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Post by Rorschach on Jan 5, 2009 22:32:27 GMT -5
Ok....just got done watching HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II, and man, while the SFX have NOT aged well, I had forgotten just how badass, and what a good sequel to the original this film was. Picking up right after the original HELLRAISER ended, we get a SWEET intro giving us Pinhead's origin (NICE to see Doug Bradley without the iconic makeup) and then we join our heroine Kirsty Cotton at a mental hospital run by the nefarious Dr. Channard. Seems Kirsty went catatonic after her first encounter with the Cenobites and was admitted here, to be studied and treated by the occult-obsessed Channard. Of course, it doesn't take long (the film is a brisk 99 minutes, which absolutely FLIES by) for Dr. Channard to get his hands on the mattress where Kirsty's evil stepmother Julia died in the first film, and before you know it, we have another icky "muscleperson" on our hands as he brings Julia back from the dead.
This sets up our three opposing sides: Dr. Channard, and the evil Julia; Kirsty, an intern named Kyle who springs her from the mental hospital, and a young girl named Tiffany who is a savant when it comes to solving puzzles; and opposing both sides are Pinhead and the Cenobites, hideous creatures who exist only to torture and torment those who fall into their world.
Now, this film has caught it's share of flack because it dared to do something that we hadn't really seen in a slasher film....it took away the source of the slasher's powers. Yes, we get a vulnerable Pinhead, who reverts back to his human form, and loses both his powers, and his hideous appearance in the final battle. Myself, I LOVED this developement, and I loved how Kirsty was able to access Pinhead's weakness. It was clever, it had continuity, and damn if the results weren't almost tragic.
All in all, this is a sequel that really BUILT on the mythos established by it's predecessor, and though it's not BETTER than the original, it's right on par with it.
***1/2.
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erisi236
Fry's dog Seymour
... enjoys the rich, smooth taste of Camels.
Not good! Not good! Not good!
Posts: 21,904
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Post by erisi236 on Jan 5, 2009 22:47:59 GMT -5
Dr. Channard was the best Cenobite ever, they never topped him. "I recommend... amputation!" "What's on today's agenda... ah yes, evisceration!" "Your case is closed, I'm afraid it's terminal!" That guy ruled.
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Post by Rorschach on Jan 5, 2009 22:49:36 GMT -5
Oh my God....if you all want to see something truly HORRIFIC....go to Cracked.com and check out the article about the 6 Bizarre Real World Versions of Fictional Monsters.
Then, watch the video of the goddamnedest thing I have ever seen: A dog, with an extra head sewn onto it's body.....and both heads drink some water.
I.....I have no words.
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Lick Ness Monster
Dennis Stamp
From the eerie, eerie depths of Lake Okabena
Posts: 4,874
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Post by Lick Ness Monster on Jan 5, 2009 23:11:44 GMT -5
I really love Hellbound as well, and it's somewhere in my top 15-20 horror flicks of all time. The ONLY reason that it doesn't crack the top 10 is due to Ashley Laurence...for whatever reason, I just don't care for either her or her character all that much. Don't know what it is, maybe it's chemical.
Like you, I also love the development of Pinhead being torn away from Leviathan (which is what HAPPENS, everyone who complains nonstop about Hellraiser III "not being a Hellraiser movie"). All we get is that one tender look from Doug Bradley - but that's all we need. Understated but effective.
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Post by Rorschach on Jan 5, 2009 23:52:43 GMT -5
I really love Hellbound as well, and it's somewhere in my top 15-20 horror flicks of all time. The ONLY reason that it doesn't crack the top 10 is due to Ashley Laurence...for whatever reason, I just don't care for either her or her character all that much. Don't know what it is, maybe it's chemical. Like you, I also love the development of Pinhead being torn away from Leviathan (which is what HAPPENS, everyone who complains nonstop about Hellraiser III "not being a Hellraiser movie"). All we get is that one tender look from Doug Bradley - but that's all we need. Understated but effective. Too true....and HEY....they special edition of HELLBOUND comes with a kick ass mini-poster, which I have on my wall right now!
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Lick Ness Monster
Dennis Stamp
From the eerie, eerie depths of Lake Okabena
Posts: 4,874
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Post by Lick Ness Monster on Jan 6, 2009 10:41:10 GMT -5
In a lot of ways, I think the first three Hellraiser flicks, which I like a great deal, mirror the original Star Wars trilogy. First film: Visionary director introduces the audience to a brand new world where all bets are off Second film: Darker, maybe not as entertaining as the original, but a much more fleshed out, satisfying story Third film: A lot of Happy Ewoks and general merryment ;D Oh my God....if you all want to see something truly HORRIFIC....go to Cracked.com and check out the article about the 6 Bizarre Real World Versions of Fictional Monsters. Then, watch the video of the goddamnedest thing I have ever seen: A dog, with an extra head sewn onto it's body.....and both heads drink some water. I.....I have no words. Haven't seen that video, but there's some stills of the dog are in The X-Files: I Want to Believe. Really disturbing stuff - then again, so was the case in that movie.
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Post by DSR on Jan 6, 2009 16:45:40 GMT -5
I did get that special edition of Hellbound, but I haven't watched it yet. I also haven't watched most of the movies I got for Christmas (over 20, like I said way back when). I gotta get on that.
I did watch the first Tremors movie, though, which was a blast. Sort of horror, sort of sci-fi, sort of comedy, sort of action/adventure, its an all around treat, and a pretty smart "popcorn" movie. I give it 3 out of 4 stars.
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Tehboobz wants Ewa Sonnett
Don Corleone
Keeps his subtlety and knockers separated.
She's busty...she's Polish...and she will be mine!
Posts: 1,533
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Post by Tehboobz wants Ewa Sonnett on Jan 6, 2009 18:44:19 GMT -5
I dug the HELL outta Tremors. Like you said, it was smart, funny, and had it's share of good scares, too.
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Lick Ness Monster
Dennis Stamp
From the eerie, eerie depths of Lake Okabena
Posts: 4,874
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Post by Lick Ness Monster on Jan 6, 2009 19:42:56 GMT -5
I did get that special edition of Hellbound, but I haven't watched it yet. I also haven't watched most of the movies I got for Christmas (over 20, like I said way back when). I gotta get on that. I did watch the first Tremors movie, though, which was a blast. Sort of horror, sort of sci-fi, sort of comedy, sort of action/adventure, its an all around treat, and a pretty smart "popcorn" movie. I give it 3 out of 4 stars. I'm reading that was your FIRST time seeing Tremors? What an awesome movie - Burt Gummer rules! The first sequel is very good as well - it was a big-budget movie with excellent special effects, but for whatever reason the studio just decided to release it as a direct-to-video film. Doesn't affect the quality at all, though - I actually prefer Tremors 2 to the original, but not by much. After that, the series pretty much goes to shit, although Michael Gross' awesomeness is on display in all of them. ;D
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Post by Rorschach on Jan 7, 2009 1:32:57 GMT -5
So....MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D comes out on the 16th. My local theater has not yet confirmed ANY showings of it. I am worried.
Discuss.
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Jiren
Patti Mayonnaise
Hearts Bayformers
Posts: 35,163
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Post by Jiren on Jan 7, 2009 2:03:33 GMT -5
My theater has and I'm looking forward to it
My Town maybe a Craphole but my local Cinema kicks ass.
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Post by DSR on Jan 7, 2009 2:44:52 GMT -5
I did get that special edition of Hellbound, but I haven't watched it yet. I also haven't watched most of the movies I got for Christmas (over 20, like I said way back when). I gotta get on that. I did watch the first Tremors movie, though, which was a blast. Sort of horror, sort of sci-fi, sort of comedy, sort of action/adventure, its an all around treat, and a pretty smart "popcorn" movie. I give it 3 out of 4 stars. I'm reading that was your FIRST time seeing Tremors? What an awesome movie - Burt Gummer rules! The first sequel is very good as well - it was a big-budget movie with excellent special effects, but for whatever reason the studio just decided to release it as a direct-to-video film. Doesn't affect the quality at all, though - I actually prefer Tremors 2 to the original, but not by much. After that, the series pretty much goes to excretory matter, although Michael Gross' awesomeness is on display in all of them. ;D It's the second time I saw Tremors, actually, but the first time was a long time ago. So basically, I "saw it again...for the first time!" I saw Tremors 2 a long time ago as well, and I recall preferring the first one, but we'll see how it goes when I re-watch it. Oh, and to echo the sentiments of others, Hellbound was quite good. I watched it earlier tonight and enjoyed it. Channard was awesome, the effects were...icky (in a good way). Yeah, they haven't aged too well, but they're still better than the video game-like CGI of some of today's horror movies. It's a great picture, but I can't really decide if I prefer Hellraiser 1 or not. *shrug*
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Post by Rorschach on Jan 7, 2009 2:46:49 GMT -5
One question, though....was I supposed to laugh out loud at the Channard-obite spazzing out and vibrating like discounted dildo? Cause that was funny as all hell to me....
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Post by DSR on Jan 7, 2009 2:51:41 GMT -5
One question, though....was I supposed to laugh out loud at the Channard-obite spazzing out and vibrating like discounted dildo? Cause that was funny as all hell to me.... I...think? I dunno, I kinda laughed when that big tentacle that attached itself to Channard's head looked like a big penis with a medical saw coming out of the end.
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Post by Rorschach on Jan 7, 2009 2:56:43 GMT -5
One question, though....was I supposed to laugh out loud at the Channard-obite spazzing out and vibrating like discounted dildo? Cause that was funny as all hell to me.... I...think? I dunno, I kinda laughed when that big tentacle that attached itself to Channard's head looked like a big penis with a medical saw coming out of the end. Me too! And I thought I would be the only one who thought that, too! But damned if that thing didn't look like a huge dick ramming itself into the top of ol' boy's head there. So you gonna try to see MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D, when it comes out? Or are you gonna be left in the dark like me, due to your local theaters not carrying it?
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Post by DSR on Jan 7, 2009 3:05:27 GMT -5
I...think? I dunno, I kinda laughed when that big tentacle that attached itself to Channard's head looked like a big penis with a medical saw coming out of the end. Me too! And I thought I would be the only one who thought that, too! But damned if that thing didn't look like a huge dick ramming itself into the top of ol' boy's head there. So you gonna try to see MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D, when it comes out? Or are you gonna be left in the dark like me, due to your local theaters not carrying it? I'm gonna try to see it, and a buddy of mine also wants to check it out, but I haven't checked into where its playing in the area. And I definitely don't wanna go see it in 2D.
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Lick Ness Monster
Dennis Stamp
From the eerie, eerie depths of Lake Okabena
Posts: 4,874
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Post by Lick Ness Monster on Jan 7, 2009 12:43:07 GMT -5
I'll be seeing My Bloody Valentine 3D. If nothing else, it HAS to be better than the godawful Black Christmas remake, to this date the only movie that I have ever walked out of. It's strange - when people mention extremely ill-conceived remakes, that one rarely seems to get brought up, but it was some kind of bad.
Also just finished watching Alien 3. This movie certainly has a...different tone from the first two movies in the series. And while change isn't always necesarily a bad thing, the problem that I've always had with this film is that it almost takes the focus AWAY from the creatures too much. People usually point back at me that the first two movies had extensive subplots as well, but the first movie almost feels like a SLASHER film with the isolated setting and the crew members dropping like flies. The second has the subplot involving Paul Reiser and the corporation, but the focus is still on the alien - Reiser is a sleazebag because he wants an alien specimen for his own benefit. Alien 3 just spends way too much time building up Fiorina 161 and the society that they've built, and for all of it, I really don't care about anybody in this movie besides Ripley (and even then, not because of anything she does or says in this movie, but rather for what I remember from the earlier ones). What made the earlier movies great was that the death scenes really packed a punch, and in this movie, I'm practically rooting for the villain to wipe more annoying faces off the screen.
The movie has its good points - excellent direction by David Fincher, showing all the signs of the film-maker he would become (namely, my favorite director currently working), Weaver has the role of Ripley down to an art form, and the special effects came along swimmingly. Still, the bad definitely outweighs the good.
** for Alien 3
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Post by Rorschach on Jan 7, 2009 12:57:10 GMT -5
Yeah, BLACK CHRISTMAS was godawful in just about every single way a film could be...and it's such a black eye on the genre that it's become one of those "...and let us never speak of it again" type deals. Literally the only redeeming thing about it are the credits rolling at the end.
As far as ALIEN3 goes...the stories of how Fincher got screwed over are legendary, as are the stories of what "might have been" for this installment. In fact, they almost overshadow the film that DID get made, which was in fact a competent, serviceable entry into the series. Charles S. Dutton also played his role well, though I cannot help but wish that either Newt or Hicks had made it, as well.
I'd give it *** myself.
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Lick Ness Monster
Dennis Stamp
From the eerie, eerie depths of Lake Okabena
Posts: 4,874
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Post by Lick Ness Monster on Jan 7, 2009 21:54:55 GMT -5
Don't know the stories about Fincher getting the shaft, but I do know that the guy is just amazing. His movies after Alien 3 - Se7en, The Game, Fight Club, Panic Room, Zodiac and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button are all amazing films that comfortably rank on my all-time great list for any genre, ESPECIALLY Zodiac. How that movie did not even get nominated for a SINGLE Academy Award is a crime, and I can't say I'm uneducated. I saw all five movies nominated for best picture that year, and yes, Zodiac is better than all five of them - and it's A LOT better than three of them. Here's another topic that might provoke some discussion. Hey, everybody, take three guesses as to who my favorite director was BEFORE David Fincher. Give up? M. Night Shyamalan. Yes, the M. Night Shyamalan that everybody and their freakin' dog gang-rapes now for being a twist-monkey. I will agree that people have legitimate gripes with his last three movies not being up to snuff. I myself think that the guy just needs to take a BREAK and get some fresh, new, vibrant ideas, but I will defend his first three movies as masterpieces until the end of time. They also feature the ONE thing that I constantly harp on that's missing from movies these days. By the end of The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs, I care about the characters like family members. At that time, the guy could just do no wrong in my eyes, and after I walked out of a packed theater-showing of Signs I did indeed proclaim the guy my favorite current film-maker. Then The Village came out, which was unbelievably entertaining and had an excellent slow-burn pacing. But then the ending hit, with the twist being just a step up from "it was only a dream" on the lameness meter. I think with that movie he became a kind of parody of himself, and while Lady in the Water did not have a twist per se, it just had, IMO, a lazy script and didn't endear Paul Giamatti's character to us enough. The scene involving the film critic getting mauled was also a little...extraneous. And The Happening was just awful. So, in summation, I'm in agreement with everyone that the guy has turned into a one-trick pony, but I still feel that if he took some time off, recharged, and came back with some awesome scripts, he COULD be awesome once again. It legitimately bugs me when people say that ALL of his movies suck, because it's simply not true. I cannot help but wish that either Newt or Hicks had made it, as well. Same here. To me, having only Ripley survive makes it feel like the exact same freakin' set-up as Aliens.
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Post by Non Banjoble Tokens on Jan 8, 2009 3:31:41 GMT -5
Is the movie "April Fool's Day" any good? I got it in a triple feature pack along with "Tales From The Darkside" and "Graveyard Shift."
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