have been ("Battle LA", "Battleship") it seems like there is still money that financiers still think should be thrown at blowing E.T out of the water.
Raisani, a visual effects supervisor on quite a few mainstream projects (most recently "Game of Thrones"), gives us his first feature here, a combination of "Starship Troopers" and Sebastian Junger's war documentary "Restrepo." So the Earth gets invaded in 2021, a year later the alien Heavies have almost all been extinguished except for some stragglers who are being taken care of by military outposts around the world.
Despite every character being given a "bare-bones" personality, it's surprising how much a lot of this comes off as genuine, especially like in a scene where a soldier honors a fallen friend.It's a shame that Raisani doesn't have as much confidence in his alien creations.
The rating was 4.6, but thankfully I've made it a practice nowadays to read the featured review - I was rewarded with an entertaining watch!This is a well made war movie!
Having said that in the 40+ years that I've been watching Science Fiction I place this movie right at the top of the "Invasion" genre.If you trust nothing else I say in this review, which I also will say is the first I've ever written, it is that you shouldn't trust the negative reviews and watch the film for yourself..
I think there are a number of reasons this film worked but most importantly it was from the perspective of the average Joe Enlistee and felt like an authentic day in the life of, and the acting was on par with any Hollywood blockbuster.
I think the lack of "updated" helicopters, gear, etc was intentional--I mean we've seen movies for decades that imagine what earth might be like in 50 or 100 years with state of the art weapons and uniforms...
It's sad to see what a low score this movie's gotten considering how truly amazing it is.It's rare to see a film that has an excellent story, amazing presentation and great acting.
This is a masterfully presented view of what real war is like, even if it involves aliens.The movie shows the events involving the garrison of an outpost set up in a forgotten part of the world in order to help fight off the remnants of an alien invasion of earth.
I only write reviews of movies with low rating, which actually are not that bad.
Give them a chance!This is also my first review on IMDb and I am doing it because this is one of the best low-budget sci-fi films I've seen.At the time I am writing this, the movie has a 4.6 rating, but I think it deserves a higher one.
This plot isn't bad at all, in fact the more I think about it the more I think the director and all deserve a pat on the back for making quite a decent sci fi thriller on what I would imagine be a micro budget.Well done and well deserving of 1.5 hours of your time.Yes please to an equally gritty sequel..
Located in the middle of nowhere, the outpost is used to clean up the "leftovers" of an alien invasion.Pulling on the chain of the currant war of the time, the movie focus on the relationship between soldiers out on the field too long before the main attraction of seeing the monster.In a predator like matter we learned to care about the boys and why they are fighting the enemy before they get slowly picked off.Overall it was a hit for me.
This film was different; mock- documentary, gutsy, not full of mind- blowing special effects, but full of excellent action and a not-half-bad attempt to give some depth to the characters.
If an alien race has the technology and science to travel across the galaxy to invade Earth, why is it that they are always so amazingly bad at the actual invasion part, and that humanity always prevails?This movie is good enough that this personal gripe didn't spoil it too much, and I can thoroughly recommend giving this a watch..
I liked the realistic military action.Relations between characters were also realistic, same with dialogues.I liked that the story was as simple as could be (just some militants in an outpost trying to survive each day.The Si-Fi element (weapons, aliens, invasion to Earth) made the film even better and more interesting.Direction was also good, telling the story in a documentary way.No big Hollywood stars here, low budget, but great movie, and as clever as "District 9".
Here's why:Actors are convincing and realistic in their portrayal of US army guys - Modern technology is shown throughout the movie (drones, etc.) to great effect - Despite this being an independent movie with a low budget, I thought the production was *fantastic*, especially the army base itself and the sound design - Shadows of our conflicts in Iraq/Afghanistan are felt throughout the movie, lending it a realistic toneIf you want to watch a great action movie and are OK with a lower budget then this it.
Far better than most "B" movies.The acting was of a high standard and the script very good.This is shot in the first person in a documentary format.
But this was one of the better filmed ones.This was a refreshing change to many of the alien attack movies out there.
So its obvious from the lack of big name stars and the not so great CGI (it's not terrible at least), that this movie has a low budget.
Shot in documentary style, we get to chase the antics of a bunch of what are essentially US marines, defending a remote backwater outpost from aliens.What it lacks in Hollywood names and big budget effects, it makes up for with its consistent story, REALISTIC characters, an enemy that nobody likes, and a well considered world that is convincing and believable.
I thought it would be worse than that for the abysmal rating IMDb gave it."I hope they make a sequel, and I hope the director puts whatever damn characters and stories he feels like putting into it, so the sequel can be just as good.
This movie's really really good if you like sci-fi, a different viewpoint and action.
Iam not a fan of the documentary style film but this one works and does not feel like you are watching raw handy am footage The special effects budget was obviously limited by blockbuster standards but it was better than a lot of b-grade sci fi films I have seen.
No idea why anyone would think that making a fictitious sci-fi war documentary would appeal to anyone.This is what the movie offers: 1) Interviews with soldiers asking them about personal life, families etc (like you care about them as if they were real people in a real war) 2) Shaky camera all over the place with frantic movement and zooming, not to mention that any time the aliens were in range or any explosions would happen the camera would pretty much get distorted, digital cams and emp near them so you missed just about every special effect because the camera would get pixelated and distorted, great idea.3) Writing about the effects of things in the film, how people got medals, what happened and so forth as if this was a real war or based on a real story and they were stating facts.4) No story whatsoever, no explanation to Alien invasion why they were there or got left behind.
wonder how the aliens could fire lasers and plasma cannons, mind control yet their space ships could not take down whatever the human military managed to put in space as defence.As someone else has mentioned, the films seems like an art project for some movie students.
I have above average tolerance for shaky cam which comes in handy watching found footage movies, but I've just met my match in Alien Outpost.
Alien Outpost proves you don't have to have a big budget to produce a good sci-fi action movie.
Indeed there's a serious problem with the camera coverage from several different angles and only establishing two documentary filmmakers.Other than that, it's very slow going at first, but eventually it builds up to the final show down that's decent enough for a low budget action film or TV action.The filmmaker has enough skills to pull of an action or war film, but this ain't District 9 and the development concept is all wrong.I disagree with the other guy, this is much better than Asylum films because they actually take the time to do the VFX instead of just slap on stock footage..
The effects work was excellent (including the alien creature design), the acting was good, and the premise was pretty original, taking place at an isolated military outpost where the soldiers are stuck dealing with the enemies left behind after a hostile alien invasion had been turned back (in addition to a healthy number of hostile locals).
I think the reason for the low rating is that the bad reviewers did not even watch the whole movie, skipping through much of it.
The problem with the characters was that they weren't sharply written, that's why i had hard time to recognizing them after their introduction nor i didn't care of their outcome.Overall, if you like these low budget movies, or "B" movies, you should check "Alien Outpost" - it's nothing new or very exciting, but for running time 1 h 25 min it does it's job.
Jabbar Raissani seemed to do everything in this movie produced , visual effects , directed, he even cleaned out the portaloos and more but the one thing he did'not do was make a good movie.I agree with all the reviewers on the last page this movie was dull , really dull and the acting was wooden and stilted and poor old Adrian Paul must have been brought in for 5 minutes just to give it that headline actor - he actually just played a voice on the radio because he was too embarrassed to actually appear in it!What a joke this movie is.
The special effects are really quite good considering it's not a big budget film.
really do not understand the low scores for this movie, not the best introduction with admittedly pretty bog standard cgi, but once you get past this kind of standard formula stuff, the movie really kicks in, the first half hour is a little slow and pretty much like any standard 'war' movie, but as it progresses the film only improves, whilst not relying on effects, the effects are acceptable, ten years ago this kind of movie would have cost significantly more to produce, a sure sign of the times that great movies like this one can be produced now for much less money and create movies much better than many 'blockbusters' with big stars, great little gem, watch it and judge it, we enjoyed it anyway..
I looked at the ratings of this film and thought I would read the reviews before discarding it out of hand as I like Sci-Fi movies and I have watched some pretty terrible ones in the past and usually there is some small redeeming point that makes you think you haven't wasted an hour and a half of your life, this film is the exception.
The actors were amazing, the story line actually made sense, and cinematography was really good for a low budget film.
Which is a real shame when looking at a movie like outpost 37 (aka: Alien Outpost).Although the acting wasn't always consistently top notch, it was good enough over all to keep me invested in the characters and story.
I can't think of a single actor in this film which didn't deliver this feeling of a degenerating situation well.Like I said earlier the special effects are a bit sparse (I'm sure due to budget constraints) but the way the movie is set up they really worked around this problem.
Is this for real?.I was expecting a pure-garbage shaky-cam non-stop-action with non- existent character development and/or story and I got all the above reversed!.Really, if you're trying to find out if this movie is good or not, read the reviews, don't believe the score.Alien Outpost starts a little slow but with solid character development, all the soldiers had their personalities and they are all lovable in their own way, you get to know them, the action sequences are not over- the-top and also very rare, aside from the final moments.
This is a movie that focus almost entirely on the story and it's characters, it's actually a sci-fi movie that intends on telling you a good sci-fi story and for me it succeeds.If only they could get more money and resources to do it, this could easily surpass any of the Hollywood crap i've seen lately.As an invasion-alien movie it's somewhat average, as a solid sci-fi with a good mix of action and drama, this movie excels.Thumbs up for the solid acting, the nice story that stays with you after you finish watching it and for the imaginative script, I'm actually looking forward to the next movie, which I'm sure it can be a success if they're allowed to make it.People, stop reading numbers, just watch this movie, you won't regret it, except if you like stupid movies that depend on incredible CGI and dumb plots.Congrats for the accomplishment..
I have to say this was a loss of time i didn't feel this movie i cant see how its good its like a bad cbs 60 minutes thats not interesting.I think that it would be more interesting watching paint dry in a wet wall all day.
and maybe how each person think the movie is made.This for me, looked like low-budget movie, when i saw the trailer, and the IMDb Rating.
The aliens themselves seemed a bit odd at the beginning, but further in the movie, you'll understand and like them.Actors are doing a great job.
So when the fighting to a little while the guys in Outpost had to switch to there pistols until combat ended and they could go back inside to refill there magazines.Any ways that's enough ranting for one day overall "Alien Outpost" 10/10 Semi Realistic, way better acting than one would expect, and far to underrated for what it truly deserves.And for those of you who say the camera style is bad the CGI is horrible why would any one watch a fake documentary about a war that didn't happen?
Even the special effects were seldom used, but still good.It is rare that I take the time to write a review about a movie.
It looks like it was shot with a hand-held camera and the entire movie takes place in a base that is almost never attacked by aliens.
This movie isn't really an 8 like a big budget 'total recall' or 'alien' franchise, but I felt that I had to bring the rating up.
For a low budget and B grade film, this movie was surprisingly decent; the actors did a great job portraying their individual roles.
The idea - a documentary footage movie about the last anti-alien invasion outpost on Earth is great.
However, the low budget execution makes the movie not worth watching.
The low budget fails the movie even as an Afgan war movie - too many one on one interviews with soldiers to make it look more documentary-type and realistic.
I would really like to see this movie redone with a proper budget, better editing and more actual aliens in it.. |
tt0461936 | Don | Don (Shahrukh Khan) is a ruthless criminal, wanted by police in many countries. DCP D'Silva (Boman Irani) and Detective Malik (Om Puri) are two cops who will do anything to capture Don. Don soon brutally murders one of his own men Ramesh (Diwakar Pundir) as well as his fiance Kamini (Kareena Kapoor). By doing so, Don makes an enemy out of Ramesh's sister Roma (Priyanka Chopra) who swears to kill Don no matter what it takes.Don is soon injured in a police pursuit and is admitted to hospital in a coma. D'Silva tracks down a look alike of Don named Vijay (also Shahrukh Khan). He persuades Vijay to enter Don's gang posing as Don. Vijay agrees to hand over a disc to D'Silva, a disc which contains vital information about the gang - this disc may be a way for the cops to arrest the gang. Roma attempts to kill Vijay, but stops when she learns about D'Silva's plan.During a police raid, Vijay and the gang members are all arrested by Malik. During the raid, D'Silva is killed. This causes problems for Vijay - D'Silva was the only person who could prove Vijay is not the real Don. Will Vijay be able to prove his innocence? | cult, murder | train | imdb | null |
tt0438859 | Goodbye Bafana | James Gregory, a male Caucasian, lives in a South African farm, and is friendly with a black native, Bafana. Both children communicate in the local language, and James even poses in a photograph with his arm around Bafana. Both children bid each other goodbye when James re-locates to live in the city.Years later, James, who now works for the Government, is married to conservative Gloria, who has been taught, and in turn, teaches her children, Brett, Chris, and Natasha, that the suffering of the native blacks is 'God's Will', and is not to be questioned.James' friends view the photograph of Bafana and himself and make fun of him, leading James to hate blacks.The South African Secret Service finds out about James' knowledge of the native language, and they recruit him as a Prison Censorship Officer, and he is instructed to monitor and censor all information and meetings of all inmates, especially Nelson Mandela, the leader of the African National Congress, who has been imprisoned since 1963 for allegedly inciting riots against the government.James converses with Nelson and even finds out his native name is Madiba. When Winnie is permitted to visit Nelson, James monitors the conversation along with another guard, and interrupts them when he finds out that they are talking about the African National Congress.James also finds out that Nelson's son has acquired a driver's license, and he reports this to his supervisor. Shortly thereafter, he is told to hand over a newspaper report that Nelson's son has been killed in an automobile accident.While conversing with another guard, James is told that the 'Freedom Charter' of the African National Congress is the 'extermination of whites'. James sets forth to examine this document, and finds out that it is banned and special authorization is required to even view this document. He does manage to obtain a copy and keeps it on his person.His children experience the trauma of watching police brutality on civilians, including women, children, and infants.
While James continues his conversation with Nelson, both men come close to almost being friends. It is then Nelson asks James to give Winnie a piece of chocolate as a Christmas present during her visit to see him. James secretly hands this over - setting into motion a series of events that will isolate him from his very own peers, and force him to consider resigning from his current position.Not able to witness Gloria's distraught and isolation, he resigns, but his resignation is not accepted. He is then asked to accompany Nelson to another prison, which he does.Amongst mounting international pressure to free Nelson, as well as imposition of crippling economic sanctions, the South African government representative meets with Nelson and agrees to free him if he re-locates, but Nelson refuses.Amongst mounting riots from the natives, James' family starts to receive threatening phone calls, and their movements are closely watched by the secret service, a visibly shaken James receives news that Brett has been killed in an automobile accident.He must now attempt to find out if this action was carried by his superiors, the members of the African National Congress, or was it just plain natural justice for betraying Nelson's son. | violence | train | imdb | Extremely well acted, I loved Joseph Fiennes (James Gregory) and Dennis Haysbert (Nelson Mandela) in their roles, and Diane Kruger (Gloria Gregory) did well, too.
Music supported various scenes very well, without being too prominent.The movie starts when a young prison warden James Gregory arrives to Robben Island 1968 and is addressed to keep an eye on Nelson Mandela, who is being imprisoned there for his political views.
Very slowly, over the years, he became to see through the apartheid and change his views.Dennis Haysbert was chosen to the role of Mandela, because of his quiet, distinctive charm and mental power.
In some scenes the British accent is more or less audible, but most of the time he does a wonderful job.Diane Kruger did a good job as James's wife, a mother of two, who was also raising their kids to support the apartheid.
She tried to hold onto the apartheid views for much longer than her husband.The movie ends to a year 1990, when Nelson Mandela is released from prison after being incarcerated for 27 years.
Joseph Fiennes has always looked a bit like a spider monkey in my view, but in this movie he was better than in any role I'd seen him in before, doing what I thought was a competent job with the South African accent as well.
In a movie based upon a true story, Fiennes plays James Gregory, a racist South African guard whose certainties are nonetheless shaken to the core over the span of twenty years the time he spends as Nelson Mandela's prison warden.
The movie's merit lies largely in showing us the daily application of a major historic abomination Apartheid through the lives of "little people", those ordinary men and women of South Africa thanks to whom it was perpetuated.
While many books and films about South Africa's Apartheid have attempted to convey the tension and the eventual dissolution of that sociopolitical scheme, few histories bring us as close to the core of the schism as does Bille August's excellent film THE COLOR OF FREEDOM.
Based on the book GOODBYE BAFANA by James Gregory (with Bob Graham) the story details the relationship between Nelson Mandela and prison warden James Gregory during Mandela's long imprisonment on Robben Island off the coast of South Africa, and the gradual friendship that occurred between these disparate men.
Nelson Mandela (Dennis Haysbert) was convicted of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment on the desolate Robben Island for his non-violent attempts to end racism in South Africa, attempts that eventually resulted in work stoppages and resistance movements that moved the articulate, well-educated lawyer Mandela into the realm of activism.
While on Robben Island he was guarded by one James Gregory (Joseph Fiennes), a pro-apartheid, cruel prison employee who was assigned to Mandela as a spy and censor because of Gregory's knowledge of the local language Xhosa (learned from his childhood when his best friend was a black boy named Bafana).
Gregory lives on the island with this wife (Diane Kruger) and children and his commitment to his family provides a stark contrast to his hatred of his black 'Kaffir' prisoners: his involvement with the pro-apartheid status is strengthened by his direct communication with Intelligence in the cities of South Africa where his censored information from the prisoners leads to definitive capture and 'disposal' of the blacks.
On a trip ashore Gregory and his wife and children witness first hand the beatings and cruelties of the whites against the blacks and Gregory returns to his duties on Robben Island with a gradually changing point of view for the model prisoner Mandela.
They begin communicating in Xhosa and Gregory allows Mandela's wife Winnie (Faith Ndukwana) to spend more committed time with her husband on her restricted visits to Robben island.
Gregory's life and philosophy have been changed by Mandela's powerful personality and spirit and his eventual release from prison into the new, freed South Africa has been aided in a small but meaningful way by Gregory - a reflection of Gregory's childhood bond with his friend Bafana.
I'd just like to make the point that Raj Doctor of Amsterdam's comment above is more than a little misleading, as well as giving a rather simplified version of the long and complex history of what became the Republic of South Africa.He refers to 'the ruling British', a group apparently wholly responsible for the racism and violence which have beset the country.
The particular nature of the problems which South Africa has faced are based primarily on the relatively significant size of its white population and their attendant rule (dominated as it has been by Afrikaners) not on 'British rule'.I enjoyed the film, by the way.
A real life movie based is supposed to be precise without getting too much into detail - otherwise it turns boring - and so is "Goodbye Bafana", documenting 27 years in the life of this prison guard.
The picture was well based on real events and actual characters , regarding the true story of a white South African racist , a prison warden (Joseph Fiennes) whose life was profoundly altered by the black prisoner named Nelson Mandela (Dennis Haysbert) he guarded for twenty years .
W. De Klerk to abolish apartheid and establish multiracial elections in 1994, in which he led the ANC to victory and became South Africa's first black president .This is an enjoyable as well as thought-provoking story about a warden and his relationship with Mandela , an emotive flick revolving around imprisonment Nelson until his freedom and inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa .
The flick describes perfectly a great man who could have lived in bitterness and anger all his existence , seeking vengeance when he ultimately achieved power , but who instead chose to devote himself to democracy and peaceful reconciliation between blacks and whites in South Africa .
The main actors , Joseph Fiennes , Dennis Haysbert and Diane Kruger give awesome interpretations and the story was professionally directed by Billie August .
Other films based on this historical figure are the followings : ¨Mandela¨ (1987) by Philip Saville with Danny Glover , Alfre Woodward , Warren Clarke , Julian Glover ; ¨Mandela and De Clerk¨ (1997) by Joseph Sargent with Sidney Poitier and Michael Caine ; ¨Winnie¨ by Darrel Root with Jennifer Hudson , Terrence Howard , Elias Koteas ; ¨Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom¨ (2013) by Justin Chadwick with Idris Elba and Naomi Harris .The film was correctly based on historical facts , these are the followings : Nelson Mandela who was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician and philanthropist .
As he spend long time in prison amidst tight economic sanctions by the international community, and growing unrest by the natives who continue their fight for equality, and freedom for Nelson Mandela .
I like Dennis Haysbert; he's a good actor, but he was miscast in the part of Nelson Mandela.
There's a point in the film when Joseph Feinnes, in character, does a brief imitation of Mandela making a public statement; he does a very convincing job of it, and I thought:"This white guy would have made a better Nelson Mandela than we have here".
Why not place some South African character actor with a long, distinguished portfolio in the Mandela role?
He is perhaps the only person in the world I can think of to whom I would apply the adjective "great." He was a man who could have lived in bitterness and anger all his life, seeking revenge when he finally achieved power, but who instead chose to devote himself to democracy and peaceful reconciliation between blacks and whites in South Africa.
The story is actually told from the perspective of James Gregory (played convincingly by Joseph Fiennes) - who as a prison guard slowly advancing up the ranks - met Mandela (played by Dennis Haysbert) in 1968 and gradually developed a relationship of trust and respect with him.There's enough background information to give the viewer a taste of what South African life was like under apartheid, but the story isn't really about that.
At the start of the movie, Gregory came across as basically just another white South African, committed to apartheid and devoted to maintaining the white hold on "their" country.
Mandela's graciousness as well as his fierce devotion to his cause impacts Gregory, who suddenly begins to see Mandela not as a black terrorist out to kill whites but as a human being seeking basic dignity and equality.Fiennes performance was very strong.
Nelson Mandela this movie is about him, and that is the only factor that made to select this movie.But the story is not about Nelson Mandela (Dennis Haysbert) but about his prison guard James Gregory (Joseph Fiennes) who first serves as a prison guard (in 1968) for Mandela because he knows the African language Xhosa that Mandela and his comrades speak.
Dennis Haysbert portrays the role of his life time with gut, gutsy and tremendous respect and dignity in being Nelson Mandela an honor for an actor.The movie as rightly said by some critics is a history lesson of sorts.
It makes you think about how we as human beings treat each other, and about what really matters in life.We've all heard about the apartheid that took place in South Africa a few decades ago and how Nelson Mandela fought for freedom for the black people.
James Gregory (Joseph Fiennes) with language skills is recruited as the censor officer to watch over prisoner Nelson Mandela (Dennis Haysbert).
The story of the white man/guard might be spiked a bit and his wife does not have much to do (Diane Kruger) besides the obvious (caring for him, the safety of their family and being a faithful wife, sticking with her husband through it all).One thing is sure, you do need a really charismatic and good actor if you want to portray a man like Mandela.
Seems quite sad that the true-to-life character of Nelson Mandela would be reduced to a supporting character in a film about him; his stay on the Robben Island prison and his consequent release in the 1990s.
Yes, it resembles a TV movie of the week and yes, at about the half way mark you can envisage the film's final few moments consisting of a little white text caption coming into focus on the black background detailing what the lead character's current state is; but above all this is a film wanting to tackle a white individual's guilt rather than a black individual's plight and with this established pretty early on in the film, I did not have a problem with the direction the film took.Goodbye Bafana revolves around a pro-white; pro-Apartheid guard with the South African prison service named James Gregory, played by Joseph Fiennes, who moves to Robben island with his family of wife Gloria (Kruger); young son Brent and daughter Natasha in the 1960s.
One of these is the aforementioned Nelson Mandela, played here by Dennis Haysbert, who does a reasonable job shuffling from scene to scene and keeping a stern and expressionless face in playing the man; although the level of the performance cannot be understated when we recall what it is Haysbert is exactly required to do: essentially playing a dispirited prisoner throughout and given little room to play the equality driven saviour of a nation and its beliefs.Interestingly, the moment that encapsulates the very sentiment that the film is more interested in Gregory's tale than Mandela and his struggle and the manner in which he went about doing what he did actually occurs very late on, but it's telling all the same; in a sequence that sees Mandela and his assistants sit around a large table about to indulge in the sorts of discussions that saw them do what they did but sees James leave the room with the film following him, just as those at the table appear to get started, so as to cover his moving house and his family problems.
As the years roll on and everyone grows older, the Gregory's shift around and Mandela himself is kept on the sidelines as he changes prisons looking at the main strand of the film from a distanced perspective.
The film tries to provide some dramatic tension to proceedings, the arrival of a new and more brutal Robben Island chief of staff later on in life supposed to instill a sense of what might happen if Gregory were to be caught by this new chief as his attitudes begin to change.
This is a workmanlike, routine study of James Gregory, (Joseph Fiennes) the prison guard assigned to Nelson Mandela on Robben Island and his burgeoning relationship with the ANC leader, seen then as a trouble- making terrorist.The title comes from the young black boy that Gregory played with and whose bond was underpinned by an exchange of a bracelet.
Diane Kruger, as Gregory's wife is even more racist than he is and she often tries to shape her husband's career into what she sees as traditional white superiority.Unfortunately, Dennis Haysbert, who plays Mandela, neither looks the part nor radiates the personality that he's now renowned for.
James Gregory is a white South African prison guard.
As time goes on, however, his views start to change, partly as a result of the violence he sees directed by the South African police and security forces against the black population, partly because he has come to admire Mandela and the other Black political leaders.
There doubtless were white South Africans, including members of the prison service, who continued to hold unreconstructed white supremacist views up until the end of apartheid (and in some cases even beyond), but it is unlikely that a feature film would ever be made these days chronicling the life and opinions of such individuals, so we know from the outset that Gregory's views will undergo a complete change in the course of the film.
James Gregory, a South African man, chronicled his experiences as a soldier in a book about those the dark days of Apartheid, and its demise, when Nelson Mandela was freed after twenty seven years in prison.
Bille August, the Danish film director decided to bring the story to the screen adapting the events that lead to the democratic government now in place.As a young boy, James Gregory's best friend was a black lad who knew about the difference between the races at a moment when the ruling white minority ruled the country in ruthless fashion.
James went on to become a soldier who is sent to Robben Island where a lot of political prisoners, among them, Nelson Mandela was being held.
James Gregory gave away many secrets that resulted in the assassination of a lot of the blacks that were considered communist terrorists, something that he lived to regret throughout his life.The film second half tells the story how two different men from such disparate backgrounds begin to respect one another as they bond because both see the real problem that have helped to create the racial injustice.Joseph Fiennes is seen as James Gregory.
If you are looking for a film which is based on true facts about Mandela's time in prison and about apartheid in South Africa, then this is the right film for you.
The film is about the time Mandela spent in prison and the prison officer James Gregory.
During the film James Gregory changes his attitude towards Nelson Mandela and the black people.
The main characters are played by Dennis Haysbert (Nelson Mandela), Joseph Fiennes (James Gregory) and Diane Kruger (Gloria Gregory).
So it is easier for the viewer to identify with them.In our opinion the film is a good film to inform the viewers about apartheid and the events around Nelson Mandela.
It is based on the memories of Nelson Mandela's prison ward James Gregory and it plays in South Africa during the period of Apartheid (1968).
On Robben Island Mandela gets to know the racist James Gregory, who watches him.
As time passes Mandela convinces Gregory to change into a proponent of an equal South Africa.
...But to understand how his opinion changes you will have to view it yourself.This film is surely worth seeing because of its dramatic action, presented by great actors like Diane Kruger or Dennis Haysbert and Joseph Fiennes.
In the Color of Freedom we have Dennis Haysbert and Nelson Mandela in just the way I think of him, and Joseph Fiennes who was his guard for many years.
I don't know if there is a movie which tells the story of Nelson Mandela's like before he was imprisoned, but there needs to be..
I had great expectations for this movie as Nelson Mandela is by far the most important political figure of our age(second perhaps only to Ghandi), and as such he deserves every bit of homage that can be sent his way."Goodbye Bafana" should have been the paramount praise for this extraordinary man, yet it never reaches the potential that lurks just beneath the surface.One reason for this is the fact that the time frame that has to be covered is too big for the time set aside telling it.
If you want to learn more about the past of South Africa and about Nelson Mandela, you should have a look at "Goodbye Bafana".
This film was directed by Bille August and shows the everyday life of Mandela and Gregory, a prison guard, on Robben Island where Mandela was in arrest.The main character James Gregory is presented as a serious and irritable man but when he meets Nelson Mandela, he becomes a warm-hearted guy.
In the beginning he is a supporter of Apartheid but when working with Nelson Mandela for a long time, he changes his opinion and begins to doubt his habits.
In the end you can say that it is a great film about the story and life of Nelson Mandela and it's based on a true story.. |
tt0139239 | Go | The film is told out of chronological format, the story being told from four different points of view. As such, the following summary only generalizes the actual sequence of events which take place.Ronna's storyIt is Christmas Eve in Los Angeles. Adam (Scott Wolf) and Zack (Jay Mohr), a couple of TV soap opera actors, have been busted for narcotics possession. In a plea deal, they will help Officer Burke (William Fichtner) set up a sting operation for Simon (Desmond Askew), an occasional drug dealer who sells ecstasy from his cash register at a local grocery store. Unbeknownst to them, Simon has taken a vacation to Las Vegas. Filling in at his register is Ronna (Sarah Polley), an 18-year-old runaway and high school dropout who is facing eviction and desperate for the extra paid hours of income. When the actors ask about Simon and where they might buy some ecstasy, Ronna recognizes a lucrative financial opportunity. She offers to "see what she can do" for them, taking down their address. They give her a flier with the details of a rave later that evening.After work, Ronna and co-worker friends Claire (Katie Holmes) and Mannie (Nathan Bexton) debate the underground drug trade "rules," such as circumventing Simon to become competing dealers themselves. Ronna decides this will be a one-time-only deal and proceeds to Simon's drug supplier, Todd (Timothy Olyphant). Todd is suspicious of Ronna's sudden interest in dealing drugs, and that the quantity she has requested is the exact amount that constitutes a drug trafficking felony. Reluctantly, he offers to sell her the drugs at a higher price. Unprepared for the price hike, she offers to leave collateral in exchange for bringing the balance back after the sale is complete, and bullies Claire into being the collateral. Ronna and Mannie then proceed to Adam and Zack's pre-rave party at their apartment. Ronna goes inside to complete the deal, while Mannie stays in the car and downs two of the pills he swiped from the bottle.Inside at the "party", there's only Adam and Zack behaving uncomfortably, along with an older man (Officer Burke, the undercover officer) who seems overly focused on finishing the drug deal. Ronna quickly realizes something is amiss here, so she asks to use the restroom before completing the deal. When Zack turns to show Ronna the way to the bathroom, he whispers "Go!" to her. She goes into the bathroom, flushes the drugs down the toilet, and emerges empty-handed. She tells Burke she wasn't able to obtain the drugs after all, and to defend herself from further scrutiny, notes to Burke that she is underage to be drinking the beer he gave her. Realizing he is now on surveillance giving alcohol to a minor, and without evidence to hold her, Burke lets Ronna go.Ronna, in a state of panic, ponders her situation with Mannie, who is slowly succumbing to the effects of the pills he took. She doesn't have the money to buy Claire's release from Todd, and now she has no drugs to sell. In desperation, she shoplifts a large supply of over-the-counter medication from her own grocery store. Finding pills roughly the same appearance as the ecstasy pills, she refills Todd's bottle and returns to his apartment. She explains to Todd that the deal fell through, gives the "stash" back to him, and frees Claire from collateral duty. Ronna realizes that she's still facing eviction and decides to attend the rave to sell the remaining medication as ecstasy. Her scam works, and she quickly makes more then enough money to cover her rent. Meanwhile, Todd has discovered the fake pills and shows up at the rave to settle the score. He sees Ronna and Mannie from afar and chases them through the dancing crowd. Mannie is too high to run and is slowing them both down. Ronna hides Mannie behind a piece of sheet metal in a back alleyway, tells him to keep quiet until she comes back, and runs off alone.Todd catches up to Ronna in the parking lot. He has a few last words with her about the nature of the illegal drug trade, and takes out a gun intent on killing her. At that very moment, a yellow Mazda Miata swerves around a corner of the parking lot at high speed and squarely hits Ronna, catapulting her onto its roof. It then shoots forwards and stops suddenly, sending her flying into a ditch. The driver, in panic from seeing Todd with a gun, flees the scene. Todd leaves Ronna for dead and flees as well as it begins to rain. Ronna lies motionless in the ditch.Simon's storyEarlier.... After recruiting Ronna to cover his shift at the grocery store, Simon goes off with three of his friends Marcus (Taye Diggs), Tiny (Breckin Meyer), and Singh (James Duval) for some adventures in Las Vegas, footing their hotel bill with the credit card he had borrowed from Todd. Shortly after arriving, Tiny and Singh develop bad cases of diarrhoea from eating some bad seafood at the hotel's buffet restaurant and are stuck in their hotel room while Simon and Marcus hit the casino. Simon quickly loses much of his money and then wanders into a wedding party on the premises. There, he meets two female guests, with whom he eventually smokes pot and has sex (both of them). One of the women accidentally starts a fire in her hotel room, causing Simon to flee naked (clothes in tow) in an elevator.Putting his clothes back on, he meets up with Marcus back in the casino. Marcus's yellow sports coat gets him mistaken for a hotel employee, even earning him a tip when a customer mistakes him for a bathroom attendant. This eventually works to his advantage, though, when another hotel guest assumes Marcus is a parking valet and hands him the keys to his Ferrari. Simon and Marcus jump at this golden opportunity to take the red Ferrari for a spin, winding up at the Crazy Horse strip club. En route, Simon discovers a 9 mm pistol in the glove compartment, which he pockets for himself.At the strip club, Marcus warns Simon not to order "champagne" - strip club code for a private lap dance they cannot afford - however, Simon does precisely that, and he heads to a back room with two dancers and Marcus in tow. Before the lap dance commences, they receive a stern warning from menacing Victor Junior (Jimmy Shubert), one of the bouncers and the son of the club owner, to behave like gentlemen and not touch the dancers "or else." Simon hands the bouncer Todd's credit card and he and Marcus enter the back room; the lap dances have barely begun when Simon loses his self-control and gropes his dancer. Victor Jr. immediately bursts into the room and begins beating him. Marcus tries to defend Simon and is himself attacked by the bouncer. Simon then draws the gun he found and shoots Victor Jr., wounding him in the arm. Simon and Marcus hastily flee the premises and head back to the hotel.Simon and Marcus rush into their room and roust up the sickly Tiny and Singh, telling them they have 30 seconds to get up and out. Before they can flee, the Victors Jr. and Sr. (J.E. Freeman) arrive at their door, so Simon and crew bribe a young boy staying in the next room to open the connecting door for their escape. After a frantic car chase down the Las Vegas Strip, Simon and his three friends manage to elude their pursuers and reach the highway back to Los Angeles and drive away in the light of dawn in Simon's damaged car. They believe they are safe, reasoning that their pursuers would have called the police in Vegas...or so they think. What Simon forgets is that it was Todd's credit card he left back at the strip club.Adam and Zack's storyEarlier... Adam and Zack are actually closeted gay lovers forced to be decoys in a police sting operation, in exchange for having their own drug charges dropped. In the grocery store parking lot, they test out their hidden microphones; inside, they look for Simon, their usual dealer, but find only Ronna. Later, after the sting with Ronna goes bad, Burke handcuffs Zack, then makes a bizarre suggestion: Why don't they spend Christmas Eve at his house and have dinner? Nervous, they reluctantly accept his invitation.It is an odd atmosphere in the house, and Zack and Adam have odd encounters with Burke and his wife Irene (Jane Krakowski). Zack comes out of the bathroom and runs into Burke completely nude; Burke urges him to lie down on his bed and try out some cologne. Adam, meanwhile, meets Irene, who comes on to him and even kisses him full on the lips. Later, when the four sit down to Christmas dinner, Burke explains that he and his wife are the fourth leading sales team in the region for Confederated Products, an Amway-type retail company, and that virtually everything in the house from the food to the cologne is from the company. Burke wants Adam and Zack to sell Confederated products for him. Zack then gets Adam to feign illness to excuse themselves, and they leave the house, both of them uneasy from the evening's events.Adam and Zack engage in small talk and discover that both of them are cheating on each other with the same man, Jimmy, a makeup artist in their television studio. They go to Jimmy's apartment and find out from his sister that he is attending the same rave that they had earlier advertised to Ronna. Adam and Zack show up and get revenge on their mutual two-timing lover by holding Jimmy down and cutting a sizable chunk of his long hair.Satisfied, they leave the party, get into Adam's yellow Miata and barrel into Ronna, sending her flying into the ditch. Then they see a man with a drawn pistol (Todd) and, terrified, flee the scene.They stop at a gas station and try to figure out what to do, debating whether Ronna survived the accident and, if so, whether or not the man with the gun finished her off. Adam goes to the toilet where he realizes that he is still wearing the hidden microphone from earlier that afternoon. Panicked, they throw the devices away and drive back to the spot where they hit Ronna. They find her still lying in the ditch, unconscious but alive, and hoist her on top of a nearby car with the alarm blaring. They watch in satisfaction from afar as other partygoers discover Ronna early the next morning and call an ambulance for her.ConclusionIt is dawn now, and Claire, who does not know what happened to Ronna, leaves the rave and goes to the diner where she usually meets Ronna when they get separated. She encounters Todd; they engage in small talk, then realize they are attracted to each other. They end up kissing and groping in the stairwell of Todd's house, where they are discovered by none other than Victor Jr. and Victor Sr., the Crazy Horse bouncer and owner whom are after Simon and have tracked him through Todd's credit card. Todd explains they have the wrong man; he begins to draw out directions to Simon's place, when Simon himself walks into Todd's apartment ironically, to seek refuge from the bouncers. At first they want to kill him, but Claire points out that she and Todd would be witnesses to the crime. So an "eye for an eye" deal is struck where Victor Jr. gets to shoot Simon in the arm. Just as he is about to get justice, performance anxiety suddenly springs upon Junior and he cannot bring himself to pull the trigger. Claire gets impatient and leaves during his hesitations; as she gets halfway down the hall she hears a gunshot. She flinches and shuts her eyes. Simon calls out: "It's all right... I'm okay!"Meanwhile, Ronna wakes up in the hospital recovered enough to return to work, happy that, despite the night's batterings, she did indeed make enough money to save herself from eviction. She talks with Claire and suddenly realizes to her horror that she never went back for Mannie, who is presumably still hidden where she left him. Ronna and Claire return to the scene and find Mannie still there, shivering and terrified, but otherwise okay. They all get into Ronna's car and drive away, and Mannie wonders aloud what they'll do for New Year's Day just a week away. | comedy, adult comedy, cult, flashback, humor, revenge, storytelling | train | imdb | Sarah Polley (whom I never heard of at the time but follow her work now) was great; Katie Holmes wasn't quite Katie Holmes - and that was good; Fichtner's good; but my favorite was Timothy Olyphant who did a kick-ass job of a charasmatic bad-guy (it was hard not to hate him by the end).
In my opinion those scenes are the best, but there is a lot to choose from so I'm not offended if yours isn't.This movie really shows that even simple and straight forward stories, can be both unpredictable and entertaining, if they are told the right way.
Add to this a pumping soundtrack, solid editing and an overall great production in an unpredictably entertaining movie, you will agree with me that Go is one of the best films ever made..
She is supported by an equally excellent cast including Taye Diggs, Scott Wolf, Katie Holmes, Jay Mohr, and Timothy Olyphant - among others.Many viewed this movie as being an MTV version of Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" and, while this may to an extent me true, it is obviously much more than that; and an excellent stand-alone movie of it's own.Split into 3 separate storylines which clash and collide along the way, finally merging as the movie comes to a close, this movie constantly keeps the viewer on edge; and provides an excellent example of the drug/club etc.
Everything about the premise for Go screams that it doesn't have a cat's chance in Hell of working, but the stylised energy combined with the tasteful handling of a lot of different scenes and situations work surprisingly well, and blend to create an experience which most certainly wears you out, but in an oddly refreshing sort of way.The film, in covering an array of different characters but never bombarding nor overwhelming us, manages to deliver on a basis of both narrative and character.
Those that laugh at certain parts of Go have completely missed the point.The first of three stories, this and another two of which revolve around those whom aren't usually explored in films of this ilk, sees Sarah Polley's shop worker named Ronna heavily in debt; facing eviction and desperate for money.
Ronna's ability to defy her male counterparts in doing what's best for her in avoiding the drug deal sting and being able to fool the dealer as she pulls along a casual and inept male companion, in Mannie (Bexton), who'd be lost without her, adds meat and awareness to an unfortunate but otherwise familiar short story.Continuing with the film's theme of debt, and relatively hapless young adults getting themselves into hotter water than they'd like through which they'll come to learn the harsh realities of life that comes with getting involved in the sorts of activity they do, Simon (Askew), who's one of Ronna's co-workers, and a group of friends spend some time in Las Vegas.
The strand centres on, like the first, usually somewhat marginalised characters for the genre; in this case two homosexual male actors, named Adam (Wolf) and Zack (Mohr), who go on a kind of odyssey which seems to be about the revealing of true feelings and unexplored sexual appetites; highlighted by the actions of a police officer and his wife when around at their house as well as the revelations that arise when they have a conversation with each other, which in turn pushes the film out into a revenge piece of sorts.
Go was made at a time when Doug Liman could compliment his all-over-the-place approach to film-making with character and substance; much unlike his 2005, fetishistic firearm flick Mr. and Mrs. Smith; while his most recent work, 2008's Jumper, did not garner much of a positive critical consensus.
I liked the way the story was told in this film and I really enjoyed Jay Mohr and Scott Wolf's story as a small dark comedy.
The movie takes on three stories (Ronna, Simon, and Adam and Zack) after a drug dealing act.
How the film acts is like a mix between "Reservoir Dogs," or "Pulp Fiction." The cast is really good, the direction by Doug Liman was great, the dialouge was superb, and the intertwining of the characters was marvelous.
This film is basically what IMDb's synopsis says: "the story of the events after a drug deal, told from three different points of view".
But it is better than PULP FICTION because of its clearer sense of humor, irony, and coherent story telling.We get the stories of several people on an very un-Christmasy messy Christmas Eve. Each story is told from someone's perspective and the stories all interconnect at a decidedly un-Christmasy rave full of loud music, drugs, people looking for other people, mistaken identities, and the other ingredients of a wild comedy.
I definitely liked the humor in this movie more than Pulp Fiction's; not only was the script excellent, but the lines were delivered in such a way that even if I knew what a character was going to say, I laughed out loud because of how well they put it.
TV's Katie Holmes is the most famous person in "Go," a movie directed by the same guy who did "Swingers." It's sort of a teen version of "Pulp Fiction." The story of one weekend in LA is told from three different perspectives, each completing and complementing the other.
Of course, there are people everywhere saying this has echoes of "Pulp Fiction." But if that movie didn't come out first, I wouldn't think that would have any impact on how this film is made.
Despite its flaws, the energy is kept high--whether it's through the hot soundtrack, the talented young cast, the lightning-fast editing--and I think many will have a real good time!P.S.: There's a great strip club scene with Surrender Cinema star Nikki Fritz that is DEFINITELY worth checking out..
The funny tale(s) of what happens to a web of loosely related young people on Christmas Eve, it bears a strong structural similarity to 'Pulp Fiction' and also owes no small amount of gratitude to that film's wit and sharp dialogue.
What I liked: Pulp Fiction style, funny, speedy (no boring parts), Katie Holmes was pretty, good acting, good direction plus it is pretty weird.
There is even an accidental overdose through incorrect identification of illicit substances.The more I think about it, the more I think QT should sue, though he lifts more stuff than anyone, he just calls it "homages".Go tells the same story from three perspectives: 1 / Follows a minor drug deal gone bad when the intended amateur-pusher Rhonna (Sarah Polley) works out that she is heading into a trap laid by a cop and two gay soap stars trying to themselves avoid jail and public shame.This situation leads to Rhonna being unable to repay the true dealer Todd (Timothy Olyphant who is actually PG13 menacing) and trying to pull a swifty.
The characters also make this film watchable, including Sarah Polley, Katie Holmes, Jay Mohr, Scott Wolf, Taye Diggs and J.E. Freeman.
A sort of cross between Pulp Fiction & Trainspotting, set in a harsh but slightly surreal world where people do silly things, but no-one really ever suffers too much.Holmes' was relatively unknown compared to Polley, who already had an impressive CV when she starred here.
Over a long weekend three sets of teens/early twenties are either directly involved in a drug deal or caught up in the knock-on effects.The spectre of Pulp Fiction hangs over this production so heavily that it is impossible not to mention it early and probably several times later.
Stands to reason -- this is a movie after all.There is some skill in the way the plot lines intertwine and how things work out -- but it also leads to some open questions about what would have happened if X and Y had not come along at the right moment.I did laugh a couple of times --- especially in one scene where Brit actor Desmond Askew got hold of a gun for the first time and the conversation between Katie Holmes and a drug dealer that she is being held "hostage" by.
Liman puts together an energizing tale of music, drugs, and teens in LA in this entanglement of people in a "day-in-the-life" style reminiscent of Pulp Fiction's time warping yarn: Simon (Askew) and his troubles in Las Vegas, Ronna (Polley) and her troubles scoring E with Adam and Zack.
STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs Ronna (Sarah Polley) lives a mundane existence as a check-out girl in her local-super-market.Facing a most unwanted Christmas present in the shape of an eviction on Christmas Eve,so,with the assistance of her unwitting partner in crime Claire (Katie Holmes) she buys some Ecstasy off a creepy,condescending dealer to sell at an underground rave.Meanwhile,over in Vegas,Simon (Desmond Askew) and his friend Marcus (Taye Diggs) are driving around in a stolen car after a night of wild partying.Meanwhile,TV stars Adam (Scott Wolf) and Zack (Jay Mohr) find themselves in a creepy drugs sting of their own.Towards the end of the 90s,the 'reverse-plotting' drama began to take off.This is obviously one of the earlier,and certainly more successful attempts.Mainly because it's so well-written and well-acted and because the soundtrack is so alive and buzzing.If you can seek it out somewhere,give it a go before it gets deleted or something.****.
This film is one of those sleeper movies that will just slowly grow into a cult classic.Despite a raw feel to some of the cinematography, fine acting performances from the entire cast bring together several angles of one story.
The thing that worked so well about Doug Liman's first and only other film, Swingers, was the script.This time around, he was jinxed with a script that begs to be cool.
Ultra-energetic, hip-to-the-bone movie of a night in the fast lane of drug- & fun-chasing California teens, with a load of up-and-coming young stars at the time.
One concerns a first-time dealer hoping to secure rent money, another concerns a group of pals on a road trip to Vegas and the last concerns a gay couple coerced into co-operating with a sting operation.The narrative approach is similar to films like "Pulp Fiction", wherein multiple story lines contain some common element(s) and intersect at times throughout the film.
Excellent movie from "The Bourne Identity"-director Doug Liman starring a great young cast among who Katie Holmes, Sarah Polley, Jay Mohr, Taye Diggs, Breckin Meyer...
Each of the stories features a common theme of basically decent youth who take a risk at the high stake gambles of life (i.e. drug dealing, promiscuous sex, car theft), but who ultimately lack the requisite nerves of steel and moral indifference to successfully enter the world of amorality they so naively feel they can conquer.Most of the fun in the film rests in following the characters through the labyrinth of a plot writer John August and director Doug Liman have concocted.
This was good (except for the weak acting) but I must say - aren't people getting a bit tired of these sorts of drug deal gun-en-up movies with the typical cut 'n' paste style (ie telling the story from different perspectives) it is starting to become very formulaic and unoriginal.And what's with all these TV stars doing films...
While Doug Liman's "Swingers" will remain his masterpiece, this film still feels fresh, funny and new nearly 15 years later.Sarah Polley, Katie Holmes, Scott Wolf, Jay Mohr and Timothly Olyphant do some of their best acting and draw you in to a story that feels like a roller coaster ride that you want to take again.
Directed by Doug Liman, this is oddly compelling like an insane night that goes into the vault and never to be spoken about again.The first section, Ronna (Sarah Polley) Claire (Katie Holmes) and Mannie have a night to remember.
Uniquely structured over the course of one crazy night in the lives of a bunch of young people in the city of angels.The story follows four main characters Ronna (Sarah Polley), a supermarket cashier, who needs $300 to avoid being evicted from her apartment.
Then there are Adam and Zack (Scott Wolf and Jay Mohr) a couple of gay soap opera actors who are cutting a deal with the police to help then arrest Simon who is friends with Tod (Timothy Olyphant) a local drug dealer.The movie has a very 90s feel to it when watched today.
Needless to say the deal goes bad and Ronna is now totally screwed.Then the movie sort of starts over again but this time from Simon's point of view and his wild adventures in Vegas.
This movie was a first for many TV stars on the big screen like Katie Holmes, Scott Wolf, and Jay Mohr, but it's the newcomers like Sarah Polley and Desmond Askew that make this film work.
Stylistically, Go feels a bit too much like a TV production; the fact that most of the cast are by now familiar TV mainstays doesn't help - Katie Holmes (Dawson's Creek), Scott Wolf (Table for Five, Everwood), Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood), William Fichtner (Prison Break), Jane Krakowski (30 Rock) and Jay Mohr (Action, Garry Unmarried) are all quite good but many of them feel amateurish at times, and don't help much in defining the already shallow characters.All of which makes Go feel a little like a writing student's exercise, with too little for the viewer to relate or connect to; but it's clever, fast-paced and entertaining enough to be very rewarding, especially at its modest runtime.
All around good movie with a cheezy ending and some crazy scenes showing you what it's like to be on drugs, this film is not recommended for people with epilepsy or heart problems (seriously).
Go is an entertaining piece of work from director Doug Liman (Swingers, which by the way is on my most boring movies of all time list) but though it has some interesting and original plot elements, as a whole it is nothing new.
The best way the abnormal sequence of time was put to use was in one scene when you see one end of a phone conversation and then a half hour later you hear the other end of it (even though it is obvious that it is going to happen.) It had some exceptional performances as well, including Sarah Polley as a supermarket clerk trying to scrounge up enough money to pay her rent, William Fichtner as a very creepy narc, Desmond Askew as a mischievous young British dealer (whose section of the film was definitely the best and most exciting), and Taye Diggs as his best friend.
A good film overall with some great performances and some interesting plot points that make up for the unoriginality of the movie as a whole.
A once in a lifetime opportunity to go to the biggest rave of the year and hang out with some really cool people; a chance to ditch work, hit the road to Vegas, and get caught up in sex, drugs, and mayhem; getting out of a sticky situation only to get caught up in one even stickier; Doug Liman's youthful dark comedy centers around a group of disparate L.A. characters, ranging from a jaded checkout girl trying to score some extra cash, to a couple of television actors who get coerced by a peculiar cop, as their typically ordinary lives deviate from the norm and bring a lot of unexpected results.
Some people who watch this film will mutter to themselves "I've seen this before." Well, Go is not a blatant rip-off of any movie in particular, but it does have some very strong similarities to Pulp Fiction.
Directed by Doug Liman (Swingers), we follow the exploits of Ronna (Sarah Polley), a super-market cashier who helps complete a drug deal, profits going to her co-worker (Desmond Askew) who need the money to pay the rent.
Like that film, it tells a collection of loosely interlinked stories, and other similarities include the role of drugs in the plot, a scene with sinister sexual potential, and another one which appears as if it's going to feature a dead body in a car; but the movie lacks Tarantino's unique sense of style and outrageously constructed dialogue.
It tells the story of Ronna (Sarah Polley) and Claire (Katie Holmes), the story of Simon (Desmond Askew) and Marcus (Taye Diggs) and the story of Adam (Scott Wolf) and Zack (Jay Mohr).
These stories all end together, and on the way sometimes mix with a character named Todd Gaines (Timothy Olyphant) who deals in drugs, and a policeman named Burke (William Fichtner).
Definitely an entertaining movie, that sometimes seems to be inspired by the great 'Pulp Fiction'..
Both movies were about lifeless young people doing drugs and partying, but at least that film was kind of funny, this is nothing but a massive hour and forty minutes of pure nothingness, literally.The characters are as about as mind numbing as they get.
I've known drug users and dealers, and others like the characters in this movie.
so it was just so easy to appreciate and relate to them, which probably affects my score.Pulp Fiction is another great movie, and I don't really see why it is being compared, "Go" stands on its own merits, it's a totally different story..
Film is influenced, as many have noted, by Pulp Fiction (both in story-telling structure, as well as subject matter - drugs, petty crime, generic mobsters who are more thoughtful, talkative and forgiving than the real thing).
From the director of "Swingers" comes a unique little film about the life-altering adventures of three main groups of people over the period of one night.At the center of the movie is Sarah Polley, a very talented and beautiful young actress who doesn't get top billing, but is definitely what makes this movie worth watching. |
tt0069865 | Charley Varrick | Charley Varrick (Walter Matthau) is a former stunt pilot who pretends to operate a crop-dusting business, which he uses as a cover for small scale robberies. With his wife Nadine (Jacqueline Scott), Al Dutcher (Fred Scheiwiller) and Harman Sullivan (Andrew Robinson), Charley robs a small bank in the rural community of Tres Cruces, New Mexico. While Nadine waits outside in the getaway car, the heavily disguised Charley and his two accomplices draw their guns and demand the safe be opened. Outside, an officer in a passing police car recognizes the license plate of their car as one reported stolen. When the police approach Nadine, she shoots, killing one and seriously wounding the other, who returns fire, wounding her. The melee distracts the robbers inside the bank, and the bank guard kills Dutcher. Sensing that the bank manager is concealing something, Charley forces him to reveal two large satchels of cash. Charley, Harman and Nadine flee, but Nadine dies soon after. Charley and Harman switch to a van marked with the crop-dusting business's signage. They set a charge to blow up their getaway car with Nadine's body inside. They drive away and are stopped by another policeman, but before he can search their van, the timed explosion goes off and the officer races away to investigate.
When they return to their trailer and count the money, it is much more than they expected: $765,118. After a local television news broadcast reports that only $2,000 was stolen, Charley realizes the bank must be involved in a mob money laundering operation. He warns Harman that the Mafia will pursue them relentlessly and that their only chance is to lie low and not spend the money for three or four years, but the young, headstrong Harman will not listen. Meanwhile, Maynard Boyle (John Vernon), president of the bank, dispatches hitman Molly (Joe Don Baker) to recover the money.
Realizing that Harman's rashness will doom them both, Charley double-crosses him. Because he, Nadine and Harman all had dental work done recently at the same dentist's office, Charley breaks in, stealing his and Nadine's X-rays and swapping Harman's for his own. To obtain illegal passports, Charley contacts gun dealer Tom (Tom Tully), an old accomplice of Dutcher's, who directs him to a beautiful local photographer Jewell Everett (Sheree North); he has his photograph taken, but he also gives her Harman's driver's license, which he has stolen as Harman slept. He leaves her his address, guaranteeing that Molly will find Harman in their trailer, which Charley watches at a distance. Tom immediately informs on Charley. Jewell also betrays Charley, but he never returns for the passports. Molly turns up at Charley's trailer and tortures Harman to death to try to locate Charley and the money.
Boyle meets secretly with Tres Cruces bank manager Harold Young (Woodrow Parfrey), advising Young that his Mafia superiors will suspect that the robbery was an inside job because it occurred during the brief period when the money was there. He suggests that Young will be tortured. Young is so terrified that he later commits suicide.
Charley purchases dynamite, then flies to Reno, where he has flowers delivered to Boyle's secretary, Sybil Fort (Felicia Farr), at her office so he can identify her as she leaves and follow her home. He seduces Fort in her apartment. Fort warns Charley not to trust her boss.
She helps Charley telephone Boyle. Charley offers to return the money. He arranges a rendezvous at a remote automobile wrecking yard and insists that Boyle come alone. Charley overflies the wrecking yard and spots Molly's car. After landing, Charley hugs the confounded Boyle, acting overjoyed as if they have been accomplices in a successful robbery; Molly falls for the ruse, assumes that Boyle is Charley's co-conspirator, and runs Boyle down with his car, killing him. Molly then chases Charley, who tries to fly away, but Molly damages the crop-duster's tail with his car and the aircraft flips over. Trapped upside down in the wreckage, Charley tells Molly that the money is the trunk of a nearby Chevrolet. However, Charley had flipped his aircraft on purpose, a trick he learned in his barnstorming days. When Molly opens the trunk, he sees Harman's body, wearing Charley's wedding ring, and the bank satchels; an instant later, he is killed by a dynamite booby trap. Charley throws a wad of hundred-dollar bills toward the burning car, making it seem that the money has been destroyed, then drives away. | realism, cult, suspenseful, neo noir, murder | train | wikipedia | The ever watchable Walter Matthau effortlessly slips into the role of Varrick, Joe Don Baker is quite chilling as the ruthless hitman with impeccable manners and John Vernon extracts some sympathy as the Banker/Mafia man trying to smooth everything over.
Now that more and more people are reflecting on the great career of Walter Matthau it is surprising that very few critics have mentioned his top-notch performance in Charley Varrick (the best thing he has ever done).
The story then allows the viewer to be consumed in a film of drum-tight professionalism with great action sequences, excellent performances, incredible dialogue, and possibly the greatest single screen villain of all time in the form of Joe Don Baker (I wouldn't have believed it until I saw it).
Walter Matthau playing the title role of Charley Varrick expected a few thousand dollars as the score in a small town bank in New Mexico.
It turns out the bank was a laundering operation for Syndicate money and they're not the forgiving kind even if he was so inclined to return the money.Under Don Siegel's direction, Matthau turns in one of his best film performances as the wily bank robber who keeps a cool head in a very tricky situation.
Made in 1973, it allows crop-duster and bank-robber, Charley Varrick, played by Walter Matthau, to get away with a heap of stolen money, the theft of which has led to the death of about half a dozen people, including his wife.
Unfortunately, not everything goes as planned.I watched Charley Varrick (in a fine widescreen transfer by the way; at present only a bad pan and scan version appears to exist on DVD) during a TCM channel marathon of director Don Siegel's films.
There is even one point--right after a character named Molly (Joe Don Baker) visits Jewell Everett (Sheree North), that it seems like maybe Siegel made a fatal misstep, and a scene or two are missing, but I retained faith that it would work out in the end, and it did, seamlessly.The rest of the cast is fantastic, as well, and of course a film like this wouldn't succeed without a great script, in this case written by Dean Riesner and Howard Rodman from a John Reese novel.
We've become so accustomed to seeing Walter Matthau in comedies like GRUMPY OLD MEN that at first you'd wonder if he could pull his part off as Varrick convincingly (well, he also played a crook in KING CREOLE and a detective in THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE, TWO THREE, for openers).
It turns out that Matthau is very good here, playing a small-time bank robber, a common-man type who's latest take unexpectedly winds up being laundered Mafia loot!
I should mention I also enjoyed the unpredictable climax.They just don't make movies like this anymore - unless you count the great Quentin Tarantino, who undoubtedly likes this film himself and seems to have borrowed some of it for his own work (there's even a line from VARRICK that was reheated for PULP FICTION).
This was a pleasant surprise; better than I thought it would be, although I shouldn't have been surprised since Walter Matthau usually plays interesting roles.What I appreciated was the realism of the story, except for two things at the end of the film such as no one coming to investigate a loud chase scenes and firebombing?
Matthau also makes the film realistic, as he typecast perfectly for this role.Other than Matthau, the cast isn't a big-name one but a lot of familiar faces and names from movies in the '60s and very early 70s such as John Vernon, Sheree North, Joe Don Baker and Felicia Farr.Andy Robinson, is a not a known name in movies because he did years of television, but viewers might remember him as the creepy "Scorpio Killer" in the first "Dirty Harry" film."Charlie Varrick" is considered a film noir even though it's 1973 and in color, but it's noir in story and that's good enough for me.
As for the rest of the cast Joe Don Baker is memorable as a really evil hitman , John Vernon plays the most laid back mobster I think I`ve ever seen in a movie while Andrew Robinson is slightly disappointing after his show stopping appearence in DIRTY HARRY but it`s amazing to think his only notable role after this movie is in HELLRAISER some fourteen years later CHARLEY VARRICK is a very clever and totally amoral thriller .
Siegel was coming off the biggest hit of his career with "Dirty Harry" when he made this quirky crime film starring Walter Matthau, who at the time was best known for his comedic roles.
Matthau plays career criminal Charley Varrick, who pulls a bank job with Andrew Robinson (the deranged killer in "Dirty Harry"), but the two realize there was far more money in the bank than their should have been and that the bank is a mob front, meaning they just robbed the mafia and are now on the run for their lives.
To reveal more would spoil the clever and twisting plot, but I can say that things kick off with bank president John Vernon calling upon a laconic mob hitman named Molly, played by the always great Joe Don Baker to track down the stolen money.
If the character were inhabited by someone else, Charley Varrick, he and the film both, would be something else completely.Excluding Charley and a sheriff, played by Norman Fell, who is practically an upright fellow, everyone in the movie is essentially no good: Charley's greedy young helper, the Mafia hit man, the bank owner, and a photographer very well played by Sheree North, who concentrates her efforts on making counterfeit passports on short notice.
Instead the role of "Charley Varrick " went to noted thespian (Walter Matthau) playing a small time thief who planned to rob an obscure, out of the way bank without any problem.
In this vein comes "Charley Varrick", an outstanding if unheralded movie in which Charley Varrick (Matthau), his wife and partner knock off a small town bank without realizing it is a drop for laundered Mafia money.
Present in the film are a number of great character actors of the 70's, including Woodrow Parfrey, Norman Fell, William Schallert and one of my favorite small screen villains John Vernon, who also appeared as The Mayor in "Dirty Harry" and Dean Wormer in "Animal House".Andrew Robinson, so outstanding in his role as crazed killer Scorpio in "Dirty Harry", isn't as magnetic here, although his character plays well.
...when you got the fuzz and the mafia after you.Charley Varrick is a quality caper movie courtesy of director Don Siegel and backed up by a wonderful understated performance from Walter Matthau as Charley Varrick.
Directed by Don Siegel, Charley Varrick (Walter Matthau) makes a living robbing banks.All seems to be going well when he and his crew rob the local bank in the New Mexico town of Tres Cruces.
Charley Varrick (Walter Matthau), his wife Nadine, and accomplices Al Dutcher and Harman Sullivan (Andrew Robinson) rob a small bank in the rural town of Tres Cruces, New Mexico.
Perhaps people couldn't accept Walter Matthau as an action star and the title is rather unimaginative (blame the studio: Siegel wanted the title "The Last of the Independents" which would have been perfect).The reason couldn't have been the movie: this is a classic.
Since his other attempts in action thrillers were also quite convincing (especially in The Taking of Pelham 1,2,3) it is rather puzzling why there weren't many more films exploiting this side of his talent.Inevitably, one day Hollywood will give Charley Varrick the remake treatment , it is too good to be overlooked.
Beautifully photographed and directed, extremely well-acted (look especially for a chilling performance by Joe Don Baker), engrossing plot, funny dialog, and above all, Walter Matthau.It's almost a half-century old, yet CHARLEY VARRICK is still as fresh as a budding daisy over a new grave.
A man, his wife, and their friend, stage a bloody bank robbery, unaware they are stealing money from the Mob.Although not well-known, this film (from noted director Don Siegel) was one of the countless inspirations for Quentin Tarantino, who used a bit of the dialogue in his own "Pulp Fiction".
John Vernon is also good as the mob's go-between, and there are familiar faces in numerous key supporting roles (Farr, North, Parfrey, Fell to name just a few).Some viewers may be surprised by the sadistic and violent nature with which veteran director Seigel puts various characters to the sword; the fatal beatings, shootings and explosions are never gratuitous, though at times, are quite graphic.
Turning a potentially pedestrian scene like this into a well-staged power-play is not only the mark of an imaginative director but of a well-thought-out film.Two minor complaints-- somebody wanted to give Felicia Farr (Boyle's secretary) a starring credit and a payday since her role is unnecessary to an otherwise tight script, while the romantic interlude with Matthau is not only extraneous but also embarrassing.
Andy Robinson (the psycho in Dirty Harry) plays Varrick's naive partner; Joe Don Baker (Walking Tall) is the hit man the mob recruits to get back the money.
As Matthau's partner, Robinson here runs into a character even meaner than the psycho killer he played in Siegel's previous film, "Dirty Harry": a henchman for the mob in the form of the sadistic and imposing Baker.
Matthau is as good as ever as the caustic, streetwise small-time robber on the run from the mob, and a great cast -- Baker, North, Vernon and Robinson -- dovetail in perfectly.
Matthau's character here is a wise-cracking genius; much like the character that he portrayed in "The Taking of Pelham, One, Two, Three", which came out the following year, I believe."Charley Varrick" is not a mainstream movie - surprisingly few people have seen it (from my experience, anyway).
"Charley Varrick" has got a general cheap seventies feel to it, but nonetheless it is still great to watch, because the acting by Walter Matthau is terrific and so are the other supporting actors.
Walter Matthau stars as "Charley Varrick", the title character of director Don Siegel's film about a stunt pilot-turned-bank robber who finds himself in hot water after stealing roughly $750,000 from the mafia.Matthau's Varrick orchestrates the hold-up of a small town bank in rural New Mexico.
His films are straight forward, well-paced, exciting-Charley Varrick is a lean mean movie machine.Not a big Walter Matthau fan myself, I will admit he did a great job in the action like Taking of Pelham 1-2-3' a very similar role to that of Charley Varrick, a crook who maintains a sort of wry irony throughout the story.
Speaking of which, the ultimate irony may be Matthau's love scene with close pal Jack Lemmon's real-life wife Felicia Farr toward the end of this film.Don Siegel directing, hard to go wrong, particularly when he goes back to Andy Robinson (Dirty Harry) as Varrick's accomplish/protegee.Nice twisting storyline with a couple of surprises.
Matthau is great as the wise crook, and even if you don't like the film, you can spend its duration seeing how many people you can spot who have been in other Siegel movies.
The early 70's was apparently awash with heist capers coming out of Hollywood ("The Getaway", "The Heist", "The Hot Rock" and "The Taking Of Pelham 1-2-3") but in a crowded field, this Don Seigel director/producer effort still shines, although I have one or two moral reservations about the content here and there.Like all the best "big steal" movies, the fun starts when things go wrong, which more or less happens immediately as Walter Matthau's small gang of small-time operators (two others and his wife makes four) end up in a violent shoot-out holding up an out of town bank, which just happens to also be a holding operation for trafficking Mafia money.
Baker is great too as the stetson-wearing JR Ewing-gone-psychopath hit-man and John Vernon is capable as usual as the Mafioso string-puller who gets his wires cut in Varrick's clever turnabout ruse at the end.My only problems with the film are firstly that we're made to root for a guy whose gang ruthlessly shoots down three cops in the opening reel, one in the face and the usual Seigel dismissal of women as sex-objects to be bedded, usually roughly by dominating males.
l realized some mistakes, it's coming from with age naturally, the whole thing works in a high level, first little low point, after pays to got a couple of passports Varrick asking for to an unreliable old man how trade a burning money, leting us thinking was stupid question when the news over the robbery was brodcasting to everywhere, second and final weak point, in the last scenes the airplaine was upside down, Charley persuade Molly and he does exactly what he expecting for, anyway a too perfect plan, well l don't like happy ends on serious works, this a unusual neo noir picture which l gave a highest grade, so a bit unwillingness a has to lower my early score!!!Resume:
Even for early seventies fare Varrick comes along as a quite tame, if not to say all in all standard affair, largely due to director Don Siegel's too-sure-of-himself tone and pace, the cocky tongue-in-cheek laidbackness mirrored in Walter Matthau's flat cool dude performance, Joe Don Baker's self-complacent travesty of a pipe-smoking mafia hit man, and the blunt (and unfunny) reference to Hitchcock's North by Northwest.
Sure enough, anything remotely moral or along these lines is well and truly ruined when said bank is robbed once a neat little set up involving insiders; false limps and disguises good enough to momentarily fool a state trooper have been put in place.Perpetrated by the titular Charley Varrick, played by Walter Matthau, and including the younger Harman (Robinson); Varrick's wife and an insignificant other, the robbery is a success in spite of the fact only Charlie and Herman make it out alive under the pretences of being crop dusters.
Don Siegel, behind the camera, & Walter Matthau, in front of it, are both in tremendous form in what surely must be one of the most over looked, high quality films of the early seventies !Charley Varrick is a taut, solid thriller that never plays it's cards too soon...and the result is a crackling, well paced suspenseful film that gets better on every viewing.
Crime-drama directed by Don Siegel has a gritty panache that gives the picture character (it's better than your average bank robbery melee...and how could it not be with cagey Walter Matthau in the lead?).
The decision to cast Walter Matthau as the eponymous anti-hero of this entertaining heist movie proved to be highly inspired because not only did he turn in a great performance but also, because of his deportment and mannerisms etc., immediately signalled that Varrick is far from being a stereotypical small-time criminal.
Charley wastes no time as he devises an ingenious survival plan which involves the use of switched dental records, fake passports and a crop-duster plane to try to extricate himself from the tight spot that he's in."Charley Varrick" is a gritty, violent and action-packed movie with some great stunts and a good deal of humour but it's the strength of its plot and Charley's character that really elevates it to a higher standard than the average crime thriller.Charley is an interesting character because he's older than the average bank robber and is essentially an easy-going guy who wants to make a living by his own efforts.
What's more surprising about this man (whose business slogan is "The Last of the Independents") is how resourceful he proves to be as he executes his plan and outwits his foes in what turns out to be a David and Goliath type scenario.Walter Matthau's superb performance is complemented by great work from the supporting cast with Andrew Robinson (as Charley's not-so-bright, hot-headed sidekick) and Joe Don Baker (as the sadistic hit man who enjoys his work) also excellent in their memorable roles..
To their surprise, Charley Varrick (Walter Matthau) and his accomplices hit a small-town bank which is holding around a quarter-of-a-million dollars in cash.
This early seventies crime drama stars Walter Matthau as the eponymous Charley Varrick; a former stunt pilot turned bank robber.
Knowing that both the police and the Mob are hunting them, Charley sets about arranging their escape
he just has to hope the people he goes to can be trusted.This was a good solid crime film which leaves the viewer hoping that Charley will get away even though he is clearly a criminal whose actions have resulted in the deaths of innocent people; this is down to the fine performance from Walter Matthau.
Don Siegel knows how to keep things interesting and exciting.With wonderful photography and a great cast (and set of characters) to add, 'Charley Varrick' has to me become a personal crime classic that I will want to watch over and over for years to come.9 out of 10..
But I think it makes for a far more interesting film when everyman Walter Matthau is being pursued by a terminator-like Joe Don Baker.
It works on every level from story, casting, locations and direction – it grabs you from the start and doesn't let you go.Charley Varrick (Walter Matthau) is the head of a gang of small-time robbers who hit an out of the way bank in New Mexico.
And these characters themselves are very minor additions in the film's running time.Vernon is a corrupt banker laundering money for the local mafia, Baker is the brutally sadistic hit-man he hires to track down Charley Varrick (Matthau) and his partner (Robinson) who have inadvertently stole this dirty cash from the small local bank, ending in the deaths of several cops and two of his gang, one of whom is Varrick's wife (Jacqueline Scott). |
tt1174693 | The Four-Faced Liar | Set in New York City spanning six or seven months, Greg (Daniel Carlisle) has just moved in with his girlfriend Molly (Emily Peck). During their first night out since moving in together, Greg and Molly go out for drinks and a meal at a local bar, called The Four-Faced Liar. There, they meet Trip (Todd Kubrak), his girlfriend Chloe (Liz Osborn), and his lesbian friend Bridget (Marja Lewis Ryan). Molly and Bridget bond as they discuss Wuthering Heights and relationships. Molly tells Bridget that she has everything in common with her boyfriend, but Greg lacks passion. Bridget tells Molly that she doesn't have a girlfriend because no one can hold her interest for long enough to bother. Bridget is in fact flatmates with Trip where they always get up at the same time every morning and they both brush their teeth together while standing in front of the bathroom mirror.
Trip and Greg bond over drinking beers and smoking joints on the roof of Trip's apartment building. Trip soon shows concern with Greg over Molly spending more and more time with Bridget and he reminds Greg that Bridget is a lesbian. Greg tells Trip that he is getting worked up for nothing.
One evening around Halloween, Trip annoys Chloe by blowing off a ballet performance to watch sports. She takes Bridget in Trip's place to watch the show. However, Trip wins Chloe back with a candlelit apology, her favorite dessert, and a self-deprecating dance.
After coming home from the holidays early, Chloe catches Trip having sex with a random girl and she finally leaves him. That same night, Greg drunkenly tries to force an uninterested Molly into sex. She leaves him to stay with Bridget until he apologizes. the next day, Greg did just that and apologized.
At a New Years Eve party at the bar, Molly laments to Bridget that she has never been thrown up against a wall and kissed. In the restroom, Bridget does just that when she follows Molly in, and the pair has breathless sex for the first time in the year's final moments. Afterward, both Molly and Bridget appear shocked by their own actions; Bridget asks Molly to come home with her, but Molly rejects her. Molly heads out to be with Greg. Later that night, Molly follows Bridget home after putting Greg to bed and starts a secret affair with Bridget. (A montage is shown over the next few weeks as Molly's bond with Bridget grows stronger: they walk arm-in-arm or hand-in-hand along the street as well as make out with each other in private and in public, from Bridget's bed, to her sofa, at a park, on the street, and in a concrete underpass.) The next morning, Chloe enters Bridget's room to gather some stuff and finds a very naked Molly in bed with her after another night of lovemaking, Chloe openly expresses her disapproval and disappointment with Molly and her infidelity. Trip briefly enters the room but quickly left in shock by what he's seen. And after finding out what went on between Molly and Bridget, he reports it to Greg, who takes the news calmly and forgives his girlfriend because "she's worth it." Molly then breaks off her romance with Bridget and announces that she is marrying Greg.
A few days later at Molly's birthday party at the bar, Trip attempts to woo Chloe back, while Bridget shows up and presents her case to Molly with a simple, "I like you." Greg sees Bridget outside the bar and he confronts her by asking how she pleases Molly in bed better than he. The angry and jealous Greg finally loses his temper and throws Bridget up against a car over her presence at the party. When Chloe and Molly realize that both Greg and Bridget are missing, they all run outside where Trip pulls Greg off of Bridget who wanders off while Chloe follows and tries to comfort her.
As the film comes to an end, Molly ends her engagement with Greg, who moves out and back to his hometown. Molly then visits Bridget to report Greg leaving her and both women lie in bed side by side, staring at the ceiling. Bridget tells Molly that she's totally keeping her interested and that she's trying to be the one Molly wants. Then she questions the look on Molly's face, to which Molly responds with the look indicates love. Bridget cries a little of not able to say anything back. The final shot shows both of them continuing to stare at the ceiling, each speculating their next move. However, their facial expressions tell more than words ever will. Bridget's expression is one of entering unexplored territory (i.e., that of love). Molly's expression is one of self-doubting as she has fully committed to living a full-on lesbian life very different from that she has ever experienced. | queer | train | wikipedia | It's the name of a bar.
The Four-Faced Liar (2010) was directed by Jacob Chase.
Marja Lewis Ryan, the film's writer, is also the star.
She plays Bridget, a lesbian who is quirky, foul-mouthed, and very successful at one-night conquests.
Todd Kubrak is Trip, Bridget's roommate and best friend.
Daniel Carlisle (Greg) has just joined his fiancée Molly (Emily Peck) in the West Village.
One of them sees their neighborhood as colorful and charming, while the other sees is as unpleasant and threatening.Everyone hangs out in a bar called The Four-Faced Liar, and the four of them, along with Trip's fiancée, have a more or less "Friends" type existence, with alcohol substituted for caffeine.This was an interesting film, with good acting and a solid sense of New York City.
It didn't really work for me because the key to the plot is Bridget, and I couldn't believe that this irritating chain-smoker would be perceived as every lesbian's dream lover.
If you can't accept Bridget as what she's supposed to be, the rest of the film loses steam.Still, the movie had its moments, and the next viewer might find it as charming as it's meant to be.
We saw the film at the Little Theatre as part of the excellent ImageOut Rochester Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.
It should work well on DVD..
A well written, enjoyable film that's worth watching..
My summary for this review pretty much takes the cake as far as reviews go.
There's not much more to say because this film is not an epic tale like...well, has there ever been a romantic- comedy with a lesbian twist that has been epic?
Maybe there's one out there that holds true and strong to you personally, however the whole coming of age, finding yourself, with lesbianism on top- genre is not in grip of the main commercial audience.This is a humble, down to earth film with a low budget that successfully tells a story with an ending that is both endearing and realistic.
The movie keeps you engaged and moves you through it until the end.
It is well written, well cast and well directed which is amazing.
For those of you who appreciate film, you should watch this..
Attractive cast and well-made on a low budget.
This involves four 20 somethings in NYC.
Womanizing lesbian Bridget (Marja Lewis Ryan) lives with her str8 roommate Trip (Todd Kubrak).
He's having problems with his girlfriend Chloe (Liz Osborne).
Greg (Daniel Carlisle) and Molly (Emily Peck) are living together before they get married...but Greg is too mild-mannered and Molly wants more.
They all meet at a bar called Four Faced Liar.
They become friends but then Molly falls in love with Bridget and things get unpleasant.As I said the cast is attractive (especially Carlisle) and it's well done...but there's nothing really new or extraordinary here.
The story has been done before and, in a lot of ways, this just seems like an ordinary Hollywood movie with a lesbian twist.
We almost constantly hear some song on the soundtrack while watching the characters react to something.
Seriously--that's been done hundreds of times before and this adds nothing new.
However I must admit the songs were good.
Also good is the script--it's well-written and interesting and it had an ending that no Hollywood studio would touch.
The acting was all good--especially by Ryan and Kubrak.
Carlisle does wonders with a very hard role.
His character had to always be laid-back and passive--but you see the sadness and anger in his eyes.
When he blows up at the end it's shocking--as it should be.
No great shakes but worth seeing.
Not rated but it would get an R for language and some discreet lesbian sex scenes.
BTW--the cover of the DVD suggests that this is a sex movie and it isn't.
No nudity here at all but it comes close a few times.
A poignant look at the hilarity of love.
The four faced liar was smart, funny and pregnant with emotion.
Opening her audience to the realities of a changed generation, Ryan tells the story of what love can truly be like for twenty-somethings everywhere.
The production was fantastic and acting first rate.
Each 'face' of this film is beautifully constructed and skillfully executed.
The acting is fantastically truthful- the actors draw you into their lives and make it difficult to turn away.
The film unfolds wonderfully leaving you excited for scene after scene.
It boggles my mind how professional a film could turn out on such tight budget.
It truly is a testament to the skill of the cast and crew.
I look forward to future works from everyone in this production!
Intellectually hysterical and stinging with passion, this film can't be missed!.
A very sweat and deep comedy.
I just saw the movie at the Slamdance Film Festival and was extremely surprised by its quality.The story is very smart, the actors very truthful, and the production extremely professional.Congratulation to all the team who did a terrific job, especially the Director of Photography and the Director who turned a very sweat and smart script to a very visual and cinematic piece.More than anything, I thought that the music bring it to a even greater level.This looks like a $10 million dollar movie !.
Starts nowhere and goes nowhere, and apparently that doesn't matter because it's New York City.
"The Four-Faced Liar" seems to have an interesting enough title, and it is done very well for its low budget.
It also has a whole host of problems.Where should I begin?
It doesn't really matter because the film itself doesn't begin anywhere, except for of course in New York City.
I'm starting to think that young film-makers have never been anywhere else.
It's supposed to be about four young New Yorkers finding love and figuring out life.
But there's actually five of them; one couple just moved in together, one engaged couple, and their lesbian best friend.
Which one of these is the insignificant character?
I have no idea, they are all insignificant to me."The Four-Faced Liar" doesn't give me any reasons to care about these characters, and it doesn't give me any clue to where they are going (other than nowhere, of course, "because New York City is the greatest city in the world").
Influenced by "Friends", I think it's supposed to be an edgier and indie version of the show, except minus the comedy and minus any plot or storyline.
"The Four-Faced Liar" even takes their title from "Friends".
The show's original title was "Central Perk", the main hangout of the gang.
Even for non-fans of the show, I would just watch a couple of random episodes, there would be much more in it than this film..
For starters, as a lesbian themed movie, this one is excellent (not exactly hard to do considering the competition, but worth pointing out).
As a movie in general, I think this is a nice character study.
This movie has some great depth, and I've thought/discovered something new each time I've seen it.
All of the leads do a great job.
The actor who plays Greg is probably the weakest, but overall he is okay in his role.The basic plot line is about a group of 4 people; Molly, Bridget, Trip, and Greg.
Molly and Greg are a couple who have just moved to NYC together.
They stumble across a bar The Four-Faced Liar one evening and meet Trip and Bridget.
They become friends with them, and from there the film is basically a romantic drama.
The main romantic tension is between Bridget and Molly.
Bridget is an out lesbian who is basically a player.
She and Molly develop a friendship, and from there something more grows.
I think the film did a good job of building up this relationship.
Molly did not seem immediately attracted to Bridget, but as their friendship grew her feelings did.
Trip is also a great character.
He is roommates and best friends with Bridget.
He has a subplot with his girlfriend Chloe and develops a friendship with Greg.Anyway, I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a lesbian themed film that is actually good.
It is also just a good character study.
It isn't perfect, but I think for what it was working with it's pretty good.
I also think the music is a plus..
A brilliant movie to enjoy.
I Truth had not very good expectations about this movie and i just saw it today as my part of the boring Sunday mornings.It really surprised me in a great way because the actors were honest and vulnerable.The leads actresses just have such a wonderful chemistry and they find their lives fits step by step trough the whole movie.It is about choices, love,heartbreak, lies, truth, and most important...finding the person perfect for us.This is the movie to the ones who doesn't see relationship only in a particular gender, it's more than that.
The feelings involve were believable in every single scene.A must see, indeed..
What an amazing surprise.
This is the true reason you go to film festivals.
What a great discovery.
Incredibly well written, very well acted, and characters you truly want to see just "Work It Out" I was just pulled into this movie wanting to see where it was going.
Of course, setting it in New York was just too perfect and you had to wonder if this was almost a true story.
(I have no idea) The cinematography was just amazing for such a low budget film.
I was incredibly glad it went the direction it did...you'll have to see it to find out what I'm talking about.
Look for this movie.
Take a date, one of any gender, and enjoy yourself.
Great job Slamdance 2010!
I'll be thinking about this movie, this director and these actors for quite sometime.
I hope they all make it.
Hollywood BS.
Politically correct crap that should have at least PG tag, instead it's on home TV in the middle of the day...
And it's not a romantic comedy at all, more like tragedy/drama..
clicked with it from the toilet scene..
I liked this movie so much mainly just that i clicked with it from the toilet scene.
The main character pretty much reflects my life, the wingman, the 17 year old boy mindset, wanting to screw the next clam that walks through the door of the bar (well after a stern rating with said wingman.) I really loved this movie even more when to my surprise my favorite scene had Ramalama bang bang by roisin murphy playing.
sorry but, um yes.
This kind of gay I find does not get represented much in movies.
Any serial single gay women not looking for a relationship i'm sure would love this flick.
The only thing that felt semi-disappointing to me was probably the ending it was a bit flat..
Hugely underrated, excellent movie.
Excellent, surprisingly underrated movie.
I'm guessing the low rating has something to do with homophobic reviewers?
Either way, a really fabulous movie that has more to do with finding who you are, and less to do with being gay.
Certainly better than most of the shallow, name- dropping big screen releases of the day.
The character development is supreme, and the dynamic between the two leading ladies is intense.
Their connection is palpable, and its hard not to relate to their friendship, love, and yes, lust.
The themes presented in this movie are universal, and it is clear that a lot of hard work and love went into the project on the part of the filmmakers (who are in fact the characters themselves).
A kicking and wicked little movie that deserves a lot of respect!.
Consider the glut of trash, by A list actors and studios out there at the moment.
Horrifying.
I just want to vomit in my mouth every time a new trailer comes on with another two 'A' list actors making a paint by numbers film to clearly pay their mortgage and extravagance.
(I cannot mention any names
Jdrmepff and Jpiollfia, as I have no money for people to sue me for).
It's a shame that there is hardly anything of interest on the silver screen coming out of Hollywood nowadays, maybe one in 20 movies if we're lucky, so to come across a little gem like this, carried by unknown actors, with a sharp snazzy script, an incredible soundtrack, and voilà you will have knocked me over sideways with a feather.
Where do I start?
The acting is flawless, seamless, fluid and truly and believably genuine.
Remember when actors did that?
Genuine.
It would be very easy to pigeon hole this into 'lesbian' movie of the year,(sadly I think this has already happened) but it is so much more than this.
Deeply and beautifully observed, this is 21st century love.
It's about love between friends, irrelevant of sexual preferences, it's about relationships between people without having to say 'despite this they are friends or in love' the fact that Bridget is gay is actually so insignificant that there are no rainbow banners or gongs about Bridget being gay, she just is; and you enter the story just accepting it.
The other characters are straight, it's all based in their New York neighbourhood, there are no gay or lesbian bars, no big coming out parties or speeches, the pub they all drink in, could be any straight pub in Britain which probably surprised me more, living in London, I thought we were the only ones with pubs, how wrong I was!
And the dynamic of the main character triad with Todd Kubrak as Trip, Emily Peck as Molly and the stunning Marja Lewis Ryan as Bridget is sweetly endearing, sharp, snappy, with wonderfully observed rhetoric on the literature been studied and dare I say, what verbose and articulate city folk talk about whatever their sexual preference when they have a common subject to dissect.
( I was flabbergasted to note at the end credits that who I felt was a secondary character had top cast billing).
The relationship that will stick out more is the one between best friends and flat mates, Trip and Bridget, their morning toothpaste ritual and their fond irreverent name calling had me smiling from ear to ear.
If you live in a city you may already have this wonderful homogeneity of friends, where sexual preference is no longer something anyone agonises over, where your choice of friends is based on their beliefs, their likes their dislikes, their follies, their triumphs.
Even if you are not a city dweller you can easily accept the comradeship between people as just people and nothing else.
This movie was a total surprise to me, so much so that I even joined IMDb to give it a good review and champion it a bit, as I felt it needed a straight little British girl to give it a two-thumbs up - now be a good sausage and give it a go...
that means go watch it!.
Stupid cowardly insecure people doing stupid cowardly insecure things.
Stupid cowardly insecure people doing stupid cowardly insecure things.
With stupid dialog thrown in for good measure.
That's pretty much the essence of this film.
(While at the same time trying to somehow make itself out to be "indie art".) Of course, in the classic Oprah "men bad women good" mode, the men are made out to be MORE stupid, despite the fact that there's really no basis for that whatsoever, given the fact that, in context, the women are just as stupid as the men.
Some of the characters cheat, some of the characters probably want to cheat -- and they ALL need to grow up.
A lot.
And so does the writer -- and the director.
As another reviewer pointed out, this film goes nowhere.
VERY SLOWLY.
VERY SLOWLY.
If you enjoy predictable, sophomoric post-teenage angst, where real relationships are confused with cowardly mutual using, and wanting and loving are inexorably confused, then you'll have a blast with this film.
If you're looking for something more -- ANYTHING more -- you'll be sorely disappointed.
Because there's little else provided -- no real character development, no discernible meaningful dialog, and even less plot.
The "main" character is actually the city of New York.
And given the fact that there's little shown that hasn't already BEEN shown about New York, there just isn't much to engage most viewers.
More importantly, I found little to no empathy for ANY of the characters (with the possible exception of Chloe, but even that's a stretch), and that's always a bad thing.
When you don't care about the characters or what they're doing or what happens to them, you can't possibly care about the film itself.
(Of course, if you're immature and sophomoric yourself, then there's probably a lot to relate to.
And that definitely seems to be the target audience here.) This is one of those films that tries way too hard to be cool and hip, and ends up failing.
Miserably.
It's like "Friends" on PCP..
Too slow!.
OK so I decided to watch this film because it was based on a romantic lesbian story.
But then, when I began to watch it, it just made me bore my eyes out.
The storyline is pretty terrible if you ask me.
I was thinking that the couple falls in love with the other couple (man/man & woman/woman) but it didn't seem to be the case at all.
It was more based on cheating cheating cheating.
You know, you would think to yourself, why did these chicks fall for jerks like them?
It just doesn't make any sense!The acting wasn't that great either among the actors, I thought they could improve the storyline a bit but they didn't!
Alright actually, let's just say, I didn't enjoy this film! |
tt1632708 | Friends with Benefits | Jamie Reillis (Mila Kunis) is an Executive Recruiter for a leading job agency in New York City and Dylan Harper (Justin Timberlake) works as an art director for a small internet company in Los Angeles. Jamie has the task of trying to recruit Dylan to interview for a job with GQ magazine and begin working in New York City. Dylan comes to New York and after interviewing for the position learns from Jamie that he has been given an offer to work for GQ. At first Dylan is hesitant to accept and move from his home in Los Angeles to New York, but in an effort to get Dylan to accept the job, Jamie spends the evening taking him around the city trying to sell him on the opportunity and the city.After a fun night together exploring the city (including staring a 'flash mob' to dance to a pop tune in Times Square) Dylan agrees to take the job. The next day Jamie presents Dylan with the contract to sign so she can land her commission for recruiting him. Not knowing anyone else in the city he and Jamie quickly develop a friendship. One night, while hanging out at Jamie's apartment watching a romantic comedy, they get on the topic of sex and relationships. They come to the conclusion that sex should not come with so many emotional attachments. Both feeling the need for a physical connection they agree to have sex without emotion or commitment involved. After several trysts together Jamie comes to the realization that this isn't really what she wants, and she would like to start dating again and informs Dylan that they need to stop.A few days later, Jamie meets Parker (Bryan Greenberg) and they begin dating. After five dates they consummate their relationship but the next morning Parker leaves and informs Jamie he really wasn't looking for anything more. Furious, Jamie tells Parker off, assuring the end of their relationship. Trying to be sympathetic and to help Jamie get over the pain of the situation Dylan suggests she come with him to California over the July 4th weekend while he visits his family. Jamie is very hesitant, but agrees after much persistence from Dylan. They fly to California where Jamie meets his older sister Annie (Jenna Elfman) and father (Richard Jenkins). While in California emotional feelings for each other begin to form and they share a passionate kiss, which leads to a night of close intimacy unlike any they had shared before. However the next day Jamie overhears a conversation between Annie and Dylan indicating he has no real feelings for her. Hurt, she flies back to New York, alone. A few days later Dylan returns to New York trying to reconcile his friendship with Jamie and find out why she has been ignoring him. He finally finds Jamie and she informs him she overheard everything he said and has no interest in maintaining any kind of a friendship with him.Soon after this Jamie discovers that Dylan may be leaving the GQ position for another job, which would affect her commission. She confronts Dylan about this which leads to another argument. Both begin to do some soul searching trying to come to terms with their feelings about their relationship. Jamie spends time with her mother (Patricia Clarkson), while Dylan discusses it with his sister over the phone. His sister informs him that their father, who suffers from the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, will be flying to New York and he needs to be picked up at the airport. While eating at the airport with his father, his father, in a moment of Alzheimer's-induced confusion, incorrectly recognizes a passerby as a woman from his past. Dylan asks him about this woman, and his father, upon regaining his lucidity, says that she was a woman he met in the Navy, that she was the love of his life, and regrets decisions he made in his youth to let her go.Dylan realizes how he feels about Jamie and after a talk with his friend and coworker, Tommy (Woody Harrelson), decides to go after her. He calls Jamies mother to set up an excuse to get Jamie to go to Grand Central Station thinking she will be picking her mother up and arranges to have another flash mob scene set up to surprise Jamie at Grand Central. When the moment comes he catches up with Jamie and tells her how he really feels. Surprised and happy by this turn of events Jamie tells him to kiss her. After sharing a kiss Dylan suggests it is time they go on their first real date. They go to the café across the street, and although they attempt to keep the date casual and relaxed, the film ends with them in a sensual embrace and passionate kiss. | comedy, entertaining, adult comedy, romantic | train | imdb | null |
tt1055300 | Hua pi | Setting is the Yuan dynasty: Soldiers rescue beautiful orphan Xiao Wei (Zhou) from desert bandits. The beautiful Xiao Wei is than taken in by Gen. Wang (Chen Kun) and his wife, Peirong (Zhao), who both dote on the excessively courteous and attentive young woman. But three months after she is adopted, the city is terrorized by an unknown killer who rips out human hearts.Peirong, who's become less enamored of Xiao Wei than her hubby, suspects Xiao may be a demon spirit in human disguise, and asks the ex Gen. Pan Yong (Yen), who served with her husband, for his help. Meanwhile, Pan has become buddies with tomboy demon-catcher Xia Bing (Betty Sun Li), who's been on the trail of a demon she has never seen for killing her grandfather. Before he was killed her grandfather taught her the art of catching demons. While Xiao remains a guest in the home of the married couple, she relentlessly pursues the love of Peirong's handsome husband, Gen. Wang. He than suspects his wife is only accusing Xiao of being a demon out of jealousy. Others who suspect a demon is in the village all end up dead, even the only monk. Meanwhile, others suspect a kung foo expert who just before each murder suddenly appears each night in the town attacking people and fighting Gen. Wang & his men. The three, Peirong, Yong, and Bing become confused, than seek to find out just who Xiao really is. One thing they know for sure, the demon needs to feed on hearts to stay alive. The question is how is Xiao getting out to viciously murder people, rip out their hearts, and eat it while under heavy surveillance? And, will Peirong be able to keep her husband from betraying her for the ever so attentive and beautiful young Xiao? by adele H | romantic | train | imdb | If you're someone expecting either a supernatural spook fest, or an amalgamation of ghosts and kung fu, you might be disappointed to find out that it's actually a romance through and through, with complicated relationships all around that you can weave a complex web of love and lust amongst the players involved.Chen Kun plays Wang Sheng, a general whose army recently overrun the camp of a group of barbarians.
In their battle, he rescues a beautiful girl from the grasp of the enemy, and brings her home out of pity and suggestive lust, given that she looks like Zhou Xun. OK, so Zhou Xun plays Xiao Wei, who unknowing to everyone else, is a fox spirit (touted always as beautiful beings in their human form) with an appetite for human hearts in order to maintain her beauty and youth.Thus begins a tussle for General Wang's heart by both Xiao Wei and Vicky Zhao's Pei Rong, who is the dutiful and demure wife of Wang Sheng.
Pei Rong is indeed wary and beginning to suspect Xiao Wei's supernatural abilities when a spate of killings surface with her arrival, but with no proof, Xiao Wei starts to sow discord between the man and wife in order to try and become the new Mrs Wang.
Throw in Donnie Yen as an ex-general Pang Yong, who also shares the hots for Pei Rong, and one time rival of Wang Sheng for her affections, a bumbling lowly ghostbuster Xia Bin (Sun Li) who is in possession of a fabled mythical weapon (opportunity to show off some special effects here, and quite a sight to behold too in its temporal usage) and denying her affections for Pang Yong, and Qi Yuwu as a lizard spirit whose infatuation with Xiao Wei ensures that she gets her fair share of food without the need to get her hands dirty.
Connected the dots yet?Fans of Donnie Yen will probably be a tad disappointed by his limited screen appearance, and for the most parts he's either playing the joker, where his jokes will likely be lost in translation, going by the English subtitles that didn't manage to truly capture the essence of his lines, and the remaining screen time having to see him execute some action, but nothing groundbreaking and not seen before.
We know what Donnie Yen can do, and perhaps in seeking some form of redemption, the story has a flashback scene where he dons armor yet again (anyone remember the dismal result of An Empress And Her Warriors) and does battle in a scene which Jackie Chan has already stamped his authority on.One could have expected the Gordon Chan is familiar with shooting decent action sequences, but you don't really get a lot of that in Painted Skin, save for some generic rooftop chase in the night, and a be all and end all finale where no punches got pulled, though it really got marred by all the tight shots that all you'd probably get to see is a blur.
The narrative also got a little choppy in the mid section, and you do feel that a huge chunk of detail got summarized to keep it running generously under two hours, with subplots dropped that I suspect involved the growing affection and admiration between Pang Yong and Xia Bin, in order not to distract the audience from the main love triangle of Pang Yong, Xiao Wei and Pei Rong.All in all, this is recommended for Zhou Xun's face off with Zhao Wei, especially with the former playing the temptress role to perfection.
Tagline: Revoking the days of A Chinese Ghost Story
Review by Neo: The ultra screen beauty of the early 1990s was undeniably the ambassador of ghost/romance movies, Joey Wong.
The good news is that The Painted Skin's ability to revoke those kind of unique feelings, while the end product may not be the same.
That's not to say The Painted Skin is not a good movie, as the current reviewer thoroughly enjoyed the ride, but in the end, it just feels a little too forgettable.
Carried by the consistently good actress in Zhou Xun (who have now developed a reputation for being head and shoulder above her given material) who attempts to follow the foot step of Joey Wong and adding to the pot of fire is an equally impressive return to form by Vicky Xiao Wei. Perhaps the downside is easily Alloy Chen (Playboy Cops) who appears to be miscasted in a role born to be played by say, Liu Ye (Connected).
Adding to the mix is the overacting of Donnie Yen (who is intentionally funny by overacting, rather than in Seven Swords where his limited emotional range became more laughable than all the jokes added up together in that flick.In many ways, Painted Skin feels like The Promise, it allows the audience to totally disband their beliefs and escape into another world, namely a "dream".
In fact, this isn't a Donnie Yen film where he grins, kicks ass and ultimately kick more asses, but rather, at its core, a love story, a light hearted genre mixture of action, ghosts and comedy.
Quite simply revoking those days when movies like A Chinese Ghost Story are still in existence.
Then again, when a movie leaves you thinking about Joey Wong, it really can't be half bad.There is no doubt that Mainland starlet, Zhou Xun is a shinning star.
Still her acting, her screen chemistry, her sheer screen presence makes Zhou Xun easily one of the better actress in Hong Kong cinema now.
Cliché and cheesy as the finale may seem to be, the current reviewer is leaning towards liking it.If there is one aspect about reviewing movies that Neo enjoys is the part where he gets to talk about performances.
I fondly remember way back in 2005, Koma provided a moment for two acting queens in Karena Lam and Angelica Lee and likewise, Painted Skins goes head to head with Zhou Xun and Zhao Wei. The Shaolin Soccer girl (Zhao Wei) performs more than admirably and certainly a triumphant return to form.
In arguably a much more difficult role than her counterpart, she still manages to engage the audience and maintain some believability within the dream.Donnie Yen has come a long way since those Shanghai Affairs and Legend of the Wolf days, but it is not surprising that while his screen presence has increased dramatically, the same cannot be said about his acting.
Her lively performance, brighten up the film in all corners and somehow manages to romance with the "non-romance-able" Donnie Yen.All in all, Painted Skin ends up being good cinema, due largely to the performances of the two leading actresses.
However, Neo seems to think otherwise, as Painted Skin feels like a dream.
This film is adapted from the 300 year old classic ghost story of Song Ling Pu and is a combination of historical romance, supernatural and martial arts from director Gordon Chan who also wrote the screenplay along with Abe Kwong and Lau Ho Leung with action scenes directed by Wei Tung.
In a raid on desert bandits the beautiful Xiao Wei is taken into the armies custody and she takes a liking to Wang Sheng but Peirong stands in her way.
Xiao Yi (David Leong) is the mysterious supernatural companion to the beautiful but deadly Xiao Wei. This is an entertaining story and makes for a great debut film for director Chan.
The movie painted skin is loosely based on a legendary Supranatural Chinese tale 'Hua Pi' about a disguised demon under a human skin(drawn skin exactly).
It's in a more mannerly and elegant way to level its emotion to human being and in my opinion the horror thing is just to dramatize the center love story and not really the main course in the first place.
The rest of the cast is very eye catching especially the irresistible beauty of Zhou Xun.And finally orchestrated by veteran director Gordon Chan who has experienced in so much genre since his existence in mid 80's, the movie is not disappointed at all except in my opinion if only the director did try boldly adapted a more tragic ending, it could really be better.
Brilliant from Beginning to End. If your ideal fantasy genre contains unrelenting action and adventure, Painted Skin may not be the title for you.
But, if you're looking for a beautiful dramatic romance, that is as poetic as it is entertaining, you will not be disappointed.Written in an intelligently mature fashion, and performed with emotional poignancy, Painted Skin is quite unlike its American contrasts, with stories of battlers fought for love occasionally becoming lost in bloody violence and nudity.
This Chinese feature delivers a tasteful approach, that sacrifices in your face thrills and excitement, for a gripping character driven tale of unrequited romance.General Sheng returns home with his army after defeating barbarians infringing on his borders, bringing a beautiful young woman he rescued with him.
With suspicion and paranoia mounting, Yong and Xia begin investigating, only to find themselves in the middle of a battle, plagued by conspiracy, jealously, betrayal and lust.Although there are a number of astounding action sequences, Painted Skin is more of a cat and mouse thriller, with many of the fights taking place in conversations, where one character is always trying to outwit the other.
At its heart, the film reveals that no sacrifice is too great when you love someone, both the script and the actors capturing the emotion perfectly, from the beauty of romance, to the grueling pain of loss.Unlike in other films, where demons are purely villainous antagonists, Painted Skin makes demons and humans alike sympathetic characters, with breakable hearts, and many a vulnerability, the seductive storyline between man and demon being similar to the fourth Hellraiser.
With this in mind, though a sex scene is apparent, nothing is ever seen, the tasteful directional style presenting the audience with all of the passion, but not at the expense of the actor's privacy.With outstanding special effects that draw you further into the plot, alongside a soundtrack that mirrors the turmoil and romance exhibited in the film, Painted Skin is a perfect fantasy that you do not want to miss..
So yes, I enjoyed "Painted Skin" (aka "Hua pi").Directors Gordon Chan, Danny Ko and Andy Wing-Keung Chin managed to put together a good story that had a good amount of variation.
"Painted Skin" is an enjoyable combination of love story, action and drama.The talents were well-cast and it was nice to see a movie where Donnie Yen wasn't all-overshadowing over all other actors and actresses.
However, the two female leads Xun Zhou and Wei Zhao were really impressive in this 2008 movie."Painted Skin" has a lot to offer and chances are that you will find something in it too.
I enjoyed the storytelling and the fact that the movie wasn't focusing on being a display of CGI effects.The action and fight sequences were well-choreographed and equally so executed, which is a given when Donnie Yen is involved.The costumes and sets were grand, with lots of details, and it helped bring the story to life quite well."Painted Skin" is a well-worthy addition to the collection of anyone who enjoys Asian cinema..
In his more recent movies, he always plays himself - strong, violent, a believer in rough justice - and he always delivers great action scenes.
Donnie Yen, Wei Zhao, a killer concept - how could this not be great!Well, unfortunately, "they" found a way.There's honestly little point in giving a summary of the plot here, as it may make whoever reads this want to see it, only to turn it off a long time before the end credits roll.So, how best to describe this film honestly?Well, perhaps mumbled, confused, dull, with poor action sequences, humour that won't amuse and zero chemistry between those supposedly loving and trying to seduce one another would be a pretty good start.Seriously, films like this make me feel so sorry for all those aspiring writers, actors and film-makers who can't get the funds to put a low-budget project together, when such dismal trash is clearly tossing cash into the wind.I needn't have to advise anyone reading this to avoid it, but shall do all the same:AVOID IT..
A social ETHICAL movie in the painted skin of legend.
However, when China started to get rich, underground lovers start to emerge again and this trend is growing stronger each day since the last 15 years.Story and implication: The movie almost directly indicates this social phenomenon: The General indicates a powerful and rich man, his wife represents the Chinese traditional image of wife (she lives for her husband and is very tolerant until the last moment, but still would sacrifice herself for the husband's good).
Just like many Chinese women struggling in the lower social class (in reality can be a nightclub waitress, erotic massager and so on), the fox woman met the General and gave him a "beautiful, weak, needs protection" impression.
On the other hand, the lizard man was ignored by society (he was invisible sometimes in the movie), just as many male in the lower social level.The General let the fox woman into his private life, giving her many privileges that only wife can enjoy (having maids, managing daily stuff at home, can even take over the wife's order, see the dinner scene when the wife was late).
In reality, there would not be ex-lover, but family and other supporters of the wife (possibly also powerful, like indicated in the movie), and social order keeper can be the public, mass media etc.
This indicates a serious social problem in China: imbalanced male-female ratio causes many men with lower social-position to be left out in marriage, while richer and more powerful men can enjoy several women at the same time.It is a good movie after all, though if audience is non-Chinese it can be hard to enjoy: not much visual effect, not much fighting..
Cynics may sneer but even if the sincerity in "Painted skin" does not win conviction, it garners sympathy.To introduce this movie as the latest adaptation from the famous Chinese literature ghost story could be misleading.
As director Gordon Chan ("A-1 headline" (2004)) explains in an interview: "this is a story of romance where six characters speak for themselves about love".
Xiaowei, a monster that feed on raw human hearts, falls in love with Wang and plots to usurp the place of his wife Peirong who soon suspects something.
And this is not the least because of the good acting.ZHOU Xun, irresistible to the audience just as Xiaowei is irresistible to almost everyone in the story, pulls off the final conversion of a ruthless monster consumed in selfish passion to someone that finally realizes what true love really means with a degree of conviction that very few others can achieve.
CHEN Kun (who played another love triangle with ZHOU in "The little Chinese seamstress", with LIU Ye as the third) look more like a scholar than a general as Weng, but that hardly matters because he is winning as the faithful husband who chooses to die with his wife that he is tricked into believing to be the monster.
Vicky ZHOU Wei was told by director Chan to "grow up" and stop relying on her "cuteness" did just that in this movie, playing the most sympathy-earning roll as a wife who makes the ultimate, unspeakable sacrifice for love.
Betty SUN (in "Fearless" with Jet Li) provides good support as the tom-boyish monster-hunter who keeps stumbling when fighting with hate but finds herself (and her power) when driven by love.For those not satisfied with just the love story, there is Donny Yen's martial art action (and I happen to be one who thinks that he is the best since Bruce Lee).
"Painted Skin" draws you in with it's recognizable list of performers (Vicki Zhao, Xun Zhao, Donnie Yen) and gives off an air of mystique with its movie posters and unique storyline.
The movie takes liberty to add several of its own plot twists, the major one being a Gothic love triangle of sorts with the demon's desire to win the heart of General Wang and take the place of his wife.
It's not a horror movie although the concepts of having a demon that requires a steady diet of human hearts in order to keep it's fake skin looking fresh could be horrific if filmed the right way.It could be a love triangle story as it shows the internal conflict of a man who loves his wife dearly but is intrigued by the new young lady who's entered into his life.There's some interesting characters - Donnie Yen who's unrequited love comes back to request his assistance in solving the murder mysteries to which she has a prime suspect.There's the wife who's torn between fear of the demon, jealousy of her husband's attraction to the new lady in the house, and her complicated respect but not quite love for Donnie's character.In the end, it's not about the mystery of the killings as it is all readily shown on screen who is the demon, who is not.
And yet, with the horror elements in play, you cannot really take the 'love-story' part of it all that seriously and in the end you're left confused over just what it is you watched.Undeniably the costumes, settings, and direction are all very well done.
despite the star-studded cast, and the elaborate costumes, special effects, and big budget, this movie sinks like titanic.
if they truly love each other, he will believe her when she say zhou xun is a demon, won't he?
Wang sheng is your typical good-looking hormonal guy who fall in love with the pretty girl, idiotic as ever. |
tt0028231 | Secret Agent | It is 1916 after the beginning of the First World War, in London. A somber group is filing past a casket surrounded by candles. The butler sees everyone out, locks the door, then takes down the casket, which is empty. Next we are at a British intelligence office in the middle of an air raid, and an officer in uniform comes in, holding a newspaper that seems to announce his own death. The officer, a writer by profession, (John Gielgud), is given false passports with the name Ashenden, introduced to an assistant (Peter Lorre) who goes by the nickname General, and told to proceed in disguise to Switzerland, Hotel Excelsior, and await further instructions. The instructions are to identify a German undercover agent who is at the hotel and about to leave Switzerland for Istanbul, then to prevent the German agent from reaching his destination by any means necessary. In Switzerland we see an old man buy a bar of chocolate, open it, and read a hidden message that a British spy is expected to arrive at the hotel Excelsior. Ashenden checks into the hotel and learns that Mrs. Ashenden (Madeleine Carroll) had arrived the day before. He goes to the rooms reserved for the couple and finds Mrs. Ashenden in conversation with an American, Mr. Marvin (Robert Young), who has been insinuating himself to her. The fake Ashenden couple have their initial conversations to get acquainted, and the General comes in also. Ashenden and the General go to the church to meet the organist, a supposed double agent, to get more information, but they find the organist dead at the organ, with a special type of button in his fist. Back at the hotel they strike up a conversation with a British tourist, they all go to the casino together, and are surprised when the torn button appears to come from the British tourist's coat sleeve, supposedly identifying the tourist as the killer of the organist. The group, including Marvin, have dinner at the same table, and meet the wife of the tourist, who is German and says this trip is the first time she has ever been out of Germany. Ashenden and the General make bets about which of them is a better mountain hiker. They convince the British tourist to go up a nearby mountain the next day, where they plan to murder him. Ashenden has misgivings in participating in a murder, and tries to turn back from the climb, but the General continues up the mountain and pushes the tourist off a cliff. Back at the hotel they receive word that they have identified the wrong man and thus murdered an innocent Briton. This causes consternation and conflict between the Ashendens, he taking the view that he was on an assignment in wartime, she that the murder of an innocent is too high a price to pay even in wartime. This moral conflict is a continuing source of much anguish for both of them, who are otherwise much attracted to each other.Meantime, the General has snooped around and found that the chocolate factory is a center for spy messages, and talks Ashenden into going there to try to get more information from the boyfriend of one of the hotel maids, who has a job at the factory. Mrs. Ashenden decides she wants to resign from her spying assignment and separate herself from her fake husband, and, having no special place to go, she decides to go with Marvin on the next leg of his train trip. At the chocolate factory Ashenden and the General are fingered as British spies and the police is called. They stage an emergency and pull a fire alarm to create chaos, and succeed in evading the police and returning to the hotel, where they find Mrs. Ashenden gone (accompanying Marvin) and also get a coded telegram that identifies Marvin as the agent. They manage to get to the train station, warn Mrs. Ashenden that Marvin is their target, and she agrees to resume her spy duties by pretending to be romantically interested in Marvin. They get on a train that eventually crosses into neutral territory and then into another country at war against Britain. As they confront Marvin in a compartment and he admits being a German agent, British planes attack the train, producing a train wreck. Marvin is mortally wounded, the General is shot dead, and Mr. and Mrs. Ashenden, now in love with each other, are able to return to England without having had to physically murder anyone. A brief epilogue follows, showing the triumph of British forces in the Eastern (Turkish) front. | suspenseful, murder | train | imdb | This movie is also distinguished by large doses of good humor and by some creative uses of the story's setting in Switzerland.John Gielgud plays Ashenden, an English spy in World War I.
There are some excellent scenes, including a scene in an old country church that combines humor and suspense, and a chase through a chocolate factory.Because its hero has a reluctance about his mission that we do not expect in our spy heroes, "Secret Agent" has never been one of Hitchcock's most popular films.
That is the only way I know to absorb the subtle verbal repartees (observe the fascinating expressions and body language of Madeleine Carroll as she repeatedly defends herself from the blandishments of the affable American played by Robert Young); the hilarious malapropisms and convoluted syntax courtesy of the unpredictably eccentric Peter Lorre (there is good reason to believe this was unfeigned because Mr. Lorre, a Hungarian by birth who had achieved a well-deserved reputation as a chilling screen presence in German cinema before leaving for England following the National Socialist take-over, had not yet mastered the nuances of the English language); the classic understatement by that most aristocratic of all British actors, John Gielgud; and for those of us who never tire gazing at the incomparably beautiful Madeleine (Elsa) Carroll, the camera angles finally do justice to her divinely-wrought features (she also delivers her usual elegantly controlled performance).
Despite the abject absurdity of Hitchcock's "Secret Agent", I adored it.The film starts off as a farcical story following John Gielgud and Madeline Carroll - two novice British spies - hunting down a German agent with the help of a more experienced man - "The General" - a Mexican hilariously played by Peter Lorre.
This is generally true of most of Hitchcock's excellent efforts for Gaumont British Pictures of America during the 1930s (I.e. Sabotage, 39 Steps, etc) - very British films made with American/British casts and production for an international audience.Though less suspenseful than many of Hitchcock's contemporaneous efforts, Secret Agent remains a good and entertaining example of Hitchcock in the 1930s..
This espionage film concerns about Ashenden (John Gielgud), a secret agent is sent Switzerland to kill an unknown enemy spy .
There he deals with various characters , as a quirky Mexican general (Peter Lorre), a smart gentleman (Robert Young) and a gorgeous woman (Madeleine Carrol) who poses as his wife , causing the classic loving triangle (Gielgud , Carrol , Young).
This 1936 movie is another in Hitchcock's decade-long run of British talkies: highly-contrasted black and white, under 90 minutes generally, and devoid of major stars (except for Peter Lorre, who appears in this movie two years after he did The Man Who Knew Too Much).But unlike many of the movies surrounding it (Young and Innocent, The 39 Steps), this one isn't quite as good.
A previous commentor was right: This was the movie for Hitchcock to remake in the 1950s (with color and Cary Grant and Grace Kelly - heck, maybe even a minor role for Jimmy Stewart), not The Man Who Knew Too Much, which was one of his best British films.Overall, it is good and worth the watch - especially for Hitchcock fans, but it's just not quite *there*.
They don't repeat characters or plot elements, but they all follow a similar winning formula – not merely that of Hitchcockian suspense (of which there isn't really that much in Secret Agent), but of the notion that scrambling all over Europe bumping off spies and leaping off trains, constantly in fear of your own life, can be made to look rather good fun.First we have the cast and characterisation.
Paired with a bubbly and very believable Madeleine Carroll, and supported by bluff gentleman Percy Marmont, chirpy yank Robert Young and crazy generic foreigner Peter Lorre, the overall feel is like one of those "Brits on holiday" comedies.
He also brings characters in with memorable bits of business to give us strong and meaningful impressions of them – for example Peter Lorre chasing a woman up the stairs or Percy Marmont being introduced when Gielgud trips over his dog.And then there is the director, who is let's face it the only reason anyone pays attention to what would otherwise be obscure English films in the first place.
Later, when Gielgud walks into his hotel room and finds both Carroll and Young inside, there is a quick montage of close-ups as he checks he has the right number, and we essentially ride with his thought process for a few seconds.Secret Agent is by no means as good as The 39 Steps or The Lady Vanishes, not really having any major build-ups of suspense or danger.
With a title like "Secret Agent" and the stamp of Alfred Hitchcock, I'm sure most people are expecting a classic spy thriller with a suave, impeccable hero, a cold-hearted villain and a lot of patriotic drum beating.
The two major problems in this film are John Gielgud, looking distinctly uncomfortable in a dashing leading man role that would have gone down much better with Robert Donat or Laurence Oliver, and Peter Lorre, not able to do much with the grotesque, embarrassing Mexican blackface minstrel routine the film forces on him.
The film's saving graces are Robert Young as Gielgud's unsettlingly suave American rival, and Madeline Carroll, looking and sounding uncannily like Miranda Richardson as perhaps the most uncharacteristically vivacious of Hitchcock's cool blonde heroines..
Adapted from a Somerset Maugham novel, the movie tells the story of a reluctant secret agent (played by John Gielgud), supposedly dead but actually impersonating someone else, and his assignment in Switzerland with his bogus wife (Madeline Carroll), and an assistant called "The Hairless Mexican", who's neither Mexican nor hairless, and who is also known as the "general", though he isn't a general, either.
Long before James Bond hit our screens, Alfred Hitchcock made this Bond type movie and I found Secret Agent quite enjoyable, even though there isn't an awful lot of action in it.A pair of English agents, pretending to be husband and wife are sent to Switzerland to look for a German agent out there.
At the end, the two English agents fall in love for real.Though a little slow moving at times, Secret Agent is quite gripping and has some good scenery thrown in too.The cast includes John Gielgud, Peter Lorre (The Beast With Five Fingers, Mad Love), Madeleine Carroll, Robert Young and Lili Palmer.
In 1916, during the WWI novelist Edgar Brodie, whose death has been faked by the intelligence superiors, is sent to Switzerland where he has to assassinate a German agent.He's given a new name.He's now called Richard Ashenden.He is assisted by a Mexican hired killer that calls himself The General.He has also a woman called Elsa Carrington waiting for him there posing as his wife.And there's also an American charmer named Robert Marvin.Secret Agent (1936) is an early Alfred Hitchcock spy story.John Gielgud does a fine job in the lead.And so does the awfully sweet Madeleine Carroll.There's some chemistry between the leading stars.Robert Young is brilliant.Peter Lorre proves that he's a real chameleon with his curly hair and all.And he also barks like a dog.This may not be the director's finest work but it sure does entertain.In the end we are in a train as in so many other Hitchcock films.This is a suspenseful ride every Hitchcock fan should enjoy..
Somerset Maugham novel in which Maugham relives some of his own experiences as an espionage agent during the first World War. Apparently what I got out of the film is that espionage just ain't a job for amateurs.Maugham's protagonist here is John Gielgud and he's given a wife as part of his cover in the person of the beautiful Madeline Carroll.
Just collateral damage as the officials would say today.Robert Young is also in the film over from America to play a helpful, but wolfish American who Carroll turns to for comfort because she's developed a real distaste for the job she has.I'm betting that Somerset Maugham did in fact find the espionage business distasteful and wrote the same in this novel.
I'll never know, either way, of course.However, to the film: a soldier is pulled from trench warfare in France, given a new identity of Richard Ashenden (Gielgud), a fake wife Elsa Carrington (the delightful Madelaine Carroll) and then teamed up with a clown of a spy called the General (Peter Lorre) to then all travel to Switzerland to kill a German spy.
A film that intimates in several ways the future prowess of the master Hitchcock.He plays with suspense in this, and it has the unusual casting of John Gielgud as Richard Ashenden, in the central role of an ex-pilot now an operative for the government, a stiff performance, for sure, in many scenes he looks extraordinarily uncomfortable with the developing romance between himself and Madeleine Carroll, playing Elsa Carringon a fellow spy, who pretends to be his wife as their 'cover'.Peter Lorre has a supporting role as another operative, and has a ball as a Mexican lover, The General, a stark, rollicking contrast to the stiff Ashenden.
Made during the second half of his British period Alfred Hitchcock's Secret Agent is a spy thriller about a reluctant hero (John Gielgud) during the First World War who botches a hit.
Following two of Hitch's more polished works ( The Man who Knew too Much, The 39 Steps) it fails to live up to their pedigree but does contain more than its fair share of gripping moments.Richard Brodie (Gielgud) Elsa Carrington ( Madeline Carrol) and The General (Peter Lorre) have been assigned by British intelligence to waste a threat in Switzerland.
Brodie, now romantically involved with Elsa wants out but accedes to accompany the General on one more assignment.In the lead Gielgud is somewhat detached and passionless most of the way while Carrol offers some sparks leaving it up to the dark humored, callous Lorre character and the dubious all American Young to keep things interesting while Hitchcock injects some of his suspenseful editorial mastery in a factory, on a train and in particular during an assassination in the mountains.
An early example of this is "Secret Agent."During World War I, a British soldier named Brodie (John Gielgud) famous for his novels finds himself suddenly declared dead by a mysterious figure named R.
Helping Brodie will be another mysterious figure, the "hairless Mexican," played by Peter Lorre at a high histrionic pitch, as well as Elsa (Madeleine Carroll), a naive young spy who pretends to be "Mrs. Ashenden."Right from the beginning, when we watch a one-armed man messily upend a coffin for no apparent reason except to reveal it is empty, "Secret Agent" is aimed more for effect than making sense.
"Secret Agent," on the other hand, is played for a lark, and so when Hitchcock deals his trump, it's a mean trick the film never recovers from.At least the scene makes an impact on screen, more than you can say for John Gielgud, who wears the same air of aristocratic diffidence he did when Dudley Moore told him he wanted a bath some 45 years later.
It might seem to some modern day audiences that this film is ahead of its time (because they probably imagine James Bond and Matt Helm were the first spies in film), but in fact it owes MUCH to Lang's 20s classic "Dr. Mabuse" and others of its ilk.Hitchcock has even imported Lang's best star, Peter Lorre, an actor who can put in a memorable performance even if given no script or direction.
The role of Ashenden in Hitchcock's film is played by the young John Gielgud.
That casting has often been heavily criticised, as Gielgud was rather effete and feeble to play the role of a war hero whose death in combat is faked so that he can be sent under a false name (Ashenden) on a secret mission to assassinate a German spy in Switzerland, before the spy can escape to Constantinople and enemy territory.
But perhaps the weirdest and most effective sequence in the entire film is when Madeleine Carroll is sitting and talking in a hotel room with the dreary, droning wife (a brilliant bit of casting) of a German man who has gone mountain climbing with Lorre and Gielgud, who wrongly suspect him of being a spy and intend to murder him on the mountain.
SECRET AGENT is too slow and unwieldy to be truly enjoyable; it's marred by a lack of action, interesting characters and plotting and it hasn't dated very well over the decades since it was first released.It's the first time I've ever seen John Gielgud as a young man, and I have to say that he doesn't stand out at all.
Lorre is without a doubt the best thing in the movie and he steals every scene he's in.Of course, this is still a Hitchcock film, so there are reasons to watch.
Hitch returns to the Alps again in others of his films, of course.Gielgud is tall, lean and with a clipped dulcet tone and looks the part of a matinée leading man, though Lorre, supposedly the assassin (they're sent to bump off a mysterious German spy) looks like an escaped vaudevillian cabaret artist and armed with an accent that is so thickly mongrel, it's ridiculous.Some peculiar humour, bordering on the inappropriate now, plus these almost sketch-like scenarios, show that Hitch is fighting to direct and control his blossoming flair and imagination - these elements, plus the subject, forms the backbone of many of his future classics.
A small point but shows that the Master is starting his little 'effects' at this time.In the final twenty minutes, the pace picks up and finally, moves on to become the slick spy suspense thriller that it should have been all along - on a moving train - another pretext for things to come.Treat Secret Agent as the film that Hitch did his apprenticeship on and not as a flawed masterpiece, allow for its inconsistencies but relish in the many bits he got right and thank goodness that from here-on in, Hitch was the Master that we all know and love.
Secret Agent was more of a miss.Set in 1916 in the middle First World War. A famous writer/army officer fakes his own death and becomes a spy for the British, Richard Ashenden (John Gielgud).
They is a good action sequence at the end of the film, and because of the time, it forced Hitchcock to use long fix shots, making conversation shots longer, and actually better: more like a play.
RAF pilot Edgar Brodie fakes his death at the height of the Great War (as it was known then) and is recruited as a secret agent and given the identity of Ashenden, for assignment in Switzerland, to search for a spy, with an uncooperative woman pretending to be his wife.His contact in Switzerland, played by Peter Lorre, delivers his verbose lines appropriately stiffly and almost phonetically, especially as he so cheerfully (and repetitively) introduces himself throughout the film, as "General Pompellio Montezuma De La Vilia De Conde De La Rue!" An American tourist turns up along the way, with an admiration for Ashenden's "wife" - or, is there more to him than that?
But, overall, "Secret Agent" is dull and disappointing.***** Secret Agent (5/36) Alfred Hitchcock ~ John Gielgud, Madeleine Carroll, Peter Lorre, Robert Young.
'Secret Agent' is one of two films he released in 1936 (the other being the surprisingly suspenseful 'Sabotage') and it is a worthy effort.John Gielgud plays Edgar Brodie, a young British army officer whose faked death is orchestrated in order to assume a new identity as Richard Ashenden to aid in the assassination of a German spy.
Madeleine Carroll is the young woman masquerading as Mrs. Ashenden, and she is very enthusiastic about her task, and dying to see some "action." Peter Lorre (a favourite actor of mine) plays a fellow British spy known affectionately as The General, who is playful and ardent womanizer, but, at the same time, a cold and ruthless killer when his job calls for it.The acting performances are generally very good.
Some have criticised Lorre for overplaying his role, but I enjoyed his reckless enthusiasm, a side of his character which contrasts starkly with the side he would later reveal.The beginnings of the genius of director Alfred Hitchcock shine through in several parts of the film, most notably the scene involving a hike up the mountain with a suspected German spy, and the howling of the doomed man's dog.
To assist him an eccentric character known only as "The General" (Peter Lorre) is assigned to him.With his new identity, Richard Ashenden, he arrives in Switzerland and learns that as a cover, he has a "wife", Elsa Carrington (Madeleine Carroll).
He must now travel to Switzerland and track down and eliminate a ruthless German agent.'Ashenden' is then teamed with two professional agents, an amoral deadly assassin known as The General (Peter Lorre) and Elsa Carrington, (Madeleine Carroll) a beautiful blonde who will pose as his wife and cover for his new identity.
Joining Ashenden on his dangerous mission is a Mexican assassin known as the General (Peter Lorre) and a female spy called Elsa Carrington (Madeline Carroll) posing as Ashenden's wife.
The cast did a good job with a young John Gielgud putting in a sold performance as Ashenden; Madeleine Carroll was delightful as his 'wife' Elsa...
John Gielgud, Madeleine Carrol, and Peter Lorre are sent to Switzerland to eradicate an unknown German spy who is about to buy Arabia during World War I.
Situated here during the Great War when Ottoman Turkey was on the wrong side, John Gielgud, Madelaine Carroll, Robert Young and Peter Lorre engage in the Grand Game to snag a German spy. |
tt0108941 | The Stand | At a government laboratory in rural California, a weaponized version of influenza (called Project Blue) is accidentally released, immediately wiping out everyone on staff except for military policeman Charles Campion and his family, who flee the base. However, Campion is already infected by the superflu, nicknamed "Captain Trips", and spreads it to the outside world. That evening, Campion crashes his car at a gas station in East Texas where Stu Redman (Gary Sinise) and some friends have gathered. When they investigate, they find Campion dying of the flu next to his wife and baby daughter, who are already dead. Campion tells Stu with his dying breath that he was followed from the base by a mysterious figure, and states "You can't outrun the Dark Man". The next day, the U.S. military arrive to quarantine the town. While the other townspeople quickly become ill and die, Stu remains healthy and is confined at a CDC facility in Vermont order to study a possible cure. This proves futile and the superflu rages unchecked, causing civilization to collapse and killing over 99% of the population of the entire world in less than two months.After the infection runs its course, a small group of immune survivors lies scattered across the country. These include rock star Larry Underwood (Adam Storke), who has just had his big break but is now stranded in New York City; Nick Andros (Rob Lowe) a deaf man drifter in Arkansas; Frannie Goldsmith (Molly Ringwald) a teenager living in Ogunquit, Maine; Lloyd Henreid (Miguel Ferrer) a criminal stuck in a prison cell in Arizona; and "Trashcan Man" (Matt Frewer) a mentally ill scavenger. The survivors soon begin having visions, either from kindly Mother Abagail (Ruby Dee) or from the demonic Randall Flagg (Jamey Sheridan). The two sets of survivors are instructed to either travel to Nebraska to meet Mother Abagail, or to Las Vegas to join Flagg.As their journeys begin, Lloyd is freed from prison by Flagg in exchange for becoming his second in command. Trashcan Man, who is a pyromaniac, destroys a set of fuel tanks outside of Des Moines in order to win Flagg's favor. Larry escapes New York and meets a mysterious woman named Nadine Cross (Laura San Giacomo). Despite their mutual attraction, Nadine is unable to consummate a relationship with Larry because of her visions of Flagg, who commands her to join him as his concubine. Nadine eventually leaves Larry to travel on her own. Stu escapes from the CDC facility and gathers a group of survivors, including Frannie; Harold Lauder (Corin Nemec) a hometown acquaintance of Frannie's; and Glen Bateman (Ray Walston), a retired college professor.As the group travels west, Harold grows frustrated at the way that Stu has assumed leadership and grown close to Frannie. Meanwhile, Nick makes his way across the Midwest, eventually joined by Tom Cullen (Bill Fagerbakke) a gentle mentally challenged man. Eventually, Nick's group reaches Mother Abagail's farm in Hemingford Home, Nebraska. She tells them of a great conflict is imminent and that they must all travel on to Boulder, Colorado. There, the various survivors, including Stu, Frannie, and Larry, join with others to form a new community based around Mother Abagail's teachings. Meanwhile, Flagg sets up his own autocratic society in Las Vegas.Initially, all is well in Boulder. However, Frannie discovers that she is pregnant by her deceased ex-boyfriend, causing her anxiety because she is not sure whether her child will be immune to the superflu. Meanwhile, Harold grows increasingly dissatisfied with his life in Boulder and begins experiencing visions from Flagg. He is soon seduced by Nadine, and decides to follow Flagg's dictates. Mother Abagail, now the spiritual center of Boulder, becomes convinced that she has fallen into the sin of pride, and leaves town to walk in the wilderness. Shortly thereafter, Harold and Nadine plant a bomb in Frannie and Stu's home and set it off during a meeting of the Free Zone council. Meanwhile, Abagail returns to town greatly weakened and gives a psychic warning to the council members at the meeting. The warning allows most of the council to escape the explosion, but Nick and Susan Stern are killed. In the hospital after the bombing, Mother Abagail tells Stu, Larry, Glen, and fellow council member Ralph Brentner that they must travel to Las Vegas to confront Flagg, then passes away. Meanwhile, Nadine and Harold make a run for the hills where Harold dies in an accident created by Flagg and Nadine is raped by Flagg, who shows his demonic face.Flagg returns to Las Vegas with a traumatized Nadine. He becomes increasingly unstable, showing his true face to Lloyd in a rage. Shortly after this, Nadine taunts Flagg's loss of control over the situation then commits suicide with Flagg's unborn baby inside her. With winter fast approaching, the four men set out on their quest. While crossing a washed out road, Stu breaks his leg and stays behind while the others continue. Larry, Glen, and Ralph are soon captured by Flagg's forces and temporarily imprisoned, although Glen is later shot to death for refusing to betray the Boulder group in exchange for his life. Larry and Ralph however, are forced to endure a show trial before being publicly executed in Fremont Street. As they are being tortured, to the delight of Flagg's acolytes, Trashcan Man arrives with a stolen nuclear weapon. As Flagg transforms into a demonic visage, a spectral hand reaches out and detonates the bomb, destroying Las Vegas and apparently killing Flagg. Stu is rescued by Tom, who takes him to a nearby cabin to heal as winter sets in. They eventually return to Boulder in the midst of a blinding snow storm. While Stu was away, Frannie gives birth to a baby who had caught the flu. When Stu arrives back home, the baby who is named Abagail (named after Mother Abagail) survives the flu. | good versus evil, insanity, murder | train | imdb | null |
tt0082812 | Night School | At the Jack-n-Jill Daycare Center, teachers aide Anne Barron (Meb Boden) is saying goodnight to the young child Lisa who gets picked up by her mother. Anne sits alone on the merry-go-round when a person wearing all black leather with a black motorcycle helmet, rides up on a motorcycle to the daycare center. After looking around and seeing that Anne is alone, the black-clad person accosts Anne by spinning the merry-go-around and holds out a kukri at Anne as she passes, until finally the blade is lifted and Anne screams.The next morning, Boston Police Lieutenant Judd Austin (Leonard Mann) is with his girlfriend Stevie (Margo Skinner) on his day off, but his partner Taj (Joseph R. Sicari) calls him and Judd leaves to go to his "lousy job". He arrives at the scene of the crime and is told by the coroner that the murder of Anne Barron is similar to an earlier one the previous month where a young woman was decapitated. Judd is shown Anne's severed head, resting in a nearby bucket of water. The previous victim's head was found in a lake. The director of the daycare center, Miss Armand, tells the cops that Anne attended evening classes at Wendell College, a local girls school. Judd sets off to try to find a meaning in the decapitated heads in the water.Judd goes to the school and stands in the back of Professor Millett's (Drew Snyder) anthropology class as the teacher is finishing a lecture. When the class is dismissed, Judd approaches Millett to ask him questions about Anne, and Millett says that his student Kim Morrison (Elizabeth Barnitz) was Anne's friend. Kim is clearly distraught when she learns about Anne's murder and is consoled by Millett. Eleanor (Rachel Ward), a British exchange student at the college, walks in and tells Millett that she has finished his notes. Kim tells Judd that Anne had a boyfriend but she would not tell her who it was.That evening, Eleanor goes to the Lamplight Restaurant near the college for some coffee where the weird busboy Gus (Nicolas Cairis) stares at her. Carol (Karen McDonald) a middle-aged waitress, asks Eleanor if she is in Millett's class and if the teacher "fools around". Eleanor evades talking about Professor Millett and she instead pays for her coffee and leaves. Eleanor is walking home alone when she is frightened by the shadowing Gus who follows her. She runs and gets inside a row house and locks the doors. Eleanor begins to take a shower when someone begins rigging the front doorbell, but Eleanor doesn't hear the bell. A few minutes later, a man walks in through the back door and walks upstairs to the bathroom where Eleanor is scared by Millett. The two of them kiss and then enjoy themselves in the shower as the professor paints his student's nude body. It is clear that Eleanor and Millett are lovers and live together in the professor's house.The next day, Kim is in scuba gar at the local aquarium feeding fish and turtles as people watch through the aquarium glass. The girl gets out of the water and goes to the locker room to take off her scuba diving suit when the black helmeted killer jumps out of a locker and slashes her several times with his kukri until he finally beheads her and drops her severed head into the tank so the people can see.After leaving the latest crime scene, Judd goes to see Millett at his home where Eleanor is there, saying that she is the professor's live-in "research assistant". Judd goes to the university where he finds Millett in his office to question him about the latest beheading murder, whom was another one of his students he questioned the previous day. Millett says that the only animal that kills for pleasure is man. Judd tells Millett that Kim used to be his student and asks Millett if he had an affair with Kim or any other student. The teacher denies that he is having affairs with any of his female students as well as being responsible for the murders. With no evidence to arrest him, Judd leaves but he tells Millett: "People don't go out and kill just for the hell of it. There's always a reason."After Judd leaves, Millett meets with a tearful Eleanor where she tells him about Judd visiting her at the house earlier and that he thinks that Millett is responsible for the murders. Millett again denies that he's responsible for the killings and Eleanor seems to belive him. Eleanor tells Millett that she loves him and will do anything for him, but there is always another person. Eleanor walks out and Millett catches up to her at the Lamplight Restaurant and apologizes, and he again denies having affairs with other women or being the one responsible for the killings. Eleanor tells him that she believes that he is innocent of the murders, but not innocent of cheating on her. She tells Millett that she is about a month pregnant. They both seem happy about it, but Eleanor seems a little irked when Millett flirts with the waitress Carol a little bit.Millett goes to see Helen Griffin (Annette Miller) the dean of the school, and he hears her talking to Kathy (Holly Hardman) another student about allegations of having an affair with the professor. Helen discusses Millett losing his job, and she offers to let Kathy stay at her place.That evening, Carol is closing up the restaurant for the night after the manager Gary (Bill McCann) leaves. Suddenly the lights in the restaurant are turned off and Carol naturally asks: "Who's there?" Just then the same black-clad killer appears and the kukri is brought out. Carol manages to get out the back door, but the killer catches up, swings the kukri, and carries her severed head back to the restaurant. The next morning, Gary opens up the restaurant for a couple of construction workers and they see the mess of overturned tables and chairs, but Carol is nowhere to be seen. Gary serves them two bowls of beef stew for breakfast and one of them notices a strand of hair in his bowl. Gary examines a pot of stew that had been left on the stove and empties it out. Then, he notices a nearby sink full and upon draining it, discovers Carol's severed head. Gary calls the police where they find Carol's decapitated body in the back alley in a trash bin. Judd and Taj show up where Gary tells them that he suspects it was the mentally challenged busboy Gus who did not show up for work and gives them Gus' home address.Judd and Taj go to Gus' seedy apartment and question him where Gus tells them that he didn't go to work because he was "too sick". Taj finds a bra in Gus' drawer, but Judd decides to leave, thinking that Gus is only a peeping tom.Judd goes back to Millett's house and when no one answers the door, he picks the lock and lets himself inside. Looking around for clues, Judd goes into Millett's office where he finds photographs of Millett and Eleanor posing with tribal people. Eleanor comes in and asks the cop if he has a search warrant. He tells her 'no' and he asks Eleanor about headhunting (implied by the photographs). Eleanor tells Judd that during her and Millett's travels to New Guinea, heads were cut off of criminals because the people believed they could process life force from the heads of enemies; the heads were put in water to cleanse the evil spirits.After Judd leaves, Eleanor goes over to the school to find Millette to apparently inform him about Judd's persistance. Unable to find Millette in his classroom, Eleanor walks into Helen's office where she interrupts a discussion between Millett and Helen about the professor having an affair with one of his students. Clearly angry and jealous, Eleanor storms out, and Millett is angry with Helen, suggesting that her interest in the students is something other then "welfare".That evening, Judd is staking out Millett's house where he follows Millett as he leaves his house on his motorbike, but loses him at a red traffic light. Just then Taj radios to Judd that he has been staking out Gus' place and that he has followed the peeping tom whom is right outside Helen's house. Gus is peeping inside the windows while Taj is a short distance away. Inside the house, Helen is laying in her bed with Kathy clearly trying to seduce her. Just then a telephone rings, and Helen goes downstairs to answer it where she is grabbed by the killer who is already inside the house. A few minutes later, Kathy wakes up and enters the bathroom where she finds Helen's severed head in the toilet. Kathy is then beheaded by the same killer who puts her severed head in the filled bathtub.Just then, Judd arrives and bursts down the front door where he finds Helen's headless body in the living room. In going upstairs to the bedroom, the killer jumps out at Judd, knocking him down the stairs. The killer then runs out the front door, gets on a motorbike, and speeds away. At the same time, Taj arrests Gus outside for trespassing. Judd stumbles outside and tells Taj that he strongly suspects who the killer is and they need to follow him.The black leather-clad killer returns to a place at dawn and enters through a back door and takes off the helmet. It is Eleanor. Millett walks in and she shows Millett the bloody kukri saying: "I did it for us, Vincent, and for our baby." Eleanor tells Millett that she had to kill all the women that he lusted after because she loved him. She talks about an accepted ritual within a society where women are not allowed to defend themselves. When they both hear police sirens outside their house, Eleanor says that the police are coming for her and that Judd may know she committed all the beheading murders. Eleanor goes to the front door and prepares to make a run for it. She says that if the police kill her, they will kill her unborn baby too. Eleanor also tells Millett that she always knew that she would get caught someday, and she is going to make a suicidal attempt to flee. Millett stops a weeping Eleanor from going to the door.Outside, Judd, Taj, and several policemen are outside preparing to move in with guns drawn. Suddenly, a figure wearing the black motorcycle helmet and black leather speeds away from the back of the row house. The cops give chase until it ends with the motorbike hitting a car at a police blockade and the person in black flies off the motorbike and lands on the hood of Taj's car. The helmet is taken off and the cops see Millett. He is dead from either a broken neck or blunt force trauma to his head. Taj declares that Millett is the killer, but Judd does not seem satisfied with the discovery.A few days later at the professor's funeral, Judd shows up and asks the grieving and distraught Eleanor (who's the only one in attendance) if the ceremony is over. She cries and says 'yes'. (It is clearly implied that Judd correctly suspects Eleanor to be the killer after his encounter with the helmeted killer at Helen's house earlier because of the killer's height and slim build after having interacted with both Eleanor and Millett repeatedly). Aware that Eleanor was indeed the killer but with the case closed of Millett being the culprit, Judd seems to accept it and walks away. Eleanor, aware that Judd knows, walks the other way, alone.A little later, Judd is in his office at the police station working as usual. He leaves his office and goes to his car in the garage to drive home when suddenly he is attacked by a black helmeted leather-clad figure hiding in the back seat. It turns out to be Taj just wanting to scare him, and the two cops laugh. | violence, cult, cruelty, murder, sadist | train | imdb | They wonder if there's any connection between the two murders."Night School" is a typical run-of-the-mill early 80's whodunit slasher with a decapitation twist.
The twist ending is pretty predictable and the acting is a bit wooden (Rachel Ward, in her film debut, is all sorts of terrible here) but the film is never boring and has been directed with style.
Night School is an excellent, stylish American giallo with terrific set pieces and great use of Boston locations.Several coeds are being murdered with their severed heads found in submerged in water and the detectives believe a sleazy professor is behind it.
An excellent slasher/whodunnit you might not have heard about.Brutal killings,attractive women.attractive men,big knife,Freudian Symbolism,shower scene and red herrings.Even a surprise ending,although one that is a bit out of place especially compared to the rest of the movie.It's all there.So how come Night School isn't a more popular title?
But does he succeed in jumping from one end of the movie chain to the other without getting a little confused in-between?It's all set in Boston, around Wendell College', a suspicious night school where it seems a sadistic and ruthless butcher is targeting a number of the students for headless (!) assassination.
Lieutenant Judd Austin (Leonard Mann) is put on the case and finds a prime suspect in professor Millet (Drew Snyder), a flirtatious anthropology lecturer who seems to have quite an interest in the young attractive female co-ed's extra curricular activities!
We already know by viewing the first two murders that the killer submerges the decapitated heads of his victims in the nearest pool of water, so we're already expecting him to find a shocking sight somewhere or other!
A killer in a motorcycle helmet is decapitating attractive babes attend a night school class taught by an anthropology professor.It all has to do with some head-hunting rituals from Papua New Guinea.Very enjoyable cop drama/slasher with some elements of giallo.There is a truly sensual shower scene with a a ravishingly beautiful Rachel Ward and three decapitated heads of victims are found in various strange places including an aquarium.The killings are mostly off-screen and there is a bit of sleaze.The melodically creepy piano based score by Brad Fiedel of "Just Before Dawn" is truly effective.If you enjoyed "What Have You Done to Your Daughters" give "Night School" a chance.It truly is one of the slashers that resembles the Italian giallo that inspired the genre in the first place.8 out of 10..
A police lieutenant and his partner (comic relief?) start to investigate the murders."Night School" takes place in Boston.
There are some connection points: 1) Leonard Mann, an Italo-American actor that worked mainly in Italian films, including gialli like "Death Steps in the Dark" and "The Monster of Florence".
Anyway "Night School" is quite engaging, charming and different from the normal fare.3) There are many pretty girls (and some of them will be ruthlessly killed by the decapitator).The highlights in "Night School" are Rachel Ward (her beauty illuminates the screen) and Leonard Mann.
Probably best recognised for being the debut feature for of the ravishing British actress Rachel Ward, but "Night School" deserves a little more credit for that lone reason.
"Night School" has the female students of a Boston night college quite literally losing their heads at the hands of a psychopath in a biker helmet, with an anthropology graduate student (Rachel Ward) caught in the middle of it all.Overlooked and underexposed are two key words that come to mind after seeing this film; it's been bashed by critics and hasn't exactly gotten the love that other slashers of the period have amassed, but I knew I was in for a treat from the film's opening scene.
There is little in the way in of extreme gore (in fact, Hughes sort of teases the audience by rarely giving in and showing us all), but the horrendous sound effects that come with each slashing, paired with the jarring score and killer's POV shots make the scenes unexpectedly disturbing.Off-setting the film's gritty edge is the slightly comedic relationship between the determined lieutenant and his bumbling assistant.
Drew Snyder plays her smarmy professor, and we also have Leonard Mann as the headstrong "Harvard" police officer.Some have said the conclusion to the film is predictable, which I suppose is true, but given the context, this was a fairly original approach for 1981 (albeit a bit of a self-conscious riff on Hitchcock and the Italian giallo).
Besides Alice, Sweet Alice, I can think of only one film that comes even close to capturing the lurid thrills of the Italian giallo movement - that is Night School.
Directed by, of all people, Ken Hughes (of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Night School mixes class with vulgar sleaze to a delicious and fun effect.
Rachel Ward makes her film debut as Eleanor, the troubled girlfriend of a horny college professor whose female students keep turning up decapitated with their severed heads submerged in water.
It does help give it that giallo-flair, but I almost wonder if it wouldn't have been more interesting to have had another female student play detective in an effort to save her classmates and figure out who's behind the leather jumpsuit.Flaws aside, Night School is still way better than most of the slashers of that era and deserves a second look..
Like sadly too often the case with early 80's slasher-movies, this one honestly isn't as bad as the rating & reputation suggest and it obviously all depends on the viewers' prior expectations.
The vast majority of contemporary slasher flicks were blind copies of "Halloween", but "Night School" looks for role models that predate Carpenter's horror milestone by several years, more particularly Alfred Hitchcock (oh yes, yet another shower sequence) and various Italian Giallo movies!
There's a killer on this loose in this beautiful city, completely dressed in black leather and wearing a pitch-dark motorcycle helmet, who brutally decapitates of young co-eds and dumps the chopped off heads in the nearest watery reservoir.
Police inspector Austin quickly discovers a pattern, namely all victims attended night school classes and more particularly the anthropology lectures of professor / playboy Dr. Millett.
In spite of the gooey sounding head-hunter premise and its listing among the infamous Video Nasties, "Night School" is a rather tame and UN-shocking film.
Director Ken Hughes (director of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", of all people) films a handful of effectively suspenseful scenes, the music is atmospheric and even though I seem to be the only one who thinks so the character of Taj (the assistant) was funny!.
The lovely Rachel Ward makes her screen debut and comes off as the films highlight - unfortunately she can't save the lackluster story.
Female students are systematically killed in unimaginative ways (even though the filmmakers believe they're imaginative) by someone who drives a motorcycle and wears a helmet, as to hide the identity of the killer (which I figured out 10 minutes into the movie).NIGHT SCHOOL is not a horror movie but more of a sucky Giallo or a bloody soap opera.
Nothing memorable about it except for the fact that it's totally unmemorable.And Rachel Ward is one bad actress.Not worth watching, even for horror film completists..
Sure, there are young women getting slain one by one, but there's an element of adult sophistication and sexual perversity that one usually only sees in giallo films.The main selling point these days seems to be Rachel Ward who turns in a fairly bland and unremarkable performance.
The modus operandi of the killer here is rather odd, but it works rather well as we follow a biker dressed all in black leathers who enjoys going round decapitating various members of a night school, before dumping their heads in the nearest container of water.
We are introduced to several red herrings along the way, although suspicion often seems to fall on the school's anthropology professor.My only reason for seeing this film is due to the fact that it was included on the DPP Video Nasty list back in the eighties.
The film doesn't feature any big name stars, although Rachel Ward makes a mark and the rest of the support cast aren't too bad considering the material they were working with.
Night School was also the debut of Rachel Ward who led a successful career as an actress after her involvement with this movie.Right off the bat I noticed a glaring mistake in the editing.
As far as the characters go, the masked killer is highly reminiscent of that dopey buffoon that I had the displeasure of viewing in 1985's The Nailgun Massacre (well it's a stretch I guess).Night School's soundtrack was composed by Brad Fiedal – a young and ambitious composer at the time who would later be responsible for working on all 4 installments of the Terminator series.
It never ceases to amaze me how so many professionals get their start doing horror films in one way or another
almost as if it's the proving grounds for talent.I think all-in-all, Ken Hughes had fun making this movie.
Despite hailing from the golden age of American slashers, Night School (AKA Terror Eyes) shares more in common with the Italian giallo genre than your average early 80s U.S. kill-by-numbers flick: the plot revolves around a series of grisly murders that take place in and around a school; in typical giallo fashion, the majority of the action is centred around the investigation of the crimes rather than the actual murders themselves; the killer is clad head to toe in black motorcycle gear and carries a distinctive weapon (a Kukri knife); and like many an Italian murder/mystery, the motive for the slayings is just plain silly.Unfortunately, even though the ingredients seem right for a cool and classy Euro-style thriller, Night School ultimately fails to impress thanks to some dreadful casting, the sheer predictability of the plot (the identity of the killer is obvious from the outset), and director Ken Hughes' habit of 'pulling his punches' just as matters begin to get interesting.
It's hard enough watching Rachel Ward struggle to act and Drew Snyder failing to convince as a lothario professor with the ability to charm his way into his students' knickers, without the added irritation of a potentially sleazy lesbian scene cut tragically short, the film's promising death scenes cutting away just as the killer delivers the fatal blow, and a lack of decent gore—all we see of the decapitated heads is the hair!As disappointing as it is, though, Night School will always remain of interest to horror fans for being one of the DPP's official video nasties (probably thanks to the admittedly vicious moment where the killer repeatedly slashes a terrified woman with his knife, her blood smearing all over the walls as she desperately tries to escape)..
There are plenty of suspects ranging from the lascivious male lecturer at the "women's only" night school, Vincent Millett (played by Drew Snyder) to the Dean of the school, Helene Griffin (played by Annette Miller), who is aware of Millett's extracurricular activities; however, she's more annoyed that he's getting more "bed" action than she is.For the most part, the acting is of a high calibre, though it's Rachel Ward as Elenor who lets the film down.
Although it is now lost in the annals of 1980's slasher movies, Terror Eyes, or Night School, has at least one claim to fame.
And arguably, it shouldn't, as although the film manages to tick off every cliché in the slasher handbook, it delivers a few effectively-staged set- pieces more in common with the giallo genre.The basic premise is that Boston is under attack from a serial killer dressed head-to-toe in black leather, whose identity is permanently disguised by a motorcycle helmet.
Austin spots a similarity to the way the victims heads are being removed and left submerged in water, and so investigates Millet and his relationship to his young assistant Eleanor (Rachel Ward) further.Possibly the most alarming thing about Terror Eyes is not the dodgy effects or lack of plot, but the fact that it was directed by the same guy who gave us Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Ken Hughes.
Soon Lt. Austin (Leonard Mann) is investigating the murder and before long more women from a local school turn up with their head cut off.
Suspect quickly falls on a professor (Drew Snyder) who has had an affair with many women and his current love (Rachel Ward) begins to wonder what's going on.NIGHT SCHOOL is a pretty forgettable slasher that tries to mix that genre with that of a police thriller but it pretty much fails on both levels.
Someone, dressed in black helmet, jacket and pants, is attacking students who attend the anthropology class of Professor Millet, an established womanizer bedding his students under the nose of his girlfriend Eleanor Adjai(Rachel Ward, lovely, but lacking in performance, having trouble with the dialogue under her thick accent).
It's up to Harvard grad lieutenant Judd Austin(Leonard Mann)to find the killer, who leaves little-to-no trace of evidence, except the unorthodox methods of the crime scene.Okay psycho-thriller benefits from Fiedel's terrific score which is, at times, melodic, menacing & piercing.
The film, typical of both giallo thrillers and 80's slashers has a a couple of red herrings, such as a peeping tom who works as a garbage man at the local tavern which yields the murdered waitress and Professor Millet himself(..for he's quite the authority in tribal customs and methods).There's a stab of black comedy at the very end regarding the lieutenant, who is the only one who knows who the true killer is yet can not prove it, and someone behind the seat of his car, which finishes this with a nice, tasteless touch.
They're attending the anthropology class of a professor, Vincent Millett (Drew Snyder), who is apparently some sort of chick magnet.Done in a style that hearkens back to the Italian giallo films that helped to inspire the slasher film, "Night School" may come as something of a disappointment to some fans of the sub genre.
Not only is Night School one of the seventy four 'collectable' video nasties that were unfortunate enough to be banned in the United Kingdom and added to the notorious DPP list, but on top of that, its production boasts some interesting trivia.Director Kenneth Hughes was not just an ambitious non-experienced wet-behind-the-ears beginner like so many of his genre counterparts from the period, but instead he was a film-maker with a long and varied résumé, which included a few high-profile efforts.
Dressed in motorcycle leathers and masked by a tinted crash helmet, the killer is decapitating his victims and then submerging their heads in water, which leads the Police to believe that he is a ritualistic maniac.
Detectives are mystified as to the motives of the deranged assassin and as the bodies pile up they realise that they must move quickly to prevent the terror from striking again.Even though Night School has enough of the necessary trademarks to allow it to be identified as a slasher movie, it plays more like an ultra-violent cop-thriller.
Who knows, watch it if you want to find out...Directed by Ken Hughes I thought Night School was a reasonable horror film that also could probably be classed as much a psychological thriller as straight slasher.
The acting in Night School is pretty good by all involved except Rachel Ward who is simply terrible & just check the scenes out when she tries to be emotional, at times it's embarrassing to watch.
Night School is just an average horror/thriller that is an OK watch but isn't going to make anyones top ten that's for sure.
He or she chases her to a merry-go-round and spins her into being decapitated, her head found the next morning floating in a bucket.Judd Austin (Leonard Mann, star of many Italian productions including The Humanoid) is the cop who wants to solve the case, which takes him to the night classes at Wendall College.
This 1981 horror film stars Leonard Mann, Rachel Ward and Drew Snyder.
SPOILERS AHEAD...From the director of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), comes this less than average slasher film loaded with bad acting from a misused cast, squirm in your seat dialogue and some strangely overlit cinematography.This stalk n' slash' film belong to the killer-on-campus/high school subgenre, such Prom Night, Graduation Day, Final Exam, House on Sorority Row and The Dorm that Dripped Blood.
"Night School" is an entertaining slasher if only slightly flawed.**SPOILERS**Following a series of gruesome murders, police detective Judd Austin, (Leonard Mann) is assigned to search a local school that has a connection with the most recent victim.
Unfortunately this film seems to have been made a few years before she discovered acting, but luckily she went on to much bigger projects such as (Thorn Birds and Sharkey's Machine) but sadly her time in the limelight didn't last and she ended up doing rubbish straight to video projects and TV movies.Night School was released at the height of the Slasher boom, unfortunately it is a bit slow and too much talking and it doesn't show any of the actual killings but it does work in suspense in several scenes throughout the movie..
Someone is killing off the female students who are taking night classes at a local college.Each victim is decapitated and has her head thrown into the nearest body of water for some unknown reason.The detectives working the case discover a connection between the victims and a certain professor at the college, which makes him their prime suspect in the killings.Is the professor really responsible for the murders or is someone else to blame.........Regarded as one of the notorious video nasties here in the U.K. for a number of years, Night School isn't just your average run of the mill stalk n' slasher set in a school, it's actually quite a compelling whodunnit.It's only weak link is the fact that the red herring may as well be wearing a jacket saying 'hey audience!! |
tt0212346 | Miss Congeniality | The film opens at a school where a boy is picking on another. We see Gracie Hart as a child who beats up the bully and tries to help the victim (whom she liked), who instead, criticizes her by saying he disliked her because he did not want a girl to help him. She promptly punches the boy in the nose and sulks in the playground.
We go forward in time to where Gracie Hart (Sandra Bullock) works for the Federal Bureau of Investigation with Eric Matthews (Benjamin Bratt) as a Special Agent. We see her on a mission where she does not follow orders from her superior and tries to stop their target from choking. Because of her actions one of her squad gets shot. She is put on a desk job.
The bureau receives a threat against the 75th annual Miss United States beauty pageant in San Antonio, Texas from notorious domestic terrorist "Citizen". Eric is elected to lead the mission to stop a supposed attack. A computer search identifies Hart as the female FBI agent best qualified to go undercover as a contestant (as Miss New Jersey, the original having quit after she was discovered to have been in a porn film), although she pays little attention to her femininity.
Beauty pageant coach Victor Melling (Michael Caine), whose reputation was ruined after his last contestant criticized his methods, teaches the tomboyish Hart how to dress, walk, and act like a contestant. She is unused to such behavior, however, and sees the pageant and its participants as "outdated and antifeminist". Several suspects exist, including competition director and former pageant winner Kathy Morningside (Candice Bergen); her unpleasant son/assistant Frank Tobin (Steve Monroe); veteran emcee Stan Fields (William Shatner) who, like Morningside, is to be soon replaced by a younger person; and Rhode Island's Cheryl Frasier (Heather Burns), possibly a radical animal rights activist.
Representing New Jersey as "Gracie Lou Freebush", Hart impresses the audience by playing the glass harp and by later demonstrating self-defense techniques during a talent demonstration, when the other girls drink out of the glass harp. She unexpectedly becomes friends with Frasier and the other contestants. When Citizen is caught elsewhere, Hart gives up her badge and gun in order to continue the pageant investigation alone.
Just as Matthews is going to board the plane back to the bureau, he works out that Hart's suspicions were correct. Hart surprises everyone, including herself, by becoming runner-up to Frasier. The agents discover that Morningside and Tobin have been secretly impersonating Citizen due to her old grudge against the contest, and prevent them from murdering Frasier with a bomb in the title tiara. Hart's fellow contestants choose her as Miss Congeniality, and she starts a relationship with Matthews. | dramatic, violence, comedy, cute | train | imdb | null |
tt0100029 | Lionheart | A man is buying drugs from a dealer until his men burn the man alive. The man is rushed to the hospital where his wife and daughter are waiting. As he dying, he yells out Leon, his brother's name. Three weeks later Leon, Lion Heart (LH) is shown working in the desert for the French Foreign Legion, when he get's the letter about his brother. He gets in into an argument with his C.O. over being kept in the dark. When the hot headed C.O. decides to put LH in a "box", LH escapes in a jeep, headed to the ocean. He makes it to a ship and then to N.Y.C., after a short fist fight with a ship worker that got into his way. Since his brother's wife and daughter live in L.A. and he has no money, he enters a paid fight in a ghetto. After he wins easily, Joshua, who runs the fight ring, takes him to a higher class and higher stakes organizer (Cynthia). LH doesn't want to go along with it, but he eventually agrees to fight in L.A., near his family. When he goes to visit his niece and sister in law Helene, he is cast out. Helene is in serious financial disarray, and thinks that LH is also dealing drugs when he offers money. So, LH has Joshua and Cynthia set up a phantom life insurance policy so Helene can get the money without seeing where it came from. With this in place, LH starts to fight with everything he has. Cynthia, meanwhile tries to seduce him into being her boy toy. When he refuses, she starts to work with the 2 agents that are hot on his trail to bring him back and have him tried as a deserter. After beating those two up, he gets away and then a high stakes match is scheduled. This match is with the unbeaten and colossal Attila, and big investors get involved. Cynthia knows that LH is injured and keeps it a secret when she quietly bets it all on Attila. She double crosses everyone believing the LH has no chance. Finally, Joshua and LH break the truth to Helene and she accepts him into the family. He then gets ready for his final fight. The 2 agents are there to seize him at the end of the match. Attila enters the ring and after taking many blows from LH, delivers a few of his own. Soon, Attila finds out about his injured ribs and tries to exploit that. Shortly afterward LH is down and hurting. Joshua comes to him and tries to talk him out of going on. LH won't hear of it, and his fire burns hotter than ever as he charges the bigger Attila. LH swaps blows until he has the upperhand. Then LH lands kick after kick as the the crowd gets behind him and cheers him on. Soon Attila is finished and the badly injured LH is carried away by the 2 agents. Meanwhile, Cynthia has lost and finds herself in trouble. Then the agent take him back to Helene's to say goodbye. After the heartbreaking and emotional episode, LH gets in their car to go back and face his destiny. But the agents seem to have a change of heart and let him go a block later. He runs back to Helene and her daughter to start his new life with them and Joshua. Thank you for reading! blogmonstermike.word press.com | comedy, neo noir, murder, violence, cult, humor, melodrama, tragedy, revenge | train | imdb | This film has a heart, it is an underdog action drama about a men, who goes in to the gladiator fights and uses his martial arts to raise money, for his brother's family.
"When the streets are a jungle...there can only be one king." Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as a soldier drawn in the world of modern day of gladiators fighting for the amusement of the rich in this fast-moving action thriller.
Upon receiving news that his brother in Los Angeles is seriously injured Lyon Gaultier (Van Damme) deserts the French Foreign Legion from a remote outpost in North Africa.
This riveting action-adventure combines the raw power and charisma of Van Damme with the exciting world of no-holds-barred street fighting.That is the main basic plot about this film.
Lyon the character Van Damme played wasn't only a Lionheart, he was also a good hearted human been.
Van Damme is at his best here, it's a good film that moves at a steady pace and is almost like a Rocky/Street Fighter type film.
Van Damme was good, classic 80s series Sledge Hammer star Harrison Page was very good.The Qissi brothers were very good and loved Abdel's character Attila!He is such a great one as I like many things about him!Brian Thompson was good as always Voyo Goric was here and look for Tony Halme AKA Ludvig Borga near the end in the big fight!The movie is never boring and boasts lots of action and great music by John Scott!If you like Van Damme and fighting films then check out Lionheart!.
"Lionheart" - Welcome to the Lion's Den. In the Jean-Claude Van Damme martial arts movie "Lionheart," audiences get to see a side of the Muscles from Brussels not seen in previous action films like "Bloodsport" (1988) and "Kickboxer" (1989): Van Damme acting and fighting like there's no tomorrow.
After his drug-dealing brother is set on fire in Los Angeles, Lyon Gaultier (Van Damme) deserts his post in North Africa with the French Foreign Legion and high-tails it to the United States to reconnect with his brother's wife and five-year-old daughter, with two agents in hot pursuit with orders to bring him back at any cost.
At the center of it, of course, is determined Lyon, who puts aside his own reservations about fighting for the rich and focuses squarely on putting money in his family's pockets.For all its scenes of combat and many, many missteps, "Lionheart" is very easily the best of Van Damme's early martial arts movies simply because it'll give fans of the genre what they want: maximum Van Damage and, boy, does he damage some of his sparring partners and take some damage of his own.
What people want to see here is fighting, although there are some heartfelt scenes between family that could probably warm the hearts of those who care to see such drama.More gladiator combat spectacle than dramatic actioner, "Lionheart" takes us to the Lion's Den and never looks back.8/10.
Lionheart is yet another Van Damme-movie with a lame story and great fight-scenes.
When i saw this film i was just 15 and it touched me how Leon wanted to fight for his brothers wife and kid.The films fight scenes are well staged and when i watched the film again recently i was surprised by how much i enjoyed it.Thats the thing,its a really enjoyable film,you can harp on all day about how Van Damme isn't the worlds best actor,how the sound mix is wobbly and the film looks as though it has been churned out for TV but its a good story well executed and that is the long and short of it.Van Damme has gone on to make many a film in a similar vein but i felt it was on this production that he came off best.The trainer played by Harrison Page helps lift the film too.
This is actually a weakness in many martial arts movies, as I don't care if you're Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan or Steven Seagal...you won't win a battle against a gun!So, I liked the quality of the fights--excellent though I could done with less slo-mo and repetitive scenes (they often would show the SAME punch or kick 3-4 times in a row).
Van Damme is on physical top form with some impressive moves from the many fights featured, the story is good simple action movie stuff, and even though this is clearly a lowish budgeted film it's always watchable and entertaining.
Another childhood movie I grew up watching it as a kid.Lionheart stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Harrison Page, Deborah Rennard, Lisa Pelikan, Ashley Johnson, Brian Thompson, Voyo Goric, Michel Qissi and Abdel Qissi.
It was Written and directed by Sheldon Lettich and co written by Jean-Claude Van Damme.This is a solid decent movie about a real gladiator fights in which are no rules, no judges, no rewards, but real fights real actions only for the money.
Now in America New York and L.A. Lyon is forced to earn money by fighting in modern gladiator fights for money in order to support his family.Fun facts Jean-Claude Van Damme was always late on the setting for the filming the film.
Harrison Page as Joshua Eldrige as Van Damme's mana German did a good Job protect in Lyon like in Rocky Mickey was protect in Rocky from bad buisnes.
"AWOL" or "Lionheart," is slightly reminiscent of the Charles Bronson film "Hard Times." The similarity, is that Van Damme competes in these highly illegal but exceptionally dangerous (aren't they usually?) fights against all comers from all walks of life.
Movie Review: "Lionheart: Leon" (1990)Improving with every role given to him since his hit movie "Bloodsport" (1988), when near-future career-peaks are ahead with "Hard Target" (1993) directed by John Woo, martial-arts-actor Jean-Claude Van Damme, at age 29, arrives as character "Lyon" in the streets of New York, fighting his way to chances to change his unless forfeit life as Military traumatized veteran for the better, when director Shelton Lettich, known for being second unit director for Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather: Part 2" starring Al Pacino and Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" (1982) starring Harrison Ford, directing to the best of his abilities an original-conceived story by actor Jean-Claude Van Damme, who then shares not only in up to three well-paced hand-to-hand combats his physical acting advantages, when nemesis blonde New York upper class woman Cynthia, performed by Los Angeles born-original Deborah Rennard, tightens the imaginary noose around Lyon's neck with suspense dwells throughout the picture of raising stakes with every fight given to Lyon, when this action-movie tends to satisfy with simple gestures of following a profession for living and holding tight to the value by supporting the people closest to one's heart.Copyright 2018 Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC.
Jean-Claude Van Damme plays a guy named Lyon who deserts from the French Foreign Legion to come to America and help his brother's widow and daughter.
The fights were i believe after bloodsport were the most best , van dammes kicks were really awesome ,on the other hand he also played another face of a family man.
It tells the story of Lyon Gaultier, a paratrooper in the French Foreign Legion stationed in Djibouti, East Africa, who after learning that his brother has been hospitalized and is in a serious condition and fighting for his life, escapes from his army outpost in Djibouti and makes his way through the harsh desert.He finds works on a tramp steamer, hauling coal into the ships furnace in an effort to flee to the U.S. He arrives in New York and but needs to travel to California to be with his brother's family.
Figuring that this would be the best way to earn the money he needs to travel, he fights and wins much to the pleasure of Cynthia who immediately tells Joshua to take care of her special man.Leon goes to the hospital where his brother was admitted only to be told that he had died from his injuries.
Jean Claude Van Damme stars in this action tale of a Legionere gone AWOL to sort out his families financial problems (by way of bare knuckle fighting of course).
This is probably J C Van Damme's best film in terms of overall pace and plot although the dialogue and acting are still fairly clunky at times.The action is good although I found the final fight rather disappointing, as the end opponent wasn't really that good and had some ludicrous side burns that just made me laugh (this movie is worth seeing to laugh at this guy alone).
Deborah Rennard is OK as the hard nosed promoter super b**ch who just happens to look fantastic in the tiny skirts she is given to wear (does every fight promoter turn up to meetings in a bikini!?).Overall there's not a lot to say about this movie if you like action films you'll like this, it's not ground breaking but it does what it needs to good action, reasonable plot and Van Damme's best acting performance to date.
The plot is simple, but at least veers more towards the importance of Lyon (Van Damme) raising money to help his sister-in-law and niece, which gives the film a more family feel, rather than the story typically being about him tracking down his brother's killer(s).
Wrong Bet. In australia the movie is called "Wrong Bet" and it is about how Lyon (Van Damme) escapes from the Foreign Legion to come to America to visit his injured brother, who later dies.
when Lyon's brother is killed leaving his wife and young daughter with a string of debts to pay, Lyon (van damme) goes awol from the french forieghn legion and takes part in bare knuckle boxing matches to help his sister inlaw with her money troubles.this is my favorite van damme flick,and it is definateley one of his best.it hasn't got a great story but the excelent fight scenes help to lift the film.van damme's acting isn't bad and at times is excelent.the final fight scene is really uplifting and is a brilliant ending to a great film..
In this case Van Damme plays "leo" a man who goes A.W.O.L from the foreign legion after his brother is killed, so "leo" tries to do right by his brother's widow and niece by getting into street-fighting as a mean to fast cash.
A good performance by Jean-claude Van Damme as a man who is on the run and a lot good fight scenes..
By this time he had a loyal following for what were low budget martial arts films that got a loyal following on VHS and did well in the fledgling satellite movie channels market.Lyon Gaultier (Van Damme) escapes his post in Djibouti with the French Foreign Legion when his brother is set on fire by drug dealers in LA.
His brother's wife rebuffs him and and two agents are pursuing him to drag him back to the Foreign Legion.Once in the USA he stumbles into the underground fight scene which he quickly becomes successful at and soon enlists a street hustler as a manager, Joshua (Harrison Page) who gives him the nickname Lionheart.His success attracts the attention of a fight promoter Cynthia (Deborah Rennard) who gets Lyon for several no holds barred street fights.
However it seems the real action is on the side bets and although he is her champion she is not averse to betting against him.Lyon in the meantime is trying to get money together for his sister in law and his niece for which Joshua is used to inform them that its proceeds from an insurance policy.The film has several good action sequences allowing Van Damme to display some of his signature moves.
Nobody watches Jean-Claude Van Damme movies for their deep characters and inventive plots, but "Lionheart" is literally just "Bloodsport" with a less cool title.
The first ever Ashley, her playing Nicole, aged around 5.Her earliest scene with Lyon, the Belgian Van Damme, who also wrote the story, spoke loudly of her going on to the role of the Annie of 1995.This being for over 18's who like stories with a chunk of hard violence attached, not an obvious carrier for what I read as a girl pic, but it works okay for me.I get the feeling that a lot of the story should have a personal relevance to me, but that is a very individual thing.
I can honestly say that I have only ever watched him on TV and so it was tonight, where "A.W.O.L: Absent Without Leave" was added to the list of poor films from the start of the Nineties.Van Damme plays Leon (or Lyon, depends who's saying it) who is a French soldier in the famous Foreign Legion in northern Africa.
In this one the Muscles from Brussels stars as Leon, a foreign legion deserter who gets mixed up with no holds barred underground fighting at first to make a phone call then to give his sister-in-law some much needed money after her husband, his brother is murdered.If one thinks too hard about the pol of the film, it seems utterly ridiculous.
Jean-Claude Van Damme's most enjoyable movies were Bloodsport and Kickboxer), so in 1991 the two plots were merged and Lionheart was born.(This also owes a lot to Charles Bronson's Hard Times) While Lionheart certainly has some good action sequences, there are just too many family scenes which crowd the air with needless sentiment.
Van Damme wants to find out what happened before the film's credits, help his brother's family and avoid the bad guys from Los Angeles and the Foreign Legion...Van Damme partners up with foul-mouthed Harrison Page (as Joshua Eldridge) and sexy Deborah Rennard (as Cynthia).
When he learns of his brother near death(I won't give away the means - let's just say, this grabs you right from the start), Lyon(Van Damme, playing to his strengths as a silent, imposing physical presence, reserved and driven; he also wrote the story, and it's clearly a personal project) deserts from the French Foreign Legion to make it to LA to help out his family, including his sister-in-law, Helene(Pelikan, determined and dignified).
This is easily Van Damme's best Movie.So much better then the double pump triple twirl kick Movie's like Kickboxer and Bloodsport,though this Movie does contain some of those moves as well.It's a wonder why Van Damme didn't do more of these types of Movies.From start to finish this Movie had the family feel,and I thought Van Damme acted very well,and in my opinion had an excellent supporting cast,mainly Harrison Page,it could be argued that he was the real star of the film and again I must wonder why his career didn't take of after this.A very underrated actor who has somehow flown under the radar of Hollywood.Even if your not a Van Damme fan rent this movie,you will be pleasantly surprised..
His brother was killed, and his wife and Lyons Niece have little money so Lyon has to fight on the street in order to get money to them.Harrison Page is amazing in this movie he and Van Damme have awesome chemistry together.
Van Damme is good in it and one can wonder why Harrison Page isn't a bigger star then he is after his powerful performance !Watch this if you like Drama/action movies..
I Quaid82 think that Lionheart proves to be Van Damme's first real acting job.Van Damme always had a way of mixing his emotion with his action scenes.Most of his most memorable movies are the ones where he not only kicked ass but did a decent acting job.I like this one because of the obvious but also looking back,it had a heart.Sheldon lettich is great for JC, he also directed Van Damme's other hit Double impact and The Order which is, so far his best direct to video release.Sheldon loves to use slow motion and back then it was accepted more in these kind of fight sequences.I Think that the supporting cast was great,Brian Thompson is good and the scene where the bad guy gets of the plane with his cat is too funny.The fight scenes are classic JC and the fact that it took place in the U.S only continued to solidify him as an action ICON..
LIONHEART stars Jean-Claude Van Damme at the top of his game early in his career when he was heating up the box office with his action films.
I found this film to be one of van Dame's best,along with double impact and death warrant,bloodsport,hard target.I actually felt kind of sorry for his character "Lyon".But i found this to contain a lot of action and a decent story.I felt that the end fight with "Atilla" was brilliantly put together.I also found all the actors to be believable.I also felt that van Dame put some acting effort and emotions in to this film.If you are looking for a decent story and plenty of action then check this movie out.I have seen this movie more than 200 times since i was only 10 years old and i was hooked.I first saw kick boxer and never stopped watching JCVD ever since..
This one really works on story a lot of the time, however if you want fantastic fight scenes like you usually do in a Van Damme film, you will get that as well, plus it's very well made and written as well!.The fight choreography is just excellent, and I loved the where all the fights were set!
This is Van Damme's 2nd best, right behind Bloodsport, it's a brilliant martial arts film, with surprisingly excellent performances, and one hell of a final fight, and I say Go see it now!
This is Van Damme's 2nd best, right behind Bloodsport, it's a brilliant martial arts film, with surprisingly excellent performances, and one hell of a final fight, and I say Go see it now!
This is Van Damme's 2nd best, right behind Bloodsport, it's a brilliant martial arts film, with surprisingly excellent performances, and one hell of a final fight, and I say Go see it now! |
tt0097456 | Grave Secrets | GRAVE SECRETS aka SECRET SCREAMS-synopsis [THREE MONTHS AGO] Its night and Zack (Lee Ving) comes out of his house as a car comes careening by driven by Iris Norwood (Renée Soutendijk). Just as another car passes, her father Kurt Norwood (Bob Heron) awakens in the passenger seat and attacks her violently. She screams and struggles to free herself from him. Suddenly an oncoming car almost collides with them, with Iris falling out on the road. Kurt is left to steer the speeding vehicle which crashes into a tree.[TODAY] David Shaw (Paul Le Mat) is sleeping in his office chair. He is very haggard-looking as if he has been through a lot. Darla (Olivia Barash) enters and informs him she has finished her exam. She is obviously interested in the professor, asking him to come to her place. David, seeing the time, exclaims that he is late. He gathers his things and leaves.David is conducting a class on the paranormal and showing slides. One of them pictures Dr. Carl Farnsworth (David Warner), a pioneer in paranormal research who was investigating the ghost of a suicidal bride who jumped Carls body and acted out what happened to her. They learned that she had been brutally raped, murdered and made to look like a suicide. Once her story was told in a séance before witnesses she was able to rest in peace. David calls for the lights, and Iris, who was sitting in on the class, gets up to leave. As the class ends, David goes out into the hall to see Iris walking away. Darla approaches him, giving him an envelope. The letter says that his grant has been not approved due to lack of evidence. Darla sympathizes with him but David takes off.Entering Dean Andrews (Gilbert Lewis) office, David asks why he cant get any funding. Andrews tells him to sit down. David reminds the Dean that he has been teaching for ten years, has a good rapport with his students and has submitted many research papers over the years. Pulling them out of a drawer, Andrews recites the titles of each. All of them focus on one woman, Joanna Shaw, who was Davids wife who died three years earlier. He is told to get over his wife and move on.Back in his office, Iris knocks and enters, telling him she doesnt believe ghosts are innocent. They go to a restaurant for coffee. She shows him a brochure of Homestead House, an old house she is trying to run as a bed and breakfast. She tells him of strange noises at night and loud footsteps outside her door. He asks if anyone else witnessed these. She answers no. He suggests that maybe she is making something up and wants him to prove it so she can get business as a haunted house bed and breakfast. She wants to know why he is so cynical. Telling him it is very difficult for her to ask for his help, she hands him a check made out to him for $5000. He looks it over carefully and agrees, asking for the truth. The first question he asks is: does she know the previous occupants of the house? She says no. Second question: have the attacks been increasing in number and intensity? He notices her hand becoming shaky as she holds the coffee cup. She says yes. Third: how do you feel during the attacks? She says threatened. Her hands become very shaky. Fourth: do you know who the ghost is? At this point she crumples the Styrofoam cup and spills the coffee. He rises and says he will get some napkins. She says no, she will do it herself. Going over to the counter, she looks back and sees David getting napkins from another table. When he returns, she is gone. He looks around to see her going out the door. He goes home, turns on the television and looks at the brochure.The next day David is driving and shaving. He stops at Homers Café and Store. Inside, he finds no one in the store, ringing the service bell. Looking around, he goes through a door into the bar, where Zack is seen throwing darts at a board just a few inches from Davids head. Several other men are seen seated. He tries to ask about the inn, but no one pays him attention. Finally he approaches the bartender Homer (John Crawford) and asks for a bed and breakfast. He is told Homers place has rooms for rent. David insists he wants Homestead House. Homer tells him he doesnt want to stay at that womans house because she is not hospitable. Told he is not looking for hospitality, Homer tells David the woman is about as hospitable as a whore on judgment day.Later David arrives at Homestead House and finds no one home. Entering, he calls out and begins looking around. In one room he finds an open book with the pages fluttering from a draft coming from an open window. Returning to the front hall, he finds a hotel register and looks at some of the guests. He goes upstairs, still calling out. He goes from room to room, finding one that looks lived in. An open window blows a book onto the floor from a messy desk. On the desk he sees newspaper ads circled for psychics and a camisole which he picks up. Suddenly Iris enters and demands to know what he is doing. He stares at her. She tells him to leave.Outside, David starts to leave as Iris digs a hole near the front of the yard. He tries to start over with her, but she tells him to go. He says it is late and he is hungry. He wont be able to drive back to town and wants to stay. She agrees to one night.In his room David calls Darlas answering machine and leaves a message, telling her to research former owners for Homestead House and send it care of Homers Spa. Looking out the window he sees Zack, who is arguing with Iris. She tells him to leave.In the kitchen Iris has been cutting veggies and is cleaning a meat cleaver. David enters and tries to call a truce. She points out the water continues to run. David says he thinks it is the water pump and volunteers to help. She tells him instead to chop some wood outside.As David prepares to split a piece of wood with an ax, he notices the wind blowing suddenly. He continues working.At dinner David complements her on the food as she pours him a glass of wine. She gets up to open another bottle of wine, telling him he is eating deer meat. He shows a slight repulsion. While she is turned away, he pours the wine into a nearby plant. When she returns with the bottle, she refills his glass, setting the bottle down. He picks it up and fills her glass. Holding the bottle, he indicates that he will reach over to the side to do something and turns away. She takes this opportunity to pour the wine into the plant. Seeing that he has already done this, she looks sheepishly at him. He is now looking at her with a knowing look, having done that to see if she would pour out the wine herself.She asks him to play a game and he agrees. Each must bounce a coin on the table, trying to land in an empty glass. If he fails, he must take a drink of beer. He tells her that instead of her drinking beer, she must answer a question truthfully. She bounces a coin into the glass and he asks how she afforded the house. She tells him she saved money from her real estate job in the city. He is unable to bounce the coin into the glass, so he takes a drink.We see the clock advance two hours. Now the glass of beer is half-full and David is slightly tipsy. He manages to bounce the coin into the glass and Iris asks why he is not married. He confesses that his wife committed suicide after having a stillborn child. He tells her he is very tired and wants to go to bed. She helps him to his bed where he is sound asleep. She leaves the room, closing the door.Later David awakes and hears digging. He looks out the window and sees Iris digging in the front yard again in the middle of the night. He lies back down and goes to sleep.The next morning David gets coffee in the kitchen. He adds milk to it from the refrigerator. As he is drinking, he suddenly notices an egg broken on the floor. He opens the fridge to see if it fell out but finds no eggs inside. There are a dozen or so eggs in a basket on the table. As he turns away again, he hears another egg drop. He looks puzzledly at the two broken eggs on the floor. Then his eyes catch sight of an egg being lifted from the basket. Floating in midair, the egg is hurled and breaks on Davids face.Next we see David setting up his computer and equipment in the house to investigate. He takes measurements of the positions of the eggs and charts the information. As he is doing so, Iris enters and stands over him. She tells him she doesnt want to communicate with the spirit. He says we must or it wont leave them alone. Suddenly a cry is heard from outside. They go out front and see an ax thrown which lands in the porch column. He takes Iris inside. From the trees and bushes we see Zack approaching, laughing.Later we see David writing and making notes. We hear his voice telling us what he is writing. Iris looks at him and asks what he is thinking. He wonders what she is doing in this place by herself. She says she is supposed to have guests. He tells her they leave in a day or two. She says she felt safe when she first moved there, before the troubles began. At this point we see a phonograph record floating in the air, which is noticed by David. The record is removed from its sleeve and placed on a turntable and played. Fur Elise by Beethoven plays. Iris looks around and notices the clock says midnight. She tells him the sequence has begun. David activates the cameras to tape from a remote. They observe a book being lifted and carried over to David, who takes it. At this point heavy breathing is heard. David is seen choking, telling her a man is doing it. She rises to help him and a loud scream is heard. Davids throat is released and he says he thinks he is in the mans chair. The book falls to the floor. The house begins to shake and the needle skips on the record. Then the fire goes out and the lights also. Grabbing a flashlight, David hears heavy footsteps on the stairs. They go up and the footsteps stop. Next the flashlight goes dead. David looks into a room but sees nothing. He approaches her on the steps and stands against the wall. She asks what he is doing, and he suggests the spirit might be making contact. He calls to the man, who opens and closes a door and pushes between them, walking away. As David follows downstairs, he observes the front door open and close, as if the man has walked out.David looks at the computer screen to play back what was captured. He shows Iris the figure of a headless man walking downstairs. He asks who it is, but she doesnt remember. She insists on going outside but he prevents her, telling her it is more important to allow him to hypnotize her so she can remember who it is.He hypnotizes her with a swinging watch. When he asks her who the attacker is, she refuses to say, citing too much pain. He tells her to open her eyes and look at the pain. At this point she relives the rape and he is forced to bring her out of the trance.Back at Homers place David asks for an envelope from the mail. He finds Homer going through the contents (deeds and ownership records). Homer finally hands him the envelope and tells him its a small community and they all like to know whats going on with everyone. He tells David the original owners of the house were two spinster sisters who died there. He blames Iris for the troubles that came a year after she moved in. He tells David the man found in the car which crashed into the tree (the same car Zack saw in Iriss driveway ten minutes earlier) could not be identified because the head was missing (which presumably fell into the river). Homer jokingly warns David he could be next. When David asks for a plumbers snake to fix the water pump, he gets no response from Homer. Turning to leave, David is struck in the face by the door, opened by Zack (who utters whoops ).Back at the house Iris is dressing Davids wound in the bathroom when a prescription vial falls out of the medicine chest. He picks it up, noticing it is for Iris from a Dr. Kathleen Thorpe (Ruth Manning). He tells Iris he wants to bring in a trans-medium to contact the spirit. She says no, that she doesnt want anyone to know. Know what? he presses. At this point another high-pitched scream is heard and David goes to examine his equipment. He and Iris observe a glowing light coming from the attic.In the attic, David watches as an antique baby buggy rolls around and a stuffed animal floats in the air. A womans nightgown is lifted and torn in half. David places his hand on the source of the light, which goes out.He is seen going through documents from a box found in the attic. There is a record of a child on one of them. Iris faints and we see the bottle of pills in her hand, now empty.Dr. Thorpe comes out of the examining room at the hospital where David is waiting and tells him they had to pump a dozen diazepam (Valium) from her stomach. Recognizing that she treated Iris before, he asks about the Valium prescribed. Dr. Thorpe says it was after the rape. David says he is from the adoption agency and wants to know the name of the father. She says she doesnt know and isnt surprised that Iris wont tell anyone. David gets on the phone to Darla, asking her to find the records on the child put up for adoption and all the details. Zack is seen coming in with flowers for Iris, but after overhearing the conversation on the pay phone, he disgustedly throws the flowers into the trash and leaves.Zack is seen belly-aching to Homer about the guy moving in on his girl (Iris). Homer advises him to fix the water pump, saying it might give him an advantage with her. Taking the advice, he steps up over the bar and retrieves two six-packs of beer, saying he will head out to Iriss house.Later that afternoon at the house, Iris is stoking wood into the fireplace and hears a car pull up. David is studying the imaging equipment on his computer of the headless man. She calls him and they go outside to see Dr. Carl Farnsworth arriving. David tells her that he was already on his way. He introduces himself to Iris. She tells him he came for nothing and that she is not going anywhere. David explains that Iris is staying at home. David hints that Carl needs to stay overnight since it is so late (winking at Carl, who follows his lead). Reluctantly Iris says he can stay for the night and David shows him to his room.Telling Carl they should begin after Iris is asleep so as not to upset her, Carl asks how long he has been interested in her. Meanwhile a drunken Zack is seen working on an exposed pipe near the house and talking as if to Iris. He looks into the end of the pipe to see if he can find what is blocking it.Carl sits down in an easy chair while David fixes drinks. Iris comes in with a tray of coffee, and seeing Carl sitting there, suggests he not sit there. Suddenly there is a knock on the door. David goes to answer it. It is Darla, who enters. She introduces herself to Iris, saying she is Davids personal assistant, the wild woman behind the man, so to speak. She introduces herself to Carl while Iris demands to know what is going on. Darla says a fourth person is needed for a séance. David tells Iris they were going to wait until after she was asleep. She sarcastically thanks him. Darla produces a large envelope of documents from the adoption agency, telling them she obtained it by pretending to be Iris. Visibly upset and citing confidentiality, Iris demands they all leave. Carl insists they dont need the papers, saying they will find out directly from the spirit.As the séance begins, Carl tells them to not break the concentration no matter what happens. Iris is seen having drunk a glass of wine. Carl reveals a syringe of Thorazine, telling them to give it to him if the spirit wont let him go. He sips from a glass of water and begins the ceremony, calling to the spirit haunting Iris. After a moment unearthly sounds are heard. He asks David to continue. David repeats the call, after which the clock stops and more sounds are heard. From the fireplace the headless ghost appears and walks around the table, finally settling into Carl. Iris demands they stop. Carl, possessed by the spirit, begins writing on a sheet of paper. David tells Darla to read what it says by holding up a mirror. The backwards writing is then seen: Iris . Iris gasps as a voice calls her name. David asks what his name is and is told Kurt and then the last name Norwood . David asks if he is the husband of Iris and he laughs. Iris says no, hes not my husband. Hes nothing to me-disgusting. She addresses the spirit, demanding to know where it is. He replies that she knows because she killed it. David attempts to restrain Iris and the spirit (in Carls body) approaches and hurls David to the side. Darla is called upon to give Carl the shot. She tries but is tossed aside, the syringe falling to the floor. Meanwhile the spirit is choking Iris. David grabs the syringe and gives Carl the shot. He is thrown back again, but this causes the spirit to leave the body of Carl. It walks back into the fireplace and vanishes.David is seen talking to Darla who is in the front seat of an ambulance, asking for extra credit. Paramedics bring out Carl on a stretcher and Iris apologizes to him. He says he never takes it personally. He cautions David to take Iris away but she says she cant leave and runs inside. David asks what to do if he cant get Iris to leave and is told the malevolent spirit will destroy everyone unless he can find the head before Kurt does.Meanwhile Zack, having gotten his hands on the obstruction in the pipe, pulls it out, only to scream as it is revealed to be the missing head.David comes in where Iris is sadly reading documents brought from the adoption agency. He reads from one which states that the child died. Iris says it was not a natural death but that she (stops talking). David replies that she couldnt have killed her own baby. She says that he couldnt know what people would do. Her father came in every night since her mother died and molested her and raped her. She shows him her scars from resisting her fathers advances. He continued to follow her after she left home, finding her more than once. He claimed to have changed and wanted them to be a family again, but there were too many bad memories.Recalling the night the baby was born, Iris is seen in labor. Kurt is seen sitting in his favorite chair, reading his favorite book and listening to his favorite song until the child is born. He comes into the bedroom with the meat cleaver and hacks down by the child. She tells David that in the struggle she rolled over on the baby to protect it but blacked out. When she came to, the baby was gone. She struggled to go outside where her father came up with a shovel, saying he buried it. He told her she had smothered it to death so he didnt have to kill it. She struck him with the shovel and drove with him in the car, going to the sheriffs office. When he came to and began attacking her, she bailed out of the car just before it struck a tree.Zack is seen at his truck but hears a noise and goes to investigate. Meanwhile David tells Iris that the spirit will re-enact the crime as he has every night at midnight. They wait outside the door until the spirit comes out carrying the crying baby. She calls out that the baby is still alive at that point. David shushes her. They follow him down close to Millers Bridge where he is seen burying the baby. She cries out that he buried it alive, but again she is restrained by David. Zack is seen carrying the head wrapped in a cloth.Iris chases after her father and tries to tackle him, but is unable to touch the spirit. David digs at the spot where the child was buried. Meanwhile Zack sees the crashed car and looks inside, seeing no one. As he turns around, the headless spirit is seen. Shocked, Zack drops the head, which immediately begins to re-attach itself to the body. Now appearing as a ghoul, Kurt grabs the head of Zack and twists it off, laughing fiendishly.After digging some more, David shows Iris the body of her son Brian (not shown). Suddenly Kurt appears and attacks David, throwing him aside. He tells Iris that he has come for Brian. She cries no, telling David that he wont stop until he has the remains of the child. Suddenly a light shines from the grave and David and Iris both call upon the innocent spirit of Brian Norwood. A struggle ensues between this light and Kurt, finally resulting in a total explosion of the ghouls body. Iris removes the remains from the grave and wraps them up. David tells her that they will bury him in consecrated ground.Iris is seen laying flowers on the grave of Brian with David. They embrace.That night they are seen in bed together. At midnight, Iris hears something. David tells her that everyone is at peace and that it is just the wind. They lie back to sleep. Iris awakes and takes out a flashlight, looking around. When she looks under the bed, Kurt is seen calling her name. She screams but wakes up from a dream. He reassures her it was just a bad dream. She insists they look under the bed. When they both look, they see nothing. He tells her it is over and they kiss. David looks over at the clock and sees the sequence beginning again at midnight. | paranormal, haunting | train | imdb | Little-Known Paranormal Film.
A woman tormented by ghostly apparitions and a professor of psychic phenomena (Paul LeMat) investigate other-worldly disturbances and unlock the secret of a malevolent force reaching out for vengeance from beyond the grave.Oh, Paul LeMat, how the almost mighty have fallen.
You went from being a star in "American Graffiti" to doing this film and "Puppet Master".
You could have been a contender!
Now, I am not trying to be rude, Paul.
You are a fine actor and have a strong screen presence.
How did you start getting these offers rather than blockbusters?
Why did Harrison Ford get to be Han Solo instead of you?
The story and effects here are not bad, sort of like a toned down "Ghost Busters" (and not nearly as funny).
Except here you sort of have to coax ghosts out rather than capture them.
(In "Ghost Busters" they seem to be eternal and can only be stored.
Here they "cross over" if wrongs have been put right.) I cannot say this is the best film about a haunting.
Not by far.
But it is not bad, either.
Watch this only if you have already seen "Changeling" -- that is a far superior film..
Some genuine scares.
This is an unknown gem of a movie that has some real chills.
Like much of it's genre it shows too much at the end and falls apart while fumbling for an (unsatisfying) explanation of the events.
Overall, definitely recommended over the "Scream" rip-offs or "Exorcist" rip-offs of the late 70s and early 80s.
If it were released today it would probably be a modest box office success.Look for some conceptually innovative supernatural activity!.
A poorly scripted, confusing mess..
There are three writers credited with the script.
None of them seem to know how a normal human being would react in any given situation and the director doesn't seem to care.
At least one of them wanted this to be a comedy.The actors aren't bad ones, but their performances are so forced that it's painful to watch.
Then again, they are playing unrealistic, idiotic characters speaking ridiculous dialogue, so it's difficult to blame them.You'll want to strangle each one of them personally while watching this.
David Warner's part in this is small, so be warned if you're hoping to see a lot of him.
You won't.If it hadn't been for the general premise, the camera work and lighting, the passable effects, and a half-decent score, I would not have kept watching.
I don't know how many times I said, "Oh dumb," and "This doesn't make any sense!"If you make it to the end, you'll be shaking your head in disbelief, wondering how something like this got made, and potentially laughing your ass off at the ridiculousness of it.
I can't recommend this mess to anyone..
Even Large Marge was infinitely scarier than this tedious movie.
Troubled Iris seeks the help of a paranormal psychologist/university professor who himself can't let go of his deceased wife and thus is about to be fired, to investigate hauntings at her cabin.I saw this film on Instant Netflix under the title "Secret Screams", but no matter which moniker the movie goes by it's awful nonetheless.
the acting is sub-par, the little special effects the film uses are hokey even for '80's standards, nothing really happens for a good 2/3rds of the movie and the plot is simply a jumbled mess.
chalk this one up as an exercise in tedium.My Grade: D-.
The Ending Could Have Been Handled Better.
This movie begins with a woman named "Iris Norwood" (Renee Soutendijk) driving a car with an older man sitting beside her and he is apparently in some pain.
He suddenly attacks her and she escapes by leaping out of the fast-moving car just before it crashes into a large tree.
Three months later a college professor by the name of "David Shaw" (Paul Le Mat) is lecturing his students about a paranormal experience with a spirit of the dead when he notices a visitor leaving his class at the very end.
The visitor just happens to be Iris.
Eventually, David and Iris meet and she tells him that the bed & breakfast that she owns is haunted.
What then transpires is a ghost story which starts off slow but builds in intensity until the very end.
Unfortunately, the last 10 minutes or so of the film has too many details thrown in without enough detail for the audience to assimilate.
Now, this movie definitely has some good horror mixed with a little comedy here and there but again the ending could have been handled better.
Slightly below average..
Imagine Requiem for a Dream done by the American Pie people..
Grave Secrets (Secret Screams): 4 out of 10: Decent story about a haunting at a bed and breakfast is let down by a poor script, unfocused direction, and some poor acting choices.The Good: Of all the actors in this I am willing to give Renée Soutendijk a pass.
Considering what she is often given to work with she certainly seems to be trying to put together a character.
She also has a semblance of charisma and screen presence.Though they look funny today the special effects really are not all that bad.
Well okay, they are sometimes that bad but they are fun and cartoonish and good lord at least something is happening onscreen.The Bad: Paul Lemat has the charisma of wet toast in this and David Warner has what amounts to an extended cameo.
Outside of a couple of townies and a perky female assistant, there are really no other characters in this film.
The majority of the film is Renée Soutendijk telling Paul Lemat to leave her house and Paul basically ignoring her wishes in a way that could charitably be described as creepy in this me-too era.
This is not as entertaining as one would think.The story goes down some surprisingly dark paths.
Too bad the script doesn't.
The story is some horrifying content that is beyond dark but the script and the direction treat this as an extended Scooby Doo episode.
Imagine Requiem for a Dream done by the American Pie people.The Ugly: There are some interesting ideas in this film that are simply taken out back and shot.
The film starts with our ghost hunting professor Lemat being visited by possible femme fatale Soutendijk.
Lemat is in his office like Sam Spade with shadows and rain and the like.
It is actually a really good start.
Their next meeting one would expect in a smokey bar or on a foggy dock.
Nope, a mall food court.
It is as if the movie had a good idea and just forgot about it.Speaking of forgotten about the local townie is clearly being set up as a jealous lover, former rapist, jealous of city folk threat to our leads (He throws an axe at them which they blame on the ghost.) He seems destined to have some sort of part to play in the stories resolution.
Nope seems like the movie just forgot about him two-thirds of the way through.In Conclusion: You know the AP style guide says that the modern preferred spelling of axe is ax.
Apparently, axe is both old-fashioned and British.
Am I so old that the language has changed on me?
When did this happen?As for the movie?
Meh. Takes forever to finally get going and when it does the script pulls the stories punches.
Skippable. |
tt1515199 | Fertile Ground | Emily (Leisha Hailey) and Nate Weaver (Gale Harold) are a happily married couple living in New York City. Nate is a recognized artist, Emily a fashion designer and the two are expecting their first child. Emily suffers a terrible miscarriage during a dinner party and she is informed that the scarring left on her womb means that she will never be able to conceive again."Starting Over"To give them both a fresh start, Nate and Emily move out into the countryside to Nate's family home which has been uninhabited for some time. Enchanted by it, Emily agrees to move in with Nate to start her life all over again. Emily decides to re-start her fashion design business while Nate, an artist, decides to start painting again."Moving In"As Emily and Nate settle into their new country house, Emily begins seeing things that may or may not be real such as a handprint that appears on a window pane, and keeps reappearing after she cleans it again and again. A few days later, when Emily is horrified when a skeleton is discovered during an inspection of the house plumbing but it is obvious that the body is very old so no danger can be attached to the house. Nate decides to use the large outdoor shed as a studio while Emily takes one of the old bedrooms as her workshop."New Life"After Emily discovers an old trunk filled with baby things in the cellar she pays a visit to the local Historical Society and is told that the house has a past she and Nate were unaware of. Several suspicious deaths have occurred at the property and a female relative of Nate's vanished without trace when the house was new. Nate grows distant as he starts painting again and he refuses to let Emily see his new work. Tense and isolated, Emily starts to see visions of a woman covered with blood and faints. After seeing the doctor, who thinks she is suffering from trauma, she gets a phone call to tell her that she is actually pregnant."Old Secrets"Ordered to spend the bulk of her pregnancy in bed resting due to the high risk of miscarriage, Emily starts to get bored and frustrated by Nate who is working longer and longer hours and seems uninterested in her or the coming baby. Emily's visions continue and she thinks that she can see the missing aunt of Nate's walking about the property."Strange Happenings"Emily's nightmares and visions become more and more frequent as Nate continues to confine himself to the shed to work on his paintings and Emily becomes more bored and distant. When Nate is around, he is seemingly angry most of the time which concerns Emily. She begins to see Nate as a different person, whom was his great-great gradfather whom lived in the house in the 1870s and was said to have murdered his pregnant wife."The Gathering"Organising a party so she can see her city friends, Emily believes that Nate's female agent is having an affair with her husband. Soon afterwards the agent somehow falls through the window in Emily's studio and is hospitalized. Nate thinks Emily may have pushed her as he saw her in the room after the woman fell and tells Emily's best friend, Brittany, that he is concerned for Emily's health. When the couple receives a call to tell them that the agent has died, Nate storms out."Revelations"Left alone over the next two days, Emily reads through a folder of press cuttings left by a man from the historical society who has been trying to reach her and discovers that all the women who died at the house were killed by their husbands. She has another vision of the dead woman and believes that Nate is coming back to kill her. She calls Brittany who tells her that she will come and pick her up. Terrified, Emily hides in her bedroom with a knife when she hears Nate come back into the house. She tries to stab him with the knife but instead stabs her friend- who had driven back with Nate. She and Nate then fight resulting in Emily killing Nate.At the hospital, a scan reveals that Emily is not pregnant although she believes that she is.... apparently the phone call from the doctor and the visions of the ghosts were indeed all in her head, a symptom of true psychosis triggered by her previous miscarage. The final shot shows Emily in a padded room at the local insane asylum, rocking her imaginary child in her arms. | insanity, horror, murder, haunting | train | imdb | The movie "Fertile Ground" took me by surprise.
I had not heard about it prior to picking it up, so when I found out it was an After Dark horror series movie, I was pleasantly surprised, because they usually put out some nice movies."Fertile Ground" does not deliver any groundbreaking new storyline, everything here has been seen before.
The storyline, shortly summarized, is: Nate and Emily Weaver are living in the city and expecting a child, when they suffer an unfortunate miscarriage.
It turns out that they have an unknown relation to the story of the house, and things start to turn dark and dire...The movie builds up a lot of suspense and there is always something just lurking below the surface, which is good, because it makes you want to see more and know more.
There is also a good amount of thrills and scenes that make you jump in your seat.As for the acting in the movie, well it was mostly people I hadn't seen before, or at least can't remember having seen before.
And the movie is mainly carried by Leisha Hailey (playing Emily Weaver).
The people in the movie all did good jobs with their roles and their acting.Having seen the movie now, and read some reviews here and there, I don't really understand why people shoot this movie down, because I found it to be a good horror movie.
It has all the necessary ingredients to make a good horror movie.
If you like horror movies, then check out "Fertile Ground"..
I must say that Gale Harold gives a really good and interesting performance in this, the other actors are OK, far better then what usually turns up in typical horror films.
One thing I really liked was there are no stupid teenagers or slashers in here, too many horror films feel they need that to sell the viewer but not here.
It is more of a supernatural horror film, not too much blood and guts like most turn out to be, this one has it's scary moments without that and without being stupid or boring.
I would recommend this to any horror fan who likes supernatural/ghost movies..
I'll start by saying, this has all the makings of a decent movie, namely acting and production value.
All these After Dark horror movies are the same.
At least stuff happens in that movie, and I only waste 83 minutes or whatever.
Fertile Ground (2011) Been on my watch list for a while, Couple move to home after the wife losses her baby, then move they move to a new house, Then wife see strange thing start to happen around the house and husband dose not believe.
This movie felt like every other haunted house movie I have seen, I felt that didn't really got ground , this movie didn't not feel scary for one second, the whole movie was bit bland.It could be really boring no real plot in the movie, it could the be really bad script (Half of it didn't even make sense or it could have been the really bad acting from everyone in this movie, i would say all of the above.
I wouldn't say the worst haunted house movie but it as got to be one of the most boring ones i ever seen.
As I said before there isn't that much of horror it's more a ghost story with towards the final part of this flick some cruelty.
I'm always on the search for new horror movies and they generally fail to make me finish the film and feel scared or, more importantly, think "that was a great film".This one is just the same.
I rated FERTILE GROUND as high as I did purely on the outstanding performance of Leisha Hailey.
Aren't they all derived from our own fears and experiences?FERTILE GROUND was just another episodic adventure into the nightmare world of one woman.It's been a long time since I've seen such a good performance; and, I really think Leisha Hailey carried the film.
If you are looking for something very original, check art house, not horror.There is still an unresolved question in the end, if there really was something supernatural in the house or the woman just gone mad because of her stresses, coincidences and imagination.
Just yesterday I've watched another movie with a similar plot - "Deadline", but "Fertile Ground" is better, in my opinion..
After Dark Original- Good Ghost Story Thriller.
While there was no true originality, which is hard tgese days, I think the cast and crew did a good job putting putting together a haunted house / ghost story , depth into madness film.
It's gotta be one of the most boring "horror" movies I've ever seen.
I was assuming after looking at the cover and it's R ( in Australia) rating that there'd be a bit of gore and excitement.I saw all of the After Dark titles on the shelf and assumed they'd be good.
After moving out to a secluded family-owned house in the wilderness, a woman begins to fear that the ghost of an ancestor is looking to be reborn through her unborn baby and tries to save herself before succumbing to a curse that will enable it to happen.An overall decent enough effort, as there's some pretty good stuff here and a couple utterly aggravating ones.
The initial mystery of the house and how it's built up are fairly well-done, with some classic old-school style hauntings of things reappearing or doing something they're not supposed to be doing just off-screen from their viewpoint or the old standard of a figure dashing by in the background, but as well the unraveling mystery of what's going on inside makes for some really good stuff.
That makes the finale pretty interesting with it's action sequences of trying to keep the possessed figure out of the house, but the film ultimately suffers due to the utterly aggravating and totally irritating tactic of trying to force the fact that behavioral change is the main selling point of something horrific or terrifying in the course of the film, and instead of generating fear, it instills anger at him for the treatment inflicted upon her and annoyance at her for putting up with it to begin with.
That also leaves a large segment of the middle of the film totally devoid of action, lowering it's momentum and pacing somewhat, but overall it's still not a bad time at all.Rated R: Graphic Language, Violence, Nudity and a mild sex scene..
the movie is divided into parts, so viewer can predict what's going to happened next.
'FERTILE GROUND': Two Stars (Out of Five) 2011 was not a very good year for 'After Dark Originals'!
This one is directed and co-written (along with Jace Anderson) by Adam Gierasch (the man behind another much better 'After Dark Original' from two years ago: 'AUTOPSY') and revolves around a pregnant woman being haunted by ghosts of the people who passed away in her home years earlier.
It's pretty poorly made on all levels and is pretty much a waste of time for anyone, even if you're a horror film fanatic.
Leisha Hailey stars as Emily Weaver, a happily pregnant woman who suffers a severe miscarriage as the film begins.
She then moves out to a house she inherited in the country, with her husband Nate (Gale Harold), to get away from things.
When Emily (Leisha Hailey) has a miscarriage of her baby, she decides to move to the countryside with her husband Nate Weaver (Gale Harold) to live in an isolated ancient house that had belonged to Nate's family.
Further she learns that pregnant women have been murdered in that house and Nate is possessed by the evil spirit of his ancestor."Fertile Ground" is an unoriginal and mediocre collection of clichés.
In a nutshell: An unshowered boring-as-hell woman walks around the house seeing things.
The entire movie was spoiled by cheapo filming that looked like it was done with an old camera with videotape still in it.
They did show up to film this movie.
You keep expecting something to happen, and nothing ever really does.A couple move into a haunted house.
People die, the end.It's been done a thousand times, and a thousand times better than this.Has a crappy ending, too.Why waste the time, you can find a much better movie to watch.
The trailer made this look good, but you are better off just watching the trailer.
I'm not picky at all about horror movies I watch.
The story itself was derivative, pulled mostly from pregnancy themed horror movies (at least only in the sense that pregnancy is used as a means of giving the heroine something to protect) and otherwise, a large amount was borrowed from The Shining.
****SPOILERS**** It's when fashion designer Emily Weaver, Leisha Halley,suffered a miscarriage with black not red blood gushing out of her what ever it was decided by her husband Nate, Gale Harold, for the two to move out of New York City and to his ancestral home in New Hampshire that's been in the Weaver family since, when buffalo and Indians roamed the countryside, the mid 1700's.
At first everything was honky doorie for the young couple until Emily started to see things in and out of the house that didn't really exist but only in her mind.
It's when Emerly was found to be pregnant by a local what looked like quack doctor that she realized that she didn't have long to live and that it was her loving and caring husband, who had since gone cold towards her , Nate like the previous male members of the Weaver clan who's going to do her in!
All this time Emily has been seeing ghosts of the past roaming around the Weaver house and in one case killing Nate's co-worker Risa, Stephanie Brown,at the art gallery whom she suspected him of having an affair with her by pushing her out of a two story window with her bleeding, black blood, to death before help arrived.***SPOILERS***It's Emily's good friend Brittany, JoNell Kennedy, who knows that she needs help before she ends up killing herself or someone else who tried to come to help her only to get herself stabbed to death by accident by Emily who mistakes her for Nate whom she feels is out to murder her.
We soon find out that Emily is completely psycho and all this, what's going on in her head, is conjured up by her in the aftermath of the miscarriage she suffered at the beginning of the movie.This lead to Emily ending up in a padded room at a local mental asylum for the criminally insane by the time the film ended..
Director, co-writer and even cast member, Adam Gierasch brings us the tale of Emily Weaver, a city girl who, after her miscarriage is whisked by her husband to his family home in rural Iowa.The country idyll and her own recovery begin to pale as she discovers the grizzly past of former occupants whose malevolent spirits haunt the house.
Seen through the eyes of our heroine, she sees her artist husband's agent Risa attempting a romantic intrigue with him, her best friend Brittany conspiring with him and the man himself falling into madness whilst plotting her demise.We are of course given enough clues - depression, stopping medication, hints of paranoia - to work out the truth and to guess the ending which takes an overlong time to appear on the horizon.Whilst there are a few scary and gory moments, there is not enough here even to pad out an hour and a half which means it feels like two hours or more until we reach a quite expected denouement.
The camera work, location shooting and general air of cleverness seem to indicate an attempt to produce a serious horror movie.
A symptom of bad casting, writing, editing (essential parts of his development could have ended up on the cutting room floor) or bad acting.The sound design was good but the dialogue had issues.
Charges of unoriginality and predictability are often leveled against your average B-grade horror pap, but rarely have I seen a film so deserving of these criticisms.Without even a touch of hyperbole, almost every plot turn could easily be predicted beforehand.
The tree planted in the backyard, where she ends up at the end, Nate's paintings, the fates of Nate and her friend, even the bathroom scene near the beginning of the film - all utterly predictable.
I swear, if you simply told the title - "Fertile Ground" - to a horror film buff who hadn't seen it they'd soon be piecing together something very close to the plot after not very long.Positives?
What horror fan wants to pick out 'lighting' as one of a film's few merits?!So, overall, not many positives here.
I "had to" watch it because my girlfriend's nephew was in it.The nephew did all right in his small part.The two main characters were not very likable, so it was difficult to "care" about what happened to them.The bad background music was louder than the dialog in some places; the sound was also echo-y and sometimes hard to understand.After moving - away from the woman's friends so she can get over her depression, which doesn't make any sense - they find an adult human skull in the clogged drain of their new house, which also doesn't make any sense because the pipe was too small.Some medium-sized furry animals I couldn't identify - big squirrels?
- made a couple of appearances for no apparent reason.I guess it was supposed to be about ghosts, but it seemed more like the woman was just getting nutty.
Movie Cobbles Best Haunted House Material.
"Fertile Ground" is basically the Frankenstein of haunted house movies.
Basically everything in the script has been borrowed or taken from other much better ghost movies.
You have the wife who is suffering loss in the form of her stillborn child, the husband who brings her out to the middle of no where "for her health" far from an unidentified rural town, she's left alone a lot for pretty much to let her imagination to run wild and for the ghosts to scare her, and as usual, the husband never believes her stories.
There are some very chilling scenes, several legitimate scares and the actors pull off fine performances, but the drawback is that the movie ends very unsatisfactory.
Maybe that's the point – to create a scary ghost movie that doesn't end on a happy note or a now-what-happens scene.
"Fertile Ground" might be heavily formulaic, but the direction and climax are worth the watch..
Some horror films have little happening on screen while building atmosphere.
And while the acting of the two leads is very strong (Leisha Hailey as Emily and Gale Harold as Nate – Hailey in particular provides a convincing essay on descent into total misery), this kind of story has been told many times before.
It doesn't help that the ghosts are very solid looking, and that the undead William is played by Gale Harold in a wig.In the end, we are undecided whether or not Emily's tragedy is to blame for her own cruel madness or whether the curse of the house has been pre-planned all along..
To write a review about this film is hard, when you don't want to sound like you hated it, when you thought it was okay...
It is not scary, so horror or thriller is overreacting, but if your girlfriend can't take much gore or is easily scared, this film might be the perfect one, before you start with something like the ring or saw.The story has potential, it is a common horror story plot line, with a couple moving to the countryside, but with a bit more background than most of those plot lines.
Here I at first got some hope, that it won't be as boring as most films with these plot lines are...
Yeah, as mentioned, disappointed viewer.When Emily starts to see things, you kinda get a bit creeped and wonder what is the reason, but it soon is boring.
Wasted potential A.Since she found this kinda box, the story gets interesting about the people who lived there before and later on, they find a skeleton in their yard.Nate turns kinda like Jack Nicholson in the Shining and you have this unseen, only mentioned panting on which he is working and you get hinted to many times.
It's repetitive and leaves a feeling of "buying time" so the film won't end after 30mins (which would have improved it to at least 6.5 starts in my opinion...).At their housewarming party Emily gets again one of those "psychomoments" and the first really mysterious thing happens.
You get the long, boring, every-move is predictable ending, which is a classical horror film ending.
In the ending I see wasted potential D.The final scenes of the film are not needed if you didn't fall asleep during the final, but just in case you did, it will kinda explain it to you.Making a good horror film is hard, yes.
But when you got such a good idea, decent actors and wasted potential don't make a film needlessly longer so you can get it to be a long-running film.
Most porn films take more time.Any time a horror film ends with the main character alone in a loony-bin cell, looking lost and confused, you know you've just seen a forgettable movie.
I watched this film a second time after seeing the ending and it completely confirmed my feelings toward the character of Nate.
Like I said, the direction was lost in trying to make this film something that it wasn't, I felt that the writers, producers, and director tried to sell a lemon as an orange.
Basically, the film was ruined for me by the direction, the writing, and the character of Emily Weaver. |
tt2592614 | Resident Evil: The Final Chapter | The film opens with Alice (Milla Jovovich) explaining the origin of the T-virus. Dr. James Marcus (Mark Simpson) wanted to create a cure for his daughter Alicia (Ever Anderson), who was suffering from progeria. Marcus created a cure within the Umbrella Corporation, but soon, he would be betrayed by his colleague Dr. Alexander Isaacs (Iain Glen) after Marcus wanted to shut down the program after seeing the devastating effects of the virus. Isaacs has Albert Wesker (Shawn Roberts), the CEO of Umbrella, suffocate Marcus to death, and Isaacs would later become Alicia's guardian and hold her share of the company. Isaacs created the Red Queen in Alicia's likeness and let the T-virus break out in Raccoon City, and within months, the entire planet would be infected over the next 10 years.Alice is wandering around a rundown city by herself. She finds a pond of water and begins drinking before she is attacked by an infected mutant. Alice kills it and then finds a car. A flying monster swoops down and tries to kill Alice but she gets the car started and drives away. The monster chases after Alice. She gets ahead of it and rides off a ramp to slam into it against a wall. It's still alive, but Alice finds a bomb in the back of the car. She detonates it and blows the monster up.Alice enters a building and is met by the Red Queen. She knows that Wesker betrayed Alice and the other survivors in Washington. The Red Queen tells Alice that there is an airborne antivirus located within The Hive of the Umbrella Corporation, and she has 48 hours to get there and unleash it, or else Umbrella will launch one last strike against the survivors. When Alice questions why the Red Queen would help her, she points out a mutant behind Alice. Alice kills it.Alice makes her way toward the ruins of Raccoon City but is ensnared in a trap laid out by Umbrella mercenaries. They start to attack Alice, but she gets the upper hand and starts kicking their asses and shooting them dead. She tries to take one of their motorcycles, but it only works for Umbrella operatives, so it electrocutes her and knocks her out.Alice wakes up inside a convoy with with other survivors who have been captured. She is greeted by Isaacs. Alice at first questions how he's still alive after she killed him (in "Extinction") but she realizes she killed one of his clones. Isaacs has Alice's hands tied to the back of the convoy, so she has to run as thousands of the undead are chasing her. She hops back onto the convoy and starts fighting Isaacs' henchmen. Isaacs steps out to take on Alice himself. She chops off his hand so she can take control of the motorcycle and escape.Alice arrives in the ruins of Raccoon City and sees that The Hive is on the other side of a massive crater in the ground. She heads on over and is hit by a trap set up by some survivors. She is taken in by Doc (Eoin Macken), Razor (Fraser James), Christian (William Levy), and Cobalt (Rola). They try to hold Alice captive until Claire Redfield (Ali Larter) steps out and sees Alice.Doc treats Alice, and she learns that he and Claire have formed a relationship. Alice explains her intentions and plan to storm The Hive in order to get the cure.Meanwhile, Isaacs leads the Umbrella military convoy toward Raccoon City with the undead following closely. The survivors gear up for the impending attack. Alice meets Abigail (Ruby Rose), a mechanic that built most of the machinery in the hideout. With her help, the survivors construct traps as the undead start closing in. The survivors launch flaming barrels into the undead crowd, along with sending huge chunks of debris down on them. A female survivor starts running toward the hideout. The group tries to protect her, but Isaacs has her shot dead before she can reach the gate.The survivors start making their way toward The Hive. Cobalt gets killed and eaten by the undead. Alice fights one of Isaacs' henchman, Chu (Joon-Gi Lee). He nearly overpowers her until Alice shoots him. They tie Chu to the back of the convoy, but he's not as fast as Alice and he becomes zombie food.Isaacs orders Wesker (who's operating from Umbrella's main building alongside the Red Queen) to send out the Cerberus dogs to attack the survivors. Christian is mauled by one of the dogs, and the rest of the group escapes by jumping into the river.The team heads inside The Hive and are confronted by a now undead Christian. He chases the team into the building as the walls start closing in. Alice fights Christian and gets out before the walls close on him. As they advance further, they encounter a computer with the Red Queen speaking to them. When asked why she is helping them, the Red Queen shows the group a video file of a board meeting in Umbrella with Isaacs deciding that they must go ahead and willingly kickstart the apocalypse and weed out the strongest survivors among them. The Red Queen considers it as going against what she was programmed to do. She tells Alice to take an earpiece so that she may inform her that there is an Umbrella informant among them.The team must go through a rotating fan. Wesker has it go in reverse, causing the fan to suck the air in the opposite direction and pull the team toward it. Alice grabs Abigail before she gets pulled in, but Abigail loses her grip on the bag she's holding onto, and she gets shredded by the fan.The team gets closer to their destination. They crawl through some vents which lead to some members falling through trap doors. Alice and Razor fall into a room where Razor gets killed by a mutant beast. Alice shoots it multiple times, but it doesn't die. Alice battles the beast and eventually kills it.Alice, Claire, and Doc make it to the top floor of the facility to encounter the original Isaacs (the one from before was another clone). Alice considers her options in killing him with an ice pick, decanter, and glass at her disposal, but Isaacs has a protective software in his lens that allows him to anticipate a possible attack. He holds the antivirus and threatens to drop it unless Alice drops her gun. Doc doesn't drop his, and Alice figures he was the informant. Isaacs then reveals to Alice that she was always a clone of Alicia Marcus. With this revelation, the antivirus would kill her since it would destroy anything infected by the T-virus. The original Alicia (also Milla Jovovich) is an old woman in a wheelchair who missed out on life due to her illness. She blames herself for the outbreak because she felt she was too weak. Wesker appears and holds Claire at gunpoint. Since the Red Queen cannot harm an Umbrella employee, Alicia fires Wesker, allowing the system to slam a door down and sever Wesker's foot. Isaacs gets away and Alice leaves Doc to Claire. She shoots him in the head for his deception. Alice leaves Wesker with a detonator in his hand for when he is ready to die.Alice and Claire go after Isaacs. They fight him as he ascends on a platform. Alice follows him into the laser grid. Isaacs holds her hand and has her fingers severed, but Alice took the opportunity to pull a pin from a grenade in Isaacs' pocket. It blows up on his side. Alice takes the antivirus from his pocket and kicks him down.Alice goes outside to drop the antivirus as time is about to run out. She drops it but Isaacs catches it. Just then, the Isaacs clone arrives with the undead army. He sees the original Isaacs and is in disbelief that he is not the original himself. Clone Isaacs stabs Original Isaacs to death before the undead tear into the clone. Alice drops the antivirus before the undead catch up to her. Within seconds, every single one of them drops dead for good. Wesker takes his thumb off the detonator, causing the facility to blow up and kill him and Alicia. Alice then collapses.Alice wakes up to Claire telling her she succeeded. Alice wonders how she is still alive. A projection of the Red Queen tells Alice that the antivirus destroyed the T-virus cells in her body, but her healthy cells kept her alive. Alice asks why the Red Queen didn't tell her this before, and she states that she needed to know that Alice would be willing to sacrifice herself for the rest of humanity. She shows Alice that before Alicia died, she uploaded her memories to give to Alice so that Alice may remember the life Alicia used to have now that she is the woman Alicia could never be.In the final scene, Alice rides away on her motorcycle alone. Her voice-over states that it could take years for the antivirus to completely spread across the globe, and that her work is not done. She is pursued by three winged monsters flying overhead. Alice simply grins and keeps on riding. | flashback | train | imdb | Leaving aside all the ridiculous plot points and lazy screen writing, the editing of this movie is going to become legendary for it's awfulness.I've never seen a full budgeted movie get hacked up so poorly that the expensive action scenes are pretty much butchered to the max.
Aside the nonsense plot, the total lack of logic and the poor script that I could expect from a full action-based movie, there is this filming style where the camera flies, rebound, shakes, zoom in and out (so close that I can see the skin cells of alice and suddenly from 50 feets in the air) that makes the action scenes impossible to follow, and the actions scenes are like the 99% of the movie so the movie is unwatchable.
The acting is not bad.If a movie director is reading this please consider stop making that thing with the cameras, the action can be exciting even with a fixed plane, if you don't believe me play the first 3 resident evil games ;).
Every scene in this movie, right from the start, is shot with shaky camera and fast cuts.I don't know who thought that this approach would make The Final chapter a better movie, because it made it the worst, and hopefully the last under the supervision of Paul Anderson.
Alice has only 48 hours to find and release the antidote before the rest of humanity is wiped out by the Umbrella Corporation, whose plan is to repopulate the earth with the rich and the powerful, who are stored in cryogenic suspension in The Hive.I've always been a staunch supporter of the Resident Evil films, finding them to be fun slices of slick action-packed horror, but that support ends with The Final Chapter.
Once again directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, this supposed last instalment is an absolute mess, any potential for enjoyment hindered by an extremely slight plot, even by RE standards, and some of the worst direction and editing I have ever experienced.As far as content goes, the film is business as usual, with big monsters, hordes of zombies, evil corporate types running the show, and Milla being bad-ass, but with the camera shaking all over the place and the majority of shots lasting for a fraction of a second, the action is virtually impossible to follow, making the film more likely to result in a headache than a thrill rush.
And as if the wobbly cam/ADHD approach wasn't bad enough, much of film takes place in poorly lit locations, making it even harder to keep track of what is happening.Despite being called The Final Chapter, the end of the film inevitably leaves things open for further adventures for Alice.
it is terrible no logic,story makes no f*****g sense and the best of all the flippin epilepsy attack in every action scene i almost got a heart attack for god's sake you can't see s**t because it goes by so fast that i had to put it to slow motion sometimes to actually find out what the hell is going on.
As a big fan of the Resident Evil films, I was looking forward to seeing this even though the series has slowly been going down hill for the last few movies.Some good action here and there but I felt like the film never really gets going.
I haven't seen the rest of the installments in this series, and I likely never will, but the ending of this latest entry frustrates, leaving the door wide open for a continuation despite the affirmation of the film's subtitle that this is indeed, the final chapter.
Anderson finds himself unable to provide an ending with something substantial and weighty, choosing instead to succumb to triviality.Perhaps my experience of watching Resident Evil: The Final Chapter can best be described as nauseating.
And while some might point that the portrayal of the Umbrella Corporation can be seen as Anderson exhibiting an anti- capitalist stance, he adds nothing to the argument, seemingly content to regurgitate an idea that has grown stale over the course of six films.Now, I'm not saying that action films such as Resident Evil: The Final Chapter cannot and should not be enjoyed.
Pretty relentless from start to finish, The Final Chapter is such an entertaining watch, hopping from action scene to action scene at a rapid pace, and very rarely letting up with too much planning, dialogue and character development that the series' weakest entries tried to pull off.Of course, the heavy emphasis on mad, and at times utterly preposterous action (Alice's ability to survive everything is way beyond Die Hard levels), means that it's not a particularly intriguing or memorable watch, and director Paul W.S. Anderson's insistence on dizzying quick cuts and shaky cam is frustrating to see.
However, this movie knows you want Milla Jovovich doing backflips and killing zombies, and it thankfully provides that in bucketloads, making for a properly entertaining and fast-paced action movie.One of the more surprising elements of The Final Chapter, however, is the last-ditch twists within the series' overall story arc.
Still, as the film goes on, we begin to learn more and more about the true reason that the world was plunged into chaos, as well as a whole host of other hugely entertaining, albeit ridiculous, twists that actually give this film some genuine stakes.I'm not going to say I was engrossed by the story, because it's incredibly thin, and wouldn't stand up at all if it weren't for all the action going on around it, but I will say that this does have some of the best ideas and plot twists since the first two movies, yet another reason why this might just be my favourite of the whole franchise.And at the end of a six movie streak, you'd expect lead actress Milla Jovovich to be phoning it in with a bored and generic performance, but that's not the case.
Her character has never been the most fascinating, but you can't deny that Jovovich really goes for it in this final outing, reaffirming how good an action hero she can be.Whilst the same isn't necessarily true of many of her co-stars, most of whom are just another set of expendable extras, the rivalry that we see reignite between Jovovich's Alice and Iain Glen's Dr. Isaacs for one last time is pretty entertaining, all building towards a hugely fun finale that marks itself as some of the best action of the series.Overall, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is all you want from this series.
they aren't dead but they weren't part of this final chapter as always with action and Milla Jovovich is Always part of it kicking ass, and always surviving Impossible in every situation but everyone really expects to have a final showdown in white house from Resident Evil Retribution ending i wanted that to happen but showdown and final thing is in same place, where it takes to end showdown from First (2002) Resident evil laser defense system room where another Umbrella Corporation has been killed form first film, that's where it takes place and going back to Raccoon City where it got destroyed and Nuked from Resident Evil: Apocalypse.Plot Dr. James Marcus, the original founder of the Umbrella Corporation, had a daughter the Red Queen (Ever Gabo Anderson) who was dying of premature aging.
I Never Wanted to Spoil the movieI liked the movie there is some plot holes aside, it was a thrilling and intense wrap up great worth seeing movie in a final chapter the game haters must be happy but for another people is different their never played games before, another people that includes me can't compare with all another games of Resident evil game franchise.
Its sad that it was the final chapter but it was worth every penny of what i spent to see it at the IMAX ($40) highly recommend this movie to any true fan of resident evil.
It went into further detail and back-story than previous movies, and overall did a good job at ending the series (on a good note).I can sit here and praise this movie all day, but several things would result: i'd bore you, i'd probably end up spoiling it, and then you probably wouldn't want to see it after all; so i'll leave you with this...FINAL VERDICT: This is hands-down the BEST Resident Evil movie (and I thought nothing would top RE: Extinction)!
The intro is solid and explains what is happening (even if you didn't see the previous films) and makes a good set-up, but once the real movie starts a lot of things go wrong.
There is not a scene that last for more than 3 seconds and doesn't change angles at lest 2 times and for me it was just too much and i don't know how a movie with such bad editing can come out like this....
Combine all these elements together I had to wait till the next scene when a character died to find out who it was and didn't even care in the end which is a massive failure on the films part.An awful movie and worst in the series.
If you want a film with action and gore and not much of a story then go ahead I've seen all the resident evil movies and tbh they're all pretty much the same but I must admit I did enjoy it.
I'm a big fan of the Resident Evil's films, so I decided to see this movie but I was with low expectations because I didn't like the trailers and the idea of kill almost all the characters of the previous installments.Resident Evil: The Final Chapter opens with Alice telling what happened in the last films and then we see a good action scene between the main character and a monster, in the ending of that scene, the red queen shows how to save the world.Finally, we can see a perfect mix between action and horror, there are a LOT of good and thrilling action scenes, a lot of jump scares and some violence.
There are some plot holes; The editing could be better; The lack of some characters;Final opinion: This new Resident Evil film is one of the best movies based in video games, but has some defects as the editing, some plot holes and the lack of characters such as Chris Redfield, Leon S.
It's strange, both franchises were not the best cinema had to offer, but I'm going to miss the mindless action sci-fi horror adventure with a kick ass female lead that is both film series.But I'm going to miss Resident Evil more.
Resident Evil was clearly the more action packed film out of the both of them and Milla Jovovich was so much more intoxicating as butt whipping Alice (Sorry Kate Benkensale).The final chapter starts out with a montage that clears up a few things you may not have realized about the series with the full origin of the T-virus and the Red Queen.Then, like in the first film (Which this film references a lot along with bits and pieces from the other films), Alice wakes up alone in a deserted place, but it only takes a minute for the action to start this time around.
"The Final Chapter" of the Resident Evil series is here and its insane collection of action sequences make for some great cinematic fun.
The Resident Evil film series has finally ended, and for many that's a good thing.
Back in 2002 when the first resident evil came out I was amazed on how much action and zombies and death was in it since it was the first zombie i had ever seen it was my ultimate fave,but then the second one came out resident evil Apocalypse I had a chance to see this movie in theaters and to my amazement it was 100% better then the first knocked it right out of the park more action way more killing zombies explosions and Alis was was much more of a bad assbut then as the next few years went by and the last movies came out i thought the series had just given up the third movie was dull nothing really happened and all the great cast of the second movie just vanished leaving us in a desert and for some reason gave Alis super powers In the 4th movie it felt as if i was watching terminator 3 they brought back some characters that were from the first film but they really didn't do much except for Michelle Rodriguez story was OK not great acting was meh and it had no surprisebut then a few months back i saw a trailer for the fifth and final movie not sure what to think or if i should even give it a try, so I waited a few weeks,and now that I had a chance to see it I have to say it is the best one of them all, it tells more of a story has so much action great affects and ends it the series on a great high note also it shows you things that the first 4 movies didn't explain oh and it did not have the video game feeling in it which i loved so much about itif you like crazy action a great twist and story i recommend this to you.
for me i wanted to be more sequels, but anyway this ended pretty good i never played the games, i have but not as many of them first time i heard of Resident evil (2002)i have watched movie i never knew about games after i played games so i became fan of movie franchise it's still great, fun worth watching franchise to watch still i am only saying for my own opinion but i like franchise now in this final chapter it's fun as always story still continues brings back everything from previous films of Resident evil but you can't prove that Jill, Leon Wong, Bucky died because they weren't part of this movie, but they say they died but how ??
for me i wanted to be more sequels, but anyway this ended pretty good i never played the games, i have but not as many of them first time i heard of Resident evil (2002)i have watched movie i never knew about games after i played games so i became fan of movie franchise it's still great, fun worth watching franchise to watch still i am only saying for my own opinion but i like franchise now in this final chapter it's fun as always story still continues brings back everything from previous films of Resident evil but you can't prove that Jill, Leon Wong, Bucky died because they weren't part of this movie, but they say they died but how ??
how is it still their there is gonna be a lot of questions for that i thought it's Apocalypse end of world all that end of Raccoon city but anyway she goes back to city she had to trust Red Queen she request Alice to get T-virus because over Red Queen wanted Revenge.it's so good that they bought back Claire Redfield (Ali Larter)from Resident Evil Extinction, Resident Evil Afterlife and K-Mart who was in these Another 2 Previous movies is not even mention in movie again there is no proof that she is dead or not but anyway she is not part of movie franchise anymore and Chris Redfield is not Mention in movie too so the character is only thing is back is Claire Redfield that's all you have another characters (Ruby Rose) Abigail she was a chop shop worker, Eoin Macken, William Levy, Rola are new characters but there weren't noting special characters you have a lot of great action scenes a lot of fun action when Alice escape's from Motorbike BMW Motorrad a lot of fight scenes and she kills a lot of Zombies a lot of Creatures and action was so fun, Claire is still kicking ass in movie as always with Alice teams up as usually when group went underground where Raccoon city is been destroyed they go underground in tunnels where Alice has to find the real Isaacs cool staff some cool traps, cool fight scenes Wesker doesn't do much in movie.
how is it still their there is gonna be a lot of questions for that i thought it's Apocalypse end of world all that end of Raccoon city but anyway she goes back to city she had to trust Red Queen she request Alice to get T-virus because over Red Queen wanted Revenge.it's so good that they bought back Claire Redfield (Ali Larter)from Resident Evil Extinction, Resident Evil Afterlife and K-Mart who was in these Another 2 Previous movies is not even mention in movie again there is no proof that she is dead or not but anyway she is not part of movie franchise anymore and Chris Redfield is not Mention in movie too so the character is only thing is back is Claire Redfield that's all you have another characters (Ruby Rose) Abigail she was a chop shop worker, Eoin Macken, William Levy, Rola are new characters but there weren't noting special characters you have a lot of great action scenes a lot of fun action when Alice escape's from Motorbike BMW Motorrad a lot of fight scenes and she kills a lot of Zombies a lot of Creatures and action was so fun, Claire is still kicking ass in movie as always with Alice teams up as usually when group went underground where Raccoon city is been destroyed they go underground in tunnels where Alice has to find the real Isaacs cool staff some cool traps, cool fight scenes Wesker doesn't do much in movie.
While the action scene editing was a pain to watch I still found the story surprisingly good and perhaps the most meaningful out of the films in the series.. |
tt0069089 | Pink Flamingos | The film opens on a view of a pink trailer that seems to be located in a clearing near a rural wooded area. A voiceover narrator identifying himself as Mr. J (John Waters) discusses the current status of "notorious beauty" Divine (Divine), who has gotten tabloid attention due to her criminal career. The tabloids have given
Divine the title of "Filthiest Person Alive", and the coverage has forced her to disguise herself. She has adopted the alias of Babs Johnson and retreated to this rural trailer just outside Baltimore. She lives there with her son, Crackers (Danny Mills), and a young woman named Cotton (Mary Vivian Pearce), whom Mr. J identifies as Divine's "traveling companion". Also living in the trailer is Edie (Edith Massey), Divine's obese, senile mother.Inside the trailer, Edie has awakened and calls out to Babs; Edie sleeps in a playpen in the living room, wearing nothing but a bra, girdle and underpants. Edie demands that Babs bring her eggs, and we come to
understand that Edie is obsessed with eggs. When Babs doesn't respond soon enough, Edie tries to get Cotton to bring her eggs. Babs appears first, wearing a garish outfit. Her hair is an unnatural bright yellow
color, with an unusually high hairline and a fall attached.Babs and Edie have a brief discussion, with Babs being very patient and accomodating of her obviously feeble-minded mother. Edie calls the trailer a "train", and worries about when the Egg Man (Paul Swift) is going to stop by. Babs assures her that they still have eggs that she can prepare for her.Mr. J then discusses Connie (Mink Stole) and Raymond Marble (David Lochary), whom he calls "two jealous perverts" who are insanely jealous of Divine's fame. Connie is a strange looking woman with hair dyed bright red. We meet her as she is conducting a strange job interview in her home. She tells a young woman named Sandy Sandstone (Nancy Crystal) that she cannot offer her employment because she does not know
enough about Divine; apparently, the Marbles intend to spy on Divine and learn details about her lifestyle. Connie is a snobbish woman who belittles Sandy and infuriates her until she storms out in a rage. The film cuts back and forth between Divine's family and the Marbles, as they progress on a collision course with one another.Divine and Crackers go into town to run errands in Divine's Coup De Ville. Along the way, they deliberately run a jogger (Steve Waters) off the road and pretend to pick up a soldier (Elia Katz) hitch-hiking home, pulling away at the last minute before he can get in the vehicle, much to the amusement of Divine.Connie then meets with a lesbian couple (one of them Pat Lefaiver) who have come to her to adopt a baby. While Connie is talking to them, she sends her servant, Channing (Channing Wilroy) into the basement. There are two young women imprisoned down there, one dead (Marina Melin) and one alive and enraged. The dead woman has just given birth and Channing takes the baby upstairs so Connie can sell it to the lesbian couple. Before he leaves, the surviving girl, Susie (Susan Walsh), verbally berates Channing and curses him for his role in her kidnapping. She, too, is pregnant, and Channing is the father. Channing impregnates the women and gets rid of the bodies when they die in childbirth.After she parks the car, Crackers goes off on his own to make a date he has with a young woman. In a small grocery store, Divine shoplifts a steak from the butcher counter by discarding the wrapping paper and concealing the meat under her dress between her legs. She strolls through downtown Baltimore and turns the heads of passersby, then walks through a suburban neighborhood and urinates on the front lawn of a large stately home.We then see Raymond Marble, whose long hair is dyed bright blue. Raymond has a fetish for indecent
exposure; he lurks outside of an office building and follows two young women as they walk to a park to eat
their lunch. Raymond sneaks up behind them while wearing a bizarre mask, then opens his long coat to
reveal his penis hanging outside his pants with a long piece of sausage attached to it. The girls run off screaming and he takes the purses they have left behind.Later, Raymond and Connie welcome Cookie (Cookie Mueller) to their home. Cookie is a young woman who tells the Marbles that she can get them information about Divine because she is Crackers's date for the afternoon. The Marbles reveal their scheme: learn about Divine's private life and find the best way to disgrace her, while simultaneously seizing her title as "The Filthiest Person Alive". The Marbles tell Cookie about their baby ring, and they reveal that they also own several pornography shops and front money to heroin pushers in elementary schools. They feel that this is much filthier than Divine, and are resentful of the attention she has gotten.Cookie and Crackers go back to the trailer, where Cookie has a private conversation with Edie. Edie reveals that it is Babs's birthday and a party is planned. She also tells Cookie a few things about their home life. Meanwhile, Crackers excitedly talks to Cotton about his date, and tells her he has something special planned. Cotton is a voyeur who likes to watch Crackers in sex acts with women, and insists that Crackers never touch her personally.After introducing her to Cotton, Crackers takes Cookie to the little shed behind the trailer that he uses as
a private bedroom. Inside, Crackers and Cookie are naked on the dirty cot, and Crackers shoves two live
chickens at Cookie's nude body while she screams in horror. The chickens claw large scratches on her body, and in the process become crushed and killed between the bodies of Crackers and Cookie. Crackers slits the throat of one chicken and the blood gets all over the two of them. Cotton watches all of this from the window of the shed, shuddering in ecstasy.Immediately afterwards, the Egg Man pays a visit to the trailer, calling out as he arrives. Edie hears him and becomes excited, screaming out for him as if she's afraid he will not stop otherwise. Cotton arrives and invites the Egg Man to Babs's birthday party, then she buys all of the Egg Man's eggs for Edie.Back at the Marbles, Raymond and Connie are making love by sucking each others toes, and we can see that their pubic hair is dyed to match the bright blue and red color of their hair. A phone call from Cookie interrupts them and she gives them the information she has collected about Divine's living arrangement and her birthday party. "You have no idea what I had to go through to get that information!" she tells them. The Marbles are thrilled that they know personal details about Divine, and they send her a surprise package in the mail--the address simply reads "Babs Johnson, A Trailer, Phoenix, Maryland".At the trailer, Divine prepares the steak she shoplifted and feeds it to her family. A postman (Bob Skidmore) interrupts their dinner, and Divine confronts him angrily, furious that someone has dared to approach the trailer. When he runs off, she unwraps the package to discover human excrement inside. A birthday card announces that Divine is no longer The Filthiest Person Alive. Divine flies into a rage, swearing vengeance for the obscene gesture.Connie and Raymond kidnap Linda (Linda Olgeirson), another young woman, after picking her up while hitch-hiking. They drug her and have Channing place her in the basement, where Susie begins to rant at him again. Channing, who is disgusted that part of his job is to have sex with unconscious women and get them
pregnant, has devised a new method: he masturbates into his hand and uses a syringe to inject the semen into Linda's vagina.Things progress. The Egg Man proposes marriage to Edie and she accepts, and he promises to take her to a large poultry factory for their honeymoon. The birthday party goes ahead as planned, with scores of guests indulging in all sorts of decadent behavior. Raymond and Connie, aware of the party, sneak up into the woods and watch from a distance as Divine snorts drugs with a friend, a woman performs a striptease with a snake, and in one of the movie's most memorable moments, a nude man throws his legs over his head an demonstrates his unusual ability to make his anus dilate rapidly over and over. Raymond and Connie are shocked at this display, and promptly phone the police to report Divine's party. The police arrive, but Divine and her group assassinate them with their bare hands, ripping their bodies apart and eating them raw as in "Night of the Living Dead".Connie and Raymond, gloating over the fact that they've called the cops on Divine, return home to discover Channing dressed in Connie's clothes, imitating both Raymond and Connie. Furious, they lock him in his "room", which is really just a closet. They then set out for their final act of vengeance: to burn down Divine's trailer. Raymond finds time to stop at the local park to commit another act of indecent exposure, but he is horrified when his victim, a lovely young woman putting on makeup in the park, opens her dress to reveal that "she" has male genitals. She laughs with glee as Raymond runs off.Divine and Crackers, having learned of the Marbles through gossip, invade the Marble residence, licking the furniture and rooms to "curse" the house. To further contaminate the dwelling, Divine and Crackers commit an act of incest, with Divine performing oral sex on him. They are interrupted by the sound of Channing, still locked inside the closet. They tie him up and intimidate him into telling them about Connie and Raymond. He also mentions the girls in the basement, and they take him downstairs to verify it. Sure enough, the imprisoned girls are there. Divine and Crackers disapprove of this variety of depravity committed by the Marbles, and they free the girls, allowing them to castrate Channing as an act of revenge.Meanwhile, the Marbles invade Divine's trailer, now empty due to Edie's departure with her new husband. They pour gasoline all over and ignite it, delighting in their final act of aggression toward their enemy. After the Marbles run off, Divine returns with Crackers and Cotton to find the trailer ablaze. Beside herself with sorrow and rage, she sets out to seize the Marbles immediately.When the Marbles return home, they discover their house has been contaminated. Their sofa and chair "reject" Connie and Raymond, spitting them onto the floor when they try and sit. The rest of the house reacts similarly as the Marbles walk through it in a panic. Discovering Channing's "room" empty, they wonder if he's set the girls free. In the basement pit, they find Channing's body, castrated and bled out. The girls are gone.Connie and Raymond assume the girls have sent for the police and they try to flee, but Divine, Cotton, and Crackers are waiting for them in the living room. They abduct the Marbles, tying them up and taping their mouths shut, and drag them back to the site of the trailer for a "trial" and execution.Divine summons the local tabloid press for exclusive coverage of the event. Representatives from three tabloids arrive and witness the mock trial for Connie and Raymond. Crackers and Cotton provide testimony and pronounce the verdict and punishment: guilty, with the death penalty to follow. After tarring and feathering the bound couple, Divine executes them with a handgun.The reporters thank her for the scoop and depart to write their articles, while Divine has a discussion with Cotton and Crackers about their next move. They decide to change their appearances and move to Boise. Mr. J discusses their reputation in the last scene of the movie, which depicts the trio preparing to leave Baltimore for Boise. Divine spots a small dog moving its bowels, and in one movement, she kneels down and picks up the excrement and puts it in her mouth, chewing it briefly before spitting it out. The camera zooms in for a closeup of her face as she smiles and ends the movie.Pat Moran...Patty Hitler (Party Guest In Nazi Uniform)Jack Walsh...Party GuestJackie Sidel...Party GuestJulie Munshauer... Party GuestSteve Yeager... Nat Curzan from "The Tattler"George Figgs... Bongo playerJohn Oden... OnlookerGeorge Stoll... OnlookerDavid Gluck... OnlookerElizabeth Coffey...Chick with a DickMargie Donnelly...OnlookerMargie Skidmore...Brunette in parkBerenica Cipcus... Blonde in parkIris Burman... Party GuestRandy Burman... Man at deli with hot dog pack / Party GuestDon Blumberg... Party GuestVincent Peranio ... Musician at partyBob Adams... Police officer who gets shotMark Lazarus... OfficerDavid Lehman... Party GuestCatriona Maloney... Party GuestRichard Keller.. Cab DriverCharlie Swope... Party GuestBarry Golome...Party GuestEd Peranio... Party GuestElia Katz... Army GuyBilly Davis...Party GuestHoward Gruber... Party guest sniffing popperVan Smith... Guest at party in drag
Chuck Yeaton... Deli clerk
Laurie Birnbaum... Party Guest
Lenny Taylor... Extra
Trick Grantham... Party Guest
Mark Isherwood... Party Guest
Randy Damm... Party Guest
Alan Reese... Party Guest
Alberta Reese... Party Guest
Cowboy Foulke... Party Guest
David Sander... Party Guest
Brigette Grey... Party Guest
John Herndon... Party Guest
Ellis Clark... Party Guest
Joe Wilepski ...Party Guest
Jimmy Hutzler... Party Guest
Paul Landis... Party Guest
Lawrence Irvine... Party GuestMax Mueller... Noodles (uncredited) | dark, comedy, murder, cult, absurd, psychedelic, satire, humor, revenge, sadist, home movie | train | imdb | Even if you - yes YOU out there - the reader, wanted to make the most disgusting movie in the world and even if you had the money and the skills that John Waters lacked in 1972, you couldn't make a film as good as he did.
"Pink Flamingos" is a cult classic.The plot of this film revolves around the throwdown challenge to Divine's supremacy as the filthiest person alive."Pink Flamingos" contains some memorably repulsive scenes like a sex scene with a chicken and the scene where Divine eats fresh dog feces.Yes,the movie is shocking and funny at the same time,but the biggest laughs come from the actors' lines.Check out especially this line from Divine:"Kill everyone now!Condone first degree murder!Advocate cannibalism!Eat s***!Filth is my politics!Filth is my life!".On the whole,I really enjoyed this film.Still its tagline "An Exercise in Bad Taste" should be taken to heart and even those used to the gross out movies today may find this gem hard to stomach.Highly recommended..
Just consider the over abundance of reality TV shows, for example 'Fear Factor' a show boasting contestants eager and willing to outdo one another by performing a variety of dangerous stunts and eating unimaginable specimens how is this any different than the characters in 'Pink Flamingos' attempting to outdo one another in an effort to claim the dubious title of the filthiest people alive?
Like those who listened to radio reports about the attack on Pearl Harbor, every one who has ever seen PINK FLAMINGOS can tell you exactly where they were when they first saw it--and some thirty years later the movie is still one of the most unspeakably vile, obnoxious, repulsive, and hilariously funny films ever put to celluloid, guaranteed to test the strongest stomachs and the toughest funny bones.Filmed with a close-to-zero budget and some of the shakiest cinematography around, PINK FLAMINGOS tells the story of two families that compete for the tabloid title of "The Filthiest People Alive." Just how filthy can they be?
Others in the cast include Mary Vivian Pearce, Danny Mills, and the ever-appalling Edith Massey as members of Divine's family; and Mink Stole and David Lochary as the white-slaving, baby-selling couple who challenge Divine's status.It should be pretty obvious that PINK FLAMINGOS is not exactly a movie that will appeal to just every one, and viewers who know director John Waters only through such later films as HAIRSPRAY and CRYBABY will be in for a major jolt.
Crackers has sex with a woman with a live chicken between them while his sister watches; the Marbles pick up female hitchhikers, impregnate them, keep them chained in the basement and sell the babies to lesbian couples; Divine and family have a party which includes cannibalism etc etc.
I read and hear reviews of this movie that express disgust and horror and I picture John Waters chuckling.
Obviously filmed on a budget, and using Water's stock cast, this is a movie simply about a contest to see who are the filthiest people alive.
The filthiest person alive, Divine, is using the codename Babs Johnson and living in a trailer in the woods with her retarded mother Eddie (Edith Massey), who loves eggs; her mad hippie son Crackers (Danny Mills); and her mate Cotton (Mary Vivian Pearce).
The envious couple Connie (Mink Stole) and Raymond Marble (David Lochary), who abduct and impregnate female hitchhikers to sell their babies to gay and lesbian couples, using the money to invest in heroin and sell in schools, hire Cookie (Cookie Mueller) to have sex with Crackers and spy Divine to compete for the title of "the filthiest people alive".
When the competition begins, Connie and Raymond Marble learn why Divine has this title.The underground "Pink Flamingos" is outrageously sick, disgusting and grotesque
but also funny.
The bizarre characters present some of the most scatological and gross scenes I have ever seen, like Divine chewing excrement of dog, or Crackers "singing" with his anus, and there is no limit for the sick mind of John Waters.
There are many scenes that are definitely not for the squeamish, highlighted by the moment where Dawn gives birth (alone) and bites the ambilical cord (like primates would do), then, without losing a beat, gets up to confront the newborn's father via a pay phone.If "Pink Flamingos" entertained you without giving your stomach a turn-over, then you can handle anything delivered by the creative genius John Waters.
if i could rate it a zero i would , coming from someone who likes shock/exploitation films of the time and Waters overall i must say this is useless.It does nothing , serves nothing , an idiot with a camera and a urge to prove his cleverness by rebeling against social standards is all this comes off as.Its entirely amateur , both in principle and execution , it doesn't have a point , its digusting for the sake of disgusting ,obscene with the wit of a neanderthal , its useless.Someone said Waters was probably "chuckling" over all the bad press and disgust others gave with this film , but why?
In 1971, John Waters would perfect his B-movie making skills with his colorful, flamboyant, mean-spirited epic that would ultimately ensure Divine as THE cult icon of the 70's, and push the boundaries of bad taste as far as they would go.
It's not that he's exactly edged toward respectability with each passing decade; it's that the 'moral majority' have gradually put their hands up and admitted defeat.Even today, nearly 40 years after it was made, his transgressive masterpiece Pink Flamingos still has the power to blow your face off, with its gleeful scenes of cannibalism, castration, incest, rape and a live chicken crushed to death between a couple having sex.The set-up's really simple: the late, great Divine must reclaim her title of 'Filthiest Person Alive'.
I have seen worst films than "Pink Flamingos".But that doesn't mean I am letting this film off the hook.This film is sensless,revolting and is such a mess that I was asking myself where is the plot?Oh,yeah.I remember.The plot was about the battle on who is the filthiest person alive.That's the best that director John Waters can do.I am not a John Waters fan,but I did enjoy "Serial Mom" and I thought "Cry Baby was one of the stupidest films of 1990."Pink Flamingos",with its grotesque gags and its offensive sexual situations makes this film a film that unfortunately I am going to remember.I had no problem watching this film because I knew that were films that I have seen that were far worse than this.This film has become a cult classic according to fans of John Waters and is definitely one of the most time wasting films I have ever seen.After watching this film,I was asking myself,how low can filmmakers go to repulse an audience?"Pink Flamingos" is the worst film of 1972..
I have heard about Pink Flamingos for quite a while, but I only actually saw the film recently.It is the only John Waters film I have seen to this date, but after watching this I might check out more of his films.Yes this film may be cheaply made, it may also be extremely revolting.The film was made in 1972 and is still one of the few films which actually deserve an NC-17 rating, that's saying a lot.But it also has some very hilarious quotes and scenes.The plot is very basic and involves a family who are competing with another couple as "filthiest people alive", the film basically involves shows the two groups, what they do and them competing against each other.There are some very disgusting scenes in the film which I will not say here.Just be warned and don't let the fact that the film came out in the 1970's fool you.Overall, Pink Flamingos is a very gross, yet often hilarious little film.The soundtrack is also very good with some catchy 1950's/early 60's songs..
It reminded me of a movie that middle year high school kids would make, there are no funny jokes, the plot line is lame, the acting is unashamedly bad - for very large stretches it is boring, but that boredom is interspersed revolting elements - like a guy showing his naked rear end on screen for a long period, someone torturing a chicken to death during a sex scene, divine eating a piece of fresh dog feces.
I've read some reviews and comments and I really can't understand why some people actually consider this as a good movie or a "cult film".
As conclusion of this brief comment I have to say that basically the movie deserves two awards "filthiest movie ever" and "worst movie ever", as for Mr. Waters (director) you beat Divene and the other disgusting people for the title, YOU are the most disgusting person alive just for imagining and getting to film this absolute insult to intelligence.
John Waters' 1972 cult classic "Pink Flamingos" is among the most reviled, infamous, and daring films ever made.
Waters pushes the boundaries of the entire art of cinema, forming a film as disgusting and shocking as possible.
However, this took place years ago and at least the crew made use of the dead chicken by cooking and eating it afterwards.Anyway, if you are willing to watch something unbelievably filthy that is injected with extremely dark humor, "Pink Flamingos" is certainly the way to go!.
Pink Flamingos – The Movie is a rare bird which not only makes trash enjoyable but also a good film.
John Walters is the small-scale Quentin Tarantino who can conjure unique, quirky characters and make them cult figures; we are not perturbed by the characters' wrongdoings and we usually end up rooting for them to commit another misdeed.The story here is narrated in an androgynous manner, probably by a flaming gay man or a transsexual, who takes us into the pink, tawdry and shabby trailer of Divine (who is living as Babs Johnson to evade police attention) and her family- her pretty, lusty blonde traveling companion Cotton who possesses the looks of a yesteryear's' star, her bucktoothed, long-maned chicken loving son Crackers and her egg obsessed cutie-pie mother Edie.
The sexuality on the other hand is something that is bound to gross out or p-ss off certain audiences, with the idea of incest itself can be unnerving for many, but again who really finds Divine to be role model or even a woman, with her androgynous appearance and her ludicrous make up (actual name: Harris Glenn; yes, a man!).The entire setup seems like shots from a sleazy reality show, the budget of the film being so tight the entire product was the master copy.
The songs, a mix of rock and roll and country make the scenes more lively and enjoyable, and also mitigate the actual violent acts that occur when the music is played.Watch Pink Flamingos if you want to see a kick-ass trashy exploitation film.
I believe that John Waters is quite possibly the only filmmaker who could concoct something like Pink Flamingos seriously.The film is disgusting, revolting, appalling, maddening, deplorable, and of immature taste.
I can't remember the last time I've seen a bad film with such interesting characters, a flamboyant lead, and a satisfying script and story.Plotwise, the film centers around two separate families both in competition for the title of "The Filthiest Person/Family Alive." The first family is made up of the current "filthiest person" named Divine who goes under the pseudonym "Babs Johnson" (Divine), her simpleton, egg-obsessed mother Edie (Massey), her son who has a chicken/sex fetish named Crackers (Mills) and his traveling sex-companion Cotton (Pearce).
Divine takes great pride in her status as "the filthiest person alive", but the uptight Connie Marble (Mink Stole) covets that title and will do anything to get it.Also among the sordid characters are Connies' perverted husband Raymond (David Lochary), put upon butler Channing (Channing Wilroy), who's employed to knock up the hapless ladies kept in the Marbles' basement, Cookie the spy (Cookie Mueller), and Edies' beloved egg delivery man (Paul Swift).
All of these quirky freaks provide solid entertainment value - Connie sports red hair and Raymond sports blue hair - but Divine dominates them all with a knowingly hammy performance and an incredible "just go for it" attitude.The various disgusting things that Waters has his people do really shouldn't be spoiled here, so that potential viewers can experience them fresh.
I thought I really did see it all with some of the sickest movies and TV shows I've seen, some things I guess will always still feel like a shock.Well, Babs Johnson, aka Divine, has been named the filthiest person alive and a jealous couple named the Marbles are competing for that title.
Through the grossness of this film, you have got to give John Waters some credit, who the heck would ever think of this movie over 35 years later?
John Waters' first break-through film, PINK FLAMINGOS is infamous as being an endurance test when it was in the theaters.
From here on, it's disgusting act after another, from flashing transsexual genitals to Divine going down on her own son (for real!), ending in the most famous ending in a film of all time, beating even CITIZEN KANE!John Waters needed a film that would gain attention and get him recognized.
Pink Flamingos is pretty much the first of it's kind: a self-proclaimed bad taste feature.The film is simply amazing because of how cheap it is but also how shockingly entertaining and watchable it is...
I sat through the entire film -- felt strange for days afterwards and still after 20 years can´t look at a boiled egg without thinking of this movie.The most disgusting thing I have ever seen.
Until the release of this movie, John Waters was a sick but obscure maverick director, who made some very sick and funny ultra low budget films in the early seventies.
For all viewers out there who have slammed John Waters for creating a film like Pink Flamingos, just stop.
Why do you think we have free speech in this country- so people like John Waters can make films for those who wish to see them.
And just like the aforementioned "artists" john waters includes human leavings in this movie which are consumed by the fat ugly transvestite called divine.
Infamous underground figure Divine (played by fat drag queen Divine) prides herself as the filthiest person alive, but finds herself competing for the title against reprehensible baby-ring operators Connie and Raymond Marble (Mink Stole and David Lochary), who also revel in their repulsiveness.With Pink Flamingos, director John Waters and his merry band of reprobates go all out to offend and disgust, and in that they most definitely succeed.
The plot is seriously dumb and the acting utterly atrocious, but Waters' unique brand of depravity most definitely hits the mark, with something guaranteed to upset even the most jaded of viewers.Even though I consider myself hardened to most cinematic filth, there were several moments that almost had me reaching for the off button, including a man doing very strange things with his ass-hole, Divine giving 'her' on screen son a blow-job, and the infamous dog turd scene (by which time the film was thankfully almost over).
It's been forty-five years since Pink Flamingos first shocked audiences, but thank to scenes like those, it still ranks as one of the most repugnant movies ever made.I'm not sure how to rate a film like this, so, for the time being, I'm not going to..
Even though I did like the film, I felt two viewings was plenty, Serial Mom I've lost count with how many times I've watched that, I even own it, so you can tell I love that one, a friend of mine has Pink Flamingoes that I bought for him, and I'm happy with that.
John Waters "Pink Flamingos" is one of the most discussed, disgusting and shocking movies ever made, there's no doubt about that, and is then, a confusing movie to me, because is a crazy and distinguished extravaganza, but at the same time is a movie without any respect or moral for decency.My love for crazy movies begin maybe with all the illogical plots of horror movies that i see in my childhood, as too the parodies and spoof.
She live with Cotton, her friend, Crackers her son, and her mother, who loves eggs and love Mr. Egg Man. For other side is The Marbles, who are furious because they think that Divine has stole them the title that they deserve, because they said that they are the filthiest people alive!
"Pink Flamingos" is one of the most polemic films ever for its graphic scenes, full of all less decency, moral and humanity.I thought that it was funny a story about the "filthiest people alive" but when i see this "experiment in poor taste" i realize that is not so fun as it could be.
And the Marbles are miserable, nasty people.At the end of the film, and after the triumph of good filth over bad, a final scene 'proves' that Divine is not only the 'filthiest person alive' but 'the filthiest actress alive'.
John Waters quips about it in 'This Filthy World', pointing out that he doesn't believe people are going to be so corrupted by watching it that they are likely to copy it.This, of course, raises all sorts of questions about his stated objective to shock and to entertain.
After knowing this and seeing Pink Flamingos a few more times, I came to realize what a funny movie this really is.
However, if you understand John Waters M.O., and are not easily offended, you might very likely find this a very funny film..
Then, i picked up the Pink Flamingos DVD in the John Waters Boxed Set. The movie is about Babs Johnson "The Filthiest Person Alive" who lives in a trailer in Maryland with her obese egg obsessed mother,and her deranged son "Crackers".
Though, I'd already seen Hairspray, I didn't become a truly rabid John Waters fan until I saw Pink Flamingos. |
tt0059044 | Color Me Blood Red | At the Farnsworth Galleries, Farnsworth looks at a painting is evidently admires and reluctantly picks the canvas up and takes it outside. He drops it to the ground, saturates it with gasoline and sets it afire. Blood pours out of the canvas as it burns.Artist Adam Sorge stands before a blank canvas, paints it a bit, and angrily throws it aside. He selects another canvas, and places it on the easel, but is upset because he cannot get the right color. Gigi, Adam's live-in girlfriend and model, enters the room and Adam accidentally hits her with his paintbrush. Gigi tells Adam that he is due at the Farnsworth Galleries in one hour and critics will be there. Adam arrives at his showing where an art critic, named Gregorovich, is talking with Farnsworth. Gregorovich tells that due to his less-than-impressive use of color, he is an "artist imposter". Adam argues with the critic and leaves, passing Mrs. Carter who admires Adam's past work that is on display.The next day, Farnsworth goes to Adam's house to pick up a new painting. He tells Adam that he feels the same way as Gregorovich about Adam's use of color. Farnsworth takes another painting and leaves, and Adam beats a painting, leaving the broken frame on the floor. Adam and Gigi then spend some intimate time in the bedroom and afterwards, Gigi bends over to pick up the destroyed painting and cuts her finger on a nail. Adam later sees the smeared blood on the canvas and checks it outside with the other paintings. Gigi comes into the room and apologies about the blood, when Adam picks up a rough sketch of a woman and places it on the easel. He asks Gigi to open the wound and he cuts her finger with a razor and "paints" by smearing her blood on the canvas. Gigi pulls her finger away and tells him to use his own blood. Adam cuts all of his fingers and paints with his blood until he is weak and collapses on the couch.After resting for a while, Adam looks at his painting. Gigi talks about how he phoned Farnsworth and told him that he had something big, and she wonders where he is going to get the blood to finish the painting. Suddenly, Adam stabs Gigi in the face and uses her bloody head as a brush to finish the painting. Adam buries Gigi's body in the sand hear his house and the next day, he takes the finished painting to the gallery to show everyone. Gregotovich declares it Adam's "finest." Mrs. Carter is there and agrees to Farnsworth's high price of $15,000 to purchase the painting. But Adam tells them that the painting is not for sale. Gregotovich challenges Adam to paint another masterpiece and Adam agrees.Meanwhile, Mrs. Carter is talking with her daughter April, who is going on a picnic with her boyfriend Rolf, and two other friends, Jack and Sydney. At Adam's house, he prepares to cut his fingers again to paint a new painting, when he sees April and her friends on the beach near his house. Adam goes out to spy on them and wait to jump on them so he can kill them and use their blood, but he gets diverted when he sees another couple, named Norman and Betsy, nearby kissing each other on a beach towel. Betsy wants to ride two water bikes that are in the water near Adam's house. As they are doing so, Adam approaches them in a motorboat where he attacks and stabs Norman in the chest with a spear killing him as Betsy screams. Adam subdues her and takes her away. Later, Adam is seen painting a new canvas with blood. He goes in to the next room where the dead Betsy is tied to a wall with her intestines and innards hanging out of her stomach. Adam squeezes more blood out of the disemboweled girl and finishes his painting. He takes it the following day to the gallery and again refuses to sell it. Adam storms out of the gallery, and Gregorovich notes that the painting is still wet and that Adam forgot to varnish it.A few weeks later, Adam is beside himself in his house, more or less a recluse. Mrs. Carter is at her home also wondering why she hasn't heard from Adam for this whole time. April then goes out with Rolf and their two friends again for another beach party. Adam watches them from a distance. When April ventures near Adam's house, Adam takes a canvas outside and pretends to be painting. Adam tells the curious April that he is looking for a model and he asks her to pose. After he tells April his name, she tells him that her mother is Mrs. Carter who wants to buys some of his paintings. Adam tells April that if she poses for him, she can have the painting for free. April returns to her friends near the beach and tells them about meeting Adam and she will be going back later in the evening.That evening, Adam lets April into his house where she notes blood-like paint in his picture, and after she makes a joke about putting blood into the work, Adam explodes at her and says that the joke is not funny to him. April wants to leave, but Adam convinces her to stay, and has her stand on a small stepladder. In order to keep her hands still, Adam ties up April's wrists and restrains her.Meanwhile, Jack and Sydney go looking for some firewood for a fire they make on the beach. Sydney finds Gigi's badly decomposed, half-buried corpse and screams for Jack. They show the body to Rolf who runs towards Adam's house with a flashlight. In the house, Adam tells April to turn away from him for a few seconds and he will be done... as he lifts up a large axe to kill her. Rolf runs inside where he acts rudely towards Adam. Seeing the axe Adam has, Rolf grabs a nearby shotgun and points it at Adam keeping him at bay as he unties April. But Adam knocks the shotgun out of Rolf's hands and talks about how he "immortalizes" Gigi by keeping her alive in his painting and using peoples blood to "immortalize" them as well. When Jack and Sydney run into the house and momentarily distract Adam, Rolf grabs the shotgun. Adam lifts his axe to kill Rolf when he fires, hitting the deranged artist in the face. Adam stumbles and falls dead with his bloodied face on a blank canvas.The final scene picks up where the opening scene left off where Farnsworth is burning Adam's painting after it is made public about the insane artist using peoples blood for his paintings. Gregorovich arrives just as Farnsworth stands looking at the burning canvas where he tells the critic that he is burning Adam's "funeral pyre". | violence, cult, cruelty, murder, sadist | train | imdb | "Color me Blood Red" completes the infamous Blood-trilogy by the even more infamous director Hershell Gordon Lewis and, although my least favorite film of the three, it's another silly entertaining and smutty gore classic.
Don't look for many film-making qualities here, as the story is rather unoriginal (imitating Roger Corman's 1959 "Bucket of Blood"), the acting is unspeakable and especially compared to "Two Thousand Maniacs" it's clumsily edited together.
Good old Lewis brings the art of finger painting to a whole new dimension here, when mentally unstable artist Adam Sorg discovers that the blood of his girlfriend's cut finger supplies him with the exact right shade of red he needs for his macabre paintings.
I spotted LESS gore than in the previous two Blood-trilogy films, still there are some effectively nauseating scenes, most notably the one where Sorg literally squeezes all the blood out of one his victims' intestines.
Color Me Blood Red is the third film contained in what is typically known as the Blood trilogy directed by that world renowned director of gore...Herschell Gordon Lewis.
For a Lewis film, Color Me Blood Red is a fun picture.
Hershell Gordan Lewis, you all should know him from his cult classics like "Blood Feast", "2000 Maniacs!", "Wizard of Gore", "Blood Feast 2", etc.
has anything to do with Blood Feast) it is still a lot of fun.The story opens with a disgruntled artist who isn't getting enough respect from the local art critic.
This movie is for people who like quirkiness, b-grade film-making, c-grade acting, cheesy gore and..
A phrase I see a lot on the IMDb is "BAD meaning GOOD", not many movies are more deserving of that praise than Color Me Blood Red..
'Color Me Blood Red' is the last in Lewis' Blood Trilogy, and is the second best of the three in my opinion.
'Color Me Blood Red' is dumb, no doubt about that, but it's dumb FUN, and should be seen by every horror movie buff for its historical interest if nothing else..
This is the final film in the infamous Blood Trilogy from director Herschell Gordon Lewis and producer David Friedman.
The trilogy also includes superior films "Blood Feast" and "Two Thousand Maniacs".
While "Color Me Blood Red" is the most inferior film in the trilogy, it is still worth at least a one time viewing.
The gore effects are also inferior to the other 2 entries...there aren't as many but one effect in particular is especially grotesque (this would be the scene where a woman is shown strung from the ceiling with her intestines dangling out and the villain squeezes the blood out of them in order to finish his painting).
The first three of their horror ventures, BLOOD FEAST (1963), 2000 MANIACS (1964) and this feature from 1965 made up what was later to be called their "Blood Trilogy." COLOR ME BLOOD RED is easily the least shocking, least entertaining and least memorable of the bunch, but it does have it's moments...Adam Sorg (Don Joseph) is a Florida based struggling artist living in a beach house who has not yet been able to break through on the snobbish local art scene.
His new morbid creations suddenly become the craze on the art scene, so he must kill more people for more blood to make more paintings.Lewis must have really liked "aquacycles," some incredibly slow-moving bikes with floating tires, cause he puts these hilariously dated things in every possible scene.
He won't notice!"), prompting Sorg to impale the guy, then kidnap the girl, tie her up in his house, cut open her stomach and squeeze blood out of her guts directly onto a palette!This film (briefly known as MODEL KILLER) is now noteworthy mainly as a vintage curio, complete with primitive gore FX, dated fashions faux pas and colorful lines of dialogue like "Come out to the patio, daddy-o!"All in all, a decent watch..
After seeing the first two installments of the Blood Trilogy, Blood Feast and 2,000 Maniacs, I was a bit skeptical about watching the final film, Color Me Blood Red. It's not that the first two were awful, but by no means can they be considered good either.
That's not to say the Blood Trilogy wasn't worth the purchase I made (it was interesting to see the origins of gore) but without a doubt, this movie stands alone from the other two.
Even if there never was a Blood Trilogy , even with the absence of Blood Feast and 2,000 Maniacs, this movie stands alone as a great example of how story and gore can sometimes mix for the best.
it's a very good looking movie and lots of fun and I like its take on art and violence and snobbery and "daddy-o" ness.
how about one from the movie, "Her blood, you, you used it as paint!?!!?""It's quite the thing to own a Sorge painting!""there is one great painting in all of us.""that caviar critic Farnsworth!"I still need more lines?
Bad is GOOD!If you like this one, get Blood Feast, 2000 Maniacs, and Gore Gore Girls!
Sure, it wasn't as groundbreaking or gory as Blood Feast, or as flat-out entertaining as Two Thousand Maniacs, plus, the presence of a Thomas Wood and/or a Connie Mason might have helped a little, but I still consider the unwanted step-sibling of the Blood Trilogy to be a bit underrated.
Color Me Blood Red has pleasant Sarasota beach locations, and not to mention, Adam Sorg is a lot more convincing as a killer than Fuad Ramses, or any single one of the 2000 Maniacs.
Color Me Blood Red also stars several attractive women, some of which not nearly as young as the roles suggests, this film just didn't seem to try all that hard to entertain us, not quite as ambitious as the first two.
F stands for Farnsworth wasn't any funnier the second time Sorg said it, and Holy Banana's just doesn't express the horror and confusion one would feel after finding a girls leg.
All sarcasm aside, Color me Blood Red is the final entry in , the legendary Herschell Gordon Lewis's Blood Trilogy, so, naturally, it's worth a look, and I'll probably give it a higher score than it deserves.
As good as Color Me Blood Red could have been, it does fall short in certain areas as there are absolutely no likable characters, unlike in 2000 Maniacs, where everyone was likable.
Color Me Blood Red is not the best Florida Gore has to offer, but certainly not the worst, although, I can't really think of one Florida Gore Film from the 60's that was worse.
On one last positive note, Color Me Blood Red has tolerable acting (like it matters), as well as a decent, little score, as well as, a modest amount of gore, but mostly, innocent, teenage hi jinx, or at least something similar.
Not all Hershell Gordon Lewis films are alike, though, as many are not just bad but pretty much unwatchable, such as his MONSTER A GO-GO and THE Gruesome TWOSOME.The film is basically a rip-off of Roger Corman's BUCKET OF BLOOD (which, despite the title, is a very good film).
Like the previous film, this one concerns a crazy artist who manages to impress the critics when he kills people to make his art.
It all comes to an end when he's about to kill victim #4--when her goofy boyfriend and her even goofier friends come to the rescue.Overall, despite being a terrible film in every way (acting, direction, a stolen plot, dialog, etc.), the pieces all seem to fit together to make a reasonably watchable exploitation film.
Color Me Blood Red has a few good moments.
Color Me Blood Red (1965)** 1/2 (out of 4) The third film in director Herschell Gordon Lewis' "blood trilogy," this one here centers on a crazed painter (Goron Oas-Heim) who finally reaches his breakthrough when he realizes that human blood is the perfect red for his paintings.
This here is pretty much a re-working of the Roger Corman classic A BUCKET OF BLOOD with the biggest difference being that this here is in bright color, which perfectly shows off the various bloody scenes.
With that said, film history has all sorts of items that remain important and there's no doubt that Lewis' blood trilogy is one such thing.
The movie contains some awful acting, a silly script, lame dialogue and there are countless other things that you could pick on but in the end the picture is at least fun.
COLOR ME BLOOD RED doesn't come close to the same level as BLOOD FEAST or TWO THOUSAND MANIACS but it's still a nice entry in the series..
Director Herschell Gordon Lewis's concluding film in his "Blood Trilogy" (and final film with producer David F.
That's not to say that there aren't good moments - there just aren't enough of them.Gordon Oas-Heim, definitely one of the better actors to be found in an HGL gore epic, plays the highly unlikable, mentally unstable painter Adam Sorg, who's impatient waiting for inspiration to strike.
He realizes that using his own blood is a very wearying process, so he has to obtain blood from other unwilling donors.Overall "Color Me Blood Red" is fairly amusing cheesy nonsense with the gleefully squishy splatter and inept acting that we come to expect from HGL's films.
And the movie does end on a very funny note with its final line.If you're new to the works of HGL and want to do the completist thing, then "Color Me Blood Red" is definitely worth seeing.
Just don't expect the same level of entertainment if you've already seen and enjoyed "Blood Feast" and "Two Thousand Maniacs!".Six out of 10..
The plot = Adam Sorg (Gordon Oas Heim) is an eccentric artist whose not quite there yet with his paintings due to lack of good red colouring until one day he discovers that the best shade of red is blood, and after tiring of using his own he starts to kill people and drain they're blood.This movie could have been great, if it had better pacing, more gore and better actors, but sadly it's not.
With a title like this you'd think there would be tons of gore, although there are a few bits here and there, but overall it's rather tame, I mean come on this director made "Blood Feast" for god's sake.
There could have been more murders and more artwork thrown into all that wasted time, and in doing so, would have made this movie so much better than it was.The cast = Gordon Oas Heim (Adam Sorg) okay he wasn't that great but he was the only half way interesting character in this movie, but his weak acting doesn't even make him chewing the scenery any fun.
Candi Conder (April) the supposed final girl, well I guess she was but all she did was walk around in a bikini that looked like something an old age pensioner would wear and she had terrible hair, she was just way too dull and uninteresting to root for and her boyfriend Rolf was even more boring and should have died, and lasting what the hell was with that couple who dressed alike, I mean what was the point of them, they should have died at least, (If they did I might have given this movie a higher rating).All in all I don't know what the director set out to do when he made this piece of tripe, but if you watch this expecting nothing and then you'll get nothing..
A crackpot artist (Gordon Oas-Heim) kills various people to use their blood as his new crimson red color for his paintings.Lewis has said that "A Bucket of Blood" served as inspiration for this film, and I am not surprised.
(This theme has been explored before and since, but not in such an obvious way.) I recommend this one, and think it is better than "Two Thousand Maniacs", on par with "Blood Feast" but just under "Gore Gore Girls".
For the second film in his infamous 'Blood' trilogy, 'Godfather of Gore' Herschell Gordon Lewis gleefully rips off Roger Corman's beatnik horror A Bucket of Blood, but fails to deliver in almost every department: the direction is dull; the dialogue is awful ('Holy Bananas, it's a girl's leg!' exclaims one character upon finding a dead body); the acting is atrocious; the music is bland, generic jazz; and the one factor that audiences have come to expect from Lewis—outrageous 'grand guignol' style splatter—is notable by its absence (only one scene, in which the protagonist squeezes blood from one of his victim's intestines, comes close to providing gore-hounds with the goods).Gordon Oas-Heim is reasonably convincing as obnoxious artist Adam Sorg, who discovers that he produces his best work when painting in blood, but almost everyone else puts in absolutely dreadful performances, with special mention going to Pat Lee as wig-wearing teen Sydney: her incessant use of hip 60s slang ('where's the snacks, Jack?', 'on the patio, Daddio', 'dig that crazy driftwood') might be amusing at first, but is guaranteed to eventually grate on the nerves.Fans of Lewis will no doubt wish to see this film so that they can complete the trilogy, and those with a thing for curvaceous cuties in big bikinis might get the occasional thrill, but it's hard to imagine anyone else finding Color Me Blood Red to be anything other than a bore.3.5 out of 10, generously rounded up to 4 for IMDb..
The Cinema of Herschel Gordon Lewis: Color Me Blood Red. Color Me Blood Red (1965) is a about a talent challenged artist who's "art" lacks a lot of things such as depth, creativity and form.
You'll find the answer to these questions and scratching your head at others when you watch COLOR ME BLOOD RED!!Herschel Gordon Lewis is an enigma, he's like Ed Wood but with business smarts and knows what brings people back to the theaters..
I haven't seen too many HGL films but the ones I've seen are Two Thousand Maniacs, The Wizard of Gore, The Gore Gore Girls, Blood Feast, The Gruesome Twosome and now Color Me Blood Red. This was definitely my least favorite so far because it was dull and didn't even keep my attention for longer than 5 minutes.
I think I might give on HGL because I've only liked two of his films so far.The thing about Herschell Gordon Lewis is that his films are either so bad that they're good or so bad that they're unwatchable and not worth wasting time on.
Colour Me Blood Red is pretty much the typical Herschell Gordon Lewis film.
This film is the third and final entry in Herschell Gordon Lewis' "Blood Trilogy", and while it is perhaps not as gory as the other two; Blood Feast and Two Thousand Maniacs, if you enjoy Lewis' style, you're bound to like this one!
The director's use of music is good, however, as while it does nothing to increase the film's credibility; it does give the movie a hilarious sense of humour, and it works really well with the plot.
As I said, this isn't as gory as some of Herschell's earlier stuff, but it's still got plenty of blood and gore; although as anyone that has seen one of these movies before will know; it's absolutely impossible to take seriously.
In Herschel Gordon Lewis' third part of the "blood trilogy" he did with producer Dave Friedman, a local crackpot artist named Adam Sorel (Don Joseph) can't get the right shade of red for his canvases.
Sorel thinks this is the perfect shade of red he's looking for so he starts off by cutting his fingers and supplies his own blood to his first canvas.But he soon realizes that he doesn't have enough blood to supply all the red 'paint' that he needs, so he goes on a gore killing spree.
That's why I just bought the DVD for this fantastic "Color Me Blood Red."There is more technical mistakes in this film than I could count.
Hershell Gordon Lewis writes, directs and photographs COLOR ME BLOOD RED...just another of the bloody messes he is noted for.
Adam Sorg(Don Joseph)plays a psychotic and obnoxious artist that gets acclaim for painting with his own blood.
It's a girl's leg!".The first of the few gore scenes comes when Adam Sorg - the artist - decides to do in his girlfriend by driving a sharp implement into the side of her face (we're later treated to a lovely closeup of her gory countenance as it is devoured by insects).
Color Me Blood Red. Macabre black comedy from schlock gore director Herschell Gordon Lewis has a very disturbed painter killing innocent people for their blood supply which lends to creative masterworks on canvas.
The color red is vibrantly used with lots of fake blood contributing to the plot(..what little there is).
Again, this is not a work of art, and director Lewis understood this, so COLOR ME BLOOD RED might entertain less discriminating viewers who are accustomed to how his movies are made.
I personally never expected anything other than a wacky graphic violent affair with bizarre flourishes and a sick premise, and COLOR ME BLOOD RED didn't disappoint in that regard..not exactly a ringing endorsement for the film, but I think some will find it amusing.Then again, HGL has become a guilty pleasure director of mine, so perhaps I find value in his movies many others with better sound minds do not..
Herschell Gordon Lewis's worst film, and that's saying something if you've seen any of 'em!.
Adam Sorg (Gordon Oas-Heim as Don Gordon) lives with is girlfriend Gigi (Elyn Warner) in a nice house on a Florida beach, and paints for a living.
Written, photographed and directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis this is one awful film.
Gordon Lewis seems to ignore the over-the-top gore scenes which made some of his other films somewhat watchable on a certain level. |
tt1403865 | True Grit | Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), a 14-year-old from Yell County, Arkansas, is determined to avenge the murder of her father. Frank Ross was killed by his hired hand, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), after trying to dissuade a drunken Chaney from shooting a fellow card player who had allegedly cheated him. Chaney stole Ross's horse and fled the town. Enraged that no one bothered to pursue or convict Chaney, Mattie decides to take the investigation into her own hands.Leaving her mother and two younger siblings at home, Mattie travels to Fort Smith where her father was killed. She identifies his body for the undertaker. Despite her age, Mattie is extremely quick-witted and confident, and is a fearless bargainer. She sells her father's now useless string of ponies back to the reluctant seller (Dakin Matthews), and acquires three hundred and twenty dollars from the sale. Renting a room at a Fort Smith boarding house, where her father had been staying before his death, Mattie resolves to hire a U.S. marshal to pursue and catch Tom Chaney. After consulting the local sheriff, she settles on the marshal described as the meanest: Rueben "Rooster" Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). After trailing Cogburn to a saloon, she attempts to hire him but is rebuffed. Mattie makes a second attempt after a court hearing at which Cogburn was questioned, but Cogburn turns her down again, doubting that she actually possesses the fifty dollars she offered him as a reward for Chaney's capture.A Texas Ranger, LaBouef (Matt Damon), takes a room at the boarding house and consults Mattie about her endeavor. LaBouef had been tracking Chaney for several months after Chaney had killed a Texas senator in an argument. He offers to combine his knowledge with Cogburn's to track Chaney down. Mattie rejects his offer.
The following day, Mattie buys back one of her father's ponies to use on her journey, naming him Little Blackie. She speaks with Cogburn who has decided to accept her offer. However, he initially refuses to let Mattie accompany him as she had planned. After Mattie threatens to report him to the sheriff if Cogburn leaves with her fifty dollars, he seemingly gives in and instructs her to be ready for the journey the next morning.Mattie takes her father's clothing and gun and rides her horse to Cogburn's lodgings in the morning, only to find he has left without her (with LaBouef), and left her a train ticket back to Yell County. Angrily, Mattie follows his trail to a nearby river, spying the two men on the opposite bank. After the ferryman refuses to take her across, Mattie rides Little Blackie into the water and the two swim to the other side. Cogburn seems impressed by Mattie's gumption, but LaBouef is clearly irritated by her domineering attitude. After an argument with Cogburn (whom he also dislikes), LaBouef abandons the mission, taunting Cogburn for being "hoo-rahed by a little girl."Mattie and Cogburn continue the journey, forming something of a kinship as they travel. Cogburn picks up the information that Tom Chaney is not too far ahead of them, and that he may have joined up with another outlaw, Lucky Ned Pepper, and his gang. Seeking shelter from the cold, the two discover a cabin at nightfall. Cogburn recognizes the pair of inhabitants as outlaws tied in with the Ned Pepper gang, one of them badly shot in the leg. Suspecting Ned and his gang will arrive at the cabin soon, Cogburn offers to take the injured man to a doctor and to give them some escape time if they provide information. The injured man (Domhnall Gleeson), desperate for medical attention, begins to talk, but is stabbed by the other man (Paul Rae), who is then shot dead by Cogburn. As he dies, the man with the injured leg admits that Lucky Ned is expected at the cabin that very night.Cogburn and Mattie hide in the bushes near the cabin, waiting for the gang to arrive. They first see LaBouef approach the cabin, continuing the search alone. However, the Ned Pepper gang arrives moments later and lassos LaBouef, dragging him behind a horse. From cover, Cogburn shoots two of the gang members (inadvertently winging LeBouef in the arm) and the others flee. He and Mattie take the injured LaBouef into the cabin. Cogburn drinks heavily throughout the night and is incredibly drunk the next morning. He and LaBouef argue over each other's shooting skills, but Mattie attempts to keep the two men on task.After setting up camp in the woods that night, Cogburn becomes increasingly frustrated with their mission, claiming he has been "dragged into a wild goose chase by a harpy in trousers and a nincompoop." He bows out of the agreement, and LaBouef leaves again, though he has gained a new-found respect for Mattie. Both men agree that Chaney's trail is cold, and that continuing the search would be useless. A dejected Mattie falls asleep.The next morning, Mattie goes to a nearby stream for water and notices a stranger there watering his horses. Shocked, she realizes it is none other than Tom Chaney himself. Chaney recognizes her and does not initially act hostile until Mattie pulls a revolver and attempts to take him into custody. An angered Chaney approaches with his rifle and Mattie fires, but only grazes his arm. Chaney drags her to the opposite bank, where the rest of the Ned Pepper gang has set up camp. Cogburn, having slept in the woods through the night, hears the commotion but is too late to retrieve Mattie.Lucky Ned Pepper (Barry Pepper), familiar with Cogburn, shouts across the stream to him and bargains Mattie's life for ample escape time. Cogburn agrees to not pursue the gang if Mattie is not harmed, and appears to ride away over the hills. Pepper is impressed by Mattie's strength of will, and assures her that she will not be hurt. While Ned and the three other gang members leave to address finances, Chaney is ordered to stay with Mattie and to leave her somewhere safe. Chaney tries to get out of the assignment, but to no avail. Mattie, despite Lucky Ned's assurance otherwise, fears that Chaney will kill her once they are alone. After the gang departs, Mattie offers to give Chaney an affidavit if he sets her free. Chaney refuses, saying that all he needs is Mattie's silence. He attacks her and holds a knife to her throat, but is knocked unconscious by LaBouef, who had remained in the area and heard the gunshots. He explains that he rode back to the woods, met with Cogburn, and outlined a plan for Mattie's rescue. He says that Cogburn himself has arranged a showdown with Lucky Ned.As Mattie and LeBouef watch from a hilltop, Cogburn comes face to face with Ned and the three other gang members. Having pursued Ned on and off for some time, Cogburn gives Ned the choice of being taken back to Fort Smith to be hanged, or to be killed on the spot. Ned taunts Cogburn, calling him a "one-eyed fat man," and Cogburn charges his horse. Holding the reins in his teeth, he fires revolvers with both hands, killing the three other men and mortally wounding Lucky Ned before his horse takes a fall and traps him underneath. With his last moments of strength, Ned prepares to kill Cogburn. From the hilltop, LaBouef proves his shooting ability by making a 400 yard shot, shooting Lucky Ned off his horse before he can harm the marshal. Moments later, LaBouef is knocked unconscious by a now-awakened Tom Chaney, who attempts to grab LaBouef's rifle. Mattie intercepts and gets the gun herself, proudly shooting Tom Chaney at last.Though her goal is completed, the blast from the gun sends Mattie stumbling backwards into a deep pit. She calls for help, but LaBouef is still out cold. Cogburn appears and begins to scale the side of the pit with a rope to rescue her, but Mattie's left hand has already been bitten by a rattlesnake. Cogburn retrieves her and temporarily treats her wound, but knows he must get her medical attention quickly or she will die. A revived LaBouef hoists them out of the pit, and Cogburn and Mattie ride away on Little Blackie.After miles of running, Little Blackie begins to suffer from exhaustion and eventually collapses. Knowing they cannot stop their journey, Cogburn shoots the horse and continues on, carrying Mattie himself. They soon reach a general store and Mattie is taken inside.Twenty five years later, 40-year-old Mattie (Elizabeth Marvel) looks back on her adventures. Her arm had been severely damaged by the snake bite, and was amputated . She explained that Cogburn had departed by the time she came back into consciousness. After arriving home, Mattie had written to Cogburn, inviting him to visit her and collect his fifty dollar reward, but he never responded or appeared. The adult Mattie learns that the elderly Cogburn is a performer in a traveling wild west show, and finally exchanges letters with him, arranging to meet once again to swap stories. Arriving at the fairgrounds, Mattie is told that Cogburn had died three days earlier.Mattie has Cogburn's body moved to her family plot. She reflects on her life; she never married, and kept her no-nonsense attitude over the years. She never heard again from LaBouef, but holds him in her memory. Mattie laments that "time just gets away from us." | comedy, dark, boring, murder, atmospheric, action, revenge, historical | train | imdb | In this case, it is "The Dude" Lebowski himself, Jeff Bridges, who makes his triumphant return in a Coen brothers film, filling the very large shoes of John Wayne, who gave an iconic performance as Rooster Cogburn in the first adaptation of True Grit, from 1969.
14-year-old Steinfeld proves she is a talent to watch, though – she totally commands the screen with her strong-willed, stubborn character, and manages to hold her own against Bridges, Damon and Josh Brolin, who makes a brief but memorable appearance later in the film.
As with No Country, I came to this film looking to see is there a statement on violence, does it happen in a certain way and is the universe indifferent to it, is life worth a damn?This one here works very much like the Henry Hathaway film from '69, except everyone's better, where John Wayne played a character, Jeff Bridges plays a man, and even Barry Pepper betters my beloved Robert Duvall's turn as Ned Pepper.
Perhaps we are even seeing the film as Mattie relives the experience in her old age, an affair shaped by memory and time.This is the marvellous touch effected by the Coens on the material; the minute recreation of the Old West as a historical place and the odd, incongruous moments found within it annihilate any authority over the material.The epilogue is important in that aspect.It's not only that Mattie's revenge didn't accomplish anything, that it was for her merely another practical inconvenience to be bargained, paid for, and settled, like her father's ponies and saddle or the service of the US Marshall before, but that she clings to the memory of it so fiercely.
Even the last scene failed to ring true: it was possible to suspend disbelief over Mattie's character for the sake of letting the young actress show her stuff and the director to add a curious dimension to the character, but in the end I didn't care about her at all.There was a real tension being built up to the confrontation with the villain but from then on the move just seemed to run out of gas and depend on clichés to get it thru to the down-beat ending.Cinematography was excellent, script was good, cast was good, but somewhere in there the directors lost interest and failed to do a professional job of making a movie..
But after the critical and financial success of their "contemporary" Western, No Country for Old Men, the source material for True Grit looked a nice fit for the Coen's, and with them announcing they were to cleave close to Portis' novel, hopes were high of a modern Western fit to sit alongside the likes of Unforgiven in terms of stature and widespread appeal.
When at the dinner table with the family some months back news came in that TRUE GRIT was going to be remade, and with Jeff Bridges, no less, the immediate response from everyone present was a burst of derisive laughter and rolling eyes.I'm afraid seeing the film confirmed the initial reaction.The film is rubbish from start to finish and the only recommendation I can offer is that it may spark interest in Henry Hathaway's moving and vastly superior 1969 film.The original is superior in every way: the screenplay.
Slow and boring.I didn't like any of the characters, unlike the original True Grit.First off, Hailee Steinfeld is a terrible Mattie.
If so many of you really want to watch remakes which butcher the original story from great books, and much better movies which didn't hold back on real character development with the actors, dialog, scenes, and beautiful scenery which the hatchet-men Coens chopped up, then this bodes very poorly for the future of cinema, and humanity on this earth.That so many of you are fascinated by the most no-talent, wooden actors and actresses in the history of movie making is just depressing beyond words.
Whole scenes were completely flushed, beginning with the first scene which defined the life of Mattie Ross before she lost her father.The few added scenes were like a political ad campaign against alcohol, but you know that the Coens saved money on the extra actors.The re-tooling of the dialog was by far the worst crime of this remake, which made every character more wooden than Pinnochio.I've got news for all the brain-dead sycophants who rave about the accuracy of the realism in this horrible remake(which for good reason wasn't good enough for the book or the 1969 movie) - it's still just a movie, and there's really no point in making a movie more realistic than watchable.
I wasn't sure how to take the news that the Coen brothers were remaking the John Wayne film True Grit and I remained unsure even when it was clear that they were not so much remaking the film as making a different version of the original book.
Ethan and Joel Coen, more famously known as the Coen Brothers, team up with Jeff Bridges twelve years after he starred as The Dude in the Coens' "The Big Lebowski" and with Josh Brolin three years after he starred as Llewelyn Moss in the Coens' Academy Award winning "No Country for Old Men", to create their newest classic, "True Grit".
The film begins with a shot of Mattie Ross's (Hailee Steinfeld's debut movie role) dead father on the ground after being shot in cold blood by a man named Ton Chaney (Josh Brolin).
True Grit is a great revival of a classic Western film by possibly the greatest team of brothers in film history.Mattie Ross (Hailie Steinfeld) is a thirteen year old girl who was raised in the eye-for-an-eye old west.
Josh Brolin has a small role, but he's good too.The Coen Brothers have created another modern classic with True Grit, a modern version of the classic Western story.
Jeff Bridges did one hell of a job as the washout Rooster Cogburn alongside newcomer Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross and Matt Damon the Texas Ranger LaBouef.
Action scenes are drawn out in between and in place of blazing gunfights we get character driven scenes which made the characters all the more human.Don't get me wrong, the 1969 version with John Wayne as the lead was great and I do love me a good John Wayne film but this version of TRUE GRIT simply stands out since it was able to make a mark of its own; it didn't succumb to being under the shadow of a classic and instead chose its own path.The only reason why I'm writing this is because for some reason, a lot of people hate it; obviously there's a lack of people who support it.
I've read some forums mentioning that the Coen's TRUE GRIT is nothing compared to the John Wayne version due to a massive lack of gun fights and Rooster Cogburn screen time as the lead, others saying that the film was a total disappointment because of something as trivial as bad CGI backgrounds or slow pacing and debates questioning the possibility of a 400 yard gun shot.
Maybe it's because it's cool to hate pretty much everything that's doing well on the internet right now as seen in the hype backlash against THE DARK KNIGHT and INCEPTION or maybe it's just because people are bored; I don't know.Sure, for a Coen Brothers film TRUE GRIT was pretty shallow, simple and straight forward even after they made a name for themselves by creating unique genre busting films and the fact that it was a PG-13 film didn't help much but the duo still managed to do what they do best; make a good film that's more than worth your money.Bottom line is if you don't like a slow paced Western and prefer the fast paced action ones, go ahead and watch TOMBSTONE or the 2007 version of 3:10 TO YUMA and the like; they're both good films that have heavy emphasis on action balanced with story.
A Movie Fun To Look At And Listen To. Count me as another viewer who enjoyed this re-make and likes both movies the first True Grit, starring John Wayne, as this one.The acting in this new version is superb, from 12-year-old Hailee Steinfeld playing 14-year-old "Mattie Ross" to Jeff Bridges playing the crotchety "Rooster Cogburn." Wayne would have been proud.The cinematography was good and that's no surprise since the main cameraman was the famous Roger Deakins.To me, the best part of the film was the dialog and a few quirky characters.
Damon is such a versatile actor.In the original "True Grit" John Wayne won his Academy Award for playing his larger than life self as Rooster Cogburn with ease and grace.
In this beautifully constructed Western remake of Henry Hathaway's 1969 version, 14-year-old girl Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) sets out with an eye-for-an-eye attitude to capture Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), the man who has mercilessly killed her father.
"Rooster" Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), a man of "true grit" and Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon).
It's boring, the acting is awful, especially Jeff Bridges, the scenery is not spectacular at all, I really don't know why they bothered to remake this film, it's just a waste of time.Honestly, I have no idea why it's got so many glowing reviews.The *only* good thing about this movie, is the 14 year old actress, she's excellent as Mattie.I had to create this account on IMDb just to write this, because reading the other reviews was too much to bear.Avoid this film at all costs!.
Thankfully, True Grit makes you almost completely forget the Coens have made anything since No Country.The father of the young Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) has been murdered in cold blood by outlaw Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin).
I just wish they used Brolin and a nearly unrecognizable Barry Pepper a lot more often.I am still unsure how to feel about True Grit a day after seeing it, but can say I was very pleased to see the Coens return to what worked in No Country for Old Men. It is a visually astounding and ambitious film that is imperfect, but still manages to be very good.
Jeff Bridges gets to put his own spin on the character of Reuben "Rooster" Cogburn, first portrayed by an Oscar-winning John Wayne in the 1969 film adaptation.
If their purpose is to reinvigorate the public's interest in a lost genre in a way that braver movies like The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford couldn't do then perhaps it'll have been worthwhile.14-year-old Mattie Ross (impressive newcomer Hailee Steinfeld) hires past-it Marshall Rooster Cogburn (a gloriously grumbling Jeff Bridges) and self-promoting dandy Ranger LaBoeuf (an amusing Matt Damon) to track down her father's killer, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin, playing the simpleton flip-side to No Country's crafty Llewelyn Moss).It's a classical western: a movie crafted to show affection toward, without spoiling, the self-contained myth of the Old West.
But it also has some hindrances, the ending is abrupt, and some of the characters perhaps are not quite as intriguing as they are in the 1969 film, Rooster especially has a more somewhat cantankerous personality there.Like all the Coen Bros movies, True Grit is beautifully shot, the scenery is stunning and there are some typically quirky moments in the cinematography.
etc., and I'll keep this simple!I did manage to see all of this remake but it was a real struggle!1) First of all never try to remake a John Wayne film as it will be doomed to failure as this movie has proved!2) I like Jeff Bridges in most of his films, but he fails miserably to reproduce John Wayne's version Of Rooster Cogburn!3) I also like Matt Damon in some of his films, but he also fail in the role of Texas Ranger La Beouf played originally played by Glen Campbell!4) I've never heard of Halie Steinfeld and she may be good in some other role, but here again fails miserably to compete with Kim Darby's version of Mattie Ross!5) Just as important in any movie ever made are the character bit roles, two roles I particularly refer to are that of Tom Chaney and Lucky Ned Pepper played by Josh Brolin and Barry Pepper, and both actors failed miserably to reproduce roles played by Jeff Corey and Robert Duval!So to the producers I say, get a clue...there just is no remaking of a good old John Wayne film!
The resurrection of western genre has tumbled through a long and bumpy way, sometimes it seems to be a pipe dream because we all admit time is a ruthless bitch, but in the hands of Coen brothers, the clicking steps are by far the firmest one to satisfy our nostalgia for that era (who could forget NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN?).It's hard to believe that TRUE GRIT actually is my first John Wayne's film if my memory doesn't fail me (which partially testifies that Western film usually is not my cup of tea), also I discovered it got Wayne an Oscar winning for Best Actor, which honestly speaking, is far from academy's normal criterion, the performance is particularly unexceptional, to me it's rather a tribute to his entire career, which is a stock and unfair trickery using by the academy (Paul Newman for example), Jeff Bridge's interpretation also doesn't take my breath away as well, mainly because his weird accent does bug me a lot.
True Grit is a very good western with a great story, great cast and two brothers who yet again churn out a film that is simply highly rated as so many of there other works are.
Based on the old film of the same name with John Wayne, the Coen Brothers possibly live up to the infamous Wayne version and the way they make the characters intertwine so well is fabulous.Jeff Bridges plays the infamous Rooster Cogburn with style and ease and know's exactly what kind of character he really is.
I also enjoyed the thuggish like performance of Josh Brolin who portrays yet another fine character in a Coen Brothers film(he also appeared in No Country for Old Men),he does a great job albeit maybe not featured as much as he should have.The film isn't too long at all and any more possibly could have ruined it's integrity but I will say if any criticism come's it is in the way the film's action is left until the end and I felt a little more would have been brilliant to see but not too much or the Drama and dialogue would be ruined.
But in True Grit, they seem to just want to make a solid western, and outside of a few quirky moments and a feverish final ride, the movie has little of the brothers' flash.It is a very well made movie, well acted, well filmed with an engaging story and characters.
True Grit is an excellent and perfectly executed Western and it will stand out as one of the best among the genre.The movie takes place in a small town in Arkansas where a 14 year girl named Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) narrates the story of how her father has been cowardly murdered by a thief who goes by the name of Tom Chaney (Josh Broslin).
Luckily they know how to make a remake right this time.Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) is a 14-year-old girl whom father had been murdered by one of his hired hands, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin).
More recently, the Western has enjoyed a modernised resurgence through quality films such as 3:10 To Yuma, There Will Be Blood and No Country For Old Men, also directed by the Coen brothers.In 1969, John Wayne starred in (and won the Oscar for) True Grit.
Jeff Bridges is excellent as the aged US Marshall Rooster Cogburn who is a man of true grit who Mattie Ross (Steinfeld) hires to hunt down the murderer of her father one Tom Chaney (Brolin).
Won't going to tell the story, just wanna say, that this is my favorite film so far by Coen brothers, and one of the best in 2010-2011.Jeff Bridges ABSOLUTELY steals the show creating one of the most memorable characters in a movie history - Rooster Cogburn (didn't saw J.Wayne) and the whole cast is just Great!
That film seems to have been put out of their minds - there are some acts you just can't follow.The Coen Brothers vision of True Grit never feels for one single second like a standard movie western.
What you get with Coen Brothers' True Grit is something similar, but with a Western flavor.After her father was murdered and robbed by his handyman, 14-year old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) is determined to find the killer Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin).
Thanks to a smart script and strong acting, True Grit comes off as a very solid film with some similarities and noticeable differences from the original film.Told in flashback by a woman's voice, a 14 year old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) wants to avenge the murder of her father at the hands of Tom Chaney (a grizzled Josh Brolin), and she arrives in a small town to hire Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), an aged, hard drinking veteran lawman who has done his share of killing and more.
Having never seen the older film (gasp), I'm not in a position to say which is better, nor which is more faithful to the book both are based on, having never read it, but what I do know is that the newer film is fantastic.Spot-on performances from all involved, superb dialogue, beautiful cinematography and a straight forward storyline made for the most enjoyable film I have seen in some time.Most people are probably aware of the premise of True Grit, but to summarise: 14 year old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) hires US Marshall 'Rooster' Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to help her track down and bring to justice her father's killer, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). |
tt1930371 | Joe + Belle | Joe (Veronica Kedar) is a drug dealer who was born in New York City but lives in Israel. She travels from Bangkok to Tel Aviv smuggling drugs. Joe delivers the drugs to Abigail (Romi Aboulafia) who tells her to meet at the club 'Dark Eighties' later that night in order to sell the drugs. Belle (Sivan Levy) a patient staying at Tel Aviv Psychiatric Hospital is released into the care of her mother (Florence Bloch), yet after learning that her parents got rid of her pet 'Fred' she runs away. She climbs onto the roof of a building and strips off her clothes to commit suicide. Before jumping she notices an open window and decides to go inside. After getting close to the window she finds it is in fact closed but she smashes it and goes inside anyway.
When Joe arrives home to her apartment, she hears noises in her bathroom. Armed with a guitar she goes in to find the suicidal Belle lying in her bathtub with a razor in her hand. Belle is immediately smitten by Joe and talks her into allowing her to go to 'Dark Eighties' together, although she still carries the razor around with her. At the club Joe tries to leave Belle but she follows her home again. Once back home Joe locks Belle outside, but she knocks on the door continuously until Joe lets her in. When Joe goes out for cigarettes Belle looks around the kitchen for food but finds a gun hidden inside the microwave which she trades for her razor and then goes to sleep on the couch. Joe's ex-boyfriend Matan (Yotam Ishay) arrives at the apartment and mistakes the sleeping Belle for Joe. Belle wakes up when Matan kisses her feet and she pulls out the gun, he tries to talk her into giving him the gun but she just shoots him instead. Joe arrives to find Matan on the ground and she takes the gun from Belle, but when Matan suddenly wakes up she shoots him in shock, killing him. Abigail, who is waiting for her boyfriend Matan to return home, thinks he may be cheating on her with Joe and leaves a threatening voice mail on his answer machine.
In order to move the body they attempt to steal a car. Belle sexually propositions a man with a car who follows her into an alley where she knocks him out and steals his car keys. Discovering that neither of the girls can drive they leave the car and head back to the apartment. They wrap the body in blankets and then Joe calls Abigail and asks to borrow her van. Initially agreeing to help move the body, Abigail becomes distressed when she realizes that it is Matan wrapped in the blankets. After dumping the body in a river Joe and Belle talk about ex lovers and Joe finds out Belle is a Lesbian. The three girls then go to a nearby club and Abigail leaves to phone corrupt police officer Tzedek (Ra'anan Hefetz) and tells him Joe and Belle killed Matan. Joe and Belle panic when they see flashing police lights outside, slip out of the club and hide in a local hotel room. After confirming their feelings for each other they begin to kiss when police officer Assi (Nitai Gvirtz) knocks on their door. Initially investigating another crime as he is about to leave he gets notified of Matan's murder over the police radio and Belle hits him over the head with the hotel phone and handcuffs him to the bathtub.
Joe and Belle get on a bus and phone Abigail to let her know they are going to Eilat. Abigail, Tzedek and female police officer Shlomtsi (Noa Provisor) head to Eilat to arrest Joe and Belle. After the phone call Joe becomes suspicious of Abigail and they get off the bus and head to Sderot, a city that is an ongoing target of Qassam rocket attacks. After playfully running around Sderot a warning siren for qassam rocket attacks sounds and they hide out in a public bathroom. Whilst hiding out they have sex for the first time. Afterwards they go to a cafe to eat and they meet Yoni (Shalev Gelber) who is trying to buy drugs. Joe decides to quit being a drug dealer and gives all the drugs she has to Yoni for free. Shlomtsi and Tzedek who are still waiting in Eilat begin to suspect Abigail. They arrest her for the murder based on the evidence of blood in her van, her sheets were used to wrap the body and the threatening answer machine message. Joe and Belle rent an apartment and go to a local open mic night were Joe sings a song for Belle. The film ends with Joe and Belle, who are no longer being chased by police for murder, happily living in Sderot together, despite the constant rocket attacks. | romantic, murder | train | wikipedia | Joe + Belle. A very original romance and comedy from a first time director, Veronica Kefar which had my attention right from the start. In this, two girls, are on the run from the law and an amusing set-up, amidst the falling rockets in present day Israel. The magical Sivan Levy literally drops into the life of Veronica Kedar, a disenchanted, alienated small-time drug dealer in Tel-Aviv and then the race is on. They consistently survive on the run as they learn about each other and belonging. The film begins so dark and becomes brighter and brighter as one identifies with Ms Kedar's character and falls in love with Ms Levy's.There may be comparisons to Thelma and Louise, but I enjoyed this much more. This is Indie, streetwise, funny and quite an intelligent film, weaving together disparate thoughts and emotions. To think this is Ms Kedar's first film. It is amazing. |
tt0109040 | Ace Ventura: Pet Detective | The movie begins with our hero Ace Ventura (Jim Carrey) rescuing a dog from an angry man, all but destroying his car in the process. The dog's owner, an attractive young woman, seduces Ace to avoid paying the detective's fee- a feat that Ace hardly resists.Late in the night at Miami Stadium, a group of individuals break in and steal the Miami Dolphins' mascot- a trained dolphin named Snowflake. Next morning, the Dolphin's Head of Operations Roger Podacter (Troy Evans) and his Chief Publicist named Melissa Robinson (Courtney Cox) are instructed to find the missing Snowflake before the upcoming Super Bowl (out of fear that the theft will affect the superstitious football players). A member of their staff was previously a client of Ace Ventura so they decide to call in this "pet detective" in to try investigating.Meanwhile, Ace is trying to capture a rare bird with a reward of $25,000 with no success. After receiving the request from Melissa to investigate, Ace goes to the stadium and takes a look inside Snowflake's tank, finding a small stone in the filter system. Roger spots a team of reporters heading to the tank and is worried (fearing the negative press that would result from knowledge of Snowflake's abduction). Ace poses as an eccentric animal trainer and manages to drive the reporters (Antoni Corone and Margo Peace) away.Later that day, Ace Ventura stops in at the local police headquarters. After an altercation with Sgt. Aguado (John Capodice), Ace meets his friend Detective Emilio (Tone Loc) to find out what leads the police may have. Emilio admits that a missing animal case isn't a priority for the police but they suspect that one of the local animal rights groups, who have repeatedly protested the Miami Dolphin's ownership of Snowflake, may be responsible. At this point, Emilio's superior, attractive female Lt. Lois Einhorn (Sean Young) comes along and throws Ace out.Ace visits his hacker buddy Woodstock (Raynor Scheine) to try and find information relating to the purchase of equipment that would be necessary for handling a dolphin. Woodstock notices several purchases by a man named Ron Camp (Udo Kier), a billionaire who apparently enjoys gathering rare fish. Furthermore, Woodstock notes that Camp donated land to the Miami Dolphins for the building of a new stadium.Ace decides to investigate Ron Camp further and gets into a party thrown by Camp that evening with Melissa. As Camp attempts to seduce Melissa, Ventura investigates Camp's home and finds a large aquarium tank that he assumes holds the missing Snowflake. However, the tank actually holds a large shark and Ace barely escapes with his life.As Melissa and Ace leave the party, her very annoyed and him wet as a hen and with rags instead of pants, the detective notices an unusual ring on Camp's hand, manhandling the billionaire in order to get a closer look. When they return to the stadium, Ace informs Melissa of the stone he found in Snowflake's tank-and Camp's ring had the same kind of stones, but since no stones were missing, Camp was not the one responsible for Snowflake's abduction. The ring in question is a 1984 AFC Championship Ring, won by the Miami Dolphins. Ace decides to personally investigate all the ring-owners to find one with a missing stone, but before long his photographic list of suspects has run out with no results.Melissa attempts to console Ace about his failure to find the damaged ring. Ace is in no mood for her and they trade insults. As Ace goes inside to apologize, Melissa receives a devastating phone call- Roger Podacter is dead.The police investigate Podacter's apartment, learning that Roger's body was found after crashing through a sunroof twenty stories below his apartment balcony. Lt. Einhorn is in charge of the investigation and she is prepared to pronounce Podacter's death a suicide. Ace, however, disagrees, insisting that Roger was murdered. After interviewing Podacter's neighbor (Florence Mistrot), who had heard a scream in the apartment and the manager (who opened the balcony door to check the place), Ace's theory is proven- Roger's balcony door is made of soundproof glass and thus Roger's neighbor couldn't have heard a scream with the door closed- meaning that somebody else closed the door upon leaving the apartment after throwing Roger Podacter over the balcony.Despite proving his theory to the police, Ace is still upset about not finding the correct ring. Melissa takes Ace to the stadium office to investigate paperwork regarding the sale of the rings. There, Ace spots an unfamiliar player face that was not in his previous checklist. Melissa tells Ace that the player is a mid-season replacement kicker named Ray Finkle. Furthermore, Finkle is the player who allegedly kept the Dolphins from winning the 1984 Super Bowl- by missing the final field goal in an event known as "The Kick Heard Round The World", a reference to Scott Norwood's missed field goal kick in the closing moments of Super Bowl XXV. The result was Finkle's contract with the Dolphins being canceled and he never played football again.Ace drives to Finkle's childhood home and finds it covered in graffiti and damage from the still-bitter townsfolk. Finkle's father (Bill Zuckert) is outwardly hostile, pointing a gun at Ace until Mrs. Finkle (Alice Drummond), senile yet doting over her absent son. Ventura learns that Ray Finkle was institutionalized in a private hospital several years ago, but escaped soon after. A tour of Finkle's room shows a testament to his hatred of Dan Marino (Dan Marino himself), the player who held the ball for Finkle's Kick and who Ray blames for the whole thing insisting that Marino held the ball "laces in" instead of out, per regulations.Realizing that Marino is likely in danger, Ace telephones Melissa and requests extra security for the star player. Marino is filming a commercial for Isotoner gloves when he is tackled by two men in Miami Dolphins uniforms-apparently as part of the commercial. But when the "Dolphins" keep carrying Dan after the director yells CUT, everyone realizes what has happened. Ace attempts to stop the abductors but they evade capture.Einhorn finds Ace in her office after a press interview, infuriating her- until Ace mentions the name Ray Finkle. Ace shares his theory with the lieutenant- Finkle has come back to take his revenge right at Super Bowl time, when it will be most harmful to the Dolphins. Snowflake was the first target of revenge because the dolphin had been given Finkle's old number and taught to kick a field goal as part of the halftime show. Ace also theorizes that Podacter was murdered because he recognized Finkle from his previous tenure with the Dolphins. Lt. Einhorn actually applauds Ace's work, making physical advancements towards the pet detective- which Ace rebuffs.Desperate to find out more about Ray Finkle, Ace goes to the mental hospital where the ex-player was held in an attempt to search through any remaining belongings. Melissa poses as an anguished sister looking to commit her deranged, football-obsessed brother to give Ace a chance to explore the hospital. She talks to the doctor (David Margulies) while Ave looks into every room in the hospital. A check of the storage room reveals further examples of Finkle's hatred of Dan Marino along with an unusual news article- the failure of search parties to locate a missing hiker named Lois Einhorn.Emilio checks out Lt. Einhorn's desk at police headquarters, finding a love letter to the lieutenant from Roger Podacter dated several days before Rogers' death. Ace struggles to find the possible link between Finkle and Einhorn but cannot see any viable connection. When Ace's pet dog lies on a picture of Finkle (covering the player's short black hair with long red threads) Ventura finally realizes the truth- Finkle IS Einhorn! Ace is overjoyed at finding the answer, but repulsed by the knowledge that the lieutenant who attempted to seduce him is actually a man.On the morning of the Super Bowl, Ace tails Einhorn to a remote boathouse where Dan Marino and Snowflake are being kept. Ace manages to defeat Einhorn's two henchmen but is caught by Einhorn and held at gunpoint before he can free Marino. Einhorn radios the police for assistance, claiming Ace is the one behind the abductions.Einhorn is distracted by a news report on the Super Bowl, repeating the '84 "Kick Heard Round The World" clip. In her rage, Ace is able to overpower her and Snowflake takes the lieutenant's gun away. As the police arrive, Einhorn orders them to shoot Ace- until Melissa arrives holding Emilio at gunpoint to distract the other police officers enough to let Ace finish the case.Ace explains the full details of Finkle's new career and plan, ripping off Lt. Einhorn's clothes in an effort to prove his point. However, Ace's efforts only seem to prove that Einhorn is a genuine female. However, Dan Marino spots the truth- Einhorn has male genitalia tucked between her (his?) legs. Ace realizes that this is why Roger Podacter died- he learned of Einhorn's true gender!Enraged, Einhorn attempts to stab the pet detective but Ace knocks her into the water with Snowflake. Einhorn staggers back out (her red hair now washed back to black thanks to the water) and Ace notices a ring on her finger. Ventura leans over and cheers in triumph- it is indeed the AFC Championship ring, missing a stone.Dan Marino and Snowflake are both returned to the Miami stadium in time for the Super Bowl halftime show. At the same time, Ace spots the rare bird he had been chasing at the beginning of the movie- only to have it chased away by the opposing teams' mascot (Mark Margolis). Ace and the costumed man get into a fight just as the stadium announcer brings the camera onto Ace Ventura to thank the pet detective for his actions in saving the Dolphins. | comedy, murder, bleak, cult, humor, action, revenge | train | imdb | The Miami Dolphins mascot is stolen and by word-of-mouth advertising Ace Ventura (Jim Carrey) is called into manic action.
His job is to find the dolphin and return it before The Miami Dolphins' crucial game.Jim Carrey is quite simply amazing, I never stopped laughing the whole way through the movie.
Pictures came out with the funniest film of the decade, err, 1994, with the Jim Carrey super-vehicle, ACE VENTURA: PET DETECTIVE.Right off the bat, it is a Jim Carrey showcase: chasing missing albino pigeons, rescuing a pampered shiatsu, and making high speed getaways, this all works because it is Ace Ventura, a hilarious, live-action cartoon character who spouts one-liners like an M-16.The premise of the film is that the Miami Dolphin's team mascot, Snowflake the dolphin, has been captured and needs to be found in time for the Super Bowl.
With an assortment of funny situations like Ace falling into a great white shark tank (!), a montage of Ace searching for a missing jewel, Ace head banging in a CANNIBAL CORPSE concert, it's all gold, and as you have read, Ace is what drives this film into comedy genius!
It was a busy and successful year for Jim Carrey, as he came out with another pair of comedy blockbusters, the LOOSELY translated Dark Horse comic THE MASK, and his hilarious buddy comedy with Jeff Daniels, DUMB and DUMBER.Thanks to Tom Shadyac for letting Carrey out of the bag and letting this damn funny Canadian strut his lanky stuff.It has some offensive, adult-oriented material, but if caught on television, this is nearly perfect family entertainment: as long as you don't mind your kids talking from their a$$es for the next couple months..
Ace Ventura is the kind of comedy that stems directly from a TV show, and in this case, that show was probably In Living Color, where Carrey got most of his publicity before he became famous as a movie actor.
The Mask (hey, he's still new, give the guy a break), Dumb & Dumber, a sequel to Ace Ventura, Liar Liar, The Cable Guy (oops), The Truman Show (ah, better), Man On The Moon, Me, Myself & Irene, The Grinch, and there's no end in sight.Sure, Ace Ventura does not compare to half of these movies, and is clearly more on the side of the bone-headed comedy that he was doing on In Living Color, but his talent is unmistakable.
Jim Carrey saves Ace Ventura from sinking to the totally brainless level of more recent crapfests as the Scary Movies, and even makes this into one of the better comedies of 1994.
This is not the type of movie that is likely to win any awards, but you will remember the hilarious dialogue and Jim Carrey's immediately recognizable rubber-faced antics in this film that served as a spring board to his career, which later brought us many more excellent movies.
The storyline is silly, the dialog is silly and the concept is silly, with one extraordinary exception: Jim Carrey, who, in contrast, uses his extremely intelligent wit and hugely humorous body actions to make this movie what it is, hilarious.The fact is, this mans arguably a genius, he made a possibly average, run-of-the-mill, 'straight to TV' comedy into an all-time classic.
As a film, it works and manages some truly funny moments, but it's Carrey who makes this film a must watch.'Ace Ventura: Pet Detective': Synopsis: A goofy detective specializing in animals, goes in search of a missing dolphin mascot of a football team.
And of course, the woman who played reporter Melissa (Courtney Cox) went on to play the reporter in the "Scream" trilogy.Well anyway, Ace Ventura really is a master of disguise, and it's almost hard to believe that after almost ten years of stagnation in comedy, this movie came and changed the way that we think about humor.
It's certainly better than DUMB AND DUMBER, anyway.Ace Ventura (Jim Carrey) is an eccentric detective who only takes cases about animals.
Carrey's off the wall antics are what made this film and direct attention away well from the flaws that the movie has.It is safe to say that Carrey was the star and provided all the highlights of this movie and while Sean Young (playing Lt. Lois Einhorn) and Courteney Cox in some ways aided the movie they simply came off as bit-part characters rather than stars as Carrey stole the entire show.
Capable direction from Tom Shadyac is a further high spot in this movie and recognition should also be given to Jack Bernstein who co-wrote an astoundingly funny script with Jim Carrey.Ace Ventura: Pet Detective' is certainly one of the finest comedies Jim Carrey has offered the world so far and despite missing the more heart-warming moments that later films such as Liar Liar' (1997) offered, is a good movie in it's own right.
That being said I personally do enjoy this movie and feel that fans of Jim Carrey and many other people will find this entertaining fun.
For all of Carrey's wacky antics and the, at times, overbearingly silly tone of the piece, there's actually a really dark, surprisingly layered mystery running through 'Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)'.
I really can't imaging how this movie would had been without Jim Carrey in it.The movie further more also has a good supporting cast with fine actors such as Courteney Cox, Sean Young, Udo Kier, Troy Evans, John Capodice and more.No it's not its directing or overall style that makes this really a special comedy to watch.
"Ace" may be weird and a bit stupid, but he has a good heart and that's why he make a likable character.Carrey can be funny with the stupid characters he plays - which includes this film - but he also be extremely annoying and wear thin fast.
It isn't much an adult film, either, but it sure served Carrey well and it helped catapult him into stardom.Apparently, a lot of folks like this movie because it spawned a sequel.
I'm gonna tell you, that guy is pretty damn funny.If you feel like you can need an incredibly goofy movie, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective might just be your thing.
So even if you're not a fan of Jim Carrey and you want pure fun, time to watch this movie..
I originally watched this movie because I thought Jim Carrey was funny, so I saw this movie and to be honest, I don't think I stopped laughing once throughout the entire movie.
Pet Detective Ace Ventura (Jim Carrey) is the man you call when crimes happen to animals.
Not since the days of silent films has there been someone so outrageously funny who can make us laugh just by slightly altering his facial expression, and Jim Carrey really is one of those phenomena of Nature, like volcanoes, which keep going relentlessly.
The movie is so quotable that even I can remember a great number of quotes from the movie and I've never been really good at doing that.If your not a Carrey fan, then this movie is most certainly not for you, as he is himself (his standard wacky crazy character) in the entire movie.I strongly recommend the movie as long as you are able to turn your thinking mind down a little and just enjoy the silly nature of the movie and the characters that Jim becomes throughout..
Almost a perfect comedy is Ace Ventura Pet detective simply because it was Jim Carrey in his prime.Jim Carrey plays probably the most outrageously funny character in his entire career as the bizarre animal lover hired to locate a stolen dolphin.The story give the film so much potential and it lives right up to it because of Jim Carrey.Ace is probably the goofiest,stupidest,weirdest,most annoying character ever yet that is why i love this film.The fact that Carrey plays such a good freak and delivers every classic line with pure comedic genius is enough to make this a classic.The acting is top notch as is the cast which includes Courtney Cox and Dan Marino.Despite the impossibly unbelievable situations Ace gets himself into the movie can be as silly as it wants because it is a silly movie.No movie has gone as over the top physical comedy as Ace Ventura and it's not humourless Americas Funniest Home Videos physical comedy it's how awkward and how uncoordinated Carrey contorts his face and body when delivering a line such as "Alrighty Then".Sadly Jim Carrey has decided to get into less goofy comedy's like Bruce Almighty,Fun With Dick and Jane and other snore fests that don't even compare to his earlier work.If you enjoy stuff like Family Guy,Mad T.v or anything over the top like that i deeply request Ace Ventura.Guaranteed to make you burst with laughter.
In addition, I have a lot of favorite parts of this movie, especially when Ace mocked people and laughed like he used to do on "IN LIVING COLOR." If you ask me, Einhorn (Sean Young) was sort of snobby.
Alllrighty then
Like a ballistic missile launched from the irreverent camp of "In Living Color" (of which he was the odd-white-man-out alumnus), Jim Carrey's first starring role remains a watershed performance of mega-ultra-outré singularity.Shadyac's straightforward direction leaves Carrey, as the eponymous hero, the much-needed space to run amok like a force of nature that few comedians before him have commanded (notably, early Jerry Lewis).The plot of the Pet Detective recovering a kidnapped dolphin mascot is almost irrelevant, as scenery-chewing is taken to oxygen-depleting levels whenever Carrey inhabits more than one-tenth of the screen frame, in a frenetic story that takes Ace from football fields to Southern backwaters, to infiltrating a mental asylum and swimming with sharks.Sophisticates and art-house elitists whine over Carrey's Method, but his execution is unquestionably adept and engineered for maximum impact.
What happens when a dolphin mascot is kidnapped, where no where to turn, they hire Ace Ventura(Jim Carrey) a pet detective, who is real good at his job, and always gets his pet, but acts like he drank too much coffee and ate too much sugar.
He was in the Dirty Harry flick, The Dead Pool, he was in Once Bitten, and some other stuff that wasn't too well known.Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, on the other hand, became very well known and to me is Jim Carrey's first real movie.
Saw this with my kid yesterday, even though you can see on the film quality that it is from 1994, the humor and story still holds up and gives everyone a lot of laughs, Jim Carrey is still my number one comedy hero of all times :)There is just something about the humor of the time, it is still fun, the faces, the moves, the weird voices, the characters, well everything is just working for comedies of these times and keeps on working.
Maybe I enjoyed it a bit more because I have seen it countless times already, but it looked like my son was very happy about this comedy classic :)I have plans of showing him all the great Jim Carrey films, but this and the Mask was the ones that got me hooked on him and I have been ever since..
Hi there, In this film i love the way Jim Carrey make us laughs, with gestures, with his role that fits so well with their expressions, with that peculiar humor, laughter and those still finding their way from the beginning of the film to end.I love the way he, in a comedy for all ages, we are happy after each review, after every minute, so I think this is a film suitable for everyone with sufficient dose of humor.I hope you enjoy it as I do, because since then, I enjoyed as a little boy of all his crazy adventures as Ace Ventura, and that's why I love Pet Detective..
This movie and "Dumb and Dumber" are Jim Carrey's two funniest films.
I don't care if he ever gets an Oscar, the best performances of Jim Carrey's career were Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Dumb and Dumber..
Ace Ventura Pet Detective shows off Jim Carrey at his best.
Jim Carrey makes the film and is simply fantastic, he's amazingly talented and a must for every fan who loves comedy!
The "plot" is not serious, most of the acting is mediocre at best, but the unique comedy of Jim Carrey is what shines through in this film.
In my opinion, Jim Carrey's career can´t last a long time if he keeps on making movies like this..
Jim Carrey became a comedy superstar with this big comedic hit that sees him star as wild(bordering on insane) pet detective Ace Ventura, who is called upon to locate the missing mascot of the Miami Dolphins Pro Football team.
Bizarrely the BBC decided to show this earlier today at a traditional family slot in the early evening which proves the BBC know as little about movies as the average Hollywood producer That's bad enough but what really disgusted me is that ACE VENTURA PET DETECTIVE turned Jim Carrey into a film star .
However, this is quite a pathetic, cheap and in my opinion a tedious and dull film.Yes Jim Carrey is a pet detective and this is Ace Ventura one of his worse achievements.But of course feel free to argue that I am a boring person who does not appreciate the true fine and funny nature of the film.
Ace Ventura is far from perfect, but it is still great fun to watch and has plenty of over the top lunacy and laughs to please most comedy lovers.Sadly this is still one of Carrey's weaker movies, but for Carrey fans everywhere; this is worthy of recognition.6/10.
Jim Carrey is my favorite comedy actor and i love almost all of his movies.This is Ace Ventura.WOW.Very funny movie.VERY VERY FUNNY.You will ask why do i like this movie so much.And also you will ask why do i think that this movie is that funny.First i will tell you the story of Ace Ventura.Jim Carrey is the eccentric detective Ace Ventura.The opening scene is very funny.Ace has to make a delivery to one man.This delivery is in box and Ace crashes this box almost everywhere.He reaches the place and the man comes out takes the box and his dog comes to see Ace.Ace catches the dog and hides it in his shirt and lets a false dog.He starts running and gets in the car and escapes from the tricked angry man.And about the story.A dolphin was stolen and the pet detective is called to solve this case.Watch the movie and you will laugh all the time.Really one of the funniest movies ever made.
Hell they even cast Jim Carrey, who at that point in time has only played in mostly adult-oriented comedy film like Earth Girls are Easy even more in that same year he starts in The Mask and Dumb & Dumber, both are not kids-friendly by any mean and both are widely more successful.
In this movie, Ace Ventura has a too big of a quirky personality that the straight-man character just doesn't work and there were 2 of those in this film (Courteney Cox's Melissa and Tone Loc's Emilio, three if you count Dan Marino).
Carrey makes it watchable - his energy and enthusiasm alone is enough to keep the viewer watching in spite of the inadequate storyline.I was surprised to learn that 'Ace Ventura' was released in the same year as Carrey's career best movie 'Dumb and Dumber' and there are certainly parallels between Lloyd and the pet detective.
Jim Carrey was perfect for the role as Ace Ventura "The Pet Detective", and I don't think anyone else could've played it any better.
Jim Carrey's breakout role, Ace Ventura is one of the funniest films of the 1990s.
If you enjoy Jim Carrey's brand of humor (and it's not for everyone), then you'll love Ace Ventura.
Released in 1994, "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" stars Jim Carrey as the titular detective investing the case of the Miami Dolphins' missing mascot.
Dan Marino plays himself.I rank this with my all-time favorite movies simply because Jim Carrey's outrageous goofiness makes me laugh so much.
Jim Carrey plays a pet detective.That's pretty much all you have to know about the movie Ave Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), which is directed by Tom Shadyac.What's the thing about this movie is the physical madness offered by Jim Carrey.Other actors are overshadowed by Mr. Carrey's presence, but they're there.There's Courteney Cox, who received super stardom in Friends.There's Sean Young.There's rapper/actor Tone Loc.Then you also have people like the late Noble Willingham.Not to forget Troy Evans.Or Randall 'Tex' Cobb.And they all do a good job, but as I mentioned earlier, they're overshadowed by its main star.There are plenty of scenes that make you laugh in this movie.Like all the scenes with Ace and the missing dolphin and the other animals.Or the party scene.And let's not forget the butt talking scene.Jim Carrey turns 50 today, so congratulations to him.It was Ace Ventura, Mask and Dumb and Dumber that made him a super star.Later in his career he has proved he can do serious work in films as well.But probably it's movies like this that he will be remembered from the most.This movie got a sequel next year..
Jim Carrey's first starring role as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective may seem obnoxious to some but to others, he is the definition of a living cartoon.
Pet detective Ace Ventura (Carrey) is assigned to track down Snowflake, the mascot of football team The Dolphins before the Superbowl.Jim Carrey, the man.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is just outrageously hilarious and Jim Carrey's tremendous performance as the so called "goofy" detective is just beyond words can describe.
Ace (Jim Carrey) who is a Pet Detective (good laugh right there) summons himself to become the one man army that will find the Miami Dolphins Mascot 'Snowflake' (who has been kidnapped) and bring the Dolphins kidnappers to justice (the Ace Ventura way of course!). |
tt0114113 | The Perez Family | Cuban boat-lift refugees (Carter era) land in Miami, with different goals. The story focuses on relationships that develop under hard circumstances, with long lasting effects. Drama is real, story is clean and not predictable. Character development is adequate, actor list is 1st class. Good writing. Marisa Tomei is incredible, as usual, and her character was the most developed, but a bit predictable at some points. At times, however, it feels as though you are seeing the table of contents version only of a great novel. There was so much talent available, and so much more character development was expected. Could be editing issues. The politics both, national and international were glossed over, and made to seem insignificant, like another day in the park. The boat lift of political prisioners from Cuba, deserved way more development and insight and with the amazing cast, it was an oppurtunity lost. The end of the movie provides a twist but not so strange as to be unbelievable, but again,
so much interpersonal drama was available but not included. The acting was excellent considering what the actors were given to develop. | romantic | train | imdb | Good Cast Helps This Pleasant Love Story (spoilers)..
Alfred Molina and Marisa Tomei head up the cast of this pleasant romantic comedy about a former political prisoner and a former sugar cane farmer who leave Cuba for the United States in 1980 on what I presume to be the famous Marielle Boat Lift that brought Cuban exiles to the states (although the boat looks much smaller than it did in 'Before Night Falls').
Having the same last name, the man and the bouyant young woman pose as husband and wife (and later members of an extended Perez family) in order to gain a sponsor who will give them a place to stay and some kind of work.But, Juan (Molina) is expecting to be reunited with his wife (Angelica Houston) and grown daughter (Trini Alvarado).
His traitor brother-in-law, who was responsible for the twenty years he spent in that dreadful prison, comes to the dock looking for Juan, but is told by the guard that Juan and his wife already passed through.
Juan, in the meantime, has no idea about the misunderstanding, but longs to be reunited with his family.However, along the way, Juan and Dorita (Marisa Tomei in a fantastic performance) build a friendship, and eventually, fall in love for each other.
Juan and his wife, after so many years apart and finding satisfaction and closeness in relationship, they find it hard to rekindle what they once had.
Despite being married, they had been away from each for more than twenty years and could not just pick up where they left off.It is a pleasant romantic comedy and has some very funny moments as well as an excellent cast, particularly Marisa Tomei, who pretty much drives the whole movie as the young Cuban female who tries to create a close family (with others similarly named Perez) and searching out something like an "American Dream.".
The director is known for her more intense and dramatic films but here she proves that she can direct a comedy.
Though 'The Perez Family' isn't without its share of flaws, it is overall a funny movie with loads of laugh-out-loud moments.
The film is about a group of Cuban immigrants who move to the states, one of them is in search of freedom and another in search of his family whom he hasn't seen for 20 years.
While the film is essentially a comedy, Nair does tackle some issues that represent the darkness of an immigrant's life.The score is energetic and the cinematography is vivacious.
The dialogues are wonderful, especially the ones between Tomei and Molina.Marisa Tomei has never looked hotter.
The late Celia Cruz makes a pleasantly awkward appearance.'The Perez Family' is quite a charming and funny romantic comedy that gives us a glimpse of the hardships of immigrant life but also lots to laugh about.
Would like to see Nair make more comedy..
Exploits the spice of Cuba but is really just a predictable romantic comedy/drama.
When President Carter declared an open door policy to anyone who wanted to escape Cuba and come to America, Castro used this to clear his jails of criminals and political prisoners.
When Juan Raul Perez gets on the boat he hopes his wife will be there to meet him, as she fled to the US decades ago.
When she doesn't come he ends up in the camp with everyone else, including the feisty Dorita Evita Perez.
For that reason they pretend to be married and gradually start putting their fake family in place.I was drawn to this film by the cast list and in fairness I should have spotted that this film about Cubans had very few Cuban or even Latino actors in it.
The film tries to fizzle with Latin spirit while at the same time delivering a rather convoluted romantic drama of sorts.
It partly works but the writing isn't great and the film failed to really engage me as it just seemed a little forced as if it had been a good idea once but had had so many knobs added to it that it got a little daffy.
If you can't see where this is going then I salute your ability to blindly accept what is given to you.Talking of clichés, the casting of so few Hispanic/Cuban/Latino actors was a mystery to me.
Tomei was the name that drew me to this film but in turns her role is good and bad.
She has an important role and it was necessary for her to be feisty etc but she overdoes it a little bit - hammy up her Latin cliché at the start for all she is worth; she gets better though.
Molina is another strange choice but he does well in his role and carries some dignity through the film - it's not his fault that the script gets silly in trying to keep him and Huston apart.
SNL's Cleghorne plays a cop and, in the spirit of ethnic clichés, pushes the `oh-no-she-didn't' eye-rolling, `talk to the hand', neck moving black character for all she is worth - when she does it as a joke it is OK but here it just felt like laziness - especially for such a minor character.Overall, any Hollywood film with Latinos/Cubans/Hispanics in it is going to force the rhythm for all it is worth and here is no different.
It starts out boasting historical context and spice, falls into a rather convoluted series of plot twists that end up taking the film down a rom-com road to a solution that, although badly delivered, unthinkable and out-of-nowhere, was obvious from about 30 minutes into the film..
Marisa Tomei is an absolute delight and the movie is good too.
Marisa Tomei was an absolute delight.
Very, very good movie with a little bit of everything you could want.
I remember I was seeing a play "Ragtime" and I wondered if an immigration movie/play existed that was not incredibly depressing and then I remembered "The Perez Family".
It's like that excercise where a shrink tells the husband to pretend he's interested in sex with his wife and then it the feelings actually occur.
Here they pretend to be a family to get through immigration and then they actually do begin to care for one another and be like a true family.I also loved how it could get a little surealistic at moments.
Or the moment Juan sees his wife kissing the cop and as he crushes the photo we see a red stain appear over his heart.
And yes Marisa Tomei has never been hotter!
;-)I also loved a lot of the minor roles such as the Indian immigration official who clearly realizes what's going on and clearly doesn't care.
Marisa Tomei is wonderful!
Marisa Tomei is wonderful!
ALfred Molina is great as the confused political prisoner.The story begins as Alfred Molina sends his family off to America during a crackdown of the Cuban Communists.
Marisa Tomei is a young worker in the sugar cane fields.
He as a released political prisoner trying to find the family he'd already sent to America years earlier, she as a poor worker trying to get to a better life.
In the confusion of the long line at immigration and in order to get placed with a sponsor more quickly she claims him as her husband and an old man as her father in law.For those of us who's families have been here long enough that we don't remember immigration this movie is a great reminder of why so many people have wanted to come here over the years.
This excellent film came out at the same time as the similar titled "My Family." How interesting it always is when twin films come out that way.
Both were excellent films with similar marketing campaigns, but Marisa Tomei in "The Perez Family" is what makes this film the superior of the two.
As Dottie Perez, Marisa Tomei is sizzling hot, as sexy as anything to dance across the screen in decades, and simply dissolves into her character.
If Marisa Tomei won a Oscar for "My Cousin Vinny" (which she did), then her performance here, in comparison, deserves a Nobel Peace Prize!
I dare any one, male or female, to watch this film and not fall instantly in love with every inch of her.
Our entire family adores this film and Marisa Tomei's performance..
Well, most have summed up the story and acting pretty well, but I thought this was a beautiful film about indominable human spirit.
As Tomei's character states in the beginning of the film, "I am like Cuba: always subjugated, but never conquered" (paraphrased).That, for me, was the theme of the film throughout.
Tomei was wonderful, but I loved the subtle work from Molina and Huston..
This is a cute little film starring Marisa Tomei (Wild Hogs, My Cousin Vinny) and Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2, Frida) as Cubans who came over on the Marial boat lift in the 80s.Juan Raul Perez (Molina) is married to Carmela (Anjelica Huston), who came to America 20 years previous while Juan languished in a Cuban prison.
He is stuck in an immigration facility with Dorita Evita Perez (Tomei), who is not related to him, but pretends to be his wife so they can get out.
They even pick up a father and a son in their attempt at freedom.While Juan is trying to escape and reunite with Carmela, her brother, Angel (Diego Wallraff) is trying to keep them apart.
Further complicating the adventure is a cop, Lt. John Pirelli (Chazz Palminteri), who is falling in love with Carmela.It is a sweet little comedy that Tomei does so well and worth spending some time with..
It could have gone either way - a drama or a comedy.
Poor Chazz Palmenteri (Lt. Pirelli), an actor of some substance, had no substance here - the script not allowing meaning or motivation for his character.
Alfred Molina (Perez) started out as dark and brooding, his love for the beautiful Carmela (Angela Houston) ruling his every thought.
Then when he finally finds her, you'd think, wow, now this guy's going to go crazy to get her (after all, it's been twenty years in prison thinking only of her).
Mind you, this is his great love.
thinking only of Perez and along comes a cop (Chazz) and she's totally overwhelmed.
Her brother does not seem to not want Carmela and Perez to reunite, but then, for no reason at all, when he sees Perez at a dance where Carmella is dancing happily with Chazz, he screams to Carmela something like "Look, look, it's Perez, he's here." Carmela pulls out a gun and aims it at poor Perez - she's going to shoot him!
If ever there was a film where character motivation was weak, indeed, absent, this is it..
If you appreciate the acting ability of Marissa Tomei, such as her great role in My Cousin Vinny, you will like this one.
To me the movie was poorly made and the main reasons were that a lot of things happening were not made clear to the audience and that the characters' motivations were often unclear.To me one interesting aspect of the story was that the meaning of "family" was analysed by looking at the form and function and how it affects the people involved (rather than taking strangers and showing how they love and support each other unlike their families, although they are not formally related).
It is a trope used in some Christmas flicks but in a different way which I never found satisfactory.What I liked the most was how the meaning of "freedom" was shown.
The theme was very clear throughout the story and was common for most of the characters.Overall, although not the clearest movie in regards to story and character motivation, I think it is worth a go and could actually be better the second time..
Sugar cane worker Dorita Evita Perez (Marisa Tomei) is looking for a brighter Hollywood life.
Political prisoner Juan Raul Perez (Alfred Molina) is released with the Mariel boatlift.
The two Cuban refugees of the same last name are mistakenly put together as husband and wife by Immigration officials.
He has not seen his real wife Carmela Perez (Anjelica Huston) for 20 years who is in Miami with their daughter Teresa Perez (Trini Alvarado).
Carmela's brother Angel Diaz comes looking for him and finds him with Dorita as his wife.
Lt. John Pirelli (Chazz Palminteri) is investigating and gets close to Carmela.
Dorita pushes Juan to stay together to get a sponsor.
After collecting more members, the new Perez family sets off to find their way.Marisa Tomei is effervescent and brash.
This may work better if it stayed only with her and Molina.
I'm less sure about his family in America.
The love story gets twisted into a pretzel.
I can't help but wonder if it would be infinitely sweeter to have Juan find Teresa at the end of the movie with a daughter he never knew existed.
"The Perez Family" can't decide what it wants to be--a romance, a comedy, or a historical documentation of a period.
It seems to move from tragedy to comedy to the surreal with such alacrity and little sense of purpose that the entire film feels inconsequential.All of the actors do a fine job.
Marisa Tomei, in particular, gives a sensual performance that is just tossed away by the schizophrenic narrative.
In the end, "The Perez Family" feels populated by caricatures.Within this film, I think there are the beginnings of a solid serious film.
And a sensual love story.
But misdirection, bad editing and/or bad writing have mashed them all together into a lump of confusion.I do think it is possible to blend comedy, tragedy and more in one film.
When I think how well some of the "Perez" characters could fit into a story like that, it reinforces my disappointment of this film.There are parts of this film that could be very striking if they were within a coherent story.
This was a typical Hollywood film gone "A MUCK" portraying minorities in this country in ignorant ways as only Hollywood can.
I'm sure that the director tried to make the film seem beautiful...but UGHHH...the artistic license was just way too over the top.
Another Hollywood failure that could have been Great gone bad because of hand tailoring movies to marketing for U.S. consumption....Don't waste your time watching this film unless you don't mind wasting it on useless drivel, remember it will be precious time that you will NEVER ever be able to recuperate....what a piece of Garbage.
I can't begin to describe the truly exotic and sensual feeling behind "The Perez Family." The direction was at it's best starring top stars like Marisa Tomei, Angelica Huston, & Alfred Molina, and a great supporting cast including Chazz Palminteri, Trini Alvarado, & Celia Cruz.It's the story on a family trying to move to the land of the free, America, in the 1980's.
Years later when he is released, he climbs on board and heads to the U.S. hoping to find his family.
Upon arrival in the states, Miami seems to be a much bigger place than he imagined and hopes of finding his family seems a lot harder than expected.
It's romantic, sensual, and funny & if you believe in fairy tales, this movie is made for you.
A cute fantasy of a film, Marisa and Alfred Molina star..
Nothing else good on TV, and not feeling like going to the DVD store, we watched "Perez Family" on WE network.
Molina's wife and child go to Miami by boat from Cuba, he stays behind to care for the sugar cane, lands in jail for a long time.
Twenty years later he manages to leave, and on the boat meets Marisa Tomei, a sexy Cuban prostitute, who at arrival in Key West suggests they represent themselves as "Perez and Perez", a married couple.
They begin a life in Miami, his real wife turns up (Angelica Huston), she has fallen for a policeman (Chaz Palminteri), meanwhile Molina and Tomei begin to appreciate each other.In the climax, Molina and Huston meet up at a dance, 20 years after they last saw each other, they smile, are cordial, but they prefer the lives that fate has dealt them, Molina and Tomei stay together, his wife and the policeman stay together.
Not heavy, a cute little romantic comedy.
Marisa Tomei is so good!.
Nice comedy about immigration with a sensual Marisa Tomei.
A political prisoner (Juan Raoul Perez) flees to the US looking for his wife (Carmela)and his daughter (Teresa) he hasn't seen for 20 years.
On the boat and in the fugitives' camp he gets to know a girl (Dorita Evita Perez) with whom he starts a fake family to speed up the immigration procedure.
By the time he manages to meet with his wife Carmela he has already fallen in love with Dorita, and Carmela with a policeman.
Dorita is an exuberant, sensual and sweet character.
Juan well represents the estrangement of a prisoner and immigrant ( in a way, he recalls the Castaway of "L'invenzione di Morel").
The movie is worth seeing for few good scenes (like the one where Dorita learns that John Wayne is dead and starts crying), Marisa Tomei's beauty, and some Cuban music..
I love Marisa Tomei's acting ability and expected a lot from this movie because of her.
However, I didn't think the story itself worked as a romantic comedy - - there's a child murdered as a plot point, for heaven's sake!
And the romantic tension between Angelica Huston and Chaz Palminteri is non-existent, although we are supposed to believe it overcomes the love she has maintained for 20 years for the husband left behind in Cuba - and now restored to her.
Watch this film for a great Marisa Tomei performance, but don't expect much more. |
tt0191397 | The Replacements | A fictional pro football league finds themselves hit with a players' strike with the season still needing to be finished. Washington Sentinels owner Edward O'Neil calls a former coach of his, Jimmy McGinty, telling McGinty that he and the rest of the teams are going to finish the final four games of the season with replacement players. O'Neil asks McGinty to coach the Sentinels the rest of the season, along with the pressure of winning three of the last four games to make the playoffs. McGinty accepts, on the condition that he will also be given the freedom to sign the players he wants with O'Neil not allowed to interfere.
With O'Neil accepting his requests, McGinty builds his team of different varying players that he believes can make a winning team. As his quarterback, McGinty chooses Shane Falco, a former All-American from Ohio State whose career went to pieces after a horrendous Sugar Bowl game, and now lives in a houseboat near the Sentinels' stadium. Falco initially refuses, but McGinty convinces him, believing that Falco can still be the player he was meant to be. The replacement players are greeted to their first practice hostilely by the striking players, calling the replacements "scabs", and throwing eggs at them, and Falco, who arrives late, gets his truck turned over. Head cheerleader Annabelle Ferrell, who has to find new cheerleaders since the originals apparently went on strike as well, reluctantly hires strippers when the other tryouts go terribly bad. After practice, Annabelle drives Falco home and surprises him with her vast football knowledge.
The replacements' first game is against Detroit, and the team initially struggles to get along, causing the Sentinels to fall behind early. Falco tries to rally the team back, but on the last play, he panics when he sees a pending blitz and calls an audible, which falls short of the winning touchdown. McGinty berates Falco for what he did, telling him that "winners always want the ball when the game's on the line." At a local bar, several of the replacements lament over their loss, when several of the striking players, led by their prima donna quarterback Eddie Martel, arrive and taunt the replacements. When Falco stands up to Martel, a brawl follows, leading to the replacements being arrested, but they build a bond in the process, dancing together in their cell before McGinity bails them out. Annabelle meets Shane the next day, having heard what happened, and tells him that he's the first quarterback she's seen in a long time be so selfless, and a connection starts to grow with the two of them.
In the Sentinels' next game against San Diego, they fall behind again but are able to come together once again, and this time win, on a 65-yard field goal by their kicker, a Welsh soccer player named Nigel Gruff. Falco meets Annabelle again, where she runs a bar her father used to own and admits that she was raised with football. After sharing a short conversation and having a beer together, they consummate their feelings for one another, sharing a deep kiss. The Sentinels nearly lose their next game on the road against Phoenix, but win on a couple of improbable plays.
When the Sentinels return to DC, O'Neil tells McGinty that Eddie Martel has crossed the picket line, and points out that the entire team of the league's defending champions, and the Sentinels' next opponent, Dallas, have crossed as well. O'Neil shows no confidence in Falco being able to beat Dallas, and hints to McGinity that he could be fired if McGinty refuses to start Martel. McGinty gives in and reluctantly tells Falco, who then tells his teammates the same thing, demoralizing the team. Unable to face Annabelle after what happened, Falco leaves her stood up for their planned date.
In the first half of the final crucial game, Martel refuses to get along with the rest of the replacement players, and also smugly ignores any play calls McGinty makes, causing the Sentinels fall behind to Dallas 17–0. The hometown fans, who had initially despised the replacements, now boo Martel, having accepted Falco as their favorite. On the way to the locker room for halftime, McGinty tells a TV reporter that the team needs "heart" to come back and win, something he had earlier said Falco had. Falco, watching this on television, returns to the stadium, and McGinty promptly benches Martel for Falco. Martel angrily tells Falco that he will never be known as anything but a replacement player. Falco says he can live with that and the rest of the team throws Martel out of the stadium. On his way back to the field, Falco finds Annabelle and apologizes to her, giving her another deep kiss in front of the crowd and other cheerleaders.
McGinty tells the replacements that the strike will officially end the next day, giving the players incentive to give everything they have left. The Sentinels rally back to a 17-14 score, with Gruff being called to kick the game-tying field goal late in the game. However, Gruff spots bookies that he owes money to in the crowd, and realizes that they want him to throw the game or they'll take his pub from him as compensation. He hints this to Falco just before the kick, and Falco pulls the ball away, causing Gruff to fall from the momentum of his kicking motion and break his arm. Falco initially scores the apparent winning touchdown, but it's called back on a Sentinels penalty. With Gruff unable to continue, Falco tells McGinty that he "wants the ball", affirming what McGinty had told him before. Falco calls for a deep pass to the replacements' deaf tight end, Brian Murphy, and hits him with the game-winning touchdown pass as time expires, earning the Sentinels a playoff berth. Falco celebrates with Annabelle, while McGinty narrates that the replacement players left the field with nothing but the satisfaction and personal glory of what they've accomplished, which is living the athlete's dream of a "second chance." He then watches the replacements dance on the field to the Gloria Gaynor song "I Will Survive". | comedy | train | wikipedia | Gene Hackman was good when he was making snappy wisecracks, but his inspirational `Hoosiers' imitation was misplaced.This film really belonged to the supporting actors like Orlando Jones (Clifford Franklin), Michael Taliferro and Faizon Love (The Jackson Twins), Ace Yonamine (Jumbo Fumiko), Rhys Ifans (Nigel `The Leg' Gruff) and all the cheerleaders who made the comedy work.
That struggle to overcome provides a good solid center around which all the hilarity revolves and becomes funnier in contrast.Gene Hackman and the rest of this ensemble cast did a great job--everyone has his or her moments.
But it seems like there should have just been one scene between them with some real substance."The Replacements" also succeeds well as a football movie.
The great photography and sound; the inventiveness of the script in dreaming up unusual and funny, yet still plausible, game events; and the evident attention to training for and depicting the physical moves, all add up to a movie which sports fans will relish.
And that's certainly what the audience did when I saw "The Replacements." As well as cheering out loud for the "home team," clapping at the end, and coming out feeling like dancing to "I Will Survive" like they did in the movie.
The "never-been" QB (Keanu Reeves) must try to lead them to victory."The Replacements" is primarily a good screwball comedy, in the vein of, but significantly better than, "Best of Show" and "The Waterboy." Some may even take a "message" away, about the importance of teamwork, belief in oneself, true love (QB and the head cheerleader).
But that is all secondary.I rate this one highly for pure escapism entertainment, but also with good acting by Reeves and Hackman, and some almost-believable football action, heavily interlaced with goofiness.
Gene Hackman was good - that goes without saying, but I think this is the first time I've ever seen him portray a character I actually liked.If you enjoy a good laugh, this a movie you would likely enjoy..
While there is a lot to look at in "Replacements," like Keanu Reeves (who is also really good in this role, playing it for drama amid all the wackiness) getting the hell beat out of him, or like the replacement cheerleaders carted in from local strip clubs to really get the fans pumped for the game (is this what the XFL is going to be like?), this movie works as more than all that stuff.
The Replacements: Professional football takes a turn for the bizarre when the players go out on strike - rather than suspend the season, the owner of the Washington Sentinels asks his coach to cobble together a team of replacement players to carry on.Football on the big screen has been approached from almost every conceivable angle: humorous ("The Longest Yard"), love story ("All the Right Moves"), sport as metaphor for life ("Any Given Sunday") and pathos ("North Dallas Forty") are but a few examples.
Essentially a composite of all the above, "The Replacements", is loosely based on facts - the fictional Sentinels represent the Washington Redskins whose replacement players did quite well - the NFL however would not allow the film to use the name of any real teams).If I remember correctly, (keep in mind that I'm not a sports fan and it was a long time ago) the NFL strike of 1987 was due to player dissatisfaction with the salary cap and the subject of free agents.
The utter ludicrousness of multimillionaire sports figures pleading poverty is summed up in an interview with the striking quarterback for the Sentinels who says "Well $5 million might sound like a lot of money, but I have to give 10% to my agent." Just then a colleague pipes up "And do you know how much it costs to ensure a Ferrari?!?" The frightening thing is that some players actually believe this stuff.Reeves, not known for his dramatic flair, is believable as Shane Falco (it is after all Reeves' third outing as a gridiron grappler), a forgotten quarterback who blew a promising career with one bad game .
The supporting cast does an excellent job, but I particularly enjoyed the casting of John Madden and Pat Summerall whose officiating lends an air of realism to the proceedings.I do however have two misgivings about the movie: the trailer I saw this evening gives away some of the best parts of the movie (a trend that I've noticed is getting worse) and what is the preoccupation with football players vomiting (it played a role in "Any Given Sunday")- I don't find it particularly amusing.That said, , "The Replacements" is uncomplicated, funny, and takes a few well aimed shots at professional sports.
The "team of misfits", the evil professionals who refuse to accept them, the "hidden talents", the "soccer kicker who would be a great football player", the love interest that has nothing to do with the story, the fickle fans, and even the classic bar fight.
Brooke Langton really knows how to make a guy smile, and feel good about himself, and does an excellent job as the female attraction.Gene Hackman and Keanu Reeves really work well together, and you get a feeling that they could really be pals.
This shows what a versatile actor Keanu is, and that he has a good sense of comic timing.This is one of those movies that no matter how many times I've seen it, if I come by the TV and find it on, I just must sit down and watch it one more time.
Hackman's Presence Again Raises the Bar. In the tradition of SLAPSHOT and THE LONGEST YARD, THE REPLACEMENTS was a charming and laugh-out loud sports film about a group of scabs for an on strike, fictional pro football team brought together by a long out of work coach (Gene Hackman) and long ago disgraced quarterback (Keanu Reeves) coaxed into a comeback.
Mostly the film is weighed down by Keanu Reeves' dull performance as a scab football player during a professional players' strike and Gene Hackman's tired bit as the coach who thinks he's seen it all.
Nothing inspired ever happens, even the football scenes aren't very exciting, and then the film ends up with a finale about professionals and their love of money over the game that is so out of place and oh-so-self-righteous in a bad way that I wanted to slap the writer.
Brooke Langton makes a sparkling star debut as Reeves' love interest, standing out from a cast of known character actors like Orlando Jones and Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill) who are basically riffing off the personas we know them already for..
Reeves plays the film for drama and character and does a good job, bringing his famed physicality and dedication to character with incredibly dry humour (lovely comedy timing when he gets grass in his grill).
i enjoyed this sports comedy/romance.i found it funny,touching and engaging.it's not one of those bust a gut funny movies,it's more of the pretty good chuckles variety.it's one of those feel good kind of movies,where you just can't help but root for the guy and girl to get together.even the action bits(mostly comedic football action) are good.Gene Hackman and Keanuu Reeves are the headliners,but i found Brooke Langton to be very good in her role.it's nice to see Hackman and Reeves in a lite movie,rather than the intense movies they're usually known for.at the end of the movie,i felt pretty good.at the very least,you might forget about you problems for awhile.for me,The Replacements is a 7/10.
Keanu Reeves gives a decent performance and the rest of the cast does well within the course of the movie.The movie plot itself is a complete rip-off of the 1991 movie Necessary Roughness starring Scott Bakula.From needing to start a team over, in this movie due to a pro strike, in the other due to college violations to the old quarter-back with the 'what-if' syndrome, even the love story portion.This flick just updates and changes Necessary Roughness from a college football movie to a pro-football movie..
Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman are the credited as the main stars, however the supporting cast in my opinion provided all of the laughs.You have to see this film, If I haven't convinced you yet, try this, I think American Football is the most boring, stupid, and idiotic game ever invented.(They only kick it occasionally, so why is it called Football?) BUT I still loved this movie..
I will also qualify this review by admitting that I have no interest in American football and am not familiar with the game, rules, history or teams.I am, however, familiar with the formulaic story of a bunch of sporting misfits come good under the guidance of an inspirational coach (Hackman) - having seen it repeated seemingly a dozen times.
STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All CostsThe Replacements is an engaging comedy/drama that details a disasterous time for the NFL in 1987 when a top team's players went on strike over a pay dispute,and some second-rate substitutes were called in to make it unsuccessful.Keanu Reeves is his usual plain but relateable self ,while Gene Hackman gives an inspiring performance as his coach.There's also a kinky looking blonde who provides the male viewers with some pleasant titillation,and Rhys Ifans plays impressively to form as a Welsh lager lout in debt to some racketeering mobsters.But the one main thing dogging the film like any other film about football is watching the football scenes themselves.The game of football is based around unpredictability and sudden emotion charging surprises,and never before,nor likely ever,will seeing it acted out be anything other than painful to watch.***.
But I did catch it on cable recently and found that while it does follow the usual clichés of sports/comedy movies - inspirational coach, washed up player becomes the hero, romantic sub-plot - it has some very very funny moments, and overall, is an extremely enjoyable film.
What makes this movie fun to watch are the truly goofy, off the wall scenes that you don't find in other sports movies - loved the jailhouse line dancing scene - the memorable characters and their interaction with each other, and the bone crunching game sequences.
The out-of-shape chain-smoking Scotsman with the kicking leg of steel, the sumo wrestler, the ex-con, the cop with anger issues, the butterfingered comedian - they are goofy and hilarious, but at the same time completely believable.Keanu Reeves' stoic face and delivery works to great effect here - he is a guy who has repressed a lot of fear and humiliation, but responds to the looseness and friendship of his teammates.
It is to this film's credit that these underlying themes don't keep it from being entertaining and laugh out loud funny at times.If you know and love football, you will enjoy this movie..
(Oh, and the comment earlier about how this movie glamorizes "scabs" over organized employment...c'mon, don't take everything so seriously.)There are so many parts of this movie that make me roll with laughter that I can't pinpoint just one, but I have to say, my sons eyes popped out of his head when the Cheerleader "strippers" did their "Bad Girls" cheer, just like the guys on the other team, I couldn't help but laugh.Don't watch it if you expect Oscar worthy material, but if you just want to have fun, this is a perfect flick.....
Keanu Reeves is a heck of lot more watchable in these type of comedies than he is as an action hero and Gene Hackman is great as usual.
There are also good side roles by Jon Favreau, Orlando Jones, Rhys Ifans and even Art LaFleur ( it's been a while since I last saw him ).Naturally, the good guys win from the arrogant bullies, the development of the love-story was unavoidable as well and the use of typical Football-songs - like Rock 'N Roll part 2 - bring a smile to your face.
Yeah, the Replacements didn't have many hits with the public, sincerely, I don't know why, the movie is not lifetime changing, it's just really funny, and there's more: Keanu Reeves.
The coach who wants to run the team his way, the owner that only cares about winning, the QB with the great arm but a confidence problem, the receiver who is fast but can't catch, the insane linebacker who happens to be a cop is teamed with the convict who is released from jail to play football, the tight end whose deaf, and the real QB who is arrogant.
Sports movies are sports movies, and this one has Keanu Reeves as a football player, Orlando Jones, an Irish guy who says, "Bollocks!" a lot, a Sumo wrestler, two big black bouncers, a very adamantly focused ex-army guy, an attractive love interest with nice cleavage (hey, she's in a cheerleader outfit for half the movie...), a load of strippers-turned-cheerleaders, and Gene Hackman, among other things.
The lack of originality, the sleep-walking performances by Reeves and Hackman, and stock characters that have been worn out by football movies from Semi-Tough to Any Given Sunday made me feel like a complete sucker for renting this one.
BUT, most interesting fact is that team wasn't professional rugby players, but people who were in jail, just a normal people who work their job, like in good old days of amateur sport.
i laughed so hard to water boy, ...watched it a million times , i was twenty minutes in to this movie-the replacements- when i realized that i hadn't really laughed yet,what shocked me into "serious land" was how the writers brought in the "love angle"--you watch it and tell me if you could have written that better-cliché'-- , i like all the actors in it , they all did a great job, however , i think that the writing is just way overdone ---this movie idea has kinda been done--i just knew every punchline before it came, --one cliché' after another -- so , as another reviewer stated, this is a good afternoon , popcorn movie ---- But DON'T EVER-- think that this is in the same "comedy classic" movie category as "water boy"--who is funnier as a leading role , Adam sandler or Keane reeves?-- and the great tell ...
Really enjoyed hearing John Madden and Pat Summerall doing the commentary of the games, my favorite football announce team ever by the way.The story itself is your usual loser overcomes the odds sports movies but even with that I didn't care because of how funny the story was..
Yes, The Replacements was and is a comedy but deep at heart it's a great Sports Movie about a 2nd chance.
The funny and goofy Washington Teams of Replacement players are funny yet deep inside the movie Gene Hackman (the coach)and Kuene Reeves(Falco) go very deep into their characters and provide us a glimpse of what a 2nd chance can do to a man.
It doesn't get much better than this.I've seen Keanu Reaves in many movies, and you can say all you want about the Matrix, but the Replacements is his most memorable performance in my mind.And what can I say about Gene Hackman that hasn't already been said?
Keanu is cool as quarterback who has trouble getting beyond his last performance, a major melt-down in a college bowl game; Hackman is great (as always) as coach who has little time to put team together from scratch.
THE REPLACEMENTS (2000) *** Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman, Brooke Langton, Jack Warden, Jon Favreau, Orlando Jones, Rhys Ifans, Michael Jace, Ace Yonamine, Michael `Bear' Taliferro, Faizon Love, David Denman, Troy Winbush, Gailard Sartain, (John Madden & Pat Summerall as themselves).
The film is a pleasant surprise in such a hoary genre leading to The Big Game and the stock villain, this time the real football team on strike and causing trouble for the regular guys taking their places.
Not everyday of course, but when I would like a good movie that is fun and leaves me feeling happier for having watched it, The Replacements fits the bill quite well.
Keanu Reeves gives a good performances as Shane Falco, a washed-up football quaterback who can now play as a replacement on a washed-up football team with other replacement players.
I never knew that a movie about football, one of my least favorite sports, could be this good!.
You want grit and drama, go see "Any Given Sunday." Me, I was cracking up over the movie, and no, I was not drooling all over Keanu Reeves (truth be told, I went coz I like Gene Hackman, who doesn't?)And I only wish I knew (since I've never seen him before) if the guy who plays the deaf player is really deaf...
I went in there expecting to see the Bad News Bears plays football, but what I got was a very funny movie.
Believe it when you see it, because Keanu makes one great football hero.After a humiliating loss at a past Sugar Bowl game, Shane Falco is a retired quarterback recruited by coach McGintey (Gene Hackman)to finish out the season for the Washington Sentinels, whose "real" players have gone on strike.
Sure, the plot and motifs were predictable, some of the jokes were overdone, and Keanu Reeves as quarterback Shane Falco was as wooden as Pinocchio's stunt double, but the key word here is "entertaining." Much of the enjoyable parts of the movie came from the replacement players and their antics.
I'm not a big football fan, but I thought this movie was hilarious and Keanu Reeves is Hot, Hot, Hot.
This movie starts out with a great cast, besides Reeves, there's Gene Hackman, Rhys Ifans, Jon Favreau and the 7up guy who's obsessed with Gloria Gaynor.
They are balanced out by the more subdued but still entertaining performances by Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman, Brooke Langton and the guys who played the deaf player and the Christian player.
The Replacements does not promise to be any more than it is, a comedy football movie. |
tt0066827 | La bestia uccide a sangue freddo | On a dark evening, a person wearing a hood and dark cloak approaches a large rural villa which has been converted into an asylum. The person admires some antique weapons on a wall, selects an axe and heads upstairs. In one room, an apparently agitated Cheryl is tossing and turning in her bed. She presses the buzzer for the attendants, the lights come on and the person runs away.The next morning, Ruth is being driven to the clinic. Ruth's husband, who is driving, her tells her to think of her stay there as a vacation and that she can be back with the children. Ruth in an apparent suicide attempt, grabs the wheel and tries to run them off the road.At the clinic, as a few attendants an patients play croquet in the front yard, Helen, a nurse, talks to resident Mara and tells her that she seems to be improving, She says she is there to help Mara, like a friend.Ruth is dropped off as a man leads her into the building. She tries to whack him with a heavy stick but is stopped.Meanwhile, Dr. Francis Clay asks Dr. Austin about the possibility of Cheryl being cured. Outside, Anne tries to follow the gardener, who is walking away from the clinic, but she is called back by Austin, who talks to her of her "impulsive" and "excessive" sexual desires.Mr. Hume, Cheryl's husband, talks of a company needing Cheryl back and of her return in one week. Francis says that Cheryl's suicidal urges may relapse, but Hume thinks that his wife only needs some rest.Meanwhile, Anne talks to Peter; he has been told by the doctors that she is getting better. Anne says that no one can calm her "passions" like Peter, but Peter is evidently not as sexually interested in the way that Anne seems to remember.Later that evening, as the attendants and patents sit in a room to mingle and play cards and board games, Anne sneaks out the front door and runs to the greenhouse. The hooded and cloaked person is outside, and after nurse walks by (seeing and ignoring the person), she is beheaded with a scythe.Anne sees the gardener, takes off all her clothes, approaches him and seduces him into having sex with her. Meanwhile, Helen goes to Mara's room and tells her that she can join the others if she wants and says that she will check on her later. Dr. Austin is told that Anne is missing, and the attendants go to find her.Cheryl asks Francis if, when outside, she will be like she was before, and the doctor tells her that she has been cured. Cheryl asks to see Francis afterwards.After having sex with Anne, the gardener tells her that she must leave for he will suffer the consequences of their tryst. Anne does not want to leave, so the gardener smack her. Anne hits him back, calmly puts her clothes back on and leaves. She walks over and kisses the male attendants that find her until Austin calls her to stop.The killer goes back inside the clinic, gets a knife, and unlocks Ruth's door as she sleeps. The knife is places in her hand, as the killer takes off his hood and Ruth awakens. She goes for the killer with the knife, but gets knocked aside and her hands are taken and put around the killer's throat (with his face still unseen). The killer then chokes her and stabs Ruth in the chest.Dr. Austin looks around the hallway with a flashlight and finds Helen, who says that she heard a noise. A chauffeur enters the building and drinks all of the drinks leftover from the get-together. After looking around, the killer shows up and pushes the chauffeur into an iron-maiden-esque device, and his blood pours out.The killer walks around with a sword and angrily hits on the bed in Cheryl's empty room. Cheryl meets with Francis in the hallway and they leave together.Mara listens to a radio and takes a bath. Helen enters the room, strips to her underwear, and helps wash Mara for a while.Francis and Cheryl talk of their potential relationship, and he leaves to "do the rounds".The killer walks into Anne's room, shuts her window, and takes off his hood. Anne's eyes open, she sees the killer standing over her bed and asks him to lie down next to her. The killer chooses instead to axe her to a bloody death.In Mara's room, she dances a bit for Helen to a song on the radio. As Mara looks out of her window, the killer fires a crossbow at hits Marta in the neck with an arrow, killing her instantly. Helen screams and a crowd gathers outside her door. Austin and Francis see the dead female and Austin tells an attendant not to let anyone in the room. The two doctors and Cheryl look around the building when they find blood on the antique weapons and discover the body of the chauffeur. Francis points out that the other sword from the display is missing and Austin finally calls the police, stating to the police commissioner that the killer is still inside the clinic.The police arrive and remove the bodies of Anne, Ruth, Mara and the other nurse from the area, but they are angry that Dr. Austin moved some weapons and tried to keep the killings a secret (essentially "helping" the killer) thus making him an accessory after the fact. The police inspector suggests using Cheryl as bait, and Francis tries to get her to rethink the idea after she agrees to it.While all of the other clinic patents are moved into a single room for their own protection, Cheryl awaits in her room. The killer approaches with a rope to strangle where he removes his hood... finally revealing himself to be her husband Hume. The cops show up before he can finish strangling Cheryl and chase Hume around the building.Francis and Austin theorize that Cheryl's husband wanted to kill his wife for some time and he created the idea of a maniac spree killer to that no one would suspect him of Cheryl's murder. Hume knocks out two of the cops chasing him and upon running into a room to hide, discovers all of the women patents in it. Hume goes on a brutal killing spree, killing every single woman in the room before the police run into the room and finally shoot Hume dead. | pornographic, cruelty, murder, cult, horror, violence, romantic, sadist | train | imdb | This was particularly obvious in the Italian Giallo, a genre that emerged in those years from the traditional Italian horror film and the German Edgar Wallace thrillers.Here we have a typical example of the genre: a serial killer is on the loose , we see gruesome and gory (but stylish) killings that do not reveal the identity of the murderer, have some sex thrown in at good measure, and are finally rather disappointed when the murder mystery is solved.Asylum Erotica is set in a mental hospital for the very rich, on some isolated location in the countryside.
The patients are busy having a good time, including the inevitable hanky -panky (come in Rosalba Neri as the resident nymphomaniac), when suddenly corpses are starting to pile up.
Klaus Kinski obviously phoned in his performance (long-distance with a very bad connection) and Rosalba Neri (aka Sarah Bay) is pretty much wasted.On the other hand, if you're looking for softcore porn, this movie is a relative masterpiece.
The scenes ofwith the nymphomaniac patient( the gorgeous Rosalba Neri) seducing everyone who comes across, mostly asylum staff members("I'm just a gardener!") and nurse having sex with another patient are the main selling points of the film.
A long-haired Klaus Kinski plays the doctor in charge of an isolated lunatic asylum.Of course the patients are all beautiful women with various sexual problems.And of course they're being killed off in various gruesome and sadistic ways.Writer/director Fernando Di Leo specialized in violent,sleazy mafia movies like "The Italian Connection" or "Mister Scarface"."Slaughter Hotel" is his only giallo,but it contains tons of sleaze and misogynistic violence.Euro-horror goddess Rosalba Neri is amazingly sensual as the resident nymphomaniac.Her sex scene with the gardener is hotter than hell.The film was originally released in Europe as "The Cold Blooded Beast".All the actresses including Rosalba Neri, Margaret Lee,Monica Stroebel,Jane Garret and Gioia Desideri are very attractive and provide lots of female flesh.There is obligatory lesbian sequence between Stroebel and Garret and strikingly sleazy Neri's masturbation scene.The action drags sometimes,but the climax is a suitably frenzied and audacious.Give this sleaze classic a look.10 out of 10..
In order to make "Slaughter Hotel" at least somewhat resemble to a giallo, director Fernando DiLeo also introduces a mad-raving murderer, typically dressed in black and using the institution's old-fashioned armory decoration as slashing tools.
The identity of the killer is absurd, the "shocking murders of 8 nurses!!!" is really really lame, the blood looks like Tabasco sauce, even the sex scenes are ridiculous.
First off, any film that casts Klaus Kinski as doctor in charge of the insane has got to be worth a watch, Di Leo gathers a decent cast of Giallo regulars that also includes Rosalba (Fingers) Neri, Margaret Lee Jane Garret and Monica Strebel, all of whom are happy to get their kit off and let their lustful needs be catered for by whatever means available, for this institution is rather lax in security and it would seem ethics, as staff and patients get together for regular steamy liaisons.
There is little in the line of a cohesive plot and as a viewer you won't even care about the identity of the killer, whose motives are left rather unclear when finally revealed, but this is a fun sleazy film, I didn't think I'd like it after about 15 minutes but it soon grew on me.
Ultimately, Slaughter Hotel falls into the same category of giallo as Renato Polselli's Delirium, i.e. it's basically a bad movie that sort of gets away with it by way of its unrestrained Euro grind-house excess..
AKA Slaughter Hotel, Italian giallo set in a country villa which is a clinic for rich, beautiful women with mental issues.
As with so many Italian movies from this era it is beautifully shot & having just seen this on blu ray (as Cold Blooded Beast) it really looked good.
Italian giallo movie set in a fine looking country villa which is a clinic for rich (and beautiful) women with mental health issues.
In fact, a good deal of the running time is devoted to exploitative erotic content featuring nymphomaniac Rosalba Neri and a lesbian relationship between a nurse and a black patient!
With respect to technique, the editing is particularly sloppy: sometimes it seems like the editor has fallen asleep on the job, with several scenes going on for much longer than is required (beginning with the very first scene of the killer prowling the asylum grounds - though before the credits had even rolled, more than just my brain cells had suddenly snapped to attention with the appearance of a fully naked Margaret Lee {one of my favorite Euro-Cult starlets} tossing and turning in bed; regrettably, this is her only nude scene in the entire film!); occasionally, however, there are disorientating tilted shots and a series of pointless - and irritating - rapid cuts of two converging locations (for instance, the killer approaching a victim's room); besides, we get all kinds of people having flashes to earlier scenes, but the shots are so randomly chosen as to make no sense whatsoever!The score, usually a prominent feature in a giallo, occasionally delivers but it's too uneven (the killer's theme is dreadful, for instance) to really count as a success; indeed, the only worthwhile element to the whole film is the casting of three Jess Franco alumni in the lead roles: the aforementioned Lee (despite the fact that her role doesn't give her much scope) and Neri (who, at least, gets to shed her clothes quite often and takes a shower memorably), and Klaus Kinski as an enigmatic and wild-looking doctor who becomes romantically involved with Lee - even if his contribution is a listless take-the-money-and-run turn, seemingly there only to serve as a red herring!
Sent to a mental facility, a young woman finds that the asylum is the setting of a rampage against the residents and staff at the hands of a maniacal killer and tries to find a way of setting things straight once the bloodbath begins turning up more victims.This here turned out to be quite the impressive and enjoyably trashy giallo.
Director Fernando Di Leo makes good use of his colour scheme, and every time the plot starts to get a bit dry - Rosalba Neri (in the role of a nymphomaniac, no less) and her beautiful female co-stars are always on hand to get their kits off.
The Giallo elements creep in by way of a serial killer going round murdering various members of the cast; but it's obvious that this film is more geared towards fans of exploitation.I can't deny that, really, this is a poor film; but it does everything that you want from Italian seventies cinema so well that it's difficult to hate it.
Wet-dream Rosalba Neri heads up a decent cast, which includes Klaus Kinski in one of his less memorable roles...but it hardly matters, as it's the women that lead this movie.
--After almost a year of obtaining examples of this long lost [and apparently soon to be resurrected] sex thriller I finally sat down with an old drinking buddy last night, assaulted an 18 pack of Molson's, and about halfway through we turned to Fernando diLeo's nasty little film for a couple of laughs, and it delivered.I say "nasty" only to play into the movie's sordid reputation.
Fernando diLeo chose an amusingly satisfactory angle that actually sounds like the premise for a porno film: A masked, ruthless killer runs amok at a "rest home"/insane asylum catering to sexually insatiable wealthy nymphomaniacs, all of whom are naturally a standout elite corps of Eurohorror's sex queens: Margaret Lee, Rosalba Neri, Jane Garret, with the always willing Monica Strebel on hand as a ravishingly gorgeous asylum staff member who gives new meaning to the term "Wet Nurse".
Eurohorror heavyweight [and frequent Italian sleaze co-enabler extraordinaire] Klaus Kinski plays the kind Professor Keller who has a haircut that makes him look like a member of Yes and is onscreen for maybe 15 of the movies 90 minutes or so of activity, during which [on the Gorgon tape, at least] he gets to smoke two or three cigarettes, speak a few lines of psychobabble, and have Margeret Lee fall in love with him.
A kewpie doll to those who can guess whom the killer turns out to be.This is one interesting asylum: the "guests" are free to come & go as they please -- although since the villa it is located in is in the middle of nowhere they are effectively trapped in a guilded cage -- and the delightful patients seem to spend the vast majority of their time playing croquet [which must have some subtextural meaning about knocking balls through hoops that I am missing], lounging around having cocktails & chatting with each other about their common ailments, luxuriating in bubble baths while helpful attractive female nurses soap their breasts for them, seducing the "good-meaning but gosh darn it he's a man" gardener, trying to initiate group sex encounters with the orderlies, smoking and endless supply of cigarettes, and above all else, masturbating.There is more masturbation in SLAUGHTER HOTEL than most straight-up porno movies.
Her striptease & sex scene in the greenhouse is probably the film's high point for me, and there was a sense of disappointment to her murder, since none of the surviving ladies was as interesting, and her genuine attempt to coaxe her murderer into at least screwing her first was perhaps the movie's most effective moment.
I also liked how diLeo was able to combine the elements of a gothic thriller with a lurid modern day sex picture so effortlessly: the scenes of the killer lurking around in the dark, selecting weapons and then having to scamper about to remain unnoticed had a nice quality to them that actually sort of put us in the killer's shoes, though one does wonder why a health clinic if any variety would have what seens to be an inexaustible supply of cigarettes for characters to puff away on so copiously, but whatever: 1971 Italy, everybody smoked.It's interesting to add as a footnote that none of the "Fernando deLio Scholars" whom I have queried about this movie to claim to be particularly fond of it, and all of us have expressed a dismay to each other at understanding why the film has such a violently ferverant cult following.
A murderous mystery maniac wearing a hood and cape brutally butchers staff and patients alike at a posh all female asylum run by Dr. Keller (the one and only Klaus Kinski sporting modish long hair).
Despite having heard of him for a number of years,I have somehow never got round to seeing a film by Fernando Di Leo.Taking a look at a DVD sellers page,I was pleased to spot an uncut edition of an early Slasher/Giallo hybrid that Di Leo had made,which led to me getting ready to check into the slaughter hotel.The plot:Credited with being the best doctor to treat mental illness, Dr. Francis Clay finds his mental hospital to get filled with women who are sent there by their husbands over stress-related issues.As Clay tries to treat the women in the best way possible,a masked stranger begins walking round the hospital killing patients & staff.View on the film:Whilst the rather graphic sex scenes with the gorgeous actresses create an alluring mood,co-writer/(along with Nino Latino) director Fernando Di Leo sadly destroys any offer of potential excitement by tugging every element of the movie to breaking point,with a terrible, feedback heavy psychedelic score from Silvano Spadaccino drying up any sense of mysterious tension,or steamy sexuality.Aiming for an episodic structure by focusing on a different patient every 10 minutes or so,the writers fail to give the characters the slightest distinctive feature,and also push the murder mystery plot right to the sidelines,which along with a very bored performance from Klaus Kinski,makes this hotel a terrible booking..
Utilising a variety of medieval weapons, that conveniently and rather unbelievably decorate the huge institution, the maniac proceeds to slice, chop and stab his way through the patients and staff.Hampered by a simple story and rather unimaginative deaths, The Cold-Blooded Beast isn't a particularly great giallo; but with a good cast (including Klaus Kinski) and a bevy of gorgeous hotties willing to shed their clothes at the drop of a hat, the film is still worth a watch if you enjoy sleazy Euro-horror.Director Fernando Di Leo wisely packs his otherwise unremarkable film with so much full nudity and soft-core sex that one can easily forgive the pedestrian plot and lacklustre kill scenes.
The women (who aren't exactly the shy and retiring type) all get nekkid at one point or another, and some of them are even kind enough to indulge in a spot of lesbianism, and, occasionally, graphic masturbation (at least in the uncut European version that I saw).Margeret Lee is drop-dead gorgeous as Cheryl, ultimate target of the killer, whilst scorching hot Rosalba Neri (French Sex murders, Amuck) stars as nymphomaniac Anne (who steals the show with a spot of explicit self-gratification).
Also unmissable are Jane Garret and Monica Strebel as a pair of rug-munchers who, in the film's funniest and most memorable scene, indulge in a spot of tribal dancing before getting down to business.Klaus Kinski isn't required to do an awful lot; he doesn't spend much time on screen and, thankfully, he keeps his clothes on.Although the violence in the film is fairly frequent and quite nasty in tone (an axe attack, a stabbing, a crossbow bolt through the neck, a body trapped in an iron maiden), the actual gore level is fairly low (we see quite a bit of blood, but not much else).
Towards the end of the film, things get a bit stronger and eventually when we are treated to a fabulous moment where the killer goes crazy with a mace and does away with a whole group of nurses in seconds.Shortly after this, he is shot to death by trigger happy police officers in a squib-tastic finalé.The Cold Blooded Beast gets a fairly decent 7/10 from me, for it's gratuitously sleazy vibe and for not worrying too much about letting a decent story get in the way of all of the sex and violence..
While the incredibly sleazy Giallo "La Bestia Uccide A Sangue Freddo" (1971) is certainly not most ingenious work in Di Leo's career, it is still a highly enjoyable film that my fellow fans of Sleaze-Horror should not miss.
Admittedly, "La Bestia Uccide A Sangue Freddo" has one of the most nonsensical and silliest plot lines ever in a Giallo (then again, the Giallo-genre is usually known for intelligent and convoluted plots), but it makes up for this with tons of stylish sleaze and gratuitous nudity from a gorgeous female cast, gory murders, Giallo-typical elegance, and the great Klaus Kinski in the role of a psychiatrist.
In spite of the plot being incredibly illogical and silly, this is an outrageously entertaining film, which does not get tiresome for a second.Kinski plays Dr. Francis Clay, a psychiatrist who leads a noble psychiatric facility set in a remote countryside château; all the patients happen to be hot women, including a gorgeous brunette nymphomaniac (Rosalba Neri), an equally gorgeous black chick (Jane Garrett) who suffers from amnesia, her gorgeous red-headed lesbian nurse (Monica Strebel), and others.
Klaus Kinski doubtlessly was one of the greatest and most charismatic actors who ever lived, and while this is probably one of the movies that he meant when he publicly (and frequently) despised his own films as being "s***", it is great to see this favorite actor of mine (who himself wasn't exactly known as the sanest person in the world) as a psychiatrist.
The score is good, but not too memorable by the high Giallo-standards.Overall, "La Bestia Uccide A Sangue Freddo" is doubtlessly one of the most nonsensical Gialli ever made, but The beautiful female cast, the constant sleaze, gore and elegance are easily enough to forgive the lack of logic and real suspense.
Sounds like the makings of a giallo to me...Asylum Erotica, as this film was embarrassingly titled when I bought it, hasn't really got much of a plot, but it's a fairly interesting giallo packed full of Euro-Babes and atmosphere, and daftness.
And the budding relationship between patient and nurse (another stunner), which is sadly cut short by a crossbow just before it was going to get interesting.It's not a pervy as the title suggests, just more of a mid-range giallo that keep you entertained through seventies sexual values (Rosalba Neri!), mild violence, and a pretty good, although stupid ending.Can be picked up for a quid in the UK - not sure if it was cut, but the pan and scan cropped the picture a bit..
Also known as 'Cold Blooded Beast' and 'Slaughter Hotel', 'Asylum Erotica' is a fairly enjoyable thriller/horror/whodunit involving a murderer lurking around the grounds of a stately mental hospital.
The violence, to be honest, is off-screen and edited in a fashion not to detail the kind of savagery that seems implied (to be honest, when Di Leo shows the results of the killer's savagery, they are less gruesome than it might appear, such as Rosalbi's fate).This film also features (much to my pleasure) a blossoming lesbian romance between a nurse (the gorgeous, petite red-head Monica Strebel)and her favorite patient, Mara, including a massage and bathtub rub-down, climaxing in a dance and brief, but titillating, love-making session.
Well, yes, this is a pretty bad Euro-sleaze picture that has liberal doses of blood and murder but far more nudity and sex.
The film has a pretty impressive cast from that era of "genre" stars like Klaus Kinski.
There is a hot, steamy shower scene with Neri, but hands down the most erotic aspects of the film deal with a bizarre relationship with Nurse Helen and patient Mara.
I have to confess, I bought this movie only for two reasons: Rosalba Neri and Klaus Kinski. |
tt0120755 | Mission: Impossible II | Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), while vacationing, is alerted by the IMF that someone has used his identity to assist Russian bio-chemical expert Dr. Vladimir Nekhorvich (Rade Serbedzija) of Biocyte Pharmaceuticals to enter the United States, but purposely crashed the commercial airliner en route. Nekhorvich, an old friend of Ethan, had forewarned the IMF of his arrival, planning to deliver a new virus called Chimera and its cure, Bellerophon, both of which he was forced to develop by Biocyte, into the IMF's hands. With the crash of the plane, IMF is worried that the virus is out in the open, believing that rogue IMF agent Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott) is behind the incident. IMF assigns Ethan to recover it. Ethan is told that he can use two members of his team to help him, but the third person to help him must be Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Thandie Newton), a professional thief presently operating in Seville, Spain as she will be able to get close to Ambrose, being an ex-girlfriend of his.After recruiting Nyah, Ethan meets his team, computer expert Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and pilot Billy Baird (John Polson) in Sydney, Australia, where Biocyte laboratories are located along with Ambrose's headquarters. As Ethan and the others stake out Biocyte, Nyah gets close to Ambrose and begins to find any information related to the Chimera virus. At a horse racing event, Ambrose quietly meets with Biocyte's CEO, John C. McCloy (Brendan Gleeson), and shows him a video of the Chimera virus affecting one of Nekhorvich's colleagues taken from Biocyte, using the footage to force McCloy to cooperate with them. Nyah is able to steal the video footage long enough to transfer it to Ethan and his team, who learn that the Chimera virus has a 20-hour dormant period before it causes death through mass destruction of the victim's red blood cells. This is depicted through several increasingly graphic pictures, which show the victim dead after 37 hours. Bellerophon can only save the victim if used within the 20-hour window.The IMF team kidnaps McCloy and learns that Nekhorvich had actually injected himself with Chimera, the only way he could smuggle the virus from Biocyte, and had all the known samples of Bellerophon, now presently in Ambrose's hands. Ambrose has blackmailed McCloy to sell him the virus for £37,000,000 and promising to return the samples of Bellerophon. Ethan's team plans to break into Biocyte and destroy the virus. Ambrose, posing as Ethan, tricks Nyah into revealing Ethan's plan. Ambrose secures Nyah and prepares to raid Biocyte himself to secure the virus. Ethan is able to destroy all but one sample of the virus before Ambrose interrupts him, and an ensuing firefight begins. Ethan learns that Ambrose is holding Nyah and stops firing, during which Ambrose orders Nyah to retrieve the last sample. When she does so, she injects herself with it, thus preventing Ambrose from simply killing her to get it. As Ambrose takes Nyah, Ethan escapes from the laboratory and starts a 20-hour countdown before the virus takes over Nyah's body.Ambrose opts to let Nyah wander the streets of Sydney in a daze, and orders McCloy to effectively hand over enough control of Biocyte to make him the majority shareholder, or else Nyah's infection will cause a pandemic that will kill 17 million people in Australia alone; Ambrose's plan is to make a fortune when prices of Biocyte's stock skyrocket due to demand for Bellerophon. Ethan's team is able to locate and infiltrate the meeting, stealing the samples of Bellerophon while taking out many of Ambrose's men. Luther and Billy locate Nyah who has wandered to a cliff side, intent on killing herself to prevent Chimera from spreading. As the two IMF agents bring Nyah to Ethan, he and Ambrose engage in a fist fight and wilds out on Ambrose. With little time left on the 20-hour countdown, Ethan finally gains the upper hand over Ambrose and shoots him dead, and then Luther injects Nyah with Bellerophon. Ethan reports to IMF on the successful mission. IMF clears Nyah's criminal record, and allows Ethan to continue his vacation with her in Sydney. | revenge, suspenseful, action, murder, violence | train | imdb | Sure, the action scenes are great in that classic John Woo, ultra-choreographed way, but the plot isn't original or have much to it.
Since John Woo, who is one of the kings of the action genre, took over for Brian De Palma, you can expect Mission: Impossible II to be an intense action movie with a majorly dumbed down plot.
In this movie, Ethan Hunt is once again a secret agent, and he is sent on a mission to stop a crooked agent from stealing a deadly virus for his own use.I liked the first Mission: Impossible better because it had a more advanced plot.
Hunt turns to jewel thief Nyah to help him by infiltrating her ex-lover's (Ambrose) group to spy on them.John Woo must have thought of the elements he needed to follow up the solid thrills of the original movie.
Only the final action scene is enjoyable, but by then you're ony interesting in turning this off and watching De Palma's much better film instead..
Thandie Newton is attractive heroine and Dougray Scott is satisfactory as the main villain.The movie plays more like a James Bond film, although it still has MI touches such as the fake rubber masks we saw in the first film.
Do not see this movie even if Tom Cruise rings your doorbell and threatens to wave his long hair in slow motion as he did so often in film if you don't view it.
Personally, this film is an exciting action movie with plenty of visually awesome stunts, quality soundtrack and a couple of nice surprises.
John Woo is a great action filmmaker and he doesn't make movies like this anymore..
Unfortunately, both films premise of a woman going undercover at the request of her government agent lover to spy on an ex-boyfriend with nefarious plans isn't helped here by the ludicrous relationship between Tom Cruise's Hunt and Thandie Newton's character.
And again, Scott is excellent.Luther Stickell is back, similarly likable as he was in the first film.It's when you hit that 80 minute mark that the film takes a turn, and the rest of the movie sees John Woo cutting loose with nonstop car chases, gun fights, and a bizarre motorcycle jousting match which turns into a kung-fu fight.Not that any of this is unenjoyable.
However, this movie managed to keep my attention a lot more than the original and had a lot more action.People have criticized that the plot is more like James Bond than Mission Impossible.
I thought the twists with people wearing masks were actually pretty clever.Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt and once again proves that he can carry an action blockbuster with no problem.
It's been cobbled together by the expert Hollywood script doctor Robert Towne out of elements of other movies, notably Hitchcock's "Notorious" (1946), from which he takes the idea that the hero first falls in love with the heroine, then heartlessly assigns her to resume an old affair with an ex-lover to spy on his devious plans."M:I-2 is way better then the original.
From that point on I decided that this film was not a good film at all.My wife had asked me several times to buy the mission impossible trilogy as she had never saw them and was a Tom Cruise fan.
It has a simple plot with some mind blowing action and the ladies got some major eye candy as Tom Cruise looks the best in this movie apart from Top Gun. So guys...
Mission: Impossible II is the sequel to the 1996 blockbuster where this time around Face/Off director, John Woo, takes charge behind the seat to give the audience what the first movie should have been in the first place.Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is on vacation climbing mountains where he gets interrupted by his boss (Anthony Hopkins in an uncredit cameo) that a mad agent (Dougray Scott of Ever After) who used to work with Hunt and the agency has plans of his own after a plane crashed in the Rocky Mountains where he has the biochemical weapons to end half the world.
The fourth member is Billy Baird (John Polson) who provides comic relief as a helicopter pilot along with disguising himself whenever possible.The real reason to love Mission: Impossible 2 is the action that John Woo brings to the screen.
Tom Cruise and director John Woo team up for the high-voltage, heart-stopping, edge-of-your-seat action thriller `Mission Impossible 2,' a non-stop rush of excitement that grabs you before the credits even begin to roll with the pulsating vibes of Hans Zimmer's terrific score.
Once again, Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt of the IMF, called into action by his boss, Swanbeck (Anthony Hopkins), when a plot involving a deadly virus is hatched by former IMF agent Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott).
Simply put, Cruise has never been better; he's matured since the first `Mission Impossible,' and turns in an outstanding performance here, imbuing Hunt with a believable invincibility that gives a luster and credibility to his heroics throughout the film.
Superior in all ways to the first `Mission Impossible,' this is nothing less than a triumph for Cruise; and John Woo, thy name is Action.
The film takes all too familiar "James Bond" components and creates a movie more similar to the licensed to kill spy than the primary contents of the television series.Tom Cruise once again stars as proselyte I.M.F. agent Ethan Hunt, recently assigned to track down a former representative who possesses a deadly biochemical substance obtained by the murdered scientist Dr. Vladimir Nekhorick (Rade Sherbedgia).
I can almost see the producers now, discussing what battles scenes and explosions to deposit within the film's theatrical trailer; the filmmakers also need to know that external action itself does not make for a thought-provoking movie.The production succeeds mainly due to an effective, solidly portrayed villain, keenly acted by Dougray Scott ("Ever After: A Cinderella Story").
It's the type of movie that leaves a 12 year old orgasmicly gasping, while leaving any rationally level headed individual with a deep sense of the "MISSING TIME" phenomenon.The original 1996 "Mission: Impossible" movie showed just how an intelligent (while yet entertaining) espionage movie could be made, without a single gun battle, although with several good break-ins and chase scenes.
Let me speak to some of the far more child-like idiotic elements of this movie that just left me completely embarrassed, and certainly anything BUT impressed.In an action sequence, in which a lone Tom Cruise is gunfighting with the villains at a biotechnology compound, the bad guys happen to be perched underneath some barrels labeled - "DANGEROUS, HAZARDOUS / MEDICAL WASTE".
There are numerous other inane parts but the above example is illustrative of the movie's approach which is -- F-CK any form of a plot, believability and any form of common sense - full speed ahead on CROOZE appeal and CROOZE facial close-ups with flowing of hair!!!If you can deal with pointless dialog and non-existent storyline enough to appreciate some CROOZE action sequences and constant CROOZE scenery, and more slow-motion than can be found in the complete catalog of John Madden's Football Highlights Specials, this might be for you.Otherwise save your time, do something more constructive, such as surfing the net for....."STUFF"..
The suspense and tension, which are a stamp of the first movie, are nowhere near the levels that they used to be, and the slow-motion is excessively employed.The story incorporates a love triangle between Ethan Hunt, Sean Ambrose, and Nyah that feels so strangely awkward and unnecessary.
Tom Cruise is at it again as he is trying to stop a deadly disease from being sold on the black market and infecting the entire world,, he goes up against Dougray Scott who plays the bad guy,, Thandie Newton wasn't bad to look at either,, Anthony Hopkins plays Jim Phelps,, wish he would have had more screen time.
excellent movie, great direction,, great music,, and lo'ts of John Woo classic hand to hand action, and stunts, with super slo mo...
But enough plot is still decent, as IMF (Impossible Mission Force, hence comes the franchise title) agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) races to stop rogue agent Sean Ambrose (the ever excellent Dougray Scott) from obtaining a killer virus called Chimera, after the monster from Greek mythology.
Director John Woo plays to his strengths here, but overindulges his fetishes for slow-mo and kung fu moves, making the film seem simply ridiculous at times.
Clearly, realism has left the building, (particularly in the end showdown, which is entertaining to be sure, but one can't help but laugh as Hunt pulls off far too many martial art tricks on his adversary) and it's more glaringly obvious in M:I2 than most similar action films.But in spite of all my criticism, I enjoyed this movie a lot.
Mission Impossible II starts well, but you immediately get a taste of what is wrong with this film: Long, slow, loving shots of Tom Cruise.
Woo once again proves he can shoot anything in slow-mo, and will.Action adventure films have a long history of being short on plot, but the good ones can make up for that with speed and pop.
The action scenes are soo overdone that they are stupid and the first hour of the film is liking waiting for the doctor to see you..boring and annoying Ving just seems to sit in the background with nothing to do, a total waste of great talent.
The new one is just the opposite: Its all violence, cheesy Bond type lovers, chase scenes, and just Tom. It has nothing at all to do with the spirit of the original series, it's just an action packed, mindless Cruise fest..
why is it, that non-american directors coming to the usa allways try to top the local directors concerning cheesiness and stupid popcorn hollywood flicks?just like roland emmerich with independence day or godzilla now john woo tries to make a movie witch would even insult the intelligence of todays low-brain popcorn-audiance!when i saw this movie i couldn't help but laughing out loud at some scenes which were meant to be eighter dramatic or action filled!
An hour into it I was thinking, "Okay, the plot sucks too, but the action scenes are good." By the end, even Woo's trademark "bullet ballet" couldn't redeem this movie.
Just put "dumb" right in the middle of "action" and "movie" and enjoy the action-packed material.Tom Cruise is back as CIA agent Ethan Hunt, sent on another mission to retrieve and destroy a genetically modified disease called the "Chimera" before it falls into the hands of the bad guys.
Thandie Newton provide the lead female (I wouldn't call her the damsel-in-distress for she has a lot to do to be one) and Vhing Rhames is back as one of Hunt's old buddies.The film's director is Hong Kong action director John Woo, who really knows how to make action movies, oriental or not.
The first movie was a great spy film, with all its clever twists and turns and Ethan Hunt a sympathetic human character, here he is recast as action man or to put it another way the American version of James Bond, which would have been fine if not for Tom Cruise essentially being a completely different character than he was in MI1.
I think that tom cruise and john woo are an excellent teamthe cruiser should make way more action movies it really suits him to do them especially with woo.
Just to get down the negative critics list right at the beginning, so we can talk about the things that are good in this film (which is, in my opinion, a lot):1) Yes, the plot is pretty weak compared to the first Mission: Impossible.
JOHN WOO is the best thing that happened to Hollywood in a long time.I am a big fan of JOHN WOO, actually I consider him the GOD OF ACTION, not mainly because of films like "Broken Arrow" or "Hard Target" but rather because of his Hong Kong masterpieces (i.e.
I was amazed, the action and dynamics of the movie were way better than anything I had ever seen, it was gripping and at the same time BEAUTIFUL, it was SHEER BEAUTY that came off the screen right at me (and the pigeons are beautiful too, over and over again, this time even more than in his other films).
I saw this film today and likely, I'll watch it again tomorrow.Overall: BEAUTIFUL, LOVELY, AMAZING, WONDERFUL...My rating: 10/10 (Thank you, JOHN WOO).
Without a doubt, John Woo saved this movie from being another "Tom Cruise" scenery chewing vehicle like the first MI.For the record, I couldn't stand the first Mission Impossible movie.
I think it worked very well in MI2.I'll say right out that I'm not a Tom Cruise fan, however he WAS good in this movie - this is the movie that the last Bond movie should've been.Who could end a MI-2 review without a note about the remarkable Thandie Newton, who I havn't seen before this feature.
Give John Woo,who is a master of his craft,a cheering ovation because he knows how to do action movies and I really like his style of this which was way better than Brian DePalma's version of the same title.
Personally, I think that John Woo is a good director when you look at the action sequences, and I know that he uses a lot of slow motion in these sequences.
Boy, John Woo's over the top directing didn't age well, the action scenes are sometimes so ridiculous and outright dumb that you feel you're watching a B movie.
But while many of the expected Wooisms are present and correct, the director's trademark high-octane thrills really only kick in in the final act, meaning that much of the film is just as tedious as DePalma's original, albeit thankfully a lot easier to follow.Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt, spy extraordinaire, whose mission is to convince sexy thief Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Thandie Newton) to resume her relationship with international criminal Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott), who has recently acquired the antidote to a deadly virus, and who is now trying to get his hands on the virus itself, hoping to sell the combo to the highest bidder.
Helping Hunt on his mission are IMF agents Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and Billy Baird (John Polson), the latter acting as comic relief.All of this is fairly humdrum—the old 'Earth threatened by a deadly virus' plot holds very few surprises—and much of it is silly (I lost count how many times the rubber mask trick came into play), but the film finally delivers the good stuff in the final reel, when Hunt gets to shoot at lots of bad guys, go wheel to wheel with Ambrose in an exhilarating motorcycle battle, and then duke it out with the boo-hiss villain on the beach.
Director John Woo did a good job making this film, and Tom Cruise and all the other actors did a good job acting.
This John Woo directed sequel to Mission Impossible has plenty of high-octane action stunts, specially in the second half.
I saw this movie for two reasons: I'm a die-hard Tom Cruise fan, as well as a Mission: Impossible fan...
especially when one takes into account that Tom Cruise did his own stunts for this movie, too, as usual.If you're a fan of the Mission: Impossible franchise, action films, John Woo, or Tom Cruise, or any combination of those, you should watch this film.
It is packed with Director John Woo's signature action sequences and is lead by a good performance from Tom Cruise.Say what you will about Cruise's off-screen antics, the guy packs a punch as CIA operative Ethan Hunt.
The Mission Impossible trilogy is one of the best series in the spy genre.The first time I watched this film, I was amazed by Woo's awesome action direction and the hard rocking music score by Hans Zimmer.
If you are not a Tom Cruise fan, probably won't like this film since he pays homage to his past movies (the opening seen with the sunglasses sticks out).
Mission Impossible 2 not only defeats the first Cruise MI, it defeats any other action movie out as it is released in theaters.
I expected this to be an action movie, with lots of stunts, exaggerated sequences, explosions and cool gadgets, and this is exactly what I got.
This movie was an excellent Action Film, let's leave it at that.
It's rare that you see a movie like this that is smart as well as action-packed, and John Woo once again delivers.
For those of you who saw the original Mission: Impossible and were, like I was, disappointed, then don't let that put you off this one.I have a read a review on this site, by a girl, who disliked it because of the damsel in distress cliché - oh, please, this isn't about political correctness, and she was certainly capable of handling herself.This film does use overused plots and ideas, but put that to one side and just enjoy the movie for what it is - a couple of hours of sheer entertainment, with much more professionalism and impact than the original.Tom Cruise is at his best in this film and is supported very well.
For a movie like this the main point is the action.MI2 was typical John Woo, taking many of the sequences from "Hard-Boiled", it was a visual spectacle of the highest order.
Not only this movie features Tom Cruise, but along with the face goes a five+ star film.
If you are an avid Tom Cruise fan and you enjoy action, you will like this film.
I know that it is a John Woo film, I know that it's Tom cruise doing the acting, I know that it is trying to rip off James Bond to some extent. |
tt3528666 | The Marine 4: Moving Target | Jake Carter (Mike Mizanin), a former U.S Marine, is now working at Hawthorne Global Security, a private security agency led by Robert Daniels (Craig Veroni). He and a few other men are waiting at the airport for the arrival of whistleblower Olivia "Liv" Tanis (Melissa Roxburgh), an IT engineer who used to work for Genesis Defense Corporation, one of the largest defense contractors of the United States. Liv's got intel on traitors inside Genesis and they've been hired by the Department of Justice to protect Liv until she takes official custody.
While they are en route for Liv's custody, their convoy is ambushed by a group of mercenaries hired by the corrupt military on Genesis, led by Simon Vogel (Josh Blacker). The mercenaries manage to kill Daniels and his men except for Jake, who takes Liv and manages to escape and outrun the mercenaries by stealing their car. The duo head to the safe house.
Once there, Liv grabs Jake's gun and says that she needs Jake's keys to go to the police station. Learning that one of the convoy might be a renegade, Jake is mistrusted because she doesn't know him but Jake asserts that if she goes alone, she will be ambushed. Jake convinces her that he is a former marine. Later, Nathan Miller (Roark Critchlow) and Ethan Smith (Matthew MacCaull), members of the Department of Justice, arrive at the safe house. Ethan suddenly shoots Nathan in the head after he tells the information of Simon Vogel and the incident. Ethan turns out to be working with Vogel. He then searches for Liv while putting Jake on gunpoint. Liv escapes the house as the alarm goes off, and Ethan is distracted, causing Jake and Ethan to fight. Whilst fighting, the group of mercenaries arrive at the house. Liv and Jake manage to outrun them using a boat.
After departing from the boat, they walk beside the stream, planning the next move. Liv still mistrusts Jake, so Jake states that the rebels will not stop until they manage to kill Liv. Still not convinced, Liv hits Jake on the head with a rock, knocking Jake out. Liv runs to the highway and hitchhikes a trailer truck to go to the police station. Meanwhile, Jake recovers and follows the trail left by Liv. Jake sees a passing police car, which helps him locate the police station, where Liv is heading to.
At the police station, Liv complains that rebels are trying to kill her and is taken in custody. Shortly, Jake arrives at the police station and demands where she is. The police detective, Det. Paul Redman (Paul McGillion), who's trying to verify Jake's identity turns out to be talking to Ethan, who tells him to keep Jake and Liv, both in custody till he and the rebels arrive. The officers arrest both Jake and Liv. Ethan and the rebels arrive there. He goes inside the police station first, followed by an attack by the rebels, for which he was totally unprepared for. They then proceed to engage in a gunfight with the surviving officers. Jake and Liv obtain keys to the handcuffs from a dead officer. Jake then puts her somewhere safe and joins the gunfight. The four remaining officers including Redman are killed while trying to escape. The two manage to run from them but the rebels see them escape, ensuing a chase. The duo soon lose them, yet again.
Jake and Liv spend all night staying in the woods. The next morning, Jake calls Vogel upon their arriving at the woods. A shootout begins, killing most of the rebels including their sniper Dawes (Summer Rae) thanks to the assist of some traps made by Jake. In the ensuing chaos, Ethan holds Liv captive but the latter breaks free, allowing Jake and Ethan to fight. As Ethan gains the upper hand, Liv shoots him in the head. Suddenly, Vogel shoots Jake in the shoulder, temporarily stunning him. Unbeknownst to Vogel, Liv was able to find enough signal and finishes uploading the information of the corrupt military team to a dozen of news sites. Vogel then hits her. Jake, now recovered, tackles Vogel, snaps his neck, and kills him.
A few days later, Liv states that six members of the Genesis Defense Corporation are being indicted by treason and conspiracy. Liv gives a brand new tuxedo to Jake due to Jake losing his previous one earlier. Liv kisses Jake and boards the plane nearby. Jake watches as the plane flies away. | violence, murder | train | wikipedia | Audiences should be aware that The Marine 4 is the epitome of B-movie, it has a simple premise and is designed to entertain with least amount of effort.
It offers lots of shooting spree as well as decently choreography melee combat, even though some of its logic are admittedly flawed and the protagonists wear magical plot armors.Jake Carter (Mike Mizanin or The Miz) is starting a new job as a security guard for high value target, a whistle-blower by the name of Olivia Tanis (Melissa Roxburgh).
This is better than most exaggerated roles of action genre, although he does look a bit confused at times.Matthew MacCaull as the antagonist is above the rest.
Summer Rae makes an appearance as well, while she has so few lines, she does look the part of fit femme fatale.Plot and action are severely unrealistic.
The fisticuffs are marginally better as the fights are choreographed with good impact.The Marine 4 is, as expected, ninety minutes of mindless shooting and punching, nothing more.
OK, granted I love shoot em up movies for the mindless entertainment on rainy days curled up with popcorn and no expectations for great performances.
The Miz, a better actor than this movie deserves, struggles with the poor plot and Summer, well I am not sure why she is even in this movie other than to mumble a few lines.
I am a WWE fan and have seen what good movie scripts and talented wrestlers can do together.
I hope Miz and Summer ( I am a huge fan of both ) find better movie opportunities despite their contract obligations to appear in such trash..
Mike "The Miz" Mizanin is predictable in another movie with high energy and low talent.
The DVD cover is almost identical to the GI Joe films (even using the tag line "There is no greater force than an all American hero", which is very similar to "A real American Hero") I will not give spoilers, because you will predict how it will go 5 minutes into it.
"Do you trust me now?" Jake Carter (Mizanin) is a marine who is charged with protecting Olilvia Tanis (Roxburgh), a high profile whistle blower who has numerous death threats against her.
When you get to the fourth movie in a series you pretty much can predict how it will go from the beginning.
The script is an embarrassment, particularly compared to the clever plots developed for the "12 Rounds" movies.
Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin is believable evincing the virtues of the Marine Corps while feeling awkward in civilian life and uncertain of how to act without clear orders.
Melissa Roxburgh is not the most gifted thespian to grace a WWE production, but is believable when she stands around looking gorgeous and slightly vulnerable.
As an U.S. NAVY Sailor I shouldn't like Jar-heads (Stupid military tradition) but this movie is definitely an insult to Marines an all military in general.
Hand-to-hand fights seen so fake that no even the drunkest highly trained marine would ever act like that.
Any ex-military with no acting experience would have given this movie a way better "feeling.".
Worth watching it was a lot of fun believe me like another 3 movies expect Miz appeared from Marine 3 homefront to this film sadly i got copy of blu ray from eBay but in Australia sadly has never released or made this movie at all i am disappointed you have to buy it online overseas hard to find as well.
i thought this was bit dumb and over top thing but it was fun, entering, higher body counts this is fun ride for WWE fans Mike Miz kicking more ass in this movie.
and again you don't need to watch 1 to this in order you can just easily pick any of them to marine movies to watch.
story follows Jake Carter (Mike Mizanin), a former U.S Marine s now working at Hawthorne Global Security, a private security agency led by Robert Daniels (Craig Veroni).
Global Security is producting whistleblower Olivia "Liv" Tanis (Melissa Roxburgh), an IT engineer who used to work for Genesis Defense Corporation, one of the largest defense contractors of the United States.
While they are en route for Liv's custody, their convoy is ambushed by a group of mercenaries hired by the corrupt military on Genesis, led by villains Andrew Vogel (Josh Blacker) Danielle Moinet AKA Summer Rae is in this in cover she is villain and yes false advisement she is not part of this movie at all makes an appearance as well, while she has so few lines, she does look the part of fit femme fatale..
This is better than most exaggerated roles of action genre, although he does look a bit confused at times.
People are shooting for half of the movie people don't reload their guns they do but less time mostly it's no reloading.and action is really good, really full on non stop this is worth marine film ever to be watched never to be missed at all, Audiences should be aware that The Marine 4 is the epitome of B-movie, it has a simple premise and is designed to entertain with least amount of effort.
and i know people i know unreal no story, people don't reload yes people it's B-MOVIE just for WWE Fans now i know it's not movie for everyone to watch unless your WWE fan or action fan liking B-Class films.
there are action scenes which seem borrowed from other action movies like The Terminator (attack on the police station by the mercenaries), and First Blood (chase through the woods, with a lot of deadly traps set by the hero).
The Marine 4 is a mediocre movie with implausible scenes and no character development.
that was confusing bit of movie the all movie becsially just jake carter is producting I.T. Olivia from Mercenaries with full on action in it.
their are Real guns in assorted flavors flood the action scenes.
There's just no stopping the body count.Summer Rae plays the role of Rachelle Dawes, the mercenaries' resident sniper and oh boy she's hot on that role.
You won't find it in here reason is because it's a fast paced action sequences if you don't understand i am not writing this in different language if you understand this is a action sequences then that's my answer to you its a WWE film studio not a bigger million dollar budget hit movie.
10.10 i know it sounds silly but it's B-GRADE movie for WWE fans only if your curious give it shot but just to know it's B-CLASS film..
Audiences not hoping like this movie for another sequel.Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin better than other WWE actors.He was a hero but not look like a "First Blood".This is his 2nd but acting decent & well.He has good future.Josh Blacker acting is boring.This movie better than 1st Marine movie.last movie have not enough happy ending.But this is good come back.Story & Dialog are impressive.Music,special effects,location,acting are most happy done.fights are choreographed with perfect.But reloading forget.car chasing are look like childish.Finally enough for video film.We waiting for another sequel from William Kaufman..
It concerns an ex-Marine called Jake Carter (Mike Mizanin) who has become a bodyguard.
Even more predictable is the fact that the mercenaries eliminate everyone other than Jake Carter and the whistleblower he is protecting.
From the first attack the movie becomes a non-stop bullet fest with a lot of shooting and no reloading.
The acting is cringe worthy at times and there are action scenes which seem borrowed from other action movies like The Terminator (attack on the police station by the mercenaries), and First Blood (chase through the woods, with a lot of deadly traps set by the hero).
Overall The Marine 4 is a mediocre movie with implausible scenes and no character development.
Some of the characters are annoying and their actions and behavior makes no sense, like Olivia knocking out Jake even though he saved her life but she still doesn't know whether to trust him or not.
Some of the characters are annoying and their actions and behavior makes no sense, like Olivia knocking out Jake even though he saved her life but she still doesn't know whether to trust him or not.
Another annoying thing is that in a course of one night, the hero manages to set so many traps in the forest where they are making their stand that the film looses any believability, not that it had that much to begin with.
The fact that the villains in the film seem uncertain as to whether they want to capture or eliminate their target is also annoying.
Story/Plot: Shallow Acting: So-so CGI: So-so Action: BOOOOOOOOOMIf you're looking at non-stop action, this movie is for you.
This is a direct sequel from Marine 3 where Mike "The Miz" Mizanin reprises his role as Jake Carter, former marine now working as a private security.
Fast pace action starts from the ambush (while Carter and company are on their way to the safe house) and ends when no more villains breath.
That's an understatement!Real guns in assorted flavors flood the action scenes.
There's just no stopping the body count.Summer Rae plays the role of Rachelle Dawes, the mercenaries' resident sniper and oh boy she's hot on that role.The Marine 4 is for you if you like fast paced action sequences..
"One in the Chamber" director William Kaufman's bullet-riddled actioneer "Marine 4: Moving Target" is an above-average, old-fashioned shoot'em up about an ex-Marine who must protect a Department of Justice witness from the villains.
On his first day on the job with a civilian company of hired guns, Jack Carter (Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin of "Marine 3") has his hands full with a cynical doll, Olivia Tanis (Melissa Roxburgh of "Leprechaun: Origins"), who has the goods on a corrupt defense contractor named Genesis that sold defective bulletproof vests to the Marine Corps.
Predictably, Olivia hates Jack, and they have a lively exchange of dialogue in the SUV before all Hell breaks loose and a trigger-happy shooter, Andrew Vogel (the skull-faced Josh Blacker of "Elysium") and his army of mercenaries take out everybody else except the traitor.
Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin makes a solid, sturdy hero.
As B-movies go, "Marine 4: Moving Target" delivers formulaic, standard-issue violence with a high body count but no nudity.
If you are not looking for much logic or depth then you can surely enjoy this film as a nice action entertainer.
This time the production value and budget was a bit higher than its previous installment which was a good thing.The film had lot of action right from the word go (at times it felt a bit too much) and continues till the end where everybody is just shooting at each other with some nicely choreographed hand to hand combat as well.
Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin returns as Sgt. Jake Carter in the fourth installment of the franchise and becomes the first WWE wrestler to work in two films of the franchise.
I have always enjoyed all the films in The Marine franchise as all of them takes away your boredom for little over an hour.
The story this time shows Jake Carter working in a security agency which is protecting a witness who has proof against a defense corporation's evil agenda, soon Carter finds himself in a bloody war against ex-special forces turned mercenaries who are hell bound to kill the witness.
William Kaufman who had directed films like Sinners and Saints does a pretty good job as the director.
Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin may not be the best wrestler/actor around but he sure is better than few for sure and I loved his character in both the films.
The film also had WWE diva Summer Rae who had almost no duologue's in the film neither a impressive character, all she did was shooting.
But overall like I said at the beginning if you are not looking for some serious stuff then you can definitely enjoy this film..
I can't tell you how many movies have made me scream into the screen, "Pick up the damned gun that guy dropped you idiot" and watch the foolish person continue on with a handgun which is probably almost empty.
This time I didn't have to yell that, because our stars were smart enough to grab nearly every gun that fell.Bad guys dropped like flies, as one would expect when fighting against our hero, however it seemed that in the final stages that twice as many men were killed as were even involved in the endeavor.
Sgt. Carter (Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin) is now a civilian working for Hawthorne Global Security.
His job is to protect (along with a bunch of co-workers) Olivia Tanis (Melissa Roxburgh) a smart talking 24 year old who has information to take down Genesis, who manufactured substandard military hardware.
There is some attempt at "First Blood" type of scenes that could have been better developed to make the film more interesting.
For some reason, late in the film, she does take off her vest so we can see her in a tank top.Good mindless action film for those who can't get enough of Steve Austin type acting.Guide: No f-bombs, sex, or nudity.
At least insert some wooden plates for let the vest stops repeating fatty actors bodies.Oh, and the bad guys always want to shoot good guys both dead, but as long as bad guys ambush and meet them from behind - asking to drop the gun (of course fist fight begins, of course bad guys losing).The movie is so predictable and foreseeable that you won't expect that absolutely blunt and abrupt ending of the movie.Oh, you just watched the whole movie in my review..
'The Marine 4: Moving Target' is a surprisingly well made film where action scenes are concerned..
I can't believe it's been almost ten years since the first 'The Marine' movie.
They put him in the lead role of a movie called 'The Marine', which he indeed played the Marine.
The sequel starred WWE superstar Ted Dibase, and the third film starred former Real World star and current WWE superstar Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin.Since The Miz did such a good job on Part 3, they brought him back for the fourth film in the WWE franchise, which has seen some moderate home video success.
Make no mistake about it though, 'The Marine 4' isn't going to change the action genre in any way, shape, or form, but there is enough quality talent here to make the film look bigger and greater than it actually is.
That being said, the fight choreography with fists and feet, as well as the mass amounts of gun play looks insanely good.
So if you're a fan of mindless action with great gun fights, you'll be satisfied with this fourth installment from the WWE universe.The Miz comes back as former Marine Jake Carter who is tasked to look after and escort a young woman named Olivia Tanis (Melissa Roxburgh), who is the whistleblower for a major company that was responsible for some shoddy military uniforms.
Olivia arrives back in the USA in order to testify against the company, but as soon as she steps foot on the soil and is enlisted in the care of The Miz, a ton of bad guys attack them with what seems like all the guns in the world.
It seems like there is never a shortage of bad guys or guns here, as The Miz and Olivia have to escape each obstacle in their path.The film never slows down, which is unfortunate for our pair of protagonists here, because it seems like they are always in peril with dodging bullets, fists, or knives.
But hey, that's a good thing for us, because it keeps us interested in seeing the next fun death sequence or the next cheesy line of dialogue, which is all through this fourth installment.
In fact, one of my favorite lines in a movie this year is from 'The Marine 4', which happens at the start of the film and goes from taking the SAT's to 9-11 in only a matter of seconds.
Just pay attention to how well the fight scenes and gun play is staged here.
It was good to see WWE Diva Summer Rae is in the film too as a sniper, but for some reason, they left most of her scenes on the cutting room floor and is barely in the film.
The Miz is easily likable and believable as the badass he portrays in this movie, whereas Tanis does a good job of of mixing her harmless and strong side into one cohesive character.'The Marine 4: Moving Target' is a surprisingly well made film where action scenes are concerned.
I can't say the same about the dialogue, but hey, what do you expect from a fourth installment of a WWE franchise?.
To start off with, the plot of the movie is extremely familiar, concerning itself with the old story of a dedicated protector on the run with a female witness, and the two don't like each other at first...
I know, I know - the plot doesn't really matter with movies like this.
Other elements, like the actors and the action are what matter.
Well, while I wouldn't call Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin a bad actor, his reading of lines comes across as really bland and mediocre for the most part, as if he wasn't very enthusiastic to be in this production.
As for the action, I will admit that the hand-to-hand combat sequences are pretty well done, expertly choreographed and energetically directed and edited.
Most of the action consists of one endless shooting sequence after another, which becomes boring and monotonous really fast thanks to their uninspired direction and editing.
Apart from the hand-to-hand combat sequences, the only other decent thing about the movie is its look - it's fairly well photographed on picturesque locations in British Columbia. |
tt0070694 | Night of the Dark Full Moon | On Christmas Eve, 1950, a man in flames runs from the house that Wilfred Butler built while a person is heard playing organ music inside. Wilfred Butler was buried on New Year's Day, and his house was left to his grandson Jeffrey Butler. The house remained empty for over 20 years, until Jeffrey finally decides to sell it.At a hospital for the criminally insane, an inmate escapes with a wrench, runs into a parked car, and speeds away. At the same time, John Carter, a lawyer from nearby New York City, arrives at the Butler estate with his girlfriend Ingrid. Meanwhile, Diane drives by a man who is at the side of the road by a car (he is seen beating on the windshield).John goes to see Mayor Adams (Diane's father) about buying the house and also meets newspaper publisher Charlie Towman, "communications director" Tess Howard, and Sheriff Bill Mason. Meanwhile, the unseen escaped inmate arrives at the deserted Butler house, kills a barking dog, and walks inside. Back at the mayor's office, John tells the group that Jeffrey Butler wants $50,000 in cash by the next day. Tess agrees to connect the phone line for John (who is staying at the house), and John says he has never met Jeffrey and that the man simply called and left a key for him.John and Ingrid return to the house and, following a light dinner, head for the bedroom. Tess calls just to make sure the phone is working, and John goes to the car for cigarettes and comes back with a tiny gift for Ingrid, which he says that she cannot open yet. While the two lovers are in bed, the inmate walks in and hacks them both up with an felling axe. The killer then telephones the sheriff, saying that John Carter is not at the house. Thinking that it might be Jeffrey calling, Sheriff Mason hangs up and the killer then calls Tess at the switchboard that it is Marianne and that the killer is waiting for her in her father's house. Tess quickly calls Maggie and tells her to come on over.Meanwhile, the man that Diane saw on the road find's John's car with the keys in the ignition, and he drives the car to Diane's house and knocks on the door. As Diane opens the door and points a revolver at him and asking who he is, the man says that he is Jeffrey Butler and shows her identification. He says that he wants to get into his house, and Diane says that the sheriff's deputy might have a key.Tess tells Maggie that, if she has not returned from the Butler house in an hour, to call only Sheriff Mason or Towman, and no one else. The sheriff arrives at a local cemetery, and finds a diary sitting by Wilfred Butler's grave and is he immediately whacked in the face with a spade. Meanwhile, Jeffrey returns to Diane's house and says that the deputy was not at home. Diane gets Jeffrey a drink and they talk about the house. She says that a woman keeps calling for her father and says she is waiting at the Butler house. Diane and Jeffrey drive to the Butler house together and they find the sheriff's car and his sunglasses at the cemetery. The two go see Towman, and she says that Tess has gone to the estate. Jeffrey and Towman drive to the house (leaving Diane at the newspaper office), but Towman drives to Tess' place and, finding no one around, he gets in his car and drives away, leaving Jeffrey behind.Meanwhile, the killer calls Towman's office and after Diane says her name, asks the woman to bring her father to the house. The unseen killer says that it is Marianne, and she has a diary, referring to Christmas Eve of 1935.Tess finds Mason's car by the house and calls out his name. She walks inside and a flashlight is shown in her face. The killer tells her not to be scared and offers her a hand, which a severed hand falls to the floor. Tess screams and the killer swings his axe at her.Diane reads old newspapers and learns about Wilfred Butler's daughter, Marianne, being attacked and raped when she was 15. In 1935, Butler gave his house to Dr. Robinson to be made into a local insane asylum where he committed his daughter. Towman has "cut out" the ending to the story.Jeffrey returns to the office and Diane asks about his mother Marianne, whom Jeffrey was told had died in childbirth. Jeffrey reads the newspapers, and Diane suggests that his mother is alive and waiting at the house. As they drive to the house, they find Towman's car in flames. Further down the road, Jeffrey accidentally kocks over Towman with the car. Jeffrey stops and sees that the man is dead, and he tells Diane that someone had cut off Towman's hands. A little later, they finally arrive at the house, and see Mason's car. The killer calls Mayor Adams and tells him about the "reunion" at the house and says that his daughter will be there. Adams picks up a shotgun and heads out.At the Butler house, Jeffrey finds a diary and reads of Marianne's child being taken away and sent to California. Doctors and guests lived in the house, and Wilfred was upset about the way the people acted. One day, as the doctors drank and danced, Wilfred went to Marianne's room where he admits to being the father of her baby and leads her away. To save the patients from being "abused" further by the doctors, Wilfred had freed the inmates. The crowd of lunatics walked into the house as a Christmas Eve dinner was being held and savagely murdered the doctors at the dinner table. As Wilfred went to the car, Marianne has slipped away, and the inmates, believing she was a doctor, killed her.Diane walks into the house and Jeffrey tells her that Wilfred is still alive, making the town believe he was dead by setting fire to a squatter he found at the house. Jeffrey also says that the sheriff, Tess, Towman, and Diane's father were all former inmates at the asylum and they had in fact founded the town while Wilfred had apparently been residing in an another asylum all these years. Mayor Adams arrives at the house and finds a corpse on the porch and screams. Diane gives Jeffery her revolver. As Mayor Adams walks inside, the two men shoot each other. At the top of the stairs, the killer, whom is finally revealed to be an 80-year-old Wilfred Butler, appears, telling Diane (whom he addresses as "Marianne") not to run away. A flashback shows a young Marianne running from her father. Diane goes to Jeffrey's side, grabs the revolver, and shoots Wilfred three times, who tumbles down the stairs. Diane runs into a room and cries, leaving the house at daybreak.In the final shot, set another year later, the Butler house is seen being torn down. | revenge, cult, avant garde, murder, flashback | train | imdb | null |
tt0045920 | It Came from Outer Space | A fireball streaks across the desert sky and crashes. We see an aerial view of Sand Rock, Arizona in the late evening in the early spring. Inside an isolated ranch house outside of town we meet John Putnam (Richard Carlson) and his girlfriend Ellen Fields (Barbara Rush). He is an amateur astronomer, she the local school teacher. They sit in front of a fire in his partially completed home enjoying a cup of coffee. They walk outside to take in the night air when they spot the "meteor" from the opening shot.From inside the crater, by the old Excelsior Mine, we see a sphere partially exposed that looks like a soccer ball. A hexagonal shaped "door" opens and we see some weird machinery and in shadow one of the occupants--a single eyed blob of a creature. It exits the ship and explores the desert leaving in its wake a shimmery trail.John and Ellen charter Pete Davis (Dave Willock) to take them to the crater in his helicopter. They circle the crater and land near the rim. The three climb to the top and peer inside. John walks down to the floor of the newly formed crater insisting that Ellen and Pete stay up on the rim. John sees the ship partially buried in the side of the mine, and also notices the shimmery substance near the exit of the ship. He stretches his hand out to touch the glowing material, but hesitates when he notices something inside the ship and stands up to face it. The door closes and slams shut triggering an avalanche of loose debris, burying the ship and almost killing John. John climbs back out of the crater and explains what he saw, but Ellen and Pete do not believe him.Two cars approach the crater. Pete and Ellen beg John not to discuss what he saw--they think he was imagining it. Sheriff Matt Warren (Charles Drake) and Dave Loring (Alan Dexter), who runs the local newspaper, arrive on the scene. John starts to relay his story and the disbelief and ridicule starts. Three more cars arrive at the crater. John, Ellen, and Pete fly back to the airport. John and Ellen drive back to his house. Along the way they are being observed. They encounter the creature on the highway as it appears to block their path on the road. John pulls to the side of the road thinking they hit it. Finding nothing they continue down the road.The next morning the crater is a buzz of activity. A KLTV television news van pulls up. The Sheriff's office has set up a cordon around the crater admitting only authorized personnel. The military has sent a small group out to explore. John and Ellen arrive only to be hounded by the press. John is there to meet with Dr. Snell. Dugan (Robert Carson) from American Press, and Lober (Dick Pinner) from Press Dispatch want to question John about the Sand Rock Star newspaper headline, "Star Gazer Sees Martians". They get no answers and turn their attention to Ellen, who is equally reluctant to talk to the press. John walks down into the crater to talk to Dr. Snell (George Eldredge). His assistant, Bob (Bradford Jackson) is taking radioactivity measurements, but finds none. Snell is convinced it was just a meteor, and refuses Johns request to dig it out. As John heads back to his car, where Ellen was patiently waiting, he is confronted by Matt. He has known Ellen a long time and is concerned about her involvement with John. He is jealous. John and Ellen drive off.As they are driving the see the county telephone linemen, George (Russell Johnson), and his boss, Frank (Joe Sawyer). John asks them if they've seen anything. Frank tells them he's hearing something very strange on the wires. Frank and George head down the road and encounter the creature. As he exits the truck, George is attacked and "globbed" or absorbed. John and Ellen suspect something is wrong and turn around and head back in the same direction that George and Frank took. They find the empty telephone truck on the side of the road. John retrieves his gun from the car and they begin their search, starting with the truck. John notices blood on the truck door and the shimmery trail, a telltale sign of the xenomorph. George appears to them, but is behaving very strangely. John notices Frank's arm on the ground, unmoving, the rest of his body is hidden behind a boulder. John and Ellen head back to town to get the Sheriff. John states his conclusion that Frank is dead, and it appears that George was the perpetrator. The xenomorph, now masquerading as George explains things to the human George and Frank.The Sheriff reluctantly agrees to accompany John and Ellen back out to where they encountered George and Frank, but when they arrive the truck and any evidence is gone. The three drive back to town. The Sheriff returns to his office, but John notices George and Frank walking through town. John follows and confronts them. They warn John not to interfere.Back at the Excelsior Mine, miners Sam (Edgar Dearing) and Toby (Warren MacGregor) are building a fire just outside the mine opening. They are waiting for Tom (George Selk) to return with food. Tom and his mule are just about back to the mine when the mule is spooked, and runs off. Tom turns around and is confronted by the xenomorph and is "globbed" or absorbed. Sam and Toby think they hear something in the mine and enter it. As they exit the mine they are met by the creature and are also a globbed.John and Ellen are summoned to see the Sheriff that evening. Frank's wife (Virginia Mullen) and George's girlfriend Jane Dean (Kathleen Hughes) have reported them acting strangely and now missing. Their clothes are also missing. The sheriff questions John because he appears to be the last one to have spoken to either of them. Ellen takes Mrs. Daylon and Jane home in John's car. John stays with Matt to discuss the situation; he tells Matt that Frank and George are in fact the creatures from the space craft stuck in the crater. The sheriff tells John that electrical equipment has been stolen from the hardware store and that Dr. Snell and his assistant, Bob, have been reported missing. John and Matt go out to the crater and find Dr. Snell's car, but no trace of Snell or Bob.Ellen is driving alone on the highway when she encounters Frank standing in the middle of the highway. She stops and he gets into the car. Frank instructs Ellen to take him to the mine. Back at the Sheriff's office, the phone rings. It is for John, and he is informed that the xenomorphs have Ellen. The Sheriff and John drive out into the desert. John exits the car and searches for Ellen. He sees what appears to be Ellen on a ridgeline in a cocktail dress. He follows her. She leads him to the opening to the mine shaft. A voice from inside the mine tells John that they are repairing their ship and will be leaving that night. The missing townsfolk are being held hostage. John begs to see the creature as it really is. It shows itself and John is horrified and repelled. He returns to see Matt who has been waiting by the car. Matt drops John off at his house. John notices the door unlocked and a shimmering trail leading back to an empty closed. All of his clothes are missing.The Sheriff gives orders to clear everyone away from the crater. John tells Matt that he got a visit and his clothes are missing. Frank appears in town just outside the Sheriff's office. Matt is spoiling for a confrontation with the creature impersonating the lineman, but John restrains him. They fight. Frank drives off in his telephone truck. The Sheriff forms an impromptu posse as John steals his police car and heads off to the crater. The Sheriff intends to confront Frank on the highway. Taking a shortcut through the desert, he forms a vehicle barricade across the highway. As Frank approaches, the posse opens fire. The truck careens off the highway and hits a boulder and bursts into flame. Meanwhile John arrives at the mine entrance and enters. He finds alien Ellen. She tells John they only need a few more hours. She then attacks him with a wand that emits a beam that cuts through rock, but misses. He shoots her with his gun and she falls into a lake below and dissolves. The posse arrives outside as John continues his exploration of the old mine. He hears machinery and finds the aliens in their human form making repairs to their ship. The head xenomorph has assumed John's identity. He explains their mission and the equipment's power. John demands Ellen's release as a sign of good faith. Alien John reciprocates by ordering all the hostages released. As they depart the mine, alien John resumes his alien form. John seals the mine entrance with dynamite to keep the posse away from the aliens. The ground begins to rumble and the ship departs, streaking across the sky. | horror | train | imdb | null |
tt1217213 | Secret of the Wings | Tinkers' Nook is bustling with activity, for the tinker fairies are making snowflake baskets for the fairies of winter. A flock of snowy owls soon arrive for the baskets, bringing a final shipment order for Fairy Mary (Jane Horrocks) with them. Tinker Bell (Mae Whitman) watches as the birds headed off toward the Winter Woods in awe and curiosity.Later that day, Tinker Bell volunteers to help Fawn (Angela Bartys) take animals to the Winter Woods to hibernate, but Fawn warns Tinker Bell that they could only bring animals to the border, and they aren't allowed to go into the Winter Woods. With Fawn distracted by a sleeping marmot, Tinker Bell jumps across the border into the Winter Woods. Tink gazes in wonder at the beautiful wintry landscape, enchanted by the delicate snowflakes falling around her, and the strange colors her wings create. The moment ends when Fawn yanks Tinker Bell back into the Autumn Woods. Touching Tink's wings, Fawn gasps at their cold temperature and rushes her off to the fairy hospital. A healing-talent fairy (Jodi Benson) examines Tink's wings and warms them to normal temperature. Tink remains curious about the sparkles and colors her wings made in the Winter Woods.Tink flies off to the Book Nook, where she finds a wing-shaped book titled Wingology, but unfortunately, the page on "Sparkling Wings" has been chewed through. A reading fairy (Thomas Lennon) tells Tink that the author of the book, the Keeper, might be able to help her, but he lives in the Winter Woods. Preparing herself for the Winter Woods, Tink sneaks into the tinkers' workshop and climbs inside one of the snowflake baskets, and flies her way into the Winter Woods. Suddenly, the owl accidentally drops the basket, and Tink crashes into the snow. Realizing her book had been flung from her bag after the landing, she tries to get it back before another fairy finds it. However, Lord Milori (Timothy Dalton), the Lord of Winter, takes the book from Sled (Matt Lanter). Lord Milori asks Sled to return the book to the Keeper. Tinker Bell follows Sled to the Hall of Winter, upon arriving spotting the Keeper, Dewey (Jeff Bennett). Then another winter fairy rushes into the room and proclaims that her wings are sparkling. Simultaneously, Tinker Bell's wings begin to glow and sparkle, too. A force pulls her toward the frost fairy, whose name is Periwinkle (Lucy Hale). The girls ask Dewey to explain what was happening to their wings. Bringing Tink and Periwinkle to the giant snowflake, and positioning their wings, the whole chamber becomes filled with images of the mainland, baby's first laugh (shown to be Wendy Darling in the main movie), that split in half: one [Tinker Bell] to the Pixie Dust Tree, and the other [Periwinkle] to the Winter Woods. Tink and Periwinkle realize that they are fraternal twin sisters.Suddenly, Lord Milori arrives, concerned over Tinker Bell's wing book, warning Dewey to send any 'warm' fairy back to the Autumn Woods. Dewey tells the girls they can have a little time to visit before Tink has to return home. The two go to Periwinkle's house, where she shows Tink her various items she had collected. Next, they go to the Frost Forest, to introduce Tink to Periwinkle's friends Gliss (Grey DeLisle) and Spike (Debby Ryan). They continue to spend time together the entire day. That night outside Periwinkle's house, as Tinker Bell builds a fire to stay warm, she realizes that if she can make it warm in the Winter Woods, she can make it cooler at her home. Suddenly, the snow floor melts beneath them, weakened by the fire. After the incident, Dewey tells the girls that Tinker Bell has to go home. The girls realize that they might never see each other again, but Tinker Bell comes up with a plan. When the three fairies reach the border, Tinker Bell begins to fake crying while whispering to Periwinkle to meet her at the border tomorrow. When Tinker Bell arrives home, she asks her friends Clank (Jeff Bennett) and Bobble (Rob Paulsen) for help. Hard at work, some of Tink's other friends stop by and learn of Tinker Bell's twin sister, excited at the prospect of meeting her.The next day, Tinker Bell arrives at the border with Bobble and Clank, pulling along a snow-maker. Now able to keep Periwinkle cold enough, Peri crosses the border to the 'warm' side of Pixie Hollow. She meets Tinker Bell's friends, Fawn, Iridessa (Raven-Symoné), Rosetta (Megan Hilty), Silvermist (Lucy Liu), and Vidia (Pamela Adlon) and continues her tour of the warm side of Pixie Hollow, until Tink noticed Periwinkle's wings wilting. The snow-maker was running out of ice, and there wasn't enough snow to keep Peri cold, so Tink and Periwinkle return to the border. Lord Milori appears and instructs Periwinkle how to fix her wings. Queen Clarion (Anjelica Huston), arrives too, and sadly explains to the girls that they can never see each other again. As the girls go their separate ways, the snow-maker gets knocked into the stream, and creates a snowstorm.Later that day, Queen Clarion tried to make Tinker Bell understand why the rule about not crossing the border was so important, as so did Lord Milori with Periwinkle. They told the story of two fairies who met and fell in love, one of them was a winter fairy [Lord Milori], and the other was from the warm world [Queen Clarion]. They usually met every sunset at the border, where Spring touches Winter. But as their love grew stronger, they wish to be together and share each others worlds. So they disregarded the danger across the border. One of them [Lord Milori] broke a wing, for which there is no cure. And from that day, Queen Clarion decreed that fairies must never again cross the border, and Lord Milori agreed, that their worlds, should forever remain apart. Just as the Queen finishes her side of the tale, it begins to freeze in the Autumn Woods and Springtime Square, causing a commotion. Queen Clarion, Tink, Iridessa, Rosetta, Vidia, Fawn, and the Ministers (except for the Minister of Winter) arrive at the stream to find Clank and Bobble attempting to free the snow-maker. Finally, they succeeded in pushing the machine into the water, but Vidia realizes that it isn't over. The seasons become thrown out of balance, and the life of the Pixie Dust Tree comes into question; if it becomes too cold, it will freeze and stop producing pixie dust. Queen Clarion then proclaims that life in Pixie Hollow will change forever, and no fairy will ever fly again.All warm fairies did everything they can to save the Pixie Dust Tree - the tinker-talents placing the leaf blankets on each branch of the tree, the animal-talents evacuate the frogs into a safer place, Iridessa evacuates the fireflies on one of the beriwinkles of Rosetta and Silvermist evacuates the snail into a safer place and Tink evacuating some animals on her house. Tink then notices that a flower that Periwinkle had planted is still blooming, despite its warm surroundings. Tinker Bell flies straight to the Winter Woods, and asks Gliss and Periwinkle why the flower was still alive. Gliss explains that frost tucks warm air inside, and Periwinkle suggests that they could frost the Pixie Dust Tree before the freeze comes. Tinker Bell and the frost fairies fly to the Pixie Dust Tree.Meanwhile, at the tree, Bobble and Clank tried to place some blankets on a branch of the tree, but the strong winds blew them away, Clank says that the plan isn't working well and Bobble explains that the wind is strong and blew the blankets away. To the Queen's fear and disappontment, Tink, Peri, Gliss and Spike arrived. They explained the power of their frost to Queen Clarion, and they get right to work, but Spike realizes that the job would be too big for them to finish in time. Then Tinker Bell spotted Dewey, Lord Milori, and the rest of the frost fairies flying toward them, helping them frost the tree. Lord Milori ordered some winter-talents to spread to spring, summer and autumn and the rest to the Pixie Dust Tree.Accomplished of frosting the whole Hollow, Lord Milori states that they've started all they can. He then warns the warm fairies that the freeze is upon them and they must take cover. Peri hopes that the scheme will work. Queen Clarion then asks Lord Milori that if everything will be alright, and Lord Milori states that he has no idea, for he never saw such calamity like this, Queen Clarion, trying to survive the cold, Lord Milori then cover Clarion with his snowy-owl feather cape to Queen Clarion. Lord Milori then orders all the winter fairies to stand guard all over the Pixie Dust Tree, awaiting the freeze to attack the tree.Afraid the freeze had come too late, the fairies gather anxiously around the Pixie Dust Well, and rejoice when pixie dust then begins to flow again. The fairies of all talents, warm or cold enjoyed the celebration, but when Periwinkle invited Tinker Bell, Tink realizes that she had broke her right wing when she flew to the Winter Woods. Peri asked her why, but she said they've got to save the tree and ignores it because there was no cure for a broken wing, and warns Periwinkle to go back to the Winter Woods before her wings wilt. As the sisters hold hands and say good-bye, they reunite their wings and an explosion of pure sparkly light bursts from their wings, slowly magically healing Tink's broken wing. Queen Clarion and Lord Milori then reveal that they were the two lovers from the story and stay together as a couple.From that day on, warm fairies can cross over the border into the Winter Woods anytime they like. A coat of frost keeps the warm fairy's wings safe while in the cold. Strong and close friendships between warm fairies and winter fairies blossom just as warm and beautiful as Periwinkle's flower and in the end of the film, Rosetta and Sled admit their mutually strong romantic feelings to each other. | fantasy | train | imdb | null |
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