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New York, 8:25 PM
Wed Nov 25
55 posts in the last 24 hours
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11/03/09
My, that man can dance! #miramax
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11/03/09
Stupidly, I didn't go. Maybe Paranormal Activity will give me another chance... #blairwitchproject
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[www.imdb.com] #blairwitchproject
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11/02/09
There is big a difference between a movie made without money, and a movie made without money and without talent. Just because your camera is cheap doesn't mean you don't have to know how to hold the damn thing.
Just think about it: in Blair Witch, the characters who were holding the camera were actually filmmakers (even if just aspiring), so that's why we got a "documentary" shot well. Here, the guy holding the camera was a day trader, so that's why we get a "documentary" shot badly. But why would anyone want to watch a "documentary" made by a fucking day trader? It would only be scary if it was real. This way there is absolutely no worth in it - it's neither a documentary, nor a work of art.
It could be compared to Cloverfield, but with Cloverfiled you at least have the benefit of the big production, here - there are no benefits.
11/02/09
11/02/09
I had a friend that saw it and she was so mediocre. Didn't like it. But she woke up in the middle of the night so scared that she cried. Come on. That is legit. #blairwitchproject
11/02/09
I don't doubt that your "mediocre friend" can do better direction and camera work in her sleep than these talentless dorks did with this movie. #blairwitchproject
11/03/09
The end scene was probably the only part that gave me a slight jump, but that's my reaction to things flying at the screen. Everything else became quite formulaic. The sound cues always signaled something was about to happen.
I'll give credit to however they pulled off the effect of her being pulled out of bed, that was done well - but then being dragged down the hall - almost made it comical.
I love a good psychological thriller, and Blair Witch was that, only with a new twist. This has no twist. To try and play off that "is it real!" line of thought, since it's been done, made it come across as even more contrived then had it just started like a regular movie. They also decided to try and do the minute of black silence at the end, just like Blair Witch. Again - not effective. Half the people didn't know whether to clap or laugh in the theater I was in. Cut to a decade ago, seeing Blair Witch in it's pre-release before people knew it wasn't real and there was genuine speculation - the theater was dead silent, I myself just felt stunned.
Paranormal Activity had a great concept (demons/possession), and had they found a way to be original, it could have been truly frightening. For now tho, The Exorcist is still a far, FAR superior film on that subject matter. #blairwitchproject
11/03/09
If something left big bite marks on my girlfriend, and I am not in the woods of Massachusetts but in the suburbs of San Diego, I'd call the police and take her to a doctor. I wouldn't just put her back to bed and turn the camera on. That type of scripting is just laughably artificial, and completely ruins any illusion of "reality".
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p.s. have you seen The House of the Devil yet? THAT is how you build tension/suspense/anticipation toward a big climax. #blairwitchproject
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11/03/09
I love horror movies and watch them all the time but that doesn't mean any old thing is going to freak me out, especially if it's played and replayed in the trailer before even reaching the theatre. I need more than just gore and I need more than simple camera tricks. In the case of Paranormal, had they had better writing and actors the tension and build to the finale might've done the trick. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case and you can't use the excuse that it was a small budget. Talent exists at any price level, even free, if you bother making time to find it. These actors didn't deliver so the ending was just a relief in the sense that you knew you could finally go home.
Obviously my opinion is just that and it's not a criticism of those who actually were scared. Perhaps, if your exposure to horror is less and you were really looking for a startle then you can pretty much get yourself into such a state that simple things scare the crap out of you. I know my friends and what their tastes are as well as their exposure to the genre and know that they wouldn't be impressed so my word of mouth was, Netflix it. #blairwitchproject
11/03/09
11/02/09
It was wonderful, amazing, perfect marketing, at the right time (and mostly a lie, but hey).
If you've seen it, you know the film isn't good for a second viewing. And when was the last time you popped in that Blair Witch DVD? #blairwitchproject
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11/02/09
I count two NBC late night disasters, what's the third one? #davidletterman
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