Elephant

ridgewalker

Hey,
i was just wondering what others thought of this film. I've heard mostly positive review along with the odd scathing one talking about pretentious artness etc . Im undecided at the moment . The cinematography did test the patience at times but overall it was pretty thought provoking.

Rabies

Haven't seen it in xtravsion yet

review from empireonline.co.uk

Obscure

Thought it was great! Could be considered "pretentious artness" if all you look at is Spiderman films. However, the film sticks with you and shows how ordinary events like this could seem to the participants.

Didnt like the bit put in there with the shower scene. Didnt see the point. Gave that almost as the reason for the massacre, that they were afraid of rejection by their peers. Don't know if there was any hint of that in the Columbine massacre so why put it in the film (i know the films not about Columbine specifically). Would have preferred if no reason at all was given.

The film is a bit drawn out but worth it!!!

Ob'

ridgewalker

i think the whole film just keeps throwing questions at you. the shower scene is one of the bigger ones but i think its still inconclusive if ya know what i mean. But if you thought that was a blatant way of explaining the actions of the lads then surley the computer game scene was even more blatant.
Apparently Tomb raider was one of the big influences on the camera work and the film in general. All the charcaters walking about the school just waiting to get shot.

Rabies, its still showing down here in Cork, not sure what date its gonna be released for rent

ixoy

Thought it was a tad pretentious - and I've watched "Dogville" and detested "Spiderman". Too many long tracking shots that could have been trimmed.

As to the shower scene, Gus Van Sant has explained it as a moment of passion. The boys are about to die, they've never had any close contact with anyone, and so just find it together, before they set out to die. It's not meant to imply they're gay - if Van Sant says as much, I think we can accept it as the truth.

Retr0gamer

I found it a little pretentious as well. I would have preferred if the film built on the characters of the two boys more. It was still interesting to watch and used some nice shots from multiple angles.

daveg

Originally posted by Obscure
Could be considered "pretentious artness" if all you look at is Spiderman films.

Totally disagree. I thought it was totally pretentious. He gave us no real insight into any of the characters. The film just drifted aimlessly amongst the students. I thought that his alternate camera angles around the same scene, but from a different characters view point didn't work and was badly done. The only positive (for want of a better word) thing was the shootings scenes which I thought were well done. Very matter of fact and with no emotion. Also I thought he should have expanded more on the 2 shooters (students) charactors more. He should have expanded on the reasons they did what they did.

All in all a dissapointing film. In fact, to me, it didn't seem like a film. More like a long drawn out documentary.

jerenaugrim

Thought it was excellent. The whole point was the futility of it all. Like, they tell the all-American blond guy to get away from the school. Why? Exactly.

Miguel_Sanchez

Originally posted by daveg
Totally disagree. I thought it was totally pretentious. He gave us no real insight into any of the characters. The film just drifted aimlessly amongst the students. I thought that his alternate camera angles around the same scene, but from a different characters view point didn't work and was badly done. The only positive (for want of a better word) thing was the shootings scenes which I thought were well done. Very matter of fact and with no emotion. Also I thought he should have expanded more on the 2 shooters (students) charactors more. He should have expanded on the reasons they did what they did.

All in all a dissapointing film. In fact, to me, it didn't seem like a film. More like a long drawn out documentary.

I haven't seen the film but I thought the whole point of it was it didn't go into the boys characters and didn't explain why they did it. I think the documentary comment seems appropriate and after reading interviews with Gus Van Sant I think he'd be pleased with a comment like that (minus the drawn out bit I suppose)

ridgewalker

i think the camera work was class. the tracking shots from behind as the students walk ( what sometimes seems aimlessly) about the school reminded me of the techniques used in some horror film. There was something like it in the shining with the boy on the tricycle goin about the hotel corridors.
The dark lighting, which seemed a bit out of place in a modern highschool, also added to the tension and suspence as you knew that the shooting could begin at any time and around any corner. From the start you have this idea of these kid could be walking to their deaths and the fact that they were so oblivious to that possibility made for gripping and unnerving viewing in what would typically be the most boring shot in the world. just a thought!

while trying not to sound to pretentious myself. i found the lack of insight into the feeling and motives of some of the main character a refreshing change. You get to place your own rationale on there behaviours. It also lends itself to great talks over coffee ( and on message boards) about what the hell was goin on:D

jerenaugrim

And there was me waiting to ask u what u thought of it, ridgey;)