Alexander Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 I had never seen this before I caught it at a midnight screening last night. What a fantastic movie! Very suspenseful! Christopher Lee is AMAZING as Lord Summerisle (I was expecting something more in the line of his Hammer horror films, not a hip, easy-going aristocrat). Edward Woodward is note perfect as the priggish detective. And Britt Eckland is gorgeous! Sure, it's a bit dated, but it really packed a punch! And how can you not love a movie where they burn Christians alive without consequences? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Berger Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 And how can you not love a movie where they burn Christians alive without consequences? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Larsen Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 The movie is interesting as a curiosity, but I have a hard time seeing how anyone can call it amazing. I haven't seen it in a long time, but I recall there being an apparently unintentional tension between the sinister theme and this odd, dated Disney-esque production quality. Certainly a cult classic and something to rent once when you just want something completely off the wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 And how can you not love a movie where they burn Christians alive without consequences? Alexander has an agenda. Kinda reminds me of a movie I saw about skinheads I saw last night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie87 Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 (edited) And how can you not love a movie where they burn Christians alive without consequences? Isn't that like a neo-Nazi saying "How can you not love American History X, where a black guy is viciously killed by being curb stomped by the skinhead?" I don't find much humor in your comment, even though I hope it was tongue-in-cheek... edit - I think I piggybacked on 7/4's comment about a skinhead movie.... Edited October 28, 2006 by Aggie87 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 And how can you not love a movie where they burn Christians alive without consequences? Isn't that like a neo-Nazi saying "How can you not love American History X, where a black guy is viciously killed by being curb stomped by the skinhead?" I don't find much humor in your comment, even though I hope it was tongue-in-cheek... edit - I think I piggybacked on 7/4's comment about a skinhead movie.... Looks like we saw the same movie Aggie87. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 Isn't it about to be released in a remake starring Nicholas "Ghost Rider" Cage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 Saw it once a few years ago & thought it was a dull, unfocused mismash. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Clugston Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 It's definitely a curiousity--especially when a mystery movie suddenly turns into a musical. Edward Woodward gives a great performance. There are actually two cuts of this movie. The shorter one is the more common version. The longer one makes much more sense. The Wicker Man for Americans with Cage was released earlier this fall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted October 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 And how can you not love a movie where they burn Christians alive without consequences? Isn't that like a neo-Nazi saying "How can you not love American History X, where a black guy is viciously killed by being curb stomped by the skinhead?" I don't find much humor in your comment, even though I hope it was tongue-in-cheek... WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD Have you seen the movie? That's the big payoff. The zealous Christian policeman is burned alive by Christopher Lee and the pagan villagers. And no, it wasn't really tongue-in-cheek. I was actively cheering for the pagans by the end of the movie (the Christian policeman is a real prick). If you haven't seen it, it's about a Scottish policeman who visits a tiny island off the coast of Scotland called Summerisle. He's there to investigate an anonymous tip he's received about a missing girl. When he gets there, he finds that none of villagers will even acknowledge the girl's existence. Evidence starts piling up that 1) Something happened to this girl that nobody is willing to talk about, and 2) That these are some seriously weird people. They are sexual libertines who copulate in the fields. They raise their children to have pagan beliefs and worship a sun god and a harvest goddess. The policeman (who is a devout Christian) is really offended by these people and he keeps trying to talk Jesus with them. No one is interested. He finally confronts the Lord who owns the island (Christopher Lee) who tells him that the people here are content with their beliefs. And that if he (the policeman) is so offended, he should leave before the Mayday festivities begin. The policeman does a little research on the pagan origins of Mayday, and comes to the conclusion that the missing girl is about to sacrificed to appease the gods of the harvest (since the island suffered a poor harvest the year before). The policeman tries to stop it, but in so doing he learns the horrible truth: The girl is fine. She was never missing or in any danger. She is, in fact, bait to get HIM to come to the island. So they can sacrifice HIM. And so they do. They burn him alive. Our last image of the policeman praying to God for deliverance while the pagans sing hand-in-hand around him like the Whos in "The Grinch." He is not delivered. The pagans do not pay for his death. The implication is that no one will ever know what happened to him. The last shot is of a setting sun. End of movie. It totally rocked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie87 Posted October 29, 2006 Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 I saw the movie long ago, it doesn't bother me one way or the other. I actually thought it was pretty well done, too. Your comment about Christians (which you now say was NOT tongue-in-cheek) is still bothersome. How is disliking Christians for being Christian any different than hating people of other races for their skin color? Mocking someone for their belief system, just because you don't share it, is pretty sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted October 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 Honestly, how often does stuff like this happen in the movies? When was the last time you saw a Christian killed or otherwise persecuted for his or her beliefs in a movie? And if they are, isn't there always implied punishment or retribution? Why can't I enjoy the little fantasy the filmmakers have spun here without committing a hate crime? Did I say I was going to run out and burn a Christian? I love "Kill Bill" too. Does that mean that I hate the Japanese (since Uma kills so many of them)? I love "Taxi Driver." Does that mean that I want to go around shooting at politicians or pimps? Most people are not John Hinkley, Jr. We recognize fantasy and we react accordingly. Yes, I cackled with evil glee at the plight of the policeman in "The Wicker Man." I also cackle with evil glee when Samuel Jackson blows people away in "Pulp Fiction." This reminds me of my aunt Sharon (may she rest in peace). Shay used to try to make me feel guilty for watching violent movies or TV shows, or for reading comics she considered violent or sexist (I remember her getting very upset when she saw me reading a copy of "Elektra: Assassin" which she considered pretty much porn). I understand that people have different sensiblities and that one man's meat is another man's poison, but come on. I enjoy a lot of things other people might find offensive on some level (Crumb comics, Eminem music). I refuse to apologize for getting a kick out of a movie. Or is there a right way to enjoy a movie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Berger Posted October 29, 2006 Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 Alexander, I recommend that you stop digging. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted October 29, 2006 Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 This reminds me of my aunt Sharon (may she rest in peace). Where? Why? How? "Resting" & "peace" are concepts for the living. People have no immortal souls, and you aunt is dead. Game over for your aunt Sharon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connoisseur series500 Posted October 29, 2006 Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 Alex is trying to defend a stupid statement. I agree with Aggie and 7/4. We want freedom of speech on the board but no need to promulgate hate posts on race, culture or religion. No need for it at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted October 29, 2006 Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 But dead aunts are fair game! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connoisseur series500 Posted October 29, 2006 Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 But dead aunts are fair game! Maybe even some live ones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted October 29, 2006 Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 AILF - the new frontier! (not to be confused w/ALF, btw) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted October 29, 2006 Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 Back to the movie, I've heard it called a classic by more than one, though I've never seen it myself. Sounds like the general opinion is 'overrated, but check it out'. Guess I'll have to do that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted October 29, 2006 Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 "Classic" is one of those terms that is overused in my book. "Cult classic" is probably more like it. Alexander's right - the Christian character in the film is a real prick. But the "Pagans" ain't no great shakes either. And the whole thing is just so transparent & charactured & (dare I say it?) neither particularly well acted nor directed that I think you'd have to have non-cinematic reasons for letting it get your jimmy jonesed, if you know what I mean. Myself, the whole bunch could've burned. That would have made for a happy ending to this movie! I know that Shawn loves this movie, and Shawn is no slouch when it comes to film. But we didn't see eye to eye on this one, not even slightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted October 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 Given the padding I've gotten over what I regard as a fairly innocent statement, I didn't want to get people riled up by defaming my late Aunt. She was an amazing woman, but impractical as hell. My uncle said it best at her funeral: She was too good for this world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted October 29, 2006 Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 I would also use the term cult classic to describe this film. Jim is correct that it's fairly sloppy in it's execution (although the insane cutting by the movie studio is partially to blame) and not all of the actors are up to snuff. I like the movie for it's atmosphere and because it tried to do something that most people wouldn't even attempt to tackle (at least at the time). People still classify this as a horror film which is innacurate...you could almost call it "anti-horror". As for Alexander's comment...I thought it was hilarious. So burn me at the stake! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted October 29, 2006 Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 It was probably a miracle that this movie was even completed - the studio tried to bury it. In fact there is a persistent rumour that the original 'long cut' master tapes were buried by the self same studio bosses under concrete in part of the M4 (or was it M25?) motorway to the West of London. I remember the fuss that accompanied the unearthing of extra footage for the 'long' version of the film back in the mid 80s. It was heavily cut for US distribution (for drive-ins) back in the 70s. I have a copy of the latest 'Director's Cut' and the long version enclosed with that was obtained in the US from the collection of Roger Corman, I think (a miracle). Until this was unearthed the extra footage was presumed lost under concrete. The folk music used in the film had an equally weird history. Tapes were unearthed by chance from someone's attic in Swindon, Wilts. so I've heard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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