SAW THIS, THIS MORNING REGARDING ONE OF MY VERY FAVORITE HORROR FILMS AND HAD TO SHARE. THE MOVIE IN QUESTION--ALEXANDRE AJAS REMAKE OF WES CRAVENS THE HILLS HAVE EYES. This is the comment that floored me: Didnt think the hero guy worked at all from an action standpoint. Some dorky office worker in glasses takes down a tribe of murdering, outback mutants? Hmmmm.... Now... if they had initially established his character as something other than a dorky office worker, perhaps a guy with military training (an soldier with PTSD woulda be sweet) it would have sold better and been a helluva a lot more topical and interesting. But great film otherwise. My responding comment: Wow. You missed the whole point of Doug. The point was that he was this average, pacifist every man who goes to those lengths to save his child. When he fights, hes not doing kung fu and shit. Hes just doing what any parent would do in order to save their baby. The conflict and the greatness of that journey into Hell is that he ISNT Mr. Action Hero. His manhood is questioned throughout the film. This is sort of a nod to Straw Dogs. A person does not have to be ex-military or special forces to fight for their lives and the lives of others. It would have been more unrealistic or unbelievable if Doug turned out to be CIA...lol. The fact he was this pussified office worker who is pushed to savagery when his wife, father and mother-in-law are murdered and his baby is kidnapped is what is most amazing about the film. Aaron was great in the role. And as far as being an action star...he did play an X-man in X2. He was Pyro. The thing is it seems like EVERY film these days involves a hero with special forces or military background. Liam Neeson has made 14 movies with this plotline in the last 5 years...lol. I could not believe how much the point of the movie just flew over this persons head. If Doug had been established as this ex-military guy then it would have been predictable as hell and the same old convenient Hollywood bullshit that every time something violent happens, some badass in sheeps clothing is going to turn up and hand out punishment to the bad guys. Shit like that doesnt happen in real life. This movie was about SURVIVAL. You dont have to be TRAINED in order to fight for your life. No matter how PREPARED you are in life, if a group of people invaded your camp, shot your wife in the head, shot your mother-in-law in the stomach, burned your father-in-law alive and stole you infant baby girl, would we really need to know jujitsu in order to attempt to get our baby back? Out in the desert where there is no help from others? You either do it, or never see your daughter again. I can tell you I am no Jason Statham but if someone kidnapped Lily and I was able to follow them and get her back...wrath would be on full tilt boogie. I mean the very REASON I love this movie is what wasnt realistic enough for this person. But having him be ex-military would be far more real...lol. Thanks Luc Besson for putting that cliche into every ones heads...lol
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 17:08:20 +0000