So, I just watched this for the first time tonight, for free, on On Demand.
Woah.
This movie is just a beyond bizarre movie that has to be watched a few times. I'm definitely checking it out again before it's taken off the listings.
Based off of what I saw, I can definitely see how the movie can be hated by most 'mainstream' audiences. Surrealist to say the least. Not quite the 'horror' movie I was expecting, but unsettling, in a way. And I kinda felt badly for the baby at the end. :buggedout:
I'm still kinda trying to wrap my head around it to see if any of it makes any real sense or if what I'm thinking is 'right.'
Once upon a time, there were things known as "Midnight Movies", which were screened at your local theatre at midnight, usually on weekends. The first film to get the Midnight Movie treatment was Jodoworsky's "El Topo", which the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art started giving midnight screenings in the early '70's. "Eraserhead" soon followed, usually on a double bill with the nowhere near as disturbing animation "Asparagus".
I think this film possibly influenced more filmmakers than know themselves. Certainly, anyone who's seen it can always recall some sequences decades later: God as a madman trapped in a maze of rusting Victorian machinery, the literal nature of the film's title, the gagging and wretching at the dinner table . . . and who is that living in the radiator, anyway? The sperm dance!! (One wonders if Terry Jones was thinking of this during Python's "Meaning of Life"!). I've only ever seen it once, in 1979, and can recall most of it verbatim. It's worth remembering that this was a student film for Lynch, presaging all his other work. It was a bellwether for what to come.
peter johnson/denny crane
I like Eraserhead, but personally I don't think of it as the 'Horror' movie it is often labeled as, BUT, it's disturbing enough it doesn't fit anywhere else. Easily one of the most thought-provoking movies I've seen, it seems to have just enough direction to make me ponder the symbolism, but it seems to me that it's easily interpreted differently depending on my mood. I do hope that someday Lynch lets us all in on his interpretation of it, as he has said that among all the theories out there attempt to explain it, nobody has yet been successful. I'd really like to know what he was thinking. . .
If you guys have been paying attentions, you know I love (even better, "admire") this movie. I wish Lynch could take 5 years to make all of his movies, maybe he'd turn out something this good every time.
Ghouk, I half suspect Lynch is playing with audiences when he implies there's some sort of hidden meaning to this movie, beyond the idea of horror at the thought of procreation. He's one of those director's who's known to be a bit "playful" in interviews at times. But, if you're still curious, he does claim that there is a bible verse that explains it all to him. No one's ever been able to suggest a likely candidate. Anyway, his personal interpretation's no more "the correct one" than anyone else's, as I'm sure he'd admit.
I love "Eraserhead." It's by far my favorite Lynch film out of the three I have seen. I think it's actually way easier to understand than "Mulholland Drive."
Quote from: peter johnson on June 06, 2009, 05:22:15 PM
Once upon a time, there were things known as "Midnight Movies", which were screened at your local theatre at midnight, usually on weekends. The first film to get the Midnight Movie treatment was Jodoworsky's "El Topo", which the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art started giving midnight screenings in the early '70's. "Eraserhead" soon followed, usually on a double bill with the nowhere near as disturbing animation "Asparagus".
peter johnson/denny crane
El Topo is a film that is on my 'must see' list. Eraserhead was on my list as well, and when I saw that On Demand had it, I very much had to see it. I don't wanna say that the movie was 'disturbing', but it left me in a mood to just, think, after I saw it. Very rarely a movie does that for me.
I'm of the opinion there is no real hidden meaning to the film. What it is is a surrealist experience, and it works well as that. I don't know if I could watch it again, but I do not regret watching it. It's a film that is impossible for me to really rate. I do think any person with a serious interest in film should watch it though.
People always compare it to Tetsuo (or rather, vice versa). I can see why, as Eraserhead does seem as if it influenced it. But they're quite different. Tetsuo, as crazy as it is, has a significantly more conventional plot and I actually think there is some underlying subtext - most obviously, about homosexuality.
The DVD has a long, but mostly interesting segment where David Lynch chain smokes and reminisces about making the movie. After watching this, I realized David Lynch is almost as eccentric as John Waters.
Quote from: The Burgomaster on June 07, 2009, 06:02:11 PM
The DVD has a long, but mostly interesting segment where David Lynch chain smokes and reminisces about making the movie. After watching this, I realized David Lynch is almost as eccentric as John Waters.
What's wrong with that?
Waters is the man. Eccentricity or not.
Yes I saw that this was ON DEMAND, and was sort of proud that they would air something this underground, and bizarre. I am kind of hit or miss with Lynch as of late, but his movies are always memorable.
HappyGilmore , you should definitely see Jodorowsky's El Topo, and Holy Mountain. Those two are essential Midnight Movie viewing. Holy Mountain definitely blurs the line between the filmmaker and the audience, and it was financed oddly enough by John Lennon. It makes me wonder what his version of Dune would have been like with Dali, and HR Giger.
Another weird movie I just recently saw for the first time is the 1969 Japanese film Horrors of Malformed Men based on the writings of Edogawa Rampo. Its a beautiful film juxtaposed with some very shabby effects, but worth seeking out. It is best described as Tod Browning's Freaks mixed with The Island Of Dr Moreau with a revenge storyline as convoluted as Oldboy.
Quote from: Monster Jungle X-Ray on June 07, 2009, 10:58:02 PM
Yes I saw that this was ON DEMAND, and was sort of proud that they would air something this underground, and bizarre. I am kind of hit or miss with Lynch as of late, but his movies are always memorable.
HappyGilmore , you should definitely see Jodorowsky's El Topo, and Holy Mountain. Those two are essential Midnight Movie viewing. Holy Mountain definitely blurs the line between the filmmaker and the audience, and it was financed oddly enough by John Lennon. It makes me wonder what his version of Dune would have been like with Dali, and HR Giger.
Another weird movie I just recently saw for the first time is the 1969 Japanese film Horrors of Malformed Men based on the writings of Edogawa Rampo. Its a beautiful film juxtaposed with some very shabby effects, but worth seeking out. It is best described as Tod Browning's Freaks mixed with The Island Of Dr Moreau with a revenge storyline as convoluted as Oldboy.
Never even heard of Holy Mountain. Sounds kinda obscure to me.
I've heard of El Topo but haven't had the opportunity to see it yet.
Quote from: HappyGilmore on June 08, 2009, 08:18:25 AM
Never even heard of Holy Mountain. Sounds kinda obscure to me.
I've heard of El Topo but haven't had the opportunity to see it yet.
I bought a Jodorowsky boxed set. It has El Topo, Holy Mountain, Fando y Lis, and a special features disc. So far, I have only watched El Topo and I enjoyed it . . . although, I'll probably need to watch it several times to fully understand it . . . and even then I suspect I won't understand all of it.
Quote from: Monster Jungle X-Ray on June 07, 2009, 10:58:02 PM
Yes I saw that this was ON DEMAND, and was sort of proud that they would air something this underground, and bizarre. I am kind of hit or miss with Lynch as of late, but his movies are always memorable.
HappyGilmore , you should definitely see Jodorowsky's El Topo, and Holy Mountain. Those two are essential Midnight Movie viewing. Holy Mountain definitely blurs the line between the filmmaker and the audience, and it was financed oddly enough by John Lennon. It makes me wonder what his version of Dune would have been like with Dali, and HR Giger.
Another weird movie I just recently saw for the first time is the 1969 Japanese film Horrors of Malformed Men based on the writings of Edogawa Rampo. Its a beautiful film juxtaposed with some very shabby effects, but worth seeking out. It is best described as Tod Browning's Freaks mixed with The Island Of Dr Moreau with a revenge storyline as convoluted as Oldboy.
EL TOPO is great viewing. Many people like HOLY MOUNTAIN even better, but not me. The first 10-20 minutes is one of the greatest surrealistic sequences in cinema, but it breaks down after that. That said, I'll have to see and review again in the next couple years; maybe I'll like it better.
You didn't mention SANTA SANGRE, the story of a serial killer who acts as the arms for his armless mother, which a lot of people find to be Jodorowsky's most accessible film. It's out of print on DVD, unfortunately. I think EL TOPO is the best and most watchable, though I have yet to see FANDO Y LIS.
A number of weird movies have been adapted from Rampo's work. I have an anthology of films based on his short stories called RAMPO NOIR in my Netflix queue right now. I haven't seen HORRORS OF MALFORMED MEN but I definitely hope to.
Quote from: The Burgomaster on June 08, 2009, 09:37:26 AM
Quote from: HappyGilmore on June 08, 2009, 08:18:25 AM
Never even heard of Holy Mountain. Sounds kinda obscure to me.
I've heard of El Topo but haven't had the opportunity to see it yet.
I bought a Jodorowsky boxed set. It has El Topo, Holy Mountain, Fando y Lis, and a special features disc. So far, I have only watched El Topo and I enjoyed it . . . although, I'll probably need to watch it several times to fully understand it . . . and even then I suspect I won't understand all of it.
I wouldn't bother trying to fully understand EL TOPO; it's not worth the effort. Jodorowsky did intend for ever scene to have a particular meaning, but it doesn't add up to anything that makes much sense to anyone other than Jodorowsky. He published an annotated script to EL TOPO that you can probably find through a Google search. If you read it I think you'll see what I mean.
Quote from: Rev. Powell on June 08, 2009, 11:43:12 AM
You didn't mention SANTA SANGRE, the story of a serial killer who acts as the arms for his armless mother, which a lot of people find to be Jodorowsky's most accessible film. It's out of print on DVD, unfortunately. I think EL TOPO is the best and most watchable, though I have yet to see FANDO Y LIS.
SANTA SANGRE is actually my favorite Jodorowsky film, don't have it on DVD, but I have watched it several times over the years on VHS. While it is quite accessible it still has plenty of high weirdness going on. Plus Axel Jodorowsky was great in his role.
You are right though overall EL TOPO is probably the best of his work. I find HOLY MOUNTAIN is too self conscious on purpose given the end of that film. For all the mystical happenings that Alejandro likes to dwell on there is a definite demystification of it all that happens in that one.
I have yet to see FANDO Y LIS either, but I want to pick up that box set.
While I have not read Jodoworsky's annontated script, as I know I said before somewhere else on the board, what El Topo is is a Zen parable, presented with the possibility of triggering Enlightenment, or Samsara, on the part of the viewer.
I say this because I've read and studied a lot of Buddhist philosophy, and there are numerous scenes in El Topo that aren't just similiar to Zen fables and koans, but are almost word-for-word verbatim retellings of classic short tales from Joshu, etc. The scenes where he has his potential assassin help him build the wall & the house, for but one example. Ditto the post-coital dialogue between the Mole and his dwarf bride in the Underworld. I cannot believe this is in any way accidental or coincidental.
You cannot speak meaningfully of "purpose" in Zen, as that implies attachment to goals, but I think the meaning of El Topo is to be found in Zen Buddhism -- check out a few books like "Chop Wood/Carry Water" & see if you don't agree.
peter one hand/denny clapping
Peter,
You're at least partly right. AJ admitted to referencing the Koan in the story about the son helping El Topo build the tunnel. And surely interpreting the film as one giant koan is one of the best ideas I've heard.
If you read the script, you'll find out that AJ intended tons of references not only to Zen but to every world religion, and lots of Jungian archetypes as well. But they are so well hidden and obscure that no viewer could possibly get the symbolism without AJ explaining it. To take an example Danny Peary used, he says that a particular rock formation he uses symbolizes Pontius Pilate's hands. It's pretty much impossible to catch that without the writer explaining it. And in the end all of the references don't add up to a coherent story; he just seems to throw them in as they occur to him. For that reason, I like to think of it as a surrealist work with images that are inspired by religion, rather than a movie with a hidden spiritual meaning to be deciphered.
Ahh EraserHead and El Topo. I have EraserHead on DVD and have seen El Topo.... Can't even to begin to explain them. I have a small petty mind. Just want to say at least I saw them :smile: