| Author |
Message |
    
Karim Ghahwagi (Karim)
Username: Karim
Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 80.163.6.13
| | Posted on Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 02:12 am: | |
Just did a triple screening of Coraline, The Unborn and The Last House on the Left.
The Coraline picture, based on what is still my favourite piece by Gaiman so far, even more than The Graveyard book, did all the right things mostly. All the technical things were perfect: animation, lighting, cast of voices. Selick did add an additional character which also worked pretty well with the story. The picture however is very much Selick's obviously, but it did detract somewhat from the aesthetics that Gaiman clearly worked very hard to weave into the rather spare and minimal world of the novella- which was what attracted me to the story. It is really amazing to think that just one image on the back cover by Dave Mckean fires the imagination of the whole story just as effectivly, if not better than the whole picture did. On the first edition he did this sienna yellow, collage image of Coraline's new house. And when you read the book the sparsness of that image along with the black and white ink pen drawings really does something kind of amazing to the words. It is very creepy. The Selick version which cost 60 million I believe, really does celebrate the story and creates a much more whimsical carnival atmosphere, and exaggerates the characters out of true. But none the less lots of fun, but it didn't feel as creepy and haunting despite the fireworks. But done with lots and lots of care.
The Unborn, another possession tale that had three great images, all of them recycled with more money from previous films, and all the images being ones of inversion. A dog, an old man shuffling down a corridor with his head turned like in Exorcist 3 and Rosemary's Baby- (cannot remember). What was the third image? Gone now- can't remember it, like the rest of the film. Gary Oldman doesn't quite know what to do as a mystical Rabbi, and the ending was disappointing. Not a very good picture. Iremember now, one scene with a woman whoes face turns into a giant rictus?- as seen in 20 thousand other films, and on the cover of Fangoria some time back.
The Last House on the Left was a pretty nasty thing. Tries to go further which is unnecessary, but obviously delivers on the plot set up, which is frightening. A couple of great scenes, one in the automatic sink dispenser which also involves a stabbing and a hammer- I think he dies...It had some sober photography which worked for it alot and elevated the film from terrible, to ok. The guy who plays the younger son who turns the plot around has an amazing face, but I can't seem to remember where I saw him last. He was the best and can really act - no comments about the rest of the cast.
The extravaganza is over. |
Karim Ghahwagi (Karim)
Username: Karim
Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 80.163.6.13
| | Posted on Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 02:20 am: | |
And here is an image of a swan that looks like a penis that I took last week-- Goodnight.
 |
Zed (Gary_mc)
Username: Gary_mc
Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 81.96.241.143
| | Posted on Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 11:29 am: | |
The song on the LHotL trailer is amazing - a wonderful, haunting version of "Sweet Child of Mine". Does it appear in the film?
I saw "The Unborn" last week and agree with your comments.
I watched "The Wrestler" last night. Wow. A near-perfect drama about human frailty. |
Karim Ghahwagi (Karim)
Username: Karim
Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 80.163.6.13
| | Posted on Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 02:42 pm: | |
Think it was just for the trailer Zed.
Yes The Wrestler is definately on my list. |
|