Silent Hill...the movie!

[2D4EVER]

Now this is one game I definately don't mind a movie being made from.

http://www.gamers.com/news/1467289

AWESOME! I hope they pile on the psychological shit. I have faith right now that this is going to kick some major ass. :banana:

[Gutwrencher]

great game....but I'm sure the film will end up garbage. I have no faith in current hollywood horror. imho...leave it a game...then leave it alone.

[puddytay]

I repeat I will only watch this if its rated R.

[Erg0n]

What's good is that Konami will actually be working with the director, so the game themes will probably be present.

Also BloodRayne is in production and will be on the silver screen.

[puddytay]

Now bloodrayne is just gay. That wouldnt make a good movie.

Games that I think should be movies
Clock Tower
Dino Crisis not like jurassic park. Make it horror. And good horror not like carnosaur
Echo Night
Fear Effect. This would make such a bad ass movie.
Eternal Darkness
Ilbleed.

[onebyone]

Hell fucking yeah I will watch this. This game is like a movie, so I am totally cool with this being made. Thanks for the link, you made me one happy chick. :banana:

[H0MOSareGAY]

I was talking about games that would do well as movies with my friend yesterday. Both of us agreed that silent hill is the ONLY fame that would make a decent movie.

[Mark Relford]

Originally posted by puddytay
Eternal Darkness

There are plans for an Eternal Darkness movie. I remember reading about it in a gaming magazine. The game had a good storyline that's ripe for a movie adaptation. This Silent Hill movie news rocks my world. I love the games, especially the second one.

[Erg0n]

Originally posted by puddytay
Now bloodrayne is just gay. That wouldnt make a good movie.

Clock Tower


never played bloodrayne so I can't comment on how the story is.

But I Did like Clock Tower on PS1 and would like to see that as a movie. Soul Reaver and Blood Omen games should also be place on the silver screen.

[dmeister]

I imagine that House of the Dead will decide the fate of many game-to-film adaptations, particularly since they haven't been terribly successful in the past. And, since I'm almost 90% certain that House of the Dead will suck (judging by the asinine trailers I've seen for it), I won't be holding my breath for Silent Hill.

dmeister

[Erg0n]

Christopher Gans who did Brotherhood Of The Wolf is one of my favorite films. I'm expecting this to be enjoyable.

I doubt this is some low budget b-movie like House of the Dead. I think its budget is somewhere on the lines of resident evil movies considering that it's probably the 2nd most popular horror game franchaise

[Grim]

Hells yes! I much prefer the second one over the first, but we'll worry about that when it comes time for the sequel. I thought Clock Tower was a very mediocre game, but it had a great story and creepy atmosphere, so I wouldn't mind seeing it as a movie.

By the way, anybody heard anything about the rumored Max Payne movie?

[thrashard76]

I wouldn't mind seeing Grand Theft Auto as a movie franchise.;)

[MorallySound]

I thought I'd bump this thread, since it's pretty old and there has been quite a bit of info about this released on the web. Can't wait for this movie! I've just recently revisited the original PSX game, and it still scares the fucking shit outta me. I'm still in the school, just crossed over through the clock tower. I hate those damn demon children with the knives, they creep me the fuck out.

Any way, here ya go: http://www.upcominghorrormovies.com/movies/silenthill.php

[4Gotten1]

Yeah, the game rocks and is scary. Lots of mood and atmosphere. I hope they don't screw this up, this is one game that could spawn a great horror movie if done right.

[ArrowBeach]

It does have a great cast, Deborah Unger, Alice Kridge, Sean Bean, and Laurie Holden!

[bwana the clown]

I wouldn't mind seeing Grand Theft Auto as a movie franchise.;)

Dude, didn't Richie Cunningham already do it? :D
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000IMCT.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[KillerCannabis]

I really hope they can pull this off. If they capture the atmosphere and gore I'll be sold on it. I am glad to see Avary scripted it, but I wont get my hopes up too high. I'll just (as with most movies these days) expect it to suck and then be pleasantly surprised if it doesnt.

[4Gotten1]

Dude, didn't Richie Cunningham already do it? :D
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000IMCT.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
:lol:

[maskull]

and I was sure that Uwe Boll was going to be behind this one too. Oh well....

Never played the game but from what I've seen/heard of it, looks like it could make a cool movie.

[thrashard76]

Dude, didn't Richie Cunningham already do it? :D
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000IMCT.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpgAaayyy! :cool:http://www.horrordvds.com/vb3forum/images/icons/icon14.gif

[Erick H.]

:lol:
Loved the tag line:"Ron Howard pops the clutch and tells the world to EAT MY DUST!"

Roger Corman produced it,he told Howard," Ron ,if you do a good job on this one,you'll never have to work for me again !"

[PMcG_6]

I've been looking forward to Silent Hill especially after I heard Christopher Gans was behind it. BOTW was an awesome movie. Not too worried about SH having gore as long as they get the psychological stuff in there.

[baggio]

Now bloodrayne is just gay. That wouldnt make a good movie.

Games that I think should be movies
Clock Tower
Dino Crisis not like jurassic park. Make it horror. And good horror not like carnosaur
Echo Night
Fear Effect. This would make such a bad ass movie.
Eternal Darkness
Ilbleed.

They already made Bloodrayne into a movie.

Starring: Ben Kingsley, Kristanna Loken as Rayne (from Terminator 3)and Michelle Rodriguez, Michael Madsen, Billy Zane, Michael Pare, and Meat Loaf.


$25 million budget, Rated R, Looks pretty good , then again.........

http://www.bloodrayne-themovie.com/

[Mok]

They already made Bloodrayne into a movie.

Starring: Ben Kingsley, Kristanna Loken as Rayne (from Terminator 3)and Michelle Rodriguez, Michael Madsen, Billy Zane, Michael Pare, and Meat Loaf.


$25 million budget, Rated R, Looks pretty good , then again.........

http://www.bloodrayne-themovie.com/

All that and they let UWE-FUCKING-BOLL direct!!!

[ArrowBeach]

ILLBREED will make a awesome show as long as Uwe Boll doesnt get his hands on it.

ECHO NIGHT would make a good anthology weekly show actually.

[Agent Z]

Pictures...and in COLOR even!

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808718754/photo/stills

[maskull]

I'm not a video game person but I think this one could be decent. The game always looked creepy when I saw promos for it so hopefully it'll translate well onto film.

[MorallySound]

Those pics make me even more pumped then I allready am to see this. The only other pics I've seen have been the outside set pics, and judging from these pics they are dead on with the set design and feel from the game. I've played the first game numerous times and it still scares the shit out of me. Can't wait for a trailer for this!

[ArtofFighting]

The only picture that even remotely got me excited was the one of the "Welcome to Silent Hill" sign. That's not to say that I'm already passing this one off, but I do feel my shitty-movie-spidey-sense tingling.

[Peter Vincent]

Say what U will, but that last photo with the sign "Welcome to Silent Hill" gave me a bone!

[Cydeous]

I played SH2 and SH3 and I liked them both, although 2 was better. I think that it could easily translate to film and I'm really looking forward to this.

[MorallySound]

www.welcometosilenthill.com This is the site, not much up yet other then some pics, which you can use to design a poster for the movie.

Here's a direct link to the pics: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/silenthill/postercontest/download_art.html

Creepiest photo ever: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/silenthill/postercontest/assets/D19_100R.jpg

[dmeister]

Hollywood will fuck this up, like every other film adaptation of a decent video game. Bunch of small-minded hacks.

dmeister

[Surnom]

Here's a little something...

http://www.joblo.com/arrow/index.php?id=3370

Pyramid Head!!! I really can't wait for that movie.

[MorallySound]

http://www.joblo.com/images_arrownews/spearhead021406.jpg
Hell yeah!

[dmeister]

Okay, I've watched the trailer for this and read the Gans interview (in a daring departure from typical videogame adaptation protocol, this director actually played the game). This movie may not suck after all. I'm now cautiously optimistic.

dmeister

[Mortis]

Special 'Silent Hill' Clip Leaks Online!

The quality sucks, the end gets cut out and it probably won't be online for too long, so hurry up and click here to watch a pretty long clip from Sony's upcoming Silent Hill, which stars Radha Mitchell, Sean Bean, Laurie Holden, Deborah Kara Unger, Kim Coates,Tanya Allen and Jodelle Ferland. The clip was shown at this past weekend's Fango convention here in Chicago. "Silent Hill" is based on the hugely successful Konami game in which Rose (Mitchell) desperately searches for her lost daughter in the mysterious, terrifying town of Silent Hill, where they are trapped. Christophe Gans' film hits theaters April 21st.

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/index.php?Show=5960&Template=newsfull

[Wayne Manor]

More videogames turned into movies: http://www.mega64.com/

[dmeister]

"Silent Hill" is based on the hugely successful Konami game in which Rose (Mitchell) desperately searches for her lost daughter in the mysterious, terrifying town of Silent Hill, where they are trapped
I wonder if they realize that it was in fact the father looking for his daughter in the actual videogame, not Rose.

dmeister

[bigdaddyhorse]

When they said the quality sucks on that clip, they were not kidding. Looks like someone whipped out their phone during a test screening. Too bad they were sitting behind octopus-head.:D
That looked very faithful to the game though. Looking forward to this one unless it gets dumbed down to PG-13.

[BloodMan]

Ya, I noticed that too in the trailer. Though in the trailer, there is one part where the father is looking for them, but it doesn't look like he is in that town. Hmm... still excited for this. :)

[MorallySound]

I wonder if they realize that it was in fact the father looking for his daughter in the actual videogame, not Rose.

dmeister
They definately did know that. Christopher Gans mentions why they changed it in an interview I read, but I can't remember the reasons as it was 6 months ago I read the thing.

[BloodMan]

Nice. :)

[MorallySound]

New posters for Silent Hill have been spotted! And hot damn are these things AWESOME!

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7103/silenthill28bg.jpg
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/9144/silenthill34jm.jpg
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7138/silenthill46pv.jpg
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/5387/silenthill53wb.jpg

[MorallySound]

Two more posters! All though one is only half of one... but PYRAMID HEAD! And nurses!

http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/6325/silenthill67aq.jpg
http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/5686/nursez1rs.jpg

[aoiookami]

Its funny, the 'official' poster you actually see in theaters of the girl with no mouth is a total piece of sh*t. But these other ones are totally awsome. I wish the pyramid head one was the official one.

[dmeister]

They definately did know that. Christopher Gans mentions why they changed it in an interview I read, but I can't remember the reasons as it was 6 months ago I read the thing.
Oh, I know Gans did. I'm talking about they guy who wrote that review.

dmeister

[MorallySound]

Acording to IMDB:
Contrary to popular belief, Silent Hill hardly uses any computer generated imagery. The most notable use of CGI is the fog that drenches the town. Most creatures are live actors covered in latex and makeup.
Now that is SWEET news!!!!

[MorallySound]

A new TV spot is up, and can be viewed here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=PRCif9PUIQA and it features some new Pyramid Head footage!

Also, the movie has officially been rated R for "Strong Horror Violence and Gore, Disturbing Images and Some Language"! That is definately good news, and news I've been waiting to hear!

[Noto]

Is that Pyramid Head poster available anyplace? I want one.

[MorallySound]

14-minute making-of online! http://media.putfile.com/On-The-Set-Of-Silent-Hill The good thing about it, it's basically spoiler-free and contains some new footage (including some sweet Pyramid Head stuff). Only 9 more days!!!! YAY! So excited!

[Marco]

A new TV spot is up, and can be viewed here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=PRCif9PUIQA and it features some new Pyramid Head footage!

Also, the movie has officially been rated R for "Strong Horror Violence and Gore, Disturbing Images and Some Language"! That is definately good news, and news I've been waiting to hear!

Alright... This looks promising. It comes to the netherlands the end of may.... Just a little more of a wait

[ArtofFighting]

Damn, seeing that behind-the-scenes footage has turned my anticipation for the movie up to 11! *plays air guitar*

[MorallySound]

Today!!! Well, it's really 1:50 in the morning, so whatevs! I'm soooo pumped! WOOOOOOT!

[_pi_]

Well, the trailer never really did anything for me, but that making of kinda made me interested. So I'll see it.

EDIT: And Ebert's review pretty much validated my fears - that it would have a nonsensical plot. Still, I don't always see eye to eye with Ebert. I'm still going to see it.

[SaviniFan]

New review. This sounds very promising. I rarely go to the theater to see a film, but this looks like one I'll be dragging the wife to see tonight!

http://www.horrorchannel.com/index.php?name=Reviews&req=showcontent&id=902

[_pi_]

I was looking at Radha Mitchell's filmography over at IMDb and, man, I'm willing to bet that she'll become the next Naomie Watts!

Just look at the films she's done since Pitch Black: Phone Booth, Man on Fire, Finding Neverland, Melinda & Melinda, Silent Hill ... However, her 2006 projects is a giant-man-eating-crocodile movie ... I hope she becomes a star. She was magnificent in Melinda & Melinda!

[Workshed]

New review. This sounds very promising. I rarely go to the theater to see a film, but this looks like one I'll be dragging the wife to see tonight!

http://www.horrorchannel.com/index.php?name=Reviews&req=showcontent&id=902

Wow! Thanks for posting that review, SaviniFan. Now, I gotta see it. Can't wait to read everyone's reviews.

[MorallySound]

New review. This sounds very promising. I rarely go to the theater to see a film, but this looks like one I'll be dragging the wife to see tonight!

http://www.horrorchannel.com/index.php?name=Reviews&req=showcontent&id=902
Holy shit! YES!

[DrHerbertWest]

Going to see this tonight... I'm hoping it's good.

[MorallySound]

Going to see this in 35 mins!

[Ass_Assassin]

Just saw the movie. In short, its fantastic. Easily the best game-to-movie adaptation I've ever seen. Essentially, its rather loosely based on Silent Hill 1, although some elements are based on part 2. Much of the storyline is brand new to the movie, however, so don't expect it to follow the game too closely. Being a HUGE fan of the first 2 games, finishing both probably 10-15 times each, I can say that I'm not at all disappointed, and I highly recommend this film to anyone who likes the series or horror movies in general.

[Ash]

Ass, would you say it's better than most horror movies in the last 20 years? I heard it's pretty good. I'm going to check it out this weekend.

[Ass_Assassin]

Ass, would you say it's better than most horror movies in the last 20 years? I heard it's pretty good. I'm going to check it out this weekend.

Yes, I would. I personnally am not a fan of most recent horror movies, as I feel they just aren't very scary. Silent Hill, while not quite as scary as the actual games, is still pretty scary and will keep you on edge. The movie has quite a bit of gore, but doesn't shove it in your face like Saw or Hostile did. It's used when needed IMO. The acting is all well done too. However, by far the movie's biggest strength is its excellent plotline. I'll be honest though, if you don't have an in depth understanding of the first game's storyline, its possible that the plot might be confusing if you aren't paying careful attention, but I could be wrong.

[ReelFear]

I don't play video games so my review is based strictly on what was presented on screen. SILENT HILL is visually stunning, with some excellent production design, SFX makeup, and music. That said, some of the acting and dialogue are well below par. The film is somewhat confusing and there are moments that look like you are playing a video game. I felt like they should have handed the ticket buyers a controller to hold while watching the game...I mean movie. Visually, the movies that SILENT HILL most bring to mind are HELLRAISER 2, THE CELL, IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS, and NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST. (minus Freddy). It's a frustrating film because there are some pure horror images that will burn in your mind, but also plenty of by-the-numbers scenes too. There's more good than bad so overall, I'm satisfied. 7/10

[othervoice1]

Just as i suspected- this movie is gonna be awful- I mean any serious horror fans out there really expected this to be any good???? - anyway here is one interesting review on the movie already....

http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,,1757631,00.html

the site also shows some review ratings from some other sources and it looks really really bad- but i could tell that just by the previews and the lack of any plot http://film.guardian.co.uk/Film_Page/0,,1756748,00.html
roger ebert gave it 1.5 stars (although he said special effects were very good but not enough to save the film) and
rottentomatoes.com has some more info on the movie as well fyi- I was shocked when some people started getting excited about this movie so I was gonna check it out but now I see my initial feelings about the movie were true- too bad I had hoped to be surprised and something good come out of this movie....but critics can be wrong- just usually not all of them<:

[MorallySound]

I saw this a couple hours ago. Being a HUGE fan of the games I was extremely pumped for this movie. And it does not let down. Visually stunning, horrifically designed down to the meticulous details of both worlds of Silent Hill, and some real mean and nasty horror and gore. One thing I found, especially story-wise, is if you have never played the games, you may be a bit lost. There is a lot of hidden images and sayings that will tie the story together, but if you aren't familiar with the games you may not piece those together. So just a warning to you whom have never experience the games: it may be a bit nonsensical to you.

And holy SHIT, when Pyramid Head ripped off Annes cloths and then her FLESH! NASTY AND UNEXPECTED AS FUCK! Gross and gory! And same with the barbed wire church massacre scene.

Overall: Scary, tense, frightening, and the best video game adaptation ever. 4.5 out of 5.

[onebyone]

Good to hear it MorallySound. I can't get out to see it until Saturday or Sunday, and so it is good to hear your review. I too am a huge, giant fan of the games, and wanted to hear what another fan thought because that's the buzz that matters to me. What Ebert Inc. thinks about this one? Not so concerned.

[othervoice1]

I was just sending a warning out to those of you that were not sure if it was supposed to be a surprise good movie or not- appears not- Ive played the Silent Hill and Resident Evil games- great games- but the movies are always special effects with nothing else- which I hate and I wish these types of movies would go away and make way for something worth watching not just eye candy.....just my two cents <: But if enough people on here say they really liked it I may give it a rent later on

[KR~!]

I don't trust that director to make a watchable film.

the SFX look good however, but that's just eye candy.

What do other hardcore horror fans here say? or would they never be caught watching it in the 1st place? ;)

[onebyone]

They are too cool to see it, until they "somehow" end up seeing it free. They will hate it. So much. Then they will "somehow" end up getting the DVD free too, and they will think it's garbage. They'll keep it to umm, use as a coaster. Yeah, that's the ticket.

[othervoice1]

lol - guess i had that coming- I did sound a bit bitter in my earlier posting<:

[DrHerbertWest]

They are too cool to see it, until they "somehow" end up seeing it free. They will hate it. So much. Then they will "somehow" end up getting the DVD free too, and they will think it's garbage. They'll keep it to umm, use as a coaster. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Amen! :lol:

[X-human]

Just came back from it, and while I liked it the movie wasn't what I'd consider re-watchable. Which is a shame because it was a pretty damn good execution of a very high concept. But perhaps that's what got the best of them? They spent all their time showing off the world they were in they didn't leave much for anything else. It felt like they goofed around alot and then when the timer went up they showed a home movie explaining it all and then ended it with a blood bath.

It's not like suddenly everything made sense and you had to watch it again to see how it all tied it, nore was it like nothing made entire sense and you'd have to watch it all again to understand it. Stuff just happens and then you're handed the plot in a few short minutes and it's over. Not much replay value. ;)

So I'm not quite sure why it didn't all add up for me... Maybe after I sleep on it I'll reconsider or maybe will watch it again to see how it all holds up. My friend who I saw it with is a big fan of the video games and perhaps maybe that's what spoiled it for me. He'd always laugh and triumphantly say "Yes" whenever a concept from the movie was executed and I think that took the experience away from me, like I didn't truelly "get it" since he found "it" so awesome what I found it just kinda neat.

[rhett]

I don't know if it entirely succeeds, but I applaud the film for being something of a rarity in the horror genre. I can't really recall a movie I've seen like it. It is not bound to conventional narrative like most horror movies, it is more a visual slapdash of horrific imagery and overwrought plotting. It isn't a film punctuated by jump scares and your standard scare formula. Instead, it just creates this mood and atmosphere, and just seeps you in it for two hours. The imagery is amazing, from the unsettling monsters to the ash strewn city. The sound design is even better, with an ominous combination of fog horns and grisly bone, crunching and moaning effects. A lot of it really lingers.

Most people have been giving the slap to Avary and his screenplay, but that might just be the most unique thing about the movie. It is unlike any other game adaptation in that it seems to embrace the structural qualities of a game over the narrative constraints of a movie. Like a game, the film meanders, it is as if you are just roaming around this world for an hour and a half until you stumble upon a FMV sequence explaining the backstory. It has a really loose and free feel to it, embracing the qualities that make games so involving.

More than that, it interestingly combines complex and metaphoric backstory with obvious and awkward lines and delivery. "There must have been a fire here!" one of the characters notes, which is glaringly obvious considering the entire city is filled with ash and all the boards in the building are torched to a crisp. While people in the theater were laughing at parts like this, the movie takes an interesting stance in that it plays those kind of klunky lines with total seriousness. So many of these great horror games like Resident Evil or House of the Dead, are filled with great plots on the whole, but terrible and obvious lines throughout. They take themselves seriously though, and so does SILENT HILL, embracing the structural qualities of video games without looking at them with the kitschy parody that a lot of these game remakes try to do.

The whole thing was a real surreal experience, and certainly one of the most ambitious horror movies to come out in quite some time. It wasn't afraid to embrace the darker qualities of horror right to the fantastically bleak final moments, and it did it in a manner that hasn't really been done before. This is a video game movie done right and not dumbed down for the A.D.D. stereotype that society seems to hold towards video gamers. This treats gamers with respect, and at the same time attempts to make a legitimate art form out of video game adaptations. The movie is overlong and not without flaws, but its ambition weighs out over everything else. Definitely worth a watch.

[MorallySound]

I just came back from SECOND helpings of Silent Hill. And I agree 100% with what Rhett says. The games were all about the atmosphere and so is the movie. Sure some of the dialogue is corny, but truth be told, all human beings are not Shakespears in real life either in the way we speak, now are we? Anyway, this movie was even better the second time around. There are so many layers to this movie that a second helping is needed to consume the whole plot (yes, there really is one there).

The ending is WTF? I really don't understand it, but then again I don't understand a lot of what was going on with the little girl.
The ending works perfectly and makes sense. You just have to know what to look for (That's what the games were all about too, solving puzzles). The ending explained: What's the only way to bring someone back to a ghost town? Hmmm. Let's see. A ghost town is filled with ghosts. So that means they are dead. Therefore, that would mean that Rose, Sharron, and Cybil are dead. They all died in the jeep/motorcycle accidents. Sharron (Alessa) was beckoned back to finnish Alessa's revenge on Silent Hill, which has become a form of Purgatory and the alternate darkness is Hell for those who consumed the girl with fire. Hence why at the end of the movie both Rose and Sharron are still consumed by the fog when they arrive 'home'. That may be a bit heavy, but it works. Anyway, second time around it's a solid 5 out of 5 for me.

So there you have it, if rhett AND MorallySound say it's a gooder, it's a gooder. Maybe. Hahaha.

[SirFarley]

I just got back a few hours ago from seeing it and this movie was perfect... I have been a huge fan of the series since part one was released back on PSX and this movie captured the feel so well... some of the camera angles made me so freaking excited because they seemed to be pulled right out of the games... and I thought the story was very good. I also like how the ending is sort of left up in the air and its not explained... just like in the games... the games always sort of left it up for debate... and I am hoping to see some alternate endings on the DVD, just like in the games.

Best movie of the year for me so far.

[rhett]

Good read on the ending, MS, it certainly is a complex one to try and tackle. Yours seems to be the best interpretation I've received on the whole thing, but just for an alternate perspective, here's my thoughts:

Since the whole film was so maternal and female-oriented, I took the ending as some sort of radical feminist message. Now, I wish the relationship between Radha Mitchell and Sean Bean had been better developed, but from the small snippets of the relationship shown, I got the sense that the two were nearing a break up, and Sharron was largely the reason why. It seemed that Bean was sick of her sleepwalking, but more importantly he seemed threatened by the close bond the mother/daughter had. He seemed totally distant, and Mitchell seemed to want to go to Silent Hill for reasons more than to just help Sharron. It seemed like she needed an out, since she virtually just up and left Bean.

So when Bean is sitting at home alone, it is almost as if he comes to the realization that Sharron and Rose are lost to him. They've left him, they are nothing but ghosts to him. Usually, in a feminist empowerment movie, such an outcome for the cold male husband would be looked at as a desirable one, but here it comes through as quite cold. When Rose and Sharron sit at home in the fog, it has a melancholic and depressing aura about it. Silent Hill was a place ran by women, and the movie almost seems to suggest that the male-female bond is the only happy equilibrium that is desirable. The whole reason for the entire Silent Hill nonsense to begin with was the fact that Alessa's dad could never be identified to the villagers. So without the partriarch, Silent Hill went into ruin, and without Bean being with Rose, their family too, will suffer a similar decay.

The ending is one of those great moments of horror ambiguity, where the labours of a complex and allegorical script come to a head. Everything all comes together for the end, but what exactly the end means is one that is open to a multitude of interpretations. Considering how intricate and convoluted the story is, a singal be-all-end-all interpretation would not do the story justice. What Avary intended I don't know, but he certainly opened a can of worms!


Puddy, as for the whole "cult" thing, I thought that was quite interesting. Seemed to cleverly single out the biggotry of religious fanatics, and the whole flashback montage was one of amazing technical craft. Made for some brutal deaths too, so even as just a murder device it works. I can't see the movie working without all the exposition of the cult. Without the flashbacks there would be a significant piece of the puzzle missing, without the speech by the zealot the whole biggotry angle would be ruined and without the Alessa attack afterwards there wouldn't be a payoff. So really, I can't see where any of that stuff could have been cut. Does it make sense 100% of the time? No, but it certainly makes for subversive, mind-bending entertainment.

[SirFarley]

Oh yes... I LOVED the flashback... the filters used their blew me away... it just fit so perfectly and I was glad they did it that way.

[DrHerbertWest]

I watched this last night. First of all, in a theater full of a seats, this young Russian couple sat one seat away from me and could not stop talking or text messaging on their cell phones. ASIDE FROM THAT...

I thought the movie was really, really good. Was it great? I'm not sure. I love how the film was shot, using crooked angles, shooting from above, etc. I really enjoyed the score, I'm glad they got the same person from the games to hop on board.

That being said, it's been so long since I've played the games. Even then, I played the first two, not the others. I'm sure because of that, I was confused for several portions of the movie including the ending.

All in all, confusion and annoying cell phone/talking antics aside, I really enjoyed the movie and thought it was worth my $9.

Oh, and when...
Pyramid Head rips off Anna's skin
Totally out of left field. Awesome.

[Tien21]

Can someone simply tell me if it is even possible to understand this movie without playing the games even if I watched it 5 times? Or must I talk to someone who played the games to understand it? Because if this is the case then I am definately not going to enjoy it as much as most people. I don't care if this movie has all the best imagery in the world, if playing the videogame is required to "get" this movie even after multiple viewings then I don't see it as a great film. Or is this more like High Tension where it is open ended, unless you play the games?

[rhett]

Can someone simply tell me if it is even possible to understand this movie without playing the games even if I watched it 5 times? Or must I talk to someone who played the games to understand it? Because if this is the case then I am definately not going to enjoy it as much as most people. I don't care if this movie has all the best imagery in the world, if playing the videogame is required to "get" this movie even after multiple viewings then I don't see it as a great film. Or is this more like High Tension where it is open ended, unless you play the games?
I've never played any of the games, and I still enjoyed it. I think if you've played any survival horror game, and understand how they work, then the openendedness and atmospheric dependence of the movie shouldn't be too tough to deal with. It is a convoluted story, like any survival horror game, but that's just in place to make the visuals and the scares that much more unsettling.

[KillerCannabis]

I saw it last night and I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it. Obviously on the visual side of things it was impressive as hell. I loved the look of the town, the ashen rain, the long looming shots and of course the monsters. That might have been the film's biggest fault in my eyes though since I'm upset that a film so visually engaging had some of the worst plotting and dialogue I've heard in a long time. Plenty of stupid character choices plague the film as does the ridiculous dialogue. I can't even begin to tell you how many times people were laughing out loud during what were supposed to be intense, dramatic sequences. What gore there was was well done, especially the now infamous Pyramid Head "flesh blanket" scene. I really wanted to love this movie, but right now I'm not quite sure if I even like it. I think I need another viewing, that should almost go without being said for anyone that sees this. There's just too much to absorb properly in one viewing. It did feel a bit long as well, maybe if they trimmed about 15-20 minutes off the total time it would have flowed a bit better. Although if I end up eventually loving the film I'll want all the footage I can get. As far as the ending goes I agree with MorallySound. I couldn't have put it better than he did, but as expected most of the audience let out quite a groan once the credits rolled.

[maybrick]

I rate it a flat 'C'. I'd go into it a bit more but it didn't affect me enough either way to go into more detail. It had some great aspects as well as terrible ones. I enjoyed playing the game, but the movie is for the most part forgetable. That aside, it's the best movie adaptation of a game I've seen. It by and large captures the atmosphere, but faltered because of the mainstream Hollywood need to over-explain events.

[onebyone]

So there you have it, if rhett AND MorallySound say it's a gooder, it's a gooder. Maybe. Hahaha.

I am more than a bit troubled by the fact that I agree with both of you on this movie. Well, I don't agree with rhett's radical feminist interpretation. Thank god for that. Otherwise, I would be worried that the end of times were near.

I just got back, and I really, really loved it. I may go back for seconds later today. I take this game pretty seriously and didn't want anything "cutesy" or some small nod to the fact that it was an actual game, and thankfully the movie seemed to take the game as seriously as I do. I love these people and I love this story. Don't fuck with them.

I was pretty stunned at how well parts of the game were captured. I wanted to cheer these moments on as they just pleased me so. I may have done that now that I think of it. The whole audience was very into it. Of course, in some evil plot to upset me, the theater was closed down yesterday for a private engagement so the only folks showing up for the Saturday 11:30am showing were likely the super serious Silent Hill fans, and I think that is who the movie is for. I have no idea how this movie would play to someone who doesn't love the games, but since I am not one of those people, I am free to give the movie an A+.

[skmastaz]

I never really played the games and I really dug the movie a lot. The camera work was awesome and I really didn't mind the wooden dialogue since it was a lot like it was in what little of the games I've played. It seems they were very careful about conserving the style and feel of the games and I like that a lot. I felt this was a lot like Fulci movies in a lot of ways. All atmosphere, which is awesome, ambiguous ending, and crappy dialogue. If only Sharon had Bob's voice... A lot of people seem to hate the explanation scene, but I think it was needed to make the pay-off better. Also, that was one of the better death by burning scenes I've ever seen. It seems a lot of scenes were cut from the movie, or they had a really terrible person keeping track of continuity because there were a lot of times someone would be walking towards something then in the next cut they were doing something completely different. I'm really looking forward to the DVD and I might even check out a matinee to see if it holds up.

[SirFarley]

Can someone simply tell me if it is even possible to understand this movie without playing the games even if I watched it 5 times? Or must I talk to someone who played the games to understand it? Because if this is the case then I am definately not going to enjoy it as much as most people. I don't care if this movie has all the best imagery in the world, if playing the videogame is required to "get" this movie even after multiple viewings then I don't see it as a great film. Or is this more like High Tension where it is open ended, unless you play the games?

Well I went with my brother and my friend... both of which have never played any Silent Hill... my brother loved it, friend hated it... so I think it is sort of a love it or hate it type of movie, and you don't really need to have played the games... just gotta go in ready to think some.

[X-human]

I didn't find the ending confusing so that wasn't a problem for me, pretty much that's how the story should have played out: The biggest clue was the husband had to wear a mask in the real world: It adds up after awhile that they're certainly not alive anymore. Even if the crash didn't kill them, the exposure to Silent Hill's fumes would have even in the idle car while they're passed out. I also think the mother figured it out to by the end of it, she probably was going to wait for her husband to finally die and then he'd be able to join them. After all, she didn't exactly call for him or anything once home. Just sat and waited.

As for being "original" I couldn't help but be reminded of The Sixth Sense, What Dreams May Come, The Cell, The Others and Daughter (2002) at every turn while first watching it. The ending also reminded me of The Mummy's Ghost dealing with reincarnated people having to die once it's all over.

Now I DID like the movie but as I said they goofed around and then showed a home movie explaining the plot. It's pretty damn easy to reveal the plot as a movie goes on, a Hollywood screenwriter should be able to do it in their sleep. They gave a half hearted attempt with the husband's side of it and one or two other clues in Silent Hill, but to me the home movie thing at the end is just plain laziness like The Architect in The Matrix Reloaded.

[Ash28M]

I Checked this out today. Overall it was pretty good, there was some surreal moments and a couple of cool scenes. On the now side. It just had so much crappy CGI though that kept taking me out of the moment. The cast was also too pretty and just didn't seem realistic. I felt like this film would have been better off made in the 70's maybe then the monsters would felt more organic. I would give it a 7/10. It wasn't bad. There has definitely been better stuff that has come along in the last year.

[dmeister]

Gans certainly went through a lot of trouble to recreate just about every aspect of Silent Hill games -- except for the game, itself. Yes, he perfected the visuals and the characters and the sounds and everything else from the game (including the freakin' maps and even some of the lesser details from the series). However, like most survival horror games, the game play of Silent Hill involved staying alive by beating the shit out of a seemingly endless supply of terrifying monsters. It was ultimately an action game. This is where the movie went horribly wrong. It was more like a virtual tour of Silent Hill rather than an adaptation of the game. As a matter of fact, only one monster was killed over the entire 2 hours and 10 minutes of running time. Some parts of the movie were just downright boring.

And he also focused on the cult leader a little too much, while totally disregarding the paranormal preoccupations of the cult -- which ultimately caused all of the problems in the Silent Hill. I didn't mind this particular liberty, since he basically rewrote the town as a purgatory of sorts (which it more less became anyway later in the series).

dmeister

[maybrick]

Great points, d. That pretty much encapsulates what I felt was wrong with the movie but couldn't quite place my finger on what it exactly was. Good job.

[DrHerbertWest]

I don't consider Silent Hill an "action game" but I do understand what you're saying, dmeister.

[onebyone]

I never thought of Silent Hill as an action game either - especially not the first two. Fighting the monsters always seemed far less important than solving the mystery and experiencing the town.

I wonder if they are going to do part two. They could do a lot more with Pyramid Head there. I would really, really, really, really love to see that.

[Surnom]

Saw it yesterday, and loved it. The ambience and visuals of the movie made me overlook the acting and the sometime weak dialogue. This is how a Silent Hill movie should have been, imo. I went with my girlfriend and two friends who never played any of the game, and they loved it as well.

I think I would have prefer the plot from the second game, though. And some explanation for the origins of the monsters - like in Silent Hill 2, where the origins of Pyramid Head is suggested. I would like this plot to be in an eventual sequel, but I fear that any sequel would be crap, unless it's the same people which are involved.

I don't consider Silent Hill an "action game" but I do understand what you're saying, dmeister.

Me neither - I was spending most of my time running away from monsters than actually fighting them. But I've only played Silent hill 2 and 3, which are more story driven game than action game.

[maybrick]

Me neither - I was spending most of my time running away from monsters than actually fighting them. But I've only played Silent hill 2 and 3, which are more story driven game than action game.

I agree, but I also very much agree with dmeister that the movie could have used a few to several more creature kills. A couple of gory whacks with a pickaxe would have been nice. I've only played the first game through and I have to say I miss the creepy schoolchildren with knives. Pyramidhead doesn't mean much to me, and without a referencepoint he just comes across as a Cenobyte.

[dmeister]

I never thought of Silent Hill as an action game either
In all four of the games, you face hundreds of monsters and have a variety of different weapons at your disposal. Yes, you can run away like a little bitch ;), just as you can choose whether to either annihilate an entire house or silently take out your single target in Hitman. But they obviously wouldn't give guns, pipes, knives, and whatever else if they expected you to do this.

No, you're not killing hundreds of people like you might in Call of Duty II, but you're still running around shooting things. Not to mention the fact that you still have "bosses" to fight in Silent Hill, which is a hallmark of FPS action games. Besides, if you just "run" through the game, to get a freakin' flying-saucer-ending-breaking-dancing-constume-special-laser-weapon, you're really stripping away the "survival" component from survival horror. ;)

Fighting the monsters always seemed far less important than solving the mystery.
As with Resident Evil and every other survival horror games, you don't really "solve" the mystery so much as have it presented to you as finish beating the shit out of a seemingly endless supply of terrifying monsters on each level. "Clues" also serve as a bit of a reward for going "from here to there" for eight hours.

experiencing the town.
Yes, that is a big aspect of Silent Hill... And the main aspect that Gans focused on throughout the movie.

dmeister

[onebyone]

Thanks for explaining the games to me dmeister. :rolleyes:

[bigdaddyhorse]

I went with my GF yesterday and I pretty much dug it, but she hated it since she was confused by the whole thing. She also said it was too slow, which in parts it was but I didn't mind.
I've only played the first game so all the "burn the witch" shit was out of left field and had me kinda confused once they got to the church.
They did recreate the town perfectly, but I kept wanting to see the lighthouse, the amusement park (and officer Bennet blow her brains out), the gas station and cut-rite chainsaws.:D Definitly needed the children as well. I kept waiting for her to pick up a pipe or axe or something and have at least one room or location where you had to fight your way out like in the game. You can only avoid so much, sometimes you just have to beat a possessed kid or 5 with a pipe!
Pyamid Head was cool though I didn't know who the hell he was, but man that kill was just awesome.

All in all I'm looking forward to seeing it again, but my GF has put it next to King Kong on her list of "never gonna watch again: horrible shit" list.

[dmeister]

Thanks for explaining the games to me dmeister
I'm not. I'm just explaining why you're wrong. ;)

dmeister

[onebyone]

Next could you please explain math and football to me? I don't get those either.

[dmeister]

Next could you please explain math
Sure. I actually have a degree in mathematics.

That said, if you've played and beaten the four Silent Hill games, and still feel that running from zombie nurses and blasting demons from Hell with a magnum doesn't constitute "action," I will concede the argument and leave to your own opinion.

dmeister

[Surnom]

In all four of the games, you face hundreds of monsters and have a variety of different weapons at your disposal. Yes, you can run away like a little bitch ;), just as you can choose whether to either annihilate an entire house or silently take out your single target in Hitman. But they obviously wouldn't give guns, pipes, knives, and whatever else if they expected you to do this.

No, you're not killing hundreds of people like you might in Call of Duty II, but you're still running around shooting things. Not to mention the fact that you still have "bosses" to fight in Silent Hill, which is a hallmark of FPS action games. Besides, if you just "run" through the game, to get a freakin' flying-saucer-ending-breaking-dancing-constume-special-laser-weapon, you're really stripping away the "survival" component from survival horror. ;)

True, but the fact that I had so little bullets, plus the fact that I cared much more for the story than the fight, made me want to avoid some of the unneccessary fight in the street. It was getting cumbersome at some point to fight with the pipe. And I didn't get the saucer nor the dog ending (which I want to see eventually - wouldn't it be funny they put that alternate ending on the DVD, as an easter egg maybe)

Bottom line, I didn't want another Resident Evil or Doom action movie type, but more of an atmospheric movie like I felt the game was. Boss fight in a movie doesn't work IMO, as we could see in Doom or RE2.

[dmeister]

True, but the fact that I had so little bullets, plus the fact that I cared much more for the story than the fight, made me want to avoid some of the unneccessary fight in the street. It was getting cumbersome at some point to fight with the pipe.
Fair enough.

dmeister

[bigdaddyhorse]

Wasn't there 4 endings to the first game?
I definitly got the saucer ending then the raygun on the next game. My fav. was the one that got you the Kitana sword in the next game. The chainsaw should've been the best, but it didn't work as well as the sword to get your kill on.:D

[othervoice1]

http://www.movie-reviews.colossus.net/movies/s/silent_hill.html
sounds like a pretty fair review of the movie- anyone know if there is a silent hill game in the works for the xbox 360?

[kyouki]

Opinion from a fan of the games (me):

This is basically Silent Hill 1 with the monsters from Silent Hill 2. The movie focuses almost solely on the cult plot from Silent Hills 1 and 3, so if that interested you then you'll find a lot to like about this movie. The acting isn't so bad, but the script is awful... which of course makes the acting seem worse than it is. There's a big dumb scene at the end of the movie that explains the plot to you via a scratchy video. In case you are too dull to understand the images that are being projected a character narrates what is happening on screen for you.

There are Creepy Little Girls.

Instead of composing a new soundtrack, Akira Yamaoka shoveled the "greatest hits" from the games over to the movie somewhat randomly.

I think for people who might not be huge fans of the games this movie might work better. I absolutely loved SH2, and everything that was in that game was in it for a reason. To take characters and aspects from that game, divorce them from the circumstances, and throw them into the story from another (almost unrelated) game... then make a movie out of it sort of ruins the effect. However, if you haven't played the games this obviously won't bother you so you can just enjoy the awesomeness of Pyramid Head and his friends.

The movie looks fantastic, and it really gets it right when the siren goes off and Silent Hill transforms. Not only is it true to the games, but it's also done so well that it could exist without the games and still be effective. There are some awesome and chilling images in the movie, though many of them were taken straight from the games.

The ending really dragged for me. The movie is a little slow to begin, but once you get 20 minutes in or so the movie gets really good really quickly, which lasts for a good 30-40 minutes.

There is some amazing gore footage! The games themselves aren't extremely gory, so this was a bit of a surprise.

[Peter Vincent]

[QUOTE=kyouki]...I think for people who might not be huge fans of the games this movie might work better...QUOTE]

U hit it right on the button. I loved this movie, but the wifey was bored to tears. The approx 2 hour run time was a bit TOO long, but if there ever was a movie just like its game counterpart, its this one.

[onebyone]

So now we have gone from the many reviews that this movie is only for big fans of the games to the movie works better for people who aren't big fans of the games? This board is so strange.

[_pi_]

I'm avoiding reading reviews for this film, but it's really funny just how interested I am in seeing this now despite the fact that just last friday I had no intention of seeing it at all.

I guess it must be an image from that making of that someone posted a link to on this board. Where Radha Mitchell is going down a long, dark staircase. That just seemed so intenesly nightmarish to me. And also, that image of Pyramid-Head walking up the steps has had an effect on me. So I guess you could say I'm psyched. Don't get all the love for the trailer, though. I thought it was crap and made the film look like crap too.

[Mok]

So now we have gone from the many reviews that this movie is only for big fans of the games to the movie works better for people who aren't big fans of the games? This board is so strange.

Well 1x1, to counter even that, I'm a moderate fan of the games and I thought this film was brilliant. This a no-comprimise horror movie before it is a video game port. There is great atmosphere, cool story, plenty of gore and most impresssively the special effects were very effective. They kind of reminded me of The Cell only better. I'm surprised to hear it was actually two hours. Felt like the usual 1.5. Also as Rhett pointed out, the sound was absolutely spectacular.

Added: Reading back through the thread I can't believe anyone would be confused by the ending, the story or any other element to do with the plot.
There is a cutscene-like portion of this film that explains EVERYTHING. In regards to the ending, it's meant to afirm that Sharron and Rose died at the beginning in the car accident, as did Officer Bennet. There was a point in the film were Sean Bean and the FBI are in Silent Hill only it isn't foggy and they can't see that Sharron is right next to them. Bean exclaims that he "just felt her!" Common guys, didn't poltergeist teach you anything?

Added: Oh my fuck. Roger Ebert didn't understand the plot either. WTF?!? :hum:

[Ash28M]

Am I the only one who was distracted by the over use of CGI in this film? It may be just me, but I really don't care how cool it looks. It still looks fake and totally removes any element of fear. I can't help thinking how good this film would have been if Savini, Baker or any number of make up artists would have been in charge of the design of the creatures.

[onebyone]

Am I the only one who was distracted by the over use of CGI in this film? It may be just me, but I really don't care how cool it looks.

From here (http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:ySaZIRh8TkYJ:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Hill_(film)+silent+hill+cgi+&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=22&client=firefox-a), although I have seen it elsewhere.

# Nearly all of the creatures that appear in the film are actors covered in latex and makeup, rather than the computer-generated beings that many contemporary films use. The actors playing the monsters are professional dancers, and their movements were performed live, with some filmed backwards in order to give a strange and disturbing effect.

And

# Silent Hill uses little computer-generated imagery, with the most notable exceptions being the fog that drenches the town and the insects that surround Pyramid Head. Some of the creatures have been touched-up with CGI in post-production, but, for the most part, what is seen on film existed physically.

[Ash28M]

You can't tell me those monsters that shot stuff out of there stomachs weren't CGI or those bug things. SO he made monsters that weren't CGI look like CGI? That's even worse. It doesn't matter anyway, It didn't look organic at all to me.

[onebyone]

I don't think the monsters looked like bad CGI. I thought they were looked great. Had I thought they messed up the monsters in this movie, I would have hated the movie instantly.

[Ash28M]

I don't think the monsters looked like bad CGI. I thought they were looked great. Had I thought they messed up the monsters in this movie, I would have hated the movie instantly.

I agree they looked good. It just seemed like they were reacting to a blue screen and not to anything that was actually in the scene with them.

[Mok]

Am I the only one who was distracted by the over use of CGI in this film? It may be just me, but I really don't care how cool it looks. It still looks fake and totally removes any element of fear. I can't help thinking how good this film would have been if Savini, Baker or any number of make up artists would have been in charge of the design of the creatures.
I thought it was really emaculate aside from the very first part where it zoomed down into the underground when the little girl was sleepwalking. I half expected the title to emerge through all of that

There's no way you can achieve what Silent Hill pulled off using old-school make up effects. It's too bad you seem to automatically switch-off when you see CGI. It was done exceptionally well in this film.

Added: You can't tell me the chick getting her skin torn-off didn't look fuckin' good.. er.. well bad I mean in a good way

[kyouki]

Even though I didn't particularly like the movie, and even though in general I hate CGI effects... I don't care whether or not the effects in SH were CGI because they were just awesome. The monsters looked absolutely amazing, and I got such a rush when you first see the straightjacket monsters. :o Pyramid Head was awesome. The theater was in stunned silence whenever he was on screen. The nuses were also impressive, especially how they moved.

Were the small baby monsters CGI? Or were those actors?


**SPOILERS BELOW***




I think I would have enjoyed the movie more if the cult stuff were excised and it was just a movie where bizarre stuff happens to a woman looking for her kid in a town. Or if the cult itself was long gone and all that remained were what they brought up. The film would have been so much more effective I think if the flashback sequence weren't in the movie and it jumped right to where Rose meets Alyssa. I'm sure there could be some way to explain how she got that way other than a flashback scene. I dunno, maybe the husband could have found something about it when he was in the archives or something.

[killit]

it is the best out of the little girl done wrong horror film from japanese origins

[othervoice1]

Seems like some people were not impressed at all for this movie while some of you really had a hard on for it- weird...lol- I had my tonsils removed last week and i am finally starting to feel a little better- maybe I will go against my initial reaction to the trailer and the poor reviews from critics and give this a try-sounds like it is at least better than the resident evil movies- if i dont like it I can always say i saw it for free and get the dvd to use for a drink coaster......<:

[Tien21]

Aside from the great score,imagery,gore, etc I hated this movie. The whole plot was absolutely horrible, and I am sorry but here I just couldn't except it. If you ask me this is almost equivalent to Ultraviolet which had amazing action scenes etc and horrible plot. The difference is Ultraviolet didn't take itself seriously so I found a way to enjoy it, and will probably enjoy it a hell of a lot more with the 30 minutes added onto the DVD release with gore,and more story.

[Ash]

For everyone who complained about the dialogue and plot. It's based on a video game! Remember that. If you played the games, they featured pretty cheesey dialogue and the plots were confusing as hell.

[Fidochippy]

It was BRUTAL!

[Surnom]

I just read that the original cut of this movie was over 3hrs.... I wonder what they cut out? I'd love to see the full cut. I wonder if we'll ever get a chance to see it...

I would love to see that!!!! Let's hope for the dvd to feature it

[Peter Vincent]

It was BRUTAL!

Wasn't it, when... The female cop was getting beaten to a pulp AND THEN burnt to a crisp alive?!?! Her skin boiling, bubbling and then catching fire. It was horrible and difficult to watch in my opinion.

[othervoice1]

This movie over 3 hour version?? f&&k that...<:

[KillerCannabis]

I'll chime in again to say that I saw this again and really found it a lot more enjoyable once the initial viewing had time to settle in. I fully grasped the plot and everything else made perfect sense. I'll still say that the dialogue is pretty damn bad and laughable and some choices are made pretty poorly, but overall it is better than most of what passes as a film these days. I hope the DVD has some great extra footage and I do hope we see a sequel in the future, just as long as Avary writes better dialogue and Gans directs.

[ArtofFighting]

I was recently talking with a friend about the possiblity of a film based off of part 2 and just how incredible that would be. That game still stands as one of my all time favorites, with its deeply tragic story and disturbing sexual overtones, but I'm not so sure that a film adaptation of the second game could work as a major studio production, especially if it's as faithful as this one. I think it might just be too much for the average viewer to appreciate.

[aoiookami]

Just saw this tonight and have generally mixed feelings about it, but I think overall it was mostly a positive experience. I abosultely loved the first half of the movie. LOVED. In my opinion everything before the meeting up with Anna part was perfect; I was blown away by how much it was like the game, music taken right from the game, sound effects, even angles. The monsters were great, and everything about the rust/hell world was perfect. I was thinking 'damn, a whole movie of this? Talk about the best movie ever...'

Then they met Anna, who was a little poorly acted imo and had some awful lines. I could have lived with that, but then the whole cult/church thing took over the second act and slowed the movie down to a halt and didnt pick up again until the Nurses, and then the 'razor wire finale'. I've only played 2 and 3, so I dont know if thats part of the backstory from 1, but it was pretty lame. a spirit taking revenge on those that did it wrong, thats NEVER been done before. Should have just left it a mystery, much more scary and fascinating that way imo. I wish they had removed that portion entirely, cut out the 'why's' and just focused on the mothers struggle of finding her daughter and getting out. I didnt care for all the explainations and flashbacks, because thats half the charm of the town imo, the mystery of it....

First half of the movie, A+++. Second half, D-. Final grade, B.

btw, I loved how they used the intro song from 3 for the credits.

[DefJeff]

I got around to seeing this one and enjoyed it alot more than I thought I would.

The monsters all looked so fake, so that sucked the punch out of a few scenes, but I did love the atmosphere and tension the film built up otherwise. The score was great too. I'll definitally pick up the DVD.

[Hellbilly]

Sony's Silent Hill DVD streets 08/22/06. There will be Unrated & R-Rated Editions. No word yet on extras and specs. Source: www.davisdvd.com (http://www.davisdvd.com)

[MorallySound]

Was just gonna post that.

Can't wait for this one! That'd be rad if we get the 4-hour first cut, hahaha.

[aoiookami]

No extended cut apparently; http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/index.php?Show=6633&Template=newsfull

So much for that, I didnt enjoy the movie quite enough to buy a non-extended version with extra's I've already seen on the net.

[bigdaddyhorse]

I love that they say "no extended version, for now".
Of course there will be double-dipping. That's why there's library or rent for the first version.

[_pi_]

This came very late to us (premiered last night) and I took my little sister with me to see it. Well, she was really scared and loved it. Me ... I'm a bit torn. On the one hand, it looks phenomenal. Love the look and the atmosphere. The climax was pretty brutal and cool. Lots of cool scenes, lots to enjoy.

However ... I just can't get over the fact that for more than an hour there is absolutely no plot and then suddenly we get plot overload with a much too lengthy flashback scene. Exposition.com? What an awful way to write a film! Roger Avary should know better. Also, the lack of substantial plot for the majority of the running time means that the film is pretty boring during that time. Sorry, but Radha Mitchell isn't a good enough actress to carry a plotless film by herself (not that she's bad, mind you, but hardly the most commanding screen prescence).

Soooo, basically it's a boring film with cool imagery and some cool scenes and after the plot has been forcefed to us, thing actually get pretty interesting. A disappointment, but a minor one. Don't think I'll want to see it again. At least it was better than the abysmal Brotherhood of the Wolves ... ughhhhhhh.

[bigdaddyhorse]

I love that they say "no extended version, for now".
Of course there will be double-dipping. That's why there's library or rent for the first version.

I stand corrected, that's why there's the internet for the first version!:D
I dl'd the full dvd, burned and watched it last night. I liked it better the second viewing as it all made sense this time. Haven't got to the extras yet, but the making-of's total just under 2 hours.
(EDIT: Just checked these out without watching them, and it's only 54 minutes total. On dvdshrink and Nero it read titles 2-8 but 2 is play all, 3-8 are individual. Most dvds that lump titles like that together, they are all needed as chapter stops. More props to Sony for wasting space by having these on here twice.:rolleyes: At least I got rid of all the trailers and warnings.)
Also I feel good knowing Sony won't get my cut of a rental.:evil:
I might bend my boycott for an unrated cut now as I really enjoyed the theater version. Killer atmostphere and when the blood flies there's lots of it. Great movie, bad company.

[tobaccoman]

Yeah, I think I'll wait until a special edition of this comes out before putting money down on it. I'm sure my friends will either rent it or buy it right away so I'll still be able to see it pretty quickly after release date.

[Criswell]

OK From Downunder, i just saw the film.....and i gotta say i thought that Lucio Fulci was making a comeback!!!!!!!!

The visuals and music are awesome...but gee it makes as much sense as many of the Euro horror films of the 80's. For instance............

1. What the hell was "Pyramid Head" all about???
2. Was the cop the girls father????
3. What was the real role of the father????......his role was totally irrelevant
4. Why did the horror stop and start???


My biggest problem though was the shift in story from 'The Beyond' horror to 'Children of the Corn'/'Wicker Man ' plotting. It just did not fit. Also the explanation through home movie style exposition was just terrible.

Plus some of the dialouge was TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! poeple were laughing..........

And the massacre in the church scene was embarrassingly stupid......

Better than most game transfers............but still not great.

[betterdan]

We rented this and here is my short review...

We got home and put the dvd in the player. We pushed play and it started (I skipped the menu part becuase we have all been there before and it's a rather boring story) We watched the beginning and then when the lady got to the town I left the room a little afterwards because I was bored. http://www.fiatforum.com/images/smilies/thumb_down.gif
Thanks for reading!

[Cydeous]

We rented this and here is my short review...

We got home and put the dvd in the player. We pushed play and it started (I skipped the menu part becuase we have all been there before and it's a rather boring story) We watched the beginning and then when the lady got to the town I left the room a little afterwards because I was bored. http://www.fiatforum.com/images/smilies/thumb_down.gif
Thanks for reading!

It's funny that you should say that it was boring. I went to see this in the theater with a group of people from work and about half way through, one of them turns to me and said "this is so boring." I was pretty surprised since I didn't find it at all boring. I attributed this to the fact that he mostly watches action movies but I don't think that's your case. Anyway, I liked the movie but it wasn't a masterpiece by any means.

[aoiookami]

1. What the hell was "Pyramid Head" all about???
2. Was the cop the girls father????
3. What was the real role of the father????......his role was totally irrelevant
4. Why did the horror stop and start???


can be summed with with 1 answer essentially; because of the game.

1.Pyramid Head is from SH2, he is essentially the manifestation of the games main character (James') mental anguish, mainly his sexual frustration, angst and guilt after his wife's death. Pyramid Head is pretty much the 'hero badguy' of the game, as you encounter him multiple times throughout, and is one of the last boss fights. He didnt really have any point for being in the movie other than the fact he's become somewhat of a cult icon on the net, and is the most well known SH baddie.

2. I didn't get that part either, but I'm guessing no. Could be wrong.

3.He was pretty much a combination of the male lead character's from SH1 and 2. In 1 the character is looking for his daughter, in 2 the character is looking for his wife. Thus, in the movie he's looking for his wife AND daughter, but since the movie is mainly from the mother's point of view, his side of the story is minimal.

4.Because that happens in the game as well. You find yourself walking in and out of scenes of terror; One moment the town seems normal, but as you walk through a couple of area's they become progressively more errie and horrific until you're pretty much in a totally different place. In the game's, the environments are separated into 2 worlds, 1 that is normal, and 1 that looks almost the same but is filled with creatures, melting walls and the like

[Workshed]

Finally saw this last month. Loved the imagery, hated the terrible plot--especially the beginning and end.

Husband: "Let'see, let's see. Our sleepwalking daughter keeps saying 'silent hill' when she sleeps. I know, I'll check Google!" (checks Google) "Holy shit! A ghost town! And my wife has already left? Fuck it, I'll cancel her credit cards. You're cut off, bitch! See how long you last!"

And the end:

Oops. We're really both dead.

Stupid all around. But those images, pretty cool. I'll give it that.

[Criswell]

I figured the cop was her father simply cause he got the burn marks from saving her.....but more importantly, as he carries her out, there is a close up of her hand on his shoulder.

BTW that cop was HOT!!!!!!!!!!

[dwatts]

Not read the entire thread - but I'll just pop in to say I thought this was pretty damn good. Loved the imagery, liked the basic premise, albeit a tad worn out. Most of all it's plain old fun to watch, and what's wrong with that? Not deep (it's based on a viideo game for goodness sakes), but definately a film I'd recommend.

[Anthropophagus]

Rented this after hearing much praise and thought it was complete and utter crap. It was actually sleep inducing for me. Maybe because I never played the game, I did not 'get' the movie. Anyway, can't please everyone.

[dwatts]

Actually, I've never played the game either, and I hadn't read too much about it beforehand. I thought the movie was a pretty simple "revenge from the grave" type deal.

[Anthropophagus]

Yeah, I agree Dwatts. But I felt like I had seen this type of plot done before and the effects were just too unrealistic for me to take seriously. I know many people loved the surreal vibe, I'm just not one of them.

[dwatts]

-- But I felt like I had seen this type of plot done before --

Oh yeah, MANY times before :D

[soxfan666]

i watched this last night from On Demand and wish i had my money back. they needed to spend more time with some of the monsters from the video game and less time having mommy run around empty hallways.

[Katatonia]

If the poorly developed script would have been half as good as the visuals, this movie really could have been something.