Send A Monster To Catch A Monster..."Jason Bourne Hunts Down Hannibal Lecter"!!

I'm no a big action fan per se with the exception of Rambo or perhaps Conan but this film looks like something I will enjoy. It sounds like a gory, well-paced thriller with a pretty cool title. And you must see A Serbian Film. Knowing your taste in film, I'm shocked you haven't already seen it many times. A Serbian Film is the Salo, Cannibal Holocaust, or Irreversible of 2010. It gets my vote for best film in 2010. I read somewhere in Fangoria that it's getting a limited release now in the states as of 05/13/11 but I seriously doubt my theatres would take that risk. I will buy a legitimate copy whenever the uncut version is released on dvd. In the meanwhile, I am content with my unrated bootleg of a screener. LOL

I've had the unrated dvd before the seller went out of business two-three months ago (Iam now without a cult movie source). I saw the beginning, but I need to see that one alone...and lately, well, I am not. Either I am at a relatives house or doing some chore, I am the only one among my friends with a weird taste in films :( I know it is getting a U.S. release, did you see @Chris_Pandolfi's review about it? He didn't like it, but his descriptions made it more intriguing to me...

I've heard it's getting a US release yet I've been told this will be R-rated with numerous cuts. What a crock! Dude, just watch the unrated dvd as I hate to fathom how many cuts had to made just to obtain an R. Sorry, but Chris Pandolfi's taste and mine are polar opposites. Although I can respect and appreciate his need to avoid the films he finds sickening, I still have to wonder why he bothered watching it at all??! For example, I am not a Britney Spears fan but I won't be watching her film nor do I feel the need to review it either, people never fail to amaze me. ;-) A Serbian Film was meant to show it's audience how little human life is actually valued in Serbia ratehr than just exploit the horrors. Chris Pandolfi would do better perhaps reviewing Lemony Snicket films or Harry Potter.

I tend to look at all reviews as something I can learn from. I like to be prepared for a movie such as A SERBIAN FILM. (your descriptions make it seem similar to Philosophy of a Knife) I find Pandolfi's review good in the sense that I feel it would represent the majority of the reaction to the film, and it intrigued me more. You are a hardcore horror fan and so I know you would know what you are in for. I know to each his own and we all have different tastes; we all have to respect all opinions. Which is why I will see it once I am alone. I know my friends wouldn't watch the film with me, so I will see it because I love cinema, and knowing that a film like that is around is enough for me to sit down and watch it. I am betting I will be impressed with it, it'll probably be one of those things that I know it is a great movie but would only give it a careful recommendation.

I used to wonder what was wrong with people who would go see films such as Hostel or anything Tarantino knowing full well how violent it was going to be & then complaining later on that it was "too violent". I have come to the sad conclusion that most people have subscribed to this certain state of shallowness & don't really care to see anything that the vast majority of the movie going public wouldn't find socially acceptable. Or maybe they feel it makes them a better person for not complimenting nor condoning the more extreme films. That's a safe place to be but a rather boring one also. Sure, it's cool to respect those with different opinions and their taste in films. Having said that, I'm not suggesting his review wasn't well written or even truthful. It is & that's his opinion for what's it worth. Indeed, he does lean towards how the vast majority would view the film & that's why I didn't care for it. The viewpoint here is exactly the same as what I've read all over the internet as far how shocking the film is or what atrocities we should hope to avoid by simply not seeing the film. Thus, I could learn no more from his review than the countless reviews scattered all over the web which all say pretty much the same thing. That is, unless his review were the first one I'd encounter online. It's quite common & all too easy to pick apart a film because it's uber violent & sexually graphic. This is a typical reaction to anything in general that takes us out of our comfort zones. Your example of Philosophy of a Knife is a great one. I did manage to get through the grueling 4 hours and some change of it but probably would never watch it again. Mind you, Philosophy is a good film & I do think quite highly of it. However, it would be fruitless for me to write a review for it detailing the countless atrocities that are committed & how difficult a film it is to watch as I know everyone else can do this. What people fail to realize (and Lunchers are notorious for this) is that controversy is not necessarily a bad thing nor are the films that press our buttons. They are, in fact, fictional works & the horrors that take place in the film aren't real. To take it a step further, just because we're curious or open-minded individuals who are willing to take that leap into the realms of hardcore doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with us.

Great points, Brian and I agree with you. I once was dumbfounded that someone complained about a zombie movie being too 'gory'. I really am not sure how I felt about that, but hey, it is their taste. There is a huge line between mainstream and real cinema; as well as a thin line with cinema and controversy. I love reading both sides of the equation, it teaches me how to approach a review. I actually think there is no wrong or right opinion, but they are oftentimes birthed of 'not being exposed' to those movies, and I do sometimes feel that there are no wrong opinions but there are indeed (arguably) wrong approaches to a film. I like your review of ASF a lot, and you know nothing ever turns me off. I see movies as an art form, and sometimes, my stance is often seen as my friends as 'twisted' and that I tend to be a little cynical.

I agree with everything you've said, and believe me, I have been accused of liking movies that no one else has. This is why I review, my current company of friends are more mainstream and there's only one who goes with me to see movies by Lars Von Tier and Miike. I like depressing movies and those that push the envelope, but I don't look for those each time I see a movie in the theater. Someone once told me he admits that THE GIRL NEXT DOOR and CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST were brilliant and original, but he wasn't entertained since it was hard to watch, and this made him rate those movies a little lower. I rated TGND a 4.5 and CH the same, but we were different in how we took the film. Movies are here so we could get different reactions from people, and I am amazed how writers of these movies can provoke these different emotions. That in itself is an achievement.

I wanted to smile since I got an email to review A SERBIAN FILM, I was surprised (Mack had asked me too), but Dave may not want anything to do with it. So I guess, next weekend would be a great time to see it since I have a 4 day weekend.  I have a feeling that I will like ASF, but it'll probably be one of those feelings I got when I saw SALO.

I will say this. It was much easier for me to take A Serbian Film than it was to digest Philosophy of a Knife. I didn't find it nearly as grueling and could probably re-watch this one. Most of my friends on Facebook & HHH speak very highly of it and I tend to believe you will rate this one pretty highly or I can no longer be a cenobite. Or maybe I can still be Ceno without the "bite" if my predictions are wrong. In many ways, ASF is almost like an angry cousin of Oldboy. Perhaps I'm a bit numb or have seen one too many extreme films already but ASF didn't strike me as anymore sickening than Salo, Irreversible, or any of the other classics we love to hate around here. ;-)

Philosophy of a Knife was really hard to watch and what makes it more unnerving is the fact that it was based on a true story. I was talking to a friend of mine, and she is willing to sit down and see A SERBIAN FILM with me. I showed her the two reviews here and she is curious. She told me that Europe is just more unrelenting with these themes than America and they do go further than we can ever expect. It seems like Europe needs to be bolder since the measuring stick for boldness there is extremely high.

Just finished I saw The Devil the other nite. It was quite good & it may be on the best films I see all year. I'm glad I purchased this one instead of renting it first. I'm also thrilled to hear you found someone to watch A SERBIAN FILM with. It sounds like she already understands what she's in for so things should go well. Knowing your taste in cinema and the films we've both agreed on, I can't say you will love it but I do think you will have a deep respect for it. Cheers!!

No Mr. William, not familiar with that one- But it sounds very Tim Burton-esque. Worth looking into?