B Movies

B+ is the new B (Modern B Movies)

One of the most enjoyable movies I've seen recently is a bizarre but cookin' action movie called Doomsday. It's Neil Marshall's (Dog Soldiers, The Descent) latest horror/sci-fi movie.

Doomsday is like Escape From New York meets The Stand. It's post-apocalyptic filmmaking at its most enjoyable. And I've got to talk about how regarding violence, this movie has its cake and eats it too.

This is a graphic film; for short burts it's as graphic as Passion of the Christ or the new Rambo, which  both disturbed me quite a bit. What's strange is that while I found the intense violence in Passion or Rambo to be much more sickening than entertaining, the violence of Doomsday really appealed to me as entertainment. What is even stranger is that one of the themes of Doomsday is the futile and selfish nature of cruelty... so it somehow manages to be really fun-violent while trying to unmask actual fun-violence as an abomination!

And it's got killer car chases and fight scenes, too. WTF? This is surely a strange kind of great movie! Anyone know of a big-studio production that's as complex and fun as this? My contention is that the studios largely don't know how to pull this kind of thing off.

I recommend this to all sci-fi and horror fans, anyone interested in violence in films, and anybody who likes wild rides. You'll be shaken and stirred by this movie, and you'll be smiling woozily when the ride gets over.

PS--For those interested in the setup: when a deadly virus breaks out in Scotland, the UK quarantines the entire nation. A giant wall is constructed, and the virus is successfully contained. The  world tries to forget about how they left Scotland to rot.

Twenty years on, it looks like the same virus has suddenly appeared in downtown London. An elite military team is briefed that there is evidence of survivors in Glasgow, Scotland. The team has twenty-four hours to find these survivors--if in fact they really exist--and find out how they survived the epidemic.

The viewer's joy ensues.

Re:B+ is the new B (Modern B Movies)

SkyPilot:

Anyone know of a big-studio production that's as complex and fun as this? My contention is that the studios largely don't know how to pull this kind of thing off.

I'm a big sucker for the post apacolyptic theme and I really like Dog Soldiers and The Descent.

As for a big studio producion that meet that criteria, the only thing I can think of off hand would be Wanted, although I have yet to see it, I am going off of the director's previous work with Night Watch and Day Watch which I loved.

Re:B+ is the new B (Modern B Movies)

leeroy711:

SkyPilot:

Anyone know of a big-studio production that's as complex and fun as this? My contention is that the studios largely don't know how to pull this kind of thing off.

[/quote

As for a big studio producion that meet that criteria, the only thing I can think of off hand would be Wanted, although I have yet to see it, I am going off of the director's previous work with Night Watch and Day Watch which I loved.

Right you are leeroy, Wanted is a lot of fun. I had a feeling it would deliver on action thrills, but I didn't know it would be so funny!

James McAvoy really impressed me as the jaded everyman, Angelina Jolie is a very believable ass-kicker, and we get to hear Morgan Freeman say a curse word (I won't say which one, that would spoil it).

     

B+ is the new B (Modern B Movies) -- Remakes

1. Have you guys seen the trailer for the new Death Race movie?

Here's the trailer on YouTube.

My friend porcupine said something I agree with, "looks more violent than Death Race 2000, but less disturbing."

For me the most nightmarish aspect of Death Race 2000 is that the sport is so overwhelmingly popular. The only way the Resistance can stop the carnage is to join it themselves.

I'm excited about the new Death Race though.

2. I'm looking forward to seeing what Sylvester Stallone does with his remake of Death Wish due out in 2009.

Re:B+ is the new B (Modern B Movies) -- Remakes

SkyPilot:

2. I'm looking forward to seeing what Sylvester Stallone does with his remake of Death Wish due out in 2009.

   Sly Stallone is an accomplished producer/writer/director ...  and he is a fairly good actor as well ... (I've got a porno video of him, by the way...) ..   And his Rambo and Rocky movies have made him very rich and given all of us a great deal of pleasure ...   But for him to take over he  "Death Wish"  franchise, which sounds to me like he is intending to make more than one movie, is just wrong...   Charles Bronson IS  "Death Wish"  just like Clint Eastwood IS  "Dirty Harry" ...   I have no doubt that Stallone's  "Death Wish"  movies will be superb in their own right but no comparison to Bronsan's original...   Give me a break!

                                                                                               < GOR > 

Re:B+ is the new B (Modern B Movies) -- Remakes

Speaking of Sly's B Movies, here's a table from slashfilms that corvine alerted me to.

I'd consider First Blood and Rambo 4 to be the only B movies in the series.

And I have one correction: there isn't a 'traditional' sex scene in Rambo 4, but there is a disturbing part where Rambo witnesses a villain undress a young boy. Creepy.

Re:B+ is the new B (Modern B Movies) -- Remakes

As much as I love a good B flick, I'm not 100% Death Race is going to be one of those laughably good/at least entertaining ones.  I always like the ones that don't take themselves too seriously, and are chock full of one liners. I loved the Fast and the Furious, but didn't find the same enjoyment in The Transporter series.  I definately enjoyed The Transporter, but more for its action and storyline than for its unintentional hilarity.

Sylvester Stallone in Death Wish?  Praise the Lord.  I *love* the Deathwish series, and honestly I think Stallone's going to pull it off with aplomb.  I always thought that I'd like to see Nicholas Cage (whom I don't like that much but have picked for two movie remakes recently), Sean Connery (a few years ago) or Harrison Ford take over for Bronson, but I'm convinced Stallone will do alright, though he may not make quite the convincing suburban-ish father/husband-turned-vigilante (he looks a little menacing and big to be a reluctant vigilante).  But, I have faith in Sly.

SkyPilot:

1. Have you guys seen the trailer for the new Death Race movie?

Here's the trailer on YouTube.

My friend porcupine said something I agree with, "looks more violent than Death Race 2000, but less disturbing."

For me the most nightmarish aspect of Death Race 2000 is that the sport is so overwhelmingly popular. The only way the Resistance can stop the carnage is to join it themselves.

I'm excited about the new Death Race though.

2. I'm looking forward to seeing what Sylvester Stallone does with his remake of Death Wish due out in 2009.

Re:B+ is the new B (Modern B Movies) -- Remakes

seely:

As much as I love a good B flick, I'm not 100% Death Race is going to be one of those laughably good/at least entertaining ones.  I always like the ones that don't take themselves too seriously, and are chock full of one liners.

I didn't think Death Race was as good ast Death Race 2000. As you say Seely, Corman's didn't take itself too seriously, but it still managed to get under my skin more.

If you're interested in but wary of the new film, Kevin and I review it on FilmCouch.