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kiss1974
Reviews
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
Low expectations = Fun Time at the Movies
So, my friends and I decided to go see Halloween Resurrection at midnight on opening weekend. I was actually surprised to see that many people there. On the way there we couldn't stop making jokes about how bad this movie was going to be. I guess when you expect utter crap and then see something that is slightly above crap you become pleasently surprised.
I actually walked away from this movie entertained, which I did not expect. *Possible Spolier* Yes the dialogue was silly, yes the plot was thin, yes the explanation of how Myers survived was weak but think about it .... It's Halloween's 8th installment what did you really expect? Were you expecting the Excorcist or The Shining? No, you get what you expect from a movie like this, silly entertainment. I just don't know if silly entertainment is worth $13.50, I would recommend this as a rental.
Beyond the Mat (1999)
Finally a movie about wrestling that doesn't insult my intelligence
I've seen this movie a few times and as a wrestling fan for over 20 years I was glad to see a movie that showed a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes. Blaustien does an amazing job and it was no surprise that it was seriously being considered for an Academy Award nomination (sadly it never ended up being actually nominated).
Wrestling fans have had to defend their love of the art of pro wrestling for many years. When the topic would come up that I am a wrestling fan I would be faced with the same idiotic question, with a tone of disbelief in their voice, "You know it's fake, right?". My response has always been to follow that question with "And what is your favourite TV show?" I usually get an answer like "Friends" or something similar and I then mockingly explain to them that Rachel and Ross never dated and Monica and Chandler are not really married and that that isn't even their real names. Soon they began to see the stupidity of their proclaiming that wrestling is fake. Whew, sorry, kind of went on a rant there.
Blaustien's film allows non wrestling fans to see exactly how "fake" wrestling can be. The blood, sweat and hard work that these athletes and their families endure is vividly shown. We finally see a human side of the often larger than life characters that these men and women of the squared circle portray.
One thing that I found very profound was the drab, dark and gloomy colours Blaustein used in segments showing that human side as opposed to the colourfulness of the slick production of the athletes performing. We go from the glamorous pyro and bright lights of a live Pay per View event to shots of the wrestlers in their concrete, black and white, dirty and sweaty dressing rooms. I don't know if the director did this on purpose but I thought it was quite effective.
Bottom line this movie is a must for any fan of wrestling but I feel it is even more important to the non-wrestling fan interested to see why all these people watch this "fake" form of entertainment.