I think the Canada Geese are in formation to dive bomb.

Oh, y'all act like we don't know about your plans for Canadian World Domination, but you forget that we Texans are sorta... uh... sorta smart-like with these rumors on the Internets.

Our sooper seekrit weapon is Celine Dion. She keeps churning out those songs that make you lose your will to live.

Our sooper seekrit weapon is Celine Dion. She keeps churning out those songs that make you lose your will to live.

Also, she's our revenge for Cher.

And that is sort of the point I was trying to make about Sean's comment, about The Grudge jumping around and critics having to follow it and think. Even though it was the same director making the movie, Eastern and Western styles of filmmaking are very different. And those influences might not have been taken into account, as far as quality of creepiness goes.

I still don't follow you. Do you really think that "creepiness" can be evaluated critically at all? I think fear/dread are far too visceral for that.

But Sean, I don't think it's just about Fone. You said that any critic who couldn't follow the film is a moron and, quote, "can't handle a movie that expects you to bring your brain along."

Please point to the part where I said that. Cut and paste will do just fine, thanks.

Our sooper seekrit weapon is Celine Dion. She keeps churning out those songs that make you lose your will to live.

Well, that's why we've proudly started a Coalition of The Willingful to pull together Operation Ululate against Celine Dion. There's evil in her heart, and we know that it's the right thing to do, because she won't let the UN inspector guys look at her baby. Freedom-loving patriots from Turkmenistan, El Salvador, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are with us, and together we shall wipe all evil, especially that of Celine Dion, off the face of the planet. Which is why we've declared war on Ashlee Simpson.

Don't Look Back

What the music guy actually means Don't Look Now.

What I'm taking from these two comments is that the best policy is Don't Look At All.

See, to me it's not about whether he personally insulted me or Fone Bone or 5,000 lurking mainstream critics. I thought it was offensive in itself, as a generalized slam, and his apologizing to Jess without taking back the thrust of the statement bothered me. But I'm willing to drop it.

You know what, Lyra?

When I said "point taken," to Jess, it meant I understood I'd made an unfair generalization.

Thanks so much for butting in to this.

How different did he go on The Grudge ?

Pacing is very different. Lighting was largely naturalistic in the original, but gloominess is now used to such a degree that it has the opposite of the intended effect, with most ghostly manifestations taking place in a setting where darkness telegraphs it. Lots more cheap jump-out-at-you scares as opposed to slow building horror. More gore. Change in rules about how victims are chosen to make things more definite and ordered. Most main characters are now transplanted Americans rather than natives, giving the perhaps unintentional impression that the ghosts are indulging in ethnic cleansing. One character's role (SMG's) is significantly beefed up, and extraneous boyfriend character not present in the original is introduced. Several different police characters are merged into one. Backstory that's apparently from the Japanese TV movies is included as an extra storyline to explain the events .

There's quite a lot that's been changed. While I think the majority of the changes are for the worse, it's still a pretty scary movie. Just not in the league of the Japanese version.

Sean,

Eff 'em. Eff 'em all. The critics, that is...

I think the mainstream critics are trashing it because they need long-winded explanations, or, I don't know.... a bunch of stuff that makes for crappy horror (if you ask me). Or they just don't like horror movies (critics usually don't).

....

Though, as far as narrative.... I also think the critics are too needing of narrative coherence. The Grudge does jump around a little, without warning, and they expect you to keep up. So if you are like a mainstream critic, and can't handle a movie that expects you to bring your brain along, you might not like it.

"Moron" is a bit stronger than what you said, but not by much.