| Posted by: chinton at July 22, 2008, 12:23 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by Max Cady Whats the scene? SPOILER I watched the movie and theres not on SCENE that stands out. the movie barley had any gore or anything, seems like they were playing softball I thought they would rape the chick or something but nothing happened what SCENE r u reffering to? The rewind scene. Also how was there anything softball to this film. You dont have to show violence or be gratitous to play hardball. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Max Cady at July 22, 2008, 10:03 am | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by Danger^Cart I'm still writhing in immense anticipation for this release. Not necessarily for the film, per say, but to see an audience react to the scene. Whats the scene? SPOILER I watched the movie and theres not on SCENE that stands out. the movie barley had any gore or anything, seems like they were playing softball I thought they would rape the chick or something but nothing happened what SCENE r u reffering to? | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Elgyn at July 1, 2008, 8:20 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by Bourne101 How so? Because if the killers could control everything that was going on,then the ENTIRE movie is pointless. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Bourne101 at July 1, 2008, 3:13 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by Elgyn a copout ending. How so? | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Elgyn at July 1, 2008, 3:09 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | I thought this was a pretty stupid movie actually. I really fail to see what`s so "brilliant" about it. ***SPOILERS*** Not much suspense because you know they`re all gonna die. And the "rewind" scene was just STUPID. You can try to explain it any way you want, but I thought it was just dumb. A gimmick AND a copout ending. That being said, the performences were all very good. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Scarface98.9 at June 28, 2008, 12:56 am | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | The director accomplished everything he wanted to with this movie but to me, it doesn't equal being worth the watch. I thought the acting and directing were great but it was all for naught. I hated the direction they took it in and it just smacked of self indulgence. It's well made but was such a waste of time in its attempts at being "arty" 4/10 | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Bourne101 at June 28, 2008, 12:40 am | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Knowing the killers background would have been completely stupid, which is why Haneke poked fun at all of the different possibilities. I'm pretty sure the killers in context aren't going to tell you their whole life story, and flashbacks etc. would have been bloody stupid in this kind of film. Not knowing who the fuck those two guys were, where they were from etc. added to the effect of the film and I wouldn't have liked it as much if it were any other way. In fact, I like when most horror films don't give killers a background check, because it usually ends up looking stupid, and it takes all mystery away and leaves no interpretation. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: psycheoutsteve at June 27, 2008, 10:42 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by moviegroupie I still disagree that the killers' lack of personality and background info was a positive thing. The fact that we had no idea why they were doing what they were makes it prepostorous in my opinion and takes away from some of the disturbing, realistic atmosphere it was trying to achieve. Take an ordinary family this could happen to. The likelihood of well mannered punks going to town on one's own family without a purpose for money, revenge or anything else (as cliche as some of these may be)? Unlikely. Everyone has a purpose for something (in the movies and in real life). Am I alone here? This whole movie seemed like a torture simulation and nothing more. bleak describes it best for me. *SPOILERS* was it absolutely necessary to have a rewind scene too? did that actually add anything to the storytelling? i think they could have cut that out and executed the ending the way they did. It seemed ridiculous for the killer to go flying in the air, hitting against the wall any... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: moviegroupie at June 27, 2008, 8:25 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | I still disagree that the killers' lack of personality and background info was a positive thing. The fact that we had no idea why they were doing what they were makes it prepostorous in my opinion and takes away from some of the disturbing, realistic atmosphere it was trying to achieve. Take an ordinary family this could happen to. The likelihood of well mannered punks going to town on one's own family without a purpose for money, revenge or anything else (as cliche as some of these may be)? Unlikely. Everyone has a purpose for something (in the movies and in real life). Am I alone here? This whole movie seemed like a torture simulation and nothing more. bleak describes it best for me. *SPOILERS* was it absolutely necessary to have a rewind scene too? did that actually add anything to the storytelling? i think they could have cut that out and executed the ending the way they did. It seemed ridiculous for the killer to go flying in the air, hitting against the wall anyways (even after point blank with the sho... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: Mr.HyDe807 at June 27, 2008, 7:17 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | i haven't seen this yet surprisingly, but maybe a blind DVD buy would be in order! | | Static Link |
| Posted by: MisterTwister at June 27, 2008, 5:14 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by Bourne101 SPOILERS When I first saw it I believed it was to make people stop and realize that they probably just cheered or were excited about someone being killed on screen in brutal fashion. I'll have to see it again to follow up on my thoughts. I'm sure there are many ways it could be interpreted. Great insight Bourne. I also saw it this way- SPOILERS The killers were in control of the movie, not the victims. They controlled the fates of everyone in the movie and when Ann tried to change this fact by blowing away Peter, Paul grabbed the remote and rewond it to the point where he could change the events and re-gain the upperhand. He and Peter had control again. But there's many more ways to interprete this. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Bourne101 at June 27, 2008, 4:07 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by moviegroupie I agree. Also... *SPOILERS* Why did they have the killers get shot and then rewind it?? Just to show that it's not a conventional movie where the bad guys always lose? Fail! *END SPOILERS* SPOILERS When I first saw it I believed it was to make people stop and realize that they probably just cheered or were excited about someone being killed on screen in brutal fashion. I'll have to see it again to follow up on my thoughts. I'm sure there are many ways it could be interpreted. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: moviegroupie at June 27, 2008, 3:53 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | I agree. Also... *SPOILERS* Why did they have the killers get shot and then rewind it?? Just to show that it's not a conventional movie where the bad guys always lose? Fail! *END SPOILERS* | | Static Link |
| Posted by: psycheoutsteve at June 27, 2008, 3:18 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!! On a technical level, Funny Games is brilliantly directed and filmed. The performances are excellent and the suspense and shocks are very numerous and effective. However, despite all this I can't say I enjoyed the film. It did quite the contrary in fact, it infuriated me. I suppose this was the director's intention, giving a big "fuck you!" to the audience and delivering an unconventional and disturbing experience. To this I say...what's the point? Why make a film featuring extreme psychological and physical torture just to spit in the face of those who watch it? Is this a film trying to make a statement against violence in the entertainment world? I noticed a lot of the violence was shown off screen, but it didn't make it any less effective because just knowing what the killers were up to made me sick. It would be kind of hypocritical to make a film with that intention because it featured plenty of violent scenes which overstepped the boundary between good and bad taste, much... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: MisterTwister at June 27, 2008, 1:33 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Funny Games is going in my top 10 of 2008, brillant and different horror thriller. Although I felt it was it a little too long (10 minutes could've been shaved off) It was executed brillantly by the director, who put me through 112 minutes of torture. I was unconfrontable during the original and even more unconfrontable during this version. The acting is top notch. Everyone gives an excellent peformance. And the rewind sequence-pure brillantace. I can speak for hours about this film but I'm tired. 8/10 | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Bourne101 at June 27, 2008, 12:11 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Glad to see you thought it was great Madsen. In my opinion, it is one of the best, if not the best films of the year. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: MadsenOMC at June 27, 2008, 11:41 am | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Yes, they were just a normal family. These horrific things happened to just a normal family. I strongly disagree that they existed merely to be tortured. I think that is a simplistic and inaccurate interpretation of the movie. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: moviegroupie at June 27, 2008, 11:37 am | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | The family had no character development either. They were all just a traditional family. None of them had the opportunity to have their characters developed before they began to be tortured. So while *the big tragedy* touched on our instinctual sense of loss and indescribable pain, I had difficulty actually caring for these people in particular. They were in the movie merely to be tortured. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: moviegroupie at June 27, 2008, 11:35 am | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Oh another thing. I hated how the killers incorporated the audience and asked them what they thought. Tacky and pathetic in my opinion. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: MadsenOMC at June 27, 2008, 11:34 am | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by moviegroupie How do you explain the minimal character development? I think we get just enough of the family early on to establish that they're a fairly typical (though obviously wealthy) American family. The boys aren't developed intentionally. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: MadsenOMC at June 27, 2008, 11:33 am | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by moviegroupie I don't mean to force my opinion down your throat either (like some JoBlo'ers -- I love movies but if you don't like one I love, I'm not going to take it personal. And just the opposite, too). I just wanted to debate this one because I don't understand the fascination or admiration for it at all. You're not. It's all good. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: moviegroupie at June 27, 2008, 11:31 am | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Yeah I could see that actually (the awkward dialogue)... But I still think it got annoying and the effect wore off easily after Naomi Watts knew what she was in for and was disturbed by their overbearing presence. I don't mean to force my opinion down your throat either (like some JoBlo'ers -- I love movies but if you don't like one I love, I'm not going to take it personal. And just the opposite, too). I just wanted to debate this one because I don't understand the fascination or admiration for it at all. I'm glad other people have different opinions on matters like this. Otherwise, the world would be a boring place. How do you explain the minimal character development? | | Static Link |
| Posted by: MadsenOMC at June 27, 2008, 11:28 am | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | I already said that just because it achieved its goal doesn't mean you have to like the movie. But the goal was to make you squirm. I don't think you're supposed to "enjoy" it. I liked their banter. I think it created a very unsettling atmosphere. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: moviegroupie at June 27, 2008, 11:26 am | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | The kids being playful and evil annoyed the crap out of me after a couple of minutes. "just give me eggs" "play the game" "lose the importance of entertainment" etc... painful to watch is not a good thing. if a movie like Cloverfield might give me a headache, and by the end it does by the way the movie is filmed (and I got nothing out of it), does that make it a good movie? The fact that the director got his way? but that's just as an example, I don't get motion sickness easily and I thought Cloverfield was alright for what it was... | | Static Link |
| Posted by: MadsenOMC at June 27, 2008, 11:22 am | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | It is tough to watch, but it is supposed to be. That doesn't mean you have to like it, but that is what the movie was aiming for. I also don't think it's meant to be scary in a traditional sense. The horror comes from the behavior of the boys and the situation the family is in. I also think the dialogue is fine. I don't remember any particularly bad lines. Eh, agree to disagree. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: moviegroupie at June 27, 2008, 11:20 am | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Madsen I respect your reviews, but I hated this movie. 0/10 from me Torture to watch. Painful dialogue, unrealistic reaction from the parents after *that scene*, no character development, not scary, not as disturbing as I thought from hearing about it... The rock music intro and ending was awful. I will never get my time back for seeing this crap. What was the director going for? We are obsessed with violence? A quote from him would have sufficed. Or maybe someting along the lines of "No Country for Old Men" that gets the point across and is ACTUALLY entertaining and has a redeeming storytelling quality. I don't think anyone would disagree we are obsessed with violence as a country. If that was the message, this was painful to watch. And no, the irony is not brilliant. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: MadsenOMC at June 27, 2008, 10:58 am | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | SPOILERS! I have not seen the original, but apparently there is very little difference. Rarely have I ever been more uncomfortable while watching a film (and I know that was the point). This is anything but a pleasant viewing experience. It is not entertaining. But man is it fascinating. It's also the perfect example of a movie accomplishing its goals, something worth commending here. Haneke directed the shit out of this. His framing is exceptionally effective and I love the way he lingered on a mundane shot while something major happened out of view. He created a hell of a lot of tension as well. The scene where the kid escapes and the shooting while Paul is in the kitchen are two prime examples. The last 30 minutes or so are shocking in their brutality, and Haneke was smart to keep most of it offscreen. The casual nature of the killing of a family is hard to watch. The acting is sensational all-around. I have always loved Roth & Watts and they are excellent. Pitt really impressed me as well. Normally I... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: Danger^Cart at April 13, 2008, 6:46 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | The rewind scene is more of a "wtf am I watching?" moment than a "holy shit, did that just happen?" one, yeah. I was more looking for gasps and such from the audience during said scene. That's the reaction it deserves. Bonk. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: La Motta at April 13, 2008, 6:35 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | prefer it to the original plus i have been delivering yellow pages to extremely rich peeps houses over last couple days and i find it quite fitting | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Bourne101 at April 13, 2008, 6:33 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by Danger^Cart Am I missing something, or is this just another way of saying, "I'm a regnant jackass." Answer the fucking question. SPOILERS Haha, lol. To answer your question, there was a lot of stirring and whispering going on. People were in disbelief. I had heard that there was a scene that rewound, and I thought this was going to be that scene but it wasn't. I was very surprised and I thought it was more likely the dad that died. I just kept waiting and waiting for it to rewind, but it never happened. It was quite a shock. Now, the actual rewind scene, that was really something. There were a lot of WTFs floating around the theatre. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Danger^Cart at April 13, 2008, 6:24 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Am I missing something, or is this just another way of saying, "I'm a regnant jackass." Answer the fucking question. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Bourne101 at April 13, 2008, 6:16 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by Danger^Cart *MAJOR SPOILERS* When they turn the little boys head into a macabre painting. Am I missing something, or is this just another was of saying the scene where the boy is killed. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Danger^Cart at April 13, 2008, 6:02 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | *MAJOR SPOILERS* teh small boy gots shotnstuff ROFLZFA!. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Bourne101 at April 13, 2008, 5:30 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by Danger^Cart How'd the audience react to the scene, Bourne? This may sound silly, but which scene are you referring to? There were quite a few scenes that got an audience reaction. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Danger^Cart at April 13, 2008, 5:09 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | How'd the audience react to the scene, Bourne? | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Bourne101 at April 13, 2008, 3:49 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | Quote: Originally Posted by someguy Definitely keep it that way. The movie is definitely something that was intended for the stuff you like (fans of Hostel, Saw movies, etc.) Quote: Originally Posted by someguy Bourne I am VERY interested in what you'll think of the movie. You don't know too much about it right? It's better to go in as cold as possible. Just to set the record straight, I'm not that big of a Saw and Hostel fan. The first Saw was really the only great one, and that's pretty much because of its story. Saw- 9/10
Saw II- 7/10
Saw III- 6/10
Saw IV- 6/10
Hostel- 7/10
Hostel: Part II- 5/10 And if you are saying that this was made for people like me who enjoy those films, one, I don't enjoy them for the violence, and two, if I did I would have hated Funny Games, and I didn't. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Monotreme at April 13, 2008, 3:39 pm | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | I dunno... I guess Michael Haneke is just one of those filmmakers that I absolutely don't get. I mean sure - his films are all artsy and weird and unconventional. But I'm not sure his consistently deliberate attempts to alienate his audiences are a good thing or a bad thing. I felt a similar alienation to Cache, which I thought was perhaps a clever idea but executed in a way that is just drawn out and doesn't seem to be going anywhere. And bar that one shocking scene injected in there, my interest wavered throughout. So even Tim Roth (glad to see him back in movies) and especially Naomi Watts are thrilling actors to watch, I ultimately felt disconnected from the movie, alienated. Sure it's shocking and disquieting and frustratingly creepy. But at times it just seemed to drag out and I found myself asking "what's the point?" I'll give Haneke credit for it being quite unique and certainly a discomforting experience indeed. It should be mentioned that I haven't seen the original. RATING: 6/10. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: FEB at April 13, 2008, 11:58 am | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | hi. My first post here, and I didn't see a general introductions page, so I'll jump straight in with my review of Funny Games, posted on my Myspace page. Apologies if it offends those who liked it but, as you can see, I didn't. Funny Games - 2007 Shocking! Disgraceful! Sick! And that's just the direction. German 'auteur' Michael Heneke remakes his 1997 movie shot for shot because (as he correctly surmises) people like me didn't see it the first time. Well, I've watched it now and can see that the Emperor's wearing no clothes (much like Naomi Watts for the duration of this movie). Two bored spoilt rich kids (Michael Pitt, reprising his role from the Sandra Bullock snoozer Murder By Numbers, and Brady Corbet), armed with only a pilfered golf club, terrorise and eventually kill a good old-fashioned All-American family, starting with the dog and working up to Watts and patriarch Tim Roth. The story, in iteslf, is nothing new at all. The ham-fisted point that Heneke's trying to make is that we, the audience, are ... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: Bourne101 at April 13, 2008, 11:21 am | | Topic: Funny Games Forum: JoBlo | | Funny Games U.S. - 9/10 Wow, this was fucking amazing. This was one of my most anticipated of the year and I had to wait around a month before I could see it, but holy shit it was worth the wait. I hadn't seen the original so maybe that is what made it so good, but damn, this was a great film. The acting is superb and the direction stellar. The story unfolds so well and the whole feel and atmosphere of the movie was truly amazing. There is a bit that dragged in the middle, but once it unfolded I definitely appreciated it a lot more. I understand the message than Haneke is trying to deliver, but I kind of knew coming in and it was interesting to see the reactions of the people I was watching it with. Michael Pitt is creepy as hell and I loved the scenes where he would address the audience, and the rewind scene was fantastic. The ending is completely shocking, and the very end is just brilliant. Funny Games can be considered to some a message delivering film, a psychological horror/thriller, art house torture ... | | Read Entire Entry |
|