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Indeed - cracking movie. I have the Eureka/Masters of Cinema blu-ray which is excellent. Lorre is so creepy, yet also you can feel for him in the 'trial' sequence. Powerful stuff.
I cant believe it has taken me 14 years to see this film..what married life does for you eh ?
Well worth the wait....a fantastic film,beautifully made with amazing performances from Bill and Scarlett ..
What did he whisper to her at the end I wonder ?
5/5 for me.
We'd love to know that, don't we? ;-)
Might have to jump that one up the list, ashamed to say I've never seen it, either, but I've heard that ending discussed plenty of times over the years. Seems akin to wondering what was in that briefcase in 'Pulp Fiction' (to which I say: Marsellus Wallace's soul).
Well worth it @Creasy47 me olde matey...just pour yourself a nice drink,on your own ,and you will enjoy it.
I think its the kind of film you need to be on your own to watch it,or you miss great little moments.
Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Still the most grueling experience in horror, with the bleakest ending. The reputation this film has, leads you to believe that it's wall to wall gut wrenching violence like some
so-called "torture porn" films of recent years. There is very little actual violence shown. Take Franklins death, Leatherface goes at his chest with the chain saw. Or Pams death, which if done today, would have a close up shot of the hook going into her back.
Is it the first slasher film? No, I still maintain that was the original Friday The 13th, but that shouldn't take away from the place that The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has in the history of horror. Few other films can come close to the sweaty, grimy, uncomfortable, atmosphere that runs through this film.
Chainsaw Rev-ometer:
1. Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
All three are fantastic.
I don't mean a disservice to the other actors but Leslie's presence really makes those movies.
Leslie Nielsen used to be a serious, tough hero type. Who knew back then he could be funnier than Steve Martin?
Met Mr Nielsen in 2000 and he was a nice bloke. But Airplane! And TNG were his comedy peak.
Not a horror movie, but a tragic love story. Beautiful move, a real work of art.
I don't classify TTCSM as a true slasher either, but I think there are two "true" slashers that predate FT13: Black Christmas (1974) and Halloween (1978). Friday the 13th certainly carved out the formula, however, and set in motion the wave of slashers that would flow like a severed artery throughout the 80s.
A film I revisit regularly. I believe I'm due again.
THE SAINT
Created by Leslie Charteris
Starring Adam Rayner as the charming, sophisticated and ambiguous Simon Templar, also known as 'The Saint', alongside the lovely Eliza Dushku enlisting in the role of the attractive, cunning and resourceful Patricia Holm, Templar's trusted associate, who has been missing from every single film or TV adaptation since The Saint Meets The Tiger (1943), this little piece was given life as a backdoor pilot for a potential TV Series reviving Charteris' work. Of course, after having failed to attract the interest of any broadcasting network since production on it wrapped in 2013, it was retooled as a TV film and experienced additional shooting that occurred in November 2015, eventually coming out online only a few days ago.
I was extremely excited even before the first second on the playback rolled in, being a fan of the character and initially the 1960s series with the late great Sir Roger Moore, who himself originally produced the recent effort and as such made a cameo appearance in it, this TV Film provided me both with satisfaction, and to speak rather fairly, minor gripes and bit of disappointments. Not that they are a lot nor they are effective, but they do get around to clicking on the wrong spot every now and then.
This once, as opposed to the twenty-year-prior effort of a film adaptation with Val Kilmer as The Saint, Simon Templar is given an entire new origin, putting him in the bloodline of a surviving family directly descended from the Knights Templar. The previous incarnation left The Saint's name anonymous, something he adopted due to his fascination with the Templars whereas in the piece he is firmly called Simon Templar. Then again, origins will always vary since Leslie Charteris, in his novels and short stories, never spoke about Templar's background, early life, and whatever may be in relation to his past. All we knew is that he was a crusader for justice and a problem solver.
I've got to admit, I loved how things have played out, but as with everything, the piece isn't without its faults. Apart from some of the known faces, acting performances from newcomers and unknowns were rather crude and somewhat cringeworthy. Not to mention, there are series of bad accents on behalf of the British trying to be Americans which is clear as day they're not delivering a very good job at it. Templar being an acrobat with athletic agility of a flexible cat burglar didn't sit well with me at all, as well. But, then, that thing came to my attention years ago when the trailer debuted online. That thing should have been left to Patricia Holm. While I can't put my finger exactly on it, there's something about the concept being too modern for The Saint that's not complimenting the image of the intellectual property, hence sticking to the spirit of the old Colonial era British iconicism would have been the right thing to do as done with the Roger Moore series. Not saying it shouldn't keep in touch with the modern times, but also not to forget what works and what doesn't in the matter of the IP. Portrayals matter. And I'm not talking about the persons but the universe/atmosphere as well.
I won't be spoiling further in containment of its story, but I will state again that it feels great again to have a hero related to Knights Templar who's being portrayed in a positive manner rather than what the likes of Assassin's Creed for example have been doing, villanizing and antagonizing the Crusaders and glorifying the Assassins, who, in this piece, now evolved into a large and deep dark organization known as The Brotherhood (similar to that of The Alliance from Alias, and those who know, will understand what I'm referring to). Adam Rayner has a rather distinctive image that reminds me of old portraits from comic strips that had a masculine hero given a distinguished strong look with sophistication. But, I'd rather he loses the beard and the stubble (pet peeve of mine) if he chooses to continue playing the character in the future.
In the end, I'll say this. It is recommended... If you know how to avoid some minor bad acting and bad accents.
Welcome back, Simon. Even if it's short lived.
One of my favourite horror films. I disagree, however; I think it is probably the first slasher, because there is enough of the formula there - masked killer, primarily teens killed, final chase scene with a virginal final girl - to call it so. In fact, it felt like more of a slasher film to me than Halloween.
I always forget about Black Christmas. I guess that would have been the first slasher. As for Halloween, there's a kill at the beginning, another (off screen) a bit later, then a long gap, with Michael lurking in the shadows. I don't think Halloween is a slasher either. It's a horror thriller, and a bloody good one, but I don't think that is a slasher film.
I don't know. When looking at Black Christmas, Friday The 13th, A Nightmare On Elm Street or Silent Night Deadly Night, those are unmistakably slasher films. I don't feel that TCM fits in with those. Someone once called it a reverse home invasion horror (rather than the killer invade the victims home, the victims invade the killers home), and I feel that better sums it up.
Simon Templar got a new past, something the writer Leslie Charteris steered clear from in order to keep some mystery alive, the movie shows him to be burglar/criminal which is was in the original books. He stole from the wicked and gave to the needy minus a percentage for himself of course.
I understood that this movie had some re shoots hence the Saint wearing a beard as this was during Rayners filming of Reigned. The movie in itself is a hoot and a half love the globetrotting, decent action-scenes, not a big fan of the origin story (I suppose the Templar heritage comes in handy these days, the other two Saints Ogilvy & Moore do their part even if Roger's too short in my humble experience, perhaps Dutton also would have pooped up along a possible series that will never happen). The Sainty Theme is too subtle and the Stickman in the titles is really missed.
A really nice but short lived return of Simon Templar. I do hope we get the next installment where he belongs in the thirties.
Anyway just got back from watching War For The Planet Of The Apes. And guys it was so good. Lately the big budget action blockbusters outside of Bond and the odd exception seem less and less appealing to me. I couldn't care less about the Marvel and DC films, Transformers, etc. Soulless CGI filled snoozefests. Even franchises I used to really like, such as Alien and The Fast and The Furious, have lost their luster for me this year.
The new Planet Of The Apes movies are one of those exceptions. The first one was a really nice surprise. Very well made and emotional. The sequel though is where things got really special because it was even better, an amazing film. One of the best sequels of all time. And this one is somehow even better. Has there ever been a film trilogy that's gotten better and better as they've gone on before?
The world they've created in these films is brilliantly realised. And seeing things progress from the first one (which is just set in the modern world) to this really captivating, well thought out post apocalyptic world has been an incredible journey. Seeing Ceaser evolve from the first time he speaks in the first one to the sign language/limited speech combo of the second to pretty much full on dialogue now has been awe inspiring because of how natural and earned it all feels.
The title is sort of deceptive because it's set during a war but it isn't a war movie. Not really. In fact with the journey they took through the frontier, meeting the different memorable characters, I thought it felt more western than anything else. Definite Josey Wales vibes. But don't get me wrong, when there is action it's spectacular, particuarly the final battle.
The imagery/subtext is really well done with the humans treatment of the apes in this one clearly drawing influence from the holocaust and US Slavery. Ceaser is one of the most badass, well realised film characters of all time
imo. That's an achievement in itself. They managed to make a talking monkey this credible hardened, powerful leader. You'd think they were taking it way too seriously but it really works.
The cast knock it out of the park. Andy Serkis in particular deserves praise as well as the VFX artists who apply the "digital makeup". I'm not a usually a fan of too much CGI in films but mocap I can forgive and the real, vivid landscapes in this film offsets any chance of it becoming over reliant on CGI. The effects here are pretty much flawless and it's incredible how well the apes blend with the beautiful environments they find themselves in. Amazingly lifelike. Woody Harrelson also makes a fantastic villain.
Without wanting to spoil anything, this feels like a definite ending to Ceaser's trilogy. But they have already laid the groundwork for where to take this world from here and if they can entice back the same crew to do another, I'd be there day one. But still, this is the perfect end to what's surely one of the best trilogies of all time. Probably 10/10 for me. I'm not kidding, if you haven't already then watch the first two then go and see this one.
I was going to suggest that the director, Matt Reeves, should be scooped up by EON asap, but a bit of googling has told me he's doing the next Batman film. I'd pretty much given up all hope on any of the current crop of superhero films coming close to the Dark Knight Trilogy but with him at the helm I'm genuinely excited. Hopefully they'll let him do what he wants without forcing him to make any sacrifices to fit into their "universe" fad.
I agree with everything you wrote! If you're interested, I posted my own review last page.
Excellent film.
A bit of a mixed bag.
Great film. I agree 100%.
My last watched: CRIMSON PEAK. Not bad. But I must say: I just do not see Tom Hiddleston as Bond.
Highly highly enjoyed it. Much more than I thought I would.