Seil
07-23-2010, 06:10 AM
The Wolfman. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVKyeMQcUNY)
Let me get the praise out of the way: I love werewolves. They're some of my favorite mythological beasts. I read the books, I watch the films - except Twilight - and I love them. Few bits of werewolf media manage to capture the transformation, though. Other mytho-beasts are relatively easy; vampires are pale and seductive, mummies are relatvely dead and bandaged... But for a wolf man, that's the tricky part.
I understand that everyone has their own interpretation of what the change from man to beast is supposed to be, but not many people grasp the fact that it's a highlight of the movie. It's a big reveal, it's a climactic scene. Blood And Chocolate failed miserably here, the werewolf transformation happening in a flash of light. But the new movie has it down. They have an awesome change that I really like.
Secondly, Anthony Hopkins. Well, Anthony Hopkins (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4qblq0uahw), Benecio Del Toro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZXR9ZrRR2c&feature=related), Emily Blunt (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHVU3fKhsjI), Hugo Weaving (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ypZSJ2_RDY) - these are all actors I hold in high regard. They're fantastically talented, they're wonderful to watch... which is why this movie was kind of a let down.
Every element is right. The casting is perfect: Benecio Del Toro cast as the wolfman, Anthony Hopkins as his father, Emily Blunt as a love interest and Hugo Weaving as mutton chops. Seriously, his beard is awesome:
http://werewolf-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/hugo-weaving-wolfman.jpg
Gypsies, cinematography, special effects.... All the elements are there... Everything is just so subdued. It's like they filmed a dress rehersal after a night at the bar and everyone is mumbling so as to fight their headaches. I've seen each of these actors put forth a better performance in their previous films, but it's like they're sleepwalking through the movie.
It starts off with Del Toro's brother getting killed by the wolf, and Del Toro, a famous actor, is called back to his home. His brothers fiancee, Blunt, and his father, Hopkins, are trying to figure out what happened. Weaving comes from Scotland Yard and tries to help sort it out.
This flick gets a thumbs up, not because it's a great horror flick. Hell, it's not even a great flick on its own, there's really no horror to speak of. But it still gets a thumbs up because:
A) I like werewolves
B) I like these actors
C) The transformation. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XGybmm514w&feature=related) Bit of a spoiler, but that's quite possibly the best werewolf scene I've ever seen.
Let me get the praise out of the way: I love werewolves. They're some of my favorite mythological beasts. I read the books, I watch the films - except Twilight - and I love them. Few bits of werewolf media manage to capture the transformation, though. Other mytho-beasts are relatively easy; vampires are pale and seductive, mummies are relatvely dead and bandaged... But for a wolf man, that's the tricky part.
I understand that everyone has their own interpretation of what the change from man to beast is supposed to be, but not many people grasp the fact that it's a highlight of the movie. It's a big reveal, it's a climactic scene. Blood And Chocolate failed miserably here, the werewolf transformation happening in a flash of light. But the new movie has it down. They have an awesome change that I really like.
Secondly, Anthony Hopkins. Well, Anthony Hopkins (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4qblq0uahw), Benecio Del Toro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZXR9ZrRR2c&feature=related), Emily Blunt (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHVU3fKhsjI), Hugo Weaving (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ypZSJ2_RDY) - these are all actors I hold in high regard. They're fantastically talented, they're wonderful to watch... which is why this movie was kind of a let down.
Every element is right. The casting is perfect: Benecio Del Toro cast as the wolfman, Anthony Hopkins as his father, Emily Blunt as a love interest and Hugo Weaving as mutton chops. Seriously, his beard is awesome:
http://werewolf-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/hugo-weaving-wolfman.jpg
Gypsies, cinematography, special effects.... All the elements are there... Everything is just so subdued. It's like they filmed a dress rehersal after a night at the bar and everyone is mumbling so as to fight their headaches. I've seen each of these actors put forth a better performance in their previous films, but it's like they're sleepwalking through the movie.
It starts off with Del Toro's brother getting killed by the wolf, and Del Toro, a famous actor, is called back to his home. His brothers fiancee, Blunt, and his father, Hopkins, are trying to figure out what happened. Weaving comes from Scotland Yard and tries to help sort it out.
This flick gets a thumbs up, not because it's a great horror flick. Hell, it's not even a great flick on its own, there's really no horror to speak of. But it still gets a thumbs up because:
A) I like werewolves
B) I like these actors
C) The transformation. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XGybmm514w&feature=related) Bit of a spoiler, but that's quite possibly the best werewolf scene I've ever seen.