| Author | Message | ||
     Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
MINOR SPOILERS!!! Saw this last night and I'm delighted to report it gave me a nightmare. A harrowing, perfectly orchestrated piece of terror. Although ostensibly based on a true story, I thought at times it was a little too willing to lapse into contrived set-pieces (eg, the attic scene), and I was puzzled by the fact that at the end, two adults would be flee from a bunch of early teenagers. But on the whole it was coolly done. It was also refreshing to see a film about 'evil' whose working definition didn't involve quotes from William Blake or unhatched insect pods - it was just "some kids". Frightening indeed. Also saw the new Batman film the other night: need to watch it again to catch all its graces, but I'm happy to report that, since I'm not generally a fan of comic-book stuff, I loved it. Ledger was superb - what a loss. | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 99.225.111.224 |
No unhatched insect pods? The movie was about GIANT ANTS for pete's sake! Sheesh! You really have trouble with comprehension, don't you? | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.157.114.136 |
The Batman is a classic film in the making, I think. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
Simon, you're living in the wrong generation, mate. I always knew it. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.197.187 |
I think Them is a classic of early SF/horror. They (Ils) wasn't bad, but I didn't find it very scary or believable. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
I thought ILS was terrifying, and all-too believable. and I was puzzled by the fact that at the end, two adults would be flee from a bunch of early teenagers. Don't read the papers much, do you. I'd run my arse off if a gang of 13 year-olds were chasing me. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
In context at the end, he had an opportunity to hold his ground and swing that weapon at the newcomers. I suppose he did have an injured leg and didn't know how many were on their way, though. Still, since they were bent on serious injury and he'd been forced into that desperate situation, I suspect anyone would rather go down fighting. That's what I meant, and I'd hoped you'd have realised that. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
Just joshing, stroppy-pants. :-) | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
'K. Pussy writer, wasn't he?  | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
 | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.197.187 |
I didn't find the young tykes particularly scary either, GF. Nothing a good shovel or baseball bat couldn't take care of. I actually found Robert Harmon's film of the same title to be more enjoyable. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
Nothing a good shovel or baseball bat couldn't take care of. Many a dead man has thought the same, Huw. Unless you've been trained how to fight, it's very difficult to tackle a gang - even of young kids; especially murderus ones. I've seen a six-foot plus man-mountain decked by a skinny teenage boy. That's why I always run away from trouble.  | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
Their silence and stealthy presence was almost supernatural. And that revelation at the end of the only 'sound' they made was masterful. When we finally saw their faces, I thought a little of the tension was diminished, but that little boy at the end reinstated it. Great final few shots, too - the innocent woods birthing something decidedly 'other' than that. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
It probably could have lived without the prologue, however, which just felt like it was pandering to the slasher crowd. That's partly what I mean by it being a tad contrived in parts. But its unapologetic simplicity and use of basic sense-assaulting devices - the torches, the rattle - was inspired. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.197.187 |
Hang on - was it called They or Them? I'm completely mixed-up now. I'm just going to call it Ils. Zed, I had a fair bit of fighting training when I was younger (and actually witnessed my first martial arts teacher giving a group of thugs an almighty ass-kicking once - not a pretty sight!), but it wouldn't do me much good in my current state, bat or no bat! Forget running - I wouldn't even be able to run ten yards before my decrepit back gave up on me. Maybe if I had a shotgun... :-/ I should probably give Ils another watch. My expectations may have been a little high. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
My old karate teacher's motto: when attacked by a gang, hit the biggest one as hard and fast as you can, and then run like the wind, grasshopper. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
And my teacher used to assume a profound Oriental expression, think for a considered moment, and then say: "Wax on, wax off...and then run like fuck." | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 38.113.181.169 |
I suggest telling them you're a Catholic priest. That should instill the fear of God in them. Or something in them, at least. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 61.216.35.142 |
Fights are often really horrible things to witness. I saw a load of them in my Barfly days. Many were minor, and consisted of silly, wimpy brawls between a couple of people who took offense to each other for whatever reason, but there were quite a few serious fights too, between members of different triad gangs. It's quite a sight to see two groups of tattoo-covered gang members going at it with samurai swords and clubs made from swordfish heads in a back alley. If we ever meet up one day, we could share a few stories over a beer, I imagine. ;-) I tried not to get involved in any of this stuff, but when the people you're working with are being chased by guys with cleavers, it's hard to just sit there until the police turn up (they never did anything anyway, because they were afraid of the triads). When I look back on those days, I marvel at how I never got badly hurt. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
>>>when the people you're working with are being chased by guys with cleavers I know what you mean. I used to work for an estate agency. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
I just know Campbell's going to come along and say Them is shit... | ||
| Ramsey Campbell (Ramsey) Username: Ramsey Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.74 |
No, I liked it, Gary. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
Phew. I'm not the film duff I thought I was. Today, at any rate. | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.209.220.3 |
How does Ils/Them compare with The Strangers? I'd heard the US film rips it off. | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 67.116.103.241 |
Why don't you care about what I think, Gary...? | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 129.11.76.230 |
T E M P L A T E S | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 129.11.76.230 |
Or were you just referring to what you think anything at all? | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 83.98.9.4 |
I think it only happens when I say templates | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
tem plates, tem plates, tem dry plates... | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 129.11.76.230 |
If you say 'Templates' five times in a mirror, Craig appears behind you with a big hook - one he uses to pitch screenplays to producers. "Right, there's this girl, okay, and she meets this guy..." | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 83.98.9.4 |
set alp met set alp met Does that reverse it, he now has to unsquish the skuls and resussitate the kittens | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.5.5.121 |
You think you're sooooooo funny, the two of you, don't you?... Okay, it's getting to the point where even seeing the word "template" is making me gag. That and the stench of kitten gore. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 83.98.9.4 |
Ten eager men poke large african tailed elephants | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 83.98.9.4 |
Twelve electric mooses plan large amoeba themed extravaganza | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 83.98.9.4 |
To enter my palace, locate a true entrance | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 129.11.77.198 |
Two extremely moronic prats lampoon a total ejit. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.37.199.45 |
Though even Mark Patrick Lynch avoids this embarrassment. | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.237.117 |
Yaa -- [stiffles yawn] .... Weber, you do put the "refry" in Gary Fry. Hey Gary: stop trying to locate the true entrance to Weber's palace already... at least not in public.... "Ejit," huh? So shall this "ejit" regale you with his "Relationship-In-Transition" template theory of film?... Undeniable Truth of Film #2?... Inarguable Position 3-A?... Don't make me!.... | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.237.117 |
Et tu, Joel?... | ||
| Hubert (Hubert) Username: Hubert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.22.225.68 |
The template palimpsest | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 83.98.9.4 |
these examples make peculiarly lackadaisical American truly enraged |