Comments on: God bless those pagans…

By: lyzard

lyzard — Tue, 26 May 2009 23:30:58 +0000

I suppose in context, the question is whether it’s creepier when they don’t like strangers around ‘ere, or when they do.

By: Ken Shinn

Ken Shinn — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:45:22 +0000

Re MatthewF: yes, in particular the Padstowe Horse is very well known in the UK as an example of that. I seem to recall reading somewhere that part of the inspiration for this film came when Shaffer and Hardy(?) found themselves in Helston in Cornwall one May Day, and while not burnt in a giant effigy found themselves on the receiving end of a concerted blast of “we don’t like strangers round ‘ere” from the otherwise-affable locals. Creepy stuff.

By: lyzard

lyzard — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:04:36 +0000

Luke: NTSC/PAL conversion is most likely at the root of the confusion, but there is a lot of conflicting information out there, including some people who owned the original video release and swear that some of the scenes in the DVD have been trimmed. The R2 DVD running-time, where conversion shouldn’t be an issue, is listed at 100 min.
Thomas: Sorry – it’s a good pick in theory, but Stone is a little *too* far out of my jurisdiction! (That said, my second pick for this Roundtable is a cheat. )

By: Luke Blanchard

Luke Blanchard — Sun, 17 May 2009 02:58:30 +0000

According to the note on running time in my old copy of Halliwell’s Film Guide an “engineering function of British television” causes “in an imperceptible speeding-up of projection and consequent loss of one minute in every twenty-five”. I don’t know whether that’s still the case, but it makes me wonder if the slightly short length of the DVD’s version of this film is a result of a technical factor.

By: MatthewF

MatthewF — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:45:28 +0000

and Nicholas Cage is fabulous in it. What?

I saw them do the whole hobby horse, spring thing, thing down in Cornwall a few years ago and I could only think of this movie.

By: Baron Scarpia

Baron Scarpia — Fri, 15 May 2009 07:06:10 +0000

Alas, I am at work, and dare not read the review.

But you can imagine my happy surprise at finding this.

By: anon

anon — Fri, 15 May 2009 01:21:11 +0000

And let me tell you, it adds a whole ‘nother layer if you’re hanging out a Ye Olde Renaissance Faire and someone starts singing Summer Is A Comin In.

By: Cabal

Cabal — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:28:52 +0000

Looking forward to reading your review, Lyz! I can’t from work, alas (I appreciate the NSFW warnings). I’ve loved this film for a long time, and consider my copy of the 2-disc edition to be one of the prizes of my little collection.

I remember first watching the cut version with friends when I was about 14. Afterwards, we all were doing the typical teen reaction: “That’s a scary movie? Where’s the blood?!” But the ending stayed with me for years afterwards. The first shot of the Wicker Man, and Howie’s reaction to the sight, is still one of my benchmark moments of gut-wrenching, freakish horror…

By: The Mud Puppy

The Mud Puppy — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:50:01 +0000

It saddens me that I’ve only ever seen the cut version, but even that is a brilliant film (even if it makes Howie somewhat less sympathetic–on my first viewing I was actually begging for the fate he gets to befall him). Unfortunately, I missed my chance to nab a copy of the 2-Disc Special edition DVD that (I think) has both versions of the film on it when it was still cheap. Now that it’s been out of print for a while, it’s steadily increasing in price and–much as I love this film–I dunno if I’d watch it often enough to justify spending the same amount on it alone that I could spend instead on two or three different movies.

It is indeed a wonderful masterpiece, though, whether you consider it a horror movie or not. I think most people try to claim it’s not a horror movie because of its delightful subtlety. Just look at the way it handles the scene of what’s in Rowan’s desk compared to how its lamebrained remake does.

I’m really gonna have to see that remake one of these days, but I’m unsure whether it will be one of the funniest comedies I’ve ever seen…or will make me fume with anger.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:06:04 +0000

I’ve actually been trying to corner my sister into watching this for the past week. Thankfully, I managed to see this with almost no prior knowledge, sparked by a half-remembered, very enthusiastic article I’d read in a paper a few years before. Which, for a film such as this, is probably the best way to go about it. It’s a great piece of work, and your review wasn’t bad either.

Having said which, I’m somewhat disappointed, as I’d been hoping that you’d somehow find a justification for tackling Stone.