RAVENOUS. I have no distinct like or dislike. Definitely, NFE: Not For Everyone. Having worked in a hospital environment before, blood/bloody, guts/gore, exposed internal organs depiction or dead bodies are not particularly scary for me. Tagline: "You are what you eat" is essentially true. And, coming down to the bare skeletons (nitty gritty), it's all in the mind: how you think and perceive the subject in context.
According to the dictionary, Ravenous means extremely hungry. What a clever and apt title, they must have chewed over this one and decided on Ravenous vs. say, Voracious. Appetite-wise, Ravenous does sound meatier (pun intended) than voracious (more Tony Richardson 's "Tom Jones" 1963 style, with Albert Finney and co.)
This is no ordinary tale. It happens around 1847 during the Mexican-American War. There may be uniformed soldiers you see on screen, but it's not an U.S. Army Western. It's more personal and darker as the story moves along. Guy Pearce is Captain Boyd, the central focus of the film. And so it seems. By and by, when Robert Carlyle's character appears, one kinda sense the focus shifts to him vs. Pearce. Then again, we're back into the "soul" of Captain Boyd and his internal struggling with the whole dilemma of the man-eating idea: did he, or didn't he -- he himself, and he the Carlyle's Colquhoun character -- relish in eating the flesh of another (dead) man, on the grounds of keeping himself alive and healthy?
This is really not a novel idea: I remember how traditional sayings did suggest "You are what you eat". Say you need more brain power, eat the head of some animal, e.g., they say people who eat fish head are known to be cleverer; liver for liver, heart for your heart, tendons for joint injury recovery, etc. I do believe it's all in one's mind. As Andrew Bergman's "The Freshman" 1990, with Marlon Brando and Matthew Broderick, might suggest: most of the time people do not know what's being served -- iguana meat or chicken meat; here, in "Ravenous", a general who spoon-tasted a pot of soup commented, "Mm, tasty", without realizing the tasty result was from the stewing of a man's meat.
Think however you like: if you're a movie fan who's hungry and daring on whatever's served, see it. If the whole idea of eating another man's meat is not quite flavorful to you, don't see it. In any case, there is drama, action and suspense in "Ravenous". (I wonder if Ives has eaten a bird or two enabling him to move light as a bird and jumps up in flight?) This very well might become a cult classic. Seriously, no ordinary tale this is.
The movie is not vampiric. If you prefer vampire action drama plus martial arts, see Stephen Norrington's "Blade" 1998, with Wesley Snipes and Stephen Dorff -- intensely well-made film and impressive set especially towards the end. Caution: don't let the sprinkler shower of blood scene in the beginning deter you -- it has it's own meaning (funny it's also based on the power of blood being life-giving and continuing!) and you will appreciate the intensity after all.
A lighter vampiric side, try John Landis' "Innocent Blood" 1992, with "La Femme Nikita" Anne Parillaud, Anthony LaPaglia and Robert Loggia; it's a fun, romantic comedy take on a lovely French vampyre, a cop and a crime boss. For a philosophical study of vampire life, try Abel Ferrara's "The Addiction" 1995 in B/W, with Lili Taylor, Christopher Walken, and Annabella Sciorra -- vampire gem of a tale it is.
According to the dictionary, Ravenous means extremely hungry. What a clever and apt title, they must have chewed over this one and decided on Ravenous vs. say, Voracious. Appetite-wise, Ravenous does sound meatier (pun intended) than voracious (more Tony Richardson 's "Tom Jones" 1963 style, with Albert Finney and co.)
This is no ordinary tale. It happens around 1847 during the Mexican-American War. There may be uniformed soldiers you see on screen, but it's not an U.S. Army Western. It's more personal and darker as the story moves along. Guy Pearce is Captain Boyd, the central focus of the film. And so it seems. By and by, when Robert Carlyle's character appears, one kinda sense the focus shifts to him vs. Pearce. Then again, we're back into the "soul" of Captain Boyd and his internal struggling with the whole dilemma of the man-eating idea: did he, or didn't he -- he himself, and he the Carlyle's Colquhoun character -- relish in eating the flesh of another (dead) man, on the grounds of keeping himself alive and healthy?
This is really not a novel idea: I remember how traditional sayings did suggest "You are what you eat". Say you need more brain power, eat the head of some animal, e.g., they say people who eat fish head are known to be cleverer; liver for liver, heart for your heart, tendons for joint injury recovery, etc. I do believe it's all in one's mind. As Andrew Bergman's "The Freshman" 1990, with Marlon Brando and Matthew Broderick, might suggest: most of the time people do not know what's being served -- iguana meat or chicken meat; here, in "Ravenous", a general who spoon-tasted a pot of soup commented, "Mm, tasty", without realizing the tasty result was from the stewing of a man's meat.
Think however you like: if you're a movie fan who's hungry and daring on whatever's served, see it. If the whole idea of eating another man's meat is not quite flavorful to you, don't see it. In any case, there is drama, action and suspense in "Ravenous". (I wonder if Ives has eaten a bird or two enabling him to move light as a bird and jumps up in flight?) This very well might become a cult classic. Seriously, no ordinary tale this is.
The movie is not vampiric. If you prefer vampire action drama plus martial arts, see Stephen Norrington's "Blade" 1998, with Wesley Snipes and Stephen Dorff -- intensely well-made film and impressive set especially towards the end. Caution: don't let the sprinkler shower of blood scene in the beginning deter you -- it has it's own meaning (funny it's also based on the power of blood being life-giving and continuing!) and you will appreciate the intensity after all.
A lighter vampiric side, try John Landis' "Innocent Blood" 1992, with "La Femme Nikita" Anne Parillaud, Anthony LaPaglia and Robert Loggia; it's a fun, romantic comedy take on a lovely French vampyre, a cop and a crime boss. For a philosophical study of vampire life, try Abel Ferrara's "The Addiction" 1995 in B/W, with Lili Taylor, Christopher Walken, and Annabella Sciorra -- vampire gem of a tale it is.