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turrell 
"Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhh "
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 Posted - 11/25/2007 : 23:30:45
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I won't say how it ends but it was terribly implausible and unfulfilling. The monsters were cheesy and the dialogue excessively over the top. Add to that the cliche of the crazy Christian woman with no redeeming qualities and the only semi-human-villains being brushed aside without any clear resolution.
They give no real reason for why the monsters are there - they vaguely speculate and then kind of write it off.
And that ending - terrible. With the ending they chose it would have been better suited for a 12-minute "Twilight Zone" episode - not a full length movie.
I am sure horror movie enthusiasts will have reason to disagree, but I found it to be a mess. |
Edited by - turrell on 11/25/2007 23:31:24 |
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Downtown 
"Welcome back, Billy Buck"
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Posted - 11/26/2007 : 14:35:34
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The "cliche" you speak of was in the original story written by Stephen King...over 30 years ago.
The lack of any clear explanation of what's happening is ALSO precisely the way King wrote it...and by the way, when Hitchcock did that with "The Birds," it was considered brilliant. Why should it be explained, anyway? The whole point is that you're just as bewildered as the people stuck inside that supermarket.
I can't comment on the ending, not having seen the film yet. But if it's the same ending as the original novella, I guess I can understand why you didn't like it but once again I'd have to disagree and refer back to the previous paragraph. |
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turrell
"Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhh "
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Posted - 11/26/2007 : 16:45:49
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Birds is different in that it starts with creatures you can understand - birds that we know from everyday life - so the leap is not such a big deal.
I have not read the novella, but my friend did and he said the ending is different.
As for the fact that Stephen King used the cliche in his book - that doesn't make it anymore interesting in the film. One guy says, "I believe in God too, I just don't think he's an asshole" and then he gets eaten 10 seconds later. The movie is filled with random statements like that that better crafted could have made a point about the notion of fear etc. but you have to make excuses for Darabont not making these points intelligibly.
Given this was the latest Darabont / King mash-up, I was hoping for a lot more.
Interested if you go to see the movie what you think - I was shocked that Rotten Tomatoes had it at 69% favorable (a reason for picking the film) but not surprised that the cream of the crop had it at only 48% favorable as many of the online critics are probably fans of the horror genre regardless of substance. |
Edited by - turrell on 11/26/2007 17:56:58 |
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MM0rkeleb
"Better than HBO."
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Posted - 11/27/2007 : 15:04:01
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I have to say that Ms. Harden's character is one of the big reasons I am not interested in seeing thing (or reading the story) even though I am a big King fan. The weird thing is, he's usually very good at religious characters.
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turrell
"Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhh "
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Posted - 11/27/2007 : 15:29:38
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I want to say that Harden was actually very good in the film but that the character was poorly drawn.
Something that struck me upon further reflection about this film is that good horror movies usually make the choice of being serious or tongue in cheek and this film couldn't decide which it wanted to be wiuth the jokes coming in the wrong places - not just the tasteless place for the jokes, but not in the right rhythm.
Again if you are a big King fan or like horror in all forms - by all means - but don't see it if you were hoping for the latest King / Darabont classic. |
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Downtown
"Welcome back, Billy Buck"
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Posted - 11/27/2007 : 16:43:49
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quote:
Originally posted by MM0rkeleb
I have to say that Ms. Harden's character is one of the big reasons I am not interested in seeing thing (or reading the story) even though I am a big King fan. The weird thing is, he's usually very good at religious characters.
Certainly that's your prerogative but the character is presented as a crazy person that's latched on to theology as a manifestation of her hysteria, rather than as a representation of a typical Christian. At least, that's what she is in the book...similar to the mother in "Carrie." |
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Yukon 
"Co-editor of FWFR book"
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Posted - 12/08/2007 : 03:44:00
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SPOILER!!!!!
Sorry Turrell, couldn't disagree more. I really loved this movie.
I like the fact they don't tell you why there are monsters out there. As already said, it adds to the mystery.
Yes the religion aspect is a little over the top but I loved the Lord of the Flies feel of how the people in the grocery store change and evolve as the days go on.
Like one of the characters said "People are good and kind when the machines work and you can dial 911. Take that away and people go crazy."
And I love the ending, even though it was profoundly disturbing. (The ending in the film is different than the ending in the book.)
I never saw it coming and I was completely stunned a Hollywood movie would have such a non-Hollywood ending.
I am a fan of originality -- kudos to Darabont for not giving us the usual "and they all live happily ever after" finish.
My friend and I talked about The Mist after we saw it and we couldn't think of a more disturbing ending to a movie -- it's on par with Se7en.
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silly 
"That rabbit's DYNAMITE."
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Posted - 12/08/2007 : 23:52:49
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I haven't seen it, but read the book when I was a teenager. Stephen said that the ending was fantastic, and anyone caught divulging it should be hanged. Or something like that (can't find the article now)
Can't wait for the DVD. My movie budget will be shot with I'm Legend and National Treasure coming out, and the Sweeney Todd trailer I saw recently looks rather interesting.
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damalc
"last watched: Sausage Party"
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Posted - 12/11/2007 : 03:57:26
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bottom line, i liked it, i think mainly because i like Thomas Jane. i wasn't sure it was him until i checked the cast, which i think is a testament to his acting. or a testament to me not being alert. btw, the lasting image i have of him is sitting on the couch in "Boogie Nights," mumbling, "I want what's in the safe."
i thought the monsters were kinda hokey, and i don't think people would degrade to a lynch mob that quickly.
but i thought the tension when the characters were wandering through the mist and could only see about 8 feet in front of them was perfect.
and i liked the ending, though turrell's right, it did seem more "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" than feature film. i don't mean i liked what happened, but it was so non-hollywood. |
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Demisemicenturian
"Four ever European"
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Stephen King's The Mist - potential spoilers
