So I finally saw this movie, it lived up to it's reputation as being the must vulgar, flithy digusting film I've ever seen.
I watched "Pink Flamingos" sometime during my early high school years. It was a complete waste of time. Yes, it has some very disgusting moments... but because that's the ONLY thing of "value" it has going for it, it's easily a movie you can skip.
I've seen other John Waters films, too, and I didn't like those, either. I did enjoy his guest appearance on "The Simpsons", though, during the peak of the show's creativity.
Yes, this movie is repugnant. I had to stop watching it a number of times because my roomate kept entering the room and I didn't have the heart to subject him to this film. There are so many segments of this film that are so filthy it turns my stomach. Most notably are the chicken sex scene and the jack off/insemination scene which defy my conventional understanding. I thought I had seen some gross things in my life, but nothing, and I repeat nothing, has prepared me for this.
Now I'm going to watch the Russ Meyers film, "Faster p***ycat, Kill Kill" (1965). If you don't hear from in the next few days, I'll have died from overexposure to exploitation and smut. It's a difficult week.
Scottie, I think that you will not be killed by the Russ Meyer's films. Waters seems to go overboard, but Russ had the exploitation film pegged. Even in "Up!" he managed to get it right. I mean, yes you have oral man on man action, but it is Hitler who is the, um, bad guy. "Faster p***ycat, Kill! Kill!" is really great.
I consider Waters' films art, only because art inspires stronge emotions in people. It qualifies if that is the only wicket.
Saw POLYESTER in an small theater called "The Little Art Theater" in my area about 1983. Upon entering the theater we received a scratch and sniff card and as the movie went along you had to scratch and sniff the corresponding number code that came on the screen. The moment that everyone was most affended by was when someone passes gas in the movie then you scratch and sniff the card. We had lots of fun as the members of the company that I worked for went to this theater every Friday night till it later closed.
Only saw part of PINK FLAMINGOS on Beta back in the 80's also and couldn't get into it, but perhaps I should take another look.
I might have to do some reviewing here and do a John Waters marathon.
Scott,
A John Water's marathon? Beside Cry Baby and Hairspray....be ready for some weird stuff. The guy constantly pushes the limit and I love his flicks other than Pink Flamingos. That one is just there to shock and Waters did a good enough job of it.
On a side note, I finally got around to renting "A Dirty Shame" which came out on DVD Tuesday. The sad part is that the local Blockbuster has pretty much pushed out many of the mom and pop shops, so it's about the only place in the county to rent flicks. They only carry the rated R version of A Dirty Shame.
If anyone does plan on renting it, please rent it somewhere other than Blockbuster, and PLEASE rent the NC-17 version. The R version might as well be rated PG. The film is obviously cut, all nudity is blurred out and phrases such as "jerking off" have been replaced with "making out". You get the idea. The only thing I can figure is that Waters was p**sed that they wanted to release a Rated R cut of his flick, so he watered (excuse the pun) it down as much as possible. The film was still incredibly funny with the cuts and a film that I'll without a doubt pick on DVD in it's uncut glory sometime soon. The man can be a genius when he wants to be, and this latest work really hits the whole "censorship" nail right on the head. Sure it's about sex and I'm sure is very vulgar in it's uncut form but it's done is such a lighthearted sweet way....
Also as a coincidence, I rented Seed Of Chucky at the same time, although unaware that Waters makes a great cameo in that flick. My wife has only seen his more mainstream efforts such as Cry Baby and Hairspray so I might subject her to that new Waters box set that came out recently. I think it might be a bit of a shock.
I did see CECIL B. DEMENTED which was fun.
The one film of his I had seen before "Faster p***y Cat, Kill Kill" was "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" (1970) and was thoroughly impressed with its concise story telling and visual beauty. It was so good in fact it motivated me to see more Russ Meyers films such as the one I watched today.
Other films watched in the past five days are
"Caddyshack" (1980): my first time seeing this movie, a tragedy at best, because I liked it so much. It revived my love for Chevy Chase's comedic style as well as further confirmed the brilliance of Bill Murray and Rodney Dangerfield. I was honestly on the floor laughing at Chevy Chase's on screen improv.
"George Washington" (2000): A story about a poor North Carolina town and their residents. The story focuses on the last summer of innocence and guaranteed friendship among a group of friends both young and old, and their exposure to the "real world." When one of their friends dies in an accident they begin to question their place in the world using marvellously written monologues. Shot on beautiful 35mm anamorphic widescreen by a Winston-Salem School of the Arts student, this is a treat for those with a bit of patience and an open heart.
What I will be watching:
Roman Polanski's "Cul-De-Sac" (1966), Alejandro Amen bar's first feature "Thesis" (1996), "Killer Angels" part two of the Moon Lee trilogy, and "Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town" (1989).
You do of course realize that a John Waters marathon will give Odinn7 and myself plenty of ammo? (:
FASTER p***yCAT KILL KILL is on my elusive list. Will view as soon as I can get hold of a copy easily.
I think the appeal with Pink Flamingos is just that with all the gross out films of the last few years none hold a candle to something made almost 35 years ago
Love that movie. To my dying day, one of my crowning acheivements will remain talking some of my more straight-laced friends into seeing it at the local indie theater, promising to buy them dinner afterwards (which I knew full well they wouldn't have any interest in cashing in on.
I found it to be very disturbing but felt compelled to watch to see if the next thing could be worse than what I just saw. Most of the time it was.
Post Edited (06-20-05 01:43)
Menard wrote:
> You do of course realize that a John Waters marathon will give
> Odinn7 and myself plenty of ammo? (:
>
Thanks for pointing that out...now he won't do it...
Sure he will...he can't resist. Besides, he loves the attention. (:
Didn't Waters also do "Serial Mom"?
That was a completely warped film.
It was like June Cleaver on a killing spree.
I liked pink flamingoes alot. It had a crazy spirit to it. They just ran around and did what they wanted, like early HG Lewis.