Author |
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John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.142.146.96
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 08:59 am: | |
For those who may care to know, this is Neil Marshall's new film which seems to have crept out into cinemas fairly unannounced. It won't be everyone's cup of tea - one review described it as 'a cross between Marshall's Doomsday and Hammer's The Viking Queen' My God I can't wait . Expect my slightly biased thoughts on the matter in due course. |
Mark West (Mark_west) Username: Mark_west
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.39.177.173
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 10:04 am: | |
Looking forward to this too, John, I've enjoyed all of Marshall's films so far, even the ill-fated "Doomsday". |
Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.78.35.185
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 10:27 am: | |
There is a trailer of it online. I think it will be fun. I'm also looking forward to Valhalla Rising. |
Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.78.35.185
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 10:28 am: | |
I forgot to add that Marshall could well become today's John Carpenter. |
Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 10:40 am: | |
'a cross between Marshall's Doomsday and Hammer's The Viking Queen' I love it already. Seeing as JLP and I are the only two people I know who absolutely loved Doomsday, I suspect we'll be in another minority with this one... |
Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw
Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 11:43 am: | |
Neil Marshall is already one of the great genre directors imo... this sounds bloody brilliant! |
Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 62.254.173.34
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 01:02 pm: | |
Is this based on the Simon Scarrow novel? |
Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw
Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 01:05 pm: | |
Zed, I loved every deranged minute of 'Doomsday' as well - Marshall has yet to put a foot wrong imo. |
Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.78.35.185
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 01:46 pm: | |
Doomsday was totally derivative but still a lot of fun, in my not so humble opinion... |
Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.171.129.68
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 02:25 pm: | |
I thought it was shit. But I only watched the trailer. |
Mark West (Mark_west) Username: Mark_west
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.39.177.173
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 02:45 pm: | |
I liked "Doomsday" too! |
Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 02:45 pm: | |
Sadly, that'll echo the comments of most voters come May. |
Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 02:45 pm: | |
(That was pointed at Lynchy, btw) |
Mark West (Mark_west) Username: Mark_west
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.39.177.173
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 02:46 pm: | |
And watched some of "Ghosts Of Mars" last night - oh dear. Worse, I think, than the overall direction was the dreadful miniature work. Blimey, that was a dogs dinner. |
Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 212.121.214.11
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 03:10 pm: | |
Weird how JC can make classics Like In the mouth of Madness one year and complete rubbish like Ghosts of Mars or Escape from LA the next. His FX team seems to work with their eyes closed at times - that shark in Escape from LA is possibly one of the worst effects in film history. That film probably ranks as the worst sequel to a good original ever. |
Mark West (Mark_west) Username: Mark_west
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.39.177.173
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 03:21 pm: | |
Weber, "In The Mouth Of Madness" was one of those few films for me where I got halfway through and realised I was really tense, because I literally had no idea what was coming next. Escape From LA was rubbish and should never have been made. Apart from the Masters Of Horror thing (and I really enjoyed "Cigarette Burns"), he hasn't done much recently, has he? |
Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.171.129.72
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 04:01 pm: | |
The director of Centurian is on Radio 5's film review show at the moment, you know. Well, after the news finishes. The Mayo and Kermode film review show, available as a podcast too. |
Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.78.35.185
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 04:33 pm: | |
Weber, "In The Mouth Of Madness" was one of those few films for me where I got halfway through and realised I was really tense, because I literally had no idea what was coming next. I quite liked the movie, even if it was -in my opinion- interesting rather than scary. Escape From LA was rubbish and should never have been made. It's a bizarre kind of comedy, but it felt tired. Apart from the Masters Of Horror thing (and I really enjoyed "Cigarette Burns"), he hasn't done much recently, has he? Well, he did a truly awful episode "Pro Life" in the 2nd season of the show, then he disappeared for years, and finally it seems he will be back with a new movie later this year. Google "The Ward". Against better instinct, I still have the faint hope he will retrieve his genius from the time of "Prince of Darkness" etc |
Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw
Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 04:44 pm: | |
Well if Francis Ford Coppola can do it then hopefully so can John Carpenter. That's just so I can go on about winning tickets (in a movie quiz) to the Premiere of 'Tetro' & VIP Party afterwards in Belfast next Friday. By all accounts it's a storming return to form and the best thing he's done in over 30 years!! See what a long break can do for the creative juices... |
Frank (Frank) Username: Frank
Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 188.147.237.237
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 04:51 pm: | |
Actually, Carpenter has singed on for 'Fangland' which is one of the few horror books I've read in years which scared the crap out of me. It's the real thing. Ultimately bleak, depressing and full of truly nightmarish scenes. Hilary Swank is up for the lead role. |
Frank (Frank) Username: Frank
Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 188.147.245.151
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 05:20 pm: | |
For the record, I remember thinking 'Doomsday' would be rubbish, also because of the trailer. But I bought it not so long back because when I got round to seeing it over a year ago, I had a hoot watching it. I didn't like the Mad Max II ending, but the rest of the film was a wonderful homage to all those crazy 80's films whose plots seemed to touch upon every genre known to man. |
Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 07:51 pm: | |
You liked the homage approach of the rest of the film, but not of the ending? Why's that? I love the opening scenes on the boat: pure Carpenter, during his Precinct 13 era. |
Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 07:55 pm: | |
I'm such a sad bastaed. I've watched DOOMSDAY four times now, and it's still fun. |
Frank (Frank) Username: Frank
Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 188.147.43.157
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 07:58 pm: | |
I didn't like it for purely contradictory reasons. I know this is a film of three specifically stylisticaly different parts, all given up to blatant homage, but it felt silly, and I know, that's pretty ridiculous considering the film as a whole. It didn't ruin it for me, and I did like the final scene after the car-chase segment, it just didn't work for me. I felt the other scenes for all their daftness, had moments of seriousness going on, while this did not. Like I said, contradictory. To be honest, the scenes in London, reminded me as much of Lifeforce as they did of Escape From New York/Assault on Precinct 13. Talking of Assault, have you seen the remake. I thought it a really intelligent reworking, with an absolutely brilliant cast. |
Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.241.187.161
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 09:04 pm: | |
Actually, Carpenter has singed on for 'Fangland' which is one of the few horror books I've read in years which scared the crap out of me. It's the real thing. Ultimately bleak, depressing and full of truly nightmarish scenes. Oh yes that's indeed a very good vampire novel. Well, JC has been attached to so many movies that it has to be seen whether this one will be made. I would rather love to see him make a kind of horror western; as many of his movies and filmstyle could work well as westerns. Talking of Assault, have you seen the remake. I thought it a really intelligent reworking, with an absolutely brilliant cast. I wouldn't call it "really intelligent", but I definitely liked it quite a bit. And surprising even: you don't see often that the one really sympathetic character in a movie is killed. |
Frank (Frank) Username: Frank
Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 188.147.39.136
| Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 09:22 pm: | |
Ah, yes, Tom, exactly. That took me by complete surprise. Maria Bello, a truly gifted actress. But I do think it an intelligent remake on account of ditching several key ideas which would look out of place today, and opening out the film at the beginning to take in more locations, which might have reduced the tension later on, but which I think worked excellently. |
Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b
Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.4
| Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 12:42 am: | |
I loved Doomsday. Need to watch it again. And the tagline on my copy would be a perfect motto for certain periods of my life: 'Survive This.' |
Tony (Tony) Username: Tony
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.131.109.189
| Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 08:23 am: | |
'I forgot to add that Marshall could well become today's John Carpenter' 'And watched some of "Ghosts Of Mars" last night - oh dear' Hmm. |
Frank (Frank) Username: Frank
Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 188.147.147.234
| Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 05:37 pm: | |
Yes, unfortunately Carpenter's last few movies weren't very good. Personally, I think this has something to do with budget constraints rather than a talent on the wane. Ghost of Mars was the worst, and yet there were elements in the film which glimmered with the hope of something more. Escape From LA I treat as a comedy. It would be impossible to have Snake Plisken running round today and being taken seriously. Hence the style and tone of the movie. Though when one considers his attempts at 'The Invisible Man', perhaps it's not down to budget constraints, especially considering how much money was pumped into the film. Vampires is a film of dubious delights, but benefits from a cracking performance from James Woods. One prominent critic went so far as to say Woods deserved an Oscar for his performance. The scene with the priest creeping along the basement corridor of the abandoned police cells, while James Woods' character watches on a black and white monitor is classic Carpenter. Unfortunately, the vampires are...well, enough said about that. And just so people know, if they don't already, the prequel to The Thing is in production. It tells the story from the Norwegian point of view, from a female perspective. I'm not holding my breath on that one, though I felt the same when I heard about Zack Synder's remake of Dawn of the Dead, and that turned out to be one of my favourite films of the year. |
Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.240.88.3
| Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 07:26 pm: | |
Personally, I think this has something to do with budget constraints rather than a talent on the wane. I though it had to do with general tiredness. They live was his last really good one, I thought and indeed some elements in later movies kept me hoping for a resurrection. Also quite disappointing was his Village of the Damned remake (Christopher Reeve's last film). I had such high hopes for it: good source material and a decent director. But it was bland, only good points were some inspired widescreen compositions. It's also a pity that his upcoming movie won't be scored by himself ! |
Frank (Frank) Username: Frank
Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 178.182.128.73
| Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 07:46 pm: | |
Tom - perhaps it is tiredness. Maybe William Goldman is right about directors once they hit sixty. 'They Live' is great, though I wish the ending hadn't accelerated as it had, because the first forty minutes is a sublime example of how to build-up audience expectation. I must say 'In The Mouth of Madness' was as equally good as 'They Live', if not better. It remains an incredible achievement in how to sow together so many disparate influences into a cohesive whole. As much as I love JC's music for his films, Morricone's score for 'The Thing' remains one of my favourites. Cigarette Burns is indeed a return to form, but alas the MOH episode set in the abortion clinic, which I have never returned to, though I have both series, is simply terrible. The first half is great, but the ending is incomphrensible in its awfulness. |
Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw
Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.17.252.126
| Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 09:33 pm: | |
John Carpenter will always be one of the greats because of the phenomenal purple patch that started his career - something he shares with Argento, Cronenberg & Romero. I get the impression that many of his later films were made simply to earn a living rather than out of the same love of genre filmmaking that he started with. Every now and again when a particular project seems to capture his imagination all the old flair rises to the surface again and I still hold out hope of a late period resurgence. Here's how I'd rank his filmography: 'Dark Star' (1974) - a fucking masterpiece that is still my personal favourite of all his films! Hilarious, exciting, poignant and profound. 'Assault On Precinct 13' (1976) - another masterpiece and one of the most visceral, adrenaline pumping thrillers of the 1970s. 'Halloween' (1978) - three masterpieces in a row and THE definitive slasher movie par excellence that still puts to shame every one of the myriad of imitations that followed - mainly because it eschews gore for sheer jump-out-of-your skin frights! 'Someone's Watching Me' (1978) - haven't seen it. 'Elvis' (1979) - haven't seen it. 'The Fog' (1980) - one of the most genuinely scary and atmospheric supernatural horrors of its era and one of Carpenter's most underrated movies despite being not quite up to the standard of his first three. 'Escape From New York' (1981) - another brilliant slab of pure OTT escapism that entertains in spades from first demented moment to last. 'The Thing' (1982) - his fourth masterpiece and one of the few remakes of a classic sci-fi movie that actually improves upon the original. This is how shit scary alien horror should be filmed! Fucking awesome!! 'Christine' (1983) - his weakest film up till then this is a surprisingly routine and uninspired adaptation of one of Stephen King's best early novels. Not bad but just not great either. 'Starman' (1984) - a woeful early misstep that doesn't work at all for me and was inexplicably overrated by the critics at the time this is a mawkishly sentimental attempt to cash in on the spirit of 'E.T.'. 'Big Trouble In Little China' (1986) - this attempt to repeat the anything goes formula of EFNY doesn't quite work as well but is still great fun in a switch your brain off, sit back and grin kinda way. 'Prince Of Darkness' (1987) - a brilliantly entertaining full-blooded apocalyptic horror yarn that now appears even better than it did at the time and is second only to 'Halloween' as his best pure horror film. 'They Live' (1988) - his most riotously entertaining sci-fi movie since 'Dark Star' and another firm favourite of mine this is one of those films that gets better every time you see it. You can just tell Carpenter was having a ball making this one. Wonderful! 'Memoirs Of An Invisible Man' (1992) - I seem to be alone as the only person I know who loved this film and found it thoroughly entertaining with Chevy Chase perfectly cast and at his most likeable in the lead. Carpenter got the mixture of laughs and thrills just right for me. 'Body Bags' (1993) - pretty insipid attempt to revive the portmanteau horror format that only works in the middle of three black comedy horror stories (fortunately directed by Carpenter) in which Stacey Keach is hilarious as a middle-aged man prepared to go to any lengths to avoid encroaching baldness. 'In The Mouth Of Madness' (1994) - Carpenter's last truly great horror movie that begins as straight Lovecraftian narrative before segueing brilliantly into pure David Lynch territory at his most bizarre and nightmarish! Sam Neill has never been better... 'Village Of The Damned' (1995) - the first Carpenter movie that made me say "what the fuck?!" and have to check the credits after to make sure I hadn't dreamt he was the director. An abysmal failure on every level that when compared to the B&W original just proves what a monumental achievement 'The Thing' was... 'Escape From L.A.' (1996) - a film so bad it almost had me in tears to witness the death of such a great talent. Like running into an ex-lover years later to find you don't even fancy her anymore. 'Vampires' (1998) - actually quite good and raised my hopes that perhaps he had been suffering a nervous breakdown the last few years. Not quite classic Carpenter but getting there. 'Ghosts Of Mars' (2001) - nope, he's lost it... complete shite from start to finish. If ever a film was phoned in by the director without even watching the end result back it was this one. 'Cigarette Burns' (2005) - bloody hell but this is almost shockingly good and as visceral and original a piece of pure horror as Carpenter has ever made. There's fire in the old man's belly yet!! 'Pro-Life' (2006) - oh for fuck sake what are you playing at man! This is shit again... he's messing with our heads I tell ya!! Then again some of the imagery did linger in my mind though I haven't been able to bear watching it again since... maybe a misunderstood attempt at black comedy? I'm grasping at straws here, aren't I... 'The Ward' (2010) - God only knows... but I can't wait at the same time. |
Frank (Frank) Username: Frank
Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 188.146.164.153
| Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 10:03 pm: | |
Steve - brilliant appraisal, but I do disagree with a few things you mention. I think 'Christine' is somewhat overlooked . Yes, it's not that close to King's novel, but neither is 'The Shining'. The scenes with the car reforming after the attacks by the bullies, is truly original. I also think Keith Gordon is remarkable in the lead role. And to be something of a repetitive bastard, I will never forget the dialogue by Arnie: "Love has a voracious appetite, family, friends, it eats everything." Dennis: "And that's how you feel about Leigh?" Arnie: "What? Fuck no! I'm talking about Christine, man. Now watch..." (Arnie floors the accelerator). Like Weber's choice of great dialogue in movies, it ranks alongside Abel Ferrara's 'Bodysnatchers': "Listen...listen to me...where you gonna go, where you gonna hide...nowhere, cause...there's no-one like...you...left." |
Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.240.88.3
| Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 11:19 pm: | |
"Someone is watching me" is a rather ok Hitchcock-like TV thriller. Atmospheric but probably a bit slow by today's standards "Elvis" is actually really good. I think it's available on dvd, it's worth watching. |
Frank (Frank) Username: Frank
Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 188.146.161.153
| Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 11:43 pm: | |
Yes, Elvis is really good. Strange to think that Kurt Russell's first appearance in a movie was as a kid kicking Elvis in the shin, in 'The World's Fair', though I may be mistaken, and then years later to go on and play him in a movie. |
Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw
Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1
| Posted on Monday, April 26, 2010 - 01:24 pm: | |
I see 'Centurion' is on locally at the minute so will def be going tomorrow night. Here's hoping it's 4/4 for Mr Marshall. And his next film has already been announced - something called 'Burst' due for release next year. Good to see he's as prolific as Carpenter as well as of comparable talent. |
Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw
Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1
| Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 12:01 pm: | |
Saw 'Centurion' last night and enjoyed it immensely. Just the kind of blood 'n' thunder B-movie with balls that British cinema used to turn out by the dozen every week back in the good old days. I'd rank this marginally better than 'Doomsday' and just behind 'The Descent' & 'Dog Soldiers' (still his best for me). In fact the movie has much in common with DS as once again we have a small group of highly trained military men cut off and alone in the wild and beautiful Highlands of Scotland facing a deadly ravening foe (the Scots!) picking them off one-by-one in increasingly gruesome ways. Think 'Southern Comfort' with cool Roman legionnaires out of their depth and fighting tooth and nail to get back on the safe side of Hadrian's Wall with their innards intact and the bad guys a bunch of blue-face-painted Billy Connolly look-alikes (the horror!) led by the scariest female villain I can recall in many a long year - a regular flesh-rending she-wolf indeed! This is genre filmmaking for the sheer hell of it and every bit as rip-roaring, unpretentious, blood spattered and damn exciting as anything made in the 1970s with no CGI and loads of good old-fashioned make-up, fake blood and prosthetic effects. Fucking excellent!! British filmmakers take note... we want more of this please! |
Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210
| Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 12:36 pm: | |
This sounds brilliant (and Southern Comfort is possibly my favourite action movie, along with The Warriors - what the hell happened to Walter Hill? He was great for a while there.) |
Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw
Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1
| Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 01:25 pm: | |
Don't forget 'The Streetfighter' & 'The Driver' another two of the finest and grittiest thrillers of the 70s... sadly Hill kinda lost it after 'Southern Comfort' although '48 Hours' wasn't bad. |
Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.78.35.185
| Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 01:44 pm: | |
"Last man standing" was quite an ok WH film as well, if I remember well. And "Crossroads", that blues movie with Ry Cooder music. |
Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210
| Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 02:17 pm: | |
48 Hours was absoultely brilliant - it defined a genre. I always found The Driver a bit dull, and The Streetfighter was average. Last man Standing was okay, but Crossroads never really did it for me. Streets of Fire was interesting...always had a soft spot for that one. Extreme Prejudice and Johnny Handsome were terrific - the latter being his last really good film, IMHO. |
Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw
Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1
| Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 03:22 pm: | |
I thought 'Last Man Standing' & 'Streets Of Fire' were dire, 'Crossroads' was average and 'Extreme Prejudice' was very good - haven't seen 'Johnny Handsome' but must check it out on your recommendation. Always been a fan of Mickey Rourke - especially 'Angel Heart' ("I know who I am, I KNOW WHO I AM!!") |
Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210
| Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 03:30 pm: | |
Rourke is my favourite actor; even when he was out of fashion I loved him. |
Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b
Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.4
| Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 07:08 pm: | |
I love 'Streets Of Fire'- Amy Madigan stole the whole show for me, which given she was up against the likes of Willem Dafoe and Rick Moranis took some doing. Centurion is on at the Printworks in Manchester... will be off to see it this weekend. |
John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.142.146.96
| Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 09:50 am: | |
We saw Centurion a couple of nights ago and while Lady P enjoyed it more than I did I can't enthuse about it the way Stevie has above. It's Marshall's recurring 'small group of people against the odds' theme recycled and while I don't have a problem with that at all this didn't work as well for me as his other attempts at a similar plot. Neither as claustrophobically terrifying as The Descent nor as much knockabout Umberto Lenzi-styled tomfoolery as Doomsday, Centurion doesn't know whether it wants to be seriously bleak or a rip-roaring romantic adventure tale and never resolves this, right down to the final shot. The Romans are the heroes in this and are played by British actors like Liam Cunningham and David Morrisey and while this would be ok the villains are meant to be the native British who, we are told in graphic detail, have been raped abused and tortured by the invading Roman hordes, which kind of makes any sympathy for our band of not very likeable anyway warriors kind of go out of the window before we're very far into things. In the end this is more like one of those Hammer adventure films where you have to ignore the gaffs and the Romans are all played by the kind of people who will have audiences saying - ooh look it's him off the telly! It's ok I suppose but I can't really recommend it. |
Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210
| Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 09:56 am: | |
But Steve thought it was genius! Oh. Yeah. Steve thinks everything's genius. |
Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw
Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1
| Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 12:05 pm: | |
I loved every bloodsoaked minute of it... go see and judge for yourself. It'll help if you switch your brain off - as with 'Doomsday'. |
Tony (Tony) Username: Tony
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.129.110
| Posted on Friday, April 30, 2010 - 07:27 am: | |
'It'll help if you switch your brain off - as with 'Doomsday'' Or the Dalek ep of Who! Yer monkeys... |
Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw
Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.17.252.126
| Posted on Friday, April 30, 2010 - 02:04 pm: | |
Honestly, 'Centurion' is great, unpretentious, testosterone fuelled, gore spattered fun that delivers exactly what I want from a genre B-movie. I highly recommend it to like-minded individuals. That DW ep was just plain daft imho. |
Frank (Frank) Username: Frank
Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21
| Posted on Friday, November 12, 2010 - 01:33 pm: | |
Is this the film that Centurion could have been: http://www.daemonsmovies.com/2010/11/12/the-eagle-movie-trailer-channing-tatum/ Not that I'm knocking Centurion. I loved it. But I know a few people thought it could have been so much better. This looks a lot like it, with something of The Last Of The Mohicans about it. |
Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.253.77
| Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 01:17 am: | |
Finally got around to seeing Centurian. I'm more in the JLP camp than the Stevie camp on this one, but I still enjoyed the hell out of it. Basically, it was a load of entertaining old bollocks. |
Frank (Frank) Username: Frank
Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.21
| Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 10:11 am: | |
Try the Ninth Eagle, it's somewhere along the same lines, and great entertaining stuff. |
Mick Curtis (Mick)
Username: Mick
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.179.195.21
| Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 10:19 am: | |
Finally got around to seeing Centurian. I'm more in the JLP camp than the Stevie camp on this one, but I still enjoyed the hell out of it. Never thought I'd see Lord P.'s name and the word 'camp' in the same sentence. |
John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.37
| Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 01:36 pm: | |
Never thought I'd see Lord P.'s name and the word 'camp' in the same sentence I was wondering how long it would be before someone made a comment about that, although I must admit I was expecting Lady P to get there first |
Kate (Kathleen)
Username: Kathleen
Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 86.142.242.169
| Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 02:04 pm: | |
Admit it: you were hoping *Gary* would get there first! Hey, everyone! Wanna see how JLP plays Black Ops? "Hold the line? What does that MEAN? What am I supposed to DO? Hell-O! Gary, wait for me! Oooh, look at THAT! Hey, don't shout at ME, boyfriend. I'm not the one dressed like a hillbilly! Oh dear, why are they shooting at me? Oww! Oooh, he needs a shave. Hey look, I shot a melon!" |
Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210
| Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 02:12 pm: | |
Hahahahaha!
|
John Forth (John)
Username: John
Registered: 05-2008 Posted From: 217.20.16.180
| Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 02:45 pm: | |
Brilliant! What's he like on fantasy games? |
John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.45
| Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 02:51 pm: | |
Oh well, bang go my attempts at maintaining a sober reputation on this board. Quite why I feel the need to play Call of Duty in the campest way possible is beyond me, although despite everyone probably now thinking (thanks to Lady P, with whom I will be discussing this matter when I get home, oh yes) that our relationship is more Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester than Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in my defense I don't think I've used the word 'boyfriend' once during Black Ops. All the rest is, however, appallingly and embarrassingly true. Forgive me, oh Macho Gods of Shoot 'em up Games - you bring out the silliest in me. |
Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw
Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1
| Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 04:21 pm: | |
LOL Personally I turn into Duke Nukem and have been known to shout "Incoming!" and "Grenade!" at the top of my voice... god, I love those games. |
Gary Fry (Gary_fry)
Username: Gary_fry
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.181.16.203
| Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 04:44 pm: | |
JLP? Call of Duty? More like Small and Fruity. |
John Forth (John)
Username: John
Registered: 05-2008 Posted From: 217.20.16.180
| Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 05:00 pm: | |
Quite why I feel the need to play Call of Duty in the campest way possible is beyond me Camp mockery is just about the only way to deal with the levels of grim-faced adolescent testosterone evident in all of the Call of Duty games. I tend more towards Halo, myself, although mostly that ends up with me finding new and inventive ways to insult alien opponents... Or complaining that my gun doesn't work. Shame we can't find a game that everyone has - a RCMB frag-fest would be most agreeable! |
Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw
Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1
| Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 05:43 pm: | |
Not half!! |
John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert
Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.33.242.34
| Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2011 - 11:15 am: | |
Oh yes that would be hilarious fun. I must confess Call of Duty is starting to feel a bit one note - all shouts bangs and explosions. I prefer the world of The Elder Scrolls where one can stop to smell a flower in between cutting the heads of monsters and zapping little lady spriggans with massive lightning bolts from my magic staff (It really didn't need the wink, did it?) |