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petervenkman57
Reviews
Feardotcom (2002)
Much better than the ratings would have you believe.
I saw this when it first came out. I walked away not knowing how to feel about this film. I wanted to wait a long time before viewing it again. I just sat down and re-watched it after some 8 years. The film that left me confused, I then realized had haunted me over the years. The images and feelings were always in the back of my mind. There's a tone or feeling that I get when I think about this film that is soaked in a creepy melancholy.
I wanted to know why this film gets such a bad rap when clearly it's well put together. After re-watching it, a few things became clear. First, the plot is a bit convoluted and requires that the audience pays attention to what's exactly going on. I don't think most people get that there are two websites. One that Alistair (the Killer) now runs called "Distressed Furniture" which is a "Snuff" website and one of his old websites called Feardotcom which he has abandoned so as not to get caught. The old site is now seemingly inhabited by a ghost or a residual evil in the wires. It is suggested in the story that possibly the internet has taken on a life of it's own as a Neuro-Net and that Jeannie (one of the killer's victims} is now become part of the internet's programming . An interesting, if Sci-Fi, idea for a horror film.
Another fault (not really) is that the film's morality is one of attacking the "watchers" of the killing of Alistair's victims. In some respects, we too are the watchers and revelers of the pain and suffering. Something that most audiences don't want to have to think about. The filmmaker has also chosen not make us feel all cuddly and fluffy in the end of the movie by rewarding us with a happy ending. There is a genuine sense of loss of life and innocence. I can easily see why the "let's see some naked cheerleaders and slashing" crowd would be pressing the #3 button on this film. The ideas in this film are actually quite interesting . All in all, a much better film what they would have you believe. I think this film is really an 8 but I gave it a 7 because I can't actually recommend it to general audiences or the "Hockey Mask" crowd.
Disconnected (1984)
Ed Wood was a genius!!!
OK, I don't normally like to trash filmmakers and this director seems to want to make something way beyond his abilities. But seriously anyone who gave this film high marks needs to have their Thorazine doses lowered. This director makes Ed Wood look like a genius. I had never heard of this film (and for good reason). The plot is non-existent. The editing appears to have been done by throwing all the film into a Veggiematic and then randomly splicing it together. There are numerous "wall reaction" shots (seriously) that go on for literally 30 seconds. The sound is terrible. The photography aspires to good but fails miserably. There is one whole sequence that is shot directly into the sun where you can't make out at all what's going on. In a climatic scene (as though it would really exist in this movie) the entire action happens off-screen. This is a train wreck of movie. It just doesn't get worse than this.
I can only imagine the director apparently went to the the Xavier Cogat School of film and failed. The only redeeming thing in this is Frances Raines who is great to look at. I am stunned by the IMDb info that this filmmaker went on to make more films. I have to think he must be a rich kid whose parents indulged his every whim.
Smiley Face (2007)
Anna Faris is a goddess
I really had fun watching this movie. I'm not really onto the Cheech and Chong sort of humor but I thought this was just great fun. This is not a film with a great plot or deep meaning. It really has no notion other than to get us to the next laugh and this it does effortlessly. I only saw this because my daughter made me watch it and I'm very glad she did. I have to say that this film mainly works because of Anna Faris. Without her this film it would be have died a terrible death. She really is today's reigning comedy queen. She wasn't able to save House Bunny but that clearly was not her fault. Playing these kinds of roles actually requires a great deal of intelligence and skill. I hope she does not suddenly decide to give up comedy as so many have before her. The only sad thing is now I have to add her to my list of people that I never want to meet. I would be crushed if she turned out to be a twit.
Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957)
Clearly NOT the worst movie ever made
The worst movie may well be Alien 4. That film had a huge budget and everything going for it and it is still terrible. It actually has Wynona Ryder saying "Well Ripley, you've saved the universe" Even Old Ed would have blushed over that one. Plan 9 is at least entertaining. The worst films are just boring... How about "Fellowship of the Frog"? That was bad and boring. This film actually has a lot going for it, planned or not. Plan 9 has a very weird tone that is hard to describe but at the same time oddly compelling. OK so you might say that it was just an accident but if you look at Bride of the Monster it has the same dark creepy tone that feels much like a demented dream. Worth a look... and yes it is a train wreck but don't we just like looking at things like that. God Bless you Ed where ever you are... you at least tried.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
The Day the Earth Stood for Stupid Studio Notes
The original film is a masterpiece! This film is a travesty. Watching this film you can almost hear the Development Weenies trying to find some way to justify their jobs by giving the same tired notes they give on every film. "Why is the character of Helen Benson just a ordinary person? She needs to be a scientist! She needs to be a powerful woman that has some connection to the alien." WRONG WRONG!!!. In the 1951 classic, Helen is just an average person who winds up in a extraordinary situation. In the original, the most human character is Klatuu. He has more humanity than most of the earth people. That's what makes that film great. Did they even watch the original? In this version, the D-weenies felt it necessary that "earth people have to show Klatuu the way to feel. WRONG!!! And what happened to "You must go to Gort and say these words "Klatuu Barata Nikto"? One of the best moments in the story. There is so much wrong with this film it's pointless to go on. I'm not going to blame the director or even the writers. I'm sure they were at the mercy of the DWs. A friend of mine thinks the audience needs to build a giant plunger and start using it on the studios to flush out the stopped drain filled with D-weenies. Maybe a good idea.
The Dark Knight (2008)
Lemmings to the Cliff
Is most of humanity on serious drugs? This film is a mess. The script rambles, the characters come in and out of the film for no reason, no one does anything that makes any sense. This was written using a Vegetamatic The writing is bad!! This NOT a good film and yet the population heads for that cliff like Lemmings. Have the studios turned our brains to mush? BATMAN BEGINS is GOOD... This is BAD. OK, so Heath Ledger does a good job in the film... that still doesn't make it a good movie. Demand better!! Seriously... Now. Put that potato chip bag down, call the Office of Homeland Security and tell them Jihaadists have taken over Warner Bros. and are pretending to be David Goyer (a great writer most of the time). He must be being held captive by the guy impersonating Paul McCartney. Is putting on a black cape and some cat ears all it takes to amuse the populace... This is down right Orwellian.. God Help us!!
Parasomnia (2008)
Hollywood misses the boat again and we lose... Again. Great film we won't see!!
OK, I'm now convinced that, not only is Hollywood illiterate but now they don't even know how to watch movies. Why doesn't his movie have a big release in this country? While visiting with a friend in L. A., I saw this at a special screening in Hollywood at the Egyptian Theater. The director said they were still looking for a distributor. A fact I find unbelievable. I had never heard of this film yet what I saw lit up in the dark was one of the best... I was going to say horror movies... but JUST PLAIN MOVIES that I've seen. Instead Hollywood gives us over-blown remakes of remakes. This is one of the most original, fun, and entertaining films I've ever watched. Are these guys asleep at the switch?
This movie is really interesting because it starts out slowly and then begins turning the thumb screws down until you're about to yell. We see this kid (Danny) through a series of very bad decisions... get himself deeper and deeper into a hole until you wonder how he's ever going to be able to get out of it. What's cool is his actions are completely understandable because of his obsession with this sleeping girl..(The chick who plays her is VERY HOT!!!! BTW). This movie does something that you just don't see in movies now. The build to the end gets more and more intense and reveals more layers and convolutions than a Nixon investigation. I'm not going to say more than that, 'cause I don't want to give anything away but the last half of this movie is just plain great. This has one of the best endings in a film ever. Judging from the films I've seen in the last few years this must be hard to do. The look and mood of the film is unique. The movie is lush and creepy like a dream that you don't want to wake up from. You just want to go back there and revisit those places and live in that world with those people.
OK, I'm gong to be kind and imagine that Warner Bros, Sony, MGM, 20th Century Fox and all those guys have never heard of this film either... Yeah.. That's it.