What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[it'smebilly]

Originally Posted by evbear

Just Posted a review for the 'The Tall Man':

French director Pascal Laugier, returns with a cinematic cipher 'The Tall Man', his first film after causing a stir in the horror community, with the visceral endurance test ‘Martyrs’. Fans of which, have waited with baited breath, to see what new acts of terror he would unleash. Sadly for them, instead of another carnival of shock images, Laugier has birthed a quiet, thoughtful little film, that while it presents itself as one thing, is actually another entirely.

Set in the small town of Cold Rock, in the state of Washington, that is now almost like a ghost town, since the once prosperous coal mine shut down. Not wanting to forsake their homes, the people stayed, despite the finical crises inflicted on them. Little did they know that things were about to get far worse, as their bad fortune takes an even more horrible turn.

For someone, or something, has begun taking their children, one by one. Could it be a person living amongst them? Or is it the entity the town has christened The Tall Man. An enigmatic figure, who appears from the surrounding woods, snatching the children away, never to be seen again. Sympathetic to their troubled plight, is local nurse Julia Denning (Jessica Biel) who has stayed in the town even after the death of her husband, the previous physician. Jessica try’s her best to help any that need her, particularly the troubled and mute Jenny (Jodelle Ferland), whose sister is knocked up by their mother's alcoholic and violent boyfriend.

While it may lack some real, definite dramatic punch, it still succeeds in giving the viewer more than they expected – and how many modern horrors can you say that about. This is also another well placed attack on the ideals of the wealthy and privileged in society by Laugier. Who again here, has them conduct their own personal experiments on the middle class and poor of society.

It’s refreshing to see such strong ideas in this day and age, especially from a horror/thriller starring Jessica Biel, the third lead from 'Blade 3' - who also acts as producer. While I will freely admit to never being a fan of her before, as I can only remember one half decent performance from her, in the underrated Ellis adaptation ‘Rules of Attraction’. Besides what her past roles may have lead you to believe, she gives a truly committed performance here, as the put upon Julia, who suffering the tortures of the damn for her beliefs.

Another wonderful addition is Jodelle Felyand, a fantastic and intriguing young actress, that will be familiar to genre fans, from performances in Terry Gilliam's 'Tideland' (2005), the mini series 'Kingdom Hospital' (2004), and the original 'Silent Hill' (2006). Most recently she appeared as a zombie hillbilly in the awesome meta horror 'Cabin In The Woods' (2012). Hopefully we will see more of this actress in the future, if she doesn’t fall into the dreaded and sometimes inescapable world of direct to DVD horror.

In time I can see 'The Tall Man' entering the canon of must see, unappreciated horror gems, as more people discover it. I can already picture it appearing in countless websites, as the author demands their readership to please check out this little seen horror gem. Well if it isn't, please let me be the first, because while it’s not any classic by any stretch of the imagination, it’s still a very well made exciting little film, that should have gotten a lot more recognition. So yes, please unearth this gem.

As for Laugier, I would love to see him return to the horror genre for real next time, as I really dig his brutal some times painful to watch, excursions in this genre. I still see his 'Hellraiser' remake not being made as a great loss to the genre, hopefully his next project will bring him the credit he rightfully deserves.

Great review, I'm liking the sound of this one. Bring it on.

Sent from my Galaxy S 2 using Tapatalk 2

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

The Raid (2012)

If you are to believe the hype then this Indonesian film is the greatest movie to hit action film land since sliced bread. Its not. It may well be the best action film this year, but then again i can't think of any other pure action films that have been released this year.

Unquestionably The Raid does have some brilliant set pieces and some of the hand to hand combat is quite breathtaking. There is also one scene of palm sweating tension involving a machete, a wall and a cheekbone.

Having said all that though the fighting is no better than the superb action in recent films such as Ong Bak. What loses the film marks as far as i'm concerned is the film lacks an emotional punch on the whole. Its just faceless cops fighting equally faceless bad guys. Unlike the aforementioned Ong Bak there isn't a Tony Jaa to get behind, or care what might happen to them. In this sense the film isn't much different to watching someone playing a computer game. If this makes any sense, it lacks a scene such as the Predator helicopter moments, instantly giving the film some recognised characters in as short a time as possible. This is a fault that many films share, not just The Raid.

Basically The Raid is entertaining, certainly worth watching and owning, but not as good as its hyped up to be.

[keirarts]

Originally Posted by Demdike

The Raid (2012)

If you are to believe the hype then this Indonesian film is the greatest movie to hit action film land since sliced bread. Its not. It may well be the best action film this year, but then again i can't think of any other pure action films that have been released this year.

Unquestionably The Raid does have some brilliant set pieces and some of the hand to hand combat is quite breathtaking. There is also one scene of palm sweating tension involving a machete, a wall and a cheekbone.

Having said all that though the fighting is no better than the superb action in recent films such as Ong Bak. What loses the film marks as far as i'm concerned is the film lacks an emotional punch on the whole. Its just faceless cops fighting equally faceless bad guys. Unlike the aforementioned Ong Bak there isn't a Tony Jaa to get behind, or care what might happen to them. In this sense the film isn't much different to watching someone playing a computer game. If this makes any sense, it lacks a scene such as the Predator helicopter moments, instantly giving the film some recognised characters in as short a time as possible. This is a fault that many films share, not just The Raid.

Basically The Raid is entertaining, certainly worth watching and owning, but not as good as its hyped up to be.

I actually thought Judge Dredd was better....

[Hawkmonger]

Originally Posted by keirarts

I actually thought Judge Dredd was better....

HAVE MY BABY'S!!!!!

But yeah, it's pure bad luck that both films shared a similer plot. Kinda a Battle Royale-The Hunger Games scenario. Dredd is the better film, of cause. I;ll deffend it till my dieing breath, and it's my favourate movie of the year. Though Breaking Dawn part 2 is a close second.




NOT!

[Slippery Jack]

Originally Posted by Hawkmonger

Kinda a Battle Royale-The Hunger Games scenario.

Not really. There was probably a decade seperating those releases, rather than a few months . . .

[PaulD]

Originally Posted by Hawkmonger

HAVE MY BABY'S!!!!!

But yeah, it's pure bad luck that both films shared a similer plot. Kinda a Battle Royale-The Hunger Games scenario. Dredd is the better film, of cause. I;ll deffend it till my dieing breath, and it's my favourate movie of the year. Though Breaking Dawn part 2 is a close second.

I still haven't seen Breaking Dawn but I suspect that I'm in the same boat as you, with The Dark Knight Rises my favourite of the year

Originally Posted by Hawkmonger

NOT!

Oh. I feel foolish now.



On the subject of Dredd I really *really* wish I hadn't seen it in 3D. As much as I enjoyed it I almost feel like I haven't seen it as a result. Really looking forward to the bluray so I can see it without the colour loss and pop-up book feel of the 3D

[PaulD]

The Mist: Makes for an interesting rewatch once you've become fully absorbed in the tv series The Walking Dead. Not only do a few actors from the show turn up but even in adapting a Stephen King novella Frank Darabont sows various thematic and visual seeds which come into fruition in the popular zombie survival tv show. Paternal protection and the desperate measure humans will go to in order to survive extraordinary circumstances are the 2 most striking similarities and it's hard not to see a little of Rick Grimes in Thomas Jane's portrayal of David Drayton (or vice versa) and the whole film runs along at a great pace where you really care for the key characters and their survival. It also boasts one of the bleakest endings in recent film history too which still packs a punch on a second viewing. The black and white version is preferable as, if nothing else, the absence of colour masks the occasionally poor cgi fx,

[JoshuaKaitlyn]

The Most Dangerous Game (1932) Not the recent Criterion release but a multi movie pack on DVD and my god the PQ is awful! The movie itself is rather good!

Hands of the Ripper (1971) First time I've seen this properly and was quite surprised at how graphic a couple of the murder scenes were almost classic 80's!

[Make Them Die Slowly]

HUGO. A delightful, magical film about loss and belonging that works a treat, both visually and emotionally for adults. It bored the arses off my kids aged 5 and 7. It's way too long for a kids film, running in at 2 hours with the action scenes too few and too far apart. Interestingly my kids loved all the clips from the silent films in the film and the scenes recreating the making of the silent films. They also really liked the trailer for "The Artist" which was on before the film.

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. This is a film that has taken me years to appreciate, having been a massive, obsessive fan of the book from the age of 14 to my early 20s and hating the over stylised look and feel of the film. In fact, on reflection this film is the reason I've avoided Kubrick's work for years. However, having watched snippets of it over the last couple of years almost monthly on ITV4 and not having read the book for 20 years, I'm finally able to see the film's beauty and wit. So dated by it's future vision, it runs the risk of today, descending into high camp but manages to avoid this by the skin of its teeth. Visually it reminded me a lot of my own childhood, growing up with hipster hippy parents in Britain's first New Town, Stevenage and how our psychedelically decorated house clashed with the cement monstrosity of the outside world.

[Hawkmonger]

Bah! Why am I reading your review's at 11:30 whe I should be doing my essay. To tired. Gonna snooze.....