Sunday, July 31, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Cannibal Holocaust...
An 1980 Italian horror movie, it is undoubtedly the most disturbing film I have ever seen. The film sieved following the premier and the director, Ruggero Deodato, was arrested and charged for making a snuff film as it was rumoured that the graphic footage actually showed several actors killed on screen. He was cleared of all charges, though having watched Holocaust of the Cannibals I would be inclined to believe them. The film was banned in several countries due to its depiction of extreme violence (including on screen decapitation), explicit sexual violence, full frontal nudity and the onscreen slaughter of seven animals.
Filmed in the Amazon, Cannibal Holocaust tells the story of the search for a documentary film crew who had gone to film indigenous tribes and went missing for two months. A second team, headed by the New York anthropologist Harold Monroe, recovers their lost cans of film and learns their fate. Much of the film is the portrayal of the recovered films' content; the sections of "documentary" film function similarly to a flashback and grows increasingly disturbing as the film progresses.
The amongst the most controversial film content is the onscreen murder, decapitation and, rape of the missing crew members. Rumors that the actors were actually murdered on screen were fueled my there disappearance from the media for a year following its release, a contractual condition to promote the film.
The most disturbing scene in my opinion however was the impalement scene were a native girls, the crew had pack raped in an earlier scene, is depicted impaled on a wooden post, in through the genitals and out the mouth. The scene was so hideously realistic it was believed that Deodato had murdered and impaled the actress however having explained how the effect was achieved with a bicycle seat mounted on as post and a piece of balsa wood held in the actress's mouth, he was cleared of all charges.
Seven animals were killed during the film's production:
Filmed in the Amazon, Cannibal Holocaust tells the story of the search for a documentary film crew who had gone to film indigenous tribes and went missing for two months. A second team, headed by the New York anthropologist Harold Monroe, recovers their lost cans of film and learns their fate. Much of the film is the portrayal of the recovered films' content; the sections of "documentary" film function similarly to a flashback and grows increasingly disturbing as the film progresses.
The amongst the most controversial film content is the onscreen murder, decapitation and, rape of the missing crew members. Rumors that the actors were actually murdered on screen were fueled my there disappearance from the media for a year following its release, a contractual condition to promote the film.
The most disturbing scene in my opinion however was the impalement scene were a native girls, the crew had pack raped in an earlier scene, is depicted impaled on a wooden post, in through the genitals and out the mouth. The scene was so hideously realistic it was believed that Deodato had murdered and impaled the actress however having explained how the effect was achieved with a bicycle seat mounted on as post and a piece of balsa wood held in the actress's mouth, he was cleared of all charges.
Seven animals were killed during the film's production:
- A coatimundi (mistaken as a muskrat in the film) has its jugular veins cut open
- A large turtle is captured then decapitated; its head, limbs, shell, and entrails removed on screen then the actors proceed to cook and eat it.
- A large spider is killed with a machete.
- A snake is killed with a machete.
- A squirrel monkey has the top of its skull chopped off with a machete; this scene however was shot twice so two monkeys were actually scalped.
- A pig is kicked twice and then shot.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Public nudity is generally frowned upon in polite society...
I need clothes; this is not a just a consumeristic, spoilt childish desire but a genuine requirement. Whilst wearing the same thing to uni twice in a week if find, donning seemingly the same outfit (mostly the same cardigan, scarf and jacket but as it has been cold no-one ever actually sees that I am wearing different clothing underneath) every day starts to give the impression of poor hygiene and/or vagrancy. What I have is limited, often ill-fitting, uncomfortable, inappropriate (if only I had the courage to wear full-skirt, vintage frocks every day) and not at all warm enough. Unfortunately however there is the issue of financing which, being an impoverished student, seems bleak even for my vintage/op-shop tastes. So for now it seem I will just have to make due with my awkward bag lady chic look and continue living vicariously through my horded stockpile of magazines.
If only...
If only...
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
The Sharpness of Death...
...Death, you've become obscene.
Nobody calls you sweet or easeful now.
You're in the hands of philosophers
who cut themselves and bleed,
and know that knives are sharp,
but prove with complex logic
there's no such thing as sharpness.
- Gwen Harwood ( I couldn't find my full copy of the poem, this is but a snippet of stanza one)
Nobody calls you sweet or easeful now.
You're in the hands of philosophers
who cut themselves and bleed,
and know that knives are sharp,
but prove with complex logic
there's no such thing as sharpness.
- Gwen Harwood ( I couldn't find my full copy of the poem, this is but a snippet of stanza one)
Monday, July 11, 2011
Diana Rigg...
The one and only Mrs Emma Peel, how could any one think Uma Thurman could possibly take her place.
I have recently discovered her new series, 'The Mrs Bradley Misteries', I adore the 1930's setting and style. Ms Rigg just as charming, elegant and beautiful as ever.
I have recently discovered her new series, 'The Mrs Bradley Misteries', I adore the 1930's setting and style. Ms Rigg just as charming, elegant and beautiful as ever.
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