The Cronenberg thread

[Luc214]

So I thought I'd start a Cronenberg thread so we have somewhere else besides the Lynch thread to discuss this genius.

I saw Videodrome earlier today, my god it was fascinating.

I'm just about to watch Naked Lunch as we speak.

[fathergoat]

Naked Lunch can go between a 5/10 and an 9/10 for me. It really depends on what I feel like. It has some pretty cool unique ideas. :thumb:

[Luc214]

****ing hell I just found out they are doing a re-remake of The Fly. How dare they, this does NOT NEED TO BE DONE.

[planewreck]

oh right because there was already a remake by CRONENBERG

[Luc214]

oh right because there was already a remake by CRONENBERG

Yes, that was just fine.

[Cocaine]

The remake was originally supposed to be more like the story it was based on, but when the studio wanted it to be like Cronenburgers the director left the projcet.

i think ron zombie is doing it.

[Luc214]

:lol: I think Rob is a decent director, but he would butcher this.

[Meatplow]

Videodrome, eXistenZ, Naked Lunch, Crash & The Dead Zone are the Cronenberg films I have seen so far, and they've either impressed me or entertained me (usually both). I dig Cronenberg.

[Luc214]

Lets see.

I've seen The Fly, The Dead Zone (so far the only cronenberg film I DIDN'T like) eXistenZ, A History Of Violence, and Videodrome.

But I have a bunch of his films on my computer that I'm going to watch over the next couple days. :D

[AlienEater]

Amazing director

[Meatplow]

I probably only persisted with The Dead Zone at the time because I was a massive Stephen King fan at the time I watched it and it was good to see an adaption on screen. Though it seemed kind of bland thinking back on it I believe it was a pretty good movie. Some of the psychic scenes were good (such as where Johnny envisions the housefire with the little girl) and Martin Sheen did a great job playing Greg Stillson who I thought was an amazing character in the book after you realise Frank Dodd really isn't the ultimate bad guy (I read Cujo first and all the novels set in Castle Rock which referenced The Dead Zone a lot so Stillson kind of came out of left field for me when i read it).

Cronenberg originals do more for me from what i've seen so far, with the exception of maybe Naked Lunch which is great. Anyone heard Bug Powder Dust by Bomb The Bass? I never knew it was referencing that movie and sampled one of the scenes which was cool to find out.

f'ck it here's an upload - http://www.badongo.com/file/4734302

[Kage]

I don't like this director.

[Luc214]

I don't like this director.

Stop lying, you go on more about him than even Lynch.

Of course now after seeing him for myself I know why. :p

[Meatplow]

omg you are kidding! you are so missing out, here let me introduce you :rolleyes::)

[Kage]

I've seen his entire filmography to be honest.

About two years ago.

[Luc214]

So your favorite movie list does not go something like this?

1. Mulholland Drive
2. Videodrome

Just saw Scanners, definitely one of his weaker films.

[Cocaine]

Just saw Scanners, definitely one of his weaker films.

9.9/10?

[Kage]

It does, but Cronenberg is so passé.

[Luc214]

9.9/10?

No.... more like a 7.5

[Pluperfect_Arson]

I have only viewed a couple of his films, but I most definitely enjoyed them.

[Kage]

You're not supposed to ENJOY Cronenberg, you imbecile!

[Meatplow]

Maybe if you're a compete masochist like me.

Kage where is your avatar from, it reminds me of Fallout somehow. Fallout 3 concept art maybe?

[Kage]

It's actually from a painting by PJ Crook and used on King Crimson's "Level Five" single release.

[A Dead Modernist]

Cronenberg must be an acquired taste because I don't really enjoy his movies :-/
But I haven't seen his so called "masterpieces" yet, only his most recent movies, so I won't shun him completely yet.

[Meatplow]

Cool

[EightMilesHigh]

I'm just getting into him and Lynch. I saw Eastern Promises last month, it was amazing. Brutally violent, but still amazing.

I've only seen that and History Of Violence, but I definitely want to check out more stuff by him.

[Pluperfect_Arson]

You're not supposed to ENJOY Cronenberg, you imbecile!

Aw. :upset:

[team_racket]

i need to see crash.

[Oriah]

I watched Cronenberg's 'eXistenZ' after Kage had ask me to see it. Loved it.

[Meatplow]

There was something eerily alluring about watching the scenes where they are driving on the highways of the city having sex in the car in Crash.

The whole movie has an incredible atmosphere in my opinion, it captures you in the rush of the bizarre fetish. In that scene you can just imagine the wind, and f'cked up personalities all round with nothing else on their minds.

[AlienEater]

So your favorite movie list does not go something like this?

1. Mulholland Drive
2. Videodrome

Just saw Scanners, definitely one of his weaker films.

yes scanners isn't as good as some of his others. It did have some killer scenes but it could have used a couple more mind battles

[Tillius]

I saw A History of Violence in theatres...didn't know until recently that it was Cronenberg. Also watched The Dead Zone the other night which I enjoyed.

Can't wait to get into his more acclaimed stuff.

[VomitStainedCretin]

There was something eerily alluring about watching the scenes where they are driving on the highways of the city having sex in the car in Crash.

The whole movie has an incredible atmosphere in my opinion, it captures you in the rush of the bizarre fetish. In that scene you can just imagine the wind, and f'cked up personalities all round with nothing else on their minds.The car wash scene is one of my favourites on account of how sickeningly brutal and eerie it is.

[Kage]

The best thing about that movie is how affecting the world he creates is, and how meticulously dedicated he is at keeping you stuffed inside it, no matter how grotesque things get. Anyone who watches Crash is going to have an extreme reaction to it.

[planewreck]

I had a reaction to it.

[Kage]

Watch it more than once tbh.

[Meatplow]

I haven't rewatched it yet, I probably should. I got something out of it the first time though I didn't really feel a need to return.

[planewreck]

Watch it more than once tbh.
oh sorry i meant to say

my reaction was boredom

[VomitStainedCretin]

I need to rewatch it too; it left me in limbo somewhat. On the one hand I felt it failed conceptually, yet at the same time it felt in many ways a successful synthesis of cars and carnality. It was also viscerally repulsive yet satiating. It definitely, to use a musical analogy, strikes a dissonant chord.

[Kage]

oh sorry i meant to say

my reaction was boredom

Whoops, I meant to say you're not an appreciator of the arts so of course you don't get it.

[planewreck]

Whoops, I meant to say you're not an appreciator of the arts so of course you don't get it.
oh **** i forgot. h/o



alright so i was bored and didn't connect to the characters at all but that's the point to cronenberg's vision and that we aren't supposed to like get the people and like stuff because they are so far removed from humanity trying to get off to car crashes and it's all symbolic of their true nature as sexual beasts where they build up their excitement with foreplay into a frenzy of climaxes and the final ejaculation (car crashes!!! get it?!!) and it's so strong and moving but i was bored but i knew i was supposed to love it.

with all my heart <3

[Kage]

But...but..it's

CRONENBERG

[planewreck]

best rebuttal itt

[Meatplow]

I'm halfway into a rewatch of Videodrome, i'm tired so I turned it off for a bit to muse on it.

SPOILERS

I'm not sure how to approach separating dream from reality here, though I understand it's part of the intention of the director. Debbie Harry's character seems too convenient catering for James Woods developing fantasies as he goes down the rabbit hole so to speak. At the start of the film she was protesting against his scummy media station catering violence for the masses, I don't see why if she was such a lost waste of life to later admit she loves a bit of pain/torture and actively seek it. It certainly goes against her "we live in overstimulated times" argument.

Based on the scene where he hits the woman only to apologise and find he never really did it in the first place, I'm thinking that after his hears her point of discussion he conjures up a fantasy in this early scene. "Then why did you wear that dress?" seems to be a turning point in the argument, after this she conveniently seems to sway to his will going out to dinner with him eventually leading to kinky sex watching snuff films. I feel he may have dreamed himself saying this in his head with all following events involving this woman fabricated.

Still I can't remember much of the rest of the film so I can't really point holes in this yet. Anyone else's opinion on this?

[Kage]

Dude, she's a radio personality. She's just portraying a public image by going on that show. Max is easily able to point out a contradiction in her image, which she admits to. The whole thing is that even these supposedly stable people that can be looked up to (she runs a help line radio show, etc.) do strange things when the light goes out.

[Meatplow]

Interesting. So I am to take she is more or less a metaphorical character, but does she actually exist in terms of what is real in the film and what is not if there is such a thing?

[telemore]

Who cares. It's such a hidden thing in the film that in the context of the plot, it doesn't really matter if she's real or not.

spoiler: eventually she becomes totally not real, and then i could understand seeing and questioning what you are. but as for the first half, nah. take it for full face.


I saw naked lunch yesterday. Really one of my favorite movies now. Third times a charm it seems. It all clicked, it all made sense. Everything, the allusions to other drugs, Bill's biting, almost scathingly subservise perverse sense of humour, and even better his acceptance of this reality he is facing. He sees talking bugs and mugwumps and shoots up crushed centipede all with a look of "Oh, why the hell not." Like a seasoned junkie getting back into the habit after a ten year hiatus.

It's quite beautiful and increasingly dark in that mind frame. In fact Bill asks Judy at the beginning when he shoots up the powder for the first time, "I thought we were done doing weird things." "I thought so too."

It really looks like it's his first time shooting heroin in some time.

Ugh. I'm starting to wrap my head around, even as a writing process. And I have so much respect for Cronenberg. It's just, wow. I don't know quite what to say.


And for the first time, the end made absolute perfect sense to me. "It's time for our William Tell routine." He says.

And the inferred thing going on with Tom Frost. Poor man. And his writing machine in the bag. Jesus. There's so many great little subtle things that i have never caught before. I want to watch it again, though I'll probably watch Videodrome tonite. So I can stay relevant to this thread, since I'm the only one going on and on and on about Naked Lunch's amazingness.

I think it might beat Lynch for me. It's overall just so ****ing weird and at the same time, not trying to be weird. It just is. It just exists.

[Meatplow]

Who cares. It's such a hidden thing in the film that in the context of the plot, it doesn't really matter if she's real or not.

spoiler: eventually she becomes totally not real, and then i could understand seeing and questioning what you are. but as for the first half, nah. take it for full face.

It was just a curiosity, not some crucial point I was trying to work up.

[telemore]

I understand. lol.

I wasn't as angry or whatever as I may have seemed. : )

[Kage]

I couldn't agree more about Naked Lunch. Now I need to watch that again.

[Meatplow]

It's cool tele, jacob is it?

Naked Lunch hasn't clicked with me fully yet. I'd like to read Burrough's books it was based on.

[Kage]

I'd like to read Burrough's books it was based on.

That won't help matters in the slightest.


And I mean that in the best way possible.

[Meatplow]

I didn't mean it in the context that if I read them that it would make me appreciate the movie more. I've only watched it once.

Have you read any of them Kage? I've heard a lot of detractors complain Cronenberg infuses too much of his own style into the movie which takes something away from the novels.

[Kage]

That's totally untrue. The book is unfilmable. The way Cronenberg did it is quite frankly brilliant. I don't know if there's anyone else out there aside from maybe Peter Greenaway who could have made a movie out of Naked Lunch. I've read the book, and while it isn't highly enjoyable, it was an amazing read. Burroughs is great.

[telemore]

i just went on a fifteen minute typing tirade comparing hubert selby jr. and william s. burroughs as novelists.

it was quite fun, i regret deleting it all.

meatie - i'm jacob. i don't think i ever got yours.

[br3ad_man]

I have Naked Lunch out from the library and I really need to watch it. Great book too.

I think Cronenberg is the best director currently making films tbh.

I don't know if there's anyone else out there aside from maybe Peter Greenaway who could have made a movie out of Naked Lunch.

I wouldn't disagree, but I think he's one of the most boring filmmakers ever.

[telemore]

Where's the Gilliam love? He did fantastic with Fear and Loathing. Naked Lunch would be truly horrifying maybe.

[Kage]

I like Gilliam alright but Naked Lunch would be a disaster in his hands.




I wouldn't disagree, but I think he's one of the most boring filmmakers ever.

Haha, I guess the results of this thread didn't turn out so well.

http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=520336


:p

[Luc214]

Speaking of Gilliam I need to finish Tideland.

And I'm right in the middle of Spider, and still have yet to finish Naked Lunch.... I have a really bad habit of not watching films all the way through in one go :(

[telemore]

lol i can see it now, melting floors and giant bugs with talking anuses.

[Luc214]

Doesn't the film already have that?

[telemore]

bugs with talking buttholes, yeah.

[br3ad_man]

Haha, I guess the results of this thread didn't turn out so well.

http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=520336


:p

Haha, yeah. I watched The Cook..., A Zed and Two Noughts and then partway through The Draughtsman's Contract I just decided to give up.

[telemore]

I have to see this man's work.

[Kage]

Haha, yeah. I watched The Cook..., A Zed and Two Noughts and then partway through The Draughtsman's Contract I just decided to give up.

See, I was blown away by The Cook, but I feel your pain on Draughtsman's Contract. I didn't like that one so much. A Zed and Two Noughts rules though.

I have to see this man's work.

Yeah, you do.


And I think the fusion of Cronenberg/Burroughs style in Naked Lunch is one of the most perfect in cinema, ever. The way Cronenberg's obsessions collide with Burroughs' is magical and chaotic.

[telemore]

indeed.

kage, i'm gonna tour this great country one of these damn days and i'd be delighted if you'd join me for some pie and coffee and eventually a bowl discussing film and everything else.

[br3ad_man]

See, I was blown away by The Cook, but I feel your pain on Draughtsman's Contract. I didn't like that one so much. A Zed and Two Noughts rules though.

I thought The Cook was pretty decent but I hated A Zed and Two Noughts. I had no connection with any of the characters and to sum up my opinion, I just thought it was the most pretentious **** ever. The guy seems like a real asshole tbh.

[telemore]

Oh man, this makes me want to see it even more now. For some reason, the guy being percieved as a wanky asshole because of his film is pretty goddamn pretentious.

[Meatplow]

i just went on a fifteen minute typing tirade comparing hubert selby jr. and william s. burroughs as novelists.

it was quite fun, i regret deleting it all.

meatie - i'm jacob. i don't think i ever got yours.

Let it be forever know I am Harry or Haz.

Please don't call me meatie :p

[planewreck]

harry meatie

[Meatplow]

as long as it's not potter i'm not gonna smack you with my broomstick ;)

[br3ad_man]

Oh man, this makes me want to see it even more now. For some reason, the guy being percieved as a wanky asshole because of his film is pretty goddamn pretentious.

That's not because of his film, it's because of interviews I've seen.

[Kage]

Greeenaway loves to say **** just to get a rise out of people. He's being ironic or something witty like that.

He's a smart guy, though.

[telemore]

Aight Haz.

Kage, I've been on a really interesting roll with my writing lately.

I'd like for you to read some of it when I can get it typed and down.

[Kage]

Of course, man, send it all over.

[telemore]

kk

i'll start typing it out now.

[Kage]

Awesome.

[br3ad_man]

I watched Naked Lunch. Good stuff.

[telemore]

I still can't get Naked Lunch out of my head man.

[AlienEater]

Apparently there is a remake of Scanners being made

directed by Darren Lynn Bousman director of Saw movies

[Luc214]

At first, I actually was slightly excited, seeing as Scanners was kind of weak for Cronenberg especially, and the first Saw is really good.

Then of course I realized that Bousman directed the Saw movies beginning with II.

[Meatplow]

Quick question about Videodrome to anyone, probably useless. Does the whole "handgun" concept seem to represent the fusion of man and technological violence theme running throughout the film to you? "The new flesh", so to speak, I think certain ideas are sinking in I was missing before.

I also just picked up on the "head in a box" reference, nicely sly.

[br3ad_man]

Woo Eastern Promises comes out here this week. And I actually get to see it.

[AlienEater]

At first, I actually was slightly excited, seeing as Scanners was kind of weak for Cronenberg especially, and the first Saw is really good.

Then of course I realized that Bousman directed the Saw movies beginning with II.

I don't know what to think (my whole world has been turned upside-down - who would even think of remaking Cronenberg?!!!!!!) it might suck, because, well this guy sounds like a douche.

there will probably be more mindbattles. it might be ok

[planewreck]

At first, I actually was slightly excited, seeing as Scanners was kind of weak for Cronenberg especially, and the first Saw is really good.

Then of course I realized that Bousman directed the Saw movies beginning with II.
saw II is one of the worst films I have ever seen


ahaha this is going to be so bad

[Luc214]

I don't know what to think (my whole world has been turned upside-down - who would even think of remaking Cronenberg?!!!!!!) it might suck, because, well this guy sounds like a douche.

I agree, though if you MUST remake Cronenberg, I think Scanners is probably the best choice.

The people behind the remake of The Fly must have been dropped on their heads as infants though.

Quick question about Videodrome to anyone, probably useless. Does the whole "handgun" concept seem to represent the fusion of man and technological violence theme running throughout the film to you? "The new flesh", so to speak, I think certain ideas are sinking in I was missing before.

Yes.

[AlienEater]

I agree, though if you MUST remake Cronenberg, I think Scanners is probably the best choice.

The people behind the remake of The Fly must have been dropped on their heads as infants though

well I was being ironic but, yes, Scanners is probably worthy of a remake. I mean, it's not bad or anything, (3.5/5 or something) but it could be improved upon

with many mindbattles. this film won't be terrible if heads are exploding everywhere

or maybe it will

[Kage]

well I was being ironic but, yes, Scanners is probably worthy of a remake. I mean, it's not bad or anything, (3.5/5 or something) but it could be improved upon

with many mindbattles. this film won't be terrible if heads are exploding everywhere

or maybe it will

Bingo.

[planewreck]

lol this thread

[telemore]

lol this thread too.

Haz - I think you're on the right path there man. The fusion of personal violence and technology, equates the hand-gun, and eventual hand-grenade (lovely puns too!) And the overall over sexuality, over stimulation and over glorified violence. I didn't get around to watching it the other night, but I will tonite.




and Kyle, did you get a chance to read through that stuff?

[FlyingPaul_83]

heard this one morning after i finished my paper route. I thought it was very interesting.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14384937

[Luc214]

No one ever talks about Spider.

Currently, I think it's my favorite Cronenberg after eXistenZ and The Fly.

[planewreck]

heard this one morning after i finished my paper route. I thought it was very interesting.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14384937
i don't get it.

[Meatplow]

lol this thread too.

Haz - I think you're on the right path there man. The fusion of personal violence and technology, equates the hand-gun, and eventual hand-grenade (lovely puns too!) And the overall over sexuality, over stimulation and over glorified violence. I didn't get around to watching it the other night, but I will tonite.

I admittedly didn't warm up to the themes so much on first viewing through the shlock horror/sci-fi aspects. Now i've paid attention properly to it a bit and done some reading the philosophical aspects are emerging as an amazing message for me. The fact it was written when it was makes me appreciate Cronenberg's work a lot more, well before it's time as some have said. I've been thinking about it a lot, i'd like to do some alternative reading on the subject as well just to get an overview of any criticism of it.

[br3ad_man]

Spider is awesome. Ralph Fiennes is amazing.

[FlyingPaul_83]

i don't get it.

Click on the listen button above the picture. Its a radio interview that I heard one morning of David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen talking about easter promises.

[Tillius]

lol @ Easter Promises.



As for Spider, I'm just gonna go buy it. I haven't seen it, but I have faith that I'll probably enjoy it, and it's only six dollars if I don't.

[Meatplow]

I'm watching Videodrome again (lol i'll move on to something else soon I am sure), I want to point something out and get an opinion on it.

SPOILERS

Where Max goes to meet Debbie Harry's character whilst she is doing the talk radio thing she is wearing a low-cut top and you see her upper shoulder clearly unmarked. Next thing we know she is in his apartment, where they've presumedly gone out for dinner or and come back. She starts asking about whether he has porno and warms up to the snuff film right off the bat, then asked him very directly to cut her on the shoulder. Max goes "looks like somebody already beat me to it", and points out she has some cut wounds on the same exposed shoulder that we saw a scene before was free of any harm.

What is the significance of this do you feel? Her character represents a flawed public opinion in the opening scene according to Kage, and her fantasies showing the strange things common people can get up to behind closed doors etc. What i'm curious about is how the film fits into a snug timeline, if there is a possible way to place even part of the story in chronological events analysing the actions of characters within. Debbie Harry's character certainly seems representative of these two points above, but whether or not she is a real at the beginning (after all Max watches Videodrome before meeting her) is bugging me as I can't seem to take it at face value. Up to a certain point she seems to change from a warm character with principles against excessive stimulation willing to help people with trouble on air to a conveniently masochistic vehicle for Max's growing obsession. I mentioned in a previous post that Max could have fantasised her masochistic personality in the film completely, and this minor detail with the suddenly appearing cuts seems to back it up some. Ultimately it won't change much I guess but it's just an extra level of confusion to this movie.

[telemore]

Yeah, I noticed the scratches as well last time, at least in correlation to where we saw her shoulder before.

I think it's purely hallucination on Max's part. This is something that he wants, whether he admits it at first or not SPOILER just as with the cigarette burns. He wants to do it. He wants to inflict this pain on somebody. She happily accepts it, so he eagerly doses it out. Overly dramatic masturbatory fantasy with some ties in reality. lol

Also her trip to Pittsburgh is very interesting too. I think at that point she is an extension of himself. He's curious and wants to know what happens there, and by her going he fulfills this wish that Videodrome is real. Videodrome exists because he wants it to exist, at least the Snuff angle of it.

It is not until he gets deeper in the plot and investigates for himself does he find out the horrible reality of it all.

It's brilliant.

[Smokey D]

So... Michael Corleone and Nikolai Luzhin pretty much look exactly the same. Coincidence? I think not.

[Iskandar]

Luzhin was a neat character. I was impressed at how well Mortensen pulled it off.

[VomitStainedCretin]

Eastern Promises seems to have gotten quite a few bad reviews; apparently it's been accused of having bland dialogue. I'll see it anyway however.

[Smokey D]

I pretty much go by the maxim 'if Roger Ebert says it's good, it probably is'. It's not exactly robust reading of film reviews, but it gets the job done.

[Meatplow]

He gave Freddy Got Fingered zero stars!

This movie doesn't scrape the bottom of the barrel. This movie isn't the bottom of the barrel. This movie isn't below the bottom of the barrel. This movie doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with barrels...The day may come when Freddy Got Fingered is seen as a milestone of neo-surrealism. The day may never come when it is seen as funny.

How can you trust that mans opinion!

[Kage]

Haha, good ol' Rog.

[telemore]

remember his feud with vincent gallo?

[Kage]

:lol: "although I am fat, one day I will be thin, but Mr. Gallo will still have been the director of The Brown Bunny."

Hey, Jacob, I ask you gain, can you sign on to aim or something?

[planewreck]

I pretty much go by the maxim 'if Roger Ebert says it's good, it probably is'. It's not exactly robust reading of film reviews, but it gets the job done.
Transformers. Across the Universe.

[telemore]

aim away

telemoraga

[Smokey D]

Transformers. Across the Universe.

Key word being 'probably'.

And Ebert assesses movies on the merits they will be given by their target audience. Transformers pleased teenage boys everywhere, so he was right in giving it a high rating. I haven't seen Across the Universe.

[planewreck]

Ebert can just be summed up in two extremes: his cynical young self and his gentler older self. I found his younger, more cynical self was definitely more spot on than he is now.

[telemore]

What about his fatness? That always plays a factor. Fatcor

[br3ad_man]

I personally love Ebert. He and Peter Travers are my favourites.

[spitfirejunky]

:lol: Holy ****, I had no idea he was behind Scanners.

That movie was hilarious.

[planewreck]

So I watched A History of Violence today.

It is still good!

[Kage]

I watched that last week and I had forgotten just how much I like it. It's great.

[planewreck]

I know a lot of people that didn't like it because it's so cold and unaccessible, but I think it perfectly parallels the harsh, relentless violence that the characters portray that it could very well be the product or reason for the violence. And that it can shift so haphazardly for the quiet, low-key ending is as good an ending as Cronenberg could have decided on (as opposed to the bloodshed that the comic depicted).

[Kage]

The ending seals the deal. It's perfect.

Cronenberg is pretty notorious for good endings.

[planewreck]

Eastern Promises had a good ending but it seemed more obligatory than anything else. If he had done anything else it could have ended horribly so I acknowledge it was fine for what it was, but then again, it was just fine for what it was.

[Kage]

I agree, pretty much. I love the shot of Viggo sitting in the booth with the bottle of vodka, though. I thought the whole happy-ever-after thing with Naomi Watts and the baby was a little square.

[br3ad_man]

I'm gonna try to see Eastern Promises tomorrow.

[RunAmokRampant]

It is really good, man. I saw it a couple of days ago. The dinner scene where Anna's uncle is blatantly racist caused some people to have an outburst in the cinema.

Edit: Roger Ebert is pretty good. That tussle he had with Rob Schneider was hilarious.

[planewreck]

It is really good, man. I saw it a couple of days ago. The dinner scene where Anna's uncle is blatantly racist caused some people to have an outburst in the cinema.
That's such a good scene. It's so small and effective.

[AlienEater]

****ing english film classification system says I am too young to go see eastern promises

I was really looking foward to it

[Kage]

Oh, you're not 18?

[AlienEater]

no I am not

[Kage]

Do they really enforce that rule?

[Luc214]

I thought 17 was the minimum age for R rated films?

[RunAmokRampant]

In Australia its 18. Censorship is quite different here than in the states.

[AlienEater]

yeah they do

unless I wear a fake beard

or grow a real one

even then they'd ask for id probably

[Luc214]

I wasn't aware he was an aussie.

[AlienEater]

who me?

no I am from england

[Luc214]

So england has more strict censorship laws as well?

/dumb american

[Meatplow]

I saw A History of Violence sitting on the shelf at the video store, so I hired it!

[RunAmokRampant]

good job. It's a good movie. I think it had a better ending than the ending in Eastern Promises.

[Meatplow]

Yeah, looks interesting for sure.

[br3ad_man]

It's one of the best films of the decade imo.

[Tillius]

Watching The Brood in about half an hour.

[FlyingPaul_83]

Where did you guys find all his short films? I really want to watch them, from the drain in particular.

[Tillius]

So after that last post, I did, indeed, watch The Brood which was an excellent film.

I just got done watching The Fly, too, and it was also an excellent film.

More Cronenberg please.

[Meatplow]

Can I be the first to say I really did not like Dead Ringers that much?

[VomitStainedCretin]

Can I be the first to say I really did not like Dead Ringers that much?It's a film that dwells on unpleasant and perverse themes but this is what I feel is its strength. Or did it just not hold your interest/come across as too pretentious? It's actually one of my favourite Cronenbergs.

[br3ad_man]

The score for Dead Ringers is probably the best thing Howard Shore has done.

[Meatplow]

It's a film that dwells on unpleasant and perverse themes but this is what I feel is its strength. Or did it just not hold your interest/come across as too pretentious? It's actually one of my favourite Cronenbergs.

Well i've felt pretty strongly for the themes of most other Cronenberg movies I have seen, but on first watch I didn't really feel what Dead Ringers was trying to bring across at all. It seemed clinical and very, very dull in both the execution of it's premise and the way it was directed. There was a lot of potential, and it had it's moments for sure but as a whole it really didn't do much for me.

I might give it a rewatch, as i've found that a lot of Cronenberg you have to watch a couple of times to appreciate.

[Meatplow]

^

I didn't rebump this to say this but I might add my opinion on Dead Ringers has changed somewhat since I made this post. Where I found it dull and uninteresting I now see subtle drama I wasn't quite picking up before, Jeremy Irons performance is really great. As for the story it is certainly more of a slow burn then I was expecting from Cronenberg, I guess thats why I was disappointed but I gave it a watch with an open mind and found a very unique movie.

I've been getting a collection of his films recently, out of the stuff I haven't seen (i've watched Videodrome, Dead Ringers, The Fly, Naked Lunch, The Dead Zone, Crash, eXistenZ and A History of Violence) i've now got Stereo, Crimes Of The Future, Shivers, and Rabid on my list.

I'm halfway through watching Stereo now. I'm digging this blend of philosophical/parapsychological mumbo jumbo, as usual his theme is very fascinating.

[Kage]

Stereo is tight to watch but boring as all hell.

From the Drain > any early Cronenberg short.

[Meatplow]

The last 20 minutes were a bit of a drag to get through.

Also is Fast Company worth getting?

[Kage]

Fast Company rules.

[Meatplow]

Righto.

[Tillius]

Watched Videodrome a few weeks ago and loved it. Eastern Promises is coming to the dollar theatre soon so I'm still gonna get to see it in theatres. :)

I started watching Spider the other night and was interested but fell asleep about halfway through because I was dead tired. I'll probably start it over within the next few days.

[Kage]

Yeah, Spider is definitely not one to watch when tired. It's a slow-burner, but amazingly shot and acted.

[FlyingPaul_83]

The score for Dead Ringers is probably the best thing Howard Shore has done.

I haven't seen that one yet, but I thought that Howard Shore's score for Eastern Promises was absolute class. Just amazing music that fits perfectly with the movie.

[Neoteric]

I just watched Videodrome and that was really good, what movie should I see next? I'm thinking Crash or Naked Lunch.

[VomitStainedCretin]

Yeah, Spider is definitely not one to watch when tired. It's a slow-burner, but amazingly shot and acted.Truth. Will try to get round to watching more Cronenberg before I go back to Uni; The Brood, Rabid, Scanners and The Naked Lunch are on the cards.

[Meatplow]

I just watched Videodrome and that was really good, what movie should I see next? I'm thinking Crash or Naked Lunch.

Add The Fly to that list and watch all three :)

[Neoteric]

Will do. :)

I feel bad though having to download them off torrents since there isn't many places to get Cronenberg movies in the UK. Naked Lunch is gonna take awhile to download, would you guys consider it to be more disturbing than Videodrome? I've read the Naked Lunch book and the thought of that in a movie form makes me feel sick.

[Kage]

The way Cronenberg did Naked Lunch is brilliant. Don't expect it to be much like the book. It's definitely a fusion of Cronenberg and Burroughs, though.

I find Videodrome more disturbing, and it's hard to explain why without throwing out a bunch of spoilers.

That said, they're two of the most amazing and unique movies out there.

[Neoteric]

Ah cool.

Also quick question for computer people, I have DVD-Rs, now how would I put Videodrome onto them from my computer? What program would I need? etc.

edit: I tried making a data disc out of it and trying it in my DVD player but that never worked... god I suck at technology...

[Luc214]

Yeah, Spider is definitely not one to watch when tired. It's a slow-burner, but amazingly shot and acted.

It's strange because usually I'm not the biggest fan of slow-burners, but I thought Spider was brilliant.

[Tillius]

I very much enjoyed what I saw of Spider before I just got too tired to even try to continue.

Ralph Fiennes was giving a brillaint performance(which, really, he always does). I just need to watch it again. Probably will within the next few days.

[VomitStainedCretin]

I feel bad though having to download them off torrents since there isn't many places to get Cronenberg movies in the UK.My brother and I have managed to obtain everything of Cronenberg's available on video and DVD except Stereo/Crimes of the Future, Fast Company and M. Butterfly (which doesn't have a UK DVD release as far as I know).

[Meatplow]

Ah cool.

Also quick question for computer people, I have DVD-Rs, now how would I put Videodrome onto them from my computer? What program would I need? etc.

edit: I tried making a data disc out of it and trying it in my DVD player but that never worked... god I suck at technology...

ConvertX to DVD is a great program that takes the file and converts it to DVD files to burn, either through the program itself or whatever you burn with. Later versions of Nero have a "Make Your Own DVD/Video" option which does the same thing, except i've found more reliable for different types of DVD players.

[Neoteric]

My brother and I have managed to obtain everything of Cronenberg's available on video and DVD except Stereo/Crimes of the Future, Fast Company and M. Butterfly (which doesn't have a UK DVD release as far as I know).well of course you can get them online but they are usually out of stock.

and i've never seen one in store.

and thanks Meatplow, i'll try it.

[VomitStainedCretin]

well of course you can get them online but they are usually out of stock.

and i've never seen one in store.

and thanks Meatplow, i'll try it.We found a few of them second-hand in one of those shops which you have to dig through mountains of DVDs but get some good stuff every now and then. Videodrome and Spider we found in Virgin when it had an OK selection of films and bought a couple of others at carboot sales and in charity shops on VHS (most of our films are on video actually, as they are ridiculously cheap and as long as you have a good player they're fine picture and sound wise).

Admittedly, me and my brother do a lot of hunting for films.

[Neoteric]

well i'm completely crap at finding films haha, it would also be easier for me to get Cronenberg's films if they weren't all 18+ rated as that means i wouldn't be able to get them in a shop since i'm not 18 yet.

[VomitStainedCretin]

well i'm completely crap at finding films haha, it would also be easier for me to get Cronenberg's films if they weren't all 18+ rated as that means i wouldn't be able to get them in a shop since i'm not 18 yet.That's understandable I suppose; though I really don't find salespersons usually being particularly intent on IDing people buying films.

[FlyingPaul_83]

So, just finished watching stereo and...



it's kinda weird. Some amazing visuals in some spots, but it was kinda boring. Very interesting theories throughout though.

[Meatplow]

So, just finished watching stereo and...



it's kinda weird. Some amazing visuals in some spots, but it was kinda boring. Very interesting theories throughout though.

I watched Crimes Of The Future last night and it's got almost the same feel, it's even a bunch of people hanging around some institute doing mostly random and dull ****. I found it one of the most tedious and ugly movies i've ever seen, where Stereo had a kind of pseudo-philosopical charm this was terrible :(

The concept was interesting, not pulled off so good though.

[VomitStainedCretin]

Watched From The Drain an hour or so ago on Youtube; pretty cool, quite funny, the piano score made it all seem very absurd and silly (in a good way). Though I was expecting some massive enormous tentacle to come from the drain... (as opposed to the tiny little one)

[Kage]

I saw it on a film projector because one of my professors had it at school. It was tight.

[VomitStainedCretin]

Finally got round to watching The Brood; brilliantly built up, well acted and with fantastic finale 'twist' that explained the anomalies. A Cronenberg classic.

[FlyingPaul_83]

I watched Crimes Of The Future last night and it's got almost the same feel, it's even a bunch of people hanging around some institute doing mostly random and dull ****. I found it one of the most tedious and ugly movies i've ever seen, where Stereo had a kind of pseudo-philosopical charm this was terrible :(

The concept was interesting, not pulled off so good though.

heh, well I'm actually going to watch Crimes of the future later today so I'll tell you what I think when after I watch it.

Watched From The Drain an hour or so ago on Youtube; pretty cool, quite funny, the piano score made it all seem very absurd and silly (in a good way). Though I was expecting some massive enormous tentacle to come from the drain... (as opposed to the tiny little one)

hah same here I thought it was going to be this huge pirates of the carribean like tentacle. It was an interesting short though.

[FlyingPaul_83]

Ok, so I watched Crimes of the Future and it was pretty boring. It started to get a little more interesting towards the end, but whatever.

But I just Finished watching Shivers. Oh my god. I'm blown away.

[Kage]

Shivers is great. It's right behind The Brood in terms of 70s-horror-Cronenberg.

[Meatplow]

Ok, so I watched Crimes of the Future and it was pretty boring. It started to get a little more interesting towards the end, but whatever.

But I just Finished watching Shivers. Oh my god. I'm blown away.

Thats the next on my list. Are you doing the whole filling in the gaps of his catalogue from the beginning thing as well?

Quick, lets race. :chug:

[Kage]

You already fail if you haven't seen Transfer.

:p

[Meatplow]

Out of his feature films of course.

[FlyingPaul_83]

Thats the next on my list. Are you doing the whole filling in the gaps of his catalogue from the beginning thing as well?

Quick, lets race. :chug:

yea, but before I started this, the only Cronenberg movies I had seen were A History of Violence and Eastern Promises. So I'm excited to see all his "greats". Next up is Rabid, then I'm either going to have to download Fast Company or try and find it somewhere.

You already fail if you haven't seen Transfer.

I couldnt find that anywhere. I was lucky to find From the drain on youtube :(

[Tillius]

My mom picked up Eastern Promises today so I'll finally get to watch it tomorrow. Can't wait. I've been wanting to watch this film for months now.

[Kage]

yea, but before I started this, the only Cronenberg movies I had seen were A History of Violence and Eastern Promises. So I'm excited to see all his "greats". Next up is Rabid, then I'm either going to have to download Fast Company or try and find it somewhere.
http://www.amazon.com/Company-2-Disc-Limited-William-Smith/dp/B0001NBLX6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1199696219&sr=8-1

Great disc there. It's got Fast Company + Stereo and Crimes of the Future. I'd recommend it for the Cronenberg enthusiast but then again I'm a bit of a nut.



I couldnt find that anywhere. I was lucky to find From the drain on youtube :(
Me either. No one knows where it is. We still hunt, though.

[Meatplow]

http://www.cinemageddon.org/details.php?id=6014

I found a VHS rip of it on cinemageddon. Might download it later its not big.

[Kage]

We were talking about Transfer.

[Meatplow]

I understand that, i was referring to the posts about having difficulties finding From The Drain anywhere else but youtube.

[Kage]

Oh.

[Meatplow]

Its cool. Have you seen Transfer at all? I can't even find it online.

[Kage]

No, I have not been able to find it anywhere or even find anyone who has seen it.

[FlyingPaul_83]

I cant believe Howard Shore didnt get a nomination for his score for Eastern Promises. Best Score I've heard this year.

Anyway, I'm about to Watch Fast Company. It should be interesting.

[Tillius]

I'm glad Viggo got an Oscar nod though. He did a great job in the movie and while he probably won't win I'm glad to see that he at least got some recognition.

[Kage]

I guess Cronenberg'll be pissed his name wasn't all over the place, given that he's basically fishing for Oscars these days.

[Meatplow]

I watched most of Shivers the other night, very good film. I haven't brought myself to finish it though.

[Kage]

Shivers and The Brood are his best 70s horror movies.

[Tillius]

Haven't seen Shivers but The Brood was brilliant.

[AlienEater]

meatplow, how come you always seem to watch films in at least two parts?

i hate doing that, it completely ruins atmosphere/emotional intensity/whatever for me

[Meatplow]

Usually because by the time I have the opportunity to watch a film i'm dog tired from work, on top of that I have a horribly short attention span. Still, I make the most of it when I can.

[FlyingPaul_83]

Shivers is my favorite of old Cronenberg so far.

haha Just watched Fast Company. It was different, but I enjoyed it.

I bought The Brood online a couple of days ago, so it should be here soon. Also my buddy is gonna let me borrow Scanners and Videodrome, definitely excited about that.

[FlyingPaul_83]

Yeaaa The Brood came in the mail yesterday, so I'll watch that tomorrow, then Scanners on tuesday. Can't wait.

[Kage]

Have you watched the trailer for the Brood? It's awesome.