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The Grey (Joe Carnahan and Liam Neeson's A-Team Re-Team)
- Thread starter Expendable.
- Start date
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Foliorum Viridum
Banned
I just saw the trailer on Youtube.
And I thought Taken was ridiculous.
This looks AWESOME. Can't wait to see it.
And I thought Taken was ridiculous.
This looks AWESOME. Can't wait to see it.
Secks4Food
Member
I saw a bunch of wolf stuff in the credits: caretakers, trainers, etc, so some stuff must be real, like when they're all running in formation towards the survivors.
As for the actual movie...biggest ending cocktease in recent memory, and the after-credit scene leaves more questions than answers. The rest of the movie is fantastic though, I loved it from beginning to end.
Been wondering that. I was thinking this looked pretty stupid, but the reviews have me convinvinced to give it a try.
tekumseh
a mass of phermones, hormones and adrenaline just waiting to explode
I saw this last night, and I was completely blindsided at how good it was. The movie you are looking for is there, but the weight and substance utilized in order to provide it to you really was completely unexpected. It was really incredible how much difference some thoughtfulness in the scripting process paid off so successfully for what I expected to be a somewhat by the numbers action/suspense type film. I will make time to see this again, just to be able to, from the outset, more fully appreciate the story, instead of perhaps overlooking it while awaiting the next action sequences...
I was super hype for this movie but then, just found out about this.
I still like to see this movie but I really hate that they actually killed wolves in order to make this movie. Well, they did bought the carcasses from a trapper which is one thing but, I don't know. Just not a fan of this idea.wikipedia said:
:/
I love Liam in anything. Movie delivered the goods. As far as my expectations of the film, a fun action survival, it delivered.
Ending was a cocktease, agreed. But really, how else could it have been? The movie seemed like one prolonged suicide for his character to begin with. But his job was to protect the guys from themselves. Failed. And was waiting to meet his wife in the afterlife. I did want to see Qaigon to head to head with a wolf, thats what the commercials led us to think. but in reality i think it would have been over the top. I mean Taken was over the top enough, I can't imagine him killing a wolf with minibottles. I would have lost respect for the reality of the film if he won, or even struck a severe blow to a damned wild wolf.
TrAcEr_x90
Member
The trailer was atrocious. Looked so damn cheesy, but after seeing a few solid reviews I decided to see this vs haywire. Probably my favorite movie of the year. So well acted, so intense. Im not wolf expert, so they probably exagerated how aggressive the wolves were, but whatever, the movie isnt even really about that. More about how the surviving men find reason to keep living....or trying too. The trailer makes a pretty good scene look so damn cheesy.
Ken Masters
Banned
how many movies have you seen in the theater so far? we are only 28 days in
Scarecrow
Member
Needless. The movie already ended perfectly.
FrenchMovieTheme
Member
saw it today. really good movie and i liked the ending. we all know what happens and if they did it the other way i would've just rolled my eyes and said gtfo.
SabinFigaro
Member
I went into this movie having not seen the trailer.
I really, really liked it. My friends were all somewhat disappointed, as they expected a balls-out action film; and having just seen the trailer, I can't say I can blame them. What a weird mismatch of tone.
Granted, the film has some action, but it's more about the emotional punch and heartfelt response of a group of men staring death in the face. The last third really accentuated this, and I thought the ending was perfect.
Well done, and wholeheartedly recommended.
I really, really liked it. My friends were all somewhat disappointed, as they expected a balls-out action film; and having just seen the trailer, I can't say I can blame them. What a weird mismatch of tone.
Granted, the film has some action, but it's more about the emotional punch and heartfelt response of a group of men staring death in the face. The last third really accentuated this, and I thought the ending was perfect.
Well done, and wholeheartedly recommended.
Holy shit. This movie...kind of came out if nowhere for me and went and saw it knowing very little today. Wow, pretty intense and has a lot more emotion and character focus than the trailers hinted at. Some of the circumstances really hit hard and stuck with me after it was over.
Still trying to hammer out what statement in religion the movie was really making, and u can see how the ending might make some upset but I thought it was perfect. But boy, this movie was dark.
Can't believe this came from the guy behind smokin aces. Well worth the money.
Also, re:after credits scene. Can't really make out that YouTube video. What am I supposed to be seeing there?
Still trying to hammer out what statement in religion the movie was really making, and u can see how the ending might make some upset but I thought it was perfect. But boy, this movie was dark.
Can't believe this came from the guy behind smokin aces. Well worth the money.
Also, re:after credits scene. Can't really make out that YouTube video. What am I supposed to be seeing there?
Expendable.
Member
FrenchMovieTheme
Member
i'
m not sure.... that he killed the wolf? remember earlier in the movie where he shot that wolf and it was slowly breathing in and out? i don't know though
SabinFigaro
Member
Spoiler that shite.
Also, I agree:
The wolf was breathing the same as the dying one in the opening. The wolf was definitely dying, and either Liam survived the attempt or died in the fight. Regardless, the rest of the wolves would tear him a new one anyways.
Scarecrow
Member
I think the religious statements of the movie depend on what one's interpretation of the movie's theme as a whole.
It seemed to me that the movie was about Liam overcoming his suicidal tendencies. His resolve near the end (Fine! I'll just do it myself!) could be interpreted as both for and against 'God' answering his call. Despite the hopeless situation, he found his will to live, and he pressed on. His final ambiguous tussle with the alpha male was his catharsis against self destruction.
At least, that's how I saw it.
beelzebozo
Jealous Bastard
i liked it. i was not insane about it, but i liked it. i think the movie could have been just as strong, if not stronger, if the wolves were either less supernaturally aggressive or not present at all; the really excellent parts of the movie were the parts in which the men were taking on the very real dangers of nature, bonding, coming to understand each other better, finding peace in their deaths. the moments when the movie started to threaten the line between sincere and cheesy was any time ottway was put into a position to explain wolf behavior--this felt somewhat like mathis explaining poker in casino royale.
but man, when it was good, it was really good. i felt the scene
could have been shot a little clearer, and could have
, but everything leading up to it made my heart skip a beat.
i loved dermot mulroney. he was a really nice surprise.
carnahan is very versatile. watching A-TEAM and then this, it seems like two totally different directors, in a very good way.
but man, when it was good, it was really good. i felt the scene
when they were jumping off the cliff
emphasized how really horrifying that height would be
i loved dermot mulroney. he was a really nice surprise.
carnahan is very versatile. watching A-TEAM and then this, it seems like two totally different directors, in a very good way.
Yeah, I think that's pretty much the way I feel about it, though I guess I'd lean a little more to the
against side. Along with the "I'll just do it myself" scene, it really kind of felt like the film was more focusing on the 'real' things that drive a person to keep going, about the tangible things you hold on to in the world. That's sort of what I felt the final wallet scene was about, or the talk they had around the fire where one of them mentions his little girl's hair. But I could definitely see some of the ambiguity though.
On an unrelated note, for some reason out of all the
deaths in the movie, I found the drowning to be the one to really hit the hardest. I mean the whole thing is basically 'how many shitty ways can a man die', but that one really got to me. lol
wormstrangler
Banned
Just got home from seeing it. Year is off to a good a start.
crimsonheadGCN
Banned
It was an awesome movie, but I really wish I knew about the after credit scene. It seems like
Liam's character lived from the poor video on Youtube. The other wolves probably left him alone when the Alpha died.
OrangeGrayBlue
Member
At some moments it was as cliche as anything else in the genre (heartfelt chats about people they miss around a campfire, a rebellious crew member, blatant exposition on why he knows so much about wolves, etc...) but at other times it went beyond the usual trappings of the genre and was quite good. The photography in particular was great to look at, albeit the snow was pretty clearly bits of styrofoam in a couple scenes. The scene revolving around the
was probably my favorite in the film because the director really let that scene take it's time and delivered it in an honest way rather than making it seem like "the emotional scene" that juxtaposes an action sequence, which is unfortunately exactly how the campfire chat felt. Touching on faith was a welcomed surprise as well, although ultimately a fairly shallow theme. I was glad that they didn't have Liam's character pronounce his faith, nor let anything happen toward the end that appeared to be some sign from God. I think the director was aware of the effect this would have, because when Liam declares that he doesn't believe in God it was definitely framed in a way that's meant to be surprising. The scene of the plane crashing was one of the best I've seen in any film (of a plane crashing, that is). Overall, it had too many cliches to really elevate itself to greatness, but it was definitely an above average thriller.
What I thought was really well done about that scene was how much emphasis was put on just how close he came to
he would have lived. That brings me to another point, though, which is that being in
would almost surely kill you.
guy who became exhausted and chose to simply stop fighting what he found to be inevitable
Vyer said:
What I thought was really well done about that scene was how much emphasis was put on just how close he came to
not drowning. Had the water been just four inches more shallow,
water that cold for as long as Liam's character was and continuing to wear the wet clothes after
Just back from seeing this with the missus.
Brilliant movie! ......... I was captivated from the beginning.
Also Dermot Mulroney was really good as someone else stated, did not realise it was him until half way through.
Carnahan is really producing the goods after the hype about him years ago when Narc was released, really enjoyed the A-Team but I feel this is his first real movie since Narc.
Brilliant movie! ......... I was captivated from the beginning.
Also Dermot Mulroney was really good as someone else stated, did not realise it was him until half way through.
Carnahan is really producing the goods after the hype about him years ago when Narc was released, really enjoyed the A-Team but I feel this is his first real movie since Narc.
kame-sennin
Member
My first thought when I saw the trailer was that they were portraying wolves as bloodthirsty killers at a time when wolves are endangered and a lot of people are lobbying to be able to hunt them. Seemed in poor taste to me.
That's really fucked up.
As for the movie itself, I haven't seen it, but I don't really understand why a pack of wolves would be that great a threat to a pack of humans who have fire, knives, and sticks. In real life, I imagine those survivors would be able to scare the wolves away pretty easily. Seems like it would make more sense if it was just Liam by himself. But again, I haven't seen the movie yet.
LaserBuddha
Member
I vigorously discard the notion that all (or even most) art/entertainment needs to be topically-conscious.
kame-sennin
Member
I don't think movies need to push fourth a political point, but saying a movie shouldn't be topically conscious is basically arguing that people shouldn't think about what they say before they say it. Making a film is just another way of expressing an idea. If the idea your expressing reinforces negative stereotypes, I think it's totally legitimate for people to have a problem with that.
beelzebozo
Jealous Bastard
kame-sennin
Member
"But [trapping] is no more cruel, no less cruel than anything that happens in nature. It's no less natural than the wolf killing the moose. The wolf kills the moose to eat it, and I kill the wolf."
Some of the dumbest false equivalency I've ever heard.
Jinfash
needs 2 extra inches
It was a good movie. I only came for Liam's acting but the rest of the cast was almost just as good.
I thought it could have been trimmed a little in some parts, especially the emotional ones. Some felt like an overkill, I mean I started crying in parts then it went for the extra mile (like the hallucinations and flipping through pictures) and had me switching gears to ungraceful bawling and snorting. It was unsubtle emotional manipulation, but I liked the movie enough to not feel offended by it. But what a really depressing way to start a weekend.
Anyone else liked the fact that
I thought it could have been trimmed a little in some parts, especially the emotional ones. Some felt like an overkill, I mean I started crying in parts then it went for the extra mile (like the hallucinations and flipping through pictures) and had me switching gears to ungraceful bawling and snorting. It was unsubtle emotional manipulation, but I liked the movie enough to not feel offended by it. But what a really depressing way to start a weekend.
Anyone else liked the fact that
the only cast member not eaten by the end of the movie was "the black guy"? it felt like they were challenging the trope lol.
Yes, we all do know what happens.
Liam Neesen punches the Alpha Wolf to death, the other wolves back down out of respect. Then he makes it back to civilzation and forms the League of Shadows.
FrenchMovieTheme
Member
Saw this today and it was a damn fine movie. Absolutely loved it. I loved the groans from the audience at the ending. One person went "Oh, fuck!" While I initially wanted to go see the movie just to see Liam Neeson punching some wolves, I saw a really enjoyable and high quality film instead. Not sure it's one I want to see again, but it's definitely one of my favorite movies in recent months.
Just got back.
Really, really enjoyed the movie. I went in expecting an all-out action film involving Liam slaughtering wolves. Definitively a heavy movie. Glad the director decided to take time in some scenes and let it just play out, such as
I'm glad how it ended. Realistic way to end it really.
Really, really enjoyed the movie. I went in expecting an all-out action film involving Liam slaughtering wolves. Definitively a heavy movie. Glad the director decided to take time in some scenes and let it just play out, such as
John laying down by the water, staring into the mountain, an waiting for the inevitable
I'm glad how it ended. Realistic way to end it really.
Liked the movie but come on.........you really had to suspend reality on some of the scenes. They bordered on the silly. The leap off the ledge scene. Impossibly cold stay in the river forever scene. And the break mini liquor bottles tape them to your hands and fist fight the top dog scene! The fucking den! Of course!
beelzebozo
Jealous Bastard
glad you liked the article! it's a pretty balanced look at the issue with which you're concerned.
Anton Sugar
Member
Saw this last night and really enjoyed it. I feel like the writing was pretty strong, though you did have to suspend disbelief in a few parts.
This movie has a lot of layers. You have Neeson as
Nature doesn't feel sorry for us.
Then there is the "purpose" or spiritual argument/aspect of it, which I'm glad they didn't pull any punches with. In Neeson's fucking awesome performance where he
Shit happens.
In a lot of ways, it reminded me of The Fountain,
Not a perfect movie, but damned good. Parts of it near the end were strangely meditative, which a lot of mainstream directors seem to be afraid of nowadays.
As for all the grey wolf inaccuracies/hubbub, eh. I didn't really see it as demonizing the wolves at all. I side with Carnahan's opinion on it:
I don't think this movie is going to cause ill will towards wolves--I thought it did a great job of reminding everyone that the wolves are just trying to eliminate a threat. Hell, it was even a bit heavy-handed in this regard--
This movie has a lot of layers. You have Neeson as
this wanderer who sees no place for himself in the world and grappling with a way to deal with death and loss of a huge part of his life. You have his companions, who may be in similar situations (Neeson's character mentions that all of them work in that area/job because they are criminals, drifters, loners, etc.) and are suddenly forced to deal with the implications of death. And you have this band of outcasts, being further outcast when they're stranded in nature, as a nod to the fragility of our world and mankind. What do we become when we don't have technology and our comfort to lean on?
Then there is the "purpose" or spiritual argument/aspect of it, which I'm glad they didn't pull any punches with. In Neeson's fucking awesome performance where he
is yelling at "god", I was holding my breath, really hoping that a rescue plane didn't just appear, and luckily, my faith was rewarded!
Shit happens.
Neeson was trying the entire time to do the right thing, but he is constantly aware and reminded of the fact that there are things he doesn't have control of.
in that it was one man's journey into death and accepting it.
Not a perfect movie, but damned good. Parts of it near the end were strangely meditative, which a lot of mainstream directors seem to be afraid of nowadays.
As for all the grey wolf inaccuracies/hubbub, eh. I didn't really see it as demonizing the wolves at all. I side with Carnahan's opinion on it:
I don't think this movie is going to cause ill will towards wolves--I thought it did a great job of reminding everyone that the wolves are just trying to eliminate a threat. Hell, it was even a bit heavy-handed in this regard--
Neeson is constantly reminding people that they're being seen as a threat and hunted because of it.
Neuromancer
Member
Yeah don't get me wrong, I liked the movie. But that
cliff jump was absolutely ridiculous, it bordered on the impossible in fact. I think a better solution for the movie would have been it was just a long drop and they made a rope to climb down, then the rope broke when the last guy was on it.
Plus how were there wolves already down there? How did they get down there? I guess that's where their den was, but then how did the wolves find the plane crash so fast? Their determination in following and hunting the humans was also ridiculous, in fact I think it hurt the movie overall.
Plus how were there wolves already down there? How did they get down there? I guess that's where their den was, but then how did the wolves find the plane crash so fast? Their determination in following and hunting the humans was also ridiculous, in fact I think it hurt the movie overall.
I knew wolves were going to be a big part of the movie, I just didn't realize there wasn't really going to be any other survival stuff. So that was my biggest disappointment. In the end I think I liked The Edge better. Anyone know of any other cold-weather survival movies I should check out?
Marc Streitenfeld - The City Surf (Played at the last scene)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB7ILgbOlgc
Good stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB7ILgbOlgc
Good stuff.
Anton Sugar
Member
I don't think the
jump was impossible, but yeah, highly improbably and I would have to think they could have looked around for an easier way to cross.
I thought Neeson said that the wolves can be territorial for something like a hundred miles?
I think his character was doing all the right things, but they just had bad luck and were simply wandering closer and closer to the wolf den. As several characters in the movie mentions, their situation was created entirely out of mixtures of good and bad luck--elements that were almost completely out of their control. He had no way of knowing he was leading them to the den.
Since we are spoilering everything.
I got say though the CGI for the wolves was pretty shitty. They looked like these huge werewolf things. Not like real wolves. And holy shit at the plane crash. If I was ever in a real plane crash I'd imagine it being just like that.
I thought the movie was pretty good. It had some whole shit moments like the plane crash. The guy taking a piss. The guy that fell and thought his daughters hair was on his face but it was a wolf eating it.
I though the whole crossing the gap was pretty dumb though. Especially when they were using cloths tied together. Should have pulled a rope out of nowhere or something more believable.
The whole movie was pretty depressing all in all. I totally saw the ending coming though. When Liam was taping that knife to his hand I told my wife "And credits" and 2 seconds later there were the credits. She thought it was dumb but I wasn't bothered by the ending. I was hoping that there would be a plane or something fly over really low right when Liam and the wolf were going to charge each other but the ending just reinforced the fact that all these "survivors" were screwed from the start and no one was going to help them. Not even God.
I though the whole crossing the gap was pretty dumb though. Especially when they were using cloths tied together. Should have pulled a rope out of nowhere or something more believable.
The whole movie was pretty depressing all in all. I totally saw the ending coming though. When Liam was taping that knife to his hand I told my wife "And credits" and 2 seconds later there were the credits. She thought it was dumb but I wasn't bothered by the ending. I was hoping that there would be a plane or something fly over really low right when Liam and the wolf were going to charge each other but the ending just reinforced the fact that all these "survivors" were screwed from the start and no one was going to help them. Not even God.
I got say though the CGI for the wolves was pretty shitty. They looked like these huge werewolf things. Not like real wolves. And holy shit at the plane crash. If I was ever in a real plane crash I'd imagine it being just like that.
Anton Sugar
Member
The movie was extremely depressing, but really refreshing for offering more than just a survival story.
I loved how the other John's death (or acceptance of death) still involved being lonely and terrified, even if he claimed he was at peace.
I think the drowning death was one of the most impactful for me, but just about every death had impact to it. I felt horrible for the loudmouth who was left behind.
Depressing, but very realist. Plane crash is bad luck,
wandering into a den/territory is bad luck, but their chances of being found were even slimmer, and the movie centered around them accepting that yes, they're probably all going to die, even though they weren't prepared for it.
I unfortunately was in the very front row of our packed theatre, but could tell the CGI in a number of parts.
The Alpha was definitely exaggerated, but I loved his first appearance during the fight scene.
Anton Sugar
Member
The exact staging (waking in snow, 100 yards from plane) was more for drama, but plane crash survival statistics are actually not that bad, if I remember correctly. Some people just get lucky.
Wasn't there recently (past year) a passenger plane crash that had ONE survivor with minor injuries--a young girl?
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