its actually based on a book by Jack Ketchum, who made probably the most violent book in existance, Off Season.
true story? im not sure its possible, but its definetly based of the book.

The book is based on a true story.

It says so on Amazon.

It must be true.

Don't forget the big emphasis on the word "based" in that sentence. It could have the same peoples names and it would then be "based".

Doll Graveyard

What are u saying?

You don't believe it?


Well, i read on IMDB that the only made-up thing in the movie was the rape scene.

"Superbad" 5-6/10

I wasn't amused.... Death to the blabbering fat kid.

I figure it will be shit... Everyone says it's funny, but I have that gut feeling that if I watch it I will hate myself for it later.

I just picked Off Season up a couple of weeks ago, but haven't gotten around to reading it yet.
As far as The Girl Next Door goes....from what I have heard, I am not sure if I want to see it, or read it. I'm sure its well done, just maybe TOO well done for me. I know my limits. :o

I don't know... To each his own.

It is described on IMDB as the funniest Teen Comedy since the first American Pie. I didn't like the first American Pie...

Maybe i'm just too old for teen movies. Maybe they just suck. :D

I know how u feel.

But beeing a horror movie nut i just couldn't resist when it was mentioned as one of the best movies of 2007.

Oh I understand, there's a pretty good chance I will end up watching it eventually out curiousity, I'm just trying to decide how much I will regret it afterward.....:rolleyes: I have almost added it to my Netflix queue a couple of times, but always stop myself....yes, apparently I'm a wimp. It just sounds like one I would suffer through, and that's just not why I watch movies.

Well, it's certainly one of those movies that sticks with you for a while.

But it isn't gross, like gore gross. Just extremely cruel.

Awesome... I just find it fascinating that we have movies that have always tried to "push the envelope" and be risque above and beyond...

And then there are the movies that just... were before the code, but that was back in the 30s, when we had a SERIOUSLY different "code" or ethics and conduct, so it's interesting to look back at those pre-code films.

I'll definitely have to check them out... The Netflix queue is a little clogged with horror and Christmas, but I'll add them on there. Thanks. :)

...

Today I tried to watch...

The Exorcism of Emily Rose

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ogrl/10m-8.jpg

Honestly, the concept of a priest being brought to trial based on what appears to be a negligent homicide, while he and the family claims that the girl was possessed by demons is an interesting concept. I have seen documentaries about real-life exorcisms that discuss the children, their issues (in most cases, the girls were suffering from PTSD due to molestation), and the Church's course of action (there are still countries and groups that feel that this is appropriate conduct).

HOWEVER.

The movie was BORING. The story is told within the frame of the case being brought to trial, so all in flashbacks and hearsay reports. I'd imagine that PART of the point was to construct and examine the concept of the unreliable narrator, but I simply was not impressed.

I felt as though I was watching something between Criminal Minda and X-Files. A bad repeat on Saturday afternoon.

C/C+

I'm sure it is. And I don't mind gore at all. Its the subject matter that would bother me, like with everyone, some things just get to me more than others....and this movie is full of what would REALLY get to me. And I realize thats the point, but still.....

Century Hotel
A series of vignettes taking place in different decades all in the same hotel room. Some of the stories were well written but some were really out there. It's a Canadian film, so it was nice to see familiar actors (mostly from sci-fi shows) but that's about it.

well obviously itt was based on the book :rolleyes:

the book was based on real events

I watched Santa's Slay again last night. That is such a fun movie. And you can tell they're not taking themselves seriously, which is a good thing. If they were, all of the cheesy fun wouldn't be there. If you haven't seen this yet, and are in the mood for a quick, fun film, pick this up. Just remember, it's supposed to be corny.

4/5

The more I hear about Santa's Slay, the more I realize that I HAVE to see it.

...

I just watched Kalifornia.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ogrl/10m-9.jpg

So I've been curious about this movie for a while. I mean, it's one of Brad Pitt's firsts, and it has Juliet Lewis (I LOVE her) and David Duchovny.

Oddly enough, I was pursuing On Demand and it came up under FEAR.NET movies. So I thought, "Hey, it MUST be a horror movie. Now I HAVE to see it."

But, uhm... BESIDES the amazing cast, the incredible characters (honestly the characters were incredible and well-played all around)... The dialogue and direction were really solid.

BUT

While the plot was REALLY good, the latter half of the movie and the ending was just long, boring, and wandering... I REALLY liked the film at first... But toward the end, not so much. :-/

C+

Yes, you have to see it. It's fun as hell (weird, because I was always told hell was painful). You'll like it.

I thought it was ok. It wasnt at all what I thought it wold be. I really wish they would of put more of her in the labyrinth.
The seen with the pale male was cool though

I loved Pan's Labyrinth, the entire thing was so beautiful. I did expect more fantasy scenes, but what I got was enough. I am not into the whole historical / war genre, but I can genuinely say that I enjoyed even those themed scenes in Pan's Labyrinth. The General was just too good. The ending is what really got me, though.

Oh, the movie was most certainly beautiful, chilling gothic... I just found it incredibly uneven. There was the obvious subtext of war (backdrop and subplot of 1944 besieged Spain), but I felt as though Guillermo del Toro just didn't know... what he wanted to... do.

The film was uneven and couldn't decide whether or not it wanted to be commentary/war epic or escapist fantasy dark adventure.

Everything involving fantasy was amazing. AMAZING. I cannot fault him that.

Anything NOT involving fantasy - Was uninspired, cliched, and poorly-constructed tripe that just seemed to serve the purpose of attempting to create "a greater meaning."

Dark gothic fantasies DON'T have to have a "greater meaning." He should have allowed the audience to revel in it just as his childish lead. If there had been more of that, I would have been happy - THRILLED.

But, honestly, the end was fairly predictable and too little too late.

I agree, I loved everything about the film. In fact, it immediately became a favorite of mine, along with Devil'S Backbone. Both are absolutely wonderful films, in my opinion.

I do see where your coming from, and many share your opinion. My concept of what the film was trying to do is merely speculation; that is what the film allows. Nothing is truly explained.

Pan's Labyrinth's point, I thought, was the story of Ofelia. She was trying to cope with the current state of her life through escapist methods. She came to face what was going on in real life through her imagination; through the fairy tale. The biggest question is whether or not this fantasy existed. Is the film itself a fantasy, or is it more the story of adolescence. In my opinion, what occurred in this film (the fawn, her trials...) were not real. They were simply her imagination, stories she told herself, stories she created. They were presented to us as if they were occurring; as if they were real. Because Ofelia wanted to believe they were real, perhaps she even did. Everything she experiences in the fantasy world is directly related to the events occurring in the real world. She is merely using this covering in order to make what is happening easier for her to accept.

I believe people came in to this film expecting two things. A period film, or a fantasy film (like Narnia or something... that type of fantasy film. We are expected to believe that the fantasy is real.) A fairy tale, straight and simple (I hope you know what I mean...) It certainly was promoted with a fantastical lean. What they got was neither, not concretely, but a mixture of the two. And that's what the movie's point was.

It allows the viewer a war film, and a fantasy film, but if you focus on either, you're missing the point. The focus is Ofelia. The point is, that the real world is happening, and the fantasy world is her trying to cope with it. Guillermo uses the two worlds to get the message across. So I don't think it was uneven. He did what he wanted to do, use contrast and connection and a central chracter to get a messages across. Along the way, he did throw in a social commentary and his own ideas of Spain. That's just a personal touch.

I hope you understood this. It sounds right in my head, but I can't hammer it out. How I see the film, that is. So... this is the best I can do... :p

I too loved Pan's Labryinth. I'll admit, I expected more fantasy scenes. But, the story itself made up for it. Yet another reason why I love Guillermo Del Toro. I can't wait for Hellboy 2.

Vampires

...

Thanks Josh... Definitely clear (and it's good to see someone who rants just as much as I do). :)

Oh, yeah, I definitely get "it"... I definitely get the point of the film, which is mostly why I was so irritated after leaving the theater. The movie is about Ofelia... But it just doesn't... work. I really thought that Guillermo got a little lost and tried to do WAY too much. Honestly, I felt as though Ofelia got a little lost during the war subtext.

For me, it wasn't as simple as, "I was looking for more fantasy scenes." I didn't expect the movie to be just a simple, pretty fantasy movie (just to make that clear - most people who hear my criticism think that I'm complaining, "I wanted another Mirrormask!" but it's not as black and white as that). I expected it to be dark, mature, moody and thought-provoking through using the medium of of imperfect and scary imaginings... Being whimsical, but dark and mature at the same time... But what came above and beyond the fantasy in the film, well, just wasn't interesting for me, and I thought distracted from what was supposed to be the main focus.

I like the concept of escapism through dark fantasy (and that the fantasy itself is dark, grotesque, and scary, a pure reflection of the world that she is trying to escape, but just simply can't release entirely)... I mean, the concept of a little girl's escapist fantasies are just as dark and scary as reality... Is brilliant! But, again, I thought that there was a bit too much of the "reality." SO much, in fact, that I found myself asking, "What is the point?" The non-Ofelia-centric scenes were just... boring. I thought that Guillermo was really beating a dead horse (life is violent, unfair, and totally sucks... and, thusly inspired, so are fantasies - How tragic! :eek: ).

Even though I found the movie overrated, honestly I can see why people liked the film - it's not without merit (INCREDIBLY well-directed and now I HAVE to see more of his films), but it just didn't come together for me.

Pan's Labyrinth is one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen. I believe it is the work of a master at the height of his craft. Every element is thought out to the most minute detail. I dream of being able to make a film this stunningly perfect.

The reality scenes are more horrific by far than the fantasy scenes and Capitan Vidal is a villain of the highest order.

A little girl who doesn't quite feel a part of her own family - because her real family is searching for her

A Mother who will do anything to keep her family alive - including take protection from a monster

A Master of control who faces a little girl who step into a world he cannot even conceive of

A guide to the other world who deceives in order to test

Ultimately it is about sacrifice and faith with an almost Brazil-like finale

Mystic River - 6/10

Haha, yes, I love to rant. I get caught up sometimes. I often write three times as much as I post, and go back and keep editing it down. That's why nearly all of my posts have the 'last edited' tag at the bottom.

Okay, I see where you are coming from more clearly. I really did think it was a case of, as you put it, wanting more Mirrormask. I thought you had missed the fact that it was not suppose to be a pure fantasy film. I misjudged you.

Note what Roderick has posted above. He makes a good point. The film is very intricate. Not only do you have Ofelia attempting to escape her real-life situation through a fantasy, but her real-life setting itself mirrors that of a fantasy. You have all of the players. Both are equally as dark. Ofelia is central in her fantasy, while she is nearly excluded from the "fantasy" taking place in the real world.

I noticed you used the word 'cliche' in an above post, referencing these real-life scenes. That's what a fantasy always is, cliche, in one sense or another. Isn't everything, if just a tad?

I can see where you are coming from, for sure. Sometimes it does feel as though they are elongating the real-life scenes a tad too much. Taking what seems like it should have been a small addition, and creating a wonderful story that expands far beyond the intended runtime. Noting Roderick, I realize that the film is perhaps not as Ofelia-centric as I had believed. The General becomes another important character, playing out his own 'fantasy.'

I watched Brazil earlier this year, and I would say, I much prefer the ending of Pan's Labyrinth.

i have to agree with rod here. i left that theater stunned. it's such a thick film, in pretty much every way. i found myself thinking about it long after i'd watched it, about the connections and relationships between each character, and the purpose of those things. at the beginning of the film, the characters don't seem all that different from each other. i mean, you see that they are definitely different people, but you'd never suspect the captain is a heartless monster, the mother is desperate and miserable, ofelia is actually the princess of another world, etc. it's just all so epic and important, and i definitely felt that walking out of the theater.

Oh, I forgot to mention...
Night Watch (Nachnoi Dozor)

A foreign film that did not seem so foreign. And not quite a film, either. Episodic would best describe it, but I am aware that this is a trilogy. Day Watch is released, and Dusk Watch (if they are going with that title?) is being made either at this time, or in the near future. Oh, and all three are based on novels, but I heard reports that the novel material was all used by the end of the second film? Can't confirm this being true, who knows.

The whole thing... and it's mythology, really confused me. I found myself paying really close attention in the beginning. I had to re-watch some parts to make sense of what was going on. It wasn't described that well. But, nearing the end, everything sort of starts to make sense. You get an idea of how things work, and I'm sure it will be expanded on in the upcoming features.

It sort of takes the really overdone, overcliched light-vs-dark theme (actually, it doesn't SORT OF, it does that exactly...) and mixes in shapeshifters and "vampires." Probably a host of other mythos as we continue.

I actually expected this to be intelligent. To have a deeper meaning, a psychological aspect. To have some amount depth. But... it was actually, really, really hollow. I wonder how the literature compares, because this does not seem like literary material.

Then again, as it is tricky being a trilogy that is so connected - like a mini-series - perhaps the big ol' revelations will come nearing the end of the third installment. In some massive twist, or explosion of intricacy that we had missed when watching the two films prior. Something that connects everything.

Oh, and that "twist" was so, so, sooo easy to predict.

It was decent, don't get me wrong. Worth a watch. I liked how they set-up the ending, with the choosing of sides. The mini-revelation of how the events we had witnessed forced him to chose that specific side, and what was done to ensure it.

The ending had a real "tune in next week to find out!" feel. It has me looking forward to the second installment, which is what it should've done. So I guess, it succeeded?

B- ish.

First Blood...

Hostel..decided to see for the first time after never really being interested to.
Started watching, got bored, stopped.
Didn't think much of it at all.

Underworld

It's so refreshing to have movie discussions... I wish my friends were as passionate. :)

What's tricky about this conversation at the point that it's come to is that, ultimately, I agree with both of you. I really do.


I agree. Absolutely stunning. No arguing there. Every single scene was beautiful, be it fantasy or "reality."

Yes, it's true. He's a villain in real life and in fact, he is larger-than-life (I used the word "cliche" because he is that cliche villain "of the highest order"). That he is the villain in reality I found interesting because he is more a greater threat than any of the villains that she has in her fantasies. Also, being set against a 1940s beseiged Spain, you are going to get a different kind of elevated horror - civil unrest as well as familial strife. But, still, I would argue that the reasons why her fantasies are so dark is because her reality is so incredibly dark.

Uhm, yes, the first part of that statement is fairly obvious, though I'm not sure what you mean by the second part of that statement... By "real family" are you talking about within her fantasy?

Yup. Another cliched character out of fantasy. Beautifully tragic.

Yup...

Oh, yes, I LOVED this character as an element to her fantasy. I thought that he was brilliant and well-done.
Yes, and yes. I actually liked the ending a lot and thought that it was the only way that the movie could end.



...

I think that the issue with the current discussion is that you guys might think that I'm disagreeing with you or that there was something in the movie that I intrinsically missed or don't appreciate.

Quite the contrary - All of the points that you guys bring up, as per the structure of the film as well as the merits of the direction, I understand purpose, plot, and means.

But it just didn't work for me.

It's funny because I often have these kind of discussions with the few people I know who actually LOVE movies. When I say that I don't like something, the assumption on their part is that, obviously there was something incredibly mindblowingly integral and important that I must have MISSED! No. The truth is, I'm a huge movie-dork. I am. And I close-watch, close-read, close-analyze film to the point that it drives my friends crazy.

I get the structures and archetypes that Pan's Labyrinth is creating, playing on, and revelling in.

But, ultimately, I found it uneven, disappointing, and boring at times. And while I could assume meaning, there were still times when I was asking, "What's the point, here?" not so much that I missed it, but that I thought that I wasn't a fan with how he structured the "reality." I can see why. It's a directorial choice. But I don't have to like it.


.......................

Edit:

Josh, I just noticed that you weren't a big fan of Night Watch... It's funny because I saw your post before reading it and was like, "Crap, I don't like THAT film either," but then I read it and agree with you whole-heartedly.

Honestly, that part totally lost me... I thought it was interesting! And fascinating!!! But I wasn't sure exactly how that wound up tying into the film (which bothered me while watching it).

...

I'm glad I'm not the only one.

ha

I agree that this discussion is fun. I am glad that no one became the typical forum troll, and started a havoc. It was nice having an actual discussion, with actual points - solid points.

None of my friends IRL are that into movies. They chat while in theatres, and if at home, they tend to do other things - letting the movie act as background noise. It really gets to me. I remember seeing the third X-Men film with a few friends, and afterwards, trying to discuss the subtexts within the film's main plotline. All I got was a "HUH?" and a response similar to: "It was about mutants... what were you watching?"

And that plotline in X-Men 3 was about as obvious as a metaphor gets.

I admit at first, I was sort of trying to poke at you and say "Are you sure you understand?" and made an attempt to persuade you to change your mind. I'm notorious for trying to persuade people into following my own opinion. But I understand now that it was not a case of not understanding anything, it was merely a matter of you not liking it; plain and simple. You understood everything (better then most who LOVE the film), and you were able to see the good in the film, you just didn't like it as much as a few others. That's understandable.

I hope there's more of these friendly discussions in the future; they're better then the "I didn't like this film." "Your retarded!" "I hate this forum..." "THEN LEAVE!!!" banter that occasionally occurs here.

---

After some hefty Christmas shopping tonight, I'm heading out to see I Am Legend with one of the less movie-numb friends I have.

Can't wait to see I Am Legend. Not just for the movie itself but for the amazing The Dark Knight trailer attached to it.

Oh, man, I think you just made my day... :)

Yeah, the Pan's Labyrinth discussion is definitely worth merit... Honestly, two of my close friends LOVED it and refused to listen to my reasons for NOT liking it (which frustrates me because I put a LOT of thought into my movie opinions - as corny as it sounds). I hate being written off as "Just a snob," when, really there are REASONS I feel the way I feel... Probably the same for you, Josh, Rod, and other people around here who think a LOT and analyze movies.

It's funny because the Pan's Labyrinth discussion reminds me of a discussion I had with a friend of mine on 28 Days Later... He LOVED the movie and thought that I was incredibly DAFT for not liking it.

So we went point by point, hashing out every single PRO and every single CON of the movie, and we agreed on ALL of its strengths and weaknesses... It just so happened that HE thought that the strengths outweighed the weaknesses, while I thought the opposite.

I think it's the same situation here - I feel as though the weaknesses of Pan's Labyrinth outweigh the strengths... And some of the directorial choices that have been seen as strengths, I see as weaknesses...

But at least we all agree on the main points of the film... :)

...

I can totally sympathize with the friends who talk through movies or don't even bother to watch them at home... It drives me CRAZY, especially if it's a movie that I feel passionately about.

I saw the second Matrix movie with two groups of friends: With the first group of friends, we took a couple of hours to discuss the philosophy of the movie (ignoring ITS weaknesses) and what we hoped to see in the third.

The SECOND group of friends - I TRIED to get them to talk, but they were just like, "Heh. Fighting scenes."

It was a sad, sobering experience. :(

I know that the second Matrix movie isn't everyone's favorite, but there were a lot of themes in there that were worth discussion...

anyway...

Or you just get called "difficult", like I do, most recently for not liking Zombie's Halloween. :rolleyes: Ah well...

From dusk till Dawn

"Difficult"?! I heard that that movie was terrible! Haven't seen it myself though...

Plus... The original is so incredibly amazing... Why would someone want to remake it in the first place?!

We're not "difficult." We're refined. :p