Rate The Last Movie You Saw

Last night's triple feature:

Return of the Living Dead - 7/10

I've always felt that this (and Re-Animator and Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn) was a perfect example of comedy-horror done well. The first five minutes or so (everything up through the opening credits) was absolutely brilliant and the ending was spot-on for what the film was trying to be. Variations on "send more paramedics" was just as chilling as it was hilarious. The real problem arises, however, in the characters. None of them are particularly interesting nor particularly well-developed. In fact, most of them are equal parts shallow and obnoxious. I feel that the perfect iteration of this idea is a blend between this film and its sequel.

The Exorcist III - 6.5/10

Despite a high-end of average rating, I was actually really pleased with this film. What didn't work was only okay and what did work was awesome (the scenes between the possessed Karas and the police officer). The script really could have done with a structural overhaul, however, as scenes seemed either superfluous or failed to flow organically into one another, and it really highlights why William Peter Blatty, though a horror visionary, is not a particularly good director. I feel like in the hands of somebody like Argento, it could have been a truly excellent film.

Conan the Barbarian - 6/10

This is the second time in recent memory where Family Video had the remake of a film filed under the original's case (the first being Halloween II on Halloween). That being said, I enjoyed this film far more than I expected to. Although a far cry from the original Conan, Mamoa is a more than reasonable approximation of what the barbarian king should look like. The action scenes, although overly long and disappointingly wrapped up, were exciting and imaginative. The plot was a bit of a mess, but the overall production was enjoyable enough to not make this as much of an issue as it could have been. The real issue is that they could not replace the indominable presence of Arnold Schwarzenegger: he was simply too perfect a realization of that character to be adaquately replaced by any actor.

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Arcanis' 100 Favorite Films: 2015 Edition

Instinct 1999

a very good movie with a touching story.

Anthony Hopkins's acting is marvelous as always





Dying of The Light 2014

I know no one would rate it that good, but I believe most people would like it.

I loved it that much because Nicolas Cage in this movie mastered being Nicolas Cage I'm sure you guys know what I mean

(that supporting actor is weak though, the man has no enough skills his acting is not convincing at all) I'm talking about the young guy (Cage's pal)

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Le Serpent [The Snake] (2006) - 8/10

Enjoyable French thriller that builds nice and slowly in the first two-thirds, building a level of intrigue, and is only let down slightly by a final third that feels a little more 'thriller-by-numbers' than that which preceded it.

Zánik domu Usheru (1982; Jan Svankmajer)

I agree that Return of the Living Dead is comedy-horror done right. So often in that genre the movie isn't actually scary in any way and Return is. I really liked the characters though. To me they are the perfect representation of 80s movies characters.

I didn't like The Exorist III near as much as you did. I couldn't get passed those script problems that you mention. There was so much dialogue between Kinderman and Karas that it strips away any sort of tension and suspense. I can't remember exactly what I said when I first talked about it here, but I remember saying something about it having to be the talkiest demon ever and the horror coming more from wondering if it would ever shut up than anything else.

I do agree that in the hands of another director there may have been a good movie in there somewhere.

Le Trou (1960)



A Hall of Fame nomination so I posted my thoughts in that thread.

Great film. Loved the fact that it was shot in black and white.

Just one movie this week.

Mo' Better Blues
Spike Lee, 1990

Tusk



Smith's second attempt at a genre other than comedy. His last effort Red State was Smith's homage to the Coen brothers, specifically their crime film Fargo. I applauded that film for being Smith's most ambitious film, taking him out of his comfort zone and always pulling the rug out from under me. I had no idea where he was going to take it and I was along for the ride. With Tusk we have Smith dipping his toes into the horror genre a bit further. This time he seems to be channeling more Cronenberg-esque with body mutilation, but knowing the history behind the creation of this project, I can't help but think the entire thing was a big joke.

A lot of what happens has to be seen to be believed. After seeing this, I have to ask people who have also seen it a simply question. Should this film have remained a smodcast idea? Was there enough story here to justify Smith making it? I asked myself these questions when the film would oddly throw in some flashbacks. One set of flashbacks are told in black and white from Parks' lifetime, while the other, in colour, belongs to Long. As mentioned earlier, the idea was from a smodcast that Smith and his long-time producing partner, Scott Mosier did and you can actually hear them talking about this idea near the end of the credits. They laugh at the ridiculousness of it all and ask fans to vote #WalrusYes #WalrusNo. Well, as you could have guessed, #WalrusYes won and we have our film. Tusk awkwardly tries to honour the original idea of it being a horror film, the grotesqueness of body horror and also try to be hilariously stupid at the same time. Smith doesn't balance this tone very well and the reason is the cameo performance from a Hollywood A-lister.

I'm not going to spoil who the actor is, but he plays the role so comedically over the top that I sat there thinking; did Smith give him 100% free range to do whatever the hell he wanted? I was on board with the seriousness of the film until he showed up, then it went off the rails in ways I can't even describe. Smith goes for an ambitious mixture of tone and I think he fails here. Played half for laughs and half for seriousness, I couldn't help but feel a little let down by it all.

I think the horror aspect works better than the comedy here. The humour here is lacking, especially with the Long character. He comes off as obnoxious and not funny, despite the numerous jokes he tries to throw out there. Does he deserve what he gets? That question is left in the viewers mind. Some people might make the argument that this film exists merely to give Parks a juicy role. Verbally eloquent, vaguely sinister, Parks spews his lines so well and with such gusto that he gives his performance in Red State a run for its money. It's one of the most successful elements of the film.

I am interested in Smith's career direction now. Red State and Tusk aren't receiving as much praise as his previous films, but the man is stepping out of his comfort zone to try something different. He's been accused of being a lazy filmmaker that only makes poop jokes. Not anymore, so I applaud him for this, he's finally making interesting films, good or bad, they are interesting.

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Suspect's Reviews

And then there's me, who thinks he should just go back to his roots and do what he's actually good at, which is making funny films with poop jokes that also have a warm, sentimental edge to it.

I haven't seen Tusk yet, by the way, so this is pure, meaningless preconception, but it's nevertheless what I really feel about Kevin Smith's career right now...

Nice review, though!

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Cobpyth's Movie Log ~ 2019

My favourite film of his is Dogma and all his best films are indeed his comedies. I feel that he has enough of those in his career to change pace. He won't make anything funnier than what he's done. Zack and Miri Make A Porno wasn't that funny. He's lost his comedic edge and needs a change of pace.

I like directors who are unpredictable. Smith, with Red State and Tusk has become just that. He's a great storyteller, he just needs to be able to find the right genre to tell it in.

How can he lose something he never had?

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Fifty Dead Men Walking (2008) - 7/10

No frills, gritty drama based on real events about an IRA member turned informer during the troubles, allegedly saving at least 50 people from a violent demise (hence the title).

Angel (1984)

I've actually wanted to see this since the day it came out, and I wish I did see it back then. If I had known the term "whisker biscuit" as a teen, I could've put it to much better use.

Gun Woman (2014)

This movie was most definitely as sick as advertised. The problem is that it's just not made very well. Maybe recommended for MovieGal or Minio.

A Hard Day's Night (1964)

Very funny movie about one day in The Beatles life starring... The Beatles!
It has no real plot but there are so many epic scenes! They all are good actors and the sountrack is amazing of course!

7/10