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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Overall, a good film and a decent remake!
Review: On its own, this film was absolutely fantastic! The acting was good, the storyline was good, the special effects were good...and the film was entertaining most of the time with only the occasional dull spot. However, when you compare this to the original TCM, it doesn't even come close. (I am really not too much of a fan of remakes). First off, the story in this film was slightly different than the original, making this film more like another sequel than a remake. Remaking a cult classic is a challenging task, though, and I give the people involved in this a great deal of credit for their effort and hard work. However, it is nearly impossible for a remake or sequel to ever be better than an original...so this film was probably as good as it could have been given these circumstances.

A couple of details I noticed in this movie that are worth a mention: the family was not as insane as they perhaps should have been... so that kind of made the movie a little too rational. Also, the writers decided to give Leatherface a background in an attempt to humanize him, which I think was a mistake. Leatherface kills simply because he can, not because he was tormented as a child (as this film leads you to believe).

Other than these few little concerns, however, this movie really was entertaining and it had some comic relief which was fun. I would recommend that any horror lover with a strong stomach see this film, but please, PLEASE make sure that if you haven't seen the original film, you do so at some point because it is a classic and so much better than any remake could ever be. I consider myself to be against remakes in most cases (because I believe that cult horror classics are perfect the way they are and should not be touched). If you remake a classic movie, you kind of skew people's perceptions of the original movie, which is a shame. TCM 2003 is one of the rare exceptions in the remake category. This film is really good on its own and is worth seeing just for the entertainment. Just make sure that you see the original film as well (assuming you haven't already)!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre-Whoa! Now That's Scary
Review: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was one hell of a scary movie, not exceedingly gory surprisingly but pretty intense. Jessica Biel shines as the moral hero of the film, Erin along with Eric Balfour, Johnathan Tucker, R. Lee Emery and others. First time director Marcus Nispel makes an initially gruesome film here, with some really graphic and frightening cinematic images. The original Tobe Hooper cult classic was excellent, though it wasn't as gory as this remake, it was terrifying and was one of the first successful horror movies of our generation. Now I've some heard some controversy on the fact of it is actually a true story, yes it is, of course the director said some of the plot and characters were changed and that is indeed true.
The premise is nothing intricate or incomprehensible, basically Jessica Biel and her four friends are on to see a concert but soon a dazed, zombie-like girl is drifting on the side of the road. She seems delirious and confused, they pick her up but can't make any sense of her and suddenly she commits suicide in their car. From here that film truly gets eerie and creepy, when they call the sheriff, their fate is soon sealed. They soon enter upon a slaughter house which belonged to a man named Thomas Hewitt. From here they inevitable appearance of the crazed serial killer Leatherface comes after each of them.
The only thing I could never understand is how this could be humanly possible, I mean after seeing each victim suffer, I kept thinking, God this is true. It truly is sickening.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is rated R for Strong Horror Violence/Gore, Language and Drug Content. The violence includes many scenes were the killer is chasing after his victims with his jagged chainsaw. He hacks at their limbs, impales them on meat hooks and uses their bodies for spare parts. There is also strong profanity, pot smoking and a nauseating gun suicide. Not one for adolescent audiences, but worth viewing in theatres and possibly owning on Video or DVD. The original remains the best though.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: So-so. Not as terrible as I expected, but not great either
Review: Remakes and "re-imaginings" are always a crap shoot. "Fistful of Dollars" was a wonderful remake "Yojimbo", which was very true to the original, while still being able to introduce fresh ideas. Van Sant's "Psycho" was a subtle take on Hitchcock's, but didn't quite hit the mark. "Point of No Return" was an embarrassing attempt to remake "La Femme Nikita".

So now we get to Michael (Armageddon, Pearl Harbor) Bay's production of Chainsaw. I have never liked any of his movies, and the idea of this frightened me. Texas Chainsaw is probably the greatest horror movie of all time; right up there with Exorcist and Dawn of the Dead. It is down right disturbing. After watching the first Chainsaw, the viewer feels dirty. Uncomfortable. Not only because of Leatherface, but because of the family. The crazy hitch hiking brother with his straight razor talking about cattle slaughter. The father with his eerily brutal yet comforting demeanor. The freaky dinner scene with Grandpa. What seems like an eternity of screaming that leaves the viewers squirming in their seats.

The new chainsaw is basically another stupid teen slasher flick. Take all the elements that made the original great, remove them, and you have the new film. In other words, it's empty. The premise is stupid (the original chainsaw was "based" on the true story, and the remake is based on lost footage and police files...even though it is shot in crisp color with beautiful angles). There is a dumb plot twist a really annoying ending, which I won't spoil for those who still want to waste their money on this flick. My biggest problem, though, was that the family never really seem to interact in this movie. I don't even think that Leatherface is on screen with any of the other family members more than once or twice. (I still gave it a couple of stars because a few parts such as R. Lee Ermy, I'll admit, were pretty good).

The second Chainsaw was the only actual sequel. It was silly, but still had great characters such as Chop Top picking at his head with a hanger and Dennis Hopper on his insane quest. The third and fourth are less impressive, and were basically "re-imaginings" of the first. This new one should have been called "Texas Chainsaw Massacre V: The third remake of the first". I don't mind remakes if they have something to add, or even improve upon the first. This movie is very pretty, and does have a few scares; but it was very cliché horror (all of the "Scream" rules apply). It had many chances to be just a little more creative, and didn't jump on them. I would not say this is as bad as "Point of No Return", but it's not as o.k. as the "Psycho" remake either.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Haven't seen it yet, just want to clear something up...
Review: All of these people claiming that this is a true story about Ed Gein obviously need to be refreshed in serial killer history. While the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre was LOOSELY based upon the "crimes" of Ed Gein, it was far from a true story and really had a lack of basis in reality. To be quite honest, I wish to see this remake, though I doubt it'll be as good. Tobe Hooper, as usual, did a God-like job with the original, and even the sequel was pretty good (even if III and Next Generation wasn't, due to Hooper's lack of involvement no doubt). I'm not here to criticize, not until I see the movie at least, which will be a while since I absolutely hate going to theaters. Yuck, it's always over heated, over crowded, those stupid humans tend to laugh and scream at totally inappropriate times, the reel is never focused... Oh, sorry, I got off track. Anyway, I just wanted to leave you with that bit of information, for while it may seem cool to create another Blair Witch and say "Everything is real!" it doesn't really add to the suspense, because anyone that's worth keeping around on this planet would never put themselves into a situation such as these stupid kids had. Ew, I feel dirty for comparing the Texas Chainsaw Massacre with the Blair Witch Project. I'm sorry about that everyone; I didn't mean it, really. I'd rather rot my mind on an Ashton Kutcher movie than the Blair Witch Project. If I wanted to, I could run around the forest screaming "F*CK!" in my own back yard ;P

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A symphony of horrors
Review: I honestly don't understand how anyone who has actually SEEN this movie can trash it. I can describe in one word: Incredible. This isn't "Psycho 1999." This is a tasteful remake that actually turns out to be just as scary and brutal as the movie it's based around. As a fan of the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and it's sequels (well, part 2 was good anyways), I'll admit I had my doubts about this movie. I'm not a fan of remakes in general and it seemed like sort of a waste of time. But believe me when I say this, this movie will blow your mind. Leatherface isn't the coward he was presented as in a few of the sequels and the family is far-less cartoony. In fact, the whole movie is very loosely based on the first; it only shares a few common factors. The characters are very strong and very well "fleshed" out. This is the key to a good horror movie. When you care about the characters, you are in suspense when their lives are in peril. There are several gripping moments that completely lock you into this movie. Even when you may want to look away, you just can't. The story revolves around a group of five young adults, strangers to each other, on their way back from Mexico with a giant stash of marijuana, on their way to a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert (this, like the original, takes place in 1973). As it would happen, a series of events (which I shouldn't go into detail about) puts their lives in peril. This movie has everything: suspense, plot-twists, great characters, top-notch gore, good acting. The bond that is made and the unconditional friendship between the characters glues this movie together. I honestly can't think of a flaw. This movie just grabs you for the whole 100 minutes it stays on screen. I now sit here, after seeing the original dozens of times, and I can honestly tell you: this remake needed to be made. As much as I love the first, and even though I still prefer it, this "up-dating" was sorely needed. And maybe this is a bold statement, but this is, hands down, the best horror movie we have seen so far this millennium. And with plenty of other excellent horrors behind us this year (Freddy Vs. Jason, House of 1000 Corpses, Final Destination 2) I think it's safe to say that horror is alive (errr...dead) and well, and ready for business again.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: please sit down
Review: this movie was awesome. the original one bored me and i almost fell asleep. this one was so beautifully done with the cinematagraphy(the same cinematagrapher returned from the first one to do this one as well). And why would someone want to see an exact clone of the original just with a different cast, that would be boring.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Old Is Still The Best
Review: I actually must say that I didn't mind this movie at all it was pretty good. The acting was good and the gore scenes were excellent. The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre; however, is still the best. It seems that while advancements in movies have taken place storylines are becoming increasingly stuipid. This movie was way to dependant upon it's special effects. One of the things I also didn't like was that there were no real famous actors in the movie and that shows that they probably spent so much time(and not to mention money) on special effects they couldn't afford famous actors. I would recommend that you rent this DVD, but if your going to buy it I would stick with the original.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A DISTURBING CHILLER..
Review: ....THAT WILL HAVE U ON THE EDGE OF UR SEAT! I recommend this movie on to all those who love the thrill of a gruesome horror flick. I was left covering my mouth in shock several times!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A great movie. Considering it's a remake an excellent movie!
Review: I haven't seen this film or the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre but they did a feature on this film on some cable channel the other day and it looks terrifying!

When the original film was released people knew it was based on a true story but nobody really took it heart. Then when the rubbish sequels followed everybody just raised an eyebrow at the series and turned away! I think now is the perfect time to launch a remake. Most remakes are utterly horrible. This is very well done though! The cast are great and Jessica Biel is perfect in her role.

This film isn't as gory as the original but it is violent. This time though whenever the film is mentioned people make sure you realize that the film is based on a true story so when you're watching these people being killed you can't help but think "Wow. That really happened!" which makes it scarier! All I know is that I will definitely by getting this movie when it's released on DVD! I wonder if they'll remake the Texas Chainsaw Massacre sequels?

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Ummm....No good.
Review: They screwed the story up so much, it's not even funny. They turn what could've been a geniuine scary movie into another stupid teen slasher film. The original is 100X better and scarier than this load of junk. The acting is pitiful, and the "scares" are so funny, that it's impossible for anyone in the right state of mind to enjoy this film. If you liked it, that's fine, but I think thr original is better. Not once was I even remotely scared by this film. It took "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" about 5 minutes before all my anticipation was completely stripped away and replaced with utter boredom. Instead of figuring out a way of reinventing the film for a new generation, it merely spends most of its time simply restaging many of the key moments from the earlier film. Believe me I actually gave this film a chance because there have been rare cases where the re-make surpased the orginal (i.e. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), John Carpenter's The Thing, The Ring) but in the end I was gravely dissappointed, but I expected as much. I mean didn't Hollywood learn after the disasterous Psycho re-make? What next? A re-make of Citizen Kane or Casablanca perhaps? Instead of expertly mixing gut-crunching horror, jet-black humor and a genuine sense of dread (one of the keys to the effectiveness of the original was the sense that there were genuine maniacs at the controls and that anything could happen to anyone at any time), this version simply tries to gross people out with plenty of gratuitous gore and violence. (Another one of the keys to the original was the fact that, for all of its supposed carnage, there is almost no on-screen blood or violence on display-Hooper suggested it so expertly with his editing and sound effects that the mind created more mayhem than there actually was in the final product.)The plot starts off on August 18, 1973, as a group of dopey kids are driving in a van through the back roads of Texas-instead of going to investigate the desecration of some graves, they are driving back from Mexico when they come across a strange hitch-hiker in the middle of the road. This messy encounter eventually forces them to pull off the road and approach a creepy house in the middle of nowhere, inside of which lurks the mysterious hulk Leatherface (Andrew Brynarski) who begins to pick them off one by one with sledgehammers, meat hooks and a trusty chainsaw. mentioned those earlier examples of great horror remakes. Those films had two things in common: they each radically reworked the original material to such a degree that you didn't spend the entire time comparing the redone scenes to the previous versions. In addition, all of those films were made by bold, visionary directors who managed to find ways to fuse their unique viewpoints onto classic material. That is not the case with "TCM" (frankly, it doesn't deserve the luster of the full title) as Nispel and writer Scott Kosar are content to simply retread the earlier material and the few attempts at altering the story simply don't really jibe. And since part of the appeal of the original film was that the shocks never came on any predictable timetable that would allow viewers to get comfortable, the relentless predictability quickly works against the aura of dread that it is trying to create. This predictability in evident even in something as rudimentary as the casting. The original was cast entirely with unknown actors and their rough, unpolished work, coupled with their unfamiliar faces, lent a documentary-like feel to the film; since we didn't know who the star was supposed to be, any one of them could have died at any time. The most idiotic "improvement" in "TCM" has to do with the character of the infamous Leatherface. The reason he became an instant horror icon (besides his tendency to wear the skinned-off faces of his victims) was because he had no backstory to speak of; he was simply the bogeyman incarnate and would kill you in horrible ways for no other reason than the simple fact that you were standing in the wrong place at the wrong time. Here, the insane decision has been made to attempt to "humanize" the character to make his actions less inexplicable. Instead of being a faceless monster, we learn that his real name is Thomas Brown Hewitt and that he was driven to kill because as a child, he developed an ugly skin disease that caused the other kids to make fun of him. While I may have idly speculated on the origins of Leatherface at one point or another, I never would have guessed that he and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer shared a vaguely similar backstory. So I have to say I didn't enjoy this "film" at all. Not scary, but it's good for a laugh, or nap. Which ever you prefer. If you liked it, well congratulations, but the original was better. So if you want to see this, see the original one first, and watch it alone in the dark. If you've haven't seen the original and have seen this, then you wasted your time (in my oppinion).


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