Forums Home › East Contra Costa › General

Movies Today Are Downright Disturbing!


Posted on Mon, 03/17/2008 - 20:46 — by BazookaJoe
BazookaJoe
BazookaJoe's picture

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2776
My wife and I got a chance to go see a movie yesterday without the kids so we went to see a "scary" one called "Funny Games." I think Hollywood is pushing the envelope too far, kind of like roller coaster designers who will not stop until they actually kill people. This movie is about as sicko and disburbing as I've ever seen. The last one we saw, "Cloverdale," wasn't disburbing like Funny Games, but the way they shot it made my son feel quesy and I missed the last half of the movie because I had to get him out of there before he lost his Captain's Platter. Maybe I'm just getting too old to appreciate these psychotic thrillers because I did like Clockwork Orange and Psycho, but I don't think they were as bad as they are now. Maybe it's because the world is different now. Theatre goers would all scream during the scary scenes back then, but today when you watch chilling sicko torture movies like Hostel, Saw, and Funny Games, the fact people around me are laughing is more disturbing than the movie. I told my wife after walking out of Funny Games, I've had it with these new movies. I wouldn't even call these scary or suspenseful, but deeply disburbing. Maybe because after seeing it yesterday, I read about that Pleasanton couple being brutally beaten and killed in their country club home, and it made that Funny Games movie seem way too real. I guess young people are so desensitized to violence nowadays, they have to make these disburbing movies to shock them. Judging from the laughter I heard from the people sitting around us, I don't think even this movie was disburbing enough, so I give up on them. I think I'll pop in my videotape of the original version of The Blob for entertaining value. Now that's a movie!
Average: 1 (1 vote)
‹ WATCH STANFORD GIRLS BASKETBALL Need a cheap working used commuter car ›

Mon, 03/17/2008 - 20:58 — original version of The Blob
cowboy1539
cowboy1539's picture

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 759
One of Steve McQueen's first movies. I always liked "THEM" about the giant killer ants! About todays movies I think that they are trying to out do what kids can see and even create on video games.
Mon, 03/17/2008 - 22:12 — Yeah, those video games are
BazookaJoe
BazookaJoe's picture

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2776
Yeah, those video games are something else too. I saw in the news somebody is finally challenging Grand Theft Auto for being racist. My son says in similar games like Saint's Row you can change the race of the character, but in Grand Theft, you can't.
Mon, 03/17/2008 - 22:24 — VIDEO GAMES
cowboy1539
cowboy1539's picture

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 759
The sad part is that parents actually buy them for their kids and the kids just don't seem to understand that in real life there is no reset button or bonus rounds.
Tue, 03/18/2008 - 08:41 — Video Games
justamom1
justamom1's picture

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 80
As a mom of young kids I can report that I HATE video games. Grand Theft Auto came into my house and was gone just as quick. On the off chance that I actually let the kids play the PS2 they play sport games like basketball, football and skateboarding games. Even then though they fight over it and it goes off pretty quick. I am much more into having them ride bikes and play basketball in the front yard. justamom1
Mon, 03/17/2008 - 22:40 — THEM!!!
whirledpeas
whirledpeas's picture

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 442
Cowboy, I remember going to the elementary school on a Saturday for feature showing of Them in the Multi Purpose room with a spaghetti feed. Great stuff...Man we were an easily amused bunch. I've always associated "Them" with spaghetti. Steve McQueen one of the last great actors. Died way before his time was up. Peas -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carl: This place got a pool? Ty: Pool and a pond....... Pond be good for you.
Mon, 03/17/2008 - 22:44 — Man we were an easily amused bunch
cowboy1539
cowboy1539's picture

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 759
I just think that our movies were like life in those days, much simpler and to my mind better.
Tue, 03/18/2008 - 05:56 — "In space....no one can hear you scream"
stoney4
stoney4's picture

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1930
It boils down to the fact that most people have lost the ability to use their imagination and the movie industry knows that. When people just had books to read and even with the advent of radio, people exercised their imaginations to create the images in their minds as the stories unfolded. It's been downhill ever since though with movies and TV providing the images to a more passive audience. Instead of going outside to play make-believe games, kids these days are mesmerized by images on a screen by the time they're born. A fertile imagination is like any muscle...use it or lose it. And since an unimaginative mind needs more and more input to fill in the blanks and hold a person's interest, we get an overload of action, blood, violence and NOISE in the movie product. One of my all time favorite science fiction movies that scared the hell out of me when I was a kid is the original version of "The Thing". You only see the monster late in the movie and for only five to ten minutes total. It's wondering where he is and what he's up to that adds the punch. The first "Alien" movie is like that too. The tension in both movies is provided by the sense of being isolated and at the mercy of an unseen enemy. That's the kind of thing that creeps me out. I like it when a director saves a few choice scenes that really make you jump rather than beating you over the head with gore for 90 minutes.
Tue, 03/18/2008 - 09:56 — I think you hit it on the
BazookaJoe
BazookaJoe's picture

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2776
I think you hit it on the head Stoney. We are not reinforcing the imagination anymore. It is good to turn the video games off and send the kids outside. We used to have to find things to play with. Remember those seeds that fall out out of pine cones? We use to throw them up in the air and watch them helicopter down. Then they came out with those Beanie and Cecil helicopter hats and those ones that launced the spinning disk, and we didn't need to use our imaginations with the pine cone seeds anymore.------- It's too bad parents are afraid to let their kids go outside, but I have to admit we are over protective too in that respect.
Tue, 03/18/2008 - 12:21 — "The Thing" was an excellent
chewy
chewy's picture

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 558
"The Thing" was an excellent horror film. The 1950s “ Invasion of the Body Snatchers” still works for me. The first Jaws had elements of these older films. (1st Jaws only, by Jaws III - I was cheering for the shark) You don’t see the monster until late in the movie, and that ominous music adds so much to the suspense. Other than Quint getting chomped, there wasn’t a lot of gore. Nowadays, gore galore - even on TV. “CSI Miami” and others, after a gun is fired at some poor victim, you get to watch the bullet ripping through flesh in slow motion. Maybe way down deep in our collective psyche, we are just yearning for the good old days back at the Coliseum, where one got to watch the real thing for entertainment.
Tue, 03/18/2008 - 22:25 — Ok thanks
P5Ret
P5Ret's picture

Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 342
Now I gotta go dig out the old VHS collection and find that movie. I don't remember McQueen in it, but I've been wrong b4. I do have the original Blob on DVD, for some reason that movie, and Alien still scare me even though I've seen them 1000 times. Maybe just bringing up memories of seeing Alien at the drive in, ok I saw part of it.
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 09:55 — Hoywood can still make
BazookaJoe
BazookaJoe's picture

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2776
Holywood can still make movies that creep us out without a lot of gore and callous torture. The more recent one that I enjoyed was The Grudge. It was one of those suspenseful films that made you not want them to open the door or look in the attic. The way that little boy crawled down the stairs made the hair on your neck stand up. It was one of those that you are too scared to fall asleep because you would have nightmares so you just pull the sheet up over your head and pray for dawn to come quickly. Of course, some Japanese guy made that movie for the American audience to enjoy, so we got lucky on that one.
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 11:22 — Ha ha callous, I'll get you to talk one way or another!!
stoney4
stoney4's picture

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1930
I doubt that a lot of religious groups refer to the movie capitol of the world as Holywood. As for callous torture, watching someone sadistically inflict pain on a callous sounds pretty creepy. Since there aren't a lot of nerve endings in a callous to begin with you'd have to come up with some gruesome methods to get any kind of information out of a dead hunk of flesh.
Tue, 03/18/2008 - 11:34 — Re: Movies Today Are Downright Disturbing!
rdrship3
rdrship3's picture

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 47
Well, I'm really glad to hear all of you say this. I'm glad it isn't just me. These days, I'm popping the corn at home and settling in to watch things like The Secret of Roan Inish, The Last Sineater, Irish music concerts, nothing really alarming or gut-wrenching. I can own the movie for what it would cost us to go and see it once. I'm not having to walk around in any areas where random gunfire is likely, and I'm not leaving my car unattended there, either. In this house, we never got too old to watch Disney. We're definitely out of step. I find myself sending dvd's for holiday gifts now so that other family members can watch everything at home, too. Lots of new Andre Rieu fans as a result. It's not a perfect solution, but I guess it works for us.
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 11:53 — good scary movie
cowboy1539
cowboy1539's picture

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 759
"The Shining" was a movie that kept you on the edge of your seat without a lot of gore. Jack Nicholson was outstanding as the out of control nut job. _______________________ That's just my opinion, but I could be Wrong.
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 12:04 — You ought to read the book
stoney4
stoney4's picture

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1930
You ought to read the book sometime. I usually like Kubrick's movies but I think he took too many liberties with "The Shining". To me at least, the book was creepier than the movie.
Thu, 03/20/2008 - 00:21 — The reason I never learned
BazookaJoe
BazookaJoe's picture

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2776
The reason I never learned to play that new Martin D-28 guitar I got from Webb Music 30 years ago is because the metal strings were inflicting callous torture. The music store guy suggested I try nylon, but I never got the guts.
Thu, 03/20/2008 - 06:13 — Shaving your legs first might help
stoney4
stoney4's picture

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1930
I wouldn't have the guts to wear nylons either.
Thu, 03/20/2008 - 08:44 — Since we are on the subject
BazookaJoe
BazookaJoe's picture

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2776
Since we are on the subject of classic movies (and nylons, which seems to be the main theme of most the threads lately): ENJOY! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiLXpqurPYU P.S. Tell me if the King in #4, "Suit of Armour Dominos," doesn't remind us of somebody? "I hope it's worth the Noise!"
Thu, 03/20/2008 - 08:31 — I wouldn't have the guts to wear nylons either
cowboy1539
cowboy1539's picture

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 759
Now that would be scarier that any movie ever made!______________________________ That's just my opinion, but I could be Wrong.
Thu, 03/20/2008 - 08:53 — Good, since this has come
MrTemptation
MrTemptation's picture

Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 80
Good, since this has come up, I just want to add that my wife and I saw a very good movie on DVD the other day. "August Rush" surprised me and get's two thumbs up. It just resonated with me and I enjoyed it. As for disturbing movies, I didn't understand the hype behind "No Country For Old Men". Pointless and incongruous. While the acting was good, the story was dumb and seemed like someone just wrote down a bad dream. My opinion.
Thu, 03/20/2008 - 09:09 — Casting call goes out tomorrow
stoney4
stoney4's picture

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1930
Why don't we make an indi low budget film: "No County For Old Farts"?
Thu, 03/20/2008 - 20:37 — We can swede "No Country for
BazookaJoe
BazookaJoe's picture

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2776
We can swede "No Country for Old Men," Stoney, like in Jack Black's Movie "Be Kind, Rewind." My wife watched it one afternoon and she said it was kind of blah too. It's still here in the house, but after hearing most people say it wasn't that great I don't think I'll bother watching it.-------- Hey Mr. T, I just watched the trailer for August Rush on YouTube and it looks pretty good. What's even more impressive, is reading the comments from the posters on YouTube writing about how great they thought the movie was. One person said it was so amazing the ending made them cry. Others said it was the best movie they ever saw. Sounds like a winner so I I'll have to see that one. Thanks for the recommendation.
Sun, 03/30/2008 - 21:55 — We saw August Rush last
BazookaJoe
BazookaJoe's picture

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2776
We saw August Rush last night. Great family movie! I really enjoyed it. Leatherheads opens this weekend. Might take another chance and go see that one.
Mon, 03/31/2008 - 18:27 — Good stuff. I'll have to
001
001's picture

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1401
Good stuff. I'll have to look into renting August Rush. How could anyone have a problem with The Shining? That was a great movie, and Jack N. is a phenomenal actor, even if it was kind of creepy. Heeeere's Johhny!
Mon, 03/31/2008 - 19:03 — I read The Shining book too!
BazookaJoe
BazookaJoe's picture

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2776
I read The Shining book too! I can't remember if I saw the movie before or after reading the book.
Tue, 04/01/2008 - 05:15 — No cracks about "Young Frankenstein" OK?
stoney4
stoney4's picture

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1930
It's just that it could have been better if Kubrick hadn't chosen to leave out so many key elements from the book; i.e. the whole issue with the boiler room, the topiary animals that came to life, etc. (although I guess he didn't have CGI available at that time) I also thought Shelley Duvall was miscast and was a distraction with her hysterics. Did I give that initial review before or after you adopted your avitar?
Tue, 04/01/2008 - 12:19 — I'm sure it was just a
001
001's picture

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1401
Wed, 04/02/2008 - 10:15 — Two more days until
BazookaJoe
BazookaJoe's picture

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2776
Two more days until Leatherheads comes out! Nobody else in my family really wants to see it because they said they are tired of football movies, so I might have to go alone and write a review.
Wed, 04/02/2008 - 10:19 — Karnac the movie critic
stoney4
stoney4's picture

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1930
That would be a new twist. Write a preview before you see it.
Wed, 04/02/2008 - 10:20 — That was a quick edit.
stoney4
stoney4's picture

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1930
That was a quick edit.
Wed, 04/02/2008 - 14:18 — I caught my own mistake.
BazookaJoe
BazookaJoe's picture

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2776
I caught my own mistake. You're the one that wanted people to be able to edit their posts!
Sun, 04/06/2008 - 00:56 — Before there were rules, there were Leatherheads.
BazookaJoe
BazookaJoe's picture

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2776
Just got back from seeing "Leatherheads." Anybody else see it yet? Leatherneck, how about you? I loved it and so did my kids. The cinematography was great! So was the Randy Newman retro music. It's like stepping back in time. It's has some cute dialogue and dry humor. A nice change of pace from the other movies out these days. It's probably not an A movie, but I agree with the B rating that the Times gave it because I enjoyed it. If my teenaged kids could appreciate it, that's a pretty good test right there.

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate the change.
  • Shop Local  |
  • Classifieds  |
  • Jobs  |
  • Cars  |
  • Homes 
  • MediaNews Group - Northern California Network