Shutter Island Review

[Kiba.]

Originally Posted by Porkchopexpress

Sadly beautiful cinematography does not a good film make, I found it forced and artifical. Maybe I was just in a bad mood, but I just didn't like it.

You're perfectly entitled to have a different opinion to the general consensus, it could be considered refreshing to hear from someone who didn't like it. But I'm leaning towards the bad mood possibility because, despite being overlong like most big films are these days, it was not that bad. Gangs of New York was a tedious experience and I struggled through it. I'd say that's easily Scorsese's worst, not Shutter Island.

[Porkchopexpress]

Yeah you could be right, possibly still in the after shock of being dragged to watch 'The Bounty Hunter' by the missus the week before, I think I'd over hyped it to such an extreme in my mind and wa sso looking forward to it, I couldn't help but be disappointed.

I think I expected something totally different to what I got, which left me feeling let down, just couldn't buy into it.

As for 'Gangs...' I can't watch it anymore, becasue apart Diaz's dodgy acting, everytime they gear up for that bloody big ruck at the end and the army spoils it before it happens I get really depressed, i wanted to see that fight!

Also Gleeson gets cheap shotted, that should never happen, in any film, ever!

[Kiba.]

Originally Posted by Porkchopexpress

Yeah you could be right, possibly still in the after shock of being dragged to watch 'The Bounty Hunter' by the missus the week before, I think I'd over hyped it to such an extreme in my mind and was so looking forward to it, I couldn't help but be disappointed.

I think I expected something totally different to what I got, which left me feeling let down, just couldn't buy into it.

I came back here to say I thought over what you said, your criticisms and I guess maybe you have a point. The film expects the audience to connect emotionally with DiCaprio's character and be willing to suspend disbelief and allow the tale to unfold at its own pace. For some, perhaps that pace is too leisurely. It's definitely not a bad film, but I can understand then why you didn't like it.

I went into it with no expectations and not knowing anything about it. I had suspicions from the start but was content to allow the passage of the film to reveal which ones I had right. Partially I enjoyed the contrast from most modern films which are manic and explosion/chase heavy rather than suspenseful and atmospheric. It was old fashioned film-making but I liked that. Scorsese continues to make watchable films, that cannot be said of all of his peers.

[Projectionist]

Could have been worse mate. I watched the it for the tech screening at work and the middle reel was Date night. I sat there thinking what the fuck is steve carrel doing in this

[thedude]

Meh, I enjoyed it, just not as much as I had hoped. DiCaprio was excellent in it, as was the rest of the cast, also the location and how it was captured was a sight to behold. However I found it a tad plodding and a tad obvious *SPOILER* I twigged what was going to happen at the end fairly early on in the film, depending on how you think it ended, I knew he was gonna end up getting a lobotomy, not through any fault of the film maker, it just seemed so obvious to me*SPOILER END* also I found the score in places to be wierdly obtrusive. Solid, if not a special as I had hoped.

3/5

[Ancient One]

spot on dude. I found it a bit boring to be honest. As you say the ending is obvious from about halfway through and it had an unfinished feel to it. I hate to say it but I think Scorseses days are over as a top director.

[jaykays hat]

I thought this film was very good, truly got dragged into it and Leo's acting was top notch, I even shed a tear near the end in the scene with his kids.

[Jeffbiscuits]

That's only two questions.
It was months ago I saw it and can't remember much but I'm sure he is nuts and he's been on the island go ages already.

[jaykays hat]

He was crazy and they let him play out the fantasy of him being a cop to see if it would cure him. It didn't work, they were going to cart him off to the lighthouse to operate on him at the end. Great film.

[Porkchopexpress]

Don't do it man!

It's an over rated film loved by sycophantic Scorsese critics the world over, it's just awful in my opinion.. Bereft of originality ( I know it's an adaptation, but still.), ponderous and over long with a 'twist' so obvious it's untrue. Just a plodding film of little surprises and uninspiring performances.

The score is nice though, I recommend buying the old school score over the film.