But we don’t have Wolfs in Australia!
7:08PM, January 31st, 2006
With all this talk of slasher films, I sat down today to watch Wolf Creek, the new Australian film. Perhaps a genuine “slasher” film it ain’t, but none the less it’s a suprisingly good scare.
Perhaps what at first caught me by surprise was that the film ignores the formula that films usually abide by, and there were some genuine shocks as a result. For a mainstream film making a concious effort to buck the tradition, it was also fairly unpretentious, but never resorted to self-parody, such as the hideously bad House of Wax.
One of my company for the film is a friend of one of the crew and in the discussion afterwards I had found that she enjoyed the film a little more than I, primarily because of my two minor complaints. Firstly, there was a lot of establishment. I even missed about 15 minutes of the opening because I had to tend to tradesmen, but I still felt it took a long time to get to the scares. Building a relationship with the characters is great, but other films have achieved the same in much less time (and I think this film would not have been hurt by 10 minutes shaved from the opening scenes).
My other complaint is kind of silly, being a horror film, but there was an awful lot of gore. I don’t know if there are people who actually enjoy watching someone’s fingers being cut off (who ever they are need to be examined), but gore is not scary. It is just uncomfortable to sit through.
Still, it was surprisingly enjoyable, as my company admitted, “… for an Australian film.”
Posted in Critic | 7 Comments
“Go-Go-Gadget Blog Post!”
10:37PM, January 30th, 2006
With idle hands (no, not idol hands) at home, I’ve been once again perusing eBay, this time for DVDs that I want to fill in my collection with. In searching for Inspector Gadget DVDs (the original television series, not the ordinary Disney film, its presumably unwatchable sequel, or the disgraceful new television series), I came across this ultra cool toy which I am very proud to announce I held in my possession when I was younger.
Amongst my underwater Batman figurine, and my oft-worn Joker suit (must dig out that photo, I was on fire), this toy saw a lot of attention. As you can see, the toy was full of suprises, including crime stopping hammer, parachute umbrella, spring legs, shooting arms, extendible head and helicopter hat. Very cool.
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments
A Serious Study
11:43PM, January 28th, 2006
I don’t usually resort to online quiz’s to satisfy my blog content, but this one, taken from James O’Brien’s blog, was strangely familiar…
|
Your Birthdate: November 12 |
 You’re a dynamic, charismatic person who’s possibly headed for fame. You tend to charm strangers easily. And you usually can get what you want from them. Verbally talented, you tend to persuade people with your speaking and writing. You are affectionate and loving, but it’s hard for you to commit to any one relationship. Your strength: Your charm Your weakness: Your extreme manipulation tactics Your power color: Indigo Your power symbol: Four leaf clover Your power month: December |
I’m not thrilled that I’m only “possibly” heading for fame. Oh, and the clip has nothing to do with anything, but I found it and I thought it was too good to pass up.
Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments
Come Dancer, Prancer, SLASHER and Vixen
7:05PM, January 28th, 2006
Oh, I’m so torn! I really want to rip into my DVD collection, yank out Friday the 13th, Part 4 “The Final Chapter” (yet it was followed by some 6 or so sequels) and have a good night in front of a cheesy horror film, but I am holding out to see Parts 2 and 3 before 4. Apparently Part 3 is when Jason dons the hockey mask.
You see, I’m a bit of a fan of horror films. More precisely, “slasher” films. Not the horror films of today, because they use nothing but gore and pointless orchestral stings to scare you, but the ones of the 1980s that were just pure trash for teenagers. I think this is mostly due to my age. During the 80s when these films were coming out, I was a very young kid, and was always told by my parents that the films were far too scary to watch. In fact, I even have a distinct memory of seeing a cut-out of Freddy Kruger at the video store we used to frequent (which is no longer there, and, to give you some context, had a section for Beta tapes). Constantly being told these films were far too scary for me, my imagination was set alight thinking of the gruesome things the films might contain, and I always liked hearing about how the ‘bigger kids’ had watched the latest movies at midnight. Meanwhile, I would run out of the room when the X-Files came on, and I had to close my eyes during the decapitation scene in Clash of the Titans (I have another distinct memory of closing my eyes in one of the last years of primary school when watching this film in class).
When I got a bit older, I loved the Scream series, which is of course responsible for reigniting the genre after it got a little stale in the early nineties. I even watched the I Know What You Did Last Summer double, but never went back to the Jasons or the Freddys because they were still instilled in my mind as far too scary.
Just recently I’ve been going back and have started with the Friday the 13th series. I think I love them most because they hold memories of my childhood I never really knew I had. Hearing Fred Mollin’s heavily synthesised scores of the late 80s (those so beautifully parodied in the Simpson’s Halloween specials) takes me right back to being 5 again, and I enjoy the unnatural feeling that the films are far scarier than they actually are.
Is there anything wrong with meeting half a dozen characters, aware it will all be over by dawn, but knowing it’s going to be one hell of a night?
Now, this is the stuff of (thoroughly enjoyable) nightmares!
PS: If anyone from Australia is feeling similarly “slashy”, both EzyDVD and Atlantic DVD have each of the first 8 films for around $11 each, which will make them about the same price as buying the box set.
Posted in Critic | 7 Comments
Now, In Colour!
11:46PM, January 27th, 2006
I bought a second hand webcam from eBay so I could attempt some videocasts, and also get the video chat happening with people whom are distant, such as Becky and her partner in crime, Rebecca. As for the latter, iChat informs me my broadband isn’t sufficient enough to pump money into Steve Job’s Madonna-filled iPod-stuffed pockets. The former, well I just don’t know what I can provide in video form that actually requires it to be in video form. Why do video when sound is enough (or even text)?
Nonetheless, Min helped me out by watching me play with props on MSN’s webcam feature. That was just one of the nineteen snaps she took of me.
Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments
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I enjoyed this movie also, young Tyson. I believe it built the suspense very well, i was on the edge of fright for the entire movie, just about. I think the fact that it WAS Australian made it even more suspenseful, in my view. Mainly because the characters were portrayed in a way that made them familiar to me - reminded me of friends, people i knew etc.
So all in all, i was quite impressed…for an australian movie.
Comment by Rebecca — February 1, 2006 @ 9:38 am
Rebecca - Apparently they wanted Noni H. to audition for one of the dead bodies. John J. refused saying “That bitch isn’t going to be my dead weight anymore!”
I just made that up. I’m sure they still have afternoon tea and scones together. On the table which John built. While Noni shows off how she redecorated her living room for summer in under $20.
Why do we have such multi-talented stars in Australia? I believe both John and Noni have also done Playschool. (I could be wrong)
Comment by Tyson — February 1, 2006 @ 10:02 am
I believe you are right.
I believe that joke was funny.
And i believe the stars have to be multi-talented because there is so little work here for them. So they have to do everything, including washing my windscreen when i stop at a light.
Comment by Rebecca — February 2, 2006 @ 9:07 am
Playschool is like a porn star - everyone has done it.
The Australian film industry has certainly come a long way in the credibility department. I remember when I was a boy, I never liked Australian films because they seemed to be way too arty for my tastes - lingering camera shots, little dialogue, stereotypical Australia all over the place and confusing endings.
I think that Australias talents in the world of Hollywood lies moreso in the behind the scenes area when it comes to outside recognition. The rest of the world (read the USA) is far too insular when it comes to recognising talent outside its own borders.
Comment by Kevin — February 2, 2006 @ 11:45 am
Rebecca - Thank you for your belief in my humour. How is it, though, that someone can wash your windscreens when you do not in fact own a car, nor drive yours or anothers?
Kevin - No one is more omni-present than the game show host. Just yesterday I saw Larry Emdur hosting The Wheel of Fortune (he was still battling with the rules I think), and then as that ended I switched over to see The Price is Right. Surely The Wheel of Fortune would be mind-numbing next to the variety of The Price is Right?
Comment by Tyson — February 2, 2006 @ 12:54 pm
Funnily enough, both Wheel Of Fortune and the Price Is Right have done wonders for both the literacy and mathematical abilities of people Australia wide. Shoppers no longer have to stand for lengthy periods of time trying to figure out what 5 cans of tuna would cost if they had to also buy toilet paper and dishwashing liquid with only a $10 budget to play with since they saw it on TV the day before.
Plonking your 4 year old in front of WoF every afternoon will give them a head start on all those uppity preschoolers and guarantee them a place in university in 13 years time.
It is good to see Larry getting work though - with all the bad press sharks have been getting, it’s nice to see a friendly set of teeth on tele.
Comment by Kevin — February 3, 2006 @ 7:37 pm
Kevin - I suspect that’s how I got into university. I don’t think Price Is Right was on when I was younger. Maybe thats why maths was never my strongest point.
Give me words any day.
Comment by Tyson — February 3, 2006 @ 9:50 pm