LuckyStudio 13
The Tapeless One
This is one of those movies that makes ANYBODY very uncomfortable. Apart from breaking the fourth wall, it was a great ride and I think every filmmaker needs to watch this flick.
Funny Games - Naomi Watts + Tim Roth
- Thread starter LuckyStudio 13
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Simon Höfer
Veteran
Actually the title is "Funny Games U.S.". Did you see the original "Funny games" from 1997?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119167/
I think it will be really interesting to see if Michael Haneke could improve his own movie. I really loved the original, so I am quite skeptical.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119167/
I think it will be really interesting to see if Michael Haneke could improve his own movie. I really loved the original, so I am quite skeptical.
StefanHaynes
Well-known member
It's a far cry from the original. And that was a far cry from his best film, 71 Fragments.
Holy Sh*t. That's all I can say about this film. What a ride. There is so much to say about this movie. I don't even know where to start. First of all, the two lead bad guys were the creepiest best casting I've seen in awhile. The lead bad guy is going to win an oscar someday for a Hannibal like role. His eyes are piercing.
I love this director's style. He'll sit there and hold on wide shots for forever. And unlike M. Night, who also likes to do this, he actually seems to have a purpose. The long shots raise the tension. They don't diminish it.
This movie was seven kinds of creepy. And bizarre. Some major spoilers here so don't read if you haven't seen, but there is a moment 70 minutes into the film where the antagonist turns to the camera and starts talking to the audience. I have NEVER seen anything like this before (waiting so long to break the fourth wall). It totally takes you by surprise which is why I think it works so well. Then, later on, after Naomi Watts actually gets a hold of a gun and kills one of the bad guys, the main bad guy grabs the remote and BACKS UP THE MOVIE to before she made her move. I don't know how, but for some completely odd reason, this works.
This movie is not for everyone. If you liked Dustin Hoffman's movie, Straw Dogs, this is a good companion piece. But I can see how this film would just not sit with some people. Its style is so different from what the mainstream is used to.
If I had a complaint, it would probably tie to what Simon just posted above. That there's an original non-U.S. version. As messed up as this movie is, I got the feeling a couple of times that they maybe played it safe with what they [did not] showed. For example - there's a scene where the bad guys tell Naomi Watts to get naked. She does, but we don't see anything. I knew we weren't going to see anything from the beginning becaues Naomi Watts is on record as saying she hates getting naked onscreen (even though she's done it twice). Since the scene was exploitative and she would've just been standing there naked - I knew they weren't going to show anything. Not that I *have* to see her naked - but the brutality of the movie sure lent itself to doing so. I have a strong feeling that this didn't happen in the foreign version. But maybe Simon will prove me wrong.
I love this director's style. He'll sit there and hold on wide shots for forever. And unlike M. Night, who also likes to do this, he actually seems to have a purpose. The long shots raise the tension. They don't diminish it.
This movie was seven kinds of creepy. And bizarre. Some major spoilers here so don't read if you haven't seen, but there is a moment 70 minutes into the film where the antagonist turns to the camera and starts talking to the audience. I have NEVER seen anything like this before (waiting so long to break the fourth wall). It totally takes you by surprise which is why I think it works so well. Then, later on, after Naomi Watts actually gets a hold of a gun and kills one of the bad guys, the main bad guy grabs the remote and BACKS UP THE MOVIE to before she made her move. I don't know how, but for some completely odd reason, this works.
This movie is not for everyone. If you liked Dustin Hoffman's movie, Straw Dogs, this is a good companion piece. But I can see how this film would just not sit with some people. Its style is so different from what the mainstream is used to.
If I had a complaint, it would probably tie to what Simon just posted above. That there's an original non-U.S. version. As messed up as this movie is, I got the feeling a couple of times that they maybe played it safe with what they [did not] showed. For example - there's a scene where the bad guys tell Naomi Watts to get naked. She does, but we don't see anything. I knew we weren't going to see anything from the beginning becaues Naomi Watts is on record as saying she hates getting naked onscreen (even though she's done it twice). Since the scene was exploitative and she would've just been standing there naked - I knew they weren't going to show anything. Not that I *have* to see her naked - but the brutality of the movie sure lent itself to doing so. I have a strong feeling that this didn't happen in the foreign version. But maybe Simon will prove me wrong.
John C Lyons
Veteran
I saw the premiere of this movie at Sundance in January. The two "bad guys" showed up and wore their white golf gloves on stage which was a nice touch. They through out golf balls to the audience.
The director re-made his own movie. This was a complete 100%, shot for shot remake. So it's not like the new one is toned down at all. its exactly the same from the locations to the editing. He probably did it because 99% of Americans don't like to read movies and I think this movie is important for us in the US to see because of the subject matter tackled here.
This is also actually titled "Funny Games". It's on DVD now for rent/purchase. The US thing is just to tag that this is the new version.
This movie made me sick to my stomach, but I mean that in as good a way as I can. Really pushed my buttons and ultimately I dig that. I never want to see it again but I have to agree that you guys HAVE to see this movie. It's a weird thing to recommend a movie I don't want to experience again, but you need to see it.
Sadly, after the screening some dumbasses were complaining that "it sucked" because they didn't show lots of gore. I wanted to slap them and say that was the point and that they should maybe question themselves for WANTING to see people be tortured, but hey, people are idiots.
Anyhow, deifnitely a unique flick. See the original, see the new English one, either way you're seeing a f*^&ed up movie. I prefer the actors in the English version, so I recommend it.
The director re-made his own movie. This was a complete 100%, shot for shot remake. So it's not like the new one is toned down at all. its exactly the same from the locations to the editing. He probably did it because 99% of Americans don't like to read movies and I think this movie is important for us in the US to see because of the subject matter tackled here.
This is also actually titled "Funny Games". It's on DVD now for rent/purchase. The US thing is just to tag that this is the new version.
This movie made me sick to my stomach, but I mean that in as good a way as I can. Really pushed my buttons and ultimately I dig that. I never want to see it again but I have to agree that you guys HAVE to see this movie. It's a weird thing to recommend a movie I don't want to experience again, but you need to see it.
Sadly, after the screening some dumbasses were complaining that "it sucked" because they didn't show lots of gore. I wanted to slap them and say that was the point and that they should maybe question themselves for WANTING to see people be tortured, but hey, people are idiots.
Anyhow, deifnitely a unique flick. See the original, see the new English one, either way you're seeing a f*^&ed up movie. I prefer the actors in the English version, so I recommend it.
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mjmcneese
Veteran
SPOILERS!!!
I liked a lot of things about this movie. The style, the long takes, the acting, lack of music, etc. But two things absolutely RUINED this movie for me. First, I think it's an unwritten rule that you just don't kill of kids in movies. It's just not right!!!
And that whole stupid rewind scene after Ann (Watts) shot Paul...we see the movie rewind and then it goes a different direction. NO! That's the pissiest thing I think I've ever seen a movie try to pull! Maybe I'll try the older version...but, this movie just turned me WAY off! Don't fall for stupid tricks like they tried to pull in this movie. That whole rewind thing was amateurish at best.
I liked a lot of things about this movie. The style, the long takes, the acting, lack of music, etc. But two things absolutely RUINED this movie for me. First, I think it's an unwritten rule that you just don't kill of kids in movies. It's just not right!!!
And that whole stupid rewind scene after Ann (Watts) shot Paul...we see the movie rewind and then it goes a different direction. NO! That's the pissiest thing I think I've ever seen a movie try to pull! Maybe I'll try the older version...but, this movie just turned me WAY off! Don't fall for stupid tricks like they tried to pull in this movie. That whole rewind thing was amateurish at best.
John C Lyons
Veteran
(spoiler free)
Mike,
I'm guessing you didn't read my post. Seeing the older version isn't going to change anything - it's the exact same movie, just different actors. So everything you disliked here, you will still dislike in the old one.
P.S. - MORE DVXUSERS NEED TO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!
SPOILER TALK to Mike:
So you didn't like the rewinding and killing of a kid, but you were fine with the talking to the camera, killing of a pet, beating and torture of an innocent woman/mother in front of her family? The movie breaks a lot of film conventions, thats what makes it unique. As a filmmaker I found these things refreshing and ballsy. Can't you see the humor in giving a viewer what they want (the bad guys to lose) but then taking that away from you in such an a**hole way as a bad guy grabbing a remote, rewinding the movie and then not letting them lose? A lot of this movie bothered me, but seriously, that's the point. You're not supposed to like this movie in a regular conventional movie kind of way and kudos to the filmmaker for p*ssing you and I off at various things throughout!
Mike,
I'm guessing you didn't read my post. Seeing the older version isn't going to change anything - it's the exact same movie, just different actors. So everything you disliked here, you will still dislike in the old one.
P.S. - MORE DVXUSERS NEED TO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!
SPOILER TALK to Mike:
So you didn't like the rewinding and killing of a kid, but you were fine with the talking to the camera, killing of a pet, beating and torture of an innocent woman/mother in front of her family? The movie breaks a lot of film conventions, thats what makes it unique. As a filmmaker I found these things refreshing and ballsy. Can't you see the humor in giving a viewer what they want (the bad guys to lose) but then taking that away from you in such an a**hole way as a bad guy grabbing a remote, rewinding the movie and then not letting them lose? A lot of this movie bothered me, but seriously, that's the point. You're not supposed to like this movie in a regular conventional movie kind of way and kudos to the filmmaker for p*ssing you and I off at various things throughout!
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bkgarceau
Member
I finally watched the 07 version in an Film Theory Class. Quite interesting. I think Haneke really makes you think about what you've seen and indirectly asks you, 'will you put up with this?'. I think its a great statement on violence and its does a great job with the lack of violence found on screen. Yet still we are all shocked by what happens, especially with the child... and as far as unwritten rules this movie has no rules. Even the criminals break their own rules...
But the film defiantly can draw you in and keep your attention. I have no reason to watch it again, but I don't think its leaving anytime soon...
But the film defiantly can draw you in and keep your attention. I have no reason to watch it again, but I don't think its leaving anytime soon...