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Repo: The Genetic Opera!
Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 08:23 pmA while back, I wrote about the trailer for "Repo: The Genetic Opera", assuming that it would come out in theaters and I would go and see it on a sunny morning at a cheap showing. Then the movie wasn't released in the way I expected it would be, and when it moseyed over to San Diego, I didn't think I could stay up until midnight to see something potentially disturbing. But thanks to Netflix, the DVD is in my possession (albeit temporarily.)
And, honestly? I might have to watch this again.
I mean, I was surprised by how much I liked it. On the first viewing, it reminded me of a report that I did in eighth grade world history about the Globe Theater during Shakespeare's time and how the performers used ox blood during the blood-letting scenes because it looked more dramatic than any other type of animal blood (according to my source at the time.) There's a lot of blood in this, but it seems ox-blood-fake, set dressing for the sake of the overall tint of the film, and not actually belonging to any human being. And the music is crazy, running the gamut from Broadway-style crowd scenes (a chorus of singing prostitutes, a la Les Miz and Miss Saigon!) to punk to Puccini. But somehow it works, and I cannot say what the best thing about it is, the music or the singing or the acting, or the general over-the-top staging and melodramatic story. I suppose the best way to summarize it would be "Bertold Brecht meets Iggy Pop meets Elvira meets Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde meets West Side Story and they all do drugs together and then get in a knife fight and sing and it's a strange kind of AWESOME!"
( I remember... I dismember!: This ain't your granddaddy's opera. Spoilers ahead, too. )
To those who were concerned about the squick/horror level: If you've seen any 80's slasher movie, I think you've seen the gore you're going to see here. If you don't like torture, you should probably stay away, although I thought those scenes moved by very quickly and didn't bother me like I had expected.
I may never think of Anthony Stewart Head in the same way again, though, that's for damn sure. I should also add that I was in a very specific mood when I watched this; I wanted something completely different and strange, and I wanted music, and I really, really enjoyed it. I think it I had been in a more fragile or introspective mood, I would not have enjoyed it and this entry would be very different.
Of course, the real question that I have is, will this be the new Rocky Horror Picture Show? Rocky is kitschy, campy fun. I don't know if I would call this movie "fun", although a lot of the music is very stirring. I don't think I can picture people singing along with Sarah Brightman's aria... and I'm not sure what props you would bring with you to Repo (maybe little glass vials?). On the other hand, this already has a kind of cult following, and if the midnight showing at the Ken is any indication, it could certainly happen. And if it comes around again, and there are people in costume... I might just have to go this time.
And, honestly? I might have to watch this again.
I mean, I was surprised by how much I liked it. On the first viewing, it reminded me of a report that I did in eighth grade world history about the Globe Theater during Shakespeare's time and how the performers used ox blood during the blood-letting scenes because it looked more dramatic than any other type of animal blood (according to my source at the time.) There's a lot of blood in this, but it seems ox-blood-fake, set dressing for the sake of the overall tint of the film, and not actually belonging to any human being. And the music is crazy, running the gamut from Broadway-style crowd scenes (a chorus of singing prostitutes, a la Les Miz and Miss Saigon!) to punk to Puccini. But somehow it works, and I cannot say what the best thing about it is, the music or the singing or the acting, or the general over-the-top staging and melodramatic story. I suppose the best way to summarize it would be "Bertold Brecht meets Iggy Pop meets Elvira meets Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde meets West Side Story and they all do drugs together and then get in a knife fight and sing and it's a strange kind of AWESOME!"
( I remember... I dismember!: This ain't your granddaddy's opera. Spoilers ahead, too. )
To those who were concerned about the squick/horror level: If you've seen any 80's slasher movie, I think you've seen the gore you're going to see here. If you don't like torture, you should probably stay away, although I thought those scenes moved by very quickly and didn't bother me like I had expected.
I may never think of Anthony Stewart Head in the same way again, though, that's for damn sure. I should also add that I was in a very specific mood when I watched this; I wanted something completely different and strange, and I wanted music, and I really, really enjoyed it. I think it I had been in a more fragile or introspective mood, I would not have enjoyed it and this entry would be very different.
Of course, the real question that I have is, will this be the new Rocky Horror Picture Show? Rocky is kitschy, campy fun. I don't know if I would call this movie "fun", although a lot of the music is very stirring. I don't think I can picture people singing along with Sarah Brightman's aria... and I'm not sure what props you would bring with you to Repo (maybe little glass vials?). On the other hand, this already has a kind of cult following, and if the midnight showing at the Ken is any indication, it could certainly happen. And if it comes around again, and there are people in costume... I might just have to go this time.
