The Others

[Cap'n Al]

'There's something in this house! Something...diabolic!'

To say any more would be to spoil the many twists and turns that the film contains, but this is a truly excellent ghost story, complete with yet another great performance from Nicole Kidman, and an ending that is almost certain to become this year's much-discussed big twist finale. Highly recommended.

[andyp2]

Yeah this one sticks out in my mind as one of the best movies I watched in the US a few weeks back - bloody gripping stuff and I didnt see it coming let me tell you. Definately a sleeper and the film this year that will make you turn to the missus and say 'no way'.

This and Training Day are the best movies out at the mo in the US I reckon, well and maybe Bandits too.

[kanedaa]

Just got back from watching this on a free screening and thoroughly enjoyed it. Twists were superb, it really gets you thinking throughout the film and your mind continues well after the curtains close - my brother and I were talking about it all the way home - sign of a good film (or a really bad one!)

Deserves to do well IMO.

dave.

[utero]

I thought it was great, overheard one woman at the end saying she wanted blood and gore and was didn't like the film because there wasn't any-some people don't hve taste!

[kanedaa]

as you say utero, some people just have no taste!

for me the lack of gore, and from what I could see, the lack of special effects (hardly any - if any - at all) was refreshing.

use of music was superb as well, most of the film is deftly silent bar the sound effects/speech but when the music does come into play it works so well.

oh yeah - Nicole Kidman puts in a great performance, and those suspenders ;) hot, hot HOT!! :D

dave.

[Arch Stanton]

Arch here, Just back from one of those free screenings.


Excelent film. very spooky, nicely directed ( which avoids all the usual cliche jumps that usualy spoil these kind of films. )and a nice twist that i didn't see coming.


Arch says go see it.


Even if you have to pay. :)

[wide_inside]

wow. :confused: :confused: :confused:


Don't really know what to say. I saw it at a free screening last night, and thought it was rubbish. Every twist was signposted really badly, there were only three scary bits, and one of those was shown on Parkinson, so lost all effect, and the whole thing lacked any atmosphere. I thought I'd get here to find everyone panning it, it never crossed my mind that anyone would find it worthwhile.

I'm just glad it was free.

wide

[tarquin]

What a fantastic film!

It's nice to see a film that hasn't got any gore, swearing or had millions spent on special effects. It's a great chiller that makes you jump from the outset & has a mother of a twist.

With films like this and Amelie being made, the future of cinema is looking good. :D

[Ben H]

Where are the free tickets from? I got freebie tix from the Telegraph for a Oct 30th showing.

[Fever Dawg]

Originally posted by Ben H
Where are the free tickets from? I got freebie tix from the Telegraph for a Oct 30th showing.

Somebody posted a link in the Bargain forum.

Must admit, I thought it was a great film. Scary and tense ... without the need for 'teen-pleasing' blood and gore. After Moulin Rouge and this ... I think I'm falling in love with Nicole Kidman !!

BTW, Did anybody else go to the free screening at the Printworks in MCR on Wednesday ?

[tetsuo]

The guy who made this also made the worth-a-look thriller Thesis and the coming-soon-to-DVD Open your Eyes (the film that Vanilla Sky is based upon) - not a bad filmography for somebody who has yet to reach 30 - And yes I am looking forward to this one after seeing the trailer on the hugely overated Jeepers Creepers.

[john316]

Just seen this in the cinema this afternoon - excellent movie, the twist can be guessed at fairly early on but still an excellent ending. And Nicole looks very nice in that nightie she had on! :D

[Raphph]

thought it was excellent, and my review is now up, check the link in my sig

[kanedaa]

great review Raphph - the more i think back on this film the more I love it!

dave.

[pythons]

Saw it last night... excellent, excellent movie. A really good idea..

I dont want to say anything about the plot, but Nicole Kidman and both of the kids were excellent..

Top stuff..

I was suprised when reading the opening credits to read that Tom Cruise was an executive producer on the movie, what does that mean? What kind of input would he have had? Or is it more of a financial thing?

Mark

[Arch Stanton]

I was suprised when reading the opening credits to read that Tom Cruise was an executive producer on the movie, what does that mean? What kind of input would he have had? Or is it more of a financial thing?

Cruise wanted to remake the Writer/Directors earlier Spanish film 'Open your eyes'. Which he as done.( now called Vanilla Sky. )

Whilst discussing the remake, the talks got round to his next film 'The Others'. Which was to be filmed in Chile. Tom then thought "This will be a top film for my ( then ) Mrs! Do it in English and i'll give you a wheelbarrow full of money!" So Chile became Jersey and the film opens Friday.

[pythons]

Originally posted by Arch Stanton


Cruise wanted to remake the Writer/Directors earlier Spanish film 'Open your eyes'. Which he as done.( now called Vanilla Sky. )

Whilst discussing the remake, the talks got round to his next film 'The Others'. Which was to be filmed in Chile. Tom then thought "This will be a top film for my ( then ) Mrs! Do it in English and i'll give you a wheelbarrow full of money!" So Chile became Jersey and the film opens Friday.

ahh wicked... I understand, thanks mate!

Is Vanilla Sky the movie with Penelope Cruz?

[Arch Stanton]

Is Vanilla Sky the movie with Penelope Cruz?

Yup, She's also in the Spanish version.

[rst]

Thumbs up here, the plot was a little obvious IMHO, but neverless still a good film. The sound effects at time, made my spine tingle! Go watch now! :)

[Pike Bishop]

Saw The Others last night.
Pretty good film, although not half as good as all the reviews would have you believe. The performances by the kids were good, Kidman was fairly good although I thought she used a lot of inappropriate facial expressions and noises, in a lot of the silent scenes (and there are quite a lot of them). Too many gasps and whooops, although she seemed to get better towards the end. The servants were alright although a bit too hammy - you just knew there was something up with them
I also partially guessed the ending which I feel was a bit obvious and not that much of a surprise, but I won't give it away. It wasnt that scary either, although I like the fact all the chills and scares were traditional old haunted house style frights with no SFX.
All in all not bad, but not that good - go see Moulin Rouge instead.

[john316]

Originally posted by Pike Bishop
Saw The Others last night.

All in all not bad, but not that good - go see Moulin Rouge instead.

:argue: Go and see Moulin Rouge instead! - What kind of comment is that?

[Pike Bishop]

It means that there are far better movies out at the moment that are worthy of your hard earned money, before considering seeing this film.

[McMikey]

I saw this last night in a cinema where either they turned the sound down or it is an amazingly quiet film. I could hear loads of ppl eating , whispering , etc aswell as the exit door being opened and closed a lot. Still it wasn't a bad film :clap: (sorry had to have one of them they're cool :). Oh and I have a question as I walked in and it'd started so I don't know what I missed. I walked in when the 3 servants turned up at the door, anything significant happen before this?

[john316]

Originally posted by Pike Bishop
It means that there are far better movies out at the moment that are worthy of your hard earned money, before considering seeing this film.

Moulin Rouge is a girly movie that 'real' guys shouldn't interested in! :D

[Shingster]

Originally posted by tetsuo
The guy who made this also made the worth-a-look thriller Thesis.

I saw Tesis a few months back & thoroughly enjoyed it. Anyone who enjoys Argento's early Giallo films should check it out.

Watch The Others last night, about 10mins into the film I knew exactly how it was going to end, but I still enjoyed it immensely.

[kanedaa]

yay, got a 'The Others' Cup and keychain today for being one of the first 100 to offer my comments at the Lovefilm website (who dished the free tix)

dave.

[Tom Whitaker]

Just got back from seeing this... not surprised so many people here rated it, but no-one's pointed out the ending's similarity to another recent thriller hit? Hmm...

Doesn't really detract though - very well done... I've not been that scared for the duration of a film in a long time, which is especially impressive given that it occasionally went a little OTT and there were a few unintended snigger-inducing moments. Despite those, I was gripped...

[Cap'n Al]

Originally posted by Tom Whitaker
Just got back from seeing this... not surprised so many people here rated it, but no-one's pointed out the ending's similarity to another recent thriller hit? Hmm...

Hush!!!

[richpoyle]

I could not believe how similar the concept was to 'The 6th Sense'! As soon as that housemaid turned up and started waffling on about how she'd worked in the house and felt an attachment to it and all that stuff, it just clicked into place.

Suspicions confirmed when dead husband came wandering out of "the fog" - that whole subplot was unnecessary, I thought.

Overall, not bad - but if I'd been the producer I would have asked for a re-write of the ending so it didn't all hang on a plot twist so similar to aforementioned film.

Mr Shymalan got away with it because few people could remember "Sole Survivor" with William Shatner and Richard Basehart :)

[kerbcrawler]

I agree with you totally richpoyle and before I saw the film last Thursday my nagging suspicion re the conclusion was confirmed by the current cover of a popular film rag making the same point. So while I did enjoy the movie it felt like I was waiting for the inevitable.

Oh .... and I hated the kids, especially the frowning boy.

[DamienB]

Thankfully I avoided any publicity on this one bar seeing the trailer once, so wasn't aware there was even going to be a twist at any point. Best way to watch any film if you ask me...

Anyway, Nicole was great - top performance. Great music. A little slower than it needed to be and only really had one BOO! moment (the cinema staff were all laughing at us on our way out!). Not bad at all, and with a BOGOF voucher courtesy Faz on the bargain forum, good value :)

[Tob]

I enjoyed it but noticed similaraties with a film called

The Haunting starring Aidan Quinn

[kingmob]

Went sunday night really expecting to enjoy it and came away sorely disappointed.
I just felt it was too slowly paced and the twist was just too damn predictable, the hints were laid on pretty heavily.

[McD]

Nicely shot and that, but sorry, sorry, sorry, it was obviously a geographically and historically transported rewrite of a certain supernatural Bruce Willis caper. Thumbs Down.

[daveo]

I quite enjoyed this film and found it 'edge of the seat' stuff. The girlfriend absolutely loved it - I think it was her kind of film though.

Now I'm getting hassle that we must buy this on DVD. So, does anyone know when it's scheduled to be released on R1 or R2?

[Mr Flibble]

I'd agree with Tob - very similar in some ways.

Still a very enjoyable movie, but would it stand up to repeat viewings?

[Cirrus888]

I saw this last night and I would recommend it (from someone who dislikes horrors) no doubt comparisons will be made with the other similar film and I will not fall for that twist ever again.

However, the others was more atmospheric, less commercial and had a better actor/actress to carry the film.

Nicole kidman is absolutely wonderful in it, if she continues to make more classics like this than she will certainly be looked back on as one of the greats in 30 years time.

One thing I have to ask is why on earth did she have to lock all the doors?

[daveo]

Originally posted by Cirrus888
One thing I have to ask is why on earth did she have to lock all the doors?

Please do not read this is you don't want to spoil the film

I think it was so the kids couldn't escape from the two rooms that were unlocked, so that the curtains could be opened in other rooms. Or maybe it was something to do with her *ahem* state of health and all that stuff. I think I worked out the twist when the curtains went missing, but then I went into the film with no preconceptions

[McD]

It also ripped off Beetlejuice. Not quite as humorous, but think about it...

[charlie angel]

I thought it was all marvellous stuff - nice & eery, atmosphere held me all the way through & well acted/scripted too.

Big thumbs up from me.

[camino_real]

Well I liked it. The Others may have certain similarities to previous ghost stories (most notably the work of Henry James) but it rises above most of them to produce a wonderful chamber piece of a film. The cinematography is excellent and the note perfect performances from all (yes, even the children) make this one of the best films I've seen all year. I liked the way Amenabar drip feeds information to us and makes the audience first side with one group of characters then another. For example at the beginning of the film Grace gives the housekeepers rules to follow which seem very strange and make us think she knows all about ghosts and the supernatural. We soon find out this is not the case at all.

If you like subtle intelligent ghost stories with a few scares, go see this one, I don't think you'll regret it.

[daveo]

Originally posted by camino_real
The Others may have certain similarities to previous ghost stories (most notably the work of Henry James)

That was the only preconception I had. I thought that it would be like The Turn of the Screw, it had similarities but I think only in atmosphere.

[john316]

Been reading some of the reviews over at IMDB - some seriously misguided people there!