Wolfshade wrote:streetrw wrote:
[1] ZWOS was not an unpolished gem, it was an unpolished turd. (On the basis of the first twenty minutes before I bailed, at least - there was no evidence that it was going to get any better and even if it was about to break through to some kind of quality after the first reel, that it was going to be worth it. And, as I said at the time, I've never walked out in 25 years at the cinema - be it the dullest of Merchant Ivorys, the stupidest of slasher remakes, the impenetrablest of Peter Greenaways.)
I did get close to walking out of ZWOS after 20 minutes as well, cos the first 20 minutes were indeed shit, however it did actually get bizarrely entertaining after that, so it looks like you walked out just as it was about to vastly improve - overally it was quite a fun film....I'd recommend you watch the whole thing and then see if you still feel the same way about it.
I wouldn't say it had no business being at the Empire, maybe it should have been on the Discovery Screen and had something like Pontypool or Salvage in it's place on the main screen, but ZWOS was still better than quite a few of the August films I saw - namely Smash Cut, Vampire Girl Vs Frankenstein Girl, Heirro, Giallo, Fragment and I Sell The Dead.
Street makes an articulate and compelling argument that was a joy to read, but Wolfshade has a good point here.
I really enjoyed Street's thorough analysis of where we "differ very slightly" and it sounds like we do.
I will always have a soft spot for Troma and all they represent, that may well be a pretty low denominator, but given their unpopularity i don't think it is a common one. I rather like an "inpenetrable Greenaway", but i don't understand why a "dull merchant ivory" or "stupid slasher remake" is more worthy of watching through to the end than something as esoteric and rare as ZWOS.
If ZWOS is the first film someone walks out of in 25 years of cinemagoing then even that itself makes the film remarkable, and their harsh verdict on the first third of "an unpolished turd" somewhat underinformed.
Wolfshade points out that there were a few disappointing features over the weekend and ZWOS wasn't the worst, also the most passionate negative responses to ZWOS seem to be from those who walked out and missed most of it.
I could also be persuaded that the Discovery Screen may have been a better place to put it, but i do still think there is room at the fest for films of its nature.
I still like Zombie Women of Satan, and the way it has divided oppinions at FFX.
I love reading the articulate and intelligent arguments against it and the near-manifesto for all round quality and standards in film makeing.
But for me to take them without a pinch of salt they will have to come from someone who has seen the whole film.
Does anyone know when it's comeing out on dvd? I think street and me both want copies. (insert friendly smiley of your choice)
I've come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum