Random Thoughts: The Return

sanctum

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Nope, 1998's The Phantom of the Opera.

The_Phantom_of_the_Opera_%281998_film%29_poster.jpg
 

Hampo

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Oh crap, I completely missed this riveting discussion on Argento, the director we are all supposed to love blindly even though most of his films are kinda bad.

Ever seen this Argento film?

Would not be surprised if soundtracks like these influenced some Japanese bands. No idea how big his films were in Japan, but at least the developers behind the original Clock Tower game really loved it :D That game takes so directly from Suspiria and Phenomena that in this day and age it could probably lead to a lawsuit. Which would of course be a shame, as the original Clock Tower is one of the scariest things ever.

Those familiar with Suspiria will find a lot of similarities in this track;

I have absolutely no idea how they managed to mimic the Goblin's Suspiria soundtrack this well on the SNES. I hope Argento has seen this game, I bet he would get a kick out of it.

That makes me think about this story how some horror fan took his copy of the Dead Rising video game to be signed by George A. Romero. To the fan's surprise, nobody had asked Romero if they can use the Dawn of the Dead premise on a video game, so he had no idea what the game even was. After being explaned what it's all about, Romero apparently liked the idea and signed the game. Shame he never recorded a let's play of it...
 

Witchka

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Loved Clock Tower, but was very disappointed with the ending of Phenomena... No matter how hilarious it was. I knew early into the movie it was going to be delightfully bad, but not THAT bad....
 

sanctum

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Despite the awful pacing and some questionable directorial choices, Phenomena is one of my favourite Argento films.
 

Hampo

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I actually like it too. The biggest problem with it is how it introduces so many elements (many of them could be made into their own films) and then just shoves them aside. Like the main character sleepwalking. Her witnessing a murder while sleepwalking is a brilliant concept, but the film completely forgets about it instead of doing something cool with it. At least the insect theme had a great pay off at the end.

Speaking of the ending, I genuinely like how the ape got his revenge. Donald Pleasence getting killed while the ape was trying to warn him was so goddamn sad. I don't even know which one is more ridiculous; the fact that Donald Pleasence can deliver those lines with such gravitas or the ape being a genuinely good actor as well. They deserved their own spinoff sitcom.

One thing I never understood is why people complain about Jennifer Connelly's acting in the film. I think she did a great job. I've seen some make jokes about her literally sleepwalking through-out the film just like the character, but I always thought that's more or less intentional. I think her "lowkey" acting also gives the character a more mysterious vibe and she is definitely playing a rather interesting character.

And I mean, come on. She was the prettiest girl of all time. You haters just jealous.
 

Witchka

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She was better in Phenomena than she was in Labyrinth *violent coughing fits*

The ending did feel rushed, and like a last minute "F*ck it! Let's do this crazy last-minute plot-twist!", which, honestly, just drives me batty when writers and directors do that.
(or things like animated shows you're fully invested in completely changing their art-style halfway through a season
--
usually because they fired their old team and hired a new one, but this is a rant for another day).

I can't stop getting images of Bedtime for Bonzo out of my head -- Me wonders if, since it was the '80s, Argento devised this element as a nod (aka joke) towards Reagan?

Anywhoooo if anyone would like to delve deeper into this topic, perhaps an Argento or Euro/Cult Horror thread may be in order? No?
 
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Hampo

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Do we have a general horror film thread here? I would love to talk about some horror movies!
watch that thread die in 2 days lol
 

lady_toast

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Ugh, I hustle constantly yet I am terrible at managing my finances. I make a lot of impulse buys because of work-related stress lol. How do y'all do it?

I wanna go to the Dead Can Dance concert in May, but I also want to go to Deep Sanctuary in June lol :/ BUT Vancouver is also such an inhospitable city to live in!
 

Witchka

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Ugh, I hustle constantly yet I am terrible at managing my finances. I make a lot of impulse buys because of work-related stress lol. How do y'all do it?

I wanna go to the Dead Can Dance concert in May, but I also want to go to Deep Sanctuary in June lol :/ BUT Vancouver is also such an inhospitable city to live in!

Hence why I'm only going to Dead Can Dance...

I'm also trying to move out of my rat-trap room/house. Roommates/Managers have been hosing me for months and I was too broke/sick to do anything about it... Also because it's their house, I don't really feel like I get a say in household rules and etiquette and calling them out on extorting tenants.... Also possible that they may be tweakin'.
 
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lady_toast

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Hence why I'm only going to Dead Can Dance...

I'm also trying to move out of my rat-trap room/house. Roommates/Managers have been hosing me for months and I was too broke/sick to do anything about it... Also because it's their house, I don't really feel like I get a say in household rules and etiquette and calling them out on extorting tenants.... Also possible that they may be tweakin'.

I've decided to not go to Japan at all :p sorry Mana, gotta pay my rent and look for a new job first!

And ugh sorry about your roommates. Don't know where you live but this may be the best time for you to move since not a lot of people move during this time of year?
 

Hampo

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Just moved recently myself and let me tell you; it was worth it. At first it's almost scary when you're used to your old apartment and it's most certainly stressful, but once you settle in your new flat you wonder why you didn't move earlier.
So go for it. If you can afford, of course.
 

Witchka

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Just moved recently myself and let me tell you; it was worth it. At first it's almost scary when you're used to your old apartment and it's most certainly stressful, but once you settle in your new flat you wonder why you didn't move earlier.
So go for it. If you can afford, of course.

I'm ok with cohabitation so long as y'all ain't gross or have kids still living at home.... And don't leave every goddamn light on in the house all hours of the day.
 

lady_toast

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Speaking of assholes in apartments, someone's been stomping all over their apartment and slamming their sliding doors at all times of day ::kiwi::
On a different note, I just found out that many VK bands from days of yonder are now on Spotify? Like how did I just find out about this now lol. Hopefully Mana will give what they want and put MM/MdM/Schwarz Stein on it, and soon.

EDIT: also GPKISM is on too lololol. Whatever happened to Ken?
 

veir_439

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On a different note, I just found out that many VK bands from days of yonder are now on Spotify? Like how did I just find out about this now lol. Hopefully Mana will give what they want and put MM/MdM/Schwarz Stein on it, and soon.

EDIT: also GPKISM is on too lololol. Whatever happened to Ken?
one thing I've noticed about these artists is that barely any of them have their whole discographies up there. Lareine, softballet, cali≠gari to name a few just have a few albums, although every once in a while they add some.
makes me wonder...if Mana were to admit MM into spotify, would he be able to put the songs that aren't from midi:nette on there? I think you need licensing rights and I'm not sure how much Mana owns that period of music legally.
 

flowersofnight

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Madmoiselle_Silk

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Looking for some travel recomendations, in Europe. I've been to Japan 3 times this past year and decided I need to go somewhere new as a short break in my endless thesis writing :P
know any fun/interesting/beautiful spots? (I'm gonna add, the darker the better. My idea of a nice place is what made me end up in an occult bar full of skeletons in London)
 

lady_toast

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one thing I've noticed about these artists is that barely any of them have their whole discographies up there. Lareine, softballet, cali≠gari to name a few just have a few albums, although every once in a while they add some.
Lol, tbh I'm surprised that it's there at all. Given how not super mainstream these bands are, I'll take what I can get!
Also aren't the songs not from Midi:Nette mostly from demotapes? I wonder who owns them in that case. But maybe this is an opportunity for MM to reunite and re-release the songs almost 30 years later--God knows how many people would be on that. Mana, are you listening?? ::mana::

Looking for some travel recomendations, in Europe. I've been to Japan 3 times this past year and decided I need to go somewhere new as a short break in my endless thesis writing :P
know any fun/interesting/beautiful spots? (I'm gonna add, the darker the better. My idea of a nice place is what made me end up in an occult bar full of skeletons in London)
Go to Prague if you haven't been there already! Not sure if it's dark at this time of year though, but definitely very beautiful.


Also I finally saw Parasite last night and it was SO good. Go see it, people!! Totally worth your money. My partner and I wouldn't stop talking about it last night lol.
 

flowersofnight

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Go to Prague if you haven't been there already!
I don't know that I would recommend taking a trip just for Prague. I found that there was about one day's worth of touristing to be done there.
 

Madmoiselle_Silk

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Go to Prague if you haven't been there already! Not sure if it's dark at this time of year though, but definitely very beautiful.

Is it in Prague there's a church full of skulls? I'm not so eager to go to Prague because I have a relative there which I do not want to meet, and I know that if I go and anyone finds out they will think I'm an ass for not meeting up...::hora::
 
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