MovieChat Forums > The Black Dahlia (2006) Discussion > incomprehensible torture porn - DO NOT W...

incomprehensible torture porn - DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME ON THIS FILM

posted 16 years ago by squirmy_monkey
50 replies | jump to latest

This movie bored me to sleep for the most part and the last half-hour was just disgusting. The only good scenes were the ones with Elizabeth/Black Dahlia (played by Mia Kirshner) and they were too few. The acting was awful, Josh Hartnett is flat and robotic and unfortunately the camera is on him most of the time. I just did not care what happened to him. Even Scarlett Johanson and Hillary Swank who have turned really good roles in other films, were so-so in this one. The acting was so bad and the plot was incomprehensible most of the time. Then the directors went for blood and gore hoping that that would carry the ending. It was so gross, I wanted to take a shower after it was over. yeccch...what a total waste of 2 hours of my life.

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[–] BartlebyScrivner 16 years ago

Ah, yes, "torture porn," the phrase coined by the holier-than-thou pseudo-artiste elite in order to engender in themselves a sense of superiority over anyone who would _dare_ watch or enjoy a piece of film which fell below their standards.

It's called "exploitation film." Just because that doesn't resonate for you with pangs of self-superiority doesn't make it inaccurate.

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[–] squirmy_monkey 16 years ago

I do not care who coined the phrase or what their motivations were. It is an apt term it fits the movie well. also "torture porn" is a sub-category of gore films because it combines sex with sadism. calling it "exploitation" does not say much since any B-movie, zombie flick, blaxploitation & spaghetti western is in this category. calling it "torture porn" is not superior only to people like you who are looking for snobbery when there is none.

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] cynkat 16 years ago

Squirmy, I agree with you on this one. I wish I had read your review before I saw it. But then again I couldn't wait to see this movie, this crime is an object of fascination with me (as many others, obviously) and I was horribly disappointed. Hillary Swank gave me the creeps and what was with Scarlett Johanson's mouth? She had this ridiculous Betty Boop thing going with her lips, it was bizarre. I am not sure what the director was going for here, and I don't think anyone in the movie did either.

"Only the suppressed word is dangerous" -
Ludwig Börne

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[–] MysteryReaderReturns 16 years ago

The phrase 'Torture porn' is thrown around more often than the word 'Pretentious' on this imdb boards....it's annoying.

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[–] GeneticSugarKane 15 years ago

It's particularly annoying when it's used to describe films that don't feature any torture.

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[–] Mr_Fluffykins 16 years ago

http://poetry.rotten.com/black-dahlia/

it actually happened,
its not torture porn, its not made to get you hard and jerk off,

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[–] respectall34 15 years ago

heh, they failed. i win.

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[–] BartlebyScrivner 16 years ago

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I do not care who coined the phrase or what their motivations were. It is an apt term it fits the movie well.
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So you don't care if something has its genesis in elitism and moral superiority, just so long as its utilization suits your purposes.

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also "torture porn" is a sub-category of gore films because it combines sex with sadism.
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For not caring about the origins of a phrase, you seem perfectly willing to switch gears here and start lecturing about its application. Which is interesting considering that, by your own definition, this film does not fall into that category, as only one scene in the film can even be remotely identified as the combination of sex and sadism.

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calling it "exploitation" does not say much since any B-movie, zombie flick, blaxploitation & spaghetti western is in this category.
=================================================================================

In other words, I don't like to call something what it is because that would negate my emotionally-charged yet intellectually bankrupt argument.

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calling it "torture porn" is not superior only to people like you who are looking for snobbery when there is none.
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In all honesty the first part I find incomprehensible; "not superior only to people like me?" As for the snobbery where there is none, there seems to be snobbery in great quantities; perhaps you'd like to call it something else in an attempt to support your argument? You seem pretty well versed with that tactic.

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[–] samoscratch 16 years ago

Bartleby, get a grip

That is all

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[–] BartlebyScrivner 16 years ago

If I were espousing a different viewpoint, would you have the same reaction? Or are you simply upset that I am not kowtowing?

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[–] samoscratch 16 years ago

It's just that you're wrapping weak arguments in excessive vocabulary in an attempt to sound intelligent. And you're very worked up over nothing.

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[–] BartlebyScrivner 16 years ago

I don't believe in dumbing myself down for mass consumption.

And should I note the passion with which the original poster started this thread? He's the one who decided to bash a move using such powerful rhetoric as "torture porn." That's a lot more worked up than I'm getting.

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[–] v_rodriguez10 16 years ago

Do you talk like you write?

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[–] mrwelles 16 years ago

Having passed an English class in college doesn't make it okay for some pompous, conceited individual to go off on Squirmy Monkey (and Squirmy's post) in such an extreme and vile way. I believe that when someone treats a fellow human being the way Squirmy was treated here, it says a lot more about the individual spewing forth the venom than they'd ever be capable of understanding. I believe that by showing exactly what their priorities are (e.g., how they value such characteristics as manners, respect for others, looking for common ground, and doing their part to make the journey we're all sharing together a kinder, happier, more peaceful, and enjoyable one), they needn't concern themselves with working to "dumb (themselves) down for mass consumption." Without trying, they're succeeding remarkably well. I don't know about you, but I feel a little sad for them and their view of the world.

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[–] squirmy_monkey 16 years ago

"I don't believe in dumbing myself down for mass consumption."

Don't do that, wouldn't want you to fall into a coma.

"And should I note the passion with which the original poster started this thread? He's the one who decided to bash a move using such powerful rhetoric as "torture porn." That's a lot more worked up than I'm getting."

I do not think of the phrase "torture porn" as being "powerful rhetoric". It is a descriptive term for a certain kind of gore flick. It is only disparaging if the person hearing doesn't like this kind of flick. Some so-called "torture porn" films are very artistic and have won critical acclaim. BTW I don't know why you have so much hostility towards me for expressing my opinion of a movie, in a movie forum. Maybe you got bullied too much as a kid or something.

p.s. I am not a guy.

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[–] pappazeuss 16 years ago

man are you a dork,bartelby....i'm glad imdb has the ignore feature.clown

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[–] corpus_callosum 14 years ago

" I don't believe in dumbing myself down for mass consumption. "

apparently you do believe in being a hypocrite. that post totally reeks of having a sense of superiority, which is what you were ridiculously accusing Squirmy of.

here..... fly off the handle some more.....

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[–] phagelab 16 years ago

Gotta go with Bartleby on this one; the OP is fairly ridiculous.

"When in Rome we shall do as the Romans, when in Hell we do shots at the bar"

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[–] StarskyandChinaHutch 12 years ago

Xykeb, is that you bro?

Who busts the Crimebusters?

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[–] terry2070-1 16 years ago

It isn't fair to categorize it as torture porn, or accurate as there wasn't much brutality or true violence, but what is fair is the assessment that this was very poorly executed.

I think James Elroy is overrated and his take on this crime is so far from the truth that anyone who has read books on the real case will be severely annoyed that he felt the need to dramatize an already interesting case.

And then we have De Palma, master of the over-the-top. I get that he was trying to re-create the film noir atmosphere, but I have honestly never seen so many decent actors act so badly.

The whole movie, you just want them to focus on the murder but instead you are stuck with these two uninteresting cops.

Let's hope David Lynch or David Fincher take a stab (no pun intended) re-visit this story as they have both expressed interest in doing, and if anyone is interested in learning about the ACTUAL case, read evered: The True Story of the Black Dahlia Murder by John Gilmore.

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[–] ferreira0665 12 years ago

I think you as well as others have misinterpreted Ellroy's intention. He has never said his book was what really happened to Elisabeth Short. In fact, he has says it is possibly what could have happened. You can read all the books of what happened to Elisabeth Short and claim them to be true as the authors can but in truth we really don't know. That is why this murder remains unsolved.

What is even more interesting is that the game L.A. Noire has the character you play figure out who the Black Dahlia murderer is but before you can make an arrest, you are either demoted or promoted depending where it happens in the game. Haven't played it in a while.

This would give the impression the LAPD was in on it being covered up. And that the murderer was actually known but the LAPD was paid off so we will never know.

That may not be the true story but it is surely possible due to the fact that we know the LAPD is one of the most corrupt organizations in the United States.

Take what happened in the movie Changeling for example. And if you read the real story and the court case on it, its all true.

Again Ellroy had said his book the Black Dahlia is his own idea. Its not fact as we don't really know what the facts are.

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[–] tommygunfeth 16 years ago

I can't believe this movie falls short in ratings because of people like you who don't even understand the movie.

I'm sorry if you didn't understand it..
But that can not be blamed on Brian DePalma.
The blame must be put on yourself..

This movie is amazing..

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[–] dkalmbac 16 years ago

according to the trivia section, there's a 3hr cut of the film. i'm sure it is much better and, at the very least, makes a lot more sense. quite frankly, i'd like to see it.

however, i'm siding with bartleby on the "torture porn" argument.

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[–] tommygunfeth 16 years ago

You're saying it doesn't make sense.. and yet.. for me it made perfect sense..

My conclusion:
"Think harder" and don't judge something you don't understand.

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[–] mlookw-566-931101 12 years ago

Scarlett Johanson -- how does one go about asking her out on a date? I'll take her to Ireland. She smells so good on film. Say I'm sitting down and she stands very close so my nose was level with her crispy mound -- I'd sniff her coconut and lemon. I am a washed-up man, American, older fellow -- no money. We'll swim to Ireland -- I'll ride her back. Scarlett -- come unto me and give my thy succor.

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[–] spotlightwise 12 years ago

Scarlett Johanson -- how does one go about asking her out on a date?

in the film, paying for her college studies, irl for her clothes and cosmetics. Prolly, Josh Hartnett kicked himself for having asked her out. She humped and dumped him. He was gonna change her, but Scarlett couldn't be trusted.

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] patrutiss-1 16 years ago

I wasted my time 3 times until now,i din`t think it was a waste of time at all enjoyed every minute of it.

Chill out,it was like that when i got there.

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