Hostel:

[Just call me Dan 0]

Did anyone actually go out and see this flick yet? Does it live up to all the hyp the commercials give for the execution scenes? Is it worth my money to see some pretty hardcore blood and guts? Anyone? Bueller?

[Epic Reine 0]

I saw it. Very much like Cabin Fever.

 

It definatley picked up after about 45 minutes into the film and overall it was decent. The only thing it didn't have was the ridiculously over the top ending that Cabin Fever had.

[Guest Retro Rob]

I saw it. Very much like Cabin Fever.

 

I saw both films and I thought Hostel was a complete 180 by Roth, so what similarities did you see?

[reign 0]

I'll answer the similiarities question...he desensitizes me from the horror aspect with the goofy characters in both films and luke warm attempts at comedy and too a lesser extent with the nudity which really serves no purpose...he also used the "there isn't a single person here who will help you because you are out of your element including the cops" theme again...don't get me wrong...this wasn't Cabin Fever II by a mile but if Eli Roth is such a Mike fan I just wonder where all the silliness comes from...I was hoping to see a serious horror film and found myself laughing almost the whole way through(prompting my girlfriend to wonder what the hell was wrong with me)....I still love Roth's attempts at making these films though...just expected more...and by the way the gore isn't nearly as bad as everybody says with the exception of the eyeball scene...the other stuff is all in your mind...

[nl5xsk1 0]

I said it in the other Hostel thread: this isn't supposed to be a standard horror film. It's supposed to be (I think) an American version of the Asian Extreme genre.

 

Compare it to Visitor Q or Ichi the Killer (both of which were laugh out loud at points, and weren't intended to be scary films) rather than a normal horror flick.

[gWIL 0]

More disturbing then gorey. Eli Roth furthers cements himself as the future of the horror genre with the most disturbing movie I have ever seen.

[reign 0]

Rent Irreversible if you want to see disturbing....Roth's got nothing on that....

[Special K 0]

Ichi the Killer WAS funny, but after that, and Suicide Circle were over, I felt actually both nauseated and desensitized.

 

Cabin Fever was pretty good once I warmed to the odd mix of goofiness and sadism.

 

To me, the best American horror movies still haven't been that gory, but had an element of helplesness and realism. TCM (original, natch) Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, and, oddly enough the Birds really get under your skin.

[nl5xsk1 0]

The original TCM was creepy. The sequels, The Next Generation, and the remake, not so creepy. Henry was creepy because of the realism of it all. The Birds ... well, let's just agree to disagree on that.

 

Neither Ichi nor Suicide Circle bothered me. I found the lactation stuff in Visitor Q more disturbing than anything in either of those movies. Both are just too over the top to really bother me. Baise Moi disturbed me more than either.

[Just John 0]

The odd thing about this movie is that the violence that takes place outside of the torture chambers is often more graphic and excessive than what goes on inside. Notable exception to the scene involving the eye. That's all I'll say about that.

[Special K 0]

Yeah... I don't really know why The Birds creeped me out.

 

With Ichi the Killer and Suicide Circle, they aren't scary in the least, and they're a kick while you're watching them, but afterwards you're just like "what did I just watch?"

 

Oddly enough, Audition didn't really do much for me, outside of the incredibly awesome (and very short) phone ringing scene. Probably because I knew beforehand it was supposed to be a scary movie.

[nl5xsk1 0]

What's your stance on Battle Royal, K?

 

I liked it, but after hearing so much about it on the net before seeing it, I was a bit disappointed.

I mean, it was good, but the shocking great flick that it had been hyped to be. (kind of like Audition, I guess. I expected to be in awe after that, too. Liked it, but didn't love it.)

[Special K 0]

Battle Royale? Just fucking awesome. It's both exhilerating and fucked up. The social commentary isn't nearly as obscure as it is in a Miike film, and the acting's good. Plus Beat Takeshi is awesome in it. He's disturbing, sad, and also absolutely hilarious.

I think everyone who has a chance to see it, should. Just don't go in expecting a gore flick anything on par with Miike. The violence isn't even on par with many American action flicks like Robocop or Total Recall, it's just that it's about kids killing kids.

 

Then they should all avoid Battle Royale II, because it sucks.

 

Out of the movies in the 'extreme' genre I've seen (admittedly, not too terribly many) Battle Royale and Oldboy are by far the top of the heap. great directing, COGENT storylines, good acting, and not so nihilistic as to ultimately take you out of the movie.

 

I'd say Ichi the Killer and Dead or Alive were both really impressive stylistically, ultimately frustrating, but worth the time to watch.

 

Audition was a straight-up good movie, but disappointing given its substantial hype. Again, I bet it would have been a lot more effective if I hadn't known it would turn into a horror movie. The telephone-ringing scene is one of the best single shock scenes I've seen in a movie.

 

I didn't like Suicide Circle much, though

Ziggy Stardust

was pretty amusing, the movie was kind of a slog.

 

Probably not an 'extreme' movie, but Versus kicks all kinds of ass.

[nl5xsk1 0]

I feel like this is an interview, but have you seen either Dead Or Alive 2 (which I preferred to the original) or Izo (which was the least entertaining Miike movie that I've seen)?

 

I haven't seen Oldboy, but I've heard nothing but good things so would like to check it out. It sucks, there's nowhere around here to rent these movies, so I end up buying them and hoping that they're good enough to own and re-watch a few times to justify the $$. Versus, I don't even know if I've heard of.

 

Audition was a straight-up good movie, but disappointing given its substantial hype. Again, I bet it would have been a lot more effective if I hadn't known it would turn into a horror movie. The telephone-ringing scene is one of the best single shock scenes I've seen in a movie.

That movie appearing in the Bravo special was the worst thing that ever could have happened to it. It became a movie that everyone needed to see, but the one twist to it all had been spoiled by that very appearance on Bravo. It's a good movie, but just a disappointment to so many people with such high expectations.

[Special K 0]

Nope, Audition, Dead or Alive, and Ichi are the extent of my Miike experience. I want to see Izo for Bob Sapp and Beat Takeshi, and I really want to see Three Extremes. Visitor Q sounds like it might be a bit much.

 

Oldboy is GREAT. See it yesterday! Very good plot, good acting and directing, a couple killer fights, and a really warped humanity. I need to go see Sympathy for Mister Vengeance now.

 

Versus is really fun. It's a zombie movie with lots of way-too-cool characters, some very funny humor, and outlandish action. Can't wait for the forthcoming sequel. Not a meaningful movie by any stretch of the imagination, but you can tell it was made with love.

 

And while not extreme in any sense of the word, I'd reccomend almost any movie directed by Takeshi Kitano ("Beat" Takeshi when he's acting). Hana-Bi (Fireworks), Sonatine, Brother (Which was made in America and also stars Omar Epps) and his Zatoichi are all fantastic. You may know him as the host of Most Extreme Challenge. You'll be surprised by how excellent his movies are.

[nl5xsk1 0]

I'm slowly increasing my DVD library, and got the three Dead Or Alive movies as a present from a now-ex girlfriend. The first was good, the second very good, and I've heard so many sketchy reviews about the 3rd I haven't bothered to see it yet.

 

Izo I saw in the theatre, at a small movie place in Harvard Square. It was just 'meh' (the Sapp appearance was one of the most memorable things about the movie).

 

The next time I'm at Newbury Comics (which is where I buy most of my 'out there' DVD's) I'll check out if they have Versus or Oldboy. If they're as good as you say, I'm sure they'll purchase.

 

And I can't say that I've seen anything by Takashi Kitano. We might have to stop talking, you're making a list of 'movies to see' too long for me to deal with.

[Special K 0]

In terms of Takeshi Kitano, look for Brother. They'll have it at most Blockbusters.

[Eclipse 0]

What were the gory/disturbing scenes in Hostel? Some of my friends told me that the movie was boring, and pretty much started like a softcore porn....

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

What were the gory/disturbing scenes in Hostel? Some of my friends told me that the movie was boring, and pretty much started like a softcore porn....

Most of the gore/violence isn't that affective, in my opinion. The movie isn't boring, but it isn't exactly thrilling either. The first half is pretty much hilarious and deplorable. What I remember as far as gore goes:

 

A couple of graphically slit throats

Butchered face w/eye hanging out, optic nerve gets cut off (this is one of the cheesy ones)

Severed fingers, severed leg

Power drill to the chest (not nearly as bad as you'd imagine)

Slashed feet that rip apart at the ankles when someone walks (the most disturbing thing, I'd say)

Indiscriminate hacking and cutting

Person hit by train

 

It's no worse than the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake, which I actually found more visceral (if less funny).

[Black Lushus 0]

What's your stance on Battle Royal, K?

 

I liked it, but after hearing so much about it on the net before seeing it, I was a bit disappointed.

I mean, it was good, but the shocking great flick that it had been hyped to be. (kind of like Audition, I guess. I expected to be in awe after that, too. Liked it, but didn't love it.)

 

I caught it for the first time this past weekend...good movie and all, great concept, but I wasn't blown away or anything. I found Bully to be more disturbing (kid on kid violence) than this.

[nl5xsk1 0]

^ I agree ... realistic teen violence is much more bothersome than 'cartoonish' or just unrealistic cartoon teen violence.

 

Plus, Bully had Bijou Phillips. And she's boner-riffic.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

My favorite Miike movie is Happiness of the Katakuris.

 

Fuckin' hysterical. The old man lobbing pieces of wood at crows. A sumo pedophile. Holy shit.

[Just John 0]

What were the gory/disturbing scenes in Hostel? Some of my friends told me that the movie was boring, and pretty much started like a softcore porn....

 

In order:

Decapitation (not seen, other than the severed head)

Wire cutters to the toe (in the preview)

Guy gets filled with holes courtesy of a power drill

Achilles tendons cut, completely ripped trying to walk

Throat slitting

Various random shots of grusome things (nothing that you can really make out though)

Fingers get cut off via chainsaw

Torturer w/chainsaw slips on blood, cuts off own leg by mistake

Some shootings

Some guy gets an axe to the face

Eye pops out after being blowtorched, then eye is cut off with yellow ooze spilling

Girl gets run over, guy circles around and hits her again

Villian's goons get their skulls caved in (seen) by kids smashing them with rocks and pipes

Eyeless person commits suicide by jumping in front of a train (blood splatters onlookers)

Fingers get cut off with surgical knife, followed by a graphic throat slice

 

And yes, the beginning has lots of titties, but no graphic sex (at least nothing worse than what you normally see in an R-rated movie). I don't feel that needs a spoiler, as it was quite gratuitous and the mere presence of titties doesn't affect the plot.

[nl5xsk1 0]

And yes, the beginning has lots of titties, but no graphic sex (at least nothing worse than what you normally see in an R-rated movie). I don't feel that needs a spoiler, as it was quite gratuitous and the mere presence of titties doesn't affect the plot.

They affected the plot in my pants!

 

/sorry

 

+1

[Black Lushus 0]

is this movie all over the place and outta left field wacky like Cabin Fever?

[Just John 0]

It seems like it at first, but it all wraps up nicely in the end.

[The Mandarin 0]

I saw Battle Royale (Special Edition, I guess) for the first time a few hours ago and was very disappointed. The action was neat, but unrealistic at times. I didn't understand the motives for some characters and was baffled at the insertion of some stuff. Lousy subtitles didn't help either. I thought it was decent, but not great.

 

While I didn't like Cabin Fever at all, I'm actually interested in Hostel. I'll watch it at some point.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Cabin Fever was retarded except for the part where the guy is shouting about how he "made it" then immediately gets wasted.

[Damaramu 0]

Well I know this is really late but I just finally saw the movie.

I thought it was funny how they said it was based on true events. That usually means that something far away happened that has like one teeny similarity and therefore it is based on true events. Someone got tortured in Asia or something so they made this movie and claimed it was based on true events......probably.

I mean didn't the events that TCM is based on happen up North? And wasn't it just one guy killing some kids with a chainsaw?

 

Anyway it wasn't scary. Nothing is really scary. Scary movies these days are just gore and nothing really scary.

[AmericanDragon 0]

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre wasn't based on a true event that involved a chainsaw. They just based Leatherface on certain real life serial killers and gave him a chainsaw.