superspeedstripes

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• 
  I recommend you see...

  The Exorcist

  by Craig

  Directed by: William Friedkin.
  Starring: Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Jason Miller.
  
  << "Mother, whats wrong with me?" >>
  
  The film shows us three stories. One follows an actress, who is at the top of her game. She has to temporarily move to Washington D.C with her 12 year old daughter Regan to film a new movie. Although her husband and she have divorced, she still manages, after a days worth of shooting, to come home and have a very healthy and strong relationship with her daughter. Before long, Regan's innocent personality and behavior start to change dramatically. The second shows a priest/psychiatrist, one who is slowly starting to doubt his faith in god and at the same time, having to deal with his mother's terminal illness. And the 3rd follows an elderly priest, one who appears to be long retired and is slowly withering away when he is summoned upon to fight this threat that he might have just battled before.
  
  Many that know me should know this by now...I truly respect and love horror, but I am always saddened by the fact that it's a misjudged genre. Filmmakers of this time think that to make a horror film, you treat the audience like there stupid with a similar stupidity. Lack of character to the point of insulting our intelligence, all so the script can create situations that rely on cheap, talentless "jump scares" and "loud noises" to try and scare an audience...along with a lack of vision and skill. There are many ways a horror film can work; the three main elements should be considered...atmosphere, tension and overall, genuine scares...but also a greater understanding of character and exactly what sort of point you are trying to get across, enough to truly scare an audience deeply...The Exorcist is one of those rare classics that has it all.
  
  The Exorcist, even after 30 or so years, still stands the test of time and is still classed as "The Greatest Horror Movie Ever Made", and I have to completely agree with them and feel pity for those who are blinded of its true greatness. The fact that people can't seem to see the film for what it truly is and always refer to the fact that it has been parodied many times over the decades. Of course, these people are in the minority thankfully. The great thing is that it still manages to shock after all these years. With a lot of older horror films, they tend to lose there momentum and that "spark" that made them so great when they were released, usually because of a decline in quality, the enhancements of CGI and the like nowadays and sometimes, the fact that a more modern film has done better...this still is no case with The Exorcist, which is the reason it will remain powerful.
  
  I'll start with the visual aspects of the film. William Friedkin's direction is something to cherish and is highly underrated. He understands the material so well, managing to push the characters presence as the driving force underneath the slick production values and amazing atmosphere, while balancing all those with the shock value moments to bring out the most intensity available. The cinematography is pure brilliance. Having now worked more in that area through film school, I can really sit down with this film and drool over the moody lighting, the amazingly shot moments where simple pools of light, dark shades and frames covered in such an amazing hues, it really is a dazzling achievement and another driving force for the movies quality.
  
  The screenplay remains one of the best in its genre without any doubt. Intertwining three different stories, three different backgrounds isn't the easiest of tasks, but Blatty has done so with such skill and understanding, where every character is given its due and none are ever left in the dust, each given fully fledged stories and backgrounds. The combined stories make up the darkest of dramas and that is really what it is, underneath the shock values. Sympathy is still kept at arms length when most characters do become victims to help the films frightening moments, but each character is shown as something stronger. The mother is the more powerful of the bunch, a truly caring woman who even with a failed divorce and a big career as an actress that drains her, she still manages to find the time to come home and be with her daughter...and that relationship in the film is fully realized and a real gem. The daughter is the hardest to watch, obviously. An innocent and creative girl with such love and kindness for everything and everyone around her, ultimately pulled into this abyss. Even amongst the layers of evil put through you, you can still see a small girl pushing to get out. The young priest who is losing his faith and struggles to care for his aging mother and the elderly priest, withered beyond repair, a man who still adventures, is put up against a familiar power for the last time.
  
  The performances are brilliantly fitted and really push these characters forward. Ellen Burstyn has always played the estranged figure put through traumas, watching her inhabit the character here with such a deep understanding for motherly love and what can be seen as the deepest of traumatic experiences, she blew me away. Max von Sydow is always a force onscreen and he carries such a presence and warmth as this character, that when the time comes, we as the audience feel his power. Linda Blair...is simply remarkable. It's a performance that will stay with everyone for many more years to come. Its quite sad to know that it wasn't easy for her to grow up after such a performance, but what she had to go through, from what can be seen as a lot of physical assertion, a lot of makeup and dialogue and ideas that should be shielded from someone so young, she truly pushes through and delivers something you would see in the most seasoned actors, a hallmark performance indeed.
  
  The Exorcist stands up to its title of "The Scariest Movie of All Time", even to this day. A film that still stands the test of time and will for many years to come, A film of such visual excellence and intensity, a film that truly scares underneath all the shock values with its powerful storytelling and its full characters, matched with outstanding acting by all.
  
  A masterpiece of cinema.
  
  

  92/100
  
  << "There is one outside chance for a cure. I think of it as shock treatment - as I said, it's a very outside chance... Have you ever heard of exorcism? Well, it's a stylized ritual in which the rabbi or the priest try to drive out the so-called invading spirit. It's been pretty much discarded these days except by the Catholics who keep it in the closet as a sort of an embarrassment, but it has worked. In fact, although not for the reasons they think, of course. It's purely a force of suggestion. The victim's belief in possession is what helped cause it, so in that same way, a belief in the power of exorcism can make it disappear." >>

  SilentWar

  A film I just had to rereview, a film I am surprised to see by a minority as nothing special...and those who haven't seen it...what can I say to you that is nice?

  posted 3 days ago
• 
  shiiloh

  Hey - try this quiz and see how we compare
  
  cartoon cats!!!

  posted 12 days ago
• 
  egmcqueen

  hey hey whats your you tube name thing

  posted 39 days ago
• 
  I recommend you see...

  The Dark Knight

  by Craig

  Directed by: Christopher Nolan.
  Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman.
  
  << "You see, madness is like gravity, all it takes is a little...push" >>
  
  The Dark Knight continues the legacy of Batman. Based a year after his encounter with Ra's Al Ghul and his thugs, the streets remain the same and Batman continues to do what he can with the help of newly appointed Commissioner, Jim Gordon and Gotham's new D.A, Harvey Dent. Before long a menacing madman called the Joker introduces something into Gotham that no one would have ever expected.
  
  This is no doubt the hundredth review you have read on this film, massively hyped for years by fans and recently by the general public, reviews have been pouring in by the bucket load...my review is simply just a reminder, from both an obsessed fan and a general moviegoer, that this film is beyond anyone's expectations, especially mine and that it simply...is...outstanding.
  
  Everything about the first film is simply raised in level here, both in quality, complexity and story; everything seems to be in a new direction, yet never forgetting what made Begins so great. Christopher Nolan has always been one of my favorite directors and he has simply proved it here by a mile. To many it might appear flashy that he has taken hold of the newest technology for the film with IMAX cameras etc and in the wrong hands it would have just been for show, but Nolan is god behind these cameras and the sweeping, epic scope is deftly handled and perfectly assured, the man is long overdue to be recognized more...and Wally Pfeister once again, dazzles with his thoughtful tone on this epic scale, it adds such a lovely feel.
  
  The Nolan brother's screenplay is simply remarkable and again, 'beyond' everything I expected from the film. I was one of the men who knew the film was going to be more than just a Batman film, the footage I saw showed it, the dialogue rang true of it and as I am no doubt repeating in this review, it's more than you would ever expect. In Batman 89, the problem that fell on it was the fact that the storytelling was lax and extremely second-rate, while the Joker became a first rate character over Batman, who simply became third rate. Begins proved that Batman and Bruce Wayne can be powerful forces and complex humans and faces and TDK continues that power by delving that much deeper into the complexities of human emotions and morals. Morally complex from every angle, it's a perfect crime saga under the superhero cover. Each character is given special treatment and in one word, a 'soul'. Bruce Wayne must now face the facts of Rachael being with another man, especially the one appointed as the challenger to Batman's moral values on Gotham. Harvey Dent is seen as the 'White Knight' of Gotham, a man without a mask who is ridding the streets of Gotham of its criminals. Batman has to make that choice on where he stands in Gotham and where exactly his morals have taken him, especially when revenge, the one thing he has pushed himself away from doing, lingers so close. That there is the simplistic overview of the films elements, it delves so much deeper. The Joker is also never given a major origin story and thank god for that, because the direction of Nolan's vision didn't need it. He's unrelenting, mysterious much like Batman yet so self destructive and simply one hell of a scary, menacing clown that promises anarchy and chaos...and that he delivers.
  
  I can't go on without mentioning something highly under-looked in films...the score. It is the first soundtrack I would have ever bothered to sit down and listen to throughout and for good reason. Its a rich force that blends beautifully with the complexities of the films morals and emotions, beautifully adding richness to every epic scene on screen, its up there as one of the greatest pieces of music I've heard that can add so much to the moving image.
  
  You all knew I was getting to this...the performances. Christian Bale once again proves to be the greatest mix put on screen for these characters and has settled in nicely. As Bruce Wayne, he continues to show the charming and cheeky wit around the way he is seen in city, yet he remains so human, dark, and troubled and battles the strong emotions with others as we all do. Aaron Eckhart simply blew me away, especially when everyone is going in for Heath. He's perfect...there I said it and easily blows Tommy Lee off the face (no pun intended) of the earth. He's got the perfect charisma to play this all American man as D.A of a major city and really is a nice threat for Bruce in his personal life, because he is not only similar in statue as the force of Gotham, but he has won Rachael over, who no doubt sees him as Bruce without the mask...and when Harvey changes into who he is destined to become, Aaron is scary as hell and really is compelling and chilling. Maggie Gyllenhaal is a great replacement over the horribly sub-par Katie Holmes and is given much more to work with this time around and she blends in just well, showing an intimidating streak where need as her character should....AND of course Heath Ledger. What more can I say that no one has already said? Many still believe a posthumous Oscar win would be a sympathy vote; the truth is, if anyone said that, they deserve no audience. If the man was still alive today, he would wipe the supporting field for what is quite possibly the greatest villain to ever grace celluloid...and that will be argued. Equally unexpected and expecting, his performance as the Joker will stand for a lifetime. Sure Cesar and Jack will always have a face for Joker as the showman side of the character, but Heath is the dark side everyone knows from a 50+ year old character. Charismatic, dark, edgy and scary as all fucking hell, he breezes into every scene easily stealing it and delivering something so intense, so unexpected, yet so real. It?s a performance to be remembered by someone who died so suddenly and whether or not he wins the truly deserved Oscar, he's already in the hall of fame in my eyes.
  
  The Dark Knight is a fucking masterpiece. This is, of course an 'opinion', because no one can stand as being right, it is up there as one of the greatest films I have ever seen and blew my obsessive and very high expectations right out of the water. Moral complex, beautifully captured, deftly controlled, greatly performed...all the elements I look for in a film, put to near perfection. I still can't say that the film is 'flawless' and I ain't going to nitpick at what those flaws are, but The Dark Knight comes so damn close...and being a film so deserving of everything it gets and a film of such exquisite quality and somehow managing to beat my insane expectations, it comes so daringly close for me...as perfect.
  
  98/100

  
  
  << "You truly are incorruptible, aren't you? You won't kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness...and I won't kill you because your just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever." >>

  SilentWar

  EVERYONE...I know I have sent these 2 reviews before (Batman Begins and TDK), but the reason I am sending them back out again is due to complete rewrites (not so much on my TDK review though). More recently in the last 2 months I have lost the 'skill' or confidence to really review a film like I used to. Even now I still feel that I haven't got what I used to have back in the day (for those who remember and said so), but I felt that these would be amazing movies to try my best and review as indepth as I can at this point in time...and your comments on the reviews would be really helpful :)
  
  Thanks everyone and continue to review!!!

  posted 43 days ago
• 
  I recommend you see...

  Batman Begins

  by Craig

  Directed by: Christopher Nolan.
  Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy, Morgan Freeman Katie Holmes.
  
  << "People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy and I can't do that as Bruce Wayne, as a man I'm flesh and blood I can be ignored I can be destroyed but as a symbol, as a symbol I can be incorruptible, I can be everlasting." >>
  
  Batman Begins reboots the legendary comic book character we all know...Batman. Lost away in a Chinese prison, he meets a man, Henri Ducard, a dangerous ninja who works for Ra's Al Ghul, who mentors him to find out who he truly is, many years after his parents are murdered and when Gotham is falling to pieces.
  
  I was never a very big fan of Batman. I mean sure, being a kid, I distinctly remember having some toys and as I got a little older, I watched all the previous Batman films (yes unfortunately, all). The main thing that drew me to this film I'd say, among the other things we were promised, was Christopher Nolan's name on it and his decision to create the origins for Batman, something that no doubt sounds intriguing but it can go horribly wrong...thankfully, it doesn't.
  
  The movie is close to being a true masterpiece, by my opinion and is, as you all know, critically received...and for a damn good reason. Christopher Nolan has created a movie so respectable and so faithful to the title character and with such incredible depth, that it will please any 'film goer' or fan. In previous adaption's, mainly Burton's pieces, Batman came in like a ghost and we accepted the character because of his name, his 'mythology' as such...and the fact that with any comic book character and film, you can suspend your disbelief and enjoy the extraordinary world. Nolan has seem the human flaws of this character, rich in morals and with a stand on his beliefs and created a back story so fulfilling, setting him up in a much more realistic world makes it that much more.
  
  The draft script was written by David S. Goyer and big credit to him for creating what is a great base story with the core ideas, but the script is very much full of Chris' sharp, intellectual writing based in reality and brilliantly developed characters. The flaw of Burton's Batman was the fact that aside from all the, shall we say, amazing spectacle, he was simple a third rate character. Nolan's is very much the Batman we all want to see. Questions on moral judgment seep through every scene, really asking a few of the many questions of life...'Who are we'...'What do we stand for', alongside the intricate study into the difference of justice and vengeance...and even the power of love. Now even with this great focus on our leading man, the plot never ceases to be strong and the dialogue never stays mature or serious for too long, with its nice touch of wit...and not to forget the additional developed character of the film which was lacking in previous films, Gotham itself.
  
  Having said that, another key achievement of the film is the cinematography. Wally Pfister adds exactly what is needed for both character and story. Any vivid contrasts and colors are completely removed to be replaced with grungy, murky tones...which are just perfect. A dark, gritty and intense atmosphere, it adds tone to Bruce Wayne's consciousness and quite importantly, Gotham's depression, where the city is simply being eaten from the core up. The set design is superb; there's no eccentric fantasy based sets like in the first film, Gotham is finally made into a realistic and gritty world, pulled to an underworld.
  
  Now I am blabbering about all the amazing technical features of the film without mentioning Christopher Nolan's direction, the man to lead it all. He has a brilliant assurance with his vision which is made only the more better that he co-wrote the script, he deftly balances character and spectacular with such grace. His action sequences are where the film falls just a little. The car chases and the like are not in question though, as they are brilliantly shot and certainly thrilling, but it's the shot setups for the fight sequences that are iffy and with too much quick cutting, it ruins it. I understand Nolan's own words state that he shot it that way to give the effect of 'the victims point of view', but any movie goer, no matter where they stand on film watching wants to see the fight in full frame, without the unnecessary, jumpy quick cutting, which is a shame when Lee Smith's editing elsewhere is superb.
  
  The acting ensemble is amazing, with Christian Bale creating what I see as the very best Batman/Bruce Wayne ever put onto film, which is a hard title to take. He has a powerful essence on screen that is needed and his sheer commitment and great range he gives to both roles is everything that is needed for these fully developed characters. Michael Caine is the perfect Alfred, he is a true British bloke through and through and he adds the right charm, care and humor to his role. There are also some very fitting and strong performances from Liam Neeson, Cillian Murphy, Gary Oldman (genius) and a small role from Morgan Freeman...the only piece that doesn't fit is Katie Holmes, who delivers a relatively sub-par performance. Set for the role as an assistant DA, a character with powerful charisma and strong morals, Katie Holmes is a bad choice.
  
  I think I've said all I can say about this film and no doubt I've missed something. Batman Begins is simply a near masterpiece. Christopher Nolan has created a world that was really needed for such a character, he has made a flawed superhero nearly flawless and kept full focus on not only Batman, but the dark veil that is Gotham, by making it realistic, gritty and another character in itself. Easily up there as one (with major competition) of the best comic book films ever made and the perfect direction for the remaining installments.
  
  90/100.

  
  
  << "It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me." >>

  SilentWar

  EVERYONE...I know I have sent these 2 reviews before (Batman Begins and TDK), but the reason I am sending them back out again is due to complete rewrites (not so much on my TDK review though). More recently in the last 2 months I have lost the 'skill' or confidence to really review a film like I used to. Even now I still feel that I haven't got what I used to have back in the day (for those who remember and said so), but I felt that these would be amazing movies to try my best and review as indepth as I can at this point in time...and your comments on the reviews would be really helpful :)
  
  Thanks everyone and continue to review!!!

  posted 43 days ago
• 
  egmcqueen

  HAPPY BDAY!!

  posted 48 days ago
• 
  shiiloh

  Maybe. Remind me in 5 weeks... I can get it out then.

  posted 52 days ago
• 
  SilentWar

  Hey - try this quiz and see how we compare
  
  The Worst Movies Of All Time!

  posted 56 days ago

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