Wolfman: Yay or Nay?

Started by furiousveggie, February 06, 2010, 10:48:05 PM

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fmofmpls

There's a showing here in Mpls late this evening at 12:01 am (Frid. morning).

* Close circuit to Packy and Scary Terry Beatty (AMC Southdale).

I will be seeing it tomorrow morning at 10:00 am sharp. Can't wait!
The Famous Monster of Mpls.  Sayer of the law.

furiousveggie

Will be joining the masses and seeing it tomorrow night!
:F

| Andrew |

The Gill-Man

Color me "cautiously optimistic". It certainly looks better than dreck like Van Helsing (the Batman & Robin of monster movies, IMHO), and seems to actually have the dark tone of the original. Remakes are always a dicey proposition. On the one hand, you have a classic that is beloved by millions, and that is sacred territory to some. On the other, you have to view it in the same vein as any sort of classic story. Reinterpretation is always a way to bring new life to an old tale, and the only way to keep some stories from disappearing into obscurity.

That having been said, a filmmaker must tread a thin line when remaking a classic. It must respect the source material, yet it can't just carbon-copy it (take a look at the pointless retread of Psycho). Not all remakes are bad: see Carpenter's The Thing, Scorscese's Cape Fear or De Palma's Scarface for examples of fine films that were remakes. In all of those cases, the directors involved were respectful of the originals, yet also put their own spin on them.

It certainly seems like this film has the right tone, and Del Toro has the same look of quiet despair that Chaney did in the role. Rick Baker's involvement is a MAJOR plus, IMHO, since he is truly a master of special effects. I truly hope this film IS the return to classic gothic horror that it appears to be, and that is sets a precedent for horror remakes. If so, then this could be the first film in a revival of the Universal Monsters!!!
The Creature ROCKS Among Us!

depressedlarrytalbot

There seem to be a lot of meh reviews in the press, and I can't imagine what the critics concerned were expecting. This is THE WOLFMAN  .... hello ??

As Graham Chapman once said, "There's no pleasing some people".

I've noticed a trend that both consoles and angers me, that the negative reviewers tend to be very poorly-informed about the subject both past and present. One party took the current version to task for its overuse of CGI and "stop-motion". Well I differ about the first and as far as I'm aware, the second is completely inapplicable. That makes the reviewer your basic idiot, but an idiot with influence, which is pretty galling.   

Wolf Man

Well, after planning two vacations timing them carefully so I would be home during the previous supposed release dates I have given up and have no other option than to see it here in Kuwait.  I went to the theater and it is not released here on the 12th but next week, not sure which day.  I will go and see it, censored and with Arabic subtitles and do my best to enjoy it with those distractions. 

I am really looking forward to seeing it.  I am hoping for the best and think it should be awesome. 

Have fun for all you fortunate folks who get to see it today or who were fortunate enough to catch a sneak preview.  Have pity on us poor unfortunates who are stuck in the desert and have few viewing options. 

I plan to avoid threads or discussions until I get to see it so my posts will be late in the game (have pity). 

I am joining Depressed Larry Talbot, now just call me depressed Wolf Man. 
Even a man who is pure at heart......

depressedlarrytalbot

So me are thee and thee are me?

Wolf Man .... you complete me. :D

fmofmpls

I will be viewing the Wolf Man in less than 2 1/2 hrs.

Dear Mr. Laemmle in the sky, please don't let this be Van Helsing all over again.
The Famous Monster of Mpls.  Sayer of the law.

SirJon

I'm gonna say Nay followed by a Yay.

I went to see it with my dad and 2 brothers last night at the midnight showing. We had our wolfman t-shirts and all and I for one have been looking forward to this movie for 2 yrs i think now.

The movie was awesome and the story was great BUT a word of advice: Do not go to this movie expecting it to be a remake! I did and was disappointed in that regard. The plot was so loosey goosey based on the original I was let down. There was virtually no scenes reminiscence of the old film. Sure he gets bitten by the beast in the woods, but the circumstance for why he was there was completely different.

I don't want to spoil the plot for any UMA members who haven't seen it yet. But in a week or so i'll post more details.

In closing i guess i was expecting this to be a remake like the latest halloween was. Halloween was a remake but stuff was added. Alot of scenes from the original were there - some had dialogue changes or details twisted a little, but it was the SAME MOVIE UPDATED! Thats what i was expecting from wolfman. I didn't feel like this was the same movie at all. I would have LOVED for them to use some of the melodies from the original score in the new score. After all it was all orchestral - it would have been so easy to throw in  a little "Bahh BUM Bahhhhhhhh!"

Not what i was expecting. :-\
"In the mean time, will you have a drink or would you like to play darts?!"

dadabigalow

Well I saw Wolfman in last night at 21:01 AM (Roch. NY) with my 3 sons. Our reviews are mixed. Ill hold off on my review as to not sway others. But I will say I really liked it a lot.

Because of all the massive amounts of clip leaks, production rumors, and our own expectations. I'd suggest that when you see it, try to remove any preconceived notions you may have about the film. Remember this is a retelling of the Talbot Wolfman legend and not a remake of Lon Chaney's Wolfman. Any attempt to remake Lon's version would be a disappointment to us true Universal fans.

I hope you all enjoy the film as much as I did

Dada   
Dadabigalow

  "Go now - and heaven help you!" .... Maleva

Scary Terry

Scary Terry
www.terrybeatty.blogspot.com

dadabigalow

Quote from: SirJon on February 12, 2010, 10:32:44 AM
I'm gonna say Nay followed by a Yay.

I went to see it with my dad and 2 brothers last night at the midnight showing. We had our wolfman t-shirts ....


WOW... I went to see it with my 3 sons, And I made us custum t-shirts also! That must mean you are my oldest son!!
"Lo and behold, the prodigal son returns."

Is there anything that watching a Universal Monster Movie cant make even better?
I had fun with you guys last nite.






   
Dadabigalow

  "Go now - and heaven help you!" .... Maleva

fmofmpls

#56

Just got back from seeing the Wolf Man, and boy am I happy to say I loved it! Universal finally does it right! This is NOT Van Helsing - thank God! I'll be careful not to spoil the movie for anyone by divulging any story details. Let's just say there are some twists and turns that I didn't see coming. And I liked the surprises a great deal. A very nice telling of the original story mixed with some creative liberties. None of which insulted or weakened the original Siodmak story in my opinion.

There has been much said about this film being too gory. I disagree with this, and I hate gore in horror films. The blood that is in the film is necessary to the film and was not used to satisfy any blood lust with today's modern horror audiences.  C'mon, we're talking about a vicious wolf man who attacks it's prey. There's gonna be some blood. There was however one decapitation that I felt was unnecessary. The rest of the blood was only relevant to the story. Not a distraction to me in anyway. The film is dark, dreary, gothic, and depressing. Just like a good horror film should be.

And Del Toro is Lon Chaney Jr. with all the same pathos in his tortuous face! It was almost uncanny I tell you. I saw Lon all over Del Toro. The rest of the cast was solid with Anthony Hopkins giving his usual strong and enigmatic type performance.

Most importantly, the CGI does not overpower the film or the actors in anyway - unlike Van Helsing did. Rick Baker did a fantastic job in keeping the look of the original Chaney wolf man and yet keeping it relevant with today's audiences. That having been said, this wasn't a hyper jacked up werewolf that didn't even resemble a person unlike so many other werewolf films before it. This werewolf still looks like an inflicted human being turned lycanthrope. And that in my opinion was a very wise decision.

Go see it and forget about any of the negative reviews you may have read. Those reviewers are the same folks who have been weaned on today's cinematic excesses. They were probably looking for the next Van Helsing or something equally ridiculous like one of the Mummy sequels.

I'm giving this film two thumbs way up! The Wolf Man lives again! Chaney Jr. shall never die! Universal done good!
The Famous Monster of Mpls.  Sayer of the law.

dadabigalow

fmofmpls, Nice review. My sentiments exactly. 
Dadabigalow

  "Go now - and heaven help you!" .... Maleva

fmofmpls

#58
Quote from: SirJon on February 12, 2010, 10:32:44 AM
In closing i guess i was expecting this to be a remake like the latest halloween was. Halloween was a remake but stuff was added. Alot of scenes from the original were there - some had dialogue changes or details twisted a little, but it was the SAME MOVIE UPDATED! Thats what i was expecting from wolfman. I didn't feel like this was the same movie at all. I would have LOVED for them to use some of the melodies from the original score in the new score. After all it was all orchestral - it would have been so easy to throw in  a little "Bahh BUM Bahhhhhhhh!"

Not what i was expecting. :-\

Not what I was expecting either, and thank God because of it! I felt many of the same ingredients from the original film were there though. Many things to recognize. Talbot Castle was there, Sir John was there, Larry Talbot was there, Larry's dead brother was there, Maleva the gypsy was there, Gwen Conliffe was there, even Conliffe antiques store was there!

Again, this is just my own individual opinion, but I felt it was a brilliant mix in paying homage to the spirit of the original film all while providing something fresh, new and relevant to the original story. I would have been the first one to cry wolf had they strayed too far from the spirit of the original film and storyline.

See my full review in my earlier post.
The Famous Monster of Mpls.  Sayer of the law.

Unknown Primate

Ok, General, if you say so!  I'm seeing it this weekend with my wife & kids (19 & 25 years old).  After reading The Famous Monster of Minneapolis' review, I'm going in with a bloodlust! 
" Perhaps he dimly wonders why, there is no other such as I. "