I will say I agree, on the side topic, with Kestrel: it’s sad that movies like this get made sometimes but it’s even more sad that people actively want to see them. What I mean is simply that a genre called “torture-porn” does not seem like something that people would (or should) want to encourage.

Yes, freedom of expression. I’m not saying the movie should be banned. I’m not saying people shouldn’t see it. I’m not saying it should never be made. I’m more just speaking to what might be a larger point that Kestrel is speaking to: the fact that these kinds of movies are sought after by audiences (to any degree) does say something a little distrubing. (As a case in point, witness all this flack over the O.J. Simpson book — “If I Did It”. It’s interesting how people respond to that book and how those same people respond to a movie like “Hostel” or even movies like “Wolf Creek” and “The Devil’s Rejects.”)

While i haven’t actually seen the second Hostel…and personally I didn’t really enjoy the first one. However…i do respect both Hostels as films and Eli Roth as a director. What can I say he seems like a really cool guy and I’d love to talk about movies with him. Plus i felt that the Hostel movies were much different from others in the “Torture-Porn” genre (god I can’t believe thats actually the name of a film genre) in the sense that both of them are completly tongue in cheek. Essentially i think Roth knows what he’s doing and give him Kudos.!!!

and Congrats again…just thought I’d defend whatever it is i just defended.

I liked the movie and I like Eli, he is very nice, down to earth, and so into his work which I think has been very good )in his genre) - it may not appeal to everyone though.

Keep up the good work.

Translation: Congratulations!!! You’re great and I’m very happy for you!

Best regards from ITALY,

eMMe
CN

I think one of the huge problems with a “Hostel 2″ is that people immediately judge it and scoff it off as “yet another torture porn movie” and sure it does have that factor, but it presents something more. Because the truth is, the film wasn’t marketed well, and not many people actually saw it. So if someone reads my quote on the package and decides because of the quote to give it a look, it’s a win. Because anyone looking at the package is already considering it for rental or purchase, and they already are interested in the first place. This is the other reason why movie critics give so many movies bad reviews. They are usually not the intended audiences for the film, nor did they have any interest in seeing the film in the first place. Moviegoers look down on movie critics because “they are too stuffy” but the truth is that a moviegoer only sees a film he is interested in. The moviegoer usually enters into a movie wanting to like it. And that brings me to the observation that two or three newspapers and magazines had almost the exact same quote for Hostel 2 in their reviews. But why do you think Sony pick /Film over a big name magazine or newspaper? /Film is certainly not as “credible” by your terms. And no, it doesn’t have huge name value - I know that. I think that the marketing people know that a quote from a blog means more on this type of release than a quote from a “movie critic from a big newspaper or magazine.” And my point is this: Yes, having a quote on Hostel 2 does add credibility to a certain audience.

Brian: It’s exciting, no doubt about it (and anyone who claims otherwise is lying). But in the industry my name and site are my reputation, so I would never give a stamp of approval to movie I didn’t like. If a quote of mine ever ends up on Daddy Day Camp, I will quit doing this. And on the other hand, it seems that most major studios ask for permission, so for that type of thing to happen, I would not only have to say it in a public review, but I would have to approve it’s use on cover art. I can garentee that will never happen at least with me :P

Many reviewers get woody when they see their names in print — so the say pandering “pull-quotable” stuff about every piece of crap that gets released. It’s sychophantic and pathetic. I’m not accusing you of this, but be wary of finding your quotes on DVD boxes too exciting…it has compromised many a reviewer before!

:-|