It isn't the popular opinion, but to my mind, Kubrick and Nicholson are two of the most over-rate done trick ponies in cinema. The former can do only slow-paced pieces which are generally far less clever than they think they are, the latter plays unhinged brilliantly, but little else.
But in the shining, the slow-build of tension and the just-below-the-surface insanity create somewhat of a perfect storm. Kubrick attention to detail shines through, adding so many touches which have become iconic; even the foul way he treated his actors pays of in Shelly Duvall's genuine distress captured on screen.
The deviations from the source material are perfect for the medium - for proof see 1997's faithful, but dreadful, TV adaptation!
The effects, though sparing, stand up well even 35 years later, and even the overpass hotel was wonderfully cast, with the long corridors and sharp corner allowing for the famous shots of Danny on his tricycle, and the ballroom provides the perfect setting for both the deserted scenes with Jack drinking alone, and the busy flashbacks to the hotels decadent glory.
The films dream-logic could so easily have been a negative point, but manages to walk the line perfectly, with our never-quite knowing the full story managing to be interesting, rather than annoying.
As has become common now that we are so far up the list, there's a very good chance you've seen this classic movie; if you haven't, go do so now.
Saturday, 15 October 2016
Friday, 23 October 2015
Week 213 - Psycho (1960)
Psycho (1960) - Will's Review
Once again, I'm going to assume that if you're reading this you have either seen Psycho, or absorbed enough horror knowledge to have had it spoiled for you.
On the off chance that you are in that 0.01% of the population who do not know what surprises the movie holds, please I BEG YOU go and see it now... You camera check out my spoiler-free notes on my own blog HERE, but please, please, read no more on the subject than that until you have seen this masterpiece.
On the off chance that you are in that 0.01% of the population who do not know what surprises the movie holds, please I BEG YOU go and see it now... You camera check out my spoiler-free notes on my own blog HERE, but please, please, read no more on the subject than that until you have seen this masterpiece.
Tuesday, 20 October 2015
Halloween (1978) - Will's Review
First let me make it clear that I do not worship at the alter of John Carpenter, I find him to be one of horror's most inconsistent figures; at his best, he's undeniably a genius, but for every The Thing, there's a Ghosts of Mars...
Still, if you're reading a horror blog, there's really no point dragging out any suspense about this one; Halloween is an amazing movie, which cemented the slasher as a sub-genre, and inspired directors for the next 30 some years.
Still, if you're reading a horror blog, there's really no point dragging out any suspense about this one; Halloween is an amazing movie, which cemented the slasher as a sub-genre, and inspired directors for the next 30 some years.
Monday, 3 August 2015
Frankenstein (1931) - Lisa's Reviews
Frankenstein is always a story I've loved. This is 1 of my 2 favourites, the other being the 1994 version with Kenneth Branagh. There are different things to love about each movie. With this 1931 version, there is a romanticism. Even though the story is a horrific, frightening and even sad one, it manages to be beautiful all at the same time.
Boris Karloff is the perfect monster and has the iconic image we all know and love. I've also always felt empathy for the monster and the plight he finds himself in. Obviously that's the general idea, but of all the movies I watch, the character of the monster is one that has always fascinated me. His downfall has always left me feeling incredibly upset as I suppose there is a real affection for him.
Sunday, 2 August 2015
Dawn of the Dead - Will's Review
Many people will tell you that this is the best of Romero's original dead trilogy... For my money it's a distant 3rd.
Frankenstein - Will's Review
Before James Whale cut loose in the previously reviewed Bride of Frankenstein, he adapted (parts of) Shelly's famous novel in this 1931 masterpiece.
Not scary to a modern audience, it's hard to understand the effect this had on audiences over 7 decades ago. What today is a classic movie which seems more horror-inspired than actual horror, once had audiences fleeing theatres in terror.
Friday, 31 July 2015
Jaws - Will's Review
As we approach the end of the list, it's no surprise that we're encountering more and more bonafide classics, but Jaws is one of those rare genre movies which is also a modern classic of mainstream cinema; in fact, this is the movie which more or less invented the summer blockbuster.
Dead of Night - Will's Review
This 1946 anthology movie sees an architect, Walter, arrive at the home of a perspective client during a party. After experiencing déjà vu, Walter realises that he has dreamed of this night, and is filled with dread. This, of course, turns the conversation to the supernatural, and 5 guests each tell a tale of their own.
Maybe I'm a little ADHD, but I love anthology movies; there's something about the bite-size story that appeals to me no matter how obvious the twist.
Maybe I'm a little ADHD, but I love anthology movies; there's something about the bite-size story that appeals to me no matter how obvious the twist.
The Exorcist - Lisa's Review
With my affection for horror movies, it's quite a strange one that I hadn't seen The Exorcist until I was an adult. I had seen clips here and there, but I actually sat down to watch it when I was about 19. Remarkably unimpressed, I tried again in my early 20's. again in my mid 20's... that many people can't be wrong, right? I gave it a rest completely until somewhere in my 30's. I maintained the same opinion throughout. So, I wasn't feeling any great enthusiasm at the prospect of watching it again it has to be said, but I did... So did I draw the same conclusions this time? Ummmm, I'm afraid so.
Wednesday, 29 July 2015
Week 181 - The Tenant (1976)
The Tenant - Will's Review
The Tenant features a twist I've seen before, but which I don't really know what to call. It's no where near as common as "he was dead all along" or "it was all a dream", but it's common enough to be a cliché. It's a very 'twilight zone'esq and doesn't really make any linear sense; it's well suited to mind bending psychological movies (it was kinda-sorta used in the 1990 Bill Pullman movie - not to be confused with Peter Jackson's zombie movie), but it is not suited to The Tennant.
That said, I think it points to the movies biggest problem; this 2-hour journey into madness isn't close to as interesting as it thinks it it.
As aesthetically boring as it is emotionally unengaging this Roman Polanski snoozefest sleepwalks from one dull scene to the next.
That said, I think it points to the movies biggest problem; this 2-hour journey into madness isn't close to as interesting as it thinks it it.
As aesthetically boring as it is emotionally unengaging this Roman Polanski snoozefest sleepwalks from one dull scene to the next.
Wednesday, 22 July 2015
The Shining (1980) - Lisa's Review
The Shining has been one of those movies that has never fallen off my Top 20 Movies List. Once upon a time it was in the top 10, but since then I've seen A LOT of movies, so it is a testament to how good the movie is to still remain so high in my estimation. I'm generally not a big Kubrick fan, but this is his finest work IMHO.
The Shining is a movie I would expect everyone has seen. Giving a detailed premise seems redundant, but for the sake of any future young 'uns who may happen upon this blog, here is a basic idea.
We follow frustrated and ex alcoholic author, Jack Torrance, who is looking for somewhere quiet and secluded, where inspiration may strike and enable him to do some writing. A perfect opportunity comes up for Jack to act as a winter caretaker at The Overlook Hotel, which is closed from November to May due to severe weather conditions. Jack is delighted to be offered the position, and despite warnings from the hotel manager about the previous caretakers meltdown and experience of cabin fever, he feels strong enough of mind to handle the seclusion. He has the company of his long suffering wife Wendy and young son Danny over the period.
Jack is a very sullen and troubled character and his wife Wendy appears to be very put upon. Jack seems to hold her responsible for his lack of success and inability to hold down a job since he lost his teaching career due to his violent tendencies. With all this in mind, it was perhaps, not the best decision to take his young family to the seclusion of Overlook Hotel.
Monday, 6 July 2015
Sunday, 5 July 2015
Psycho (1960) - Lisa's Review
This is a movie I've watched several times and the same thing remains true every time I've seen it... I only ever remember 2 scenes (both of which you'll catch in any horror movie countdown). Try as I might (and I did again tonight), I can't retain any kind of attention for this movie. I find it dull, dull dull!!! Yes, I know, I know! Hitchcocks best film (bollox), a work of art (cough). I just don't like it.
I will happily concur with the fact that the films score by Bernard Herrman is outstanding. It is without doubt that the use of the soundtrack was what made the famous shower scene so effective (that's one of the scenes that I manage to retain). It sets a mood for the whole movie and manages to keep everyone perpetually on the edge of their seats, allowing for a few spectacular jumps.
Saturday, 4 July 2015
Alien (1979) - Lisa's Review
I have great memories of sitting in front of the sofa on the floor and watching this movie with my dad when my age would still have been in single figures. Let me get this out there now - I don't like sci-fi movies as a whole. I'm not a fan of the copious amount of sci-fi programs out there and I generally get bored pretty quickly if they start talking in sci-fi language. That out of the way, I LOVE this movie (and several of its sequels).
For starters, the alien referred to in the movies title was designed by none other than one of my favourite artists H R Giger. It was like nothing we had seen before and was ground breaking, influencing so many movies that followed. It obliterated the template for science fiction movies and brought so much that was new to the genre. There was so much more to offer here. I won't go into a plot or premise, as the likelihood of anyone reading this having not seen Alien is non-existent. I will say that even if you don't like sci-fi, give this one a go anyway. It has a great script, fantastic acting, amazing cinematography and a set design like I've never seen. Everything from how the Alien came to be on board the ship Nostromo, to the attempts to destroy it with limited options available, to how the story ended, was pretty near perfect. You won't watch this movie and feel that you wished they'd done anything different. This movie is pretty much as near to perfect as you can get for a science fiction movie.
Tuesday, 23 June 2015
The Thing (1982) - Will's Review
Another genuine horror classic which you have either seen, or else should see, this is going to be a very short review, as with nothing to criticise, there's not much to say!
John Carpenter's remake of 1951's "The Thing From Another World" ditches everything about the original (even most of the title) keeping only the polar basecamp, and the fact that an alien crash-lands there.
John Carpenter's remake of 1951's "The Thing From Another World" ditches everything about the original (even most of the title) keeping only the polar basecamp, and the fact that an alien crash-lands there.
Alien (1979) - Will's Review
Alien was groundbreaking in its depiction of space travel; it was (and to a large degree, still is) the norm to show all space travel, no matter how far in the future, as being the domain of pioneers and explorers, in gleaming white console rooms. Here space travel has clearly been going on for a while, and the crew of the Nostromo are basically space-truckers (or at best the space-merchant-navy), while the ship itself is industrial looking and lived-in.
When they accidentally pick up the Alien, the confined setting gives plenty of scope for claustrophobia, while the labyrinth of corridors which comprise much of the ship give the creature plenty of room to hide, allowing that the Alien could be anywhere. This mixture of claustrophobia and hiding spots gives the movie a lot to play with in the way of suspense.
When they accidentally pick up the Alien, the confined setting gives plenty of scope for claustrophobia, while the labyrinth of corridors which comprise much of the ship give the creature plenty of room to hide, allowing that the Alien could be anywhere. This mixture of claustrophobia and hiding spots gives the movie a lot to play with in the way of suspense.
Monday, 22 June 2015
Martyrs - Will's Review
One of the great things about watching movies from a list you didn't write, is that occasionally you get to go into a film completely cold. For my money the best way to see any film is with absolutely no knowledge of it at all, but when choosing films for yourself it's all but impossible.
I'm pleased to say that I went into Martyrs knowing exactly nothing. If you like your horror movies brutal, and don't mind subtitles (it's a French film) I STRONGLY recommend that you stop reading. Come back when you've seen it.
I'm pleased to say that I went into Martyrs knowing exactly nothing. If you like your horror movies brutal, and don't mind subtitles (it's a French film) I STRONGLY recommend that you stop reading. Come back when you've seen it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)