LowerTheTone.com

Yeah I’m back…again. I’m supposed to be somewhere else though this morning but it was cancelled in a way. So no better opportunity to update the world’s most pointless yet wildly entertaining blog. No not that one, this one!

So Watchmen has come and gone. It was talked about alot. Reviewers were divided on it. Some gave 1 star, some gave 5. And I realise I’m talking about it way after the dust has settled. But I think that puts me in a better position to talk about it. Because I have absorbed it, embraced it, watched it twice, delved into my inner feelin…. no you are right, I was just too lazy to post until now!

I did watch it twice though. My first viewing was somewhat distracted and I don’t think I sat down to watch it as a movie but as a recreation of a book. The second viewing killed me off though. The film is poor. I’d say shite but I have to give Kudos for Synder for the effort he put in. Yet despite his big biceps and extreme gym workout, he is still a nerd. And blue penises look funny on a big screen. Especially if there are skangers in the cinema with you. (Skangers is an Irish slang phrase for chavs or townies etc)

Despite the overtly boring and dire performances by Malin Akerman (Silk Spectre) and Patrick Wilson (Nite Owl II) there were some pieces I did enjoy. I felt that Dr. Manhattan’s back story was handed well and the “voice of God” as it is often touted worked for me. You could feel the subtle sadness in his dulcet tones. His backstory did feel sad but nerdy at the same time.

The ending was changed as expected and it made so sense really. Granted a giant squid on screen would look as ridiculous as an non moving blue penis in the wind, the new ending failed to capture the essence of Ozymandias and the purpose of the novel from the start.

So was it worth sitting through the 2 hours 45 minutes? Well unfortunately it was if you are a fan of the comic book but alas I think Alan Moore was right about this one.

And on a final note, the soundtrack didnt work for me. It didn’t feel 80’s enough and Nixon looked like he belonged on Spitting Image.

Anyway you have probably seen it by now and if not. Who cares!

Special thanks to the cool people over at movies.ie who sent me tickets for the preview screening!

Movie Reviews blue penis, Dr. Manhattan, Watchmen, Watchmen review

Back in the 50’s, a little gem of a science fiction movie was released called, “The Day The Earth Stood Still”.  While highly dated now, it still is watchable and entertaining.  50 odd years have passed and Hollywood has given it another stab.

It’s shite.  Why oh why God?  Keanu Reeves is really turning into Steven Seagal with his one tone voice, 2 style facial expressions and the “dopey looking head on him”.  (Technical term)

The movie makes no sense at all.  It tries to give us a message but unlike the original, I’m still confused as to what the message is.  Treat the earth nice?  Stop fighting with each other?

If the aliens are so bloody advanced, how come they didn’t just visit the UN direct rather than dropping off for a scenic view of Central Park first?  Did they expect hu-mons do be lacking in hostility.

I could go on but I will.  Will Smith’s son had a part.  He probably had the best dialogue to work with.  His on screen mother, Jennifer Connolly isn’t black.  But a clever script doctoring and hey presto we can explain it.  That’s about the only clever thing about the script.

Ok so its not all bad.  Jennifer Connolly is pretty and the movie is less than 2 hours long.  You want something more positive than that?  Um ok.  Gort does look cool.  Although he does feck all really.

Is it worth a look?  Nah, give your money to beggars on roundabouts instead.

Movie Reviews Jennifer Connolly, Keanu Reeves, Movie Review, The Day The Earth Stood Still, Trailer

Last week I brought you some info about Irish horror movie, Seer which was recently screened as part of the Horrorthon in Dublin. Last night I had the privilege of watching the movie.

Written by Martin Andrew Robinson, produced by Jim Cahill and directed by first timer, Eric Courtney, Seer were shot on a mere budget of €200k and tells the story of 7 strangers who wake up in a remote house in Wexford with no memory and a tag on their wrists to tell them their name. The lead role, Mary Perry, is played by Tara Nixon O’Neill who you may recognise from Pure Mule, Fair City or The Clinic.

As the plot progresses, the 7 strangers realise they can’t leave the house as a creature lurks on the grounds waiting to devour them on site. Dotted around the house are clues to what is going on, a child monitor and mirrors with pentagrams painted on them. Mary Perry is plagued by flashbacks and visions which suggest there is more to the events than first imagined.

It is easy to see that director Courtney is a fan of the horror genre. In many ways the film plays out as a horror siege, reminiscent of horror great, John Carpenter. The ambient soundtrack is dominated by atmospheric noises and percussion, a tool used very successfully in Carpenter’s “The Thing”.

So is it any good? Well as with any low budget horror movie, the realism is limited by the budget available. However Courtney does an excellent job as maintaining the tension without the need for quick scares. You do at times however feel like shouting at the characters that they should just try harder when trying to leave the house!

The acting and dialogue is weak in parts although thankfully we are spared from stereotype female actors screaming and running around confused. In fact it is many ways the male characters trapped in the house that assume the stereotype hollywood female persona! Many of the performances are wooden but it is not all lost. Michael, played by David Walsh, really brings life to his role playing the somewhat estranged father, distant from his wife and family. His wife, played by Rita Evelyn Smith, also puts in a strong performance.

Unfortunately however some of the cut scenes with the 2 parents do deter from the tension created in the house and we are kept guessing at the relevance throughout.

The climax of the film has a nice twist but the dragged out explanatory ending does take away from the mysticism somewhat, well for me anyway. I’m not the type of person that feels everything needs to be explained.

Overall the film is enjoyable and while it doesn’t offer anything new for the genre, it does hold its head high with graceful nods to previous horror classics and its restraint with the characters. While there is no denying that the low budget nature of the film does show but Courtney makes the best of use of his resources and putting together a much needed “Shroomless” Irish horror. I did wonder at the end of the film what Courtney could have achieved with a larger budget.

In Summary: Low budget Irish horror with dodgy dialogue and performances in parts but kept together with some tense scenes and atmos. Courtney is one to watch out for in the future.

Last week I promised an interview with Eric Courtney however due to scheduling clashes the interview has been postponed till later this week.

Movie Reviews David Walsh, Eric Courtney, horror, Irish horror, Jim Cahill, Kildare, Martin Andrew Robinson, Movie Reviews, Rita Evelyn Smith, Seer, Seer the movie, Tara O'Neill