tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042846540404918552.post7469106888420666200..comments2023-10-28T07:20:36.263-04:00Comments on Billy Loves Stu: The Road Leads to NowherePax Romanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00951019083510283683noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042846540404918552.post-56184790483446761912009-04-08T19:55:00.000-04:002009-04-08T19:55:00.000-04:00The problem with the remake is that it eschews the...The problem with the remake is that it eschews the pivotal moral dilemma the situation causes for the parents. How far would YOU go if your child is tortured and killed in such a grotesque way. I believe Craven had a valid and important approach for his film. <BR/><BR/>The remake strips away the moral dilemma, and the completely gratuitous microwave ending is tacked on for gross-out effect. I was insulted by the film, although I found the acting and the production values professional enough. Too many horror films today are done as emotionless voyeuristic experiences. To say that they depict reality in their violence and depravity is not a strong reason to sustain their artistic or commercial integrity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042846540404918552.post-46203031982790848152009-04-01T09:59:00.000-04:002009-04-01T09:59:00.000-04:00I saw the original on video way back in the mid 19...I saw the original on video way back in the mid 1980s. I was sickened and horrified. I kept turning it off because I was so disgusted. I still think it's a sick film--but it was made for a reason.<BR/>I saw the remake. It's nowhere near as brutal as the original (seriously, how could it be?) but it was dull and boring! ALL the acting sucked and it treated the audience like a bunch of idiots. Also the gang here was cleaned up. Krug especialy looked hot and had a nice body!!!! I mean WTF??? Are we supposed to identify with them? Trust me--you missed nothing.Waynenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042846540404918552.post-1283737902136008822009-03-21T05:18:00.000-04:002009-03-21T05:18:00.000-04:00I find the original sick but so fascinating and se...I find the original sick but so fascinating and seventies in style that I have no real trouble watching it. <BR/><BR/>I gave the remake a chance and felt pretty ambivalent. It makes some fine choices and handles a few moments really well -- in a more slick and conventional sort of way -- but the ending failed completely for me. I think the power of the content itself is strong enough to overcome some weak points, which actually goes for the original as well.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13583618094892337900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042846540404918552.post-56091195630949697232009-03-18T17:25:00.000-04:002009-03-18T17:25:00.000-04:00Yeah, I certainly am not going to begrudge you not...Yeah, I certainly am not going to begrudge you not wanting to watch this remake or the original of this film again, since I really have no desire to watch the original again. I haven't seen it in probably a dozen years actually. <BR/><BR/>But I also agree with anon's comments about the violence as confrontation being meaningful and having a purpose. <BR/><BR/>I wasn't looking forward to seeing the remake, but because this sort of thing is where my deepest cinematic interests lay - the films that mess with and subvert our expectations as viewers of violence and how we as a society present it - I felt the need to go. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a couple drinks in me beforehand though. And I thought the film did a pretty good job. It was painful, and tremendously uncomfortable... but yeah, it should be. It's rape and murder. <BR/><BR/>I thought it got a little iffy with the scenes of parental retribution at the end, but then again it's supposed to I think, since that's what it's all about. <BR/><BR/>Blah blah I could ramble about this sort of thing all day. Like I said, I don't begrudge you in the slightest for not feeling the need to sit through the movie. I find the entire topic fascinating though.Jason Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18254334131909339157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042846540404918552.post-57288230757162242182009-03-16T19:58:00.000-04:002009-03-16T19:58:00.000-04:00I understand your perspective. However, most of th...I understand your perspective. However, most of the films that you describe do show violence in a cartoonish and unrealistic way. I think a film that confronts the ugliness of it (and confronts the audience's expectations of "entertaining violence") is truly artful.<BR/><BR/>What is it saying that we want to see violence that doesn't leave us sickened? This is the question this film has always asked and why it haunts you to this day IMHO.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042846540404918552.post-58994671223959625482009-03-16T19:38:00.000-04:002009-03-16T19:38:00.000-04:00Pax I recently saw this one for the first time. I...Pax I recently saw this one for the first time. I too felt dirty and was really sickened by the movie. That's saying a lot for me. I won't be seeing the remake either. The entire time I was watching the original I was shocked that I was actually seeing what I was seeing. That, for once, was not a good thing. I too cheered at the parents revenge but it still was not enough to make me want to see it ever again nor a remake. I'll go see Watchmen.Cheeks DaBellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960537418349697891noreply@blogger.com