I'm not a horror fan at all, but got invited to this screening and decided to go see what all the hoopla was about. What I got was an interesting piece which I might sooner qualify as a supernatural thriller than a horror movie (but I guess that's what J-horror movies are). Sure, it's quite gross in a couple of places and there are a few heart-stopping moments as well, but what really impressed me was that the entire movie, from the first minute to the last, is filled with this weird kind of suspenseful energy. Even when literally nothing particularly frightening in itself is going on, it still feels «off», it's still unsettling, uncomfortable, on edge. And that for me was the strength of this movie. Not having seen Hideo Nakata's previous Ringu movies, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that he seems to be a master of creating an atmosphere scarier than any special-effect driven sequence could. All the actors did a good job as well and Sissy Spacek's cameo was a nice touch though I would have liked to have seen a bit more background to the Max-Rachel relationship. All in all, I predict a good show at the box-office for this one!
Reviews
2 Reviews
Troy
(2004)
Strangely flat and unemotional movie with one redeeming quality - Eric Bana
17 May 2004
For one of the greatest stories ever told, and a movie that had all the right pieces - great cast, incredible locations, wonderful story and loads of money - this was a strangely flat and underwhelming enterprise.
Brad Pitt seemed uninspired, even disinterested at times, Orly is only slightly less culpable, but only because he obviously is not experienced or mature enough of a thespian for deep, dramatic roles yet, and Diane Kruger is a casting disaster the size of Titanic. Yeah, she's a pretty girl, but I'm sure Hollywood is full of pretty girls who CAN act.
Although considering what silliness they were all forced to utter by the scriptwriter(s), one can be quite forgiving.
I won't even start with the up-and-down directing and the shameless exploitation of the hunk factor (but c'mon, do the Hollywood producers really think we are THAT interested in Brad's naked behind?! the man could barely keep his pants on the entire movie!)
Still, despite all that - and that is the biggest surprise here - this is hardly a bad movie. Even despite bouts of laughter during what were supposed to be dramatic scenes (and a few derogatory audience comments regarding Orly's matchstick legs), the fact that women in the movie are basically window-dressing without three brain cells between them, and ridiculously silly and out-of-place dialogue. Why? Three reasons, really.
One - Eric Bana. Sure, he was lost as the Hulk, so much so that I was beginning to wonder if he were the same guy from Chopper and Black Hawk Down, but he more than made up for it with his thoughtful and insightful portrayal of Hector, the man who knows love, honor and sacrifice. Not only did he steal this movie, he slam-dunked it!
Two - THE fight scene. Yes, I'm talking the Hector-Achilles duel to the death. That was one excellent piece of movie-making, and all praises go to Bana and Pitt who did it all by themselves, no stunt doubles.
Three - the Peter O'Toole moment. The only really touching and spot-on dramatic moment in the entire 163 minute movie - King Priam begging the arrogant warrior who had just killed his son and disrespected his body to give it back for a proper funeral. You gotta give the man who can utter such a sappy line as "I loved my son from the moment he opened his eyes till the moment you closed them" with such conviction and heartache all the credit he fully deserves.
Now, if only those three things were enough. Alas, for this viewer they were not, and I left the theater thinking "where is a director with passion and vision of Peter Jackson when you really need him?" Sad, but true.
Brad Pitt seemed uninspired, even disinterested at times, Orly is only slightly less culpable, but only because he obviously is not experienced or mature enough of a thespian for deep, dramatic roles yet, and Diane Kruger is a casting disaster the size of Titanic. Yeah, she's a pretty girl, but I'm sure Hollywood is full of pretty girls who CAN act.
Although considering what silliness they were all forced to utter by the scriptwriter(s), one can be quite forgiving.
I won't even start with the up-and-down directing and the shameless exploitation of the hunk factor (but c'mon, do the Hollywood producers really think we are THAT interested in Brad's naked behind?! the man could barely keep his pants on the entire movie!)
Still, despite all that - and that is the biggest surprise here - this is hardly a bad movie. Even despite bouts of laughter during what were supposed to be dramatic scenes (and a few derogatory audience comments regarding Orly's matchstick legs), the fact that women in the movie are basically window-dressing without three brain cells between them, and ridiculously silly and out-of-place dialogue. Why? Three reasons, really.
One - Eric Bana. Sure, he was lost as the Hulk, so much so that I was beginning to wonder if he were the same guy from Chopper and Black Hawk Down, but he more than made up for it with his thoughtful and insightful portrayal of Hector, the man who knows love, honor and sacrifice. Not only did he steal this movie, he slam-dunked it!
Two - THE fight scene. Yes, I'm talking the Hector-Achilles duel to the death. That was one excellent piece of movie-making, and all praises go to Bana and Pitt who did it all by themselves, no stunt doubles.
Three - the Peter O'Toole moment. The only really touching and spot-on dramatic moment in the entire 163 minute movie - King Priam begging the arrogant warrior who had just killed his son and disrespected his body to give it back for a proper funeral. You gotta give the man who can utter such a sappy line as "I loved my son from the moment he opened his eyes till the moment you closed them" with such conviction and heartache all the credit he fully deserves.
Now, if only those three things were enough. Alas, for this viewer they were not, and I left the theater thinking "where is a director with passion and vision of Peter Jackson when you really need him?" Sad, but true.
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