Movies - Watched A Movie? Review It Here! #2: October 2023 - *Indie* - Page 8

**Crystal Clear** · 08-20-2020, 04:25 AM

Action/Adventure [Drama] - Cannibal Holocaust [1980]

+ What did you like best about the movie? Why?

It lived up to its (dire) reputation. The content is so repulsive that it's a landmark in horror movie making. Keep in mind that this shocked so many people back in 1980 that the director was trialed for obscenities and accusations of murder - he was released on the count of the actors revealing themselves to be unharmed but the animal killings were all real, which disgusts people to this day. I think it was a very brave bit of storytelling and I do really appreciate the found footage aspect, which paved the way for a whole new sub-genre in horror.

+ What did you like least about the film? Why?

I guess the cinematography, although I can slightly forgive it on a count of the movie used the found footage format to depict a strong sense of realism.
I'd also add the acting of some of the people back in New York, which was very stiff - particularly compared to the actors in the rainforest who felt very natural in the most crazy situations.
Furthermore, the events in the rainforest escalate far too quickly near the end; everyone is just getting raped/killed/cannibalized without much attention to the fear of these characters (I would've preferred more suspense in the lead-up to it).

+ Who was your favorite character in the movie? Why?

There are not many likable characters (there is no real distinction between which side is the victim or the enemy) but I'd have to say Faye. She's the only one who protested against the vile behavior of her team, particularly in the gang-rape moments.

+ Who was your least favorite character in the film? Why?

I honestly cannot answer this question with certainty, because everyone in the rainfoest does something repulsive - either in an attempt to impress someone else or in an act of revenge. I might say the team back in New York who are watching the clips are the worst part of the movie, because they basically turn a blind eye to the murders and only care about making a profit.

+ Comments:

Possibly the most difficult rating I've ever had to decide on, as this film definitely rivals A Serbian Film for its shocking content and focus on degrading behavior in society. That said, I think it deserves credit for how it experiments with found footage (an unknown concept back when this was made) and the lead actors are pretty convincing in the roles of both predator and prey within the isolated Amazon rainforest. It's a movie you can barely watch but cannot look away from.

+ What would you rate this movie out of 5 stars?

Logan · 08-22-2020, 05:06 PM

Since the movie theaters just re-opened, Saw Unhinged
Some people think this is like Michael Douglas is falling down, not even close .
The movie takes a road rage to whole nother level..
I Enjoyed the movie, Any film they can make me jump, at least three times Is very good .
Crowe takes Full on psychopath again to a new level.. Very violent , thus the R rating .
I could see they were a few holes in the story, otherwise it is worth seeing .
What I thought was the biggest hole in the movie is you don’t really know where Russell Crowe character came from, why he’s such a psychopath. There was some very small hints but never fully explained.

**Crystal Clear** · 09-01-2020, 05:03 PM

^ Great that you seized the chance to go to the theater

I like Russell Crowe's acting so I'll keep this film in mind.

__________________

month = new genre watches/reviews! -->

September - SCI-FI

Drama | Romance | Fantasy | Mystery

atwoodsmariano · 10-03-2020, 02:47 AM

Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (Original Version - Director's Cut) (4K UHD) (1977)

I started watching this on the last night of September for the Sci-Fi genre of the month and didn't finish so I finished last night

+ What did you like best about the movie? Why?

definitely liked/was impressed by the visual effects the most; I can only imagine how groundbreaking they were for the time it was released

I'm glad Amazon Prime Video had this available in 4K HD

the scene where the government specialists communicate with the UFOs with the lights and the five-tone sound was amusing to watch (they even played the Jaws theme)

+ What did you like least about the film? Why?

I guess I just found the aliens to be creepy when they were first coming out of the UFO (I definitely prefer E.T.)

+ Who was your favorite character in the movie? Why?

N/A

+ Who was your least favorite character in the film? Why?

N/A

+ Comments:

for some reason I got this movie mixed up with 2001: A Space Odyssey which I haven't seen and was expecting to hear that iconic dun dun dun music

the abduction scene of Barry was genuinely terrifying to me to watch with all of the appliances coming to life - like something out of a horror film (definitely very Poltergeist with the young child being innocent and drawn to the static TV and here it's the bright lights of the UFOs)

Devils Tower! - I visited there during the summer 10 years ago

my mom said she watched this movie in theaters and we talked about it after I finished watching this movie and she remembered the ending kind of

interesting that this movie came out the same year as Star Wars did and interesting to compare it to E.T. in terms of how humans interact with aliens

+ What would you rate this movie out of 5 stars?

Bolsuperfan · 10-14-2020, 07:18 PM

Indie Drama

The film looks at abuse and how victims may cope with their past abuse by victimising others in a sort of Stockholm syndrome. It is a highly nuanced film and each time you watch it you get a different perspective as it leaves a lot of trailing ends for the audience to fill in. The film shines a light on injustice not by judging it but by accepting it and explores different types of aggression and ways people fight back when they are trapped.

**Crystal Clear** · 11-06-2020, 03:18 PM

Reminder for your genre this month:

November - HORROR
Gore | Comedy | Mystery | Series

Happy watching!

**Crystal Clear** · 11-07-2020, 05:42 PM

Horror | Mystery:

Doctor Sleep [2019]

[[the sequel to The Shining]]

Overall impression: It was... Eh.

Not too bad. Superior to the recent remakes of IT and Pet Sematary.

The

plot of the kids' souls being sucked out of them translated well visually to the screen. The smoke and the terror, plus the creepy eyes of the murderers... Very well done.

Ewan McGregor did a good job in the lead role.

Cons: It just felt like an unnecessary follow-up. Giving Jack Torrance's son a depressing continuation story feels like a betrayal of his great escape at the end of The Shining.

Also, I cringed a lot at the attempt to remake key scenes from The Shining, e.g. the twins, the blood coming out of the elevator, Jack's wife screaming (I was too distracted by the obvious fact that it wasn't the original actress).

Plenty of times I felt very sleepy

the pacing isn't great.

Rating:

out of 5

**Crystal Clear** · 11-20-2020, 04:12 PM

HOUSE OF BONES [2010]

This was like a crossover between the great horror Indie movie 'Hell House LLC' and the TV show 'American Horror Story'. I can imagine that AHS might have been slightly inspired by this movie.

There are even homages to Hellraiser with a man who gets his skin ripped off by the house

Charisma Carpenter (yes, Cordelia in Buffy the Vampire Slayer) plays a great role as a psychic who tries to convince the camera crew in the house that the place is haunted.

The ending is a bit similar to THE SHINING. The idea that someone will be bound to the house and lure other people there is always supernaturally captivating.

Some very good acting from unknown performers and they have nice chemistry as a group.

**Crystal Clear** · 11-23-2020, 02:21 PM

I think I'm in the majority when I say that 2020's remake of The Grudge is just... Bad.

Now, this isn't about hating on American remakes of Japanese movies. Take note: my favorite horror movie of all time is 2002's THE RING (directed by Gore Verbinski) and I very much enjoyed/was creeped out by 2004's THE GRUDGE starring Sarah Michelle Gellar.

This is purely and simply about the way in which this newest remake/prequel/sequel (whatever the hell it's supposed to be, I'm honestly not sure) takes the entire point out of the original story by removing the story from its original location and basing the "haunted house" in America. Dear oh dear...

There is no justification for this, and the new house is such a typical looking all-American family home that has no ties to anything.

Add to that how the timeline jumps all over the place, the actors barely depict any emotional investment in their characters - all of whom feel irrelevant and bland. I didn't care for the fates of anyone in the cast - I mean, how bad does a horror movie based on a creepy Japanese tale have to be for the audience to have zero sympathy for any of the victims?

Lyn Shaye makes her 1000th appearance in an American supernatural horror film. Enough said.

Oh and the final scene tries to be all suspenseful and shocking, but in fact, it plays out almost exactly like the final scene in a MUCH BETTER (Spanish) horror movie called Rec. Somebody who you are led to think is in a safe position is dragged away by someone close to them, and that's the end. No kidding.

No wonder this took so long to get made and released. It was such a pale imitation of what you think of in terms of the JU-ON legacy that I don't know why they bothered in the first place.

Wait, no don't tell me - it was purely and simply to cash in on a beloved franchise. As per usual.

0 out of five (might be the first time I've ever given that, just realized I should've given THE BYE BYE MAN the same rating...)

**Crystal Clear** · 12-24-2020, 05:42 PM

History/Romance - Flame in the Streets [1961]

+ What did you like best about the movie? Why?

An upfront set of portrayals and script regarding the harsh realities of what racial tension can become when taken too far. Does not shy away from derogatory speech at all, which is definitely needed for a movie like this that takes on a serious subject matter.

+ What did you like least about the film? Why?

I still prefer the more balanced approach taken by American History X regarding White vs Black racial tension. Flame in the Streets is a full-on, one-sided take on the anti-black violence of the mid 20th century. It's somewhat fair (given what we know about segregation), although in my opinion, rather too one-sided.

+ Who was your favorite character in the movie? Why?

Kathie stays true to her man even in the face of adversity and bigotry from her own parents. She pleasantly surprised me by the end, in that her resolve never weakened.

+ Who was your least favorite character in the film? Why?

Her mother, Nell, was too much to take.

Some disgusting language and even after witnessing the cruel attempted murder of a black man, she upholds her subjective views and attitude toward her daughter's chosen lover. She learned nothing, which was disappointing. I don't expect 100% change from her that quickly, but at least a little shift would have been nice (without being forced to do so, which she was

).

+ Comments:

A film which, if nothing else, makes you evaluate things in your mind - how we should and should not treat others, how we should or should not express our views, and the ways in which the characters respond to each other based on their views of what it means to be 'different'. The gang members in the movie are so proudly racist to the point where they are willing to commit murder in full view of the townspeople in order for some quick satisfaction. It was disturbing to watch, therefore I think the film succeeded in what it was trying to do. Would I watch it again? Maybe not, but I am glad to have watched it. A very bold take on a difficult subject matter and one that affects us in any time line. Strong performances by John Mills and Johnny Sekka.

+ What would you rate this movie out of 5 stars?

**Crystal Clear** · 01-04-2021, 04:25 PM

For December's history month: Waking The Titanic is a BRILLIANT historical movie that showcases a little known story about a small town called Addergoole, where 11 out of 14 Irish passengers from this community sadly perished in the 1912 real life disaster.

To me, docudramas such as this one are much more meaningful than the fictional movies such as the one by James Cameron. To hear about the lives of the real victims/survivors and the eerie foreshadowing of the tragedy for some of them (for example, someone was approached by a man just weeks before the disaster who warned them that going on the trip to America would result in their death

)

These little things which get you thinking about the fates and coincidences of our lives are so effective.

5 star watch

**Crystal Clear** · 01-08-2021, 02:52 AM

A quick reminder for everyone about this month's sub-genres:

January - HOLIDAY
Romance | Drama | Comedy | Musical

**Crystal Clear** · 01-22-2021, 05:24 PM

Holiday/Comedy - HOME ALONE

It's so funny watching this movie as an adult (compared to my younger years) and recognizing how deeply disturbing it was to watch the warped scenario of the creepy burglars somehow turning into the victims of these serial killer-ish traps

Kevin was a lot crazier than people give him credit for (the whole plot is the epitome of a young boy's superhero fantasy)

As for the McAllisters, what a joke.

Two parents who care so little for their young son that they literally don't notice that he doesn't run down the airport with them or board the flight with them. I know it's a comedy but talk about child abuse

I especially hate the part where Kate basically tells Kevin to "wish for a new family" what?????

No wonder he hated being with these lunatics.

For all its ridiculousness, Home Alone is still one of the greatest family / holiday movies to ever exist (with a surprisingly good sequel). Macaulay Culkin really had great screen charisma.

atwoodsmariano · 01-25-2021, 11:42 PM

The Polar Express (2004)

+ What did you like best about the movie? Why?

my favorite scenes were the ending, the “I believe” scene, and the “When Christmas Comes to Town” song/scene

the “Believe” song

+ What did you like least about the film? Why?

N/A

+ Who was your favorite character in the movie? Why?

the Hero Boy, Billy, Hero Girl

Hero Boy - thought he was very relatable with how he was at an age where he was starting to doubt believing in Santa

Billy - I really felt for him and I’m happy he got his happy ending at the end of the movie

Hero Girl - I liked her friendships with both the Hero Boy and Billy

+ Who was your least favorite character in the film? Why?

N/A

+ Comments:

I almost saw this movie in IMAX but it was sold out

whenever I watch this movie it makes me sad about growing up and I still wish I could ride The Polar Express to go to the North Pole

+ What would you rate this movie out of 5 stars?

The Santa Clause (1994)

+ What did you like best about the movie? Why?

the Denny’s scene is my favorite lol

I like how this movie has touching moments like when Scott is talking to Charlie about how he believed in him when no one else did

+ What did you like least about the film? Why?

N/A

+ Who was your favorite character in the movie? Why?

definitely Charlie

one of the cutest movie kids I’ve ever seen

+ Who was your least favorite character in the film? Why?

N/A

+ Comments:

it was interesting watching these 2 movies back-to-back and seeing 2 different versions of the North Pole

and it’s interesting how they’re both about believing in Santa

this joke though

+ What would you rate this movie out of 5 stars?

**Crystal Clear** · 02-06-2021, 01:41 PM

Comedy/Romance - Shakespeare in Love [1998]

It's not a favorite of mine anymore

I guess time gives a different perspective? The plot comes down to a woman dressing up as a man to be in a play, then trying/failing to escape an arranged marriage and Shakespeare needing to fall in love with her because they tried to lead into Twelfth Night's backstory.

I would say its strengths are: Ben Affleck (surprisingly funny with a good English accent), Geoffrey Rush ("It's a mystery!"), Colin Firth as the moustache-twirling fiancee and Joseph Fiennes as a remarkably smooth talking and good looking Will Shakespeare.

Did Gwyneth deserve the Oscar?

She benefited from a relentless Miramax Best Actress campaign (yes, Weinstein was the driving force behind her getting in the spotlight) and she was basically in every other 1990's movie. I don't think she did anything spectacular... In fact, I preferred her performance in Jane Austen's EMMA (1996).

out of 5 for nostalgic reasons. But I don't think it's the classic I once viewed it as. Something shallow and uninteresting about the main romance.

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