Yeah. My obessession for this movie runs deep. Now you can enjoy a fully stocked site of “behind the scenes” stuff. Check it out at woodsmovie.com. Now, if they would only put out a new Special Edition DVD with more of the (supposedly crappy) unused footage …
Horror
Chas. on “The Grudge”
After having seen “Ju-On” a couple of months ago, I have been dead curious to see the American remake. It boasts the same director and story with the add in of American actors. Does it live up to the original?
Yes … and no. I personally felt that some of the enhanced “visual” scares were pretty sweet. But the trade off is a movie that is way more polished than its predecessor. Gone is all subtlety … all the mystery. I guess the filmmakers felt that there had to be an explanation for everything that happens in the story … which does take some of the edge off. I don’t care why the house is haunted. Just scare me. The addition of American actors was distracting as well. It seemed way too contrived that so many Americans would be involved in the same chain of evens.
Sam Raimi says in the “making of” footage that the reason he was interested in producing a remake was that many people would be so turned off to seeing a Japanese film. He loves the original and wanted to bring it to American audience. So, what you ultimately end of with is a pretty redundant movie in terms of story and visuals. Some shots are almost exactly the same as shots in “Ju-On.”
So, if you have seen “Ju-On” you can skip “The Grudge” and you won’t be missing anything. If you haven’t seen either, definitely pick up “Ju-On” for a viewing.
Further Proof
Ah, yes! Here’s further proof that the remake of “The Amityville Horror” won’t suck even if it does suck. Get it? Oh, Mr. Reynolds … you have become the fantasy object of so many gay men. Why should that untalented Alanis get to be the lucky one?
Back to Horror
I must confess that I am getting pretty excited about the remake of “The Amityville Horror.” I love haunted house/ghost story movies. Love ’em! I have always been hip to the Amityville story since I read Jay Anson’s book about a bazillion times growing up. The original movie version is an ok film, but not the best haunted house movie ever made. The new one looks like it has potential … plus it’s got Ryan Reynolds in it! So, even if the movie sucks there will be some eye candy (think “Blade: Trinity”). Visit the official site and check out the teaser trailer.
Prom Night!
“The killers are coming! Kill! Kill! Kill!”
Toshio!
Well, I don’t need to see the American movie version of “The Grudge” anymore. The roomie’s woman rented “Ju-On” last night …. and, man-oh-man, is it sweet. “Ju-On” great example of using sound, imagery and tone to create great thrill moments without relying on gore. It’s definitely worth checking out.
Saw: Some Thoughts
“Saw” helps prove that the much talked about horror movie revival isn’t really happening. A horror movie doesn’t function if you can’t build some tension, show some gore and have characters that we can actually root for. “Saw” take a good premise and waters it down with bad acting, overly arty direction and super-silly plot twists. The movie centers on two fellas trapped in a nasty bathroom and trying to escape from Jigsaw, a killer who has little moral lessons he wants his victims to learn. We start in that bathroom and find out about Jigsaw through a series of flashbacks. And just how exactly are we supposed to be scared of something that has already happened? These flashbacks help kill any tension that the director trys to build. Then there are the actors. Cary Elwes and Leigh Whannell (vanity casting if there ever was such a case … he wrote the screenplay) are so bad that you really could care less what happens to them. I was actually rooting for Cary Elwes to buy it before the end just so we wouldn’t have to endure any more of his “emotional” outbursts (see above photo for an example). Danny Glover does his typical “good cop” routine. Haven’t we seen that in about a thousand movies already? Grrrrrr. If you want a good serial killer/morality play just watch “Seven” again. It’s a great example of how a movie’s tone and mood can creep you out without showing you lots of violence just for violence sake.
Finally.
Finally. This weekend. Do you want to play a game?
Seriously?
What bullshit the sticker attached to the DVD of the “Dawn of the Dead” Unrated Director’s Cut is. “Too Scary for Theaters” my ass. The stuff that has been added back in is cool … more blood, gore and character development. The sticker should read “Contains Scenes that the MPAA Deemed Too Violent & Gory for You to See.” Guess what? It’s a zombie film. We expect lots of gore. We expect heads exploding in messy glob of blood and brain matter. We want it no other way. That’s why we like horror films.
NC-17: No One 17 and Under Admitted
Signifies that the rating board believes that most American parents would feel that the film is patently adult and that children age 17 and under should not be admitted to it. The film may contain explicit sex scenes, an accumulation of sexually oriented language, and/or scenes of excessive violence. The NC-17 designation does not, however, signify that the rated film is obscene or pornographic in terms of sex, language or violence.
It’s a shame that the NC-17 rating has not fared any better than the X rating. Movie theaters and rental chains still shy away from carrying such films. I don’t suppose it helps most the NC-17 movies have not been all that good anyway. Maybe when “Haute Tension” hits theaters it will help ease that stigma … that NC-17 movies are just all about sex. That they can be about some hardcore killin’ as well.
Weekend!
Whew! I had fun weekend … even if I was by myself the entire time. There are no links ’cause I’m lazy.
Friday Night:
Hung around the house and watched the European cut of “Dawn of the Dead.” Pretty interesting if not just a little too streamlined. Then sleep. Sweet, sweet sleep.
Saturday:
Drove down to Atlanta for the “Evening with Siouxsie.” I tripped over to the Apple Store at Lenox Square and drooled all over the products and cute nerds that work in the place. I cruised down Peachtree to the Tower Records where they had none of the dvds that I was looking for. But, they did have the cd of Diamanda Galas’ “Defixones, Will & Testament” (which I purchased, of course). After a nice drive down the rest of Peachtree, I made it into Little Five Points for dinner and the show. Dinner was good. The show was great. I don’t think I have ever seen that much black clothing gathered in one place before. Ah, goth culture! After finding a prime spot from which to watch Siouxsie work her magic, I got to talking to the couple next to me, She was beautiful. He was gorgeous. We talked for most of the pre-show which was about 2-1/2 hours because Siouxsie was mean and made us wait a bit for her. The show was not at all what I expected. The name “An Evening with Siouxsie” seemed to imply a structured retrospective of the Banshees and Creatures catalog. Not so. The show was a roller coaster. You never knew what was going to be performed next. Good stuff! For the encore she performed “Face to Face” from the “Batman 2” soundtrack and “Arabian Nights.” Pretty sweet! The cute couple invited me out for drinks, but I declined. Then it was back to the hotel for some much needed rest.
Sunday:
I tripped to the Gift Mart downtown for a bit and then headed back to the mountains. Steve and I got together and started setting lights for “Sweeney Todd.” There gonna be about 180 lighting cues in the show. Jim’s gonna have fun.
Not in the Cards
Poor Michael. Little did he realize that a boat trip just might not be in the cards.
“Open Water” Thoughts
Oh. My. God.
“Open Water” (sure to be another love/hate film) kicks some major ass. Simple in it’s execution. Sparse in the events occurring on screen. Ultimately it’s one of the most disturbing movies I have seen in a long time … leaving a sense of dread and unease that lasts for hours after the credits roll.
Weekend Horror
And the big plans for the weekend … “Open Water,” baby!