Last Seen Contemporary Movie

[Tommy Jarvis]

Black Christmas

I gave this one a chance. And you know what? The opening was not half bad. Kind of makes you think that the film would not be bad. Maybe it just got panned because it has such big shoes to fill. Then, it went downhill very fast. A remake with no original ideas. Hot girls, exposition,... Not very original.

That brings me to another thing: If you have no original ideas, you can always save it by at least remembering what made the original stand out. The scary thing about the original was how little we knew about the killer. Bob Clark left it to our imagination. This one went so much on the nose that it became annoying. With a few shots clearly put in there, just to make the jocks and their date to go "Dude! Gross!".

The second star is for the icepick kill/accident and the plastic bag nod to the original. And Mary Elizabeth Winstead deserves better than this.

[Tommy Jarvis]

Pontypool had an interesting concept, to say the least. A local radio station in the middle of what looks to be a zombie outbreak (or something akin to that). And in all fairness, it had some good moments. A good build up during the bit when they realise that there's something serious going and the final scene with Ken Loney is touching.

That said, I could not help but think they did not fully reach the potential this concept has to offer. With a few on location shots (think of reporters like Trevor Hannah in the Dawn of the Dead remake), good voice actors who earned their chops in animation, good use of facial expressions,...

All in all, I liked it (and I respect what the crew did with this budget), but I can also not help but wonder what someone like David Fincher could have done with this.

[FryeDwight]

Originally Posted by Tommy Jarvis

Pontypool had an interesting concept, to say the least. A local radio station in the middle of what looks to be a zombie outbreak (or something akin to that). And in all fairness, it had some good moments. A good build up during the bit when they realise that there's something serious going and the final scene with Ken Loney is touching.

That said, I could not help but think they did not fully reach the potential this concept has to offer. With a few on location shots (think of reporters like Trevor Hannah in the Dawn of the Dead remake), good voice actors who earned their chops in animation, good use of facial expressions,...

All in all, I liked it (and I respect what the crew did with this budget), but I can also not help but wonder what someone like David Fincher could have done with this.

We just saw this over the weekend and have to agree with You all the way. Interesting premise, and not bad for the budget, but really could have been much better. Steven McHattie was good, though. **1/2

[Tommy Jarvis]

Good point on Steven McHattie. Shame I forgot to give him a separate mention.

[FryeDwight]

You been a smoker, Frye?


LOL[/QUOTE]
Hi Sculpt, sorry to take this long getting back-work been hectic, but on Vacation now and also have able to read posts from other members about smoking and all well thought out responses.

After that episode with Mom's B&H Menthol, steered well clear of it. Tried a puff here and there, but nothing to stick. Just find it a nasty smelly thing...Mrs FD doesn't like it either. In single days, only dated two girls who indulged; one who did Marlboro 100's, but her kisses were akin to being mugged, so could deal with that and last one (shortly before Mrs FD) smoked Clover cigs, which at least didn't stink too much. Besides, I was more intrigued by the pint of Sloe Gin she kept in her big purse, for "Emergencies"

As gotten older. still find it a revolting practice, hate second hand smoke and loathe how most smokers think They can just toss the butt wherever. With what We know about it and the effects not to mention the cost, why start?

[DeadbeatAtDawn]

Malignant, 2021. 5/10

Director: James Wan




Dumb as fuck.

[Sculpt]

Originally Posted by Tommy Jarvis

Black Christmas

I gave this one a chance. And you know what? The opening was not half bad. Kind of makes you think that the film would not be bad. Maybe it just got panned because it has such big shoes to fill. Then, it went downhill very fast. A remake with no original ideas. Hot girls, exposition,... Not very original.

That brings me to another thing: If you have no original ideas, you can always save it by at least remembering what made the original stand out. The scary thing about the original was how little we knew about the killer. Bob Clark left it to our imagination. This one went so much on the nose that it became annoying. With a few shots clearly put in there, just to make the jocks and their date to go "Dude! Gross!".

The second star is for the icepick kill/accident and the plastic bag nod to the original. And Mary Elizabeth Winstead deserves better than this.

And obviously, why remake Black Christmas? The only answer is for the producers to make money (off the name) and for crew/actors to work.

And damnitall, if you're going to be lame enough to "remake" Black Christmas, then take advantage of the opportunity to re-imagine it into something different.

[Sculpt]

Originally Posted by Tommy Jarvis

Pontypool had an interesting concept, to say the least. A local radio station in the middle of what looks to be a zombie outbreak (or something akin to that). And in all fairness, it had some good moments. A good build up during the bit when they realise that there's something serious going and the final scene with Ken Loney is touching.

That said, I could not help but think they did not fully reach the potential this concept has to offer. With a few on location shots (think of reporters like Trevor Hannah in the Dawn of the Dead remake), good voice actors who earned their chops in animation, good use of facial expressions,...

All in all, I liked it (and I respect what the crew did with this budget), but I can also not help but wonder what someone like David Fincher could have done with this.

Well said! Yes, what could David Fincher do with this?

What was the budget?

I also really liked the concept of the sound causing the zombies (as I recall) -- symbolic, I think, of an idea causing a threat. Liked the setup, but definitely went off the rails for me. Lot's of folks on here liked it, so I didn't pan it as much as I would have liked. It was ok, but leaves you wishing it was done better. I never think of it as a budget issue. It's not a space odyssey film. Thinking of Oliver Stone's Talk Radio was great cause of the writing, acting and direction. It's not primarily a money issue.

[Tommy Jarvis]

Originally Posted by Sculpt

What was the budget?

According to imdb, it was around 1.5 million.

[Sculpt]

Originally Posted by Tommy Jarvis

According to imdb, it was around 1.5 million.

Interesting. Talk Radio's budget was only 4 million. And plenty of that went to pay Oliver Stone, Alec Baldwin, John C. McGinley and professional industry workers. I know Talk Radio doesn't have zombie makeup, but that doesn't need be expensive any more than some practical zombie violence/action. There's some inexpensive CG set/background special effects if needed.