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jweathers777
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- Review count5
- Helpfulness votes1
- First reviewMay 2, 2008
- Last reviewAugust 20, 2011
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.8
jweathers777's Reviews
Overall rating
5
/
5
Surprisingly great remake!
PostedAugust 20, 2011
jweathers777
from Atlanta, GA
It was *terrific*! My wife and I were absolutely delighted with it. Really pretty much flawless in my book. There was not a weak link in the cast, but Colin Farrell really shines here. He exhibited a wonderful, tangible animal magnetism and confidently owned this role. I loved the acting, the direction, the writing, and the delicate-but-perfect mix of horror with humor - something that sooooooo painfully few horror films accomplish correctly.
I also quite enjoyed the subtle but effective usage of 3D and would recommend it in 3D - which is not at all what I imagined going into the film. I thought it was just one of the current crop of films that have 3D slapped onto them with no real thought behind it and just as an excuse to mark up the price. Not the case here thankfully!
I was a fan of the original _Fright Night_ and thought the idea of yet another remake film sounded terrible, but *this* is how you do a remake: it was a fine film in its own right, honored the heart of the original, and threw some of its own fun flourishes into the mix.
Well done!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
Delightfully gruesome and fun film!
PostedAugust 21, 2010
jweathers777
from Atlanta, GA
I really loved Piranha 3D and had a blast at my midnight screening.
There was never a dull moment for me. The first half while relatively quiet compared to the second half is funny and filled with bountiful shots of spring-break revelry and aesthetically pleasing nudity that's all in good fun. The set up for the characters was competently done and even though no one is going to win an award for best acting here, there was no example of distracting bad acting and the cast sold their two dimensional characters. We get enough development of our main characters that they aren't just generic nothings when the carnage starts.
Once the second half kicks in, Aja takes the film into overdrive and throws one jaw dropping gruesome set piece after another at the viewer.
My audience was roaring with laughter and clapping at gag after gag whether it was the "ballet" sequence with its beautiful eye candy (worth the ticket price alone) or some of the nasty goodness that Aja sends our way during the gory chaos of the film's second half. Despite the overall humorous nature of the material, there were still some tense moments and a few places where you find yourself in the curious position of both laughing at and feeling unsettled by what you're seeing on screen.
Aja perfectly captures the tone when he says it is "Gremlins for adults".
I expected skillful direction from Aja, and he delivered. He uses his skill at building tension that he put to frightening good use in Haute Tension in a different way here. Often, he will build anticipation for an over-the-top gag by telegraphing and then delaying as you ask yourself whether he's really about to go where it looks like he's headed and then "Bam!" he really does go there.
In addition to delivering the goods and delivering them well, the film also gives us several pleasing nods at other genre films and fun cameos from Richard Dreyfus and Christopher Lloyd.
This film knows how to have a guilty good time!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Brilliant Film Making!
PostedJuly 19, 2008
jweathers777
from Atlanta, GA
This is the best movie of the year so far. Go see early and often! Yes, Heath ledger's performance as The Joker is amazing as is the writing of this character, but it would be a great disservice to the rest of the talented cast to only single out this member. They all step up to the plate and knock it out of the park.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Disturbing and Suspenseful = Excellent
PostedMay 31, 2008
jweathers777
from Atlanta, GA
I'm a horror film fan who likes his horror films full of suspense, and I especially relish those rare gems like the original _Texas Chainsaw Massacre_ and the recent _The Descent_ that leave you with a lingering disturbed feeling from the psychological aspects of the film's overall tone. For me that's the purpose of a real horror film and this film delivers the goods. _The Strangers_ is an amazing first film from its writer and director Bryan Bertino who directs his excellent lead actors from a well-paced bit of introductory drama and then proceeds to effortlessly ramp up the dread and suspense to peak levels before taking the audience on a twisted ride. The acting in this film is top-notch and the characters are believable in their actions never descending into horror cliché actions that beg for some heckler to attack. Go see this film for a good scare, but those who don't savor being disturbed should stay at home.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
One of the Best Comic to Film Adaptations!
PostedMay 2, 2008
jweathers777
from Atlanta, GA
This is an amazing and fun film. Solid acting from everyone -
especially the Robert Downey, Jr. who truly becomes Tony Stark
and owns the film. The pacing is lively, the technology cool and full
of spectacle but without upstaging the characters and story. The CGI -
flawless to my eye. This film is pretty much perfect except that it had
to end and that we now have to wait until 2010 for more. I would say
that this film sits comfortably beside Superman (the original 1970's
film), Batman (the Tim Burton film), and Batman Begins as a perfect
adaption of a comic book into an awesome movie. Bravo! Bravo!
especially the Robert Downey, Jr. who truly becomes Tony Stark
and owns the film. The pacing is lively, the technology cool and full
of spectacle but without upstaging the characters and story. The CGI -
flawless to my eye. This film is pretty much perfect except that it had
to end and that we now have to wait until 2010 for more. I would say
that this film sits comfortably beside Superman (the original 1970's
film), Batman (the Tim Burton film), and Batman Begins as a perfect
adaption of a comic book into an awesome movie. Bravo! Bravo!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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