Willard

Rating:
Summary: Disturbing and darkly funny
Review: If there's an actor who can play weird better than Crispin Glover, I don't know who it is. He's perfect as Willard Stiles
A lonely man who still lives doesn't have any friends and his only family is his sickly mother When Willard goes down to the basement to get rid of the rats he finds a friend in a cute white rat that he meets in his basement he loves the rat, he sleeps with the rat he even trains the rat and all of his rat friends and that's when the fun really begins.
It is a rare gem, a character study of considerable subtlety aside from being a helluva fun time. While it doesn't wind up being the masterpiece for which it was at one point heading, it is still better than anyone had any right to expect
"Willard" isn't for everybody. It's for those who want to enjoy a wicked tale of an unusual friendship, revenge, and a perfect set-up for a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: You guys are talking about the same film?
Review: First, a round of applause for Crispen and now the brutal truth. This remake was shot in a very unique style that I rather enjoyed, but the film itself was a dreary thing to sit through. There is no horror, no suspense, and the only creepiness is a terrific performance by Crispen Glover. I usually enjoy a twisted little flick, but was sorely disappointed in this attempt to keep me interested.

Rating:
Summary: Better than expected
Review: Despite the fact that Willard didn't cause much of a stur during it's theatrical release, it is a surprisingly good and refreshing horror film. A remake/sequel to the film of the same name released in the 70's (and notice the painting and pictures of the original film's star Bruce Davison), the film focuses around Willard (played exquisitely by Crispin Glover) who discovers he has a unique bond with the rats that have infested his basement. He befriends a nice, small white rat who he names Socrates, and a big, bad rat named Ben. Both of whom, along with the hundreds of other rats, can do whatever he tells them to do. This proves useful since Willard's abusive boss (the always great R.Lee Ermey). Director/screenwriter and X-Files alumnus Glen Morgan manages to give the film a great stylish look and a nice creepy atmosphere which blends with the surprisingly macabre humor that is abound. Laura Harring (most notable for Mulholland Drive) is here pretty much as just eye candy, and her performance is mostly forgettable. I for one am surprised at the film getting a PG-13 rating with the amount of blood abound, and unlike some of the other PG-13 rated horror movies of late (The Ring, Darkness Falls), Willard manages to be pretty memorable. All in all, horror afficiandos should give this film a look.

Rating:
Summary: A movie for rat lovers
Review: This movie is not about rats randomly attacking people because of some crazed science experiment. Instead, this movie is best described as a psychological thriller where Willard battles against his inner demons and his mean boss at his job.

It is a very well developed story, in a psycho kind of way. A grown man living with his elderly sick mother. Trying to cope with his confinement and his loneliness. Because of circumstances beyond his control, he himself becomes like a mouse, trapped in a steel cage.

At the end of the movie (VHS version) there is a strange, but entertaining music video staring Willard and his rats. I recommend that you buy this movie.

Rating:
Summary: A real creepy classic.
Review: This is a rare remake that is much better than the original. Crispin Glover's over the top performance is a real eye opener, and the things he does with his furry friends is extraordinary. I can remember the original film very clearly (Yes, I'm that old) and it was pretty good, but the remake is much better and a lot more creepier.

P.S. This is not a sequel to the original film, it is a remake.

Rating:
Summary: It's a shame...
Review: It's a shame that this movie dropped out of theaters just 2 weeks after its release. Many were expecting a comedy or a graphic horror. And it's all because of the horrible marketing for it. Willard is an intelligent, and somewhat gothic story about one man's struggle with a life that's going nowhere but down. Crispin Glover is the only person who could've played this role. He just looks unique and has a certain aura about him. The colors and music blend flawlessly with the tone of this movie, a nice change from 90% of what's out there today, where movies just rely on flash. Willard has no car chases, explosions, dumb humor, pointless sex, or anything that you see these days. It is in its own genre.

Willard lives at home with his dying mother. His father killed himself, his mother does nothing but degrade him even while on her death bed, and his boss makes every day of work hell. Willard's dad owned part of the company Willard now works at, and his current boss owns the other. There is a contract that keeps Willard working until his mother dies. He has no friends...not until after setting mouse traps in the basement. After regular mouse traps fail, he tries the glue strips. Once a rat is caught, Willard hears it scream. He runs down to finish it off, but sees the pain it's going through and fees sympathy for it. The rat is very smart and tame. Willard names it "Socrates" and soon befriends all of the other rats. But there's one rat that doesn't want to be Willard's friend, as he is jealous of Socrates- Big Ben. A rat at least 3 times larger than the others.

I really want to tell you more, but I do a terrible job of summarizing movies, and I'd rather you buy the DVD and find out how good it is yourself. While some people are stupid and claim the movie "has no point", it does have a point. Willard is isolated until he befriends Socrates. Big Ben becomes jealous of this bond they share, and he too begins to make Willard's life harder. This is a very touching movie, and if Willard were a real person, I'd be his friend. He's had such a hard life that you feel sorry for him within the first 10 minutes.

The DVD has more extra features than Courtney Love has STDs. There's commentary, a 73 minute behind the scenes documentary, deleted/alternate scenes with commentary, a rat featurette, DVD ROM features, a music video for "Ben", and the usual trailers. This is very impressive, and companies should follow this disc as for what the standard in special features is. The deleted/alternate scenes are good, but they were cut for a reason. They were good, but a few just didn't fit in with the tone of the movie. The romance between Willard and Cat for example. There was no romance, she saw him as someone who needed a friend. The original ending though, was very depressing, and I agree with the [stupid] test audiences, that it needed to be changed (to what it is in the theatrical cut). The commentary for the film was good and insightful, but the producer talked way too much, and I'd much rather have Crispin by himself do the commentary.

This movie is easily the best I've seen this year. Bar none. My only gripe is what happens to the kitty. I skip that scene every time it comes up. Either way, purchase this and be assured that you're in for something unique.

Rating:
Summary: Rotten Rodents
Review: Willard has a Pg-13 rating despite all the foul barrage of words uttered thoughout the movie?. Well considering that there really is no blood or rat chewed bodies in the movie I guess thats the going standard today.
This could have been a wonderfull remake of one of my favorite films but ends up just a video for Crispin Glover. The rats, so creepy in the original just lack the personality for this role.
Why did the makers of this film think that something that looks like a Kangaroo Rat rather then the Black Sewer rat that original Ben was, would be scarier? The original Ben showed emotion thru his little whiskered face and beady eyes as he went thru his paces because the rats trainer Mo Deseso gave his pupils alot of love. This Armadillo looking rodent(which interviews spoke of as being tempermental and oftimes vicious) spent most of his time staring thru big black cow eyes at Willard, not the ominous thinking creature in the original
The ending in the Asylum is a confusing been there, done that, with Socrates alive and together with Willard biding their time.
An opening for a Sequel? Early cuts had more macarbe scenes in it with scully the cats final moments and with Willard getting his face chewed to death by Ben, who shows up hopping in Silhoutte at the attic window shade minus one paw that he chewed off to get out of a trap Willard had set on him. On the cutting room floor is where they are now I suppose. This could have been Grand Guingol at its finest. All I can say is, Rats!!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: finally
Review: i finally got to see this amazing movie, because when it came out in theaters it was VERY limited and only out for two weeks. i just have to say that this movie, on every level was perfect. Crispin Glovers performance as Willard was stellar. the mood was creepy, and the story provided some excellent humor. this movie should have been a far greater success than it was. Willard is proof once again that most critics simply don't get it. on the dvd of this movie is a documentary of the making of Willard. this has to be the saddest, most real, expression of Hollywood and how an artist has to compromise, i've ever seen. definitely painful to watch, it will make you despise the moron's that only want to see the 'jump out of your seat' teenage slasher/horror film, and that simply cannot comprehend a very Hitchcock inspired, beautiful and funny film with heart.

Rating:
Summary: For Pure Strangeness - This Is Tops
Review: I was attracted to this movie mainly because "Creepy Thin Man" (Crispin Glover) from Charlie's Angels takes the lead role. But also because the previews for the movie looked so disturbingly awesome. A man who controls swarms of rats. And that folks is the entire premise of the movie. There is perhaps one surprise in the movie that you may not see coming. But beyond that it's pretty well cut and dry. Willard is lonely. His dad has passed and his mom is on her last leg. He has no friends. No love interest. And his boss hates him. But guess what? Willard has the nifty ability to communicate with rats. Bet you didn't see that one coming (LOL!). Imagine what you would do if you had a mutual hate going with your boss and you could command rats in hideous numbers. . . oh yeah. I don't think I need to spell it out. And that's basically the main attraction here. Wesley Morris of the Boston Globe called it ". . .wonderfully deranged." - and that, I must say, holds true.

Rating:
Summary: Welcome to the Rat Race....
Review: Though it received mixed reviews and a basically tepid response from audiences during its theatrical release, the 2003 remake of 1971's WILLARD is actually a very entertaining popcorn flick. Admittedly, it does lack the literary depth of the novel [original title: RATMAN'S NOTEBOOKS] on which it is based (so did the 1971 film). But star Crispin Glover, as the titular character, delivers an outstanding performance, consistently chewing the scenery in scene after scene. If any actor can convince an audience that it's possible for a societal pariah to develop a spiritual affinity with a colony of rats and then utilize the critters in intricately orchestrated acts of revenge, the intriguing and eccentric Mr. Glover can. Indeed, Crispin Glover IS Willard; he was born to play this role.

WILLARD is a horror story, but modern horror buffs weaned on the likes of FRIDAY THE 13TH-type flicks may have panned this movie due to the relative lack of crimson-colored accoutrements. (Gore buffs take note: A really bloody scene was shot, but it was cut down for the theatrical release. The DVD extras include the un-edited version.) Instead of using vivid viscera, this film generates genuine goose bumps via the depiction of Willard's decent into madness, an intense psychological deterioration that is spurred on by the cruel, tactless characters that people Willard's life. If nothing else, it'll make you think twice about harassing an inattentive store clerk or a marginally competent coworker.

It may be short on gore, but WILLARD is not without its eye candy. The scenes that contain hoards of rats--some real and some FX-generated--are quite realistic and visually fascinating. And then there is the stunningly beautiful Laura Harring, a former Miss USA, who portrays Willard's only non-rodent ally. Not only is Ms. Harring a delight to look at, but she is also an excellent actress who does a very affecting job at providing a sympathetic, though tacit, love interest for Glover's character. (Also watch for the buxom Kimberly Patton, a.k.a. Kim McKamy, in a minor role as one of Willard's coworkers. Ms. Patton is better known to porn fans as Ashlyn Gere.)

The WILLARD DVD offers lots of extras: An optional feature commentary; deleted and extended scenes (including alternate endings); a documentary on real people who are obsessed with keeping rats as pets; a behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of WILLARD; a really cool music video featuring star Crispin Glover doing his cover of the Jackson 5 tune BEN; and more.

All in all, definitely worth the price of admission.