How about the Alien Quadrilogy? I'm rewatching the set of dvds and I'm blown away by how much I love the series (even the 3rd and 4th one but...that warrants a discussion). I think I would have enjoyed the last 2 more if they weren't about Ripley. The 2nd one wrapped up her story so satisfyingly that the beginning of Alien 3 was like a kick in the gut. However, the extended version of the 3rd one wakes it more interesting and you actually get to know the supporting characters. Plus, there's a clearer arc to Ripley's character. I hope I didn't spoil anything for you if you haven't seen either versions of that movie... I like the 4th one but as a JP Jeunet film, not really as an Alien film. He is true to his usually style of filmmaking and it is good on that level. It's an enjoyable film despite its many problems.
Sorry I haven't been able to reply to your previous e-mail. I finished my semester TODAY!!! I can finally breathe a little.
So, to answer your question: yay on Exorcist 3, nay on the prequels. Loved the atmosphere of Exorcist 3 and George C. Scott's quick delivery and dry humor (I enjoyed his entire performance but those things about it particularly). I'm not a fan of Blatty's humorous writing in The Exorcist book but said by Scott, it was entertaining and not annoying as hell. Plus, that is the movie that truly made me a fan of Brad Dourif. He gives one of the creepiest, most disturbing performances I've seen to this day. He's just hypnotizing. I so rarely hear people talk about it, yet it is so brilliant. But I guess that's a tribute to the actor that he has so many other great things in his career to talk about (One Flew Over a Cuckoo's Nest and the Chucky movies, among my favorites).
As far as the prequels go, I only saw each of them only once and I remember enjoying the Paul Schrader version more than the Lenny Harlin one. I found the latter one predictable and overly cheesy, not at all consistent with the tone of the other movies. The Schrader version was, though, although it had A LOT of problems. And in that movie, the weird bald kid kinda freaked me out to no end for some reason. But I wouldn't really recommend either of these movies, and I refuse to even acknowledge Exorcist 2. What did you think about the whole series?
I like my films to be more suggestive, creepy; it's what you don't see that gets under my skin. Although very flawed (the cinema verite' docu style get tiresome at times, Cloverfield, Blair witch etc..) the scene where the couple is sleeping and a fleeting shadow, the flicker of a bathroom light and a barely audible voice saying the female character's name, is enough to get me to leave the night lite on.
Perhaps a better example is the king of all scare films, "The Excorist. The flashing of a demonic face, the eerie dream sequences and the sound. No music to blare out to scare the audience. ( I found that to be the biggest cheat to make someone jump--see "A haunting in Connecticut") The sound was an added key to the film's success, subtle and very low keyed, if anything more like a screeching low hum.
Didn't care much for Kubrick's version of the Shining, (much better than the Tv version though) But Kubrick did tapped into a foreboding dread of the Overlook Hotel. My favorite scene was Danny riding his big wheel bike around the floors of the hotel, again sound is the key here. The plastic wheels moving across the floor between wood and carpet and the repetitive routine, created a sleight sense of discomfort, as if something was about to happen..and of course it did.
Now don't get me wrong, I like my shlock horror films as well, (Reanimator being my favorite in the 80's) But the bottom line of it all I rather be creeped rather than grossed out.
Hey there Jessica
Good to hear from you.
I would agree that recent remakes are not up to the original standards, these remakes/prequels are really lame excuses to turn something into a franchise. It's about fast money with little effort, based on a commercial name.
I would luv to compare notes on horror films, i'm quite interested on what you have to say. How far back in horror films do you watch, I'm ol'e school myself--40's ,50's, 60's all the way to today.
Do you prefer atmosphere (Rosemary's Baby) or a bit of comic gore (The Evil Dead)?
As for your jukebox, I like the diversity--Barry White --Sinatra, works for me.
Seeing your comment on Blatty's insane idea for a mini-series, on a classic horror film at that, gives me hope that all people are not suckers for a one note concept.
Yeah, Trey Parker directed C!TM. Oh guess what... all of Paperhouse is actually on YouTube. Check it out there. Another VHS-exclusive "dark fairytale" I own but haven't seen in a while is Eyes of Fire.
For some reason I never saw Fight Club. It looks interesting, and I'm a big fan of Fincher (just rewatched Se7en and orgasmed again), but all the 20-something white gamer kids saying "dude bro Fight Club is fukken epic its the best movie ever" serve as a deterrent.
I honestly can't remember how it ends. It got really crazy. I think I remember some kind of tearjerker moment near the end though. It's a splendid dark fairytale and the slow pacing is in service of the atmosphere. It's not that I think VHS is better than DVD, it's just that there are dozens of titles that are only available on that format (and therefore getting them on VHS is the only option for viewing them). I'm also a fan of commentaries, especially the one for Cannibal! The Musical wherein the cast and crew get progressively drunk as the film continues.
OH SWEET LORD, I like Paperhouse! In the U.S. it's only available on VHS for some reason. I have an infatuation with VHS-exclusive films (mainly horror/sci-fi films) and have done video reviews of several. The original Taking of etc. etc. is an excellent and tightly-wound action film. I recommend it so the latest version will seem all the more hideous. There was a TV remake in the 90's but I know little about that one.
Hellraiser 2 is like.... well, let me put it this way: it would have been far greater if the directing was as good as the writing. The script and visuals were good, but the film was sorely in need of Clive's return as director. Yeah, I'm sure the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers was a main source of inspiration for most identity-based-paranoia films. Then again, Who Goes There? (the story that ended up becoming The Thing) was first published in the 30's, before Body Snatchers was made. But anyway, I'm nervous as hell about Taking of Pelham 123, and Korey probably is too. I'll give it a chance though.
I DNT KNW HOW MUCH WILL POWER I'LL HAVE BUT I'LL TRY NOT 2 B ON HERE 2 MUCH. BEING DAT I WORK AND HAVE A FAM 2 TAKE CARE OF. RITE NOW I TRY 2 GET ON WHEN I GET OFF! I HOPE U N-JOY UR WEEK OFF AND TRY NOT 2 B ON HERE 2 MUCH AND GET OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME!!!!!!
YES, I HAD A WONDERFUL MOTHER!!!!!! AND SHE IS STILL A GREAT INFLUENCE IN MY LIFE. SO IS MY GRANDMA (R.I.P.), LOST THEM BOTH LAST YEAR LESS THEN 3 MONTHS APART! BUT I'N DOING GOOD. AND I OWE IT ALL TO GOD!! MY HUBBY AND MY CHILDREN!! YES CHILDRE DO GROW UP FAST, MY OLDEST IS 9 AND IT SEEMS LIKE I JUST HAD HER!!! IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN, WHEN YOU DO YOU'LL LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT. I CAN'T SEE MY LIFE WITHOUT THEM AND I CAN'T SEE MY LIFE WITHOUT MY HUBBY!!! YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY!!!
YEAH BEING A MOTHER AND A WIFEY IS VERY REWARDING AND I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT. EVEN WHEN MY CHILDREN ACT UP, AS MY MOMMY(R.I.P.) WOULD HAVE SAID THEY BECOME A LITTLE CHALLENGING BECAUSE CHILDREN AREN'T BAD!" BEICG WIFEY IS EASY WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH A WONDERFUL HUBBY LIKE MINE! AND GOOD LUCK ON YOUR MIDTERMS!!!!
Was I watching the same movie everybody else was watching? I couldn't possibly have been watching the same Avatar as everybody else. People are raving about this, calling it "revolutionary" and "a milestone in filmmaking." All I saw was an unorigina…
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So, to answer your question: yay on Exorcist 3, nay on the prequels. Loved the atmosphere of Exorcist 3 and George C. Scott's quick delivery and dry humor (I enjoyed his entire performance but those things about it particularly). I'm not a fan of Blatty's humorous writing in The Exorcist book but said by Scott, it was entertaining and not annoying as hell. Plus, that is the movie that truly made me a fan of Brad Dourif. He gives one of the creepiest, most disturbing performances I've seen to this day. He's just hypnotizing. I so rarely hear people talk about it, yet it is so brilliant. But I guess that's a tribute to the actor that he has so many other great things in his career to talk about (One Flew Over a Cuckoo's Nest and the Chucky movies, among my favorites).
As far as the prequels go, I only saw each of them only once and I remember enjoying the Paul Schrader version more than the Lenny Harlin one. I found the latter one predictable and overly cheesy, not at all consistent with the tone of the other movies. The Schrader version was, though, although it had A LOT of problems. And in that movie, the weird bald kid kinda freaked me out to no end for some reason. But I wouldn't really recommend either of these movies, and I refuse to even acknowledge Exorcist 2. What did you think about the whole series?
I would luv to hear your thoughts on Exorcist #3 and the the two prequels, yay or nay?
Perhaps a better example is the king of all scare films, "The Excorist. The flashing of a demonic face, the eerie dream sequences and the sound. No music to blare out to scare the audience. ( I found that to be the biggest cheat to make someone jump--see "A haunting in Connecticut") The sound was an added key to the film's success, subtle and very low keyed, if anything more like a screeching low hum.
Didn't care much for Kubrick's version of the Shining, (much better than the Tv version though) But Kubrick did tapped into a foreboding dread of the Overlook Hotel. My favorite scene was Danny riding his big wheel bike around the floors of the hotel, again sound is the key here. The plastic wheels moving across the floor between wood and carpet and the repetitive routine, created a sleight sense of discomfort, as if something was about to happen..and of course it did.
Now don't get me wrong, I like my shlock horror films as well, (Reanimator being my favorite in the 80's) But the bottom line of it all I rather be creeped rather than grossed out.
Good to hear from you.
I would agree that recent remakes are not up to the original standards, these remakes/prequels are really lame excuses to turn something into a franchise. It's about fast money with little effort, based on a commercial name.
I would luv to compare notes on horror films, i'm quite interested on what you have to say. How far back in horror films do you watch, I'm ol'e school myself--40's ,50's, 60's all the way to today.
Do you prefer atmosphere (Rosemary's Baby) or a bit of comic gore (The Evil Dead)?
As for your jukebox, I like the diversity--Barry White --Sinatra, works for me.
Oh by the way your jukebox is rockin'!!
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For some reason I never saw Fight Club. It looks interesting, and I'm a big fan of Fincher (just rewatched Se7en and orgasmed again), but all the 20-something white gamer kids saying "dude bro Fight Club is fukken epic its the best movie ever" serve as a deterrent.
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