Slog - Comments on Today in Stranger Suggests

Comment by postergirl

postergirl — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 11:39:55 -0800

I saw it this weekend and really was into it. I loved how the girl's fantasy worked with the real world. Didn't need the Chinatown (but with the mouth) gross-out however.

Comment by David Schmader

David Schmader — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 11:44:02 -0800

Same here, on all counts. (And "Chinatown but with the mouth" is exactly how I thought of that scene, too...)

Comment by ommatophobic

ommatophobic — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 12:04:11 -0800

whatever. there was lovely imagery and incredible attention to sounds, but there is absolutely no call for the ridiculous amount of eye injury going on in that movie. and nobody can go on walking around after that stab-n-slice mr. fascist received.

Comment by StrangerDanger

StrangerDanger — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 12:11:08 -0800

Saw the movie Saturday night in Boston. STILL thinking about it. Very beautiful, engaging picture. The violence is almost a separate movie, not connected intellectually, but still the foundation of the story. Go see it.

Comment by Lindy West

Lindy West — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 12:22:24 -0800

Loved it. A lot.

Comment by Stephanie

Stephanie — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 12:22:24 -0800

The poster advertised it as "beautiful and exhilarating" but I and two others who saw it last night would say "allegorical" and "disturbing." Marketed as a fairy-tale, it was a shock to see its excessive violence, including torture, as a prop for the fairy-tale story, which it did have, and which was quite lovely. But for every minute showing the fairy land were 10 minutes of real-life horror. Who needs that?

Comment by NOTAFAN

NOTAFAN — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 15:14:33 -0800

I know I'm WAY in the minority, but I hated this movie. I found it tedious and sadistic. Certainly not deserving of the near universal raves it's been getting. While I admit, this kind of movie is not in my milieu, I thought the creatures were boring and forgettable (certainly nothing new), and the characters two dimensional. And what they put that little girl through. And for nothing. One of the worst movies I've seen all year. I saw "Notes on a Scandal" the night before and found it far far superior. But I'm obviously in the minority...

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 17:12:13 -0800

Monster House is also not suitable for kids who aren't at least teens.

Comment by David

David — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 10:41:14 -0800

Interesting comments in #s 1 & 2. I hadn't remembered the similarity to "Chinatown," but a couple of other moments seemed to be referencing "The Shining" (the final chase through the labyrinth) and Altman's "The Long Goodbye" (the coke bottle scene).