Christopher Ashe
19th January 2007, 05:09 PM
Well my girlfriend works at a video store and I leech off of that as often as possible. Generally she brings me home the pre-releases and screeners (particularly movies from THiNKfilm) and, being a total movie-junkie I generally will watch just about anything.
Our latest consisted of Crank and Texas Chainsaw Massacre: the Beginning. So I'll start with the bad.
Texas Chainsaw does not get my recommendation. While I was actually a fan of the remake (I own a copy), this prequal didn't strike me in any way as a good addition to the series or the story. It focuses far more on the family, with only a few bits about Leatherface. All-in-all its a standard bit about a bunch of kids who get stuck in the Texas town and are systematically tortured, humiliated and killed. Thing is, as much as they sort of try, I didn't give a goddamn about any one of the characters and was not impressed with the way they died. The gore was unoriginal and not up to standard, the plot was barely there and the entire feel of the movie was weak. I don't recommend seeing it at all.
Now, on the other hand, Crank totally rocked. This movie was amazingly directed, had a really fun story angle and was amazingly entertaining. The characters and the progression of events keep you interested the entire time and brilliant use of sound and psychotic camera work really add to the story and feel of the movie. The climax is exactly as it should be and the entire film is beautifully over-the-top. I plan to own this one.
While I'm on the subject of films, see the Descent. It's by the guy who directed Dog Soldiers (which is also a great one) and has the distinguished honor of being the only horror flick to actually creep me out in years. The heroines of the story are not bumbling girls caught in some cave, they are adept and the mistakes they make are all completely justified. The direction will drive anyone who is claustrophobic into an anxiety attack, and will get you even if you're not. The buildup is excellent and the movie delivers well. See this one definitely.
That's all I got on movies. Feel free to drop a line if you've seen a good one recently.
- Ashe
Our latest consisted of Crank and Texas Chainsaw Massacre: the Beginning. So I'll start with the bad.
Texas Chainsaw does not get my recommendation. While I was actually a fan of the remake (I own a copy), this prequal didn't strike me in any way as a good addition to the series or the story. It focuses far more on the family, with only a few bits about Leatherface. All-in-all its a standard bit about a bunch of kids who get stuck in the Texas town and are systematically tortured, humiliated and killed. Thing is, as much as they sort of try, I didn't give a goddamn about any one of the characters and was not impressed with the way they died. The gore was unoriginal and not up to standard, the plot was barely there and the entire feel of the movie was weak. I don't recommend seeing it at all.
Now, on the other hand, Crank totally rocked. This movie was amazingly directed, had a really fun story angle and was amazingly entertaining. The characters and the progression of events keep you interested the entire time and brilliant use of sound and psychotic camera work really add to the story and feel of the movie. The climax is exactly as it should be and the entire film is beautifully over-the-top. I plan to own this one.
While I'm on the subject of films, see the Descent. It's by the guy who directed Dog Soldiers (which is also a great one) and has the distinguished honor of being the only horror flick to actually creep me out in years. The heroines of the story are not bumbling girls caught in some cave, they are adept and the mistakes they make are all completely justified. The direction will drive anyone who is claustrophobic into an anxiety attack, and will get you even if you're not. The buildup is excellent and the movie delivers well. See this one definitely.
That's all I got on movies. Feel free to drop a line if you've seen a good one recently.
- Ashe