Hostel - Review

[Lee Anne]

Just got home from seeing this film, all in all I would say for a change I actually enjoyed a current horror film. There was blood and gore but you didn't see everything which I liked, it left it to your imagination which I found to be frightening, the screaming made cringe quite often and just seeing the tools of torture sort of freaked me out. If your a gore/horror fan I would say see it, the first 45 minutes or so your wondering what all that is happening has to do with the film but you soon find out, I give this a 9/10, was very impressed

:hjy:

[Law]

Another Hostel Review: Spoilers

I just came in from seeing this movie so its fresh in my mind. I was really anticipating this and seeing that Tarantino put his name on it i thought it has to be good.

Well in my opinion it was and it wasnt. The opening sequence is eary and a little gros and gets you ready for a freaky gore filled disturbing flick.....then you are shoved into what feels like a raunchier version of Eurotrip (friends backpacking across Europe doing drugs and having sex with hot girls) for the next 45 minutes or so. I feel that what was shown in this 45 minutes could have been shown just as easily in 15 minutes so that the rest of the time could have been used giving us what we wanted to see. Blood, scares, fear and so on.

When our characters finally end up in the dungeon or whatever you want to call it , it doesnt last nearly long enough. Now that I think about it , it was probably called Hostel because most of the movie took place in one with naked girls and bad dialogue.

Back on track, the first victim was convincinly and disturbingly scared and his screaming was too convinicing. The dialogue between him and his torturer was interesting and I liked that we were getting into his head. Problem is that the scene was far too short and had if been longer it could have been a more disturbing and tense scene but it was cut short and what looked promising became another let down because I was really getting into it.

Then the main character, looking for his friends gets led to this place of torture by a girl he was doing , and we realize that this is what they do. They get unsuspecting tourists and drug them or lure them to this place so that other tourists can do whatever they want to them, which is usually kill , mutilate, chop to peices or anything else.

The scene of the main character getting tortured started great because he was being played with by a nut case who wanted to make sure he was getting an American to torture. For some reason he wanted to scare the hell and piss out of an american and not knowing why is creepy. This was a great scene. After some minor apendeges being lost by our hero , he escaped and gets some revenge.

This is where I was hoping he would wear the crazy mask and go a little nuts becuase of what he had been through and seen someone do to his friend. I was hoping he would exact some sick and twisted and bloody brutal torturous revenge on those who were part of this sick place but no he gets out. too bad.

He does get some pretty satisfying revenge though on those who lured him to the Hostel and on the one who played surgeon with his friend.

There were some gross images and some even made me ignore that the gore and blood effects were pretty fake looking.

But, the movie seemed to jump around alot, threw a red herring out there and spent too much time as a sex romp and not enough time as a sick and twisted torture and revenge flick.

I give it a 2 out of 5

[Lee Anne]

Back on track, the first victim was convincinly and disturbingly scared and his screaming was too convinicing. The dialogue between him and his torturer was interesting and I liked that we were getting into his head. Problem is that the scene was far too short and had if been longer it could have been a more disturbing and tense scene but it was cut short and what looked promising became another let down because I was really getting into it


I agree with that, thinking back to the commercials you fairly much see most of the scene there, imo this was the best of the torture in the movie and it could have lasted longer and with all the devices on the table I also was expecting a bit more.
Something that did sort of confuse me was the girl involved with the eye and the blow torch, now the main character went back for her which after she started screaming I think most of us knew he would, however if I had just had half my face done away with a blow torch I think that I would have been freaking out a bit more, I understand she wanted to get away but still a bit more stumbling on her part could of made that more realistic.
I did enjoy the scenes where the main character got his revenge on everyone and that one girl kept getting hit by the car, thought that was cool :vil:

[Law]

I have to add that i was reminded of why I hate theatres. The seats were crammed together , some jackass next to me had his leg stretched out into my space and had his elbow over the rest and toutching my arm. The screen was small and at a hight that i had to keep my head tilted at an awkward angle.

Anyway I asked the guy to move out of my space and that was that but the other issues were still there. I hate theatres. That was at the Ajax cineplex , whitby AMC was sold out for hostel

[Law]

Yeah and the fact that he equilibrium would be off and the pain and shock she definitely wouldnt be moving as well as she was right after what she went through.

I was thinking that he was going to shoot her and end her sufering. What he did was more disturbing though.

[woodpusher]

This 'revolting' horror flick is completely vacant
By Liz Braun (http://torontosun.canoe.ca/Entertainment/Columnists/Braun_Liz/2006/01/06/1381509-sun.html)

[T_Totler]

By Liz Braun (http://torontosun.canoe.ca/Entertainment/Columnists/Braun_Liz/2006/01/06/1381509-sun.html)
Liz has always been a very tough movie critic.

[Lee Anne]

I don't listen to movie critics, I find that most movies they say are crap are the one's I end up liking the most. I go to Rotten Tomatoes and read the reviews in the forums, I enjoy seeing people argue on different points of the movie, sometimes can be more entertaining then the movie itself ;)

[T_Totler]

Funny thing about movie critics is that they all seem to work in unison...just like the oil companies.

They either all pan a movie or give it high praise. I can't remember the last time I saw a huge divurgence in critics' opinions on a movie.

[Mouse]

I disagree when Liz is involved.

I like her, and am not ashamed to admit it.

[Law]

I don't listen to movie critics, I find that most movies they say are crap are the one's I end up liking the most. I go to Rotten Tomatoes and read the reviews in the forums, I enjoy seeing people argue on different points of the movie, sometimes can be more entertaining then the movie itself ;)

I never listen to critics either. They are full of hot air and baloney. And i hate Ebert, he has the worst taste in movies.

[lordgrey]

I cant believe what im hearing.

I was upset about guns and gangs and killing in Toronto.
But thats child play next to this. God help us all.

[Mouse]

Well said.

[Athlon_9800]

They dropped the ball on this movie... badly. It was some crazy Eurotrip/Saw hybrid that, well, just sucked. It was nothing like the previews made it out to be and I was horribly disappointed. That said, I had some laughs... mostly where there shouldn't have been any...

[Law]

I cant believe what im hearing.

I was upset about guns and gangs and killing in Toronto.
But thats child play next to this. God help us all.

Killing in toronto is nothing compared to a movie? grow up. rational sane people can distinguish between entertainment and reality. God i hate stupid posts like yours.

[woodpusher]

I never listen to critics either. They are full of hot air and baloney. And i hate Ebert, he has the worst taste in movies.
You gave this movie 2 out 5. Does giving this critique mean you're "full of hot air and baloney?"

[lordgrey]

Killing in toronto is nothing compared to a movie? grow up. rational sane people can distinguish between entertainment and reality. God i hate stupid posts like yours.

torture, blood, gore blowtorch on face? is this what you are defending?
do you really enjoy this. I repeat God help us

[Law]

torture, blood, gore blowtorch on face? is this what you are defending?
do you really enjoy this. I repeat God help us


Lol , real violence VS fantasy ....learn the difference then get back to us. And yes I would defend the right to show that in a movie . that doesnt mean thats something id want to happen in real life. i can tell the difference, its sad that you cant.

I repear. Grow up.

[Law]

You gave this movie 2 out 5. Does giving this critique mean you're "full of hot air and baloney?"

Let me guess, you like movie critics? Wether im full of hot air and baloney is up to you. I dont get paid to review movies. Sorry but most reviewers are too biased to give a decent review.

Ebert gave xmen a bad score becuase he likes dramas and boring films. the reviewer to did a review for hostel in the star was full of baloney because she didnt even like horror films to start with , so why is she reviewing a movie she would be biased against in the first place?

nice try though woody

[lordgrey]

Lol , real violence VS fantasy ....learn the difference then get back to us. And yes I would defend the right to show that in a movie . that doesnt mean thats something id want to happen in real life. i can tell the difference, its sad that you cant.

I repear. Grow up.

I have to add that i was reminded of why I hate theatres. The seats were crammed together , some jackass next to me had his leg stretched out into my space and had his elbow over the rest and toutching my arm. The screen was small and at a hight that i had to keep my head tilted at an awkward angle.

You seem to have a low threshold for your discomfort but enjoy watching pain and suffering in others. sometimes the difference between fantasy violence and the real thing is opertunity

[Law]

I have to add that i was reminded of why I hate theatres. The seats were crammed together , some jackass next to me had his leg stretched out into my space and had his elbow over the rest and toutching my arm. The screen was small and at a hight that i had to keep my head tilted at an awkward angle.

You seem to have a low threshold for your discomfort but enjoy watching pain and suffering in others. sometimes the difference between fantasy violence and the real thing is opertunity

You assume too much. As much as you would hate to admit it, you know nothing about me and what i can and cant tollerate, what i like and dont like and so on.

I dont have to justify anything to you , all it comes down to is you dont understand the difference between real and fake. youre trying to take the fantasy and apply it to people in reality. Thats your problem. To say that i like seeing pain and suffering in others is a very ignorant thing to say.

[Lee Anne]

torture, blood, gore blowtorch on face? is this what you are defending?
do you really enjoy this. I repeat God help us

If you want to start an argument about the difference of real life and fantasy then please start it in the hot topics forum, this is a review of a movie which we have seen and want to talk about it. I will say that I have been watching horror my whole life and trust me I have seen far more violent movies then Hostel and none of them has provoked me to conduct any of the acts in the movie. This does not mean I don't care about what goes on in the real world, Toronto or anywhere, we are all allowed as adults to choose which movies and entertainment we want to watch .. like I said if you want to start an argument then please post in the correct forum

[Law]

Yknow what, i have a little time , Lordgrey if you want to get into it make a post about it. Youd better have some valid arguments though.

[woodpusher]

Let me guess, you like movie critics? Wether im full of hot air and baloney is up to you. I dont get paid to review movies. Sorry but most reviewers are too biased to give a decent review.

Ebert gave xmen a bad score becuase he likes dramas and boring films. the reviewer to did a review for hostel in the star was full of baloney because she didnt even like horror films to start with , so why is she reviewing a movie she would be biased against in the first place?

nice try though woody
You gave a review of a movie...that makes you a critic.
You stated critics are "full of hot air and baloney".
Therefore I would naturally include you in this catagory
I can only conclude that you were using self-depreciating humor or you don't read or understand your own posts.

[Mouse]

Liz Braun of the Toronto Sun, whom I respect, gave it a zero.

I believe that means it has no redeeming social value.

But what do I know, you're 24 and I'm only 66.

[lordgrey]

Yknow what, i have a little time , Lordgrey if you want to get into it make a post about it. Youd better have some valid arguments though.

Sorry did not mean to give anyone a hard time. I still have hope for a better future for my children and grand kids, but I see no place in that future for violence real or imaginary.

[Athlon_9800]

In conclusion, this movie blows.

[Lee Anne]

Sorry did not mean to give anyone a hard time. I still have hope for a better future for my children and grand kids, but I see no place in that future for violence real or imaginary.

Then you should have just stayed out of the dissuision, there was no need to come in here and start an argument over a MOVIE which some of us actually enjoyed .. this was not the first and certainly not the last violent movie that will be talked about here, if you don't like them then don't read the reviews


In conclusion, this movie blows.

Not to everyone

[Mouse]

Mores the pity.

[Athlon_9800]

Not to everyone

What was good about it? It was poorly written and directed. Sure, there was a lot of nudity and a bit of gore, but anyone can pull that off. It wasn't scary... at all. As far as I'm concerned the preview was false advertising as the movie was nothing like the preview.

I'm sick of asking why characters in movies even did what they did as I watch it.

[Lee Anne]

That's your opinion, I enjoyed it .. just because you didn't doesn't mean that I wasn't allowed to

[Law]

You gave a review of a movie...that makes you a critic.
You stated critics are "full of hot air and baloney".
Therefore I would naturally include you in this catagory
I can only conclude that you were using self-depreciating humor or you don't read or understand your own posts.

That doesnt make me a critic at all.

If people go to a restaraunt and eat and say mmm this food is good , does that make them food/restaurant critics?

Naturally I will include you in the hot air and baloney catagory for trying so hard.
So i stand by thinking critics are full of it becuase they review movies they know they will hate. And I will still share my own opinions on movies and no that doesnt make me a critic like Ebert.

i couldnt careless what you conclude.

[Law]

Liz Braun of the Toronto Sun, whom I respect, gave it a zero.

I believe that means it has no redeeming social value.

But what do I know, you're 24 and I'm only 66.

No redeeming social value? its a movie , for entertainment. pfft Liz. And im not really sure what you know.

[Law]

Sorry did not mean to give anyone a hard time. I still have hope for a better future for my children and grand kids, but I see no place in that future for violence real or imaginary.

There was violence far before , during and after my childhood but i still had a great one.

I hope youre kids and grandkids , unlike yourself can understand the difference between reality and fantasy.

[Law]

What was good about it? It was poorly written and directed. Sure, there was a lot of nudity and a bit of gore, but anyone can pull that off. It wasn't scary... at all. As far as I'm concerned the preview was false advertising as the movie was nothing like the preview.

I'm sick of asking why characters in movies even did what they did as I watch it.


I agree about the false advertising. Dang. I also felt it jumped around alot and was not very coherent. As I said though i liked a couple scenes but not enough to enjoy the movie. I feel bad for my friend who had to pay 15 bucks to see it because he lost his first ticket.

I think the director was going for shock value only and left the story behind for the most part.

THere is stuff about the character who wanted to be a surgeon that was just too coincedental and also kind of unfinished which pissed me off. but i wont get into that.

[Law]

That's your opinion, I enjoyed it .. just because you didn't doesn't mean that I wasn't allowed to

It seems like many people enjoyed it as it was sold out opening night at many places.

and people have been saying good things about it. I personally didnt enjoy it but i dont have issue with those who did like it.

what i dont like though is when someone tries to judge me because i like violent movies.

Well , im off to go torture some poor sap.

[Lee Anne]

I was actually surprised that I did enjoy this film as much as I did, I was really looking forward to it and was expecting to be disppointed as other horror's have done - 28 Days Later - for instance, everyone kept saying how scary it was and blah blah blah, I still say I blinked during the scary part because it did nothing for me same as The Ring, did nothing for me. Maybe I enjoyed Hostle because I enjoyed the SAW movies and it was sort of similar .. I don't know but I do know that imo SAW and Hostle are the best horror movies I have seen as of current in a long time

again jmo

[chevy]

Horror movies seem week as of late...or maybe all the good old ones that used to scare us just dont cut it anymore because theres been so many movies made.I remember when exorcist scaired the crap ota me...I was 16 and home alone when I seen it....now I just laugh.I honestly can say it wasnt scary....but disturbing that this stuff probably does happen....I'd have to give it a thumbs down.