| Author | Message | ||
     Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
http://horror.about.com/b/2010/05/18/george-romero-remaking-argentos-deep-red-in -3-d.htm?nl=1 | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.110.243.131 |
Romero does Argento? At his age, it might be dangerous for him to stick his head a yard up his own arse. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
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| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 109.79.206.255 |
I just watched SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD. It might be Romero's worst film, as ROBIN HOOD is Ridley Scott's. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.178.83.106 |
What, worse than G.I. Jane? Blimey. | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 109.79.206.255 |
Oh, I haven't seen that one, which given that fact that it contains gratuitous scenes of Demi Moore, may indeed be the worst. Still, this is nearly 20 years later and he should know better. I fear for the ALIEN prequel now. | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 109.79.206.255 |
Actually, it's only 13 years later. But mid-period Scott is so much different from late-period. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.17.252.126 |
I'm hearing very poor reports on 'Robin Hood' so far but then I was distinctly underwhelmed by 'Gladiator' - so much fuss over so little. 'Centurion' is much better! | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 109.79.206.255 |
I'm baffled as to why they all bothered making it. It was a collection of cliches, with the fun drained from them. It's only the second time in my life that I've walked out of a film before the end. | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.5.2.69 |
I disliked GLADIATOR greatly. I mean, at no point was anyone in the film even mildly pleased by their cannibalism! (no no, don't bother - I'm slashing my throat myself right now, even as I type this) (joking aside, I really didn't like this movie at all, don't get the hype) (feel the same about most of UP) (not that one, the one with the ! at the end - I mean the Pixar one) Here again are some movies, generally reviled, that I think are actually distinctly better than anyone gives them credit for: THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN THE AVENGERS (with Connery and Fiennes and Thurman) BASIC INSTINCT 2 SHOWGIRLS HANNIBAL RISING (well, most people *I* know didn't like it) | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
I'd agree with you the first and last one, but not the others, Craig. | ||
| Kate (Kathleen) Username: Kathleen Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 213.122.209.76 |
Remaking iconic classics - why? Profondo Rosso is so completely an Argento film, with all the Argento hallmarks and stylistic flourishes. His films are style + substance (as opposed to style OVER substance) and so uniquely HIS that I just can't understand the thinking behind a remake. How can you tell the story without copying Argento completely? It's like covering a song karaoke-style - simply mimicking the original. That said, as much as I adore Profondo Rosso, I think the right director could potentially do some interesting and creative things with the story alone; I'm just not sure Romero is that director. Hmmm... here's an idea - directors doing swapsies and remaking each other's films. I'd definitely see David Lynch's Rabid or Cronenberg's Eraserhead. Argento's Videodrome or Polanski's Blue Velvet. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.128.213 |
Proto; the best template for the new Robin Hood would have been First Blood. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
That's it... after the indescribable awfulness of 'Diary Of The Dead' Romero has finally capitulated and become one of the remakers (and in fucking 3D to boot!). I'll always love him for those early movies but, saints preserve us, this is deeply depressing news.  | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210 |
I thought 'Diary Of The Dead' was brilliant. And I've seen Romero's name attached to so many projects over the years it's actually become rather silly. I'll bet that remake doesn't get made. | ||
| Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.55 |
I really liked Diary of the dead as well. It's just a shame he caught the tail end of the shakycam zombie film trend instead of being at the forefront. It he'd done the same film 12 months earlier he'd have been hailed a genius for it. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
I so wanted to like 'Diary Of The Dead' but everything about it was such a backward step and so amateurishly done I literally couldn't believe what I was watching. Here's how I'd rank Romero's Dead films: 1. 'Night Of The Living Dead' (1968) - one of the greatest masterpieces of micro budget horror ever made that has lost none of its power to shock and excite and has to be seen as the most influential horror movie of the 1960s as well as a compelling character study of a group under threat. 2. 'Dawn Of The Dead' (1978) - another masterpiece and for my money still the best zombie movie ever made that works as riveting adventure yarn, blood curdling horror and razor-sharp satire on the American way of life. 3. 'Day Of The Dead' (1985) - successful continuation that works by returning to the claustrophobia of the original while broadening out the concept by paying more attention to the nature of the zombies. 4. 'Land Of The Dead' (2005) - imo he went a step too far with this one by trying to humanise the zombies which negates much of the horror of the premise and ends up looking a bit silly as well as removing much of our empathy for the human characters who are merely cardboard cut-outs here. A major disappointment. 5. 'Diary Of The Dead' (2007) - followed by a major step backwards which adds nothing new to the original premise and makes Romero look to be devoid of ideas and merely cannibalising the franchise to earn a living. Can't blame him for that, we all need to eat, but what a shame, eh... | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210 |
Day Of The Dead is the greatest achievement of the zombie genre (by a long way), and I also think Land of the Dead is a near-masterpiece. You missed off Survival of the Dead. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210 |
Romero's Dead films are so far ahead of everyone else because they're not really about zombies. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
You mean there's another one... Holy Fuck!!  | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.224.213 |
I'm now of this person's opinion, when it comes to zombies.... http://www.uproxx.com/feature/2010/04/movie-premises-that-could-use-a-10-year-mo ratorium/ | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Yeah, I've been thinking for years now that zombies, vampires and werewolves have had their day in cinematic terms. All the definitive treatments have been done and what we're left with now is regurgitation and spoofs. Sad, but there it is... | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210 |
I disagree There's still lots to be done with these tropes, but the film industry is terrified to take a risk and would rather just regurgitate what's gone (and made money) before. | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 147.252.230.148 |
I agree about Day of the Dead, I think it's the most under-rated of his films. NIGHT is over-rated, I think. Without the final (terrific) montage it's not terribly interesting. | ||
| Mark_samuels (Mark_samuels) Username: Mark_samuels Registered: 04-2010 Posted From: 86.142.169.99 |
I quite liked Diary of the Dead, must admit. Survival of... was a bit rubbish. Anyone seen Zombies: The Beginning, from the master of cheese Bruno Mattei? He's the man who brought us such timeless classics as Rats: The Night of Terror, NOtLD rip-off but with live and rather sleepy rats being flung at the cast, and Zombie Creeping Flesh, awful but funny DotD rip-off--including a lot of the Goblin soundtrack. Actually, bits of that DotD soundtrack turn up in odd places. I saw an early-mid 70s extreme horror/porno thing called Diversions a while back that used it. But I'm sure that rare example of British hardcore sleaze predates DotD. Mark S. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
I agree about Day, I think Day is terrific. But I disagree about Night. I prefer it much more to Dawn. Diary of the Dead, I really liked, even if it seemed to be riding on the 'shaky-cam wave' (sounds like a fair-ground ride), while Land of the Dead I've watched several times now, and though I appreciate it more and more, I still feel its failure to be frightening is ultimately its downfall. Its themes, interesting as they were, fell by the proverbial wayside as a result, etc. | ||
| Mark_samuels (Mark_samuels) Username: Mark_samuels Registered: 04-2010 Posted From: 86.142.169.99 |
Ah, it's a DeWolfe library track & not The Goblin... It's this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnZSYyoipNM I'm afraid you'll just have to imagine (if you care to) this music accompanying a scene of Nazi lesbian in British movie 70s sleaze. Mark S. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
I still feel its failure to be frightening is ultimately its downfall. Frank, this is a common misconception when discussing Romero's zombie films. he isn't trying to make scary films - he's making dark pieces of social commentary. That's why I love him: he's making unashamedly political films that just happen to be rooted in the horror genre. God bless old George, that's what I say. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Zed - I know that, pal, but I disagree that he isn't making scary films. Let's say he's making horror films, so the emphasis is on horrifying. If that is the case, then the horror element remains intact. But I feel the film was somewhat hampered by parts which felt juvenile, the train, the bikes, and the rich 'enclaves', what it represented, felt amateurish. I admire the idea, but I think Romero is a master of getting much more from low budgets, and in this he wasted it on high-profile actors, and a sledge-hammer tactics at social commentary. I know you love these films, and I love Romero, too, but I think the heavy-handed 'social commentary' was much too obvious. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
More obvious that in Dawn of the Dead? That plays like a live-action cartoon. Romero is many things, but he's never been subtle. I honestly think Land of the Dead is a misunderstood gem. And it's certainly horrific...the film contains some of the strongest scenes in the Dead sequence, IMHO. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
But i think his best film is The Crazies, so what do I know?  | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
I'm not saying he's subtle, but I just thought the whole thing fell way short of the first three. I don't want the man back-pedaling to appease die-hards, I want him to go in whatever direction he wants, but Land felt a misguided, and dare I say it without invoking your wrath on the subject, childish. But I liked Diary, a lot. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
We'll just have to disagree on this one, fella. i know a lot of people don't rate Land..., but I think it's a marvellous film - and a worthy addition to the main Dead sequence. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.17.252.126 |
Afraid to say I'm with Frank on this one... 'Land Of The Dead' was probably the single most disappointing horror film, that I had been really looking forward to, of the last decade. I agree, 'The Crazies' is another one of his early masterpieces - brilliant movie! I wish he could break his increasingly desperate reliance on the Dead franchise and rediscover the originality that brought us 'Season Of The Witch' and 'Martin' but fear Romero's inspiration may have desserted him for good... | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
Stevie, you are indeed the king of hyperbole.  | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 109.79.175.71 |
Yes! To call the Crazies a masterpiece is a bit over the top, don't you think? Romero didn't even know about crossing the line when he blocked it. | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 109.79.175.71 |
Oh, MARTIN is fantastic, though. His best, I think. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
Martin is indeed fantastic, Proto, but my personal favourite is The Crazies - it's clumsy and flawed, but still manages to hit all my buttons. In many ways it's the quintessential Romero film: clumsy, flawed, unsubtle, crass...yet somehow brilliant. | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.152.203.35 |
Polish lottery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh6QBHFtXbM | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.17.252.126 |
In my opinion George A. Romero made four masterpieces of low budget schlock horror (with brains - lots of brains) in the first 10 years of his career: NOTLD, The Crazies, Martin & DOTD. They are movies that redefined what it was possible to do in the genre with very little money but loads of imagination and still stand up as ballsy, no holds barred entertainment today! They push all my buttons too...  | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Protodroid - I can't believe I've never seen that. But then again, I don't really use Youtube, and I don't watch TV. I must ask somebody about that (I mean over here). How old is the clip? | ||
| Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.55 |
but fear Romero's inspiration may have desserted him for good... Has he been custard pied in the inspiration? | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 109.79.65.177 |
Frank, I've no idea, but it looks like 1853. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Oops... must have been!  | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Protodroid - I was telling my student about it today. He said he doesn't play the lottery, but it wouldn't surprise him if it became standard to let all the lottery balls go dancing round the studio like that (: | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Zed - bad news. They're also remaking Martin. First, The Crazies, now Martin, what's the world coming to. Has anyone seen the new version of The Crazies. I have to admit it looked really good...I say looked...not IS. Yes, Martin, outside of his Zombie movies, is my fave. Though I adore Creepshow, and the much under-rated Monkey Shines. Has anybody seen his movie 'Bruiser'? | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
'Season Of The Witch', 'Creepshow', 'Day Of The Dead' and 'Monkey Shines' are all great as well but not quite up to the standard of his Big Four in my opinion. Anyone seen his non-horror biker flick 'Knightriders' (1981)? A real oddity made notable by a great early performance by Ed Harris. Is 'Bruiser' a horror film and has anyone seen his collaboration with Dario Argento, 'Two Evil Eyes' (1990)? | ||
| Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.55 |
I saw the new Crazies without realising it was a remake. It was good but not great. I've got the original at home now, just waiting till I get a chance to watch it and compare. | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 109.79.65.177 |
Frank, it's a perfectly composed comedy sketch. That wide shot revealing the balls rolling around the studio floor is funny. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210 |
Bruiser is a horror film in the same way much of Romero's work is horror. i.e. it uses horror imagery and conventions to say something about society. I really liked it, but I fear I'm in the minority. Two Evil Eyes is very good indeed. Frank - remakes no longer bother me. Some of them aren't bad and if they are I just watch the originals instead. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.37.199.45 |
Romero's a good director, and Martin in particular is a fine film. But horror film fandom suffers from an incredibly low quality threshold, so that whenever a director crops up who has some measure of talent and some good ideas he/she is instantly acclaimed as the greatest visionary genius since Michelangelo. Horror film fans fall over themselves trying to find hyperbole intense enough to do justice to Romero. He's a good director, that's all. Not, as Fangoria insists, an angel whose visions have transfigured the universe. At least he is a good director, unlike the sleazy, fraudulent, onanistic Argento. It's the same thing with comics. I'll get me coat. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210 |
I'd agree, Joel. But simply a good director stands out like a sliced and bloody thumb i genre cinema. I actually favour Romero because he's an ideas man, and he isn't afraid to make a political film. His films are barely horror; they're not really scary. Disturbing, yes, but rarely creepy. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
No, Joel, delay the coat getting. I think that's spot-on. I don't think Zed thinks that, as he's said, he loves Romero for his faults as much as his success, but I do think genre fans tend to give too spurious, questionable credit sometimes. Fangoria is bollocks, anyway. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Now you're just being silly, Joel. Dario Argento strides across the horror universe like a mighty colossus. | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.253.239 |
I don't quite understand myself why Joel so dislikes Argento - his early films, because I actually think Joel is being coy when it comes to Argento's latest piles of excremental feces (THE CARD PLAYER, DO YOU LIKE HITCHCOCK?, etc.) | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
sleazy, fraudulent, onanistic...those are the very reasons I like Argento's early work.  | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.148.248.101 |
Ah yes, Survival of the Dead. Didn't know it evoked such strong feelings as that, Proto. I felt myself trying to force myself to like it, but couldn't. |