"Tremors" Review (Spoilers)
Aug. 26th, 2023 06:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
matt_zimmerAlso reviews for the latest episodes of My Adventures With Superman, and Harley Quinn.
Tremors
I love the Tremors films. And yet truly the only one you need to see is the first. All of the sequels try to recapture the magic and just cannot. The short-lived TV series had its charms, but accept no Tremors movie substitution but the first.
The thing I love about the Tremors films the most is that they do not follow standard horror film conventions. They differ from them in some pretty big ways. And it goes for all the films, so it's like they have their own set of rules.
First rule: Unlike every other horror franchise, every Tremor movie is goal-oriented. The horror is not of an unknown origin that the heroes have no escape from, or have any real idea why it's after them. The scientists find out how many monsters are roaming underground, the heroes kill them one by one, and when the final one is dead, the movie is over. Most importantly, the heroes and survivors are granted victories and Crowning Moments Of Awesome. To be honest, Burt and Heather Gummer taking out the Graboid in their bunker in this film is shockingly heavy on gunplay (wouldn't pass muster in today's climate), amazingly loud and violent (and gory), and filled with a wonderful level of pure joy upon Burt gloating the bastard attacked the wrong "rec room". Most horror films are designed to upset the audience. The good Tremors films are actual crowdpleasers, scares included.
Rule the second: Not only can anybody die, anybody can survive. The biggest shocker survival of the first movie is the annoying, cowardly kid Melvin. He's stupid and a hindrance, and like all of the Tremors characters his survival is down to luck rather than character virtues. Similarly, even clever characters can die (although that mostly happens in later films). Cunning and stupidity do not necessarily determine whether you survive a Tremors film. It's mostly luck, and maybe your proximity to Burt Gummer. As a rule, the main leads of the films aren't killed off, but just to prove that nobody is safe, in the most recent film they most certainly brushed back against that sacredest of franchise taboos. Proving once and for all, nobody is truly safe.
Rule the third: Characters of color are not automatic dead persons walking. Plenty of minorities die in the films (see Walter here) but plenty of them survive too. Tremors has this lovable habit of introducing a daughter or related character to one of the killed minorities in an earlier film and making them a badass who survives a sequel or the TV show. People really loved the original characters in the first film and the franchise loves playing up the legacy aspect of them in the sequels.
Rule 4: Safe spaces exist. Hiding on top of rocks and mountains is considered a legit "time out" from the Graboids for the heroes to regroup. Most horror films do not extend their casts that courtesy. Like EVER.
There is no arguing against the joy of the film as Kevin Bacon as Valentine is VERY cautious about how to kill the last Graboid. He angrily mutters under his breath that the creature isn't smarter than they are. Which is the entire premise of the film, especially because Valentine isn't a particularly bright character. It isn't until Val tricks the last creature in driving itself off a cliff that you see he's right. Until he does that, it's up for debate. The actual selling point of the movie is stupid people outwitting smart monsters. That is Tremors to a T.
At the end it is very notable and admirable Earl scoffs off Val's hope for being in People Magazine for this find. The real honor to aspire to is National Geographic. Did I mention the characters were stupid? That right there says they are smarter than I just gave them credit for.
I think the real reason the sequels were diminishing returns is because neither the Shriekers nor the Assblasters had the iconic impact of the Graboids. In fact, they simply made the Graboid life cycle confusing. The second and third films were totally overthinking things there.
So that was Tremors. I heartily recommend it and acknowledge once you've seen it you've pretty much seen all of the canon worth seeing. But dang it, us fans keep coming back for the DVD sequels and TV show anyways. That's how much we love the first film. The latter stuff NEVER lives up to it but we watch the new movies as they come out because hope springs eternal. And these things are not actually smarter than me. ****1/2.
My Adventures With Superman "Zero Day: Part Two"
The thing I love most about this show is how empowering it is not just to the heroes, but to the people of Metropolis too.
And what changes Sam Lane's mind? Evidence? No. It's meeting Superman up close. That guy's demeanor does NOT add up with the behavior of the invaders.
I feel like Superman beat and saved Ivo at the exact same time, which is great.
And I love that it's a kids show that gets a mutual declaration of love between Superman and Lois and a big passionate kiss. This is VERY outside of other kids programming, and it might be the reason Adult Swim seized the opening to poach it from the kids part of the network.
SO great. What a rare and wonderful show this is. Probably my favorite DC toon since Justice League Unlimited. *****.
Harley Quinn "The Most Culturally Impactful Film Franchise Of All Time"
I feel like the pacing on the show is so tight because the dialogue is so fast paced itself. The patter is like a machine gun with the characters rattling off crucial information and non sequiturs at equally ridiculous speeds, and us trying to keep up with that while the things occurring onscreen themselves are already so bananas.
Have I gotten the selling point of the show right in the previous paragraph? Or at least for the episode itself? ****.
Tremors
I love the Tremors films. And yet truly the only one you need to see is the first. All of the sequels try to recapture the magic and just cannot. The short-lived TV series had its charms, but accept no Tremors movie substitution but the first.
The thing I love about the Tremors films the most is that they do not follow standard horror film conventions. They differ from them in some pretty big ways. And it goes for all the films, so it's like they have their own set of rules.
First rule: Unlike every other horror franchise, every Tremor movie is goal-oriented. The horror is not of an unknown origin that the heroes have no escape from, or have any real idea why it's after them. The scientists find out how many monsters are roaming underground, the heroes kill them one by one, and when the final one is dead, the movie is over. Most importantly, the heroes and survivors are granted victories and Crowning Moments Of Awesome. To be honest, Burt and Heather Gummer taking out the Graboid in their bunker in this film is shockingly heavy on gunplay (wouldn't pass muster in today's climate), amazingly loud and violent (and gory), and filled with a wonderful level of pure joy upon Burt gloating the bastard attacked the wrong "rec room". Most horror films are designed to upset the audience. The good Tremors films are actual crowdpleasers, scares included.
Rule the second: Not only can anybody die, anybody can survive. The biggest shocker survival of the first movie is the annoying, cowardly kid Melvin. He's stupid and a hindrance, and like all of the Tremors characters his survival is down to luck rather than character virtues. Similarly, even clever characters can die (although that mostly happens in later films). Cunning and stupidity do not necessarily determine whether you survive a Tremors film. It's mostly luck, and maybe your proximity to Burt Gummer. As a rule, the main leads of the films aren't killed off, but just to prove that nobody is safe, in the most recent film they most certainly brushed back against that sacredest of franchise taboos. Proving once and for all, nobody is truly safe.
Rule the third: Characters of color are not automatic dead persons walking. Plenty of minorities die in the films (see Walter here) but plenty of them survive too. Tremors has this lovable habit of introducing a daughter or related character to one of the killed minorities in an earlier film and making them a badass who survives a sequel or the TV show. People really loved the original characters in the first film and the franchise loves playing up the legacy aspect of them in the sequels.
Rule 4: Safe spaces exist. Hiding on top of rocks and mountains is considered a legit "time out" from the Graboids for the heroes to regroup. Most horror films do not extend their casts that courtesy. Like EVER.
There is no arguing against the joy of the film as Kevin Bacon as Valentine is VERY cautious about how to kill the last Graboid. He angrily mutters under his breath that the creature isn't smarter than they are. Which is the entire premise of the film, especially because Valentine isn't a particularly bright character. It isn't until Val tricks the last creature in driving itself off a cliff that you see he's right. Until he does that, it's up for debate. The actual selling point of the movie is stupid people outwitting smart monsters. That is Tremors to a T.
At the end it is very notable and admirable Earl scoffs off Val's hope for being in People Magazine for this find. The real honor to aspire to is National Geographic. Did I mention the characters were stupid? That right there says they are smarter than I just gave them credit for.
I think the real reason the sequels were diminishing returns is because neither the Shriekers nor the Assblasters had the iconic impact of the Graboids. In fact, they simply made the Graboid life cycle confusing. The second and third films were totally overthinking things there.
So that was Tremors. I heartily recommend it and acknowledge once you've seen it you've pretty much seen all of the canon worth seeing. But dang it, us fans keep coming back for the DVD sequels and TV show anyways. That's how much we love the first film. The latter stuff NEVER lives up to it but we watch the new movies as they come out because hope springs eternal. And these things are not actually smarter than me. ****1/2.
My Adventures With Superman "Zero Day: Part Two"
The thing I love most about this show is how empowering it is not just to the heroes, but to the people of Metropolis too.
And what changes Sam Lane's mind? Evidence? No. It's meeting Superman up close. That guy's demeanor does NOT add up with the behavior of the invaders.
I feel like Superman beat and saved Ivo at the exact same time, which is great.
And I love that it's a kids show that gets a mutual declaration of love between Superman and Lois and a big passionate kiss. This is VERY outside of other kids programming, and it might be the reason Adult Swim seized the opening to poach it from the kids part of the network.
SO great. What a rare and wonderful show this is. Probably my favorite DC toon since Justice League Unlimited. *****.
Harley Quinn "The Most Culturally Impactful Film Franchise Of All Time"
I feel like the pacing on the show is so tight because the dialogue is so fast paced itself. The patter is like a machine gun with the characters rattling off crucial information and non sequiturs at equally ridiculous speeds, and us trying to keep up with that while the things occurring onscreen themselves are already so bananas.
Have I gotten the selling point of the show right in the previous paragraph? Or at least for the episode itself? ****.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-27 02:10 am (UTC)- Well that and the Adult side of network is pretty much totally taking over with the kiddy side like at scraps at this point with barely anything of note or interest it has going for it. Seriously I wouldn't be surprised by 2025/2026 AS fully takes over CN even in the US. And those originals just fully going to Max.
Also totally agree Harley Quinn was a massive step up this week from the last few. Like I wasn't full on hating the last couple of episodes but I think focusing again on Harley and Ivy as a couple instead of in separate plots was what this show needed. That and a super high concept idea. Which is funny cause My Adventures with Superman's 7th episode this season also did that though here instead of alternate dimensions (curious if HQ will do that as well) it was time travel. And honestly the idea of Harley and Ivy's daughter hating their moms and it being a society who finds value in James Cameron's Avatar as the best franchise ever I just find super funny plus yeah awesome climax of now there being this OTHER potential apocalypse Harley and Ivy have to discover to save their future.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-27 05:35 am (UTC)