Copaface

I, like most people, have quite an opinion on what is art & what isn't and this film generally doesn't come under my personal art category but that's just an opinion. I do however think this film is important & by all mean it should have been made. Yes there are the few who will see it as just some form of torture porn... some may even get off on it if certain circling internet videos are to be believed... but I am interested in the opinions of those who view Salo the way I do. Torture, slavery & sexual degradation have been happening for thousands and thousands of years & continues to happen to this day (rape, child pornography, human trafficking etc.) and I believe that in order to fully understand things of this nature (and perhaps one day getting round the stopping them when certain governments pull their finger out) films like this are necessary. It not only shows you the vile truth of sex slavery but shows the extent to which people seem to get into their acting: it must have been extremely difficult for the actors to perform in some of the scenes (those who have seen the film will know all too well what I'm talking about). In some cases, it takes the point to be thrust full force & uncensored into someone's face for them to get it but if that was the whole point of the film I can only say mission accomplished. Back to the earlier point I personally wouldn't call it an art film but I do believe it is a film that should be seen.

PS - To those who are fully traumatized by this film: I own the book. The book is worse.

Yeah yeah we know the Jonas brothers are in this movie but let's face it... they're not that good. I only watched this film because I will be the first to admit Joe Jonas has a nice face and his chest isn't bad either despite how annoying he may be when he opens his mouth. But when I first watched this film (on a Sunday morning while extremely hungover and eating a pot noodle) I fell in absolute love with Demi Lovato. I thought she was the only really good actress in it and her voice is pretty amazing (I downloaded both her albums and added her on Twitter after watching... a very modern show of fandom perhaps?). I don't normally like modern Disney: I have avoided the High School Musical scene at all costs and I think any Disney movie past Finding Nemo sucks rather badly. I find the Disney crowd (Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, The Jonas Brothers etc) really annoying but Demi is the only one I've ever actually liked. However I am a sucker for cheese. I love cheesy movies (especially cheesy horror movies) and this definitely gives me my fill of it. By the way I am eighteen years old and I own two Camp Rock bracelets. This makes me feel rather pathetic. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't love it.

Bad points however: Meaghan Jette Martin (Tess Tyler) sincerely needs to eat something. All the way through the film I thought her arms or legs were going to snap. Also the performance of the adults in the movie are truly excruciating. Especially Julie Brown (Dee La Duke). At some points you just really want to put them out of their misery. The miming is off. I know it's common to mime for movies but really, at least make it look real. Same goes for pretending to play the guitar. I'm looking at you Jasmine Richards (Peggy).

Okay... Watchmen... Read the book and freaking adored it. After reading, I was sceptical of how it could translate onto film. Admittedly part of me (the immature part) only wanted to see the film through a twisted desire to see a big blue ding dong on screen.

All in all, the film wasn't a total disappointment but it wasn't utterly groundbreaking. Just a good effort. I thought the actors were cast really well and the soundtrack was, for lack of a better word, sick! Some of my favourite songs of all time, Sound Of Silence and Hallelujah. However I didn't like the fact that Hallelujah was played during the needlessly long and uncomfortable sex scene. I genuinely pitied my friend, who had to sit through said sex scene with her father right next to her.

The book was a lot deeper and generally better but the film was worth a watch.

PS - The big blue ding dong was a letdown...