tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post7905075027024407430..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: Film Friday: The Woman in Black (2012)AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-31300666797716721832013-08-16T22:32:37.923-04:002013-08-16T22:32:37.923-04:00John, No problem, I don't mind disagreement at...John, No problem, I don't mind disagreement at all. I don't think this was the most amazing or creative film, but I do think it was original compared to what is out these days and I enjoyed it.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-82432942342965215192013-08-16T01:33:54.087-04:002013-08-16T01:33:54.087-04:00This movie needed more scarejump-inducing loud sou...This movie needed more scarejump-inducing loud sounds, scary camera shifts and screaming ghost appearances. Because after ten or so it's not enough. So why not add scary looking toys in the mix. It's not like one has to be original these days. <br /><br />And Radcliffe the Dwarf? Well he was there standing with his gaping mouth. From the beginning to the very end. Even when he finally met his wife in death, he still looks like the soulless creature as he is.<br /><br />Why the Woman in Black did this in the end? Well, the director/screenwriter was clear about it: because she's still evil. She won't forgive. So that should solve the most important remaining puzzle for some. I'm sorry Andrew, but there's nothing more to it. Kipps gambled wrong and failed.John Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15040106071973128389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-9211323491577428892013-05-18T14:49:31.016-04:002013-05-18T14:49:31.016-04:00Ty, That's problem with modern audiences all a...Ty, That's problem with modern audiences all around. They have learned all the tricks of the trade. So it's very hard to inject a legitimate mystery because the audience picks up all the clues right away and automatically knows what's going on. I think that's why twists are so popular because that's almost the only way to surprise a modern audience... barring something truly original.<br /><br />AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-17280563290973116752013-05-18T14:12:25.693-04:002013-05-18T14:12:25.693-04:00Andrew, exactly. And that's the tactic used in...Andrew, exactly. And that's the tactic used in The Uninvited. Most of the movie is wilting flowers, balking pets, cold spots, odors with no source. The entire Haunted House experience. It's what you're not seeing that makes the atmosphere creepy and the story move. <br /><br />And on a side note, has a good little mystery to solve too.b Though probably with today's audiences they'd see it coming from a mile away since everyone has done it since. <br /><br />Oh well, the original is the best.Ty in TXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-34904863732700330762013-05-18T12:59:41.291-04:002013-05-18T12:59:41.291-04:00Ty, I agree. Gore can create a very shocking imag...Ty, I agree. Gore can create a very shocking image when it's unexpected and it's something that truly shocks us, like the example you give. But slasher flicks don't do that. They just splash gore everywhere and assume that showing you gross things will frighten you.<br /><br />That is a great scene in <i>The Shining</i>, and what works about it is all the implied horror of it and the fact you can't do anything about it. The only thing you can do is flee the hotel and that's not an option.<br /><br />In horror, what you don't show is typically more important that what you do show. The imagination is much more powerful than the images themselves.<br /><br />AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-43750552915270520422013-05-18T10:31:08.558-04:002013-05-18T10:31:08.558-04:00Commenting on some of the comments:
Yes, I don'...Commenting on some of the comments:<br />Yes, I don't like gore either unless it's used wisely. Gore for gore's sake is just nauseating. But say when it's used to set up the wrongness of something, like walking into a nursery and everything is normal tun to look at a wall and there's a splash of blood on the wall. No you now there's something horribly wrong. <br /><br />And as some here have mentioned The Shining does a great job of that in the "Come Play with us, Daniel." scene. I've seen that scene maybe a dozen times, but it weirds me out Each. Time. I. See. It. ::shudder::<br /><br />I was trying to say about The Others but had a massive connection malfunction, it, The Devil's Backbone and 1941's The Uninvited are great horror movies for their use of atmosphere and dread and minimal use of ghosts. In fact, you only see the ghost 3 times in The Uninvited, but it makes an impact each time you see it.<br />Ty in TXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-10045886031331296352013-05-17T21:58:08.071-04:002013-05-17T21:58:08.071-04:00T-Rav, I haven't seen it, but he's definit...T-Rav, I haven't seen it, but he's definitely done a lot to move beyond Potter. I don't know yet if he can do it because he still looks so young, but I wish him well.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-78025036667470239012013-05-17T21:53:31.065-04:002013-05-17T21:53:31.065-04:00I think Radcliffe is probably a solid actor who di...I think Radcliffe is probably a solid actor who did himself a real favor with this non-Harry Potter role....although on the other hand, there's "Equus."T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-6752025884828821622013-05-17T21:40:57.592-04:002013-05-17T21:40:57.592-04:00Scott, I like Radcliffe as well, though I'm no...Scott, I like Radcliffe as well, though I'm not fully sold on him as an actor yet.<br /><br />I didn't realize the director of <i>Poltergeist III</i> had any sort of plan! ;P Seriously though, that is another good way to scare people. It's all about isolation.<br /><br />Cool news on <i>POD</i>.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-27649128292236331272013-05-17T21:30:04.928-04:002013-05-17T21:30:04.928-04:00Andrew -
Sorry I'm late. My schedule is star...Andrew - <br /><br />Sorry I'm late. My schedule is starting to get much, much busier and will continue that way throughout the summer.<br /><br />Having said that, I have yet to see this film. I only glanced at the review lest I encounter spoilers.<br /><br />I will say that I like Daniel Radcliffe - he seems to have a good head on his shoulders and hopefully he'll have a very successful career.<br /><br />Re: the use of space mentioned above, while the film is not great, the director of <i>Poltergeist III</i> set the story in the city because he felt, rightfully so, that there's something scary when you're - not alone - but literally surrounded by people and no one can help you.<br /><br />P.S. I know you're a fan - the indie label Scream! Factory will be releasing a Special Edition Blu-Ray of <i>Prince of Darkness</i> later this year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-86761659504526771042013-05-17T15:32:24.227-04:002013-05-17T15:32:24.227-04:00T-Rav, This is one of those films that really hits...T-Rav, This is one of those films that really hits you in all the places that humans generally have fears. It doesn't just try to throw things at it, it actually works on things like our fear of the unknown, our fear of being boxed in, our fear of not being able to do something about a menace that is slowly approaching... deer in the headlights. It all adds up quite nicely in this. I was impressed.<br /><br />I also appreciate that this film didn't just try to gross you out. Gore isn't scary, it's just disgusting. And this film doesn't try to substitute that to get a rise out of you.<br /><br />Nice reference to <i>The Shining</i> because it does a lot of the same things. Kubrick in <i>The Shining</i> really knows how to use space to make you feel claustrophobic and like you're in an environment that is too large to be safe... too large to control or to monitor. Those are the types of things that I think generate real horror for the audience because they play on things that bother us at an instinctual level.<br />AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-2670768656285665962013-05-17T15:24:45.580-04:002013-05-17T15:24:45.580-04:00My sister had kind of the same reaction to this as...My sister had kind of the same reaction to this as you. She went in thinking it wasn't going to be anything special; afterwards, she said she got really spooked by the movie--and my sister is not someone who gets spooked easily. <br /><br />The talk about hallways and everything kinda reminds me of the two scenes from <i>The Shining</i> that freak me out no matter how many times I see the movie. In all these cases, there's a long distance between you and the ghosts; there's a tone of danger, but you're not close enough to look them in the eye. It's kind of that nameless dread thing.T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-82452659175557898512013-05-17T11:21:22.219-04:002013-05-17T11:21:22.219-04:00Ty, Woman In Black definitely isn't my favorit...Ty, <i>Woman In Black</i> definitely isn't my favorite, but I thought it was one of the best horror films to come along in a long time. It really stands out again all the slasher flicks they are doing today.<br /><br />Give it a second chance, you might like it more.<br /><br />Yeah... CGI. That's definitely one of my biggest frustrations with modern films. Rather than aid a film, CGI has become films and I tune out almost immediately once that starts. "Hey look at what our computer guys did! Look... shiny!" Zzzzzzz.<br /><br /><i>The Others</i> is a fantastic horror movie in a similar vein to this one and I highly recommend it. I should definitely review that at some point. It has a fascinating twist to it.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-23968264818663510072013-05-17T11:14:32.945-04:002013-05-17T11:14:32.945-04:00Shawn, It's definitely a great change of pace ...Shawn, It's definitely a great change of pace from the torture porn and slasher flicks, which I'm entirely sick of. I never did like the torture porn at all and the slasher films are really dull. This was different.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-26704539377170629192013-05-17T07:29:18.413-04:002013-05-17T07:29:18.413-04:00I watched this on disc and was less than impressed...I watched this on disc and was less than impressed. But now I'm suspecting that much like the Incredibles, it was my state of mind when watching the movie. The Incredibles is now one of my favorites.<br /><br />I agree with you Andrew, atmosphere can do a great deal for a movie. Take The Haunting (please), much like the Star Wars prequels, it sacrificed story in exchange for a big CGI-nothon of stuff plastered to the screen. One could almost wonder if the producer and the director sat in the office planning this movie out and for every plot hole or gap, their response was: "Meh, We'll CGI something in....the kids will love it."<br /><br />Now take The Others, low budget, almost now CGI, mostly practical effects and the far far superior product. <br /><br />So much so that you ought to do one of your side by side comparisons if you don't review it separately. :)Ty in TXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-46700388722688521762013-05-17T06:54:08.585-04:002013-05-17T06:54:08.585-04:00The wife and I went and saw this when it came out....The wife and I went and saw this when it came out. It's a solid horror movie that is filled to the brim with spooky atmosphere. And as you said, the film's creepiness is a slow burn. Good performances from all involved, lovely sets and costumes, all in all, a nice change from all the torture-porn that has reigned supreme since <i>Saw</i> and <i>Hostel</i> have been inflicted upon us.shawnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-3628489520142558462013-05-17T01:29:07.012-04:002013-05-17T01:29:07.012-04:00I'll tell you, I've run across some really...I'll tell you, I've run across some really good/interesting films in the past year or two and they've all been small-budget films.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-11904725327985117922013-05-17T01:27:14.278-04:002013-05-17T01:27:14.278-04:00I would agree with you on both counts :)
I would agree with you on both counts :)<br />Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-78430517305605554462013-05-17T01:25:04.351-04:002013-05-17T01:25:04.351-04:00Jed, You're welcome. I think you're right...Jed, You're welcome. I think you're right about the low expectation films, but I do want to stress that this is more than that too. I thought this was a genuinely good film all around, not just compared to expectations.<br /><br />As an aside, I am actually finding lately that the low-budget stuff (formerly known as "independent film") is where the better films are being made. They don't seem to be as bound by the need to score a billion dollar hit, so they are still willing to take chances and do more interesting scripts. Plus, I suspect that things like a lack of a CGI budget helps many of these films.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-8775011941000414052013-05-17T01:18:19.702-04:002013-05-17T01:18:19.702-04:00I find a lot of these low expectation films to be ...I find a lot of these low expectation films to be some of the best stuff being done now. I suppose there is some of the notion that with expectations low, it permits the viewer the joy of being pleasantly surprised. That said, I appreciate your review for detailing why the choices made by the film makers seem to work. Thanks for the review, and I'll keep an eye out for it. Good horror is a relatively rare commodity.Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.com