The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Monkey_Boy]

"Safety Last"

Last night I was on Hulu, and I decided to browse their Criterion Section. After flipping through the movies, I came upon a sight I've seen lots of times throughout my life: a man hanging from the minute hand on a clock. I think the very first time I saw it was in "Back to the Future". Doc Brown had a clock in his home that had the little man hanging from it, and by the end he was doing the same thing! So, I just HAD to find out how this happened in 1923! I saw that it starred Harold Lloyd, an actor I'm familiar with only because I'm a fan of "Futurama" (Zoidberg's Uncle Harold Zoid, star of futuristic silent films), so I was prepared to see a comedic actor in his prime... and did I laugh my arse off! Right from the start we are treated to one of the best sight gags I've ever seen! I won't reveal it here, but I will type that I honestly never saw it coming and it definitely set the tone for the rest of the movie.

The story is about a man who is trying to make something out of himself so that he can marry his Sweetheart, but the poor guy can't do any better than a salesclerk at a fabric shop. He can only afford a necklace piece... without the chain, but he decides to send it to his girl anyway with a note stating "I didn't like the chain, so I'm having Tiffany's make a BETTER one." With this lie, he begins getting himself in deep, and wacky adventures ensue until we find him hanging from a clock high above the city streets!

I recommend this to anyone curious about what goes into a silent film. It's only an hour long, and the gags are fantastic! 5/5

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I was ready to love it. On paper it was a sure thing. 98% at RT. I was very bummed out.

Wow. I thought I was on the low end with my soft 3.5/4 rating.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by jvince

I know, I know. I'm still tryin to figure it out.

[Spirit Zero]

The Heat (2013)

Aaaah the old buddy cop action flick, there has been so many, what could they come up with to make the genre a bit more fresh?. Well not much...accept this time the cop duo are female so that's a bit new...right? well kinda. This time one half of the duo is an uptight, virginal, jobsworth that does everything by the book, the other half is a slobby, foulmouthed, loose cannon that does everything somewhat haphazardly. Wait...ha..have we see this type of thing before?? nah must be me.

So the fat ugly bird and the thin wet bird gotta work together to take down a drug lord. Thing is they both hate each other and how they each go about their duties so there's gonna be a whole lot of fighting and bickering going on. Spoiler alert! they both manage to get on and eventually end up working well together and sticking up for each other, tell me you saw that coming.

Wow this film was annoying! I mean really, this is the second film I've seen with McCarthy in it and both times I've hated her character. I've come to the decision that she's probably like this in reality, loud, rude and annoying (dare I say typically American hehe). She just comes across as a completely unlikable person, I see what the aim is here in this film but geez I just wanted her to get shot in every scene. There was only one moment in the entire film that made me laugh, when they're both in the nightclub and she buys a drink at the bar only to discover it costs $14.

As for Bullock, I've never been a fan...ever. Every role she plays she is the same type of person...a wet, floppy, sappy drip who looks exactly the same with that dull hair style. In this she merely boosts that dreadful stereotype she has tenfold and is so utterly unfunny, unsexy and useless. Of course I realise this is the role she is playing but the fact they cast her in it just shows how closely the character matches her.

We get the usual load of typical cop movie cliches throughout, hell we even get the exact same sequences from other films. How many times have we seen a perp hung out of a window for comedic affect?. There isn't much action going on, mainly a whole lot of swearing in grimy sequences involving seedy people and the family of McCarthy's character. I believe these family scenes are suppose to be funny? cos they came across as aggressively uncomfortable and again annoying. The kind of people you watch from your house window as they make total fools of themselves in the middle of the street. Again I realise you could say that's good acting and film making but I just found it unlikable.

On the whole I liked how they didn't beat around the bush and have made an adult comedy thriller instead of a PG fest. Its just a shame they cast who they did and couldn't really divert from a very tired old formula...a really tired old formula. Nice soundtrack throughout but overall it didn't stop me feeling rather low the whole time, until it perks up for the predictable soppy ending.

4/10

[Al_The_Strange]

Next greatest blind-buy:

Only God Forgives

All year long, it seems like the movie's poster, with the dragon in neon lights, was beckoning me, perhaps even taunting me. I don't know what it is about it, but the film's poster and title drew me in with the promise of something slick, seedy, and exotic. Coming from the director of Drive, with the premise of underground boxing rings in Thailand, Only God Forgives definitely piqued my interest...until the massively mixed reviews came in, with half of the audience calling this movie a shallow self-indulgent POS, and the other half praising it as some kind of masterpiece. Well, what else is new with arthouse films?

So now it's my turn, and strangely, I can see it both ways. If nothing else, the film is as beautiful as they come; camera angles and movements are really smooth and slick, most shots are really long and carefully composed, and it exudes nothing but class. The entire film is drenched in vibrant colors, much like its poster with all the neon lights. It is so masterfully shot and composed, it's hard to take your eyes off it, no matter how boring it actually is.

And unfortunately, the film is a weird, slow-moving experience. Much like Valhalla Rising, this film falls that big gray area between being mind-numbingly mesmerizing and flat-out boring. Even though the film is short, it's full of so much empty space, with scenes that rarely move and characters that rarely talk. In the right mood, this could be a perfectly entrancing thing to behold; for a casual viewing, it strains my level of patience.

As far as the story goes, this film somehow takes a simple plot and makes it rather convoluted. A lot of it is because the characters never really stand out. I can see their faces, couldn't tell you their names, what they did, why they did things, or what the point of their interactions were. In fact, a lot of the time they were still as statues and only spoke in short quiet lines. Thus, the plot never really stood out either; the narrative seems strung together in a haphazard manner with no real thought given to why one scene transits to another. However, I am certain that there is substance to be had. The film's title in itself hints at a subtle theme, insinuating that, even though God forgives, human beings do not. No matter how muddled the plot gets, this idea shines through with characters committing unforgivable murders all over the place.

As mentioned before, the film has phenomenal photography and editing. Acting and writing can be a really weird thing to judge; actions and dialogue are stilted, maybe even on purpose, but the actors do their best to at least look the part, and I think they're more effective in a statuesque manner than otherwise. This production uses some great-looking sets, props, and costumes. Music, aside from the god-awful karaoke scenes, is great.

Only God Forgives: it's a movie that plays out like Bangkok Dangerous, looks like the companion to Enter the Void, polarizes like Zack Snyder, and feels like Kubrick. I respect it for its composition, even if the substance is hard to make out. Given the hit-or-miss nature of the film, I would only recommend renting it.

3.5/5 (Entertainment: Marginal | Story: Marginal | Film: Perfect)

Recommendation: Rental.

It looks and sounds perfect on Blu-Ray.

PQ: 5/5, AQ: 4.5/5

[Jasonic]

ALL IS LOST

Yet another lost/survivor tale, but unlike others, this one isn’t so much about style as it is about substance. Others like Life of Pi or Gravity, neither lack substance either, but here it takes it to a very different route. All Is Lost takes the lone survivor tale to it’s most simple and realistic workings. I’ll say it right away that this movie is not for the average movie goer, as it can be hard to sit through with it’s minimalist dialogue and a take on the genre that isn’t about sentimentality, but simply about a man doing everything he can to survive.
This is J. C. Chandor’s second feature film after Margin Call, and it’s definitely apparent that it is his style to give you a piece of rare real world life, without the theatrical sentimentality. The real star of the show here though, is the movie’s only star, Robert Redford, who gives his best performance in who knows how long. What makes him so powerful in this role is not that of any good actor just taking the role and learning what needs to be learned for it, but rather that of a highly experienced actor understanding exactly what this character is, and making you feel that this is who he is, a lonely man of the sea, not the actor we know. The man is simple, calm, and collective, and who never overreacts. He is resourceful, as you clearly understand his experience at sea and at life. With such little dialogue and no knowledge of any of the man’s identity, you still come to know exactly who the man is, minus the typical background plotting details of him. The story and script here is nothing new, but Redford truly gives a game changing performance. From his sorrowful opening monologue, through his collective intake, and to his detached limit, he shines. Most nods to genius in acting is that of getting lost in the role to make the audience feel and be moved by the performance, here Redford gives you the feeling that he is not concerned with any of that, but simply being an experienced man lost at sea, having forgotten that cameras are watching him. All Is Lost isn’t just about a man lost at sea, but about a man who has experienced life and has become the everyday man that most of us choose to ignore as the young generations take over. Redford certainly deserves numerous accolades for his performance. My only concern is that he may be ignored for his atypical and brave acting showcase, as it is not what is typically looked for.
While the substance of the man and his survival takes front seat, the movie certainly isn’t void of style. It’s no Life of Pi, but at times it can give you some honest and beautiful imagery, whether that of an impending thunderstorm or a school of fish from below the raft. The camera doesn’t give you a roller coaster ride of a sinking ship, but rather that of the man experiencing subtle despair.
All Is Lost has it’s symbolism and it’s intent to be a showing of a lot more then what is simply on screen, that of something thought provoking and the ideals and importance of one’s life. There are some intense scenes if you are there along for the experience. To the average viewer it may put to sleep, but for those that go in knowingly of it’s presence, it will show you an important piece of honest film making.

9/10

[Spirit Zero]

The Animatrix (2003)

With a slightly dodgy title this was I believe the first animated addition to a movie that acted as a sequel and prequel at the same time. A collection of nine short stories that gave both more insight into the films plus some individual tales of characters in a world run by the machines.

Final Flight of the Osiris: The first story is in CG animation which I didn't really like in all honesty. This tale is about the ship Osiris and her crews battle to deliver a warning to 'Zion' whilst being attacked viciously by Sentinels. Everything in the segment looks good accept for the human characters if you ask me, there you have that typical plastic vacant look on their faces accompanied by so so lip syncing. The bleak dark work of reality looks great of course, the ship looks great and so do the sentinels, its just the human characters, but at least the story is a good one connecting dots to the second film ('Reloaded').

The Second Renaissance: A prequel to the entire trilogy and tells the tale of how mankind ruined what they had and how the machines slowly took over. Its unoriginal and deals with mankind inventing humanoid robots to serve them but treating them badly. How the robots slowly gain a conscious and one of them kills its owner which leads to a massive rethink in human/robotic relations and inevitably war. The segment is traditional hand drawn animation with the odd splatter of CGI assistance which I think is best really. It looks terrific as a montage of events accompanied by a cold sterile narration, really sets the mood. This is easily one of the most interesting stories as it gives tonnes of info about how it all happened.

The Second Renaissance Part II: Number Three continues on from where the previous segment left off and tells of the gradual descent into all out war between mankind and machines. It shows how the robots finally overrun and destroy most of the human defenses, kill off all world leaders and begin their construction of the matrix to gain power from human bodies. This is because man has blocked out the sun with a massive dark cloud of nanomachines which cuts off the machines primary source of power. Again the segment is hand drawn animation with CGI assistance and again it looks lovely. This second section is a much darker affair and really well executed, probably the best shorts in the collection.

kids Story: This is another good segment because it helps us to see how one film character came to be free from the matrix. Set between The Matrix and Reloaded it simply shows how 'Kid' is a disgruntled teen who believes something is wrong with the world. He manages to contact 'Neo' via his computer and soon finds himself on the run from agents. This short has been rendered in a sort of rotoscoping method where it was clearly filmed in live action but then hand drawn animated over the top. The effect is eerie and unique but I don't think it suits the material here really. A very straight forward story which just makes the character a little more interesting when you see him in the film.

Program: Again another very simple straight forward short which involves a female undergoing a training simulation session. Things go awry when a male she recognises turns up and says he is going back into the matrix and wants her to follow. A very minimalistic looking segment, pretty much in black, white and a few sparse colours but its really effective with some stunning hand drawn artwork on display. It looks very much like the Genndy Tartakovsky Star Wars microseries but maybe a bit sharper.

World Record: This is one of the most intriguing segments as it basically tells the story of a top sprinter who runs so fast during a 100m race (his body energy build up) that his real body tears itself away from the matrix and he awakes in his pod confronted by a sentinel. He is zapped with an electric shock which sends his mind back into the matrix. A neat idea that rarely some people can rip themselves from the matrix under obvious situations of high intensity/stress. Again the animation is somewhat similar to the previous segment, sparse on colour, mainly black and white, very comic book-esque in appearance.

Beyond: This segment was one of the harder plots to follow. A group of kids are playing in area within a rundown building, this area is basically a glitch in the matrix and thusly odd feats can be performed such as floating. Other strange occurrences also happen such as shadows not connecting with their solid origins, doors opening into nothing, rain from a sunny sky etc...Soon agents come along and sort the problem out. This segment is the most stand alone story really as it doesn't really point to anything, its simply a tale of regular people in the matrix finding an error but not understanding what it is. The animation seems to be rotoscoping again for the main female character but hand drawn animation for everyone/thing else. It looks like a typical foreign cartoon to me, a Jap cartoon or maybe even French at a stretch. Its OK but it didn't thrill me in anyway.

A Detective Story: A prequel to the first film which has 'Trinity' as a main character trying to help a private detective who has been hired to track her down...unbeknownst to him by agents. Much like Trinity saving Neo in the first film this follows the same kind of route but shows things don't always go to plan. A typical black and white noir style for this one, a bit cheesy with the full spectrum of cliches that go with the style. Even to go as far as having the good old Venetian blind shadows and setting most of the segment on a train with lots of flashing white lights. Does look good though.

Matriculated: This is another interesting segment as it shows a team of humans in reality who trap machines and plug them into their own man made matrix. They do this in order to show the machines more of human behaviour, positive human traits, hopefully to convert them to fight for mankind without forcing them, but if their own accord. Most of this story is plain surreal as its set within the man made matrix, this naturally equal lots of CG animation which I don't really like. Luckily its not all like that, when not in the matrix the animation is hand drawn and handled by Aeon Flux director Peter Chung, and you can see it clearly. The main female character bares a striking resemblance to Flux, a little too close really, but its a nice touch and saves us from too much CGI.

When I saw this years ago I didn't really like it, I don't think I really got it back then. After a revisit I do understand the segments more and they do fit into the trilogy really nicely, 'The Second Renaissance' for me, being the best and most interesting and of course 'Osiris' being more like the original films which is cool. My only wish is maybe they should of stuck to hand drawn animation with CGI tit bits for all segments, it would feel somehow more complete. As it stands now it feels too random, some parts don't feel as if they belong in the same universe..but that's just me. Its still a very slick compilation of artistic styles each with their own little twists and ideas that only help to bolster the franchise.

7.5/10

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Spirit Zero

The Animatrix (2003)

[Show spoiler]
With a slightly dodgy title this was I believe the first animated addition to a movie that acted as a sequel and prequel at the same time. A collection of nine short stories that gave both more insight into the films plus some individual tales of characters in a world run by the machines.

Final Flight of the Osiris: The first story is in CG animation which I didn't really like in all honesty. This tale is about the ship Osiris and her crews battle to deliver a warning to 'Zion' whilst being attacked viciously by Sentinels. Everything in the segment looks good accept for the human characters if you ask me, there you have that typical plastic vacant look on their faces accompanied by so so lip syncing. The bleak dark work of reality looks great of course, the ship looks great and so do the sentinels, its just the human characters, but at least the story is a good one connecting dots to the second film ('Reloaded').

The Second Renaissance: A prequel to the entire trilogy and tells the tale of how mankind ruined what they had and how the machines slowly took over. Its unoriginal and deals with mankind inventing humanoid robots to serve them but treating them badly. How the robots slowly gain a conscious and one of them kills its owner which leads to a massive rethink in human/robotic relations and inevitably war. The segment is traditional hand drawn animation with the odd splatter of CGI assistance which I think is best really. It looks terrific as a montage of events accompanied by a cold sterile narration, really sets the mood. This is easily one of the most interesting stories as it gives tonnes of info about how it all happened.

The Second Renaissance Part II: Number Three continues on from where the previous segment left off and tells of the gradual descent into all out war between mankind and machines. It shows how the robots finally overrun and destroy most of the human defenses, kill off all world leaders and begin their construction of the matrix to gain power from human bodies. This is because man has blocked out the sun with a massive dark cloud of nanomachines which cuts off the machines primary source of power. Again the segment is hand drawn animation with CGI assistance and again it looks lovely. This second section is a much darker affair and really well executed, probably the best shorts in the collection.

kids Story: This is another good segment because it helps us to see how one film character came to be free from the matrix. Set between The Matrix and Reloaded it simply shows how 'Kid' is a disgruntled teen who believes something is wrong with the world. He manages to contact 'Neo' via his computer and soon finds himself on the run from agents. This short has been rendered in a sort of rotoscoping method where it was clearly filmed in live action but then hand drawn animated over the top. The effect is eerie and unique but I don't think it suits the material here really. A very straight forward story which just makes the character a little more interesting when you see him in the film.

Program: Again another very simple straight forward short which involves a female undergoing a training simulation session. Things go awry when a male she recognises turns up and says he is going back into the matrix and wants her to follow. A very minimalistic looking segment, pretty much in black, white and a few sparse colours but its really effective with some stunning hand drawn artwork on display. It looks very much like the Genndy Tartakovsky Star Wars microseries but maybe a bit sharper.

World Record: This is one of the most intriguing segments as it basically tells the story of a top sprinter who runs so fast during a 100m race (his body energy build up) that his real body tears itself away from the matrix and he awakes in his pod confronted by a sentinel. He is zapped with an electric shock which sends his mind back into the matrix. A neat idea that rarely some people can rip themselves from the matrix under obvious situations of high intensity/stress. Again the animation is somewhat similar to the previous segment, sparse on colour, mainly black and white, very comic book-esque in appearance.

Beyond: This segment was one of the harder plots to follow. A group of kids are playing in area within a rundown building, this area is basically a glitch in the matrix and thusly odd feats can be performed such as floating. Other strange occurrences also happen such as shadows not connecting with their solid origins, doors opening into nothing, rain from a sunny sky etc...Soon agents come along and sort the problem out. This segment is the most stand alone story really as it doesn't really point to anything, its simply a tale of regular people in the matrix finding an error but not understanding what it is. The animation seems to be rotoscoping again for the main female character but hand drawn animation for everyone/thing else. It looks like a typical foreign cartoon to me, a Jap cartoon or maybe even French at a stretch. Its OK but it didn't thrill me in anyway.

A Detective Story: A prequel to the first film which has 'Trinity' as a main character trying to help a private detective who has been hired to track her down...unbeknownst to him by agents. Much like Trinity saving Neo in the first film this follows the same kind of route but shows things don't always go to plan. A typical black and white noir style for this one, a bit cheesy with the full spectrum of cliches that go with the style. Even to go as far as having the good old Venetian blind shadows and setting most of the segment on a train with lots of flashing white lights. Does look good though.

Matriculated: This is another interesting segment as it shows a team of humans in reality who trap machines and plug them into their own man made matrix. They do this in order to show the machines more of human behaviour, positive human traits, hopefully to convert them to fight for mankind without forcing them, but if their own accord. Most of this story is plain surreal as its set within the man made matrix, this naturally equal lots of CG animation which I don't really like. Luckily its not all like that, when not in the matrix the animation is hand drawn and handled by Aeon Flux director Peter Chung, and you can see it clearly. The main female character bares a striking resemblance to Flux, a little too close really, but its a nice touch and saves us from too much CGI.

When I saw this years ago I didn't really like it, I don't think I really got it back then. After a revisit I do understand the segments more and they do fit into the trilogy really nicely, 'The Second Renaissance' for me, being the best and most interesting and of course 'Osiris' being more like the original films which is cool. My only wish is maybe they should of stuck to hand drawn animation with CGI tit bits for all segments, it would feel somehow more complete. As it stands now it feels too random, some parts don't feel as if they belong in the same universe..but that's just me. Its still a very slick compilation of artistic styles each with their own little twists and ideas that only help to bolster the franchise.

7.5/10

I love these shorts, and I agree with a lot of what you've wrote. Osiris, Second Renaissance, Program, and Matriculated are my favorites of the lot.

[jvince]

Orphan (2009)
dir. Jaume Collet-Serra

The Good: I like how Orphan tricks you into thinking you're watching yet another one of those Good Son, demon child movies, and then bam... it hits you with that reveal. That oh-so-brilliant reveal. That reveal you'll never see coming. And then you think back and say, "Hey, that wasn't bad at all." And then, one day, you stumble across it while surfing channels, and the next thing you know, you're sucked in. Now, you're watching it knowing damn well what's really going on. You're astonished yet again at a then-11-year-old Isabelle Fuhrman acting like a genuine, evil, psycho, demon child from hell. You still feel the suspense. You're still entertained by the set pieces. It's still surprisingly good. And then, one day, you stumble across it again while surfing channels, and the next thing you know, you're sucked in... again.

The Bad: The film is littered with horror cliches and stupid contrivances, and that kitchen scene feels unnecessary and out of place.

The Bottom Line: With an exceptional performance by Fuhrman and one genius twist, Collet-Serra's Orphan is one of the most underrated horror films in recent years.

[Spirit Zero]

Despicable Me 2 (2013)

Judging by the title this must be the follow up to the mildly original animated supervillain flick...by jove it is!. Now that first film was cute and reasonably fresh, fresh in the sense that the main character 'Gru' was quite a nice design and voiced nicely by Carell. Also the 'minions' were a neat little invention that did garner the bulk of the giggles and kept the film afloat. The down side was it was yet another superhero/supervillain/super spy parody/spoof type flick which has become a saturated genre.

The big question for me was simply...did we really need this sequel? my answer to that is no. Yeah yeah I know I sound like a Scrooge but come on, really, this film has been so padded out its painful. The plot is so damn linear, supervillain up to no good, someone has to stop him, that someone is Gru. The first film had the neat little twist that the main character was a villain and becomes a goodie, switches sides. This time its just you're bog standard run of the mill superhero/super spy flick.

The problem for me her was nothing really interesting happens, there is nothing to explain, no reason for anything at all. Gru is now a good guy, he's got out of the villain/hero/spy game and he's looking after those sickeningly cute kids which he adopted from the first film. That's it! there is nothing more, did we really need a new film to show us this? oh yeah Gru gets a call to help the 'Anti Villain League' to stop some other villain blah blah blah who cares. The point is none of this was needed, the first film was a reasonably decent quirky animated film that worked well on its own, there was no need to milk it Hollywood sheesh!.

What I wanna know is what are these minions exactly? what do they speak?, where do they come from? and how many of them are there?!. In this film there appears to be like...hundreds n hundreds of em!. Yes its just a kids espionage cartoon and its not important as such but its just something I'm curious about.

I mean sure the film looks great as do all animated films these days, but there is just nothing on offer here that warrants the sequel. One or two new characters amongst all the same visual gags, visual action, childish minion tomfoolery, gadgets and general super spy-like jiggery pokery. OK call me a misery but none of it felt worth it to me, it all fell totally flat, lifeless and stale.

One thing I will mention is actually how scary it could be for kids. When those little yellow minions get turned into purple monster zombie minions the film does take a turn to the slightly eerie side. Especially the sequence where one of them is chasing the kids, jesus its almost like a homage to 'Alien'!.

End of the day it doesn't really matter how eye blisteringly good the CGI is, if its all the same stuff trundled out all over again from the first film it will just feel like a cheap merchandise machine to me. The finale isn't too bad and ups the excitement somewhat but it still can't detract from a very anti climatic ending. The very final sequence with the kids right at the end is so disgustingly sickening I virtually gagged...good grief (mental note...its a kids film, its a kids film).

Anyway no originality whatsoever anywhere, but bottom line if you liked the first then you'll like this I guess. I thought the first was reasonable but nothing overly special, so for me this has gone downhill. Am I being too hard on a kids film? well maybe but the film is so revoltingly sweet n sugary at times with zero originality I just can't sit back and not say it out loud.

4.5/10

[Al_The_Strange]

I've been slacking on this for far too long. With Halloween just a few days away, I've finally got around to creating the next greatest list!

Intro:

Ever since the birth of cinema, there have always been horror films to provide thrills, chills, and scares. Horror films channel into the deepest and most primal of human emotions - fear - to either create an entertaining experience, or to completely get underneath the audience's skin.
Horror films have permeated so much through modern pop culture that it's nearly impossible to go far without tripping over a popular horror movie character. Many of the most popular villains have spawned from horror flicks - Michael Meyers, Freddy Kruger, Jason, Count Dracula, the Frankenstein monster, Leatherface, among a myriad of others. Even without these iconic figures, there have always been inhumane monsters and creatures shown on-screen; sometimes there's nothing scarier than seeing hoards of zombies, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, demons, and even the Devil himself. Sometimes, the scariest monsters are murderous, cruel, or crazy human beings.


No matter what the subject matter, horror movies have always been in abundance. They are often cheap to make, but when done right, they can conjure up frightful images and chilling performances that can penetrate deep into the viewer's psyche. They are freaky. They are disturbing. Sometimes, they're too much to look at. They are all capable of being entertaining in their own right.


Of all the horror movies I've seen in my lifetime, I've compiled this list of favorite horror films. I've done my best to focus on films that are true horror, although a few horror-action and horror-comedies are listed, because they provide a pretty freaky experience in their own right. I believe all of these would be perfect for Halloween time, but any time you want a good scare, most of these are heartily recommended. I must also warn you that my list probably does not reflect popular opinion; it takes a lot to scare me, and the films that do probably won't do much for you. On the flipside, a lot of popular and well-regarded films haven't done much for me, and are ranked pretty low. All these films are ranked in terms of what I feel makes for a better horror movie experience, rather than by personal score.


And now, heeeeeeeere's Al's Top 100 Horror Movies!



...well, not right now, it's coming soon.

[Al_The_Strange]

100:

[Show spoiler]The Faculty

Fear of: my teacher is an alien.

The Faculty has a pretty silly concept, but the film maintains a light-hearted sense of adventure and a lot of attitude to keep it thrilling and fun. The film employs a few unique effects, some snide humor, and a cast of hip characters.

My score: 3.5/5

--------------------
99:

[Show spoiler]Thir13en Ghosts

Fear of: ghosts...thirteen to be exact.

This film is a pretty short, shallow, bloody, and messy affair. However, the featured ghosts are genuinely frightful and threatening. The film has a lot of painful-looking kills (including one incredible scene where a guy is cut in half by a pane of glass, and you can see his cross-section). It is a mad rush of freakiness, and it is a darn fun film that way.

My Score: 3/5

--------------------
98:

[Show spoiler]Final Destination 3

Fear of: roller coasters, tanning booths, warehouses, nail guns, trucks, engine blocks, flagpoles, cherry pickers, and trains.

After all the chaos of Final Destination 1 and 2, #3 brings director James Wong back for another round of weird deaths. The film doesn't disappoint: it moves at a fine pace and features a few memorable scenes. The story is generally okay, but I always felt it was just more of the same. A fairly fun picture for fans of the franchise.

My score: 3/5

--------------------
97:

[Show spoiler]The Amityville Horror (1979)

Fear of: a haunted house.

In 1974, one of America's worst tragedies occurred, when six members of the DeFeo family were brutally murdered in Amityville. Supposedly (and I mean, SUPPOSEDLY), the house the murders took place in became haunted, and from the experiences of the Lutz family, Jay Anson wrote his novel, The Amityville Horror. And then they made this movie. With so much rich and dark history, the movie is given a substantial weight that really makes its events seem all the more real and frightening. The film has its share of freaky scenes, and it is creepy to watch the father flirt with madness. Whether or not there is any real truth to the hauntings of the Amityville house, it is still a place that resonates strongly in our culture, and this film has established itself as one of the essentials in haunted house stories. My only complaints about it are that it drags quite a bit, and the film hasn't aged that well.

My score: 3/5

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96:

[Show spoiler]The Amityville Horror (2005)

Fear of: 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY

Although this is a rather paint-by-the-numbers flick, I've always found the look, style, and pacing of this remake quite entertaining (by contrast, the original 1979 film has not aged well, and drags a lot). It's still a little incredulous to believe that these hauntings are real, but this remake does a better job of portraying the opening murder scene. It has a very slick style and plenty of ominous imagery. Even though the original film remains a classic among haunted house movies, I always preferred this version a little more.

My score: 3.5/5

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95:

[Show spoiler]The Devil's Advocate

Fear of: a law firm owned by the Devil.

This is a pretty slow-moving drama, but it does get pretty freaky at times. I've always been fond on the film's finale, which features an explosive performance by Al Pacino, and the film's concepts, which hint at some interesting theological themes. The film draws a fascinating parallel between law firms and demons who prey upon mankind's sins.

My Score: 4/5

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94:

[Show spoiler]The Craft

Fear of: teenage witches.

I don't know what it is about this movie, but even though it might not have aged well and it might not be the most thrilling thing out there, I find it strangely addicting. I think it's because, at its core, it's a character-driven film with a clique of its own: it's just fun to watch these girls dabble in witchcraft and suffer the consequences. The film has its share of freaky occurrences and thrills, especially during its awesome climax, but the characters and their spirited interactions make it the most endearing.

My score: 3.5/5

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93:

[Show spoiler]The Final Destination

Fear of: NASCAR races, random stones being flung by lawnmowers, cars accidentally left running while in neutral, fences, pools, car washes, explosives, escalators, and whatever.

Generally considered the weakest of the Final Destination series, I've always felt this film is still a heck of a blast, with its relentless onslaught of weird accidents and death scenes. Some of it is just too crazy to ignore. The plot is pretty standard fare, and the characters don't stand out at all. It's just a massive thrill ride.

My score: 3.5/5

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92:

[Show spoiler]I Spit on Your Grave (1978)

Fear of: a woman scorned.

This film is most notorious for its long, agonizingly-brutal rape scene. But afterward, it's also notorious for its agonizingly-brutal revenge scenes, which are pretty darn wicked and gnarly. It's a simple film, but it does a great job of getting the audience to care about the main character, and to root for her when she takes out her attackers one by one. It's not an easy thing to watch, but it is quite a bittersweet affair.

My score: 4/5

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91:

[Show spoiler]I Spit on Your Grave (2010)

Fear of: a woman scorned...again...

Man, I thought the original '78 film was wicked. This modern remake takes the same old story but tells it in a fresh new way, loaded with some really gnarly and grisly kills. It's a much grittier and more brutal tale, but what makes it bearable is that it takes a few interesting liberties with the story (going so far as making the villains a little less one-sided), and it's just the nature of the story to be timeless. No matter what version you watch, one can't help but to root for the woman when she takes her revenge on all those sick jerks who wronged her...

My score: 4/5

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90:

[Show spoiler]Wishmaster

Fear of: the djinn.

Wishmaster is a short and quick little film that features one of the oldest and most primal of mythological beings: the djinn, or genie, which grants wishes but often with a terrible price. The price paid in this film is pretty extraordinary; the film is loaded with some of the gnarliest and bloodiest massacres imaginable. Even though the story's pretty light, it makes for a very wicked and thrilling experience.

My score: 3.5/5

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89:

[Show spoiler]Village of the Damned (1995)

Fear of: scary kids with freaky white hair.

John Carpenter's rendition of Village of the Damned is a pretty short affair, but it is definitely freaky and tense. The children featured in the film are genuinely creepy. The film's story breezes by pretty lightly, but shows just enough to tell an intriguing and thrilling tale.

Note: Unfortunately, I still haven't seen the original version.

My score: 3.5/5

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88:

[Show spoiler]The Rage: Carrie 2

Fear of: telepaths.

I don't think very many viewers cared for this sequel to Brian DePalma's film, but I always felt it was a decently-constructed thriller. Probably not a necessary sequel, but it does have a solid plot, and the rampage at the end is pretty darn thrilling, with a ton of wicked kills.

My Score: 3.5/5

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87:

[Show spoiler]Planet Terror (Grindhouse)

Fear of: zombies, caused by mutations so intense they'll make your gonads fall off!

As part of the Grindhouse project, spearheaded by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, Planet Terror presents a crazy B-movie thrill ride, full of insane blood and gore and crazy action. But even when buried chest-deep in a pile of zombie bodies, the film remains fun and hip, thanks to its endearing cast and amusing script. It's a ridiculous and over-the-top thrill ride, filled not only with great action, but also with gut-wrenching gore and thrilling terror. It makes for a perfectly-entertaining and perfectly-stylish piece of schlock cinema.

My score: 4.5/5

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86:

[Show spoiler]Stir of Echoes

Fear of: visions in your head.

I've always had mixed feelings over this movie, but in the end, it is a pretty decent story with all the right parts. It has supernatural terror, it has people with weird visions, it has domestic drama, and a gritty mystery story buried beneath. The visuals help make the movie stand out, for they are often pretty unique. It's not a movie that I enjoy as much as other ghost stories, but it has firmly embedded itself in my mind as simply a good story told with flair.

My score: 3.5/5

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85:

[Show spoiler]The Pit and the Pendulum (1991)

Fear of: the Spanish Inquisition.

Although this film is a pretty far cry from Edgar Allan Poe's original poem, it is still the one and only film I've seen that focuses on the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition. And man, it is horrifying. The film puts the characters through seemingly hopeless and painful situations (including, of course, a pit and a swinging pendulum). It gets pretty gruesome, but the film does present a quality story with quality characters and a truly menacing performance by Lance Henrikson. It is a bit of a cheap and silly film, but still very wicked.

My score: 4/5

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84:

[Show spoiler]Halloween (2007)

Fear of: Michael Myers, the boy who became an asylum inmate who became a masked psychopath.

Remaking a classic is polarizing as it is, but with Rob Zombie's signature trashiness, his rendition of Halloween has ticked off established fans and repulsed many horror fans. The film does have its moments though; I've always felt this version of Michael Myers is far creepier and scarier than the original, because he's not just some supernatural boogieman, but a human monster molded out of a disturbing childhood filled with domenstic terror and lashings of unbridled violence. The psychology of Myers gives him much more depth than before, and it is pretty freaky to see how a boy could become a hulking monsterous serial killer. From there on, the film falls into familiar slasher territory, but with a rough edge that makes for a gnarly and thrilling ride. Despite the film's trashy nature, I think it's a notable effort.

My score: 3.5/5

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83:

[Show spoiler]Halloween (1978)

Fear of: Michael Myers

One of the most revered classics among horror movies: Halloween was made on an extremely limited budget, but yielded a huge profit, because it was so effectively scary. The opening scenes, showing a young Michael Meyers murdering his sister, is a very unsettling scene. From then on, Meyers becomes a menacing, invincible "boogeyman" type of villain, who goes on to slaughter hapless teenagers with cold and purposeful resolve. However, I was never a big fan of this film, because it is a very slow-moving film, and I was never personally all that engaged in it, save for that first scene. It is worthwhile seeing now and then though, and it does come heavily recommended.

My Score: 3.5/5

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82:

[Show spoiler]The Others

Fear of: ghosts.

Following in the same vein as The Sixth Sense, The Others presents yet another well-crafted ghost story with an interesting plot twist. The twist still holds up really well on repeat viewings. It is a good plot with quality characters and good craftsmanship. My only complaint would be that it's a little slow.

My Score: 4/5

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81:

[Show spoiler]The Sixth Sense

Fear of: dead people.

At the time, I remember plenty of viewers were genuinely creeped out by this film. I personally never was. However, it is a darn good story with a tightly-constructed plot, a heck of a twist that works on every level, and quality performances by the cast. What it lacks in actual scares, the film makes up for in being a great ghost story.

My Score: 4.5/5

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To be continued...

[Foggy]

Seen 3 films on there so far, predicting I'm not going to have a lot on here, but if I had seen more than 20 I'll be impressed.

EDIT: also for Fears on Death Proof, add

[Show spoiler]mutated Quentin Tarantino schlong

.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Seen 3 films on there so far, predicting I'm not going to have a lot on here, but if I had seen more than 20 I'll be impressed.

I there are enough films on there that get talked about a lot that you might surprise yourself.

Originally Posted by Foggy

EDIT: also for Fears on Death Proof, add

[Show spoiler]mutated Quentin Tarantino schlong

.

Good catch.

[Al_The_Strange]

80:

[Show spoiler]Amityville II: The Possession

Fear of: haunted houses...again!

The first Amityville Horror movie was pretty freaky as it was, thanks to the real-life tragedy that tainted the Amityville house's history (and, supposedly, the real-life hauntings). A bunch of sequels came along to capitalize off of the film's success; of the ones I've seen, I found #2 to be quite entertaining. It has plenty of freaky haunting scenes and strange occurrences. The film is moody and somber. Most surprisingly is its underlying issues concerning domestic violence, which makes the drama very hard-hitting.

My score: 4/5

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79:

[Show spoiler]Carrie (1976)

Fear of: telepaths.

Adapted from Stephen King's debut novel, this film presents a story that's genuinely creepy and touching at the same time. One can't help but to feel for Carrie White - a girl alienated, bullied, and ultimately humiliated to the breaking point - and one can't help but to be freaked out by her rampage. Despite some oddities regarding the film's style (namely, an abundance of split-screen effects), it is a decent horror classic.

My Score: 4/5

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78:

[Show spoiler]The Fog (1980)

Fear of: ghost pirates!

I've always felt this was a rather slow, drab, and dull film, but after a whole bunch of viewings, I learned to appreciate it for what it is: a classic ghost story, complete with cool coastal locales, ominous ghost pirates, and rich folklore to go with it. The film has a few thrilling parts, and a few truly freaky scenes. Despite the pacing, it is a solid ghost story.

My score: 3.5/5

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77:

[Show spoiler]Frankenstein(1931)

Fear of: a man made from various spare parts. Unfortunately, part no. 12, the brain, turned out to have a manufacturing defect.

Frankenstein is a fun monster flick, immortalized by its solid filming style, and an iconic performance from Boris Karloff. The film has very little to do with Mary Shelly's novel, and the film does have a few silly twists and turns. However, it does have its somber moments (such as the scene with the little girl, which I always felt was pretty messed-up), and I think it is one of the better monster flicks.

My score: 3.5/5

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76:

[Show spoiler]1408

Fear of: hotel room # 1408.

A seemingly small-scale film, but it makes the most of its limitations. You'd think a movie about a guy stuck in a hotel room would be dull, but enough weird things happen to keep it gripping. It can also dig up a surprising amount of depth to the characters and events. It keeps things rolling really well, and in the end, I can't help but to look at the state of room 1408 and wonder if it's a reflection on the character himself. Plus, it's good-looking film with style.

My score: 4/5

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75:

[Show spoiler]Final Destination 5

Fear of: bridges, gymnastics, laser-eye surgery, acupuncture, hooks, wrenches, and airplanes.

Wow, five of these suckers, can you believe it? The neat thing about #5 is that it's not really #5, it's actually a prequel (and #4 is still THE Final Destination). Still, it is pretty much more of the same: more people escape death, and death continues to hound them with weird and outlandish accidents. The deaths in this film are as wickedly fun as ever, and the film moves at a good, brisk pace. Even though the series slumped a little for the third and fourth installments, the fifth one makes up for things pretty well.

My score: 4/5

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74:

[Show spoiler]Death Note Parts I and II

Fear of: using a notebook to kill people.

Death Note is a pretty neat, somewhat dark tale of death from Japan. This double-feature tells the story of a kid who happens across a notebook which, when one writes in it, a person will die in the exact manner in which it was written. Things get pretty interesting as the kid goes along and dishes out death with his notebook, attracting the attention of secret organizations and some weird otherworldly spirits. It's a pretty fun and interesting story well worth checking out.

My score: 4/5

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73:

[Show spoiler]Tales From the Darkside

Fear of: witches, mummies, cats, and monsters.

This wicked horror anthology features a few moderately thrilling and entertaining pieces of work. My favorite has always been the odd and gnarly tale of a murderous black cat. The film also has the intriguing tales of a student re-animating the dead to take revenge, and a dude's chance encounter with a weird monster. It's all told by a guy being held as witch-fodder. Pretty fun set of stories.

My score: 3.5/5

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72:

[Show spoiler]Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Fear of: Halloween masks, brought to you by Silver Shamrock!

What's this? A Halloween movie with no Michael Myers?! That's thrown off a lot of fans, but approaching it as a stand-alone oddity, the film is pretty solid. It moves a little slowly, but the mystery story is intriguing, and some of the stuff that happens is very creepy and weird. And it has robot henchmen, how cool is that?

My score: 3.5/5

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71:

[Show spoiler]Resident Evil

Fear of: zombies...and a homicidal supercomputer.

With six video games and five feature films, Resident Evil is a pretty big deal, but really, only this first film qualifies as a genuinely scary movie-going experience (Apocalypse, Extinction, Afterlife, Retribution, are all fun as action-packed popcorn flicks, but they're all quite a far cry from this first film). RE maintains a steady mood and pacing as the characters explore a zombie-ridden underground lab, and are forced to contend with a killer computer. There is action to be had, but fundamentally, it is a pretty slick zombie horror flick.

My score: 4/5

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70:

[Show spoiler]Child's Play

Fear of: scary dolls.

Who would have ever thought that a doll could kill. And not just kill, but mock you while doing so? Chucky the doll is a crazy and creepy little guy so full of wicked humor and bloody mayhem, and it makes for quite a wild and fun little thriller.

My score: 4/5

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69:

[Show spoiler]Mary Shelly's Frankenstein

Fear of: a monster made from various cadavers.

Even though Boris Karloff provided an appealing performance of the Frankenstein monster, only Kenneth Branaugh's film matches up with Mary Shelly's original novel (at least at the time of this writing). It takes just a few liberties, but mostly stays true to the source. Robert DeNiro does his best to illicit the audience's empathy, but still plays a cold-hearted monster, who commits some very wicked murders. The film has its limitations, but I think it's still the best Frankenstein adaptation to date.

My score: 4/5

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68:

[Show spoiler]Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

Fear of: Michael Myers, coming back again! The dude just won't die!

After being absent in film #3, the undying boogieman returns in another Halloween film, breaking out of a hospital and wreaking havoc in a town in a seemingly-unstoppable rampage. The man proves to be at his most invincible here, taking out power and communications in a whole town before taking on a posse and the police. It actually gets pretty crazy and ridiculous, but the film is still pretty stylish and thrilling enough to entertain.

My score: 4/5

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67:

[Show spoiler]Final Destination

Fear of: airplanes, showers, clotheslines, computers, mugs, knives, speeding buses, trains, random pieces of flying debris, down power lines, trees, billboard signs...pretty much EVERYTHING!

The first of a massively entertaining series of wicked films, Final Destination presents one of the most unique premises among horror films. It's all about death itself hunting down these group of kids who were supposed to die. Each death that follows is not just a swoop of the Grim Reaper's scythe; each scene starts off with something small and inconsequential, before it causes a chain reaction that leads to a very wicked and gruesomely imaginative end. Even though the various sequels have a ton of crazy scenes, this first film remains deviously-entertaining. It does have a few unlikable moments (mostly involving stupid characters acting a little too brashly), but even after four sequels, it still holds up well.

My score: 4/5

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66:

[Show spoiler]28 Days Later

Fear of: zombies! Really really really fast zombies!

I've always had a love/hate relationship with 28 Days Later. I can't say I always loved the film's erratic and ugly-looking editing, or its bizarrely-constructed plot. However, it does have its share of suspense, presenting zombies that are hyper and crazy. It is quite sobering to watch Jim wander around a ravaged London in the opening act, and some interesting social themes emerge with the soldiers in the last act. The film tends to get artsy and weird, but it has its moments.

My score: 3.5/5

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65:

[Show spoiler]Dawn of the Dead(2004)

Fear of: zombies!

The story's been done before, but this remake comes at the forefront of the modern wave of zombie-horror media. The new Dawn of the Dead has its share of awesome parts, including scenes with armored trucks plowing through crowds of zombies, complete with chainsaw action! There's a ton of zombies getting run over, zombies getting their heads blown off, and everything. Despite some dumb parts and a cast of unlikable characters, the film remains intense and gripping.

My score: 3.5/5

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64:

[Show spoiler]Trick 'R Treat

Fear of: obviously, tricks, or treats, or worse of all, tricks disguised as treats.

Another fine anthology of spooky stories, this slick and modern film showcases a few intriguing cases of bloody and gnarly mayhem. The film begins with a married couple trying to get their groove on, but fall victim to a lingering trick 'r treater. There's the story of the principal who catches a kid stealing candy, and disciplines him in a rather morbid manner. One group of kids suffers the wrath of a bus-load of ghouls. Another group goes out to party, but finds themselves being stalked. And then there's the story of the old fart who doesn't like Halloween, and winds up contending with one wicked little trick r' treater who gives him a change of heart. Each story is pretty wickedly fun, and the film captures the right mood and atmosphere of Halloween. Overall, it's like receiving a handful of assorted candy, but offered by some creepy guy that you're not sure is even human.

My score: 4/5

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63:

[Show spoiler]Castle Freak

Fear of: there's some freak living in the castle dungeon.

This is a pretty short and simple little flick, but it is pretty darn wicked! The film plays out in a pretty standard fashion at times, and the characters do act a little dumb. But when the actual castle freak appears, he is a truly gnarly thing to behold. Despite a few flaws, the film is tight and gripping.

My score: 4/5

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62:

[Show spoiler]Cat's Eye

Fear of: cats, heights, and trolls.

In this anthology of horror stories, penned by Stephen King, we're shown a thrilling set of stories following in the footsteps of some wandering cats. First, there's the story of a man going through a rather extreme therapy for quitting smoking. The second story (my favorite of the lot) features a guy being forced to traverse the narrow ledge of a building. The last story involves a monstrous troll terrorizing a little girl. It's a pretty interesting and amusing sampling of thrillers.

My score: 4/5

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61:

[Show spoiler]Halloween II

Fear of: Michael Myers.

Of the classic Halloween series, I enjoyed this one the best. Michael Meyers returns to terrorize a hospital and chase down Laurie Strode. The scenes in this movie remain consistently thrilling, the style is pretty cool, and it is a decent sequel overall.

My score: 4/5

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To be continued...

[Spirit Zero]

Small Soldiers (1998)

I saw this when it first came out in the cinema way way back in good old 1998, the air was cleaner back then. *Cough!* sorry!...anyway I didn't really like it as I recall, it was hyped up pretty strongly but didn't really live it up to it. Surprise surprise on a re-watch I have done a 180 and now do appreciate the film a whole lot more, I guess I didn't quite get the tone first time round.

Set in small town USA two sets of brand spanking new hi-tec toys are due for release but a small batch get an early chance of sales in a local toy shop. The shop is run by a humble man who has a slightly rebellious son, naturally this lad gets into some small fry high jinx (that builds) with these toys as they break loose and run amok. One set of toys are the good guys and one set are supposedly the bad guys, one group has been programmed to destroy the other and the local family is slap bang in the middle.

Basically this is a modern remake of 'Gremlins' and I never even twigged back in the day. The whole premise is pretty much the same albeit in a lighter tone of course, replace monsters with killer toys. Everything is very cliched and pretty stereotypical of small town America, the film is actually a very good little homage to those classic 80's teen flicks that involved monsters/aliens/the supernatural etc...Hell they even cast classic 80's stars Wendy Schaal and Dick Miller, who of course has starred in some perfect examples of typical 80's trashy horror comedies, including 'Gremlins' (that's not trashy by the way). Miller even plays a similar type of role to his 'Gremlins' character, direct homage to the genre right there if you ask me.

Had this been made back in the day it probably would have been pretty dark, but lets give credit where credits due, this film is also quite dark. Its not scary and its not bloody of course but there is a nice undercurrent of evil that lurks within these toy soldiers. You would think how can a toy injure me, but give these little guys a big knife or nail gun and all of a sudden you've got a problem. This is how the film works well in my opinion, they don't hold right back with the action, yeah sure most of it is kinda silly, almost cute, but there are some slightly nasty moments where they have successfully tweaked the hairs on the back of your neck.

The sadistic knife wielding 'Barbie-ish' girly dolls are a good example of this. The sequences with them involved aren't scary but its certainly heading down eerie street as they scamper around with damage to their faces and no hair. Almost a PG version of 'Chucky'...almost.

The toys themselves are a mixed for me. On the one hand the gruff, butch, muscle bound military special elite soldiers are really nicely. Love the cliched cartoonish caricatures of the typical buzz cut 80's macho action man, especially the cigar chomping ones. Not only do they look like a typical dirty dozen team with each member a master in his own field (explosives, communications etc...), but they got Borgnine, Walker, Brown and Kennedy to voice them! awesome much?!. The other two remaining soldiers are voiced by Tommy Lee Jones and Bruce Dern so really its nothing short of sheer brilliance. And again back in the day I didn't even realise.

Of course you have to remember that even though these little guys have been deliberately designed to homage their voice actors to a degree (and the action man genre). They are also suppose to be stereotypical action figures within the film, the type of toys that little boys would clearly love, look at their their names...'Brick Bazooka' 'Nick Nitro'. The characters work on two levels of the conventional stereotype.

On the other hand the Gorgonites are a very surreal bunch that didn't really fit the style of the film methinks. Their leader 'Archer' is pretty cool looking and sounds epic voiced by Langella but the rest are a crazy ass bunch of monsters that would feel more at home in a Tim Burton fairytale really. I'm not sure why they didn't keep all the Gorgonites the same type of creature as their leader Archer just with different colours or patterns on the fur (go down the Thundercat route). I did like the dark twisted appearance of one or two of them sure, almost a bit 'Evil Dead-ish' if you ask me but they just don't fit this flick.

I do recall that a lot of the hype for this film was down to the Stan Winston effects for the toys. To be fair these effects still remain solid today, gotta give kudos to the actual design and creation of all those action figures because they do look great, I'd have one. The CGI is also not too bad these days, its used for the more obvious requirements but blends in well. On the whole they managed to use both real props/models and CGI effectively together instead of just relying on all out computer effects.

This film shows me how you change as you get older, when I first saw it I couldn't care a less about it and didn't pick up on half the details. Now I can see clearly what they were trying to do and I think it works pretty well really. Its not anywhere near as good as some of the 80's classics but it can hold it head up high as a decent entry into the comedy horror genre. I say comedy horror with a pinch of salt as its not totally like that, more a watered down kiddie PG version but still good still good.

7/10

[Abdrewes]

Awww. Sixth Sense, Carrie & Halloween would make my top ten

[Abdrewes]

Rambling. Unruly. Hedonistic. Forensic. These are words I would have never expected to use while describing a Ridley Scott picture. Typically the orchestrator of evenly paced popcorn films that often feel too modulated for audience satisfaction, here he throws caution to wind and embraces the subject of his film without compromise. The fumes of disillusionment over grim current events are so nauseating that the net effect is akin to choking. While coughing up blood, one would have it in their best interest to stray, to simply walk away, but The Counselor casts its stranglehold. There’s truth in the ways it reveals its characters like a crow that picks at a corpse lying on a deserted highway until the innards are fully exposed. This jet black fatalism may be informed by Ridley Scott’s mourning over the loss of his brother, Tony, or it may be all McCarthy’s, whom has after all created some of the most dour pieces of literature of the last twenty years, but The Counselor is fascinating all the same. It’s an autopsy of our greedy times that offers no hope or resolution. It’s like Maximus’ overblown death in Gladiator only slowed to a crawl, and performed without a sympathetic audience.

Departing from the stock character building and exposition that comprise the opening acts of most modern thrillers, The Counselor permits scenes unspool in perplexing, but often thrilling ways. It allows for characters to be demarcated by material possessions over personality traits or quirks: Cameron Diaz by her choice Ferrari sports-cars, a gold upper left cuspid, and the array of cheetah related accoutrements—which naturally include live cheetahs; her drug kingpin husband, played by Javier Bardem, by his spiky hair, funky vintage Versace printed shirts and rose-tinted glasses, so on and so forth. It proves to be the best, and most moral, angle to the material. The Counselor fearlessly parades their fatuous indulgences like a true atrocity exhibition spinning wildly out of control. It all feels like extended outtakes from an aborted Steven Soderbergh “experiment.”

Coiling back from whence we came, the story opens in present day El Paso, Texas amidst a milieu of deceit and perpetual scheming where the eponymous Counselor (Michael Fassbender reuniting with Ridley Scott after last year’s Prometheus) considers making a play in the trafficking world. His opening to this world is the ever epicurean Javier Bardem who plays Rainer, a man whose paranoia that the whole thing will collapse is only subdued by his debauched lifestyle. With the capital they earn from the shipment of 21,900 ounces, they plan on opening a night club near the interstate on the far west side of El Paso. However, feline painted eyes are taking note of each step they and their accomplices make and, as is the case in the genre, those nearest to the Counselor are not to be trusted.

If one was to print the liveliest stills, The Counselor would give the appearance of a lively caper not unlike Oliver Stone’s Savages, or better yet, something like Tony Scott’s Domino, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Save for moments in last act which conjure Scott’s predilection for classical music and expressionistic staging, it doesn’t even look or sound like a Ridley Scott film. The taciturn shell which nestles the bloodletting affairs may be confused for simple indifference on behalf of the septuagenarian director, but it’s the best way about the material. Though the film is populated by heightened performances and the chance ridiculous situation (the flashback to the Cloudcroft fortnight Rainer and Malkina spent in their yellow Ferrari is a howling, demented treat), its real asset is its realism. Gone are the lighting flourishes that recall German Expressionism, gone is the accompanying wall-to-wall score, The Counselor derives its depth from matter-of-fact observation. Alongside Black Hawk Down, this is the only Ridley Scott film where caring about the characters is completely arbitrary. In fact, it’s not even a concern. We are presented a mirror, vile and ugly, whose sole intention is to repulse and conflict.

Cormac McCarthy’s script is a thing of perplexing wonder too. Often allowing for scenes to devolve into extended talks full of allegory philosophizing that the characters spouting it couldn’t begin to understand, it eschews orderly form for ungainly mass. It’s less about the cadence and more about the net effect. The circular extended dialogue driven scenes aren’t here to be zippy or cool but to reveal the despicable core of the short sided characters themselves through irony. It is just as indulgent, frivolous and ill-considered as their deep set materialism. The Counselor may not be a hugely entertaining movie, but a mirror isn’t there to mask the truth. As a piece of conceptual art that wallows in the doomed state of anyone caught in the web of international drug trafficking, it is rather perfect. It’s just as well that characters late in the film equate their extinction to that of the entire world. How suitably apocalyptic.

Few will warm to The Counselor’s left of center, rule-breaking code, but those that do will see that this is one of the more fascinating films of the year. Grace notes that populate the film should make it apparent what Ridley Scott is attempting to do here. Making a rip-roaring Tex-Mex thriller comes secondary to revealing the lecherous face of the all-consuming pursuit of wealth and power. A glimpse at the reverse side of a billboard is in view during the fateful execution that sets the wheels of the twisty plot in motion that reads “Aye Have Faith” and the description of a little winding mechanical noose called the Bolito (used to great effect late in the film) are two of the many reminders of the fatalism at the core of the picture. The Counselor is like the death rattle of a disillusioned man, hands clenched at the Bolito and pining for death to absolve his torment.

½

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Awww. Sixth Sense, Carrie & Halloween would make my top ten

Switch out The Sixth Sense with The Others and I'd agree. I'm not the big fan of The Sixth Sense a lot of people are, but Carrie and The Others are two of my favorites.

Also kind of odd that The Sixth Sense is way down there with a 4.5/5 rating, but I'm sure he has his reasons. It's his list.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

Switch out The Sixth Sense with The Others and I'd agree. I'm not the big fan of The Sixth Sense a lot of people are, but Carrie and The Others are two of my favorites.

Also kind of odd that The Sixth Sense is way down there with a 4.5/5 rating, but I'm sure he has his reasons. It's his list.

Yeah, Al confuses me with his list orders/rankings, sometimes I suppose the list is more about sheer enjoyment...but then again, I would have expected Planet Terror to crack the top 20 for him.

Well find out soon enough.