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Ebert Reviews 'Silent Hill'

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the not-so-much dept.

Last week, along with attending an 'epic' debate, Ebert had the time to take in Silent Hill. Did he enjoy it? Not so much. From the article: "Now here's a funny thing. Although I did not understand the story, I would have appreciated a great deal less explanation. All through the movie, characters are pausing in order to offer arcane back-stories and historical perspectives and metaphysical insights and occult orientations. They talk and talk and somehow their words do not light up any synapses in my brain, if my brain has synapses and they're supposed to light up, and if it doesn't and they're not, then they still don't make any sense. Perhaps those who have played the game will understand the movie, and enjoy it. "

4 of 124 comments (clear)

  1. Saw it last night by Yoweigh116 · · Score: 5, Informative

    A friend of mine got some screener passes so I went and saw this last night. I only have one word for the movie: AWFUL!

    Let me say first of all that I was never a big fan of the game series. A number of the people I was with were, though, and they were just as dismayed as I was. There were little bits from the game stuck in there, but even those who caught them said they felt like scraps from the dinner table. The storyline vaguely follows the game, but I totally agree with Ebert for once. I even said to my friends afterwards that I felt dumber after having seen that movie.

    I guess they must have realized their movie was terrible, because they threw in massive amounts of wanton violence and excessive gore in to try and cover it up. I had to actually turn my face away, something I've never had to do before, to avoid wathing a closeup of someone's face melting over a pyre. After that, it only got worse, and some of the disturbing stuff is definitely not from the game.

    -Yoweigh

  2. Listen to my advice by zr-rifle · · Score: 2, Informative

    Screw the movie and get the second game in the series. Play it. Trust me, you will be impressed. Silent Hill 2 has the single greatest moment in the history of gaming ever. It happens in the apartment where you pick up the flashlight and no movie could ever replicate it. I won't spoil it for you, but if you understand its meaning it will send cold shivers down your spine. Brilliant.

    --
    Hack your mind out of its sandbox.
  3. No screenings for critics by Megane · · Score: 2, Informative

    Or at least not many. I was listening to the radio (that's like television without pictures) today, and they had their weekly talk with a local movie critic. He said they weren't giving screenings to critics, and that was a baaaad sign. Folks, this is going to be a bad movie. Maybe not Highlander II bad, but still bad. Wait for it to come out on DVD, wait for a friend rent it, then ask to borrow it for a night.

    --
    #naabhaprzrag, #sverubfr-000, #agi-fcbafberq, negvpyr[pynff*=' negvpyr-ary-'] { qvfcynl: abar !vzcbegnag; }
  4. True to the Game by Waingro · · Score: 2, Informative

    Let me say first: If you are not a fan of the game DON'T GO SEE THIS MOVIE, you probably won't enjoy it.

    I for one love the original 2 games. (#3 and 4 not as much) I will never forget sitting down to play the first one late and night and being terrified. Never before did a game provide that level of horror and suspense.

    The movie is true to the game genre, and for that I loved it. It is loosely centered around ideas and themes from the first game so if that was your favorite (as is mine) you should enjoy it.

    1) Dialogue is similar to the games: Not A+, but this was originally a Japanese game and I imagine there is a small amount of "All-your-baseness" that someone ignorant to the games might take as just poorly written character dialogue.

    2) There are a lot of pyscological themes in the movie, just as the game. If you look at it more then a slasher film you will walk away with more

    3) YES there is violence and a lot of disturbing imagery. What do you expect? Again, did you play any of the games?? The games include murder, blood, violence, rape, strange religous imagery, etc. Expect the same in the film

    4) If you walk away confused at the end then good, again the movie succeeds in keeping true to the series. Please, anyone who has played this series before tell me you weren't scratching your end when you completed the game. (It will be amusing to see if the DVD contains alternate endings similar to each game)

    Is this movie going to get rave reviews? No, becuase most people out there won't appriciate it for what it is. Is it the best "video game movie" I have seen. By a long shot.