that is hilarious and really creepy that that's happened to both of us. i agree, Zombie must have put some delayed love potion / spell on the film or something because a lot of people have that effect with it and i don't think there's ever been a film i hated so much and then learned to enjoy so damn much. it's crazy!
so baffling and funny at the same time
Yea man crazy ish. The effect is on though. Got Em!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow
It may just take a lot for Diesel to give a movie a sub 4/5 score, who knows? No movie reviews from me today, forcing myself to leave the PS3 off and watch some TV before work.
Huh?? I think we have only seen one sub 4/5 score from u period! U seem to enjoy each and every film a great deal! Must be nice. Got Em!!
Yea man crazy ish. The effect is on though. Got Em!!
Huh?? I think we have only seen one sub 4/5 score from u period! U seem to enjoy each and every film a great deal! Must be nice. Got Em!!
There are a LOT of movies I hate and a lot of movies I like. The movies I review on here are movies I own so of course they will usually get good to great scores from me, I tend to trade or sell movies I dislike.
[Show spoiler] Year: 1960 Director: Alfred Hitchcock Starring: Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, and Martin Balsam Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
What Made Me Want to See This? Regarded as a classic
“We all go a little mad sometimes”
I decided to wake up and start my Christmas Eve festivities by sitting down with the gf and watching… Psycho and boy howdy was it worth it!
My first Hitchcock film, but I can’t say I was worried about how I was going to enjoy the film. I’ve always been a bit skeptical of older films mainly because of the dialogue and how “action” scenes have to be set up because of the restrictions of the time. But while Psycho may not have all the technology that is thrown around in films these days, there’s something 99% of films before and since Psycho cannot recreate, the atmosphere! I’m a big fan of it and Psycho has it from the get go with the screeching, panicking inducing opening moments all the way through the terrific ending.
Another thing that caught my attention right off the bat and held my attention every step of the way was the brilliantly eerie score. Even when it’s playing while Marion is driving down a desert highway in the middle of the day it makes the situation incredibly tense and creepy
I love how simple the story is, and how complex and weird it gets. A young woman (Marion, played by Janet Leigh) is sick of her life and wants to start over / get away. So she steals $40,000 from her boss and takes off. But when sleep gets the best of her and a creepy local cop gets under her skin, she stops off at the Bates Motel. And that’s really where the film takes on a whole different level of making your skin crawl. But it’s genius because it does it without using blood, gore, violence or gross imagery. It succeeds with atmosphere, performances, score, lighting and excellent direction.
I can honestly say this is a film that gets a lot of praise and actually deserves it completely. That doesn’t happen a whole lot, but Psycho is a fantastic film in every category.
Genius writing and claustrophobic feel in many scenes. I love how Arbogast becomes the creepy villain when talking to Norman, when Norman is the one that is really the creepy, suspicious one. But Arbogast’s demeanor is relentless and serious while Norman is panicking not because he’s helping Marion, but of course because
[Show spoiler]she’s dead
. But is Norman panicking because
[Show spoiler]he killed her
or doesn’t want to get blamed for
[Show spoiler]her death
?
Sadly, it MUST be pointed out that this is the perfect example of what happens when you watch films out of “order” of the years of release. Towards the end of Psycho, I suddenly began thinking, “wait… this seems kind of familiar…” and I was in awe of just how much The Texas Chainsaw Massacre seems to rip right from the legendary hands of Psycho. Maybe paying homage? No idea, but there is a lot from Psycho that is in Massacre. The issue? I’ve seen Massacre dozens of times - BEFORE - Psycho. So in a sense, Psycho seems kind of repetitive, until you realize it came out first. And yet because I’ve seen Massacre, the big twists and “WTF?!” that Psycho presents isn’t as strong because I had already witnessed something similar.
I’m sure audiences in 1960 had no effin’ clue that this was coming. I wish I could go back and watch this before watching Massacre, because I’m sure my mind would have been complete blown!
Another film I will have to add to my blu-ray collection eventually and my wallet is certainly sad for that, but I am not. Hell, I could buy Psycho and just watch the scenes with Perkins (Norman) for hours on end. The guy was pure genius here. His eyes, his nervous ticks, his voice cracking under the pressure of people prodding him, his general creepiness. All 100% authentic in feel and delivery. Honestly, I think the next best character to reach that level of creepiness, uneasiness would be Hopkins playing Hannibal Lecter. And that is three decades later! Outstanding job by Perkins
Subtitles: English SDH, Cantonese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (traditional), Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish
Discs: Single 50GB Blu-ray disc, region free
The Movie
Alfred Hitchcock directed 67 titles, including more than 50 movies, but most people would rank Psycho among his five best works. It’s certainly one of his most influential.
The marketing for the movie was clever and audiences were refused admission after the show had started. Hitchcock wanted them to experience the story from start to finish. He also urged people that had seen it to avoid spoiling it for others. I mention that because I don’t want to spoil the experience for you. It’s 50 years old, so the following comments contain spoilers and assume that you have seen the movie. If you haven’t, please stop reading now and remedy the situation as soon as possible.
Psycho might seem a bit tame by today’s standards. It was shot in black and white to lessen the impact of seeing the blood. The murders appeared brutal through the clever cuts and camera angles rather than explicitly showing flesh being cut. As with all of Hitchcock’s work, what you imagine in your own mind is more frightening than what you see on the screen. To truly appreciate the impact of the movie, imagine what had gone before when this was originally released.
Without Psycho, we may never have seen franchises like Friday the 13th, Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Saw. But unlike some of those mentioned, Psycho isn’t remotely humorous. The reason is that Norman Bates, or someone like him, could exist. That’s the most frightening thing about the movie. Compare it to Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker for instance. The Dark Knight is elevated above every other superhero movie because it could happen.
Hitchcock uses misdirection effectively by opening the movie as if it is a romance. Marion Crane, played by Janet Leigh, meets her lover and the audience assumes that she is the focus of the story. We see her steal the money and flee the city. The camera hints at her thought processes without the use of narration or dialogue, and we see her nervous reaction to harmless encounters. It’s a fascinating look at how people change under stress.
Crane eventually needs to stop for the night and we are introduced to Norman Bates and the Bates motel. The story still focuses on Crane’s character, but changes dramatically after Bates attacks her in the infamous shower scene. This is usually the first scene that comes to mind when thinking about Psycho, and it’s a shame in a way. The movie is so much more than a simple murder.
The plot switches as people start to wonder what happened to Crane, leading to a second murder. We then realize that Norman Bates is the true focus of the story. He’s brilliantly portrayed by Anthony Perkins and appears familiar when we first meet him. He’s shy around women and outwardly calm, but he’s clearly nervous when under pressure.
Until the revelations near the end, Hitchcock cleverly lets us think that the mother exists. In a way I suppose she does. This is a sad story and Bates becomes a character we can pity. If you think things through from his point of view, his actions make sense. Wouldn’t you cover up a crime committed by someone you love? There are many layers to the story and several different ways to appreciate it.
The initial setup uses well-established Hitchcock techniques and themes. He misdirects us and uses suspense. The initial focus of the story, Marion Crane, is a woman on the run. Because she’s in that situation, she becomes more interesting to us. The $40,000 she steals is a MacGuffin that serves no purpose other than to give Crane’s character a reason for her actions.
Everything flows smoothly and the pacing is effective. It’s hard to be bored even for a second. The term masterpiece is overused, but Psycho qualifies.
Video Quality – 4.5 / 5
The Universal VC-1 transfer is region free and very pleasing. Detail is excellent and instances of dirt on the image are infrequent. Even though the presentation is in black and white, the upgrade is definitely warranted. Detail is incredible throughout. Take for instance the shot of Marion Crane’s eye as she lies dead in the shower. It’s likely that the North American October 19 release will be identical, but there’s no need to wait.
Audio Quality – 5 / 5
One of the special features goes into a detailed explanation of how the audio track was converted to 5.1 and the results are satisfying. Ambient sounds, such as rain, greatly enhance the feeling that you are immersed in the story. Dialogue is clear and Bernard Herrmann’s score has never sounded better. For the purists, the original audio track is included. Check the beginning of this review for full details of languages and subtitles included on the disc.
Special Features
Remastering Psycho HD
The making of Psycho
In the master’s shadow: Hitchcock’s legacy
Hitchcock/Truffaut interviews
Newsreel footage: the release of Psycho
The shower scene: with and without music
The shower sequence: storyboards by Saul Bass
The Psycho archives
Posters and Psycho ads
Lobby cards
Behind the scenes photographs
Publicity shots
Psycho theatrical trailer
Psycho re-release trailers
My scenes
Feature commentary with Stephen Rebello, author of “Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho”
The “making of” feature is fascinating and you’ll love it if you are an admirer of the movie. With interviews from many of the original cast, the 95 minutes passes quickly and leaves you with a better understanding of how the movie was made.
The extensive features cover just about everything and it’s nice to hear Hitchcock talk about some of the issues that he faced at the time.
Verdict
If you are a fan of Psycho, buy the blu-ray immediately. If you collect steelbooks, this is one to add to your collection. The North American release won’t include a steelbook option, but it’s coming on October 19 if you prefer to wait. This UK release looks exceptional and the package is worthy of a Criterion release. I only hope that all of Hitchcock’s important movies are given similar treatment.
Subtitles: English SDH, Cantonese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (traditional), Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish
Discs: Single 50GB Blu-ray disc, region free
The Movie
Alfred Hitchcock directed 67 movies, but most people would rank Psycho among his five best works. It’s certainly one of his most influential.
The marketing for the movie was clever and audiences were refused admission after the show had started. Hitchcock wanted them to experience the story from start to finish. He also urged people that had seen it to avoid spoiling it for others. I mention that because I don’t want to spoil the experience for you. It’s 50 years old, so the following comments contain spoilers and assume that you have seen the movie. If you haven’t, please stop reading now and remedy the situation as soon as possible.
Psycho might seem a bit tame by today’s standards. It was shot in black and white to lessen the impact of seeing the blood. The murders appeared brutal through the clever cuts and camera angles rather than explicitly showing flesh being cut. As with all of Hitchcock’s work, what you imagine in your own mind is more frightening than what you see on the screen. To truly appreciate the impact of the movie, imagine what had gone before when this was originally released.
Without Psycho, we may never have seen franchises like Friday the 13th, Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Saw. But unlike some of those mentioned, Psycho isn’t remotely humorous. The reason is that Norman Bates, or someone like him, could exist. That’s the most frightening thing about the movie. Compare it to Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker for instance. The Dark Knight is elevated above every other superhero movie because it could happen.
Hitchcock uses misdirection effectively by opening the movie as if it is a romance. Marion Crane, played by Janet Leigh, meets her lover and the audience assumes that she is the focus of the story. We see her steal the money and flee the city. The camera hints at her thought processes without the use of narration or dialogue, and we see her nervous reaction to harmless encounters. It’s a fascinating look at how people change under stress.
Crane eventually needs to stop for the night and we are introduced to Norman Bates and the Bates motel. The story still focuses on Crane’s character, but changes dramatically after Bates attacks her in the infamous shower scene. This is usually the first scene that comes to mind when thinking about Psycho, and it’s a shame in a way. The movie is so much more than a simple murder.
The plot switches as people start to wonder what happened to Crane, leading to a second murder. We then realize that Norman Bates is the true focus of the story. He’s brilliantly portrayed by Anthony Perkins and appears familiar when we first meet him. He’s shy around women and outwardly calm, but he’s clearly nervous when under pressure.
Until the revelations near the end, Hitchcock cleverly lets us think that the mother exists. In a way I suppose she does. This is a sad story and Bates becomes a character we can pity. If you think things through from his point of view, his actions make sense. Wouldn’t you cover up a crime committed by someone you love? There are many layers to the story and several different ways to appreciate it.
The initial setup uses well-established Hitchcock techniques and themes. He misdirects us and uses suspense. The initial focus of the story, Marion Crane, is a woman on the run. Because she’s in that situation, she becomes more interesting to us. The $40,000 she steals is a MacGuffin that serves no purpose other than to give Crane’s character a reason for her actions.
Everything flows smoothly and the pacing is effective. It’s hard to be bored even for a second. The term masterpiece is overused, but Psycho qualifies.
Video Quality – 4.5 / 5
The Universal VC-1 transfer is region free and very pleasing. Detail is excellent and instances of dirt on the image are infrequent. Even though the presentation is in black and white, the upgrade is definitely warranted. Detail is incredible throughout. Take for instance the shot of Marion Crane’s eye as she lies dead in the shower. It’s likely that the North American October 19 release will be identical, but there’s no need to wait.
Audio Quality – 5 / 5
One of the special features goes into a detailed explanation of how the audio track was converted to 5.1 and the results are satisfying. Ambient sounds, such as rain, greatly enhance the feeling that you are immersed in the story. Dialogue is clear and Bernard Herrmann’s score has never sounded better. For the purists, the original audio track is included. Check the beginning of this review for full details of languages and subtitles included on the disc.
Special Features
Remastering Psycho HD
The making of Psycho
In the master’s shadow: Hitchcock’s legacy
Hitchcock/Truffaut interviews
Newsreel footage: the release of Psycho
The shower scene: with and without music
The shower sequence: storyboards by Saul Bass
The Psycho archives
Posters and Psycho ads
Lobby cards
Behind the scenes photographs
Publicity shots
Psycho theatrical trailer
Psycho re-release trailers
My scenes
Feature commentary with Stephen Rebello, author of “Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho”
The “making of” feature is fascinating and you’ll love it if you are an admirer of the movie. With interviews from many of the original cast, the 95 minutes passes quickly and leaves you with a better understanding of how the movie was made.
The extensive features cover just about everything and it’s nice to hear Hitchcock talk about some of the issues that he faces at the time.
Verdict
If you are a fan of Psycho, buy the blu-ray immediately. If you collect steelbooks, this is one to add to your collection. The North American release won’t include a steelbook option, but it’s coming on October 19 if you prefer to wait. This UK release looks exceptional and the package is worthy of a Criterion release. I only hope that all of Hitchcock’s important movies are given similar treatment.
great review Steve!
i agree entirely with what you said. i'm glad you also saw the connection to Texas Chainsaw Massacre, i was wondering i was gonna be overthinking things and not making sense with that example, but glad you saw it as well.
i also love how you explain the opening, with it looking like a romantic film. i also realized after it ended that
[Show spoiler]Marion is barely in the film!
and i thought she was a main character that stayed around the entire film. i had no idea that she
[Show spoiler]dies less than half way through the film
that was kind of mind blowing to look back on and realize.
i kind of wish i would have picked a lesser known, lesser respected Hitchcock film, i kind of dislike picking a super great one and then later on watching some that may be less than stellar, but oh well, i'll just have to live with that. and even if i did watch "less than stellar" Hitchcock films, then maybe i wouldn't have had any interest in seeing Psycho so i'm glad i went ahead and watched it and can't wait to pick up the BD some day
i added this to my review a minute ago, but i was scared $h*tless when
[Show spoiler]Norman comes through the door in the cellar with the knife, dressed up as his mom, dress and wig and all
ugh. sooo creepy and unexpected. i can only imagine what this did to people in 1960!
I looked up Ticks on Rotton Tomatoes. It looks like crap.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CZAR
Beware of Nolfoc! Got Em!!
hahah how did you even find this on Rotten Tomatoes?!! it didnt even make it to DVD.. its a B movie.. thats funny.. this is good though, after Czar receives his copy he can forward it to you squid.. and so on and so on.. the whole world will experience this.. muahahaha
ha to pull up the trailer.. Czar im gunna have to watch this again before i send it to you,, i forgot about the awesomness!!
great review Steve!
i agree entirely with what you said. i'm glad you also saw the connection to Texas Chainsaw Massacre, i was wondering i was gonna be overthinking things and not making sense with that example, but glad you saw it as well.
i also love how you explain the opening, with it looking like a romantic film. i also realized after it ended that
[Show spoiler]Marion is barely in the film!
and i thought she was a main character that stayed around the entire film. i had no idea that she
[Show spoiler]dies less than half way through the film
that was kind of mind blowing to look back on and realize.
i kind of wish i would have picked a lesser known, lesser respected Hitchcock film, i kind of dislike picking a super great one and then later on watching some that may be less than stellar, but oh well, i'll just have to live with that. and even if i did watch "less than stellar" Hitchcock films, then maybe i wouldn't have had any interest in seeing Psycho so i'm glad i went ahead and watched it and can't wait to pick up the BD some day
i added this to my review a minute ago, but i was scared $h*tless when
[Show spoiler]Norman comes through the door in the cellar with the knife, dressed up as his mom, dress and wig and all
ugh. sooo creepy and unexpected. i can only imagine what this did to people in 1960!
Yep, when you see those ideas on the screen for the first time it would have had a bigger impact than it does now. The Marion thing was a big reason Hitchcock didn't want people walking in during the film
[Show spoiler]expecting to see Janet Leigh after her character was killed off
There are easily 10 that fall into the must-see category from Hitchcock.
hahah how did you even find this on Rotten Tomatoes?!! it didnt even make it to DVD.. its a B movie.. thats funny.. this is good though, after Czar receives his copy he can forward it to you squid.. and so on and so on.. the whole world will experience this.. muahahaha
ha to pull up the trailer.. Czar im gunna have to watch this again before i send it to you,, i forgot about the awesomness!!
i love how i write 2746438926292 word reviews and you sum it all up with one word
i think what he meant is that it was edited, so he was able to enjoy it? depending what channel the film was on, it may have been severely edited so he could enjoy it without all the stuff he doesn't like. i think? lol
Seriously though, Brothers was fantastic and Maguire showed some serious talent.
hahah how did you even find this on Rotten Tomatoes?!! it didnt even make it to DVD.. its a B movie.. thats funny.. this is good though, after Czar receives his copy he can forward it to you squid.. and so on and so on.. the whole world will experience this.. muahahaha
ha to pull up the trailer.. Czar im gunna have to watch this again before i send it to you,, i forgot about the awesomness!!
Yes, I remember liking it. But I only saw it the one time, so I need to refresh my memory on it in the next few days.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CZAR
Glad u liked it. I give the 2nd film an edge over the first film but thought the story in the first film was a lil bit better. Also what channel did u watch this on? It wasnt regular tv with commercials was it?
I watched it on USAHD.
I don't mind commercials, that's why I DVR them, it takes me about 3 seconds to get past the commercials.
Quote:
Also dont remember any sex in this film at all. Got Em!!
There wasn't, but when I write that I always include all three things just for the sake of completeness
Quote:
Originally Posted by SquidPuppet
It was full of the stuff you hate, but you enjoyed it and gave it a 4/5? What am I missing here?
You couldn't have missed it, you bolded it
"if this wouldn't have been on cable, I wouldn't have watched it."
Hence it was very much cut down for playing on cable; only your basic four letter words and violence and not the "not before 10 p.m." stuff. The "watered down" version I guess you could say was enjoyable enough for a 4/5 from me; the unaltered film would not have even garnered a viewing because of the stuff that I hate.
Quote:
Originally Posted by iam1bearcat
PSYCHO (108 minutes)
[Show spoiler]Film #10
Year: 1960 Director: Alfred Hitchcock Starring: Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, and Martin Balsam Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
What Made Me Want to See This? Regarded as a classic
“We all go a little mad sometimes”
I decided to wake up and start my Christmas Eve festivities by sitting down with the gf and watching… Psycho and boy howdy was it worth it!
My first Hitchcock film, but I can’t say I was worried about how I was going to enjoy the film. I’ve always been a bit skeptical of older films mainly because of the dialogue and how “action” scenes have to be set up because of the restrictions of the time. But while Psycho may not have all the technology that is thrown around in films these days, there’s something 99% of films before and since Psycho cannot recreate, the atmosphere! I’m a big fan of it and Psycho has it from the get go with the screeching, panicking inducing opening moments all the way through the terrific ending.
Another thing that caught my attention right off the bat and held my attention every step of the way was the brilliantly eerie score. Even when it’s playing while Marion is driving down a desert highway in the middle of the day it makes the situation incredibly tense and creepy
I love how simple the story is, and how complex and weird it gets. A young woman (Marion, played by Janet Leigh) is sick of her life and wants to start over / get away. So she steals $40,000 from her boss and takes off. But when sleep gets the best of her and a creepy local cop gets under her skin, she stops off at the Bates Motel. And that’s really where the film takes on a whole different level of making your skin crawl. But it’s genius because it does it without using blood, gore, violence or gross imagery. It succeeds with atmosphere, performances, score, lighting and excellent direction.
I can honestly say this is a film that gets a lot of praise and actually deserves it completely. That doesn’t happen a whole lot, but Psycho is a fantastic film in every category.
Genius writing and claustrophobic feel in many scenes. I love how Arbogast becomes the creepy villain when talking to Norman, when Norman is the one that is really the creepy, suspicious one. But Arbogast’s demeanor is relentless and serious while Norman is panicking not because he’s helping Marion, but of course because
[Show spoiler]she’s dead
. But is Norman panicking because
[Show spoiler]he killed her
or doesn’t want to get blamed for
[Show spoiler]her death
?
Sadly, it MUST be pointed out that this is the perfect example of what happens when you watch films out of “order” of the years of release. Towards the end of Psycho, I suddenly began thinking, “wait… this seems kind of familiar…” and I was in awe of just how much The Texas Chainsaw Massacre seems to rip right from the legendary hands of Psycho. Maybe paying homage? No idea, but there is a lot from Psycho that is in Massacre. The issue? I’ve seen Massacre dozens of times - BEFORE - Psycho. So in a sense, Psycho seems kind of repetitive, until you realize it came out first. And yet because I’ve seen Massacre, the big twists and “WTF?!” that Psycho presents isn’t as strong because I had already witnessed something similar.
I’m sure audiences in 1960 had no effin’ clue that this was coming. I wish I could go back and watch this before watching Massacre, because I’m sure my mind would have been complete blown!
Another film I will have to add to my blu-ray collection eventually and my wallet is certainly sad for that, but I am not. Hell, I could buy Psycho and just watch the scenes with Perkins (Norman) for hours on end. The guy was pure genius here. His eyes, his nervous ticks, his voice cracking under the pressure of people prodding him, his general creepiness. All 100% authentic in feel and delivery. Honestly, I think the next best character to reach that level of creepiness, uneasiness would be Hopkins playing Hannibal Lecter. And that is three decades later! Outstanding job by Perkins
Outstanding film all around
i have to add, one of the most frightening, creepy moments i've ever witness in film comes from Psycho when
[Show spoiler]Norman comes through the door with the knife dressed as his mother
A psychological thriller set in the world of ballet. Nina is a timid veteran dancer perfectly suited to play the White Swan in Swan Lake. This story is her decent into madness, a dormant psychosis surfacing while she succumbs to the Black Swan persona.
[Show spoiler]The driving force seems to be mother’s approval mixed with some sort of neurological ailment. The mother is the embodiment of those narcissistic child beauty pageant mothers who drive their children in a vain attempt to vicariously erase their own perceived failings (the mother in Douglas Coupland’s Miss Wyoming comes immediately to mind). Sexual and social repression is slowly stripped away by the production’s relentless/unorthodox director and a free spirited rookie dancer. All three characters become triggers for Nina’s delusions. As the repressed layers are slowly stripped away, the resulting stress activates Nina’s psychosis which manifests itself in unconscious hallucinations.
For anyone following my reviews, I am a big fan of movies with dark themes, so it should be no surprise that I think this is a perfectly executed piece of art. Movies with internal human conflict hold my attention far more than the typical popcorn fare (occasional guilty pleasures aside). Aronofsky is a proven master of this genre, and I can honestly say Black Swan resides at the pinnacle. He hints at a ridiculous number of character details (flaws and disorders) that will take multiple viewings to appreciate. As each detail is revealed, the metaphorical curtain is drawn back, further revealing a complex portrait of a tragic girl. This film is not to be missed.
I don't mind commercials, that's why I DVR them, it takes me about 3 seconds to get past the commercials.
There wasn't, but when I write that I always include all three things just for the sake of completeness
Awe man are u serious? Im glad u watched it but man those commercials and edits change up the whole film. Dude u really missed a funny part when the dude comes to take Martin's daughter out. Im sure the whole dialogue was changed. Man u have to watch this movie unedited. No sex at all and really no gore either but yes it does have some bad language but hey 1 out of 3 aint bad right? Got Em!!
Awe man are u serious? Im glad u watched it but man those commercials and edits change up the whole film. Dude u really missed a funny part when the dude comes to take Martin's daughter out. Im sure the whole dialogue was changed. Man u have to watch this movie unedited. No sex at all and really no gore either but yes it does have some bad language but hey 1 out of 3 aint bad right? Got Em!!
Yeah that's probably my favourite scene of the movie, when that tall dude comes to take the detective's daughter out on a date, good call!
Movie - 5/5
Wow, just wow.
This is what a real pure science fiction is about. Imagine pefectly executed science fiction and add to it elements and adventure and you get Planet Of Apes.
Begining was intriguing, ending was intriguing as well as the tension was building up to see how it would end, while the middle was never lame and very informative of the culture of the apes.
This movie was really smart. Overall the very idea of humans ruled by apes rises many philosophical as well as scientific questions, which where properly addresses in the movie.
Execution was first rate, especially for the age. The scenery was really interesting. I was especially intrigiued by monologes that many of the crew members where having with themselves.
PQ - 4/5
Not any kind of referance material even for an older title, but I have to admit it looked very nice. Overall, very very solid PQ, with some scenes even being referance quality.
AQ - 4/5
Not much really to complain except limited sound design for the age, but it nevertheless was more than enough. Voices where crystal clear.
Overall - 4.5/5
The first movie comes highly recommended. A real science fiction classic. Good PQ, AQ for the age. I mean this movie was the predessesor of Star Wars. Think about this.
Instead of a full blown review, I'll just write a bunch of random thoughts and impressions on the film:
Natalie Portman's performance lives up to the hype and she's as much of a lock for best actress as we've had in recent years. Her ability to convey fragility is astounding and the fact that she barely speaks above a whisper the entire time is effective.
Cassell, Kunis, and Ryder are all well-cast and do very well in their roles.
I have no idea how Kunis is getting any sort of best supporting actress recognition--she does nothing in the film to warrant any semblance of a nomination, despite being a solid actress and putting forth a solid performance.
I don't understand the fervor surrounding the Academy's decision to disallow Clint Mansell's score from nomination. Even if allowed, his score doesn't come close to deserving a nomination. Imo, Mansell is one of the best composers working today, and his scores in The Fountain and Requiem for a Dream truly enhanced those movies and are among the best I've heard. His score for Moon was equally impressive. However, his score here doesn't enhance the movie and is not standout in any way. I know it's meant to be subtle, but it's not that impressive.
Aronofsky's direction and the camerawork are both very good. I love how the camera seemed to float with the ballet steps.
The cinematography should NOT win the Oscar. If it does, it's a weak year for that category. I loved the use of mirrors though.
This is one of the better films about psychosis (not a spoiler, just a general statement) and of pressure affecting someone. However, it too often goes for genre cliches and "gotcha" moments, which diminishes its impact. The reason Red Desert is a superior film is that it doesn't need these moments to successfully convey one's breakdown. Yes, it's a very different film but there's a distinct similarity.
It's a weird compliment, but Aronofsky has the best end credit scenes. In both the Fountain and this, he doesn't just show a black screen. The Fountain's was incredible, in its use of chemical reactions under a microscope, and I think this one was also great.
I'm interested to hear my girlfriend's response when she sees the film tomorrow, because she's a former New York City ballet dancer. It may enhance my appreciation of the film.
Overall, the film is a very good genre film but is far from a great film. Based on its acclaim, it would still get a best picture nom if there were 5 nominees instead of the excessive 10. However, it's not best picture quality at all. The reason to see this film is simple: Natalie Portman.
A psychological thriller set in the world of ballet. Nina is a timid veteran dancer perfectly suited to play the White Swan in Swan Lake. This story is her decent into madness, a dormant psychosis surfacing while she succumbs to the Black Swan persona.
[Show spoiler]The driving force seems to be mother’s approval mixed with some sort of neurological ailment. The mother is the embodiment of those narcissistic child beauty pageant mothers who drive their children in a vain attempt to vicariously erase their own perceived failings (the mother in Douglas Coupland’s Miss Wyoming comes immediately to mind). Sexual and social repression is slowly stripped away by the production’s relentless/unorthodox director and a free spirited rookie dancer. All three characters become triggers for Nina’s delusions. As the repressed layers are slowly stripped away, the resulting stress activates Nina’s psychosis which manifests itself in unconscious hallucinations.
For anyone following my reviews, I am a big fan of movies with dark themes, so it should be no surprise that I think this is a perfectly executed piece of art. Movies with internal human conflict hold my attention far more than the typical popcorn fare (occasional guilty pleasures aside). Aronofsky is a proven master of this genre, and I can honestly say Black Swan resides at the pinnacle. He hints at a ridiculous number of character details (flaws and disorders) that will take multiple viewings to appreciate. As each detail is revealed, the metaphorical curtain is drawn back, further revealing a complex portrait of a tragic girl. This film is not to be missed.
5/5
I enjoyed reading your review, despite my far less enthusiastic review. I completely agree with you about the multiple viewings. I feel like I'll rate it higher upon subsequent viewings, although the critics seem to disagree on that point stating its effect is highest upon the first viewing. I'm definitely an Aronofsky fan, with The Fountain being my favorite film, Requiem for a Dream being a tremendous film I can't stomach again, The Wrestler being a solid film with a great performance. Haven't seen Pi yet.
Another note: Aronofsky gets top-notch performances out of his actors. Portman will win the Oscar. Rourke could've won for The Wrestler, although Penn was better. Jackman and Weisz both should've been nominated for The Fountain. Burnstyn, Leto and Connelly for Requiem. Enough said.
Awe man are u serious? Im glad u watched it but man those commercials and edits change up the whole film. Dude u really missed a funny part when the dude comes to take Martin's daughter out. Im sure the whole dialogue was changed. Man u have to watch this movie unedited. No sex at all and really no gore either but yes it does have some bad language but hey 1 out of 3 aint bad right? Got Em!!
That scene is hilarious! I can't watch a film on TV, haven't in probably 10 years or more. Too much editing and if it's on blu, I'd rather get the better PQ/SQ and the OAR
I like Barry Pepper, glad to see him poppin up here and there. Like Dandelion Dust in saved in my queue, I think the DVD is slated for release early next year.
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that is hilarious and really creepy that that's happened to both of us. i agree, Zombie must have put some delayed love potion / spell on the film or something because a lot of people have that effect with it and i don't think there's ever been a film i hated so much and then learned to enjoy so damn much. it's crazy!
Got Em!!
and boy howdy was it worth it! 
so i'm glad i went ahead and watched it and can't wait to pick up the BD some day 
It was full of the stuff you hate, but you enjoyed it and gave it a 4/5? What am I missing here? 
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