The Ohio Sci-Fi and Horror Marathons

Let's just all agree to disagree. The marathon will be awesome regardless! Btw, what does dick cheney's book have anything to do with this discussion? No political talk on here, just movies!

_________________
"Ernest Hemingway once wrote, 'the world is a fine place, and worth fighting for.' I agree with the second part"

On the SERBIAN FILM/MARTYRS/IRRESISTIBLE discussion, I guess I - dare I be accused of being a 'trollhunter' - agree with Willcail here (hey, guys, it's a Pun). I admit that I don't see all that many so-called "horror films" any more, since many of the more successful ones seem to be in the extreme and/or torture porn arena. Still, I have to question whether booking these films really brings in many new marathoners. And, has the 'controversy' over showing them garnered the event that much local media attention outside of the well-established marathon community? Not to put too fine a point on it, but do you really help grow the audience for the future if you nauseate a decent segment? Just askin'.

Still, looks like a real good show all around. Good luck!!

_________________
Long Live the Orson Welles Cinemas

I can honestly say nobody has called anyone a trollhunter on this board.

_________________
Jaws3dfan®
Follow me on Twitter

Maybe you confused Trollhunter with "Wizard."

To willcail, I can totally respect your line, but please respect my lack of one. Just because someone likes a movie you don't doesn't make them "disturbed" it just means they have different tastes.

To Auteur55, I would never watch Water Power on my own...but I would actually be kind of stoked if it was booked at a marathon. For I would be a total wizard if I was willing to push others' boundaries but not my own.

To everyone, if you haven't read Slate's awesome article "How to fix horror" by the author of the recent book "Shock Value" I highly recommend it, especially Part IV: Gore is good: http://www.slate.com/id/2297938/entry/2297973/

And for those unfamiliar with Water Power: http://www.chud.com/16897/CHUDSPLOITATION-WATER-POWER/

I do realize that the marathon is a commercial venture. However, I think that's for Joe and the organizers to worry about, not the audience. If they decide that a controversial film should be shown, it is not my place to question them based on matters of taste. I seem to recall several movies being shown that nauseated and/or offended at least part of the audience, including Cannibal Holocaust, Irreversible, Martyrs, etc. In each case there were posts saying that the film shouldn't be shown, and the film was shown anyway. I don't recall anyone declaring they would never return to the marathon because of one film. If they made that choice, I'm sorry to hear that. But I don't think we should stop showing controversial films because of a few squeamish people.

I actually don't think A Serbian Film will be booked in any case - my point is a larger one. Just because some individuals don't like the content of a film doesn't mean the film shouldn't be shown in a public venue. Once we decide to go down that road, where does it end? Do we ban Taxi Driver because it features a character who is a teenage prostitute? I'm just trying to take your arguments to their logical conclusion. There is always someone who is offended by something. I know people who don't like to watch black and white films - should we stop showing them to please those people?

Let me put it this way. I'm offended by Nazis. I think Nazis are the scum of the Earth. Does that mean I shouldn't watch films that depict Nazis in a realistic (albeit fictional) manner out of fear I might be offended by what they say and do? If I thought that way, I would have missed out on a lot of great films. If the intention of A Serbian Film was to turn people on, I would object to it being shown. But from what I have read, that's not the case at all - it is meant to shock and disturb people, which is what horror films DO. That's the point you all seem to be missing. When a horror film shocks and disturbs you, that means it's WORKING.

There is always a reason to ban something if you are looking hard enough for it. But when you're willing to watch all sorts of violent and even sexual content, it's difficult to convincingly take the moral high ground. If you're willing to watch I Spit on Your Grave but not this, you need to seriously reconsider your argument about "a matter of taste".

I think we need to toughen up as an audience and say, "you think you can shock me? OK, bring it on!" Whatever the film may be. We should be the toughest audience in the world! But in order to do that, sometimes we have to leave our comfort zones. That's all I'm saying. Whether the film is booked or not, that's not up to me or any of us. But we should be willing to support the decision either way.

I agree as I think most people do, I just think we all like to voice our opinions, I don't think anyone is going to boycott the marathon if "this" movie plays or "that" movie doesn't play. I wouldn't seek out movies like Martyrs or Irreversible but I also don't think I am a better person for having seen them. I have never walked out on a movie at the marathons but I haven't liked every movie either. I have seen enough horror films that not much shocks me any more and I prefer to watch FUN horror films over "Torture porn" (Bloodsucking Freaks is the exception to the rule) if the organizers book a film I don't personally like it's cool because I am not the only person at the 'thon and I will sit through it quietly and reserve judgment until it's over. Bruce and Joe are the masters and never cease to amaze me with the films they find. One of my all time favorite premieres was "Session 9" which most people hated so I know my tastes differ from most but Bruce and Joe are willing to take chances and do their best to please a group of 300 hard to please movie goers and they read all of these posts but still come back year after year knowing that they will come under fire for their choices.

_________________
Jaws3dfan®
Follow me on Twitter

SPOILER ALERT

The issue with A Serbian Film according to Wikipeda and stills from the movie features simulated anal bleeding of a minor, acts of pedophilla. I'm sorry for reporting the graphic nature of A Serbian Film. Just letting people know what to expect if this "film" get book. Don't get mad that I post some of the content of said "film".

Does any sane rational people want to see that? I highly doubt that majority of marathonoids want to see that. In this country child porn is illegal. A Serbian Film should be label as such. There are limits to free speech. A person can't yell fire in a crowded room.

It is true that this said "film" never gets book. True people can get up and leave. In my opinion that will make the marathon look bad. That will hurt the horror marathon.

We getting a special guest this year? Other then Sue Harsh of course.

Once again, will, you are not listening to the argument at hand. The out of context description of the content of the film is irrelevant. No one is arguing against your right to detest what you feel this movie represents. You have personally drawn a line for yourself and that is fine. We get it.

You feel so strongly about this that you are encouraging others to take the same position. That is a noble of you, but bringing up specifics that no one is arguing against over and over again is not strengthening your position.

For the record, everything I have heard about this film, including from you, leads me to believe I would not enjoy watching it. I'm certainly not looking forward to seeing it in any way, and who knows maybe I would despise it just as much. It's not really a matter of "taste" so much as it is tolerance. I know a lot of people who draw their own personal lines of taste at "simulated murder," and I'm sure thousands of people feel the same way. So what does that say about us fans of horror who don't?

_________________
Aliens? Us?
Is this one of your Earth "jokes?"

To willcail 1. Most of the events that happen in horror films are illegal in this country. It isn't an actual snuff film, it is a fictional film using special effects and actors.

2.Yelling fire in a crowded theater has nothing to do with a debate about watching a movie.

3. Again, I think it would help your reputation on here if you didn't personally insult those who want to see a movie you don't. I totally respect and understand your objections to the film, but I don't share them. Maybe instead of questioning my rationality and sanity you could just say "Whoa, you certainly have more of a tolerance for disgusting films than I do."

To everyone: Since I haven't mentioned it, I love the diversity and quality of the line up this year. All of the tentative films look great as well. I can't wait!

Ti West is presenting The Innkeepers at Fantastic Fest later this month, so if anyone knows somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody, then who knows? But, I'm guessing it's a bit late in the process to secure a guest at this point. Joe hinted at various possibilities they were persuing, so I don't know if those trails are cold now that most of the lineup has been locked down.

_________________
Aliens? Us?
Is this one of your Earth "jokes?"

I was re-reading that slate article and came across this slideshow of his pick for the 10 greatest gore scenes. It is awesome:

http://www.slate.com/id/2297938/slidesh ... y/2298476/

Does anyone have any scenes more awesomely gruesome than his picks?

I would like to apologize for subjecting everyone to Kevin.

It's difficult to argue with any of those on the list, especially numbers 1 and 2. However, here are some notable omissions, all of which not only were extremely effective in the context of the film, but also hold a historical cultural significance.

-The "face ripping" scene from Poltergeist, which along with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom helped usher in the PG13 era in Hollywood, for better or worse.

-The "chest opening" scene from Carpenter's The Thing.

-The infamous "head on girl" scene from Re-Animator.

-The calculated prison break sequence in The Silence of the Lambs

You could also throw in the blood in the elevator from The Shining, based on sheer creepiness. But while technically "gore," I don't think that is what the author was going for. The liquefication of Johnny Depp in A Nightmare on Elm Street would also fall into this category, I guess.

_________________
Aliens? Us?
Is this one of your Earth "jokes?"