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Post Info TOPIC: Why I think 8MM is a very important film.


Cage Defender

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Date: 7:27 PM, 04/19/13
Why I think 8MM is a very important film.
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'If someone never saw or sold a snuff film, they shouldn't give a damn what I ask about it, if they have they got a right to be nervous.'

 

(There are some very minimal spoilers, but these are in the second paragraph, it will not ruin the movie if you read it)

This isn't going to be classic review where I pick apart the story, characters, music and all of that good stuff, I'm going to give my opinion on the movie and what I think it means and how important I think it is. While I think it might be one of Cage's most ignored pictures, it holds a very important message that should not be ignored. 8MM is a real film because what happens in the film, despite how much we turn a blind eye to it, does happen in real life, even to this day. It is not a very pretty subject matter and neither is the film, it is dark, violent and sometimes a gutwrenching story and this is why it is memorable to me. I have not before or after watching 8MM seen anything quite like it, it is the only film I've seen that was provocative in any kind of way; how far can one man go to bring justice to light? How far can one man go before he becomes what he is hunting, a monster? What can you do when you don't know what you're facing, who are up against or how high the odds are against you? The film is very, very powerful this is due to its acting, Nicolas Cage's dark portrayal of Tom Welles, a man who plays it by the book and is slowly loosing himself to the darkness, is captivating. Tom Welles is a very complex character with very hard moral choices to overcome to achieve his goals. He is a man who has a very great concept of right and wrong and when his morals come into question Tom becomes a very determined man. I've never seen a film with this much of a chartacter arc, where they change half way through and have to adapt to the new world they have gotten themselves into.  As with any good movie, the soundtrack plays a huge part, the soundtrack in this film goes from creepy to downright unsetlling. One smart thing about the soundtrack, when it deals with the innocent characters like, Tom, Max, Amy the soundtrack that accompanies them is a soft piano, however, when it deals with the kidnappers and the killers it is a very harsh, moody and bitter soundtrack.

 

The movie is not a very easy watch, the people who I have recommened it too have liked it but said it was a very dark, unsetlling film. It also had some black comedy thrown in to lighten the mood every now and then. It had me on the edge of my seat solidly for the films two hours, I've never seen anything like it and I doubt that I'll ever see anything like it ever again. 8MM remains my second favorite Nicolas Cage film because it had me totally invested in everything it was doing. Was it violent? Yes. Was it vulgar? Yes. Did it fit the story? Yes. So I don't understand where the negative comments come from when critics say 'it's too violent' Isn't that the point of the film? After all of Tom's searching and he finds Machine and expects an answer from him but when the answer is simply 'because he wanted to' it becomes apparent to the viewer who is much like the Tom  during the whole film that there is not always a reason behind someones actions to do something bad, it is simply for the fun of it. Haunting, 8MM tells the story of something that most people wish to forget about and for that reason alone I think it should not be missed. Simply dismissing an issue does not get it solved. 

Thank you for reading, any and all comments are welcome.



-- Edited by Enzo on Friday 19th of April 2013 07:30:29 PM

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Cage Defender

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Date: 7:21 PM, 04/21/13
Why I think 8MM is a very important film.
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Thank you for reading it smile I agree, it is very dark but again that's why I love it, its very original and I don't think it would be made today...? Maybe? I'm not a big fan of lots of violence and explicit imagery but it fit the story, so I'm okay with it bowsmiley 

 

I'll write a more traditional review next time, but this movie just blew my mind, and I had to tell all of you! bouncyfrog



-- Edited by Enzo on Sunday 21st of April 2013 07:22:04 PM

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NIColicious Enchantress

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Date: 1:29 AM, 04/22/13
RE: Why I think 8MM is a very important film.
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That`s a pretty good review! Thank you, Enzo, for writing it, and sharing your opinion with us about that movie! I haven`t watched it much often, but, to me, although, another awesome performance from our fave actor, not really one of my fave movies! To me it is too dark and had too much violence for my personal taste (I know, those are big parts of what the movie is about, as it is a really dark subject)! hide



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"When you think about magic, it is imagination plus willpower focused in such a way that you can create a conscious effect in the material world..."

Nicolas Cage




Cage Defender

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Date: 9:25 PM, 04/22/13
Why I think 8MM is a very important film.
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Alright. I understand you smile thank you for reading.



-- Edited by Enzo on Monday 22nd of April 2013 09:25:58 PM

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Nic Warrior

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Date: 2:31 AM, 04/23/13
RE: Why I think 8MM is a very important film.
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I agree with you Enzo, it is a movie of alot of violence and is very dark.  I watch the all of Nicks movies in a row as they were made, so I come across this movie 2-3 times a year.  Even though I know what what happens and how Nick plays the part, I enjoy the movie.  Not because of its content or story, but because it is a Nicolas Cage movie and he is in it.  This is not in my top favorites nor is it as the bottom.  This movie is in the middle.

RoyaltravelerILNC



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Royaltraveler



Nicolicious

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Date: 10:21 PM, 05/04/13
Why I think 8MM is a very important film.
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I am agree with you, Enzo. This movie is too violent. This is terrible story. Therefore people would like to forget about it.

But I think too it should not be missed. These things really does happen  sometimes  in our life. 

Thanks for this review.

And...I like that you have thought about this... 

         ...I like that you think about it...   (I'm sorry I don't know how to say it correctly)

 

 



-- Edited by Caesar on Saturday 4th of May 2013 10:22:16 PM

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Cage Defender

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Date: 4:06 PM, 05/13/13
Why I think 8MM is a very important film.
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Thank you for your input. :) I am happy you agree with me ^_^

 

Don't worry. I understand you 



-- Edited by Enzo on Monday 13th of May 2013 04:08:11 PM

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Nicalicious

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Date: 10:00 AM, 05/26/13
RE: Why I think 8MM is a very important film.
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 Thank you, Enzo, that was really good to read, You have a way of expressing yourself that I like, and I fully agree with all you said about the movie. I have seen it twice, and although it was disturbing, I found it very compelling. In particular the way Nic's character reflects and yet struggles with the sordid path he is following. Two scenes come to my mind now, when he breaks down with his wife, and when he is on the airplane.  How subtle he can be and yet so extreme. Amazing acting, really. Here is a question I wonder about, would Tom have done what he did in the end ( I don't want to post any spoilers here ) if he had not entered that world. He was a different man, wasn't he?

I agee with Caesar, I like that you think about it.



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Cage Defender

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Posts: 778
Date: 7:10 AM, 05/27/13
RE: Why I think 8MM is a very important film.
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Thank you for your very high praise. Well, I wonder, if you were to ask Tom at the start of the film if he would do what he did, he'd say no straight away. But because he was in that situation he had to do those things. If he wasn't in that situation he wouldn't have done it in the first place. Yeah, I agree, he was a different person. 'The devil doesn't change, the devil changes you'



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