Post by kiddo on Mar 23, 2007 13:19:29 GMT -5
Aka. Day of the Woman.
My thoughts:
A raw and surprisingly tranquil piece of exploitation. I don't really know if I liked it or not.
It was paced in a somewhat suitable way; the more or less mild editing was a great contrast to the fierce content, making it into quite an uncomfortable viewing. The acting was (surprisingly) good, although the functionally disabled guy at times were close to being over-the-top. The film had quite a nice build-up in the beginning, letting you get this "common" sympathy for this girl who takes a trip out of town to get to some more comfortable surroundings for her writing. When the hell breakes loose, you're definitively on her side. The aftermatch, though, seems somewhat frail.
What's the point here? The hunters becomes the hunted ones, and blablabla, but what's to it? Not much, I guess. Still, I think it's a good films in some ways. The camera work is pretty good, I like how slowly paced it is, and the dialogue could surely have been worse. My main problem with this, is that, in the end, I feel empty. And not in the good way. Not "empty" as I do after watchig something like Idi i Smotri. But come on, kiddo!? This is exploitation cinema, not some fancy arthouse movie (I ain't saying Idi i Smotri is). Yeah, and in some respects I like this, as said, and it certainly has some entertainment value. In the end, it's neither a good nor bad film, in my opinion. 5/10
Some other thoughts...
...from an angry cm:
I can see why you didn't like it, kinda, but it is a revenge film, you are suppose to be rooting with this woman. You didn't feel any gratification at the end? No happiness for this woman? Did you not connect with any of the characters, good or bad? I also loved how they went against norm with…
I don't really know what you expect from the film, maybe you could go more in-depth with what you expected to happen? Since it, at least to me, goes beyond what it is suppose to be, which is, a woman-revenge-film. But this film has tons of great elements to it as well as messages to the film, which a lot of horror films are missing.
... a link to Roger Eberts' review of the film:
... lordofdances' thoughts:
... kiddo write some more things about the experience:
Relax, cm. I did like it to a certain degree. The film hold me interested almost all the way through. It was basically the last 20 minutes or so that destroyed it for me. The woman taking revenge seemed somwhat out of place and... more or less sick. The film, I feel, tells the viewer that the revenge is justified. In some ways, it is, but come on; killing these men isn't heroic or anything. It's sick and untasty. Yeah, I wanted her to take revenge on the poor men right after she was humiliated to the biggest degree possible, but when she started the killings I felt bad for them.
I thought the bathroom-scene was very well executed, though. It was a very tense scene. And, you know, I thought much of this was well made, but at the end, I felt somehow just... indifferent towards it.
My thoughts:
A raw and surprisingly tranquil piece of exploitation. I don't really know if I liked it or not.
It was paced in a somewhat suitable way; the more or less mild editing was a great contrast to the fierce content, making it into quite an uncomfortable viewing. The acting was (surprisingly) good, although the functionally disabled guy at times were close to being over-the-top. The film had quite a nice build-up in the beginning, letting you get this "common" sympathy for this girl who takes a trip out of town to get to some more comfortable surroundings for her writing. When the hell breakes loose, you're definitively on her side. The aftermatch, though, seems somewhat frail.
What's the point here? The hunters becomes the hunted ones, and blablabla, but what's to it? Not much, I guess. Still, I think it's a good films in some ways. The camera work is pretty good, I like how slowly paced it is, and the dialogue could surely have been worse. My main problem with this, is that, in the end, I feel empty. And not in the good way. Not "empty" as I do after watchig something like Idi i Smotri. But come on, kiddo!? This is exploitation cinema, not some fancy arthouse movie (I ain't saying Idi i Smotri is). Yeah, and in some respects I like this, as said, and it certainly has some entertainment value. In the end, it's neither a good nor bad film, in my opinion. 5/10
Some other thoughts...
...from an angry cm:
criterionmaster said:
ARGH! Kiddo, you anger me. 
I can see why you didn't like it, kinda, but it is a revenge film, you are suppose to be rooting with this woman. You didn't feel any gratification at the end? No happiness for this woman? Did you not connect with any of the characters, good or bad? I also loved how they went against norm with… killing the 'main' bad guy before last (in one hell of a graphic way mind you). Normally the film would have led up to his killing, but instead, those last two guys died last, which some could look at as kinda anti-climactic, but I looked at it as an amazing choice.
I don't really know what you expect from the film, maybe you could go more in-depth with what you expected to happen? Since it, at least to me, goes beyond what it is suppose to be, which is, a woman-revenge-film. But this film has tons of great elements to it as well as messages to the film, which a lot of horror films are missing.
... a link to Roger Eberts' review of the film:
... lordofdances' thoughts:
lordofdance said:
The "functionally disabled" characater (Matthew) is the worst part of this movie. I think it's more because of the actor playing him than the actual character, but he does get on my nerves.
Often it seems that people either try to find a pro-woman message in the film, or they label at as tasteless exploitation. The director claims that he made it to expose the horrors of rape, and maybe that was his intention, but I find it difficult to view I Spit On Your Grave as meaningful rather than exploitive. Sure, I wanted Jennifer to kill the guys and I was happy to see her do it. However, some of the movie is cheesy and that takes away the dramatic impact.
I read one review that said anybody that enjoys this film must have a sadistic or voyeuristic side. I believe that is true. Just like with Cannibal Holocaust, there are people who try to find a message in the film, or some other artistic merit, but deep down there has to be some sadism or voyeurism within the viewer to enjoy the movie. I probably have a bit of both, because I do like I Spit On Your Grave and movies like it. There are movies out there that are too sadistic and sleazy for me, but I Spit On Your Grave doesn't cross that threshold.
Often it seems that people either try to find a pro-woman message in the film, or they label at as tasteless exploitation. The director claims that he made it to expose the horrors of rape, and maybe that was his intention, but I find it difficult to view I Spit On Your Grave as meaningful rather than exploitive. Sure, I wanted Jennifer to kill the guys and I was happy to see her do it. However, some of the movie is cheesy and that takes away the dramatic impact.
I read one review that said anybody that enjoys this film must have a sadistic or voyeuristic side. I believe that is true. Just like with Cannibal Holocaust, there are people who try to find a message in the film, or some other artistic merit, but deep down there has to be some sadism or voyeurism within the viewer to enjoy the movie. I probably have a bit of both, because I do like I Spit On Your Grave and movies like it. There are movies out there that are too sadistic and sleazy for me, but I Spit On Your Grave doesn't cross that threshold.
... kiddo write some more things about the experience:
Relax, cm. I did like it to a certain degree. The film hold me interested almost all the way through. It was basically the last 20 minutes or so that destroyed it for me. The woman taking revenge seemed somwhat out of place and... more or less sick. The film, I feel, tells the viewer that the revenge is justified. In some ways, it is, but come on; killing these men isn't heroic or anything. It's sick and untasty. Yeah, I wanted her to take revenge on the poor men right after she was humiliated to the biggest degree possible, but when she started the killings I felt bad for them.
I thought the bathroom-scene was very well executed, though. It was a very tense scene. And, you know, I thought much of this was well made, but at the end, I felt somehow just... indifferent towards it.
