Wolfman: Yay or Nay?

[furiousveggie]

Glad to hear a good review! I'll be excited to get to see it when I can. I have to plow through all this snow in my neck of the woods though >.<

[depressedlarrytalbot]

So are you saying depressedlarrytalbot was a happylarrytalbot?

    
He is a less-depressedlarrytalbot - put it that way. Once he was out of the cinema, the real world rushed back in. But while he was in there .... ah !

By the way, I wouldn't worry about the CGI. It's used sparingly enough and judiciously. You've seen its 'worst' already in the trailers. Personal opinion, it doesn't quite measure up on his face, in the medical school scene, but again, you've already seen that, and it's quick enough to be good enough.

All the other stuff you've read about ... the early Joe Johnson comments ... it might have been in the way he said it at the time, but bottom line, none of VAN HELSING's 'Wolf Man' issues remain here. I think you'll have fun.

[depressedlarrytalbot]

Actually there is this one annoying, derivative thing involving a silver cricket bat, and some glittery gypsies ... you see, Maleva is the matriarch of a tribe of v

[monsterbaker]

Glad to hear that there is at least one thumbs up so far. I hope  all of the monster kids know that I tried my best to honor the original movie and Jack Pierce's great work.
For those who can't wait there is a clip of the entire first transformation and kill on line. It is dubbed in french but still fun to watch. see it here
http://www.lyricis.fr/cinema-serie-tv/wolfman-un-long-extrait-de-la-bete-en-francais/

I am curious to hear what you all think of the film.
I too am not a big fan of remakes of the classics and have worked on some bad ones myself.
I figured this one was going to be done with or without me .I thought at least with one monster kid on board it might have a better chance of honoring the original source material.
This movie practically killed me fighting the fights that I fought to do just that. I will see the final cut tomorrow at the premiere.  I am looking forward to it.
It is always scary to see a film that you worked so hard on. You see all of the thing that aren't in the film, things  that you built and shot ,you say to yourself why did they use that shot instead of the one that was so much cooler. It takes a few viewings before you can totally dissociate your self from it and just watch the film.
I for one am really glad to see a big budget gothic horror film with 'A" list actors being made.
I just did a two day press junket this last weekend and the response over all has been very positive. People seem to be embracing a classic gothic horror movie . I hope it starts a new wave of gothic horror. I personally cant get too excited by a brooding teenage wimp vampire movie or another movie about teenagers getting killed by yet another knife wielding masked psycho. Give me a man cursed that changes into a kick ass monster any day.

[Gillman-Fan]

I like the fact that this offering has an Oliver Reed-style werewolf vibe to it BUT the excessive use of CGI is a major turnoff for me. Waaay too much computerized transformation footage is being shown in the trailers . . . not a good sign IMO. I'm afraid that a great cast and nice production values will not save this.

February releases are usually pretty underwhelming.

[depressedlarrytalbot]

Rick Baker, everybody !! Rick Baker !!! [applause!!!!]

Hi Rick ! Welcome to the UMA.

I think I can safely say everyone is grateful you and your artistry were such a big part of the process.
None of the CGI was bad and most of it was excellent [I never even noticed the legs in that context when I was watching, so effectively are they married to the actor running] but your Wolf Man makeup is awesome and the only thing that would do.
You did Pierce proud, mate.

[depressedlarrytalbot]

I'd like to re-state also that thanks to Rick, this Wolfman is pretty terrifying. There've been a lot of hair-on-face wolfmen across the years and most were not even competent, let alone scarey. I really thought only towering dog-headed-boys could even work since the 80s and there would be no going back. We could love the classic Wolf Man but never again would he scare us. Well, this is a classic Wolfman, and he's death on legs. He's a freight train with teeth. The UK critic Kim Newman has already posted a review in which he says he hopes this version makes at least enough to get a FMTWM sequel greenlit.    Why not? but the Frankie we know and love is gonna pee his pants if he has to take on this horror ... there'd be none of that cat-scratch-from-the-top-of-the-lab stuff goin' on here .....      [sorry Lon]

[depressedlarrytalbot]

Hmmm ... the imdb seems to think that the CGI lower-legs I admired so much in the running scenes were Rick's work and CGI was only used in the transformation.
If that is true, I'm doubly-impressed. It would be like mastering a full-on sprint on stilts.

[Uncanny]

I also loved the film.   There were some in our little band of preview-screening attendees that didn't care for it, but even they all agreed that the scenes with the Wolfman were all good stuff.   

Nice to see your medium-close up cameo too, Rick. 

Now to look forward to the 17 added minutes that Joe has said will be back in for the extended DVD cut...

[furiousveggie]

I really have no problems with the way this new Wolfman looks. While the classic Wolfman is a wonderful film- let's face it- he looked like a puppy with an underbite.

I am excited to see this after the mostly good reviews. Rick, your work does indeed look fantastic!

[Gillfan]

I had a private screening last night and loved it.
Respectfull to the cource material and great work (and a cool cameo) by Rick "they made the Oscar category for me" Baker.

This is my favorite film of 2010!

[michblk]

Welcome to the group Rick and hope you poke around this forum for other things that may interest you! 

I plan to see it soon (as soon as my daughter's schedule is free) and will give you my review on it.   

Brian

[Scatter]

Profanity?? Sexuality?? I want to take my 9 year old MonsterKid and need to know if I should. Thanks!

[Scatter]

BTW Mr Baker.........I involuntarily genuflect every time your name is uttered. Honored to have you in our little crypt!

[Elisabeth]

A happy Early Birthday to Lon Chaney, Jr.  The only Wolfman in town!

I'll stick with the REAL thing...

Elisabeth    <VBEG>