Rating: Summary: My thoughts on Terror Firmer (and Troma in general) Review: This is perhaps the most entertaining Zero star film I have ever seen.While I somehow managed to sit through the whole thing (i did, I admit have a hatchet which I frequently cut myself with, swear to God) I can't say I hold any value of it whatsoever. By and Large, I was appalled. Now don't you dar call me soft. I own DEAD ALIVE, which has been called the goriest movie of all time (albeit not even close to the grossest) In fact, that honor belongs to Terror Firmer, which pretty much sums up my whole thoughts on Troma. But let me discuss the film first. It's movie within a movie plot gives way to numerous characters and shenanigans. We have, among other things, ample mutilation, hemaphrodites, suicides, brain removals, the smallest penis ever on film for all of Times square to see (with a magnifying glass, maybe), and gratuitous vomiting. Now, a note on the vomiting. I hate to see puke in movies, so maybe its the sickening barf-fest in the limo (or the guy who makes out with a girl still covered in his own vomit) that drug this film into zero star territory for me. And yes, I have seen BAD TASTE, and I actually enjoyed the bowl-o-chuck ritual in that film. There is a difference. This film presents it in the most disgusting and explicitve manner ever. Did I mention a man eats his own member? Now don't take me for a stuck-up cinema snob. I like Troma. I like Lloyd Kaufman. While I hate these films (I've the toxic Avenger 1-4, this, and troma dance vol. 1., which is possibly the biggest waste of plastic ever) I admire the rough-and-tumble, bootstrap, and shameless spirit of Troma studios. I enjoyed the feature length documentary that follows the filming process of Terror Firmer. These are delightful people who believe in what they are doing, and without pretension. I am thankful that a studio like that can thrive, even I hate their movies. Note: I have not included in this discussion Cannibal: The Musical, an absolutely delightful (and all around, tasteful) comedy released by Troma studios, which was NOT involved with the production.
Rating: Summary: Gleefully Stepping Over the Line Review: This is the one: the Troma film that may make prior Troma films seem restrained and timid. This time lloyd held nothing back and if prior movies really pushed the envelope of raunch and depravity then here Lloyd rippes that envelope wide open here. Terror Firmer has everything that Troma has always promised: Gore, nudity, filth and pointed jabs. The pace is manic, and driven and the acting is in some of the stronger Troma tradition, and I admit there will always be a wet place in my heart for Debbie Rochon. Troma has gone from being a 2 bit exploitation house to being America's formost Subversive. Herein may lie the problem for me, after Tromeo and Juliet my expectations and hopes may have been too high. While all the elements of Tromeo are here (Minus that one scene with Jane Jensen and Debbie Rochon) it doesn't quite reach the levels that Tromeo did. I guess it serves me right for taking it too seriously but Lloyd himself has adopted the mantra "Lets make some art!!" and he has done so before. This time however he misses his high mark by just a smidge. Lloyd is clearly relishing his role as an elder-statesman of the low budget indie scene here and this may be why Terror Firmer misses its mark. All of Troma's best work so far has targeted us, society and our hipocracy so the heroes were Toxie and Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD. This time the target is film and art and the hero is Lloyd himself. While he certainly pokes fun at himself he is a bit too self-congratulatory. Yes Lloyd IS a hero and he is one of the last standing voices for truly independent film, none of this is in question, but Lloyd's vision is too narrow. There are many heroes who are on the front lines: Lynch, Cronenberg, VonTrier, Fincher who are all fighting to push film, kicking and screaming usually, into the this millenium. All this would be fine and merely academic, if it were not for what it does to the film. Unlike Toxie, Tromeo, Killer Condom and others, Terror Firmer's preachy edge, isn't tempered by humanity or other concerns; we aren't talking about saving the earth or our own humanity in this one, but rather the validity of Troma's particular form of Art. It is an important message but it was ultimately not enough to push Terror Firmer into the hights Lloyd had given us before.
Rating: Summary: ioncetookatexantoawedding Review: this movie is bad even for troma. its not gross or shocking or funny. it's very long, i think about 9 hours. i wasn't offended or entertained, just bored and i got diarhea. troma fans are overwight. i bought this movie and i can't get rid of it. i can't sell it to stoners, give it away to homeless people, or trade it for a banana at lunch. it didn't even come with the free poster promised on the case. also it breaks your dvd players
Rating: Summary: Terror Firmer- Another fine work of art by the troma team! Review: Wow. I thought writing a review for this film would be easy. Words cannot express how great this movie is. If you have never seen a troma movie before, this movie may be a little TOO shocking for you. With scenes of gratuitous violence, pointless nudity, and lots of profanity, Terror Firmer aims to please its hardcore Troma fans. The plot of the film is loosly based on Lloyd Kaufman's book, "All I Need To Know About Film Making I Learned from The Toxic Avenger." A low budget movie crew is on the set of a Toxic Avenger movie and being murdered systematically by a crazed serial killer. Scences of leg amputations (by two trucks), axe maiming and defetusing, are just a few highlights of the gory wonder that is Terror Firmer! Another brilliant and shockingly funny film from Troma. BUY THIS NOW! IT IS WELL WORTH ITS PRICE!
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