Comments on: A History of Violence

By: pssd-off

pssd-off — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:37:58 +0000

Worst movie ever. There wasnt really one aspect being good. Apparently John Hurt won an Oscar for his 15mins worth of acting. Indeed he was heads above the rest – but and Oscar for that – you gotta be kidding.

By: Rob

Rob — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 19:50:59 +0000

So I’m not crazy! I thought this movie was almost unwatchable. I usually like William Hurt and I love Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris (never saw the appeal of Maria Bello other than she is smokin hot, but an awkward actress). The pacing is bad enough, but the major problem I had with this film was that almost NONE of the reactions that the characters had seemed consistent or realistic. Almost as if they were re-writing the script as they were filming but never went back to reshoot the earlier scenes. It seemed like one of those films that is slightly off kilter as a kind of gimmick (ala Matrix Revolutions).

If you watch the DVD extras, there is a behind the scenes footage when they film the scene where Viggo’s son is abducted and the mom comes running out and has to be restrained. Maria Bello is shown watching the footage on a monitor and looks super pumped to see her performance and then talks about how as a mother she would be a ferocious tiger protecting her cubs. Why couldn’t they have shown her character NOT being restrained and then shot by the kidnappers?

By: Little Boy watching the Emperor

Little Boy watching the Emperor — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:53:12 +0000

I am so pleased that somebody else thinks this film is as DIRE as I do. It is complete and utter bull. I shake my head in disbelief at the sheer amount of awards and critical acclaim that it managed to garner. WTF !

Not liking this movie is akin to the boy shouting the emperor has no clothes but hell it has got to be said. The crowd may be convinced it’s a great movie but some of us see it as an excrutiating movie.

By: Kris

Kris — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 05:06:07 +0000

I can’t for the life of me understand how someone responsible for films like Easter Promises and Scanners could also make this film. I agree with your review 100%. If you can make me want to fast forward through a sex scene, then you’ve really screwed something up.

The thing is, how did this get such good reviews from critics? I smell conspiracy. And I’m only joking a little.

Thanks for writing an honest review.

The Sound and Fury of Kristopher A. Denby

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 07:33:01 +0000

Thank God somebody else seems to be in their right mind. This movie really opened my eyes to how low the standards in film making were. It also opened my eyes to how repugnant the Academy was, and how it actually impedes on progress in film. The same year an infantile movie like”Crash” won best picture, this disaster was nominated for best screenplay. Major film critics praised it, rottentomatoes gave it an 87% rating. I thought I had gone insane.