MovieChat Forums > Slither (2006) Discussion > Much like The Puppet Masters (1994)

Much like The Puppet Masters (1994)

posted 16 years ago by kalvinharp
8 replies | jump to latest

Despite the unusually high movie rating, I much disliked this film. My first beef with this film is with the Director himself. My all-time favorite horror movie is Dawn of the Dead (1978). James Gunn completely shamed the original with his remake.

The real problem I have with this film is the over use of CGI effects in place of storyline. The story line is almost completely based on The Puppet Masters (1994) starring Donald Sutherland. If a person were to combine Dawn of the Dead (2004) with The Puppet Masters (1994) they would most certainly get this pile of garbage.

In the good old days of movie making film makers and directors did not rely on CGI to tell the story. They instead relied on props, puppets, and special effects. For instance look how much more real the gore scenes look in the original Dawn of the Dead.

Many will criticize my review of this film and say a movie such as this one is almost completely sci-fi and cannot be forced to rely only on props, puppets and effects. To these people I point out and use two great horror films. Alien (1979) & Aliens (1986) both starring Sigourney Weaver.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] The_King_of_Cool 16 years ago

There really isn't much in common with The Puppet Masters. Slither is far more like Night of the Creeps

FULCI LIVES!

[–] mmalon6 16 years ago

The good old days of filmmaking. The reason the "good old days" filmmakers used puppets over CGI was because THERE WAS NO CGI. It wasn't invented yet. When was "the good old days"? 2001? 2002?

Yes, Ridley Scott was so courageous not to be tempted with all the advances in CGI when making Alien. What an artist!

I'm going to be honest, that was probably one of the dumbest comments I've ever read.

So now, tell what really is the difference between a puppet and a CGI creature?

They both achieve the same thing just through different methods. In no way is a puppet any more credible than CGI. As long as it's done right, it works.

Also, how many special effects shots are in the movie? Save for the worms, I don't really think there are any others. Nothing really overt. It wasn't like I Am Legend or anything. The CGI was really subtle.

And guess what - A LOT of movies take elements from the Puppet Masters. Not the 94 version, but the original Heinlein novel. For example, a little movie you may have heard of called Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I mean, how many times has that been remade, ripped off, and re-done?

[–] soulflyhigh 15 years ago

First of James Gunn didn't direct Dawn of the Dead, he was just involved with writing the screenplay. And secondly, saying this is ripping of The Puppet Masters just show your lack of exposure to movies.
As for CGI, it's a great tool in making movies on budget where used corectly, like this movie. Apart from the slugs pretty much everything was done with physical effects.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] HumanFundRecipient 14 years ago

I remember The Puppet Masters, though its been awhile since I've seen it.
I don't really remember someone turning into a big blob with their face in the middle like in Slither.

And some of the people in Puppet Masters survived after being controlled by the creatures. In Slither, the people turned into zombies!

The movies don't have much in common.

The God I believe in isn't short of cash, mister!

[–] lexyladyjax 8 years ago

THE PUPPET MASTERS is based on a book by Robert Heinlein. It was published in the Sixties IIRC. It was optioned then but it was impossible to stage due to the limitations of technology. It took until 1994 to be able to put it on film.

Before you decide one is a ripoff of the other, you should read the original book from which it's adapted. Other than brain-controlling parasitic aliens, there's no similarity between the two tales.

Did you know that Robert Heinlein invented the waterbed? You'd be amazed at his other inventions. He was a genius.

Bored now.