New Wolfman film

[Rich]

As far as thr younger croud goes, when it comes to the Universal Monster I consider myself of the "younger croud" being only 26 and I absolutely love the movies. Age has a lot to do with it because of culture in the 50s but taste has something to say as well. I like to think that I have better taste in movies then most people my age. 

[Wolfman]

I thought the remake was, in one word, HORRIBLE!

JP

[werewolfwoman]

i was watching the film again after i read a post that said it was the worst movie ever, my question to that person would be have you seen terror toons or American werewolf in Paris?
i loved the movie and a also loved the original. i grew up on horror movies with my favorite being wolfman/werewolf movies, i loved American werewolf in London and am an avid fan of rick baker i have a bit an aversion to the over use of CGI and enjoy when both make-up and cgi are married with a balance. the wolfman seems to have been made by fans of the original and i saw many scenes were Del Toro channeled the same weary sense as Chaney Jr and conveyed a similar emotional depth. i know this new versions was more violent and ferocious but you could say that the newer generation has grown up with torture porn films like saw and hostile and would not see the wolfman as a horror film without a large body count. the films are different yes but i think i would have resented a shot for shot remake and feel that the integrity of the original is preserved by the variations in story. i love both films and feel happy to see that special effects make-up is still used in a world were CGI is overused.

when the movie first came out i read post after post on other sites, were  the criticisms of the film were very generic and some just said it sucked with absolutism no articulate reason for their response. it  makes me like this forum even more to see that many of you that did not like the film gave intellectual and compelling reasons for your feelings and even though i disagree i can respect a well stated argument  thanks uma.

[Count_Zirock]

I stand by the two-star rating I gave it in VideoScope magazine last year. It was a well-intended effort that ended as a muddled mess because of studio interference and an ill-prepared director. The "twist" was no surprise at all to anyone over the age of four, and Maleva and the wolf's head cane were treated like afterthoughts.

[werewolfwoman]

I stand by the two-star rating I gave it in VideoScope magazine last year. It was a well-intended effort that ended as a muddled mess because of studio interference and an ill-prepared director. The "twist" was no surprise at all to anyone over the age of four, and Maleva and the wolf's head cane were treated like afterthoughts.

i think your review is totally respectable and appreciate your articulate  reasons for your review, that is why i love this forum intelligent debate, my issue is when other site reviews like the ones displayed on rotten tomatoes  say nothing more than it sucked or the story was lame with no reasons why they feel that way. i may have a difference of opinion but i cam appreciate a well reasoned negative review. at least we can all agree that we love monsters

[Count_Zirock]

at least we can all agree that we love monsters

And I WANTED to love this movie, too. It was a bigger disappointment to me than John Badham's 1979 remake of "Dracula" -- and what a blown opportunity that turned out to be!

[rkoenn]

I need to watch the new one again as the original has about a 6/1 advantage!  I did like the new one but definitely not nearly as much as the original.  I don't know how exactly to explain that.  I found the setting in the original so creative for its' time and so original.  There is a quality about it that rises far above the special effects laden movies of late.  Cheney's tortured character was perfect and the gypsy segments were so good in the original.  And as I said, while I found the new version good the bloody rampages and the psychiatric treatment just went too far for me.  I am not out for gore and special effects extravaganzas, I like effects in their place while actually played down somewhat.  But I believe these days the studios have a psyche that you have to blow the audience away with effects and they become primary to the story.  What they should think about is that many hugely successful movies these days are much more story based than effect based.

Bob K.

[creaturerevenge]

I am a die hard fan of the original. Next toe Bride of Frankenstein, it is my favorite Universal horror film, and is one of my all time favorite movies in general. I tend to always be very skeptical of remakes, especially when they are on some of my favorite films, I think the best example of remakes on great films not working out is the recent do-over of Day The earth Stood Still. That was just plain painful to sit through. On the other end of the spectrum is Peter Jackson's King Kong, which was absolutely mind blowing. To me, the originals of classic horror and sci-fi films will always have an advantage simply because they were first, and usually had a stronger story. What made Kong work so well, is that Jackson not only loved the original as much as the rest of us, but paid very true tribute to the original story and even the style that story was told in. Day the Earth Stood Still... not so much. As for The Wolfman, this one is a bit of a grey area I think. I personally really liked the remake. I like the new spin on the story, I like the cast in it, I LOVED the make up (but come on, who didn't??? I think that's one thing everyone can agree on! It's Rick Baker!!!) I didn't even mind the CG and the goriness and I LOVED the addition of Blackmoore Asylum to the story. On that same note, I can see why some people didn't. In the end, I blame Universal for the shady decisions made on the film (i.e. to go so gory, etc.). I like Joe Johnston, I think Rocketeer is one of the most under appreciated films of all time! I liked what he did with Wolfman, and I feel that he really cared about it and tried to do what he could to pay tribute to the original. Read any behind the scenes article and it becomes VERY clear that all involved really do love the classic Universal horror flicks (I've heard several stories about DelToro bringing in his old boxes of Famous Monsters of Filmland to the makeup chair and thumbing through them with Baker little the monster kids they both ones were... and still are!) I think the issues people have with the film lie at the hands of the studio trying to make the film as flashy and hip as they possibly could to get asses in the seats the don't belong to just the hardcore fans of the old school films like us. Unfortunately, we are a niche market, and the studios only see dollar signs, so they have to take steps to get the average moviegoer in the theater that doesn't care who Larry Talbot is and just wants to see heads getting ripped off. Did it lessen the film? A bit, but hey, I was just glad to see a new Universal Monster movie!

[Count_Zirock]

A well-made horror film will get butts in the theater seats, period. Johnston is a good director, but he was brought in as a last-minute replacement and didn't have time to properly prepare for such a huge film. Unfortunely, "The Wolfman"'s failure at the box-office is the main reason Universal ultimately scuttled "At the Mountains of Madness." They didn't want another $150+ million, R-rated horror film that could drag down profit margins if it flopped. Which is why it's not looking very hopeful for del Toro's "Frankenstein" remake, either.

[creaturerevenge]

I agree that given more time to prepare he could have done a better job, but if a good horror movie alone is what it takes to get butts in the seats, then why did the Saw movies do so well? None of those even come close to being a well made horror movie! Frankly, I don't think there are many well made horror movies coming out anymore... I think thats why, in spite of a few of it's "flaws", I really liked the wolfman remake, because as far as horror movies go, i think it's the closest we're ever going to get to the classic horror films anymore. Everything else is sparkly vampires and shirtless werewolves. Even darker horror movies have gotten really weak I think.

[Count_Zirock]

why did the Saw movies do so well? None of those even come close to being a well made horror movie!

Tobin Bell, and Billy the Puppet. I stopped watching after "Saw III."

[werewolfwoman]

I agree that given more time to prepare he could have done a better job, but if a good horror movie alone is what it takes to get butts in the seats, then why did the Saw movies do so well? None of those even come close to being a well made horror movie! Frankly, I don't think there are many well made horror movies coming out anymore... I think thats why, in spite of a few of it's "flaws", I really liked the wolfman remake, because as far as horror movies go, i think it's the closest we're ever going to get to the classic horror films anymore. Everything else is sparkly vampires and shirtless werewolves. Even darker horror movies have gotten really weak I think.

I agree i am so sick of shirtless werewolves and brooding sparkly vampires, the archetypes these monsters represent are totally lost when  bad teen books have become the norm for the depiction of monsters. I really enjoyed the wolfman and was thankful for the gore i really liked the darkness of the film and  am glad they went for the R rating.
as a wolfman fan i have a hard time seeing teen girls wearing i heart werewolves with a picture of that lautner kid, on a side note i think it is super creepy that middle aged women lust over these teens too it's kinda creepy that moms and teens are drooling over these guys, talk about sexual repression. Sorry for the tangent i just really hate the twilight flicks and miss the good old days when people were scared of monsters  .

[Count_Zirock]

Just watched this again, and there was so much unrealized potential there. If only there had been enough prep time so Baker could've done some kick-ass transformations. The script could've used a bit more polishing, too.

[Scatter]

Still a pretty good flick though in my reckoning. Pretty much every movie these days has to compromise its potential to get made. Just have to enjoy them for what they are I guess.

[Howler]

I of course love the original, but I enjoy the new one a lot as well.