Versions
Do I have a censored version of this film? Mine is about 86 min long, 4 shorter than the 90 min stated here in imdb. Also, many reviewers claim this film is quite gory, but it looked too tame for me.
Any news on cut versions?
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L O L
Well, to make a long story short, I collect DVDs. I like almost all sorts of genres.
Recently I've been expanding my "exploitation" category of films, although to be frank I don't really like exploitation flicks. The only reason I got some interest in this genre is the fact they used to be on frequently in Brazilian TV in the late 70s and early to mid 80s and I remember seeing some of them as a kid.
The cannibal sub-gender is particularly annoying, but it's interesting to have a look at it due to the hype they made back at a time when Italian cinema had a lot of room for B-movie productions. Naturally ultra-violence is the trademark here and as paradoxical as it may sound, I don't like gratuitous violence. I also really hate gore, but I guess if you are going to go through one of these cannibal or cheap horror films from that era, you might as well have the full experience.
I'm not against arty nudity (if nudity can be arty at all), but gratuitous nudity in films is something I'm not crazy about. It's far from bothering me as much as gore does, though. If one goes to a mainstream movie looking for lots of nudity, than it seems easier to just get a porn.
As for this particular movie (Schiave bianche: violenza in Amazzonia), it's a poor effort even for the cannibal standard. Actually, it's not even a cannibal movie. The acting is even worse than the average exploitation film and you can clearly see the production is totally oriented to making extra bucks, by trying to cash on ridiculous alternate names and to sell obviously fake "real footage" to support its laughable claim of being based on a real story. Well, that's what makes it exploitation after all.
To date there are only two good and serious movies about indians that I got to watch: Emerald Forest and The Mission. Don't know if you watched them, but I recommend both if you want a proper film about natives.
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I like all sorts of challenging cinema, be it the following of a complex storyline, be it the understanding of an elaborate metaphor, as long as enough elements are given to the viewer to understand what's going on.
I think exploitation movies are a type of challenging cinema. They are normally poor, low-budget productions that obviously don't resort to an intellectual challenge, but they deliberately try to make the viewer shocked or disturbed in some way: "Can the viewer take them?" is the challenge presented.
That's why I have some interest in exploitation, because of this challenge, as cheesy as this may sound. Also, I used to watch them on TV when I was a kid back in the 80s and the violence impressed me in a bad way. Since exploitation movies range from sort of tame to very tough to handle, it's like a scale of horrors where one going through it tries to find how hardcore he is. lol. From an artistic point of view, though, 99% of them are simply worthless.
So that's basically why I watch SOME exploitation movies (I refuse to watch stuff like Mondos for instance), for the challenge. Watching something doesn't mean you like it. I don't like gore, it disturbs me; but I like being disturbed this way, it's almost like a test. Once I've made it through a gory scene I never go back to it. I guess some people like gore because they are curious, others because they are sadistic. Not me!
I agree all this still sounds sort of stupid, but don't worry, exploitation ranks low in my list of priorities.
As for nudity, I'm no puritan. I like nudity as long as it's not out of place. In a movie like "Basic Instinct", an average thriller, nudity is welcomed because it's related to the plot. However, there are a number of films where nudity or sex damages the atmosphere.
You do indeed have a good taste for women! I don't know if I can name specific actresses I like, since there are many. Natalie Portman and Sandra Bullock come to mind.
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Hi Framed-Image, sorry for the late reply, I was away from imdb for a few days.
Well, I really meant what I said about the gore! :)
I have asked myself several times why someone would look at something they consider repulsive, such as the always mentioned example of people slowing down their cars to stare at the results of a terrible road accident only to look away in horror. Yet they do it again when they spot the next accident. Why do people do this? Because everyone has a dark side in their minds? I think it's not so simple; there could be a number of explanations.
Well, I believe I don't like gore, but you are not the first person to ask me why then do I take a peek at flicks with gore from time to time. It could be mere curiosity, but other reasons might be behind this. I think guys that like the idea of being alpha males (90% of men?) like "proving" to themselves they can take hardcore stuff albeit not liking it, hence the challenge idea I mentioned in the previous post. I know this statement probably sounds hilarious, but it seems logic to me. lol
Sienna Guillory ----> Agreed! Very beautiful face and eyes. I think these pictures are from Resident Evil, aren't they? Talking about this film, isn't Milla Jovovich quite nice as well?
Monica Bellucci ----> She is very sexy. Albeit being in her late 30s she looks ten years younger. I recently saw her for the first time in a French movie (Irréversible) and noticed her beauty right away.
On to directors:
Since I'm not very familiar with classic films (black and white era), my favorite directors are from the modern age of cinema.
My favorite is probably Stanley Kubrick. He is very versatile, working in many different genres, and likes adding a touch of complexity to challenging films without losing grasp of the cinematography. I couldn't ask for more. I loved Spartacus, 2001, A Clockwork Orange and Full Metal Jacket. The Shining and Eyes Wide Shut were also good. I know there are more good films he made but I haven't seen them yet.
Other directors I like a lot are:
Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down)
Oliver Stone (Platoon, Wall Street, Any Given Sunday, Alexander)
Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino)
Steven Spielberg (Empire of the Sun, Amistad, Saving Private Ryan, Minority Report, Catch Me If You Can, War of the Worlds, Indiana Jones series)
Some less important ones also come to mind:
Dario Argento - my favorite horror movies director. Horror movies are all about atmosphere, and Argento delivers it like no one else. I love Suspiria, my favorite horror movie.
John Carpenter - Some nice low budget films. I like The Fog, Escape From New York and I love The Thing.
Clint Eastwood - fan of him as an actor and I like many of the films he directed. Have to mention The Unforgiven...
Night Shyamalan - for the twists. I really liked Signs.
Tarantino - for trying new things. My favorite Tarantino film is Jackie Brown.
Well, this is what comes to mind at the moment. As you can see, it's a very clichéd list, but it doesn't mean I don't like other types of directors. These are just the first to come to mind.
What are your favorites?
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Hi again Framed-image! Me and my late replies… I’m just having an unusually busy schedule this early January. Yesterday I had to travel to another city and back to file a lawsuit (yep, lawyer here – ).
Well, like I said, I’m unfortunately not too familiar with the classics, although I’m slowly starting to catch up with what I’ve missed. I only watched one Akira Kurosawa film, The Seven Samurai, which incidentally is quite famous, and I was of course very impressed, but haven’t seen anything else from him since. Intend to, though. From Alfred Hitchcock I’ve only watched The Birds. Believe it or not, I still haven’t watched Psycho, only the remake. As famous and influential as Fellini is, I have to admit in shame I haven’t seen anything from him. This is really embarrassing since it makes me sort of an ignorant in movie knowledge, but I’m already trying to remedy this situation. The problem is only the most famous ones are easily available for rent in Brazil.
I like Irreversible a lot, although for obvious reasons it’s not a film made to be enjoyed. I actually wrote a personal review for Irreversible, along with some other films I watched recently, but haven’t posted any of them yet.
I agree with what you said about the aliens in Signs. I think the problem the aliens in War of the Worlds found is a lot more plausible, since microscopic organisms, which exist in millions and millions of species, could actually be overlooked. Not water though. Still, while in War of the Worlds the aliens are the main focus of the movie, in Signs they aren’t. What I liked in Signs was the main message, regarding the recovery of faith by the priest. If you can get passed the aliens issue, you might enjoy Signs, but I understand that might be sort of difficult if you like your films to be fully coherent.
Mila Jovovich (I love the Fifth Element and science fiction) is really nice and I just remembered two more girls that I like:
Scarlett Johansson (not a brunette, but…):
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/4079/Events/4079/ScarlettJo_Ausse_7069450_400.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Johansson,%20Scarlett
Jessica Biel (great body meets beautiful face):
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/3697/Events/3697/JessicaBie_Devan_6173844_400.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Biel,%20Jessica
You made me very interested in the concept of “jouissance”. I started by checking it in wikipedia, but its article is currently only a short overview. I will research it further and look up Jacques Lacan as soon as I have a little more spare time. Can you recommend a specific title from the author, considering I’m not an expert in psychology? Well, I just hope I don’t come to the conclusion I’m a corrupted person for looking at something I myself find repulsive…
As hard as Wong Kar-Wai and Lars von Trier will be to find in Brazil, I will start looking for their works, you made me interested.
I’ve seen Fernando Meirelles in Cidade de Deus and was impressed, he obviously has talent. The thing I didn’t like about Cidade de Deus is the fact Meirelles only showed the chaos of favelas, in an arguably exploitative way, because he didn’t bother explaining how the situation got like that in the first place, why it doesn’t change, and most importantly the social contrast between favelas and the rich and middle classes. He could for instance have shown the posh shopping malls where the kid bought the clothes for Bene, thus giving the viewer a more realistic idea of what goes on in Brazil or Latin America. The way Cidade de Deus was pictured, the average American or European viewer will think Brazil = Africa. Well, that’s just one aspect; Cidade de Deus still has many things going for it. I look forward to seeing his latest effort, The Constant Gardener.
See you soon F.Image!
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The Fifth Element is quite simply the worst film I have seen in the last 10 years!
share"The Fifth Element is quite simply the worst film I have seen in the last 10 years!"
Well, that's Luc Besson for you. You either like his style, or you don't. I personaly agree with you, I really don't like Besson's movies.
"As hard as Lars von Trier will be to find in Brazil"
I suggest you to start with the depression trilogy. You'll really see his particular style.
"Monica Bellucci ----> She is very sexy. Albeit being in her late 30s she looks ten years younger."
Hmmm.... she's actually 50!
Btw, great tastes for directors!
shareCannibal Holocaust is for me the one and only cannibal movie from this era! I watched a few others, including this one and Cannibal Ferox, and nah. XD
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