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Oh, and it's not as bad as Hostel, which is even more thin, less gory, and even more third person syndrome (too many $#% scenes, the ultimate in third person syndrome unless their lesbians). I also thought some of the cinematic touches were nice, such as some of the locations shot were gorgeous, and a scattering of scenes that work (my favorite would have to be the montage of bidding). He seems to have this goofy charisma and has an extremely likeable personality. The antagonists were boring and utterly useless, and the three girls could be loosly classified as the _________, the "perfect" one, and the geeky socially awkward girl. None of these characters were even likeable enough to hang aroud with, and yes, while they were all hot, that's not really an excuse to watch them because they aren't doing anything interesting, talking about anything interseting, and were just plain uninteresting. I realize that sometimes a plot in a horror movie doesn't have to be richly nuanced or anything of that nature, but this movie drags.
However, the plot just doesn't have any weight. I'll admit, I thought I was going to like this movie. And to be fair, the gore scenes were nice to see (besides the obviously fake p#n.$). ALl the build up and plot setting up to the first torture (more than an hour into the movie) is agonizing and not entertaining.
And there are scenes everywhere that don't add anything to the movie, so really, your spend more than an hour wasting your life. There are millions of pointless scenes, and the movie is very predictable to the point of "Who Cares.". I just can;t believe how much time is wasted during the movie.Generally, most characters in horror movies aren't really that interesting. It takes a great deal to get me worked up about a fictional character. And no, I'm not trying to build him up before tearing how down sort of thing, I don't do that, and I generally don't insult (although I'm pretty sure I could act better than Shaq and direct better than Ed Wood, so I guess I have the right to make fun of Shaq's acting or Ed Wood's directing) the people because most of the time, it's them that have more talent.
It takes way too long to get to the goods. Their conversations are third person syndrome at it's worst.Oh sure, this movie is bad. I realize the movie is supposed to build up suspense, but it doesn't work. It's actually always a good thing, except, of course, when it comes to his movies. ALL of the characters are flat, uninteresting, and feel more like Macguffins' for a plot that sucks. But then again, while it's nicely done and all of that, it's not as entertaining as the Saw series in the gore/torture device department.
But still, I thought the torture porn genre would be kind of interesting, but really, movies like this, the recent Saw movies, and Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses (which wasn't that bad thanks to some of Zombie's taste for the theatrical) shows that the genre really isn't that good. Sorry, unless I MYSELF were talking to them, I don't care about them at all (of course, they wouldn't be THIS boring and cardboard). However, I really had to say that, because I never ever cringe when I hear his name. There were some scenes that really had some twisted stuff going on, most likely the notorious bathtub scene. YOu almost know that they are going to get killed, and besides, the suspense is cheap and really doesn't kick in until about an hour into the movie.
Either way, this movie is sub-par.D+ That and some horror movies these days stink thanks to them trying to __________ remake everything. First off, I have to say that, despite the fact I don't like his movies one bit, I like Eli Roth. But at least it's somewhat strong. However, in Hostel, the characters just pissed me off and bored me to death.
Story line gets a little played out, with some twists that don't really follow the feel of the first movie. My title says it all. Still bloody and fairly violent, so that helps in my book.
So far he's got a good list of films under his belt (CABIN FEVER, HOSTEL and HOSTEL II) and with production coming from Quentin Tarantino, his future in the Horror business looks bright.Gore Hounds, do I even need to say it. It's just something people say in order to sound like they're "above it." I'm willing to bet that half of those people haven't even seen any of the HOSTEL films.I myself am a huge Eli Roth fan. People always seem to be conspiring against one another. No matter what number it is.
This is far from a bad sequel. Another positive thing about this sequel is the light that is shed into the world of this "killing cult." You get a real good idea of how powerful and crazy these people are. You might have a little saving grace if it's a number two or three, but for the most part people hate sequels. I've seen most of his movies in theaters. For some people, this story might just be a cheap excuse for torture and killing. If you want to know what the amazing director Eli Roth is all about (in terms of cinema) just watch the HOSTEL films. We even liked it better than the first. Don't listen to all the negative reviews out there.
It's Eli Roth's dark sense of humor and smirking outlook on society that makes his movies so strange and intense.A friend of mine watched this movie a while back with his girlfriend and when I asked him what he thought of it, he didn't have much to say. CABIN FEVER pretty much kicked the door open for him. Instead of just the guys getting it the worst, this time it's the girls who go under the knife. Sometimes there is an exception to that rule like THE AMITYVILLE HORROR part II or ALIENS. They wouldn't know a bad sequel if it ran up and bit them in the leg.
Go figure. So I asked my friend, "Did we even see the same movie." I just couldn't believe he was brushing it off like that. Last but not least is the gore factor. HOSTEL II is a warped look in the cracked mirror of life.
As the movie progressed on, we couldn't believe how wonderfully this sequel was crafted. You just have to see it to understand it.The story of the movie is the fundamental opposite of the first movie. I have come to the conclusion that no matter what the movie is, if it's a sequel, people are going to hate it. HOSTEL II is a rare case where the sequel is actually better than the original. I knew Roth was a good director from the start. Pumped up to notch ten on the gore scale, HOSTEL II is definitely not for the squeamish. They pay, they kill and they cover it up. Eli Roth knows what he's doing and it seems like he's going to be one of the best Horror directors in the genre.
Check it out. I was shocked at his response because I (and the friends that I watched the movie with) instantly fell in love with this sequel. There is a smarter and more sarcastic message behind Roth's films. It's simple and it works, mainly because HOSTEL is the type of plot that doesn't need to be changed around all that much.
Fans of strange cinema, also check it out. This movie isn't for everybody. This time, the quirky humor is on over load and that makes things all the more scary. I would have to say those people don't read between the lines. Some people get it, some people don't.Over and out.
Anyways, when I asked him what exactly he didn't enjoy about this movie, he didn't give me a straight forward answer. Torture scenes last a very long time, some of them really gruesome. The creep factor is definitely up. I myself usually enjoy sequels, unless they're real stinkers like the horrible sequel to 976-EVIL. Those people don't know what they're talking about. What it all boiled down for him was that he was bored and didn't think it was a necessary sequel. Also, the movie has a very "Italian Giallo Horror" vibe about it.
It's not your typical sequel, "paint by the numbers" film either. Anyways, HOSTEL II is better than it's original for a number of reasons. From the moment HOSTEL II went into theaters, me and a few of my "choice" friends (those who I think appreciate this type of thing) were there in a heart beat. You need an open mind and a sarcastic opinion about society in general. Eli Roth is way beyond a simple label such as that. If graphic death, torture and buckets of blood shed isn't your cup of tea, then it's time to rent or buy something else. HOSTEL II takes the idea from the first movie and expands it into a new and more terrifying direction.
My favorite being the Elizabeth Bathory themed one. HOSTEL II, which I came away from awstruck and amazed, he had very little to say on the matter. The most commen complaints regarding his films are usually about his quirky and strange direction style (think David Lynch during his TWIN PEEKS days), his over the top use of gore and nudity (which is something that we FRIDAY THE 13TH fans have all seen before) and the unfair label by the public that he started the whole new trend in Horror called "Torture Porn." The last one is just a brush off comment if you ask me. They're brooding and sinister, kidnapping people without remorse.
It was just a matter of time before he started to get the kind of recognition that he truly deserved. To me, it seemed like he didn't even watch the movie. Along the lines of Dario Argento's SUSPIRIA and DEEP RED. Over all, I would have to say this is one of the few perfect sequels.
I would imagine that's the same way most people view Eli Roth's films. Most people either love Eli Roth or they hate him. He just couldn't get into it, or rather thats what I gathered from his vague statements. This "death cult" of business men (and lunatics) is just too powerful for things to change too much between the first and second film.
The film presents terrible problems of edition entangled confused and unfinished script (What about with the second missing girl., for instance; What about the dark origins for this disturbed society).The essential codes for a gruesome project like this have been showed in Dario Argento's previous films for instance in which the dark elements are conclusively exposed and deciphered.A real disappointment because the film began with a very dramatic premise. Hostal is one of these gore films who start with a promise and stranded in the middle of nowhere.
And his racist portrayal of slovakians is quite alarming. Eli Roth sure writes some depraved stuff. The Talmud. I must confess, the bloodlust of the characters was very believable. They must have used Israeli nationals for those parts. What was his inspiration.
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