tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993991.post3462216746222540153..comments2023-10-05T07:46:44.392-04:00Comments on And Now the Screaming Starts: Movies: And now, ladies and gentlemen, the host of our show . . .CRwMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896615209770501945noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993991.post-23915176018481658602007-10-30T10:11:00.000-04:002007-10-30T10:11:00.000-04:00Yay, I've actually seen this movie!What can I say ...Yay, I've actually seen this movie!<BR/>What can I say that I haven't brought up before about my movie-watching lameness...<BR/><BR/>But, THAT'S not why I'm writing.<BR/><BR/>I liked this movie alot.<BR/><BR/>I thought your whole rant about inserting serious themes into a horror movie, either intentionally or afterwards by the critics, was a great topic and a hoot as well.<BR/><BR/><I>"But is it really that different from us? Sure, it feeds of human blood, emits a deadly radiation that melts the skin off our bones, and hunts with a savage and unreasoning thirst for death. But, don't we humans do the same thing? When we fight wars or play hockey or shop for intriguing undergarments, aren't we doing the very same things we condemn this monster for? Who are the real monsters here?"</I><BR/><BR/>That's some funny shit.<BR/><BR/>Your example of Romero is terrific, although I haven't seen LAND OF THE DEAD. But I can imagine what you're saying.<BR/><BR/>That one moment in the original NOTLD when Duane Jones is casually shot at the end, and the film suddenly takes on another dimension, is great. <BR/>But, the fact that it's so off-handed makes the point more as food to chew on rather than overtly. I think the whole "political statement" that some have described the film as (and maybe I have as well, to some degree) would have been weakened if Romero deliberately set out to make his film a "political statement."<BR/>The same way with his DAWN OF THE DEAD. Really, I think the few shots of zombies walking through the mall with Muzak playing is enough to make a statement of our consumer society without elaborating more on it, which I don't think he did. Beyond that, i don't think the film overtly attempts to make any more social commentary. I wonder if Roger Ebert read more into it, though.<BR/>I mean, moreso than Romero put into it, because I think Ebert defended the film when some reviewers were walking out because of the excessive gore, but I think Ebert may have emphasized the social commentary aspects of it.<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, as for THE HOST. I get this impression, after watching the film and also reading (a little) about his other film MEMORIES OF MURDER, that director Joon-ho Bong has a love for horror films and also issues with his government.<BR/>Personally, I think he imagined a monster movie, and then he wondered, what would happen if such a monster actually existed, what would his government do?<BR/>I actually think it works, but the flashes of broad comedy is a little weird. That's either common for Asian films, or his sense of humor. Yeah, the comedy with the family sort of bumbling about sometimes was more off-putting than the actual political stuff.<BR/><BR/>But the basic idea of horror films being more than just horror films is an excellent theme and perhaps would make a great series.<BR/>Speaking for myself, I think I'd be one of those well-meaning or heavy handed schmucks who try to clumsily inflate the worth of a scare flick by introducing more serious themes.<BR/><BR/><I>"Sadly, only talent, skill, and taste can safeguard against making crap. Shoving your political opinion into a garbage flick doesn't save it. It only makes your crap more tiresome."</I><BR/><BR/>Funny (but to the point) point nervously taken. You know, for future reference.<BR/><BR/>I think THE EXORCIST can be viewed that way, too. That is, I think the film deals with some spiritual issues, but in a very specific way. i think fans of the film perhaps inflate how much the film goes about issues of religion and faith, whereas I think the focus is much smaller.<BR/>Specifically, the film is actually kind of a character study of Father Karras and his wrestling with his faith.<BR/>Regan's possession seems so arbitrary and existential, if I'm using that word correctly, it suddenly makes sense when we understand that Satan is attacking Karras through HER suffering.<BR/>Thinking about it, Satan actually blows it by playing his hand.<BR/>Huh. What if Karras died, his faith gone, and THEN we see that that was what Satan was after all along?<BR/>Er, I digress, sorry.<BR/>My point is, beyond this specific skirmish between the Devil and a man, the movie doesn't really purport to be more than that, issue-wise. But some people attribute more to it. But, it's enough to make you think about larger spiritual issues or whether the Devil actually exists and how he would operate. So, I guess another argument for less is more, and also, that more is less.<BR/><BR/>You know?<BR/><BR/>Okay. I should go.<BR/><BR/>Oh! But yes, definitely, any sequence involving the beast in THE HOST is grade A stuff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993991.post-55256786525781032972007-10-25T12:19:00.000-04:002007-10-25T12:19:00.000-04:00Screamin' Spacey,I'm with you on not knowing enoug...Screamin' Spacey,<BR/><BR/>I'm with you on not knowing enough about the cinematic traditions of Asian countries to speak about the origins of his style.<BR/><BR/>Honestly, I think this might be all of the third Korean flick I've ever seen (the others being a fairly bad spy thriller <I>La Femme Nikita</I> rip and a 'Nam meets <I>The Haunting</I> fright flick).CRwMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07896615209770501945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993991.post-48853132610928738532007-10-25T12:10:00.000-04:002007-10-25T12:10:00.000-04:00Screamin' Sassy,While I've never ranted about The ...Screamin' Sassy,<BR/><BR/>While I've never ranted about <I>The Host</I> before, I've regularly bitched and moaned about shoehorning of lame-o political "content" into otherwise cool films.CRwMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07896615209770501945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993991.post-7181309882153351412007-10-25T11:49:00.000-04:002007-10-25T11:49:00.000-04:00Wow, I cannot tell you how much I agree with this....Wow, I cannot tell you how much I agree with this. It warms my heart to hear it articulated so well.<BR/><BR/>Regarding <I>The Host</I>, I felt similarly about it. I think there's a lot of buzz about it because it's a breakout Korean film, it's a non-Hollywood movie with pretty high production values and has a well-conceived monster.<BR/><BR/>There are also some pretty impressive, long, single-shot scenes that are fun to watch as a film nerd, as well as the interactivity between the creature and "real" stuff.<BR/><BR/>Like a lot of films I see from Asia however, I can't help thinking the director is sometimes "aping" the cinematic techniques of western directors like Spielberg or Scorsese etc., without always using it in a way that effectively drives the plot.<BR/><BR/>That said, it's possible I don't know enough Asian film to know who's aping who.<BR/><BR/>Oh also, on Hostel: that's a hilarious observation. As you know, I <I>am</I> a fan of the film, but it really cracked me up to read reviewers "insights" into the political overtones of the film. I thought it was just me seeing that happening all the time. There are more than a few local reviewers who seem to grade movies based soley on how many anti-US-Iraq-occupation metaphors they can find (or think they can find.)spacejackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14902182763527176185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993991.post-31067897438065962532007-10-25T10:26:00.000-04:002007-10-25T10:26:00.000-04:00This isn't a repost is it ? Or did you cover it in...This isn't a repost is it ? Or did you cover it in a different blog ? I recall reading a similar review that the mid-plot about govt etc get very political and whatnot.. Not that I've seen the movie myself to offer an opinion on it..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com