The Orphanage - signs of life in mood-based horror
#27
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Thumbs up from me. My only complaint was reading something suggesting it was this year's Pan's Labyrinth. Short of being in Spanish and had the same director.
So I spent the whole time anticipating the moment where we enter fantasy land....
I guess once I realized it wasn't going there, I was able to just take it in and enjoy.
So I spent the whole time anticipating the moment where we enter fantasy land....
I guess once I realized it wasn't going there, I was able to just take it in and enjoy.
#28
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Originally Posted by harpo787
Thumbs up from me. My only complaint was reading something suggesting it was this year's Pan's Labyrinth. Short of being in Spanish and had the same director.
#29
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Originally Posted by DonnachaOne
"un dos tres, toca la pared..."
(looks behind)
(looks behind)
I guess my problem with this film was that, much like Pan's Labyrinth, it was promoted as something it's not. I certainly wouldn't call this a horror film, which is what I was expecting after reading all the reviews and about how scary it was. It had a few "jump" scenes, already mentioned in this thread, but those are just cheap thrills we've seen a million times. I guess for a ghost film to be really scary for me, I have to feel like the people are in danger of being hurt and I never felt that at all. One review said that this film takes all the horror film cliches and reinvents them. Seemed like typical scare tactics to me.
That being said, I really enjoyed the movie for what it was, as I also enjoyed Pan's L, I just left both films somewhat disappointed because they weren't what I was expecting. Which is a shame because they are both good movies. It was a cool story, it certainly kept me engaged. It had some nice twists. I just wish I had just seen them both without any former hype. Had I gone in expecting a suspense film and not a horror, I wouldn't have been expecting more. I should probably see it again.
I guess I just get too overexcited when I hear there's a good scary movie out there, because they're so rare nowadays.
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#31
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I can't disagree with too many things that have been said. All I can add (that might be worth something to anyone else thinking about seeing this movie) is that I went in hoping for something like Devil's Backbone and I wasn't disappointed. Bayona does a very good del Toro impersonation behind the camera.
Although, I could have done without that sledgehammer of a final scene.
Although, I could have done without that sledgehammer of a final scene.
Last edited by jdpatri; 01-17-08 at 02:28 PM.
#32
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Saw this today and absolutely loved it--I'm so glad some writers agree that ghost stories are supposed to be sad and poignant. I especially liked the "what is a ghost" homage to my favorite movie, The Devil's Backbone.
I was satisfied with the ending (minus the overkill last scene) but thought
I was satisfied with the ending (minus the overkill last scene) but thought
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#33
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Originally Posted by monkeyboy
For some reason, that should have been a really scary scene, but it didn't pay off for me. There was nothing menacing going on, it didn't feel dangerous to me. I thought it would have a nastier edge to it, but nothing felt sinister to me, just some playful ghosts... I certainly wouldn't call this a horror film, which is what I was expecting after reading all the reviews and about how scary it was. It had a few "jump" scenes, already mentioned in this thread, but those are just cheap thrills we've seen a million times. I guess for a ghost film to be really scary for me, I have to feel like the people are in danger of being hurt and I never felt that at all. One review said that this film takes all the horror film cliches and reinvents them. Seemed like typical scare tactics to me.
#35
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Originally Posted by Matthew Chmiel
This is my opinion of the movie:
It had an awesome ending, but I had to sit through about 90 minutes of shit to get to that point.
The premise is great, the execution sucks. With a more talented director, an even more talented writer, and a shorter run time (there was a lot of padding in the film's 100-minute runtime); this film could've been wonderful and magnificent. Instead it's just a crappy film with a great ending.
Just to throw this out there as well, the whole "exorcist" segment of the film where Laura hires the group of folk to come to the house played like a retarded retread of the whole second act of Poltergeist mixed with the worst segments of White Noise (which really isn't saying much as White Noise may have been one of the worst films I've seen all decade).
It had an awesome ending, but I had to sit through about 90 minutes of shit to get to that point.
The premise is great, the execution sucks. With a more talented director, an even more talented writer, and a shorter run time (there was a lot of padding in the film's 100-minute runtime); this film could've been wonderful and magnificent. Instead it's just a crappy film with a great ending.
Just to throw this out there as well, the whole "exorcist" segment of the film where Laura hires the group of folk to come to the house played like a retarded retread of the whole second act of Poltergeist mixed with the worst segments of White Noise (which really isn't saying much as White Noise may have been one of the worst films I've seen all decade).
#36
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Saw this yesterday with my girlfriend and I thought it was really good. It had some really well-done scenes, such as the "Uno dos tres, toca la pared" scene toward the end of the movie where the camera kept swiveling back and forth. And, of course, the ending/climax of this movie was really strong.
I thought it was a solid horror/thriller with a great ending to an already-good story.
I'd rate it a 7.5 out of 10.
I thought it was a solid horror/thriller with a great ending to an already-good story.
I'd rate it a 7.5 out of 10.
#37
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Originally Posted by BuddhaWake
agree excpet that he didn't direct this.
Saw it a couple of weeks ago and it's really good.
#38
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Just saw this today with my girlfriend... like other people have discussed, the "un dos tres, toca la pared..." scene had me clenching my jaw until it ended, but there was no payoff (read: jump scare [yes, I like a good jump scare])
The biggest jump from me was definitely the scene with the old lady on the road (and I was not expecting to see her face as mutilated as it was). I saw her getting ran over a mile away, but her death rattle I did not.
Also the scene where Tomas was snaking towards Laura in the hallway had me at the edge of my seat. Flashbacks to The Ring... *shudder*
Overall very enjoyable, but I think I may have been the only one disappointed with the ending... It was very similar to Pan's Labyrinth in a bitter-sweet way, but I was hoping for something more sinister. Oh well. Great film, and I'll be re-watching The Others soon enough now... Love a good haunted house movie.
The biggest jump from me was definitely the scene with the old lady on the road (and I was not expecting to see her face as mutilated as it was). I saw her getting ran over a mile away, but her death rattle I did not.
Also the scene where Tomas was snaking towards Laura in the hallway had me at the edge of my seat. Flashbacks to The Ring... *shudder*
Overall very enjoyable, but I think I may have been the only one disappointed with the ending... It was very similar to Pan's Labyrinth in a bitter-sweet way, but I was hoping for something more sinister. Oh well. Great film, and I'll be re-watching The Others soon enough now... Love a good haunted house movie.
#39
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I finally saw this last night and absolutely loved it. It had a very similar tone to The Devil's Backbone and The Others which was good.
I thought the ending was great, even the final scene that a few posters didn't like.
I thought the ending was great, even the final scene that a few posters didn't like.
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#40
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Just watched it. It was a very suspenseful film but I think The Others was better directed. It seemed like the movie would end and then it would continue on(LOTR: ROTK like). I also didn't like the fact that they had to dumb it down for the audience to see how happy she was with the kids.
But it is still a very tense movie. I jumped in a couple of scenes. I'd give it a solid B.
But it is still a very tense movie. I jumped in a couple of scenes. I'd give it a solid B.
#42
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Girlfriend and I watched last night...FANTASTIC!!
We both really enjoyed it and felt ashamed of the crap Hollywood churns out weekly. Brilliant film with a completely satisfying ending...
We both really enjoyed it and felt ashamed of the crap Hollywood churns out weekly. Brilliant film with a completely satisfying ending...
#46
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Interesting in parts, but a little too silly at times. I'm not much of a horror fan, but this was definitely better than your average fare. I actually was hoping for a better movie simply because it was a foreign flick (right or wrong).
Interesting note and I wish I'd known this before viewing. The leading actress had a baby that died from a heart ailment. Think back on the movie and see if that doesn't give you shivers.
Interesting note and I wish I'd known this before viewing. The leading actress had a baby that died from a heart ailment. Think back on the movie and see if that doesn't give you shivers.
#47
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Originally Posted by atlantamoi
Interesting in parts, but a little too silly at times. I'm not much of a horror fan, but this was definitely better than your average fare. I actually was hoping for a better movie simply because it was a foreign flick (right or wrong).
Interesting note and I wish I'd known this before viewing. The leading actress had a baby that died from a heart ailment. Think back on the movie and see if that doesn't give you shivers.
Interesting note and I wish I'd known this before viewing. The leading actress had a baby that died from a heart ailment. Think back on the movie and see if that doesn't give you shivers.
#50
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I bought the Blu-Ray and i liked most of the story, really good atmosphere. Of course it's better if you know spanish because, like all movies, it lose bits here, bits there in the translation.
But I really hated the end. They explained everything. Everything. No guessing game here. If they'd a more open end this thread would be at least 10 pages now.
But I really hated the end. They explained everything. Everything. No guessing game here. If they'd a more open end this thread would be at least 10 pages now.