What am I waiting for? 2007 Edition!!!!
User Rating:
(3 votes, average: 4 out of 4)
Loading ...by Dale J. Nauertz
In years past, I’ve used all sorts of gimmicks (well, okay, one gimmick involving color-coordinating and Homeland Security) to denote films I’m actually interested in seeing between Labor Day and New Years. This time, I’m just going to mention the films I want to see. I’ll number the ten I’m most interested in watching and then mention a few I wouldn’t have to be dragged to. But this year I’m not going to bother listing every movie that’s coming down the pike. Screw that. Life is too short for me to tell you why you shouldn’t give a shit about “Saw IV” or “Alvin and the Chipmunks”. You should already know.
1. Sweeney Todd
This is it: the movie I am officially most looking forward to between now and the end of the year. Why? Glad you asked! It’s a Tim Burton film, which means that it will look really good if nothing else. It stars Johnny Depp, who is never better than under Burton’s direction. Depp plays a barber who gets sent to prison and returns after many years looking to exact revenge with really, really close shaves (i.e. fountains of blood and severed heads). After getting his revenge, the barber then turns his victims into meat pies…the best meat pies in London. Also, the film is a musical and has Alan Rickman in it. It would be very, very hard for this movie to suck. (December 21st)
2. There Will Be Blood!
See that exclamation point! That’s how you write a title. You put “blood” and an exclamation point in the same sentence! Then you attach it to a gorgeous-looking movie starring Daniel Day Lewis wearing period clothes and looking for oil. And have the whole crazy thing directed by P.T. Anderson, the auteur behind such modern masterpieces as “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia” (also the Rorschach test of a movie “Punchdrunk Love”) and make the subject of the film oil and religion, two things bound to enthrall and agitate audiences in equal measure. It probably won’t win any awards, the Academy has something against P.T. for some reason, but it’ll likely wind up being the best movie of the year when all is said and done. (Arrives December 28th…or else it’ll wind up on this list again next year)
3. The Golden Compass
I’ve read the book that this is based on and found it to be a unique fantasy world, much darker than most children’s fantasy fare. Don’t let the cute, CGI polar bear fool you. For one thing, the polar bear is a formerly proud warrior who is now a drunken mess. For another, a large part of the book’s plot involved children being hustled into an Arctic concentration camp where they were experimented upon and mostly killed. Hopefully the movie retains the dark originality of the novel and hopefully it makes enough money that the other two novels in its series are also turned into feature films. If not, hey, at least Sam Elliott and Daniel Craig are in it. How bad can it be? (Opens December 7th)
4. The Darjeeling Limited
I love the films of Wes Anderson. He’s one of the most original directorial talents out there at the moment. Like Tim Burton, his movies suffer from an almost overdose of style but, also like Burton, no other director has ever had a style exactly like Anderson’s. He’s a bit too quirky for some tastes, but he’s my kind of quirk and his movies always speak to me on an odd emotional level. I’m looking forward to this one, which stars Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman as brothers taking a spiritual journey through India. Sounds fun to me. (Now playing…though not in my city)
5. No Country for Old Men
The Coen Brothers (who I unabashedly love) return to their noir roots with this wicked-sounding story of a psychopath tracking a suitcase full of money across the American southwest and leaving a lot of bodies in his wake. The trailer makes this look wicked, Javier Bardem is ALWAYS cool, and Tommy Lee Jones can make material like this absolutely sing. The real reason I’m going, though, is the Coens. I love each and every one of their movies, no exception, and am always thrilled by what they do. They haven’t done a thriller since “The Man Who Wasn’t There” but “The Man Who Wasn’t There” was moody, understated, wonderfully weird and marvelously suspenseful. There’s no reason for me to think “No Country” will be anything less. (November 2nd)
6. Southland Tales
Every year there’s a film on my “What Am I Waiting For” list that doesn’t come out and gets to reappear on next year’s list. “Southland Tales” is that movie, this year, again. Pretty much every reason I wanted to see it last year is a reason I want to see it this year. It’s still directed by the guy who made “Donnie Darko”. It’s still some kind of wacko apocalyptic drama/comedy/musical/thriller/thing. It still stars Stiffler, the Rock, Buffy, John Larroquette, and, ugh, Justin Timberlake. It still sounds just crazy enough to work or, at least, insane enough to be fun in a celebrity-filled fiasco sort of way. The French hated it when it screened at Cannes, but that could be a good thing. Hopefully that means it’s not pretentious and so far up its own ass that only a Frenchman could love it…they loved Jerry Lewis and “Death Proof”, you know. (Opens November 14th)
7. Cassandra’s Dream
Heading to London was the best thing that ever happened to Woody Allen. He’s risen out of his recent slump with “Match Point” and kept it going with the delightful “Scoop” (a movie whose only sin was having Woody as an actor). Woody is staying behind the camera here, directing the likes of Ewan McGregor, Tom Wilkinson and Colin Farrell. Yes, Scarlett Johannsen co-stars AGAIN but since Woody seems to be getting the best performances out of her these days I can hardly complain. It’s another thriller in “Match Point” mode, so hopefully that means its as good. If not, at least Woody’s found a new genre in which to coast. (Opens November 30th)
8. National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets
Occasionally, a movie comes along and surprises me. Such is the case with the original “National Treasure”, a “Da Vinci Code” rip-off that was actually better than the “Da Vinci Code” movie. It was fun, charming, exciting, and non-threatening. Sure, there are better things that a movie can be but, hey, I was entertained so I don’t really give a shit. Keep me amused for two hours and I’ll love you forever. Usually sequels to movies that come out of left field and entertain are awful, stupid rehashes that manage to sour the experience of the first film (Exhibit A: “The Mummy Returns”) and “Book of Secrets” could certainly be that kind of sequel. But it involves the journal of John Wilkes Booth and kidnapping the president for the good of the country. Though it will obviously be incredibly outlandish (wouldn’t Cage’s character be on a government security watch list after the events of the first film?) that plot sounds just crazy enough to work. It’ll probably be shit, but my fingers are still crossed. (Opens December 21st)
9. Charlie Wilson’s War
Damn you, Tom Hanks! I love you, but you don’t make it easy these days. You made “The Polar Express” which was magical but who cares, really. Then you whored yourself out to Ron Howard and starred in that “Da Vinci Code” flick, which wasn’t very good. And now you’re allying yourself with Julia Roberts, another great actor whom I have become sick of, despite the fact that she’s begrudgingly, de facto one of my favorite actresses. The whole affair is written by Aaron Sorkin, who was once the great writer of movies like “Malice” and “A Few Good Men” but then devoted himself to overly liberal yakfests like “The West Wing” on the boob tube and directed by Mike Nichols who made the awesome “Closer”…also with Julia Roberts. Actually, damn YOU, Mike Nichols! If it weren’t for you I could probably write this whole flick off altogether. Actually, it’s about a Houston bajillionaire who sells arms to Afghan freedom fighters during the 80’s and Phillip Seymour Hoffman is in it so it doesn’t sound like such a horrible proposition. Then again, Hoffman is in approximately 87 movies coming out between now and New Years, so that’s kind of a non-issue. (Opens December 28st)
10. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
I can usually do without Ethan Hawke (except for Richard Linklater’s charming, low-key “Before” movies) but I’m still quite interested in seeing this one. Perhaps it’s for the presence of Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who is always a joy to watch even in mediocre material (like “Capote). Perhaps it’s the plot about two financially strapped brothers (Hawke and Hoffman) who decide to rob their parents’ strip mall jewelry store and how they deal with the repercussions when the heist goes awry. But most likely it’s because this material is directed by the legendary Sidney Lumet. He hasn’t done anything terribly provocative lately, but when a person’s filmography includes films like “Serpico”, “Network” and “Twelve Angry Men” I’ll always hold out hope for greatness. Plus, it’s got a great title. (It’s rumored to be out on October 26th but I haven’t heard anything about it yet, so I’m not holding my breath)
The Kite Runner
Of all the films coming out about the Middle East, this is the one I’m most interested in. The reason is simple: this is the one with the least amount of white people in it. I’m sick of Hollywood’s time honored strategy of examining a social problem or nation by seeing how said nation/social problem concerns honkeys in love. Sure, it worked for “Casablanca” but do I really give a shit if Reese Witherspoon is inconvenienced by terrorism? No, I do not. This is the story of two kids in Afghanistan who become friends and…I don’t know, fly a kite or something. It doesn’t sound terribly exciting, sure, but it’s based on an acclaimed book that I’ll probably never read and directed by Marc Foster, whose “Stranger Than Fiction” was subtly one of last year’s best films. I’ll give it a shot, because I’d rather see a potentially depressing movie than read a potentially depressing book…no matter how many people I see reading it at bus stops. (Apparently opens on November 2nd.)
American Gangster
I don’t instantly salivate over movies with Russell Crowe in them (though “3:10 to Yuma” is one of the best films I’ve seen this year) or ones with Denzel Washington in them OR ones directed by the immensely overrated Ridley Scott. And yet I kinda want to see this one despite the fact that it sounds like a rehashed version of “Heat” with Crowe doing his damnedest to track down and incarcerate charismatic criminal Washington. I’m not sure why I want to see it, but I need to see at least one crime drama per year and it does sound less boring than the old cop brother vs. criminal brother plot being dusted off in “We Own the Night”. I guess “Kingdom of Heaven” was so damn good I’ll give anything (except “A Good Year”) directed by Ridley a shot…even though I thought “Gladiator” was overrated and “Black Hawk Down” was boring. “Matchstick Men” was cool though, so I guess he’s running about 50/50 for me. (Opens on November 2nd)
Beowulf
I’ve read “Beowulf” and I found it to be one of the few classics that’s actually worthy of its rep (a brief list of those that aren’t: “Catcher in the Rye”, “The Great Gatsby” and, ugh, “The Good Earth”). However, I don’t remember any character in that novel that could be played by Angelina Jolie. Also, from the trailers, it looks absolutely nothing like “Beowulf”. It looks more like a slightly more supernatural version of “300″. I like the work of Robert Zemeckis, who is the director of this, and the work of Neil Gaiman (who had a hand in adapting this for the screen) and, aside from Angelina, the cast is cool (Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Alison Lohman, John Malkovich and HOLY SHIT, CRISPIN GLOVER!!!). “300″ was all right and that was mostly computer generated, so why not cut out the actors and make the whole damned thing computer generated…oh, sorry, motion captured. Couldn’t be much blander. It still doesn’t look like “Beowulf” to me though. (Opens November 16th)
Stephen King’s The Mist
I’ve read the story this is based on, of course, because King wrote it. Thought it was fine, though overrated (based on websites and internet hype this is allegedly one of his greatest tales…whatever). A bunch of people get trapped in a supermarket by a mist that contains weird, evil monsters. Thomas Jane is the lead, which doesn’t inspire much confidence. The director, however, is Frank Darabont who’s never done a movie I didn’t like. (Loved “The Green Mile” and “The Shawshank Redemption” and thought “The Majestic” was pretty damn wonderful.) He’s done fine dramatic films, let’s see how he does with sheer terror. I think he might have written a “Nightmare on Elm Street” movie once but, let’s face it, that doesn’t mean anything. Maybe this will be one of those rare adaptations that actually trumps the book. Marcia Gay Harden looks like she’s doing a wonderful acting job here (judging by the trailer) so that should be fun, if nothing else. (Opens November 21st)
Juno
A 17 year old gets knocked up and decides to put her baby up for adoption. That’s all the more plot revealed for this one and it doesn’t sound terribly awesome. But it’s being directed by Jason Reitman whose “Thank You for Smoking” was a bitter, acerbic, satirical riot and it stars Ellen Page (who is cute) as the 17 year old preggo and Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman as the adoptive couple. I don’t know why, I just have a good feeling about this one. (Opens December 14th)
Youth Without Youth
The title sucks, it’s apparently a romance set somewhere in Europe and…man, why am I singling this movie out again? Oh, right, it’s directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who hasn’t made a movie in ages. Even when he DID make movies (the last one was 1996) they weren’t all that hot (the last one was “Jack” with Robin Williams…ick). His days of groundbreaking cinema may be long behind him (I liked his take on “Dracula” back in 1992 but most critics agree that he hasn’t been worth a damn since around “Apocalypse Now”) but once in a great while one of these revered legend directors will make a movie that’s as good as their rep suggests, taking everyone by surprise. The odds are against it, but I don’t want to be asleep at the switch if Frankie has pulled his ass out of the vineyard long enough to be great again. And, hey, even “Jack” had its moments. (Opens December 14th)
I Am Legend
Another book that I’ve actually read. The source novel, by Richard Matheson (the guy who wrote pretty much every great “Twilight Zone” episode) has been made into a movie twice before. Once as “The Last Man on Earth” starring Vincent Price and once with mutants and Charlton Heston (entitled “The Omega Man”). This time Will Smith is the last man on Earth. As in the novel I believe Will is fighting vampires, though they might have updated it to zombies or Libertarians, one never really knows. I don’t find Will as annoying as most people and the trailer looks good and spooky, so I guess we’ll see what happens. Plus, you never know, there might be Libertarian zombies in it. (Opens December 14th)
The Savages
Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney star as siblings trying to figure out what to do with their aging father (Phillip Bosco, who is secretly excellent in films like “Quick Change” and “The Money Pit”). It’s the kind of situation a lot of adults actually find themselves in, but which most studios are too afraid to make movies about. It could be either a biting satire or a completely depressing drama, though I’m thinking it’ll be a biting satire with a hint of depressing drama thrown in. Hopefully the filmmakers won’t go for schmaltzy bullshit. With Hoffman and Linney on board, however, that seems highly unlikely. (December 28th)
These are the ones that have the greatest potential not to suck and/or win an Oscar come February. Then again, “Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem” (coming sometime in December) might be the most powerful film of all time and shock us all.
October 24th, 2007 at 10:44 am
There Will Be Blood! is going to kick some serious ass! I’m on board anytime P.T. Anderson’s name is on a film. Throw Daniel Day Lewis in the mix and I’m nothing less than beside myself.
I wouldn’t hold my breath on Coppola though. I’ve always considered him highly overrated. Add to that the fact that the best he’s done since Apocalypse Now is Dracula and there’s really no reason to be more than morbidly curious about this one.
Nice to see Phillip Bosco getting some love though. He is awesome and needs to be in more movies. Gotta love when he calls Sigourney out in Working Girl. Gold!
October 24th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
I gotta say I’m not too into Wes Anderson. I don’t like his style, and that seems to be all he is. Style. All of his movies have that same look to them, and I’m kind of tired of them. Beowulf, on the other hand, well you should know how I feel about Robert Zemeckis…
October 24th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
I respect your love for Zemeckis. I, too, love him, particularly his early films. My only problem with recent Zemeckis joints is that they contain none of the zany glee that permeated every film he made up through “Forrest Gump”. Even “Gump” was ripe with his chaotic, goofball, anarchic charms. After he won that Oscar, though, it was straight to prestige-land for Bob and he never looked back. He did a good Hitchcock ripoff with “What Lies Beneath” and there were flashes of that gleeful nuttiness of his in “CastAway” (a film I happen to think is excellent, by the way) but I really just miss the sort of screwball spirit he brought to stuff like “Back to the Future”, “Romancing the Stone”, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” and, of course, “Used Cars”. He’s still technically proficient, but his films don’t leave me gaga the way they used to. They’re still good, though, just…not crazy anymore. Sigh. Oh well.
October 26th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
@Elk
You have to admit that Zemeckis hasn’t been on his game lately though. Don’t get me wrong. I love his work, but lately the old spark just doesn’t seem to be there.
He really needs to hook back up with Bob Gale and crank out some zany adventure movie again. That would be cool!
October 30th, 2007 at 9:42 am
So… Sweeney Todd is about a barber, played by Johnny Depp, maiming people horribly with a straight razor while doing a song and dance routine, and it involves Alan Rickman in some fashion?
… That kicks ASS! This is what Die Hard 4 should’ve been (and possibly a sequel entitled Die Hard: Sweeneyer Todd). It could’ve been about John McClane shaving his balding head head (so you can have Bruce Willis running around sans a toupée like he did in Die Limp) and discovering that he gives a wicked close shave, but all of a sudden, Alan Rickman shows up playing a clone of Hans Gruber, and him and McClane engage in a dance (and song) of death, one which ultimately culminates in a straight razor being jammed in a certain smug eastern European’s eye.
I hadn’t heard of There Will Be Blood!, but yeah… I am most definitely IN on this one. As for the Academy having something against P. T. Anderson… Perhaps he’s gay? That’s pretty much the reason why James Dean has one Oscar instead of two. The Academy voters who denied Dean an Oscar nomination for Rebel Without a Cause (I know it wasn’t common then, but if anyone deserved two nominations in the same catagory at a single ceremony, it was James Dean in 1956) and only a single, begrudingly-awarded Oscar for his two nominations are the same ones who still vote today, older and largely unseen, but bigoted and voting in full nonetheless, keeping obvious Best Pictures like Brokeback Mountain from winning (perhaps that’s why they selected Crash instead, in an attempt to deflect any criticism for being discriminatory with a “But we picked the ‘RACISM IS BAD!’ movie!”). Whether or not Dean was actually gay or someone who experimented sexually can’t be said, but as far as the Academy was concerned, he was gay. In actuality, I know P. T. Anderson isn’t gay; I just wanted an excuse to go on that little, potentially slanderous, rambling tirade.
I knew The Golden Compass was coming out at some point, but having never read it, I had little interest in it until just now, upon being promised drunken polar bears and Arctic concentration camps. It’s just as I feared: He’s not Santa Claus, he’s Santa Klaus, and he’s here to preserve the legacy of sein Führer. I must find my way to this film to learn the truth behind their terrible Nazi scheme. The Darjeeling Limited is playing at the art house I saw Lust, Caution in (ironically a former porno theater), and I can say that thanks soley to my absolute distaste for the film’s three stars, I’ve made no attempt whatsoever to even get an idea as to what the hell it’s about (although the concept of camouflaging Owen Wilson’s nose in some fashion does intrigue me and make me grateful; oft-injured sportsman my ass, I know a cokehead’s nose when I see one). As for No Country for Old Men, well… It’s noir, it’s the Coen brothers, and it looks like it’s going to be a bloody good time.
Southland Tales seems like it’s going to be a weird, quasi-Sci-Fi, quasi-Acid Western-type movie, and if it’s from the guy who did Donnie Darko, I’m sure he’s capable of pulling it off; however, being capable of doing something and actually doing it are two entirely different things, and considering the fact that Stiffler’s got half of the top billing (I actually like The Rock) and Justin Timberlake has a role on some level, things don’t bode well for this film in my book.
I hadn’t heard of Cassandra’s Dream until now, but considering the cast (I especially like Ewan McGregor) and the fact that creepy, borderline (or just outright convicted) sex offenders seem to make great movies (Roman Polanski, etc.), I’ll definitely give it a look. I can’t say I’ve even seen the first National Treasure, but I recall the trailers for it being intriguing, and Book of Secrets’ plot sounds pretty interesting as well.
I’m probably going to pass on Charlie Wilson’s War. For some reason, Tom Hanks is just incapable of putting my ass in a movie theater seat all by himself; there has to be a hook to get me into one of his movies (i. e., boy becomes man, man is retarded, man is stranded on island, etc. I’m describing three different movies, but the way I chose to word said descriptions makes it seem like I’m describing one totally badass movie). As for Aaron Sorkin, well… I didn’t find Sports Night funny in the least, and The West Wing was based around too unrealistic of a premise for my taste; though the idea is exhilarating, no one even remotely liberal would ever stand a chance of becoming president in an America where the issues on that show remain issues, let alone someone like Josiah Bartlet. Oh, and what is this December “28st” you speak of? Is it anything like the twenty-eigth? Or are you talking about that Andrea 8st broad who freaked out and drowned her five kids in the bathtub?
Now, I can usually do without Ethan Hawke as well, but I’m with you on this one: with Phillip Seymour Hoffman (or, as my friend and I called him prior to winning the Oscar, the fish (SEE: his initials); since winning the Oscar, we feel Aquaman is an appropriate term of endearment) in it and Sidney Lumet directing (Twelve Angry Men, Serpico, and Dog Day Afternoon were all damn good, and I think Network is the second finest film on this Earth, although I do have some problems with Fail-Safe (by some I mean one, and by one, I mean the terrible and psychotically revered ending)), it’ll definitely be something to check out.
As for your not-quite-top-ten list, I’ve heard fleetingly of The Kite Runner; there was some Dakota Fanning-style controversy over a child abuse scene or something. As for Rendition, that’s definitely on my “to see” list; it’s not so much about the Middle East as it is about the CIA’s black sites in the Middle East being used to torture honest Americans who just “go missing”. I’ve been absolutely DYING to see American Gangster, but I can’t say I have any interest in Beowulf, unless the video game of the movie counts. Now, while I do agree with you on The Good Earth (dear God, I never thought I would want a main character horribly maimed and murdered like I did Scarlett O’Hara, but hot damn, the prick in this took the title!) is horribly overrated and just flatout lousy, The Catcher in the Rye is… Well, okay, The Catcher in the Rye is overrated, but nothing can be as good as Catcher is often made out to be, and at any rate, it’s still a damn good book.
A question regarding The Mist: You read the story it was based on because Stephen King wrote it? Does this imply that you read everything Stephen King writes? I would have to strongly doubt this, considering you’d have neither the time nor energy to write the quarterly article for this site if you read everything that man shat out.
Juno seems like it might be decent, Youth Without Youth I’m totally disinterested in on account of Coppola’s last movie and the title, The Savages sounds like a rental, and I Am Legend will be getting my cash on opening fucking weekend.
I can assure you that I’ll NOT be seeing Alvin and the Chipmunks, and the last two Saws were nowhere near good enough to get my money in the theater, but Alien vs. Predator: Requiem? I am SO in there, especially considering that they decided it was okay for a spin-off of to gorey, R rated franchises to be gorey and R rated (although I felt the first and painfully PG-13 AvP was rather good).
“Now nobody can say I don’t own John Larroquette’s spine!”
October 30th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Good GOD, I am a long-winded motherfucker. Maybe I should be on the podcast. =P
November 1st, 2007 at 2:53 pm
I do TRY to read everything that King shits out, but it’s hard considering the prodigious output that man is capable of. Seeing as how I want to maintain some semblance of a life, I must bypass the occasional King novel and spend time with family, friends and the fiancee.
As for your other concerns/complaints/rants yes, there IS a December 28st (it’s like the 28th, but cooler) and there is at least one drunken polar bear in the book (the sequel books involve a man declaring war on God, if drunken polar bears aren’t badass enough for you) of “The Golden Compass” and I too want to see “I am Legend” more with each trailer that I see, particularly after that one involving a lion pouncing on a deer in downtown Manhattan. I also think your “Die Hard” idea is completely awesome.
By the way, is “Lust, Caution” any good? Or is it another oh-so-precious artsy-fartsy independent flicks that an average person (or someone striving to maintain a social life) can safely pass on? Because, if so, I’m about three King books behind and could definitely make better use of two hours.
November 1st, 2007 at 5:45 pm
I haven’t seen that Legend trailer involving the lion pouncing on the Deer in Manhattan (how do you know it’s downtown? =P), but that DOES sound pretty sweet.
I’d give Lust, Caution a very strong three stars (out of four, to hell with all that other non-four star rating system bullshit), bordering extremely close to three and a half (this one’s out of five; just kidding). It was surprisingly non-artsy-fartsy, assuming you’re not the type who finds Pabst Blue Ribbon (and thusly anything with subtitles and an intricate plot) to be upscale. The much-discussed sex scenes are nothing special (unless you’re fifteen, then they’re probably the cat’s ass), they just tend to use a wider shot than your typical movie sex scene and sport a fair amount of muff and the occasional glimpse of genetalia. Honestly, if fucking Hostel and Saw III were rated R, that this movie is rated NC-17 is just… UGH.
In short, it’s good, and very tightly made (and Oscar worthy in the direction, art direction, and source material (would this be the “best adapted screenplay” award?) departments (as well as a few acting departments)), but if you have to go out of your way to see it in a theater, I’d say that you’re should just wait for it to come out on video (or DVD, or whatever already-on-its-last-legs-format they release these kinds of things on now).
November 3rd, 2007 at 7:42 am
Cool, perhaps I shall check it out. By the way, I have no idea if the lion was downtown or not. I’ve never been to New York. I just wanted to sound witty and urbane.
By the way, as if you’d been hiding beneath a large rock somewhere, the rating system in this country is completely nuts. I think it should be more socially acceptable to see what everyone already has between their legs anyway than to see someone getting appendages torn off with household appliances…though I did spend the week watching Hostel 1 and 2, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (which really is ingeniously deranged), Return of the Living Dead and a few other flicks that had rampant bodily mutilation in them, so I’m not saying we should do away with them altogether. I’m simply saying that we should make them more taboo than just regular sex scenes between two consenting adults, something most human beings will experience for themselves at some point anyway. The fact that it’s the opposite right now just seems completely bizarre.