Exoskeletal's Year in Film

Trollheart · 12-17-2012, 02:05 PM

Great thread, Exo: have you considered making it a journal?

My only small quibble (here, quibble quibble! My, but they run fast, don't they?) is that although your descriptions of why you liked the movies were great, for those of us who haven't seen, or heard of, some of them, I would have liked a (very) brief description/plot. I mean, if "The Master" was so great, fine, but what was it about?

I know I can go look it up on Wiki, but I really think that information should have been included.

Not picking holes, just sayin is all.

I get to see very few movies unfortunately, and it's nice to kind of get a view of them through borrowed eyes. Looking forward to your top 10 sci-fi movies...!

**Exo** · 12-17-2012, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Great thread, Exo: have you considered making it a journal?

My only small quibble (here, quibble quibble! My, but they run fast, don't they?) is that although your descriptions of why you liked the movies were great, for those of us who haven't seen, or heard of, some of them, I would have liked a (very) brief description/plot. I mean, if "The Master" was so great, fine, but what was it about?

I know I can go look it up on Wiki, but I really think that information should have been included.

Not picking holes, just sayin is all.

I get to see very few movies unfortunately, and it's nice to kind of get a view of them through borrowed eyes. Looking forward to your top 10 sci-fi movies...!

I guess I could make it a journal, but I feel more people would see it here. I like to feed my ego. I'll try to include a small synopsis on some films I feel might not be well known but for most of them they should be a bit more known and if they aren't then I feel it should be up to your to research it. I'm going to do my Horror list next but for you Troll sci fi will be right after that.

**Exo** · 12-17-2012, 05:44 PM

Top Ten Horror Films

10.

The Descent

I'm surprised it took me this long to see this film. There was a companion movie that came out around the same year as this called "The Cave" and I saw that when it came out and was very angry that I did. It was horrible. I think my experience made me wait on this one for the long time that I did. I found the acting very good and of course the creatures were creepy and horrifying. I felt actual anger and sadness with everything that happened to the girls while they were in the cave. It was a horror movie with character development. I was surprised.

9.

The House of the Devil

Holy **** was this awesome. It's basically a movie filmed in the mid 2000s that was made to look like a classic slasher flick from the 80s. The whole movie was filmed in a grainy beautiful mess of horror wonder. Okay, that was a bit exaggerated but seriously find this movie and watch it because it will pleasantly surprise you. Did I mention Tom Noonan is in it? And that he's ****ing awesome? Also has one of the best scares I've ever seen. Oh and that leaves us to number 8...

8.

The Innkeepers

...another Ti West movie!!! I love this guy. Seriously. These two films just make me wanna see more and more of his stuff. This one is is just right up my alley. A lot of people will say it's mostly a movie that takes place in an old hotel and that's it but it's more than that. It's a slow brooding character driven ghost story with an intense ending that will seriously give you nightmares. I loved every minute of it.

7.

The Changeling

There are going to be a few more movies on this list that it just took me forever for me to see. I wish I saw this one earlier. It actually scared me! Usually I'm not actually frightened when I see movies but this one creeped me out. Love the performance from George C. Scott. Classic all the way.

6.

[REC]

In my opinion the best found footage film out there besides the Blair Witch Project which defined the genre and was just an interesting piece of filmmaking. This however is the most well done out of the genre and I enjoyed it a lot. I didn't get the annoying feeling after watching somebody fumble around with the video camera and the subtitles didn't get in the way even though it was fast paced. The ending. Oh the ending. One of the creepiest endings in film history and a perfect end to a great film.

...to be continued.

**Exo** · 12-19-2012, 02:53 PM

Like I said in the previous post. There are going to be some films on here that you're going to say "Really? You haven't seen this movie til this year?" There are three of them in my top five. Reason is I really haven't been into horror as much as I've been this year. I was always a psychological thriller type of guy but this year was my coming out party for horror. I don't intend to stop.

5.

Kill List

There might be some people out there that might not consider Kill List a horror film but with so many actual horrors portrayed in this movie I don't understand how it couldn't. As soon as I get my next paycheck I'm going to be purchasing this film. One of the most intense and horrifying endings to a movie I've ever seen in my life. It was just one of those films that gripped me from the beginning and didn't let go. The acting was perfect and the violence was brutal and realistic. Did I mention the ending. So ****ing good.

4.

Suspiria

I had to watch this twice this year. The first viewing I didn't really like it. I wasn't drawn in by the story or the characters and I felt like I was watching somebodies attempt at making a classic horror film. The second viewing however yielded completely different results. I found the music and AMAZING imagery to be the driving point for the story and that they story could wrap itself around and be supported by the beautiful imagery. The color red has never had an effect on me in quite a way like it does in this film. Just an absolute wonder to watch now and is indeed a horror cult classic.

3.

Cabin in the Woods

I wrote about this film already so scroll up to read that. To summarize though I was thoroughly entertained the entire way through and the film just had fun satirical moments of horror awesomeness that melded perfectly with an original sci fi script. This was my surprise of the year.

2.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The next two films won't be discussed in detail because they are classic films that have been seen by millions of people. I however was just EXTREMELY late to the party. The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is now one of my favorite films ever. Tobe Hooper hasn't really had much of a career after this but along with Polergeist he created two genuine horror classic. The story behind TCM is also extremely fascinating and like Evil Dead makes the viewing experience that much more amazing. I love love love love the ending. Leatherface just spinning and spinning. Sun in the background. Wonderful.

1.

Rosemary's Baby

I finally sat down and watch it all the way through. What a slow burning intense masterpiece of film making with an ending that is both shocking and surreal. I've always been a big fan of Polanski but just never got around to seeing this classic. I'm glad I finally did because it was better than any of horror film I've seen this year. Just a brilliant film.

Trollheart · 12-19-2012, 06:14 PM

I just love the way TCM can stand both for a classic ripper/slasher movie AND an old classics movie channel!

jackhammer · 12-19-2012, 07:06 PM

I am all for movie lists but I really don't understand everyone going nuts about Cabin In The Woods. Apart from a couple of set pieces I found it very average. There was a film called My Little Eye from a few years back that had a very similar premise and the DVD even had a unique code to put in on line so you could see the movie from a different perspective, however it didn't have any major financial backing it got lost in the movie world which is a shame.

I found Wes Craven's New Nightmare far more subversive regarding Horror and that film is nearly 20 years old!

Regarding this year - Stake Land, Troll Hunter and Exit Humanity are stellar examples of films made on minuscule budgets yet filled with imagination and originality. Stake Land wasn't a huge fave but it had a look and feel that I rarely see in Horror movies these days.

**Exo** · 12-27-2012, 05:54 PM

I know it's been a week since I last updated. I'm planning on finishing all my categories. Christmas and work have eaten my soul the past week.

wiggums · 12-27-2012, 06:55 PM

I'll be waiting eagerly!

12-17-2012, 02:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Great thread, Exo: have you considered making it a journal? My only small quibble (here, quibble quibble! My, but they run fast, don't they?) is that although your descriptions of why you liked the movies were great, for those of us who haven't seen, or heard of, some of them, I would have liked a (very) brief description/plot. I mean, if "The Master" was so great, fine, but what was it about? I know I can go look it up on Wiki, but I really think that information should have been included. Not picking holes, just sayin is all. I get to see very few movies unfortunately, and it's nice to kind of get a view of them through borrowed eyes. Looking forward to your top 10 sci-fi movies...! __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

12-17-2012, 05:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
Exo All day jazz and biscuits Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,354	Top Ten Horror Films 10. The Descent I'm surprised it took me this long to see this film. There was a companion movie that came out around the same year as this called "The Cave" and I saw that when it came out and was very angry that I did. It was horrible. I think my experience made me wait on this one for the long time that I did. I found the acting very good and of course the creatures were creepy and horrifying. I felt actual anger and sadness with everything that happened to the girls while they were in the cave. It was a horror movie with character development. I was surprised. 9. The House of the Devil Holy ** was this awesome. It's basically a movie filmed in the mid 2000s that was made to look like a classic slasher flick from the 80s. The whole movie was filmed in a grainy beautiful mess of horror wonder. Okay, that was a bit exaggerated but seriously find this movie and watch it because it will pleasantly surprise you. Did I mention Tom Noonan is in it? And that he's ing awesome? Also has one of the best scares I've ever seen. Oh and that leaves us to number 8... 8. The Innkeepers ...another Ti West movie!!! I love this guy. Seriously. These two films just make me wanna see more and more of his stuff. This one is is just right up my alley. A lot of people will say it's mostly a movie that takes place in an old hotel and that's it but it's more than that. It's a slow brooding character driven ghost story with an intense ending that will seriously give you nightmares. I loved every minute of it. 7. The Changeling There are going to be a few more movies on this list that it just took me forever for me to see. I wish I saw this one earlier. It actually scared me! Usually I'm not actually frightened when I see movies but this one creeped me out. Love the performance from George C. Scott. Classic all the way. 6. [REC] In my opinion the best found footage film out there besides the Blair Witch Project which defined the genre and was just an interesting piece of filmmaking. This however is the most well done out of the genre and I enjoyed it a lot. I didn't get the annoying feeling after watching somebody fumble around with the video camera and the subtitles didn't get in the way even though it was fast paced. The ending. Oh the ending. One of the creepiest endings in film history and a perfect end to a great film. ...to be continued. __________________ LastFM SUPREME POO BAH MODERATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE**

12-19-2012, 02:53 PM	#14 (permalink)
Exo All day jazz and biscuits Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,354	Like I said in the previous post. There are going to be some films on here that you're going to say "Really? You haven't seen this movie til this year?" There are three of them in my top five. Reason is I really haven't been into horror as much as I've been this year. I was always a psychological thriller type of guy but this year was my coming out party for horror. I don't intend to stop. 5. Kill List There might be some people out there that might not consider Kill List a horror film but with so many actual horrors portrayed in this movie I don't understand how it couldn't. As soon as I get my next paycheck I'm going to be purchasing this film. One of the most intense and horrifying endings to a movie I've ever seen in my life. It was just one of those films that gripped me from the beginning and didn't let go. The acting was perfect and the violence was brutal and realistic. Did I mention the ending. So **ing good. 4. Suspiria I had to watch this twice this year. The first viewing I didn't really like it. I wasn't drawn in by the story or the characters and I felt like I was watching somebodies attempt at making a classic horror film. The second viewing however yielded completely different results. I found the music and AMAZING imagery to be the driving point for the story and that they story could wrap itself around and be supported by the beautiful imagery. The color red has never had an effect on me in quite a way like it does in this film. Just an absolute wonder to watch now and is indeed a horror cult classic. 3. Cabin in the Woods I wrote about this film already so scroll up to read that. To summarize though I was thoroughly entertained the entire way through and the film just had fun satirical moments of horror awesomeness that melded perfectly with an original sci fi script. This was my surprise of the year. 2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre The next two films won't be discussed in detail because they are classic films that have been seen by millions of people. I however was just EXTREMELY late to the party. The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is now one of my favorite films ever. Tobe Hooper hasn't really had much of a career after this but along with Polergeist he created two genuine horror classic. The story behind TCM is also extremely fascinating and like Evil Dead makes the viewing experience that much more amazing. I love love love love the ending. Leatherface just spinning and spinning. Sun in the background. Wonderful. 1. Rosemary's Baby I finally sat down and watch it all the way through. What a slow burning intense masterpiece of film making with an ending that is both shocking and surreal. I've always been a big fan of Polanski but just never got around to seeing this classic. I'm glad I finally did because it was better than any of horror film I've seen this year. Just a brilliant film. __________________ LastFM SUPREME POO BAH MODERATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE**

12-19-2012, 06:14 PM	#15 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	I just love the way TCM can stand both for a classic ripper/slasher movie AND an old classics movie channel! __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

12-19-2012, 07:06 PM	#16 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I am all for movie lists but I really don't understand everyone going nuts about Cabin In The Woods. Apart from a couple of set pieces I found it very average. There was a film called My Little Eye from a few years back that had a very similar premise and the DVD even had a unique code to put in on line so you could see the movie from a different perspective, however it didn't have any major financial backing it got lost in the movie world which is a shame. I found Wes Craven's New Nightmare far more subversive regarding Horror and that film is nearly 20 years old! Regarding this year - Stake Land, Troll Hunter and Exit Humanity are stellar examples of films made on minuscule budgets yet filled with imagination and originality. Stake Land wasn't a huge fave but it had a look and feel that I rarely see in Horror movies these days. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

12-27-2012, 05:54 PM	#17 (permalink)
Exo All day jazz and biscuits Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,354	I know it's been a week since I last updated. I'm planning on finishing all my categories. Christmas and work have eaten my soul the past week. __________________ LastFM SUPREME POO BAH MODERATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

12-27-2012, 06:55 PM	#18 (permalink)
wiggums A Sarcastic Joyful Sound Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Montana Posts: 174	I'll be waiting eagerly! __________________