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The Woman In Black

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Koukol 5		#41	[-]
Mar 3 12 5:14 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	bgart13 wrote: Glad you made it out for the movie, Koukol! I actually downloaded it, BG. I'm confessing because I'll buy the BD when it comes out.
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CanadianKane		#42	[-]
Mar 4 12 12:27 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Just saw the movie today. As a long time Hammer fan, I was delighted. So many recent horror movies for the last 15 years relied mostly on shock and/or gore. This one is all about atmosphere and settings, great settings. I personally liked the ending. You can guess the ending of 95% of recent Hollywood movies 1 or 2 minutes after they begin, not this one.
Badfinger		#43	[-]
Mar 4 12 12:29 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	drmedula wrote: SPOILER: Although some say the ending is too "dark" (because it kills off father and son), or too "happy" (because it looks like they're going to Heaven), I felt it was actually rigorously logical: Radcliffe's character had made an honourable attempt to re-unite her with her loved one, so The Woman in Black paid him back with the same consideration. Her curse on the town will continue, but- by HER standards- she's fufilled her obligation to the only person who tried to correct the injustice done her. SPOILERS I don't buy this at all. I don't think the film makers intent was too show that the 'woman in black' paid him back for his act in any way. She used her influence to murder Arthur's son! This was preceded with the repeating of her diary caption saying how she will never forgive. It seems she only had the power to influence children to kill themselves and then kept them in a sort of purgatory with her. Arthur only died in trying to rescue his son. Once he is dead, there is no reason to believe she could have kept him from going to heaven and reuniting with his wife and, being that his son died with him, he took the lad with him. This is followed by that silly close up of her face where she looks pissed because she was cheated somehow. It's a stupid ending but it would be even more stupid if the intent was to show that her acts were to be viewed in any sort of benevolent way.
MJ Simpson		#44	[-]
Mar 4 12 9:46 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Very disappointing film, utterly lacking in any sort of atmosphere. All the 'horror' was jumps, half of which were meaningless cat-scares (like the crow) and half of which were in the trailer. Radcliffe had no character and was given nothing to do. Terrible script by Jane Goldman, whose entire career seems to be based on who her husband is, and poor direction from James Watkins who can do so much better. Save all your theories about the ending - it only makes sense if you hear one particular line of dialogue in the nursery scene. But this is not only buried in the mix, it also happens right after one of the biggest jump-scares when the whole audience is screaming and laughing so you stand virtually no chance. Do a bit of googling and you'll dig up discussion around this and the relevant clip on YouTube. The film's success owes everything to the star and his fanboy legions and nothing to this boring, clicheed, plothole ridden, half-arsed film. http://www.MJSimpson.co.uk - cult movies and the people who make them
lsohgirl		#45	[-]
Mar 4 12 10:44 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	WIB is a scary movie for regular movie goers. My niece spent most of the film (and she is 30) watching it through her fingers. I've heard from people in the States and other countries about the screaming and actual fright that film goers are experiencing. WIB is NOT for fans - I'm actually surprised there have been fans who have liked it - fans tend to be too sophisticated in Hammer, horror and films in general and are easily the most difficult group to please and entertain. Movie goers want a good time and a good scare. WIB delivers it in spades. Take MJ's comments and reverse them 180 degrees and that is how the LSoH girl and I see WIB. I see that the new Hammer has not made a film yet that has pleased many of the hard core Hammer fans. But WIB, LET ME IN and WAKE WOOD have done the job for regular film goers.(even thought WAKE WOOD only got to video and LET ME IN was mildly profitable.) That is my totally un-asked-for 2 cents worth!
lsohgirl		#46	[-]
Mar 4 12 10:46 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	ps- I've read in several posts the implication that "jump/scares" are bad.What kind of scares are good?
MJ Simpson		#47	[-]
Mar 4 12 11:06 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	LSOHgirl, good scares are ones that leave you frightened because of the implications of what you've just experienced. Jump-scares just make you jump - and then you relax (and usually laugh). Reading (or listening to) an MR James story in a darkened room is the good kind of scary. Jump-scares are just the sudden drop on a roller-coaster. In the screening I attended the audience (mostly very young - it's a 12A in Britain) spent most of the film laughing, not because the were mocking the movie but because they were laughing at their own reaction just like one does on a ride at a funfair. Had the film exhibited any atmosphere, it would have been ruined by this. But the point is moot because there's no atmosphere in the film. There's also no mystery, no satisfying resolution and virtually no character development (apart from Ciaran Hinds, easily the best thing on screen). I agree that it's not for fans of gothic horror, it's for multiplex kids in their early teens, the Daniel Radcliffe fangirls, who want to have a scream and a laugh - and really aren't going to notice or care about the film's legion narrative problems. I went into the film expected an atmosphere of horror, dread, fear, apprehension. Instead I got a succession of things shouting "Boo!" while jumping at the camera and/or Radcliffe. The film is a ghost train ride, not a ghost story. http://www.MJSimpson.co.uk - cult movies and the people who make them
lsohgirl		#48	[-]
Mar 4 12 12:18 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It's also for a 64 year old man and his 53 year old wife. The audiences at the two screenings I saw it at were predominently older. Screaming was still the same though. Great movie. Absolutely loved it!! Wonderful atmosphere. When Radcliffe enters Eel Marsh House, I thought I had come to Bernard Robinson Hammer-land. Roger Ebert likens the approach to Eel Marsh house to Hutter approaching the NOSFERATU abode in a feeling of dread. Agree. But, again, I could have pre-written the reaction to a large group of Hammer and horror film fans. I knew they would not like it. That was a given. As to narrative problems, my favorite Hammer film is THE BRIDES OF DRACULA - loaded with narrative inconsistencies. Still love it, though. Last Edited By: lsohgirl Mar 4 12 12:21 PM. Edited 1 times.
lsohgirl		#49	[-]
Mar 4 12 12:25 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	So I can figure M.J. won't be much interested in our upcoming issue LSoH#28 devoted, in main, to THE WOMAN IN BLACK. But as M.J. was primarily responsible for one of our best issues ever - LSoH#25 and BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW - there is plenty of great reading there for those who will steer clear of WIB coverage.
MJ Simpson		#50	[-]
Mar 4 12 2:05 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I may still buy the TWiB issue of LSoH. I don't have to like a film to be interested in it, and appreciate well-written journalism about it. However, I do think it's a little disingenuous to ascribe my (and others') disappointment with the movie to being Hammer/horror fans who are too sophisticated. It's common nowadays for those who like a film to create straw men (wicker men?) about why other people don't like it: you want it to be this, you're expecting it to be that. But it is possible to just not like a film because, in one's own critical opinion, it has not been well made (at least, not as well made as it quite obviously could have been). Since the Potter fangirls are going to be happy whatever the film is like (and, despite your opinion of Hammer fans, it's clear from various comments/reviews that there are also a few Hammer fanboys for whom the mere fact that it's got that logo is enough), making a genuinely creepy, atmospheric ghost story with a consistent, satisfying narrative and interesting characters could have satisfied everyone. What 'the kids' want from the film and what us 'more sophisticated' folks want are not, I believe, mutually exclusive. http://www.MJSimpson.co.uk - cult movies and the people who make them
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Koukol 5		#51	[-]
Mar 4 12 2:13 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I don't get MJ's comment about "no atmosphere" While the story is lacking and strays too far from the original book and the direction at times is silly...this film has atmosphere up the wazoo! The fact that it's about a lone man in a strange decrepit Haunted House gives it atmosphere. Anyways, It has a lot more atmosphere than SATAN'S CLAW. So it has some cheap jump scares. I hate jump scares but I think the picture has bigger problems like it's sledgehammer approach to ghostly sound effects.. All in all...most of the film is good. Oh!.. I've never seen Danielle act before but he was fine in this film. (and I'm not a "little girl")
lsohgirl		#52	[-]
Mar 4 12 3:45 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	MJ - It is of little concern to me whether other people like a film I like, or vice-versa (my wife hates my choice of comedies and just rolls her eyes and leaves the room). I got a vibe that a number of fans were ready to dislike this film because it is both the new Hammer and had Harry Potter in it. I very well could be wrong. A number of horror fans seem to enjoy it. This is just a personal feeling to me - you are more than welcome to not like a film because you don't think it is any good.. I DO believe fans take more baggage into a film, wanting and expecting certain things that a normal "let's go to the movies" audience might not. And those heightened expectations include me. But where I "think" you haven't been blown away by the new Hammer's output since they started production, I feel differently. Different strokes, different folks....
lsohgirl		#53	[-]
Mar 4 12 3:49 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	".... making a genuinely creepy, atmospheric ghost story with a consistent, satisfying narrative and interesting characters could have satisfied everyone..." This is where we go down different paths, MJ. You say WIB does not have those qualities. I say it has it in spades. So why would I want them to make a different film when I'm totally pleased with the one they made? But MJ makes a point that I considered at the time of devoting so much space to a film I hadn't seen. What if when I went to see it, after putting all this time, effort and money into a WIB issue, that the movie stunk. That I also felt it lacked in all the areas that MJ feels it lacks in. I've never wanted to fall into the CINEFANTASTIQUE trap - do a whole preview "making of" issue on a film that they would subsequently trash. I only cover movies, or series of movies, that I personally like. If WIB had been awful, I probably would have sh*t-canned this issue and just moved on to Dr. Phibes. Luckily, for me that is, I feel WIB is great. Whew......! Last Edited By: lsohgirl Mar 4 12 4:25 PM. Edited 1 times.
Hamicus		#54	[-]
Mar 4 12 6:03 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I'm halfway between MJ Simpson & Lsohgirl on this one. I wanted so much to enjoy being scared with The Woman In Black but it didn't happen. I wasn't even creeped out by it. Not a single goose bump. The first half hour was so boring I though if Radcliff wanders down another corridor I realy will scream. When the plot finally kicked in I enjoyed it more but was still dissapointed in the lack of atmosphere. With all these negative points I still quite enjoyed it as a lightweight drama but it's not the film I was hoping for. Ghost stories are my favourite kind of horror film and when they're done right as in The Haunting or The Changeling they can make your skin creep. Still when all's said and done The Woman In Black did what it was supposed to do...... make lots of money. It's now the most succesful British horror film ever made. There's no way it deserves that accolade but what it should do is give Hammer the clout they need for better projects. ps. Hammer made a MUCH better film with Let Me In but that didn't have Harry Potter in it did it ? Last Edited By: Hamicus Mar 4 12 6:05 PM. Edited 1 times.
Koukol 5		#55	[-]
Mar 4 12 6:11 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I also don't get "not being scared" Who, at our age, gets scared from a movie anymore?
lsohgirl		#56	[-]
Mar 4 12 6:44 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	In retrospect, one would say "how could it go wrong with Harry Potter in it?" But, it also has happened before that stars associated with a specific role or group of films don't carry future films on their name only. Witness Elijah Wood and the monstrously successful LORD OF THE RINGS films. That while the love-sick "girls" who have it for Harry Potter wouldn't necessarily be as thrilled with him playing a 30 years old father with a son. 20/20 hindsight always works well. Personally, yes, I thought his name would help carry the films. But there were no guarantees. If Hammer can continue to get name actors in their films, can't be anything but good long term. I also agree that LET ME IN was a great film - I only like WIB a teeny-bit more than it. (but I like the Swedish version best of all because of the young woman playing the lead). MJ and I are friends going back a long ways. He is a wonderfully talented writer and researcher. We just don't agree on this one film.
Michael Elliott		#57	[-]
Mar 4 12 9:06 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	lsohgirl wrote: WIB is well on its way to making 100 million dollars on an investment of l under 20 million, making it a huge international hit. Shades of THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, Hammer is definately back. In my view, WIB is,by a small amount, better than LET ME IN -both very good films. WAKE WOOD, which my wife and I recently watched, was very entertaining, with shades of "The Monkey's Paw". Haven't seen THE RESIDENT, but reviews haven't been good. Friends of mine in Brazil and Argentina said there are huge ques to see WIB. My CSI niece, in Nebraska, spent most of the movie hiding behind her hands. For most non-horror-film-sophistactes, WIB works very well with good word of mouth. Hammer is plowing a large sum of money into restoring for blu ray a number of their films, recording extras and trying to find missing or censored scenes. For the 21st Century, Hammer is doing a great job of appealing to a new generation while still remaining true to their roots. I don't think we'll see Michael E at any Hammer appreciation sites! British appreciation sites are certainly a no-go for me. I'm not sure I'd call them back just yet. This thing certainly helped but one film was a major bomb and the other couldn't even find a theatrical release. I'm also not sure how many people who went to this movie actually knew who Hammer was so I'm not sure how much weight their name even has anymore. I know it was a major reason I went to see it though.
lsohgirl		#58	[-]
Mar 4 12 9:14 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The folks at Hammer are well aware they could have a one-hit wonder on their hands, and are trying to come up with projects that can continue on the success of WIB. I also agree the Hammer name won't pull in a modern day audience - most haven't a clue what Hammer is,any more than they know Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing for anything other than STAR WARS and LORD OF THE RINGS. LET ME IN wasn't a bomb- it took in some money beyond costs, world wide. But not a whole lot. WAKE WOOD and THE RESIDENT didn't make it much beyond video release, true. Interesting to see how their future projects work out. Right now they have the cache to do pretty much anything they want in a certain budgetary area.
bromstaker		#59	[-]
Mar 4 12 10:34 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I find it a bit puzzling how some on this site will complain about jump scares, yet many will praise the Val Lewton films which feature the forerunners of jump scares (the buses).
Badfinger		#60	[-]
Mar 5 12 1:38 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Koukol 5 wrote: I don't get MJ's comment about "no atmosphere" While the story is lacking and strays too far from the original book and the direction at times is silly...this film has atmosphere up the wazoo! The fact that it's about a lone man in a strange decrepit Haunted House gives it atmosphere. I agree. The atmosphere was the best thing about it. Koukol 5 wrote: So it has some cheap jump scares. I hate jump scares but I think the picture has bigger problems like it's sledgehammer approach to ghostly sound effects.. I think the problem with the jump scares in this film is that there were too many of them and long periods where that's all there was. Koukol 5 wrote: I also don't get "not being scared" Who, at our age, gets scared from a movie anymore? I wonder about this all the time when I see those sorts of comments. I haven't been scared by a movie in well over 40 years.
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