Willard

Rating:
Summary: Where is Ernest Borgnine when you need him?
Review: Crispin Glover makes a fortune playing neurotics and misfits, but this time he is truly over the top. This remake of the 1971 thriller (starring a very young Bruce Davison) is funnier than it is scary. Poor Willard lives in a big dark mansion with a mother who sounds like Norman Bates Mom (played wonderfully by veteran Jackie Burroughs). Tormented by his mother, his lack of friends and, especially, his nasty boss (R. Lee Ermey), Willard slowly breaks down emotionally and befriends the rats in his cellar. Socrates is his favorite, but Ben is jealous, bigger and much meaner. You can guess what happens - it's that predictable. However, the rat scenes are completely believable with 'Animatronics' and most of the scenes are Glover with real rats. The atmosphere is all there, the mean boss who is sure to get his as well as the main characters angst. R. Lee Ermey is never believably mean enough as the boss, but his lines with Willard are classic camp. The best part is watching Glover's facial contortions and temper tantrums. He is already a train wreck waiting to derail all over again. There is also a great scene with a cat that vainly tries to escape a never ending swarm of rats. Fun acting, predictable plot and good special effects. It's better than the original, except Ernest Borgnine isn't here.

Note: Lots of extras - nearly more than the movie itself. See Amazon's listings.

Rating:
Summary: Cheer of the Rat!
Review: In a role that perhaps he was born to play, Hollywood weird-kid Crispin Glover shines as the tormnented, milquetoast title character in Glen Morgan's journeyman-effort remake of the 70's fright flick "Willard". Accentuated by the ingenious and creepy accordian score, the film opens in the basement of the Stiles home where we find Willard (Glover) contemplating how best to rid the house of vermin. He soon begins to see the intruders as kindred spirits rather than interlopers and an immediate, almost psychic bond developes between master and rodent. When Willard's overbearing and cartoonishly brute boss, Mr. Martin (R. Lee Ermey of "Full Metal Jacket"), belittles the cowering Willard one too many times, he unleashes his newly trained army of rats to exact a measure of revenge on the boss's new Mercedes. Yet, like all true tragic figures, Willard's luck only goes from bad to worse. Not even the friendship of an office temp can stay Willard's psyche from it's pre-destined downward spiral into madness and murder. Director Glen Morgan in his feature film debut competently weaves the twisted and tragic tale of a young man with a haunted past and no future into a thoroughly enjoyable and eerie film. His TV work serves him well in the many effective close-ups and forced perspective shots that bring the rodents vividly into our adult-sized world. I was a bit disappointed in that Morgan bowed to the test-screening score sheets and dumb-edited the movie down from an R to a PG-13 rating. That misstep asside, Morgan's most inspired decision on the film was the casting of Crispin Glover as Willard Styles. With his gaunt, sloping frame and his perpetual downcast gaze of defeat, Glover brings to life one of the more memorable characters to grace the screen this year. His fits of passion mixed with explosive episodes of rage are never forced, never over the top, and always true and complementary to the total developement of the Id of Willard. Dark, moody and down-right scary at times, "Willard" is the diamond in the rough of the 2003 DVD miasma. Rent it today -- but make sure you've got plenty of Mouse Prufe II on hand ... just in case.

Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected.
Review: The only reason that I did not like this movie is because it is not what I expected. It was not a bad movie, it is just not the movie that the trailers made me believe it would be.
Crispin Glover gives the performance of his lifetime. I guess the rats do as well.
I won't get in to the whole story as others have already covered it very well.
All I can say is, I thought it was going to be this horrific story of Crispin leading the rats to enact his vengeance on those who cross his path. That is correct in the one case where he has them attack his boss. But then the movie turns, almost instantly, to be a Crispin versus the rats movie. That is not what I wanted and what I wanted is not what I got.
Also, from the trailers, I was led to believe that he hated his mother. That is not true either.
I guess that is my only true gripe. It is not what you are led to believe it is.

Rating:
Summary: Cheezy!
Review: I always thought actor Crispin Glover in movies was a weird character, every movie he appeared in he had that Zoned out "Zooted" look. I realised he permanently looked like that.
Well in Willard the look finally was for something and paid off. He certainly fit the character he also did an exellent job with it.

This remake didn't work though. No one cares about RATS that you control for no reason.
There was no real story in this movie either. It's not like his whole neighborhood thought he was weird and was pissing him off and his revenge was to make the RATS attack and eat them. The only beef he had was with his boss who embarassed, belittled, and threatened him daily...no one else in the film was on his "hit list". It would've been so easy to kill his boss one shot but then the movie would only be like 20 minutes and it'd be over right? Instead they linger on him talking to his favorite white mouse "Socretes" that he hides in his sleeve, sleeps in the bed with, and brings to work with him. They also linger alot on him arguing with the "Head RAT in charge" BEN.

There was a potential romance for Willard but he was more into hanging out with his "RAT friends". The picture was just building you up for the inevitable "I'm gonna kill my nagging boss". There's nothing more to it. The original was innovative at the time and well made for that time when people had a longer attention span, patience, and supported movies like that....not anymore, our attention spans are shorter and we demand more. It didn't hurt that at the time of the original the Michael jackson hit "Ben" also made the movie a hit. If Jay Z made a rap version of "Ben" this movie still couldn't have been a hit. This movie bombed if I remembered. Recommended only if it is part of a "rent 2 movies and rent another free" special.
Before I go, what was up with his mother?? She looked better dead than when she was alive?

Rating:
Summary: Well well worth the price of admission
Review: In this movie, a remake of the 1971 Daniel Mann film, Crispin Glover stars as Willard Stiles, a lonely, slightly unhinged, loser who trains an army of rats to do his bidding. Although it has a few flaws, Willard is a highly entertaining film, and definitely worth the price of admission.

Willard has a go-nowhere job at Martin-Stiles Manufacturing, which was co-founded by his now-deceased father. The company is now run by its tyrant co-founder Frank Martin, played by R. Lee Ermey (Full Metal Jacket). As the story unfolds, we learn that Martin bought out the shares of the elder Mr. Stiles, who, for reasons that aren't fully explained, later committed suicide. As a part of the contract, Willard was promised a job for life. Predictably, though, as soon as Willard's mother dies, Martin fires him. At that point, Willard completely loses his mind and the real action begins.

In the beginning, the film is a little hard to get into because the premise of the movie is, well, preposterous. As the film opens, Willard is seen trying to exterminate a white rat that he found living in his basement. Willard has second thoughts about killing him, though, so he befriends the little guy and names him "Socrates." He then begins to train thousands of Socrates' cohorts (including the nearly dog-sized "Ben") to do all kinds of neat tricks, like climbing into briefcases and chewing things on command. In what seems like just a few minutes, the rats have become a well-trained army of furry little soldiers, ready and willing to do whatever Willard asks. As a viewer, you're left wondering why the rats suddenly agree to submit to Willard's control. But Glover really sells it and, later on at least, it doesn't seem so unbelievable.

In fact, the acting is pretty good across the board. Glover's performance is excellent throughout. Most people probably remember him from his role as George McFly in Back to the Future. He doesn't stray too far from the McFly persona in Willard, but it still works: he is totally believable as the crazy Willard. Ermey is also effective, but perhaps a little too over-the-top, as Willard's abusive boss. Ermey is probably best known as the former real-life Marine who played the drill sergeant in Full Metal Jacket, a role that he has played (unintentionally at times) in about a hundred other movies since then. He essentially reprises his part in FMJ here; in fact, through the whole movie, you're half expecting him to call Willard a "panty waste" or something.

Despite a few shortcomings here and there, Willard is an effective and enjoyable film. A warning is in order, though: this movie is not for the squeamish and definitely not for children. In fact, some of it is downright painful to watch. The violence inflicted on animals in a couple of scenes is pretty harsh, even for hardened horror-film fans. But if you enjoy a good psychological thriller, you'll find Willard well worth the price of admission. Check it out.

Rating:
Summary: Woof Woof
Review: This movie kicks ass. Glover is a genius (but everyone knows this already). And the scene with the little dog is just lovely. My neighbors had a dog like that (used to drive me crazy), though after I saw the movie, they moved (funny coincidence). His emotions were so on with that part. Sad to say, that's exactly what I would have done and thought. But really. This is the movie that brought me out of my sleep and initiated me into the wonder of Crispin Hellion Glover. And the rats.. the rats..

Reminded me a tad of the Lovecraft story "Rats in the Walls", which is very cool. I wish I had magic powers to control rats like that. Also, this movie has wonderful atmosphere and the mother is freaky. Glover got a nomination for this, I believe. This is such a unique movie and part, especially for a talent such as he. Only thing is the director seemed a little overobsessed with Psycho, which is both cool and disturbing. Also, I wish they had just kept it rated R and shown all. Nothing should be censored. It does have the feel of an older movie from that era though (Hitchcock, Psycho, etc). Something I especially enjoyed about it.

Oh, and the tearing of the newspaper. Nice. "Tear it up.. tear it up".. =) I also like the sound of the ice cream truck in the background after mummy dies and the clock and forshadowing of Ben's foot. That little sequence was especially nice. The last scene is great too. I think it was better that way and I agree with Crispin that they all live on somehow. Lovely, lovely movie.

Rating:
Summary: Willard (2003)
Review: Dark, menacing remake of the 1971 original classic delivers the goods all around, and even pokes humour at itself a couple times. Crispin Glover plays a shy, mysterious man who lives with his ill mother who soon makes friends with rats in his basement in which he chooses a white mouse to be the leader. Soon, a giant rat who he names Big Ben, becomes jealous of the leader and wreaks havoc upon Willard. Glover is superb as the psychotic Willard, and although you don't feel as much sympathy for him as one would expect, you do feel for him during his hard times. An entertaining film that is most definitely not a waste of two hours! Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: This film is Worth Watching because of Glover`s Role.
Review: For Years, William Stiles (Crispin Glover) has been stuck on a Dead-End Job with no friends to care for and no future. The two things, he has in his life are his Sick Mother (Jackie Borroughs) and His Mean-Spirited Boss (R.Lee Ermey). Then one night, Willard makes an errie discovery:He shares a Powerful Bond with Rats, Which he becomes his new friends and then he trains them for his Revenge at his Boss. But when his boss kills his Best Rat Friend. Willard decides to built a better rat trap with his rats to get revenge at his Boss.

Directed by Glen Morgan (Co-Screenwriter of Final Desniation & The One) made a Clever, Funny, Horror Film that it shows much more Style than the Original 1971 Film. Which is Based on a Novel bu Stephen Gilbert, which the novel is called ``Ratman`s Notebooks``. Crispen Glover gives a Terrific Performance, which is One of his Best Roles. Elena Harring from the Mulholland Drive fame has a Supporting Role as Willard`s new human friend. DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer (Also in Pan & Scan) and an terrific Dolby Digital 5.1 Expanded Surround Sound. DVD has an Commentary Track by the Writer/Director:Morgan, Producer:James Wong and Actors:Glover & Ermey (Although Ermey brief comments seems to be from a different commentary track). DVD Features include a 72 Minute Documentary on the Making of the Film, 18 Minute Featurette on Rat People Friends or Foes ? and more. This film did flop at the Box Office but the film has a Cult Following now. Watch for the Portait of Actor:Bruce Davidson as Willard`s Father. Which Davidson was the Original Willard. Do not miss this Clever Well Made Film. Screenplay by the Director. Super 35. Grade:A-.

Rating:
Summary: Skip This as Well as Many Remakes
Review: Willard didn't get much promotion and didn't do anything in the theaters yet I watched it hoping it would be good. I knew the history of the Ben legend and I also was interested in seeing Willard. I was disappointed beyond belief. I prepared myself to be frightened and not bored out of my mind. The film is slow-paced and is SUPPOSED to be a horror but the only scary thing is the weird dialogue. I have never been a fan of films with truly dark sets and it peeved me off that Willard was so dark you couldn't see half the sets. Crispin Glover was good in the title role. I would say he was a great actor but he acts this strange in everything so I can't say any talent was truly involved. Let's be real, would they have gotten Crispin if it weren't for his natural ability to scare the heck out of everyone who sees him? Emery was good as Willard's boss and I wish he could have stuck around. The lead woman was unnoticable and a little romance could have been thrown in to excite the audience a little bit. The rats sequences were more comedic than scary. This is a big disappointment even if your hopes aren't up. Watch it if you love big rats and scary men in black suits, skip this if you don't and be happy you still have your sanity.

Rating:
Summary: Cheezy!
Review: I always thought actor Crispin Glover in movies was a weird character, every movie he appeared in he had that Zoned out "Zooted" look. I realised he permanently looked like that.
Well in Willard the look finally was for something and paid off. He certainly fit the character he also did an exellent job with it.

This remake didn't work though. No one cares about RATS that you control for no reason.
There was no real story in this movie either. It's not like his whole neighborhood thought he was weird and was pissing him off and his revenge was to make the RATS attack and eat them. The only beef he had was with his boss who embarassed, belittled, and threatened him daily...no one else in the film was on his "hit list". It would've been so easy to kill his boss one shot but then the movie would only be like 20 minutes and it'd be over right? Instead they linger on him talking to his favorite white mouse "Socretes" that he hides in his sleeve, sleeps in the bed with, and brings to work with him. They also linger alot on him arguing with the "Head RAT in charge" BEN.

There was a potential romance for Willard but he was more into hanging out with his "RAT friends". The picture was just building you up for the inevitable "I'm gonna kill my nagging boss". There's nothing more to it. The original was innovative at the time and well made for that time when people had a longer attention span, patience, and supported movies like that....not anymore, our attention spans are shorter and we demand more. It didn't hurt that at the time of the original the Michael jackson hit "Ben" also made the movie a hit. If Jay Z made a rap version of "Ben" this movie still couldn't have been a hit. This movie bombed if I remembered. Recommended only if it is part of a "rent 2 movies and rent another free" special.
Before I go, what was up with his mother?? She looked better dead than when she was alive?