Peter Jackson' Heavenly Creatures

daniel18 · 01-05-05, 12:50 PM

Is this film good? The only movies I've seen of his are LOTR, which I really liked (Fellowship being one of my favorite movies of all time). I want to see more work of his, but Heavenly Creatures seems to be the only one I'm interested in (horror is my least favorite movie genre).

So what do you think of this one?

fallfan · 01-05-05, 01:27 PM

Excellent movie. More of a character drama, although it has fantasy sequences that bear the mark of Peter Jackson. I think this was Kate Winslet's first movie and shes wonderful in it, as is Melanie Lynskey. The ending of this movie is very powerful and brutal. Based on this film, he should do a very good job with "The Lovely Bones" which apparently he will adapt after "King Kong". As for his other films, his "horror" movies are much more like gory comedies. I can't imagine anyone getting scared by any of those films, but they're very funny. His first movie, "Bad Taste" is very gross and very silly, as are "Meet the Feebles" and "Dead/Alive" (aka Braindead). "The Frighteners" was his first big-budget, Hollywood film and is closer in tone to something like "Beetlejuice" or "Ghostbusters", and while its flawed, it has some excellent sequences. He also made a wonderful mockumentary called "Forgotten Silver" about a supposed innovative film director from the early 1900's. Its a really clever film and could probably fool someone who didn't know it was a fake from the getgo.

Geofferson · 01-05-05, 01:37 PM

Great movie!

wendersfan · 01-05-05, 01:58 PM

I'll probably get flamed for it, but I think it's far and away Jackson's best work.

jaeufraser · 01-05-05, 06:12 PM

It's a fabulous film, and definately sits right next to LoTR as one of his best works. It also was an academy award nominee for best screenplay.

Of interest, if you've seen the movie, look up British author Anne Perry. She writes novels of murder mystery, and is in fact Juliet Hume, the character that Kate Winslet played. Apparently she hid her identity until she was exposed around the time of the movie. Interesting as she is now a rather successful author.

Rivero · 01-05-05, 07:00 PM

Fantastic movie with superb acting from Lynskey and Winslet. Whimsical, sad, enchanting and disturbing. Still probably Jackson's best film.

FantasticVSDoom · 01-05-05, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendersfan

I'll probably get flamed for it, but I think it's far and away Jackson's best work.

I agree...I finally replaced my old ratted vhs(last one left, after my original trilogy tapes) with the dvd 2 months ago. This is the movie that started my infatuation with Kate Winslet.

Coral · 01-05-05, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendersfan

I'll probably get flamed for it, but I think it's far and away Jackson's best work.

You won't be getting flamed by me.

I agree 100%

Not a fan of any of his other films.

TomOpus · 01-05-05, 08:53 PM

I'll join in and say it's a wonderful movie. It shows that he doesn't need over-the-top gore or epic battles to make an engaging story. (Of course, I love his gore/epic movies too

).

He does a superb job as a director, not only with our two distressed damsels but with the entire supporting cast. His attention to detail really pulls you into New Zealand during the '50's.

Highly recommended!

p.s. - I keep hoping that Peter can revisit this movie and put out a nice DVD SE. I know, he's a little busy these days

DeputyDave · 01-05-05, 10:41 PM

Great movie. Of course I seem to be turning into a Peter Jackson fanboy becuae I love (for very different reasons) every one of his movies.

Giantrobo · 01-05-05, 11:11 PM

I thought it was a very good movie. I say check it out.

Fok · 01-05-05, 11:54 PM

Its a good film (based on a true story), I could watch it again but don't think I'd buy it.

victant · 01-06-05, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fok

Its a good film (based on a true story), I could watch it again but don't think I'd buy it.

I also agree that it was a great film! And knowing that it was a true story truly blew me away....

The Nature Boy · 01-06-05, 07:18 AM

I'm with you guys, for me it's right there with Return of the King for his most complete film, and right there with Feebles for most enjoyable. I'm suprised by how relatively few people have seen this considering how big he's become.

cultshock · 01-06-05, 04:17 PM

When I first saw it, I didn't know what to expect, after first discovering Jackson with DEAD ALIVE (Brain Dead), and then checking out BAD TASTE and MEET THE FEEBLES. It was very different from those films, but still very good. I like it.

Joe Molotov · 01-06-05, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by victant

I also agree that it was a great film! And knowing that it was a true story truly blew me away....

Even more interesting is that one of girls is now murder mystery writer Anne Perry. My mom reads alot of her books.

daniel18 · 01-06-05, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fallfan

Excellent movie. More of a character drama, although it has fantasy sequences that bear the mark of Peter Jackson. I think this was Kate Winslet's first movie and shes wonderful in it, as is Melanie Lynskey. The ending of this movie is very powerful and brutal. Based on this film, he should do a very good job with "The Lovely Bones" which apparently he will adapt after "King Kong". As for his other films, his "horror" movies are much more like gory comedies. I can't imagine anyone getting scared by any of those films, but they're very funny. His first movie, "Bad Taste" is very gross and very silly, as are "Meet the Feebles" and "Dead/Alive" (aka Braindead). "The Frighteners" was his first big-budget, Hollywood film and is closer in tone to something like "Beetlejuice" or "Ghostbusters", and while its flawed, it has some excellent sequences. He also made a wonderful mockumentary called "Forgotten Silver" about a supposed innovative film director from the early 1900's. Its a really clever film and could probably fool someone who didn't know it was a fake from the getgo.

Hmm... maybe I'll check them out. But thanks for spoiling Forgotten Silver...

01-05-05, 12:50 PM	#1
daniel18 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: FL Posts: 489	Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures Is this film good? The only movies I've seen of his are LOTR, which I really liked (Fellowship being one of my favorite movies of all time). I want to see more work of his, but Heavenly Creatures seems to be the only one I'm interested in (horror is my least favorite movie genre). So what do you think of this one? Last edited by daniel18; 01-05-05 at 02:51 PM.

01-05-05, 01:58 PM	#4
wendersfan Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Where homophobes don't get slut sauce Posts: 28,280	I'll probably get flamed for it, but I think it's far and away Jackson's best work. __________________ "Fifth Element may be as dumb and artless as Johnny Mnemonic, but since a frenchman made it it must be ART!" -Pants "...I think it's a low blow to draw attention to wendersfan's drunken state. " - dork "Just because their victims are still alive doesn't mean they didn't commit murder." - grundle "You concentrate on the sad wanna be hooliganism and let us worry about the actual soccer." - rocketsauce (final score: Columbus 2-Chicago 1)

01-05-05, 08:53 PM	#9
TomOpus DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 23,337	I'll join in and say it's a wonderful movie. It shows that he doesn't need over-the-top gore or epic battles to make an engaging story. (Of course, I love his gore/epic movies too ). He does a superb job as a director, not only with our two distressed damsels but with the entire supporting cast. His attention to detail really pulls you into New Zealand during the '50's. Highly recommended! p.s. - I keep hoping that Peter can revisit this movie and put out a nice DVD SE. I know, he's a little busy these days __________________ "Pear Pimples for Hairy Fishnuts!" My So-Called DVD Life (Profiler),A Fistful of Discs (DVDAf)

01-05-05, 10:41 PM	#10
DeputyDave DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 12,608	Great movie. Of course I seem to be turning into a Peter Jackson fanboy becuae I love (for very different reasons) every one of his movies. __________________ DVDSpot, RIP

01-05-05, 11:11 PM	#11
Giantrobo DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: TORRANCE, CA Posts: 48,380	I thought it was a very good movie. I say check it out. __________________ XBOX Gamertag: Giantrobo On my 4th 360 as of 3.26.10

01-05-05, 01:27 PM	#2
fallfan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 303	Excellent movie. More of a character drama, although it has fantasy sequences that bear the mark of Peter Jackson. I think this was Kate Winslet's first movie and shes wonderful in it, as is Melanie Lynskey. The ending of this movie is very powerful and brutal. Based on this film, he should do a very good job with "The Lovely Bones" which apparently he will adapt after "King Kong". As for his other films, his "horror" movies are much more like gory comedies. I can't imagine anyone getting scared by any of those films, but they're very funny. His first movie, "Bad Taste" is very gross and very silly, as are "Meet the Feebles" and "Dead/Alive" (aka Braindead). "The Frighteners" was his first big-budget, Hollywood film and is closer in tone to something like "Beetlejuice" or "Ghostbusters", and while its flawed, it has some excellent sequences. He also made a wonderful mockumentary called "Forgotten Silver" about a supposed innovative film director from the early 1900's. Its a really clever film and could probably fool someone who didn't know it was a fake from the getgo.

01-05-05, 01:37 PM	#3
Geofferson DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: TechNoir Posts: 36,519	Great movie!

01-05-05, 06:12 PM	#5
jaeufraser DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 4,551	It's a fabulous film, and definately sits right next to LoTR as one of his best works. It also was an academy award nominee for best screenplay. Of interest, if you've seen the movie, look up British author Anne Perry. She writes novels of murder mystery, and is in fact Juliet Hume, the character that Kate Winslet played. Apparently she hid her identity until she was exposed around the time of the movie. Interesting as she is now a rather successful author.

01-05-05, 07:00 PM	#6
Rivero Banned Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Germantown Maryland Posts: 2,488	Fantastic movie with superb acting from Lynskey and Winslet. Whimsical, sad, enchanting and disturbing. Still probably Jackson's best film.

01-05-05, 11:54 PM	#12
Fok DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Canada, BC Posts: 6,655	Its a good film (based on a true story), I could watch it again but don't think I'd buy it.

01-06-05, 07:18 AM	#14
The Nature Boy DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,303	I'm with you guys, for me it's right there with Return of the King for his most complete film, and right there with Feebles for most enjoyable. I'm suprised by how relatively few people have seen this considering how big he's become.

01-06-05, 04:17 PM	#15
cultshock DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: ~here there be serpents~ Posts: 7,173	When I first saw it, I didn't know what to expect, after first discovering Jackson with DEAD ALIVE (Brain Dead), and then checking out BAD TASTE and MEET THE FEEBLES. It was very different from those films, but still very good. I like it. __________________ "Cultshock... may your corpse be turned into a side show act for the curious and twisted." -Gandhi (banned DVDTalk member, not the Mahatma). I'm not sure, but I think he was hitting on me.