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10-22-2004, 11:33 PM
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#1 of 46 
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Coming from the director of the original Grudge, I expected something a little more solid. I reminded myself as I walked out of the theater that the remake of The Vanishing also sported its original director.
That being said, at least this Grudge scores high on the creep factor, but that's not really enough to save it. I don't care for SMG, but I could've gotten past her with better writing. There is almost no character development in this movie at all. The scary stuff is effective while it's on screen, but those moments don't really transcend the rest of the film because we really don't care about these people. Big problem.
For a while, it's fun, but peters out as it descends to a markedly weak, confusing, and unsatisfying climax. On the plus side, it's nice to see Grace Zabriskie(Twin Peaks) again.
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10-23-2004, 10:43 AM
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#2 of 46
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The original movie is a long string of jump scares. This one is the same.
For what it is, it's great - atmospheric, stylish, creepy.
But, it's not really a complete movie - no character, no real plot...no meat at all really.
But, does that matter? You can still go and be scared (and, yes, people pay for that all the time - they're called rollercoasters). I am disappointed at the PG-13 - more gore and a nice dose of nudity would have been welcome additions!
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10-23-2004, 07:35 PM
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#3 of 46
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Location: No, I did not co-create South Park
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The audience laughed more than they jumped.
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There weren't too many people there when I saw it, but they were all jumping the whole damn time. I laughed a lot, but some of the jump scares (ie, sudden edit + really loud sound effect) got me. |
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10-23-2004, 07:39 PM
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#4 of 46
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If you are truely into Japanese style, Tarintino esque style films, prepare to be TERRIFIED by this uniquely frightening ghost story! I go into every movie I see with an open-mind holding no prejudice whatsoever. My opinions are just that opinions. Well, on with the review.
1st and foremost, the movies style of cinematogrophy is brilliant. It is reminisant of the 1st "Resident Evil". That's all I will say about that because I don't want to spoil your predispositions.
The overall timeline and the way of storytelling is very similar to Quentin but has that Japanese "edge" or "flavor" that reminds of "Brother" (Omar Epps, Takeshi Beat) or even, dare I say, "The Ring". In any other regard though it is nothing like "The Ring". This melding of styles may be hard for some viewers to comprehend or follow. This is exactly why this movie is brilliant though because it forces you to pay attention to the movie all the while bringing vivid, wild, and disturbing images to the screen!
It was very intense and exciting to watch this movie from the very beginning. I found myself holding my breathe and swearing and then holding my breathe again quite frequently throughout the movie. The initial video content in the beginning of this movie just grabs you right from the start. The score (instrumentation and melodies of a movie) and sound effects also play a big and "wonderful" role too, taking big advantage of the cinemas surround qualities.
I have not viewed "Ju-An", the Japanese original, but I was with someone who did. His impression was that it exceeded the original. Overall I was highly impressed with this movie and I can't wait for it to come out on DVD! If you have an open mind, have an appreciation for Japanese/Tarintino style films, and LOVE TO BE PETRIFIED AND CHILLED WITH FEAR AND TERROR, WATCH THIS FILM. Along with that though IF YOUR CHILDREN CAN BE HAUNTED BY NIGHTMARES, PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THEM TO SEE THIS.
"The ideal home theater dosen't necessarily need magnitude (huge speakers, giant TV screens, exorbitant budgets) to be effective. It needs the judicious balance of application and taste in the melding of all key elements, so no one element outshines (or worse, detracts) from the others." Roger Dressler, Director, Technology Strategy at Dolby
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10-24-2004, 09:23 AM
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#5 of 46
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Terrified? I didn't see anyone even remotley scared.
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10-24-2004, 10:43 AM
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#6 of 46
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Chris
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Yeah dude, the word Brilliant probably shouldn't belong in that sentence.  |
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10-24-2004, 11:38 AM
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#7 of 46
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I am heading to see this film this afternoon after a failed attempt to view it on opening night. But after reading this thread I am very confused by what you guys have written.
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| The mood was good in spots, but the film never has enough story to elevates itself out of its genre. |
Why the heck does it need to elevate itself out of its genre. It a creepy horror movie, it's supposed to creep you out with either gore or visuals and supposed to scare you with sound and flashy photograhpy. Not all movies have to attempt to have a detailed story. All this movie needs to do is have decent enough dialogue to move you from one scare to another.
Quote:
| ou can still go and be scared (and, yes, people pay for that all the time - they're called rollercoasters). |
Exactly! Some people go to a movie like this simply for the notion that they get to be scared. I am one of those people. I love watching a movie that can scare the hell out of me. It's better than being scare in real life, cause nothing really matters in a theater.
On the topic of CGI, I guess I will have to judge that for myself. I'm not a big fan of CGI, when it is trying to mimic real life (ei, a person jumping off a roof, and the CGI looks ridiculously fake). But in this type of movie, it's not trying to mimic something real, it's trying to look twisted and morbid. It's like a photgrapher telling a comic book artist that his drawings don't look real.
On the scary side of things. I sat outside a theater wating for a buddy of mine to show up for the late viewing on opening night. She showed up late and we missed it. But while I was waiting, the crowd outside (most of which had just seen the movie) were just buzzing about how scary it was. So to the common moviegoer, it seemed like a healthy dose of scare to me.
Thanks for the rant.
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10-24-2004, 12:37 PM
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#8 of 46
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This is very interesting. I wonder if there are many people who liked the original and didn't like the remake. I'd be tempted to say that if you didn't like the remake, you'd be just as disappointed in the original version(s).
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10-24-2004, 02:17 PM
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#9 of 46
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Location: No, I did not co-create South Park
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I'd be tempted to say that if you didn't like the remake, you'd be just as disappointed in the original version(s).
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I think you're right. I know from Scott's review, he was disappointed with the original. Since this flick was almost identical (with more of a focus on jump scares), it's hard to like one and not the other. |
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10-24-2004, 03:27 PM
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#10 of 46
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Opening weekend of $40 millioin! For a low-budget film that cost less than $10 million thats pretty dam good! I saw it in Dublin last night and thought it was very effective. If you havent seen the original and come to it cold you'll be quite spooked out. If you have seen the original, its interesting to watch. It's faithful for about two thirds, then it takes a few shortcuts and offers some self contained explanations. Some of | |
