Genres

Visitors Review

ptb-8 2012-05-22 22:21:29

yes, it was a dark and stormy night...

SHUTTER ISLAND is visually one of the most fascinating and compellingfilms I have ever seen. The eerie Gothic visuals and sodden hospitalprison discomfort, lashing rain, wet rocks, cruel sea etc areingredients that have the viewer really descending into the movie withgreat interest. Scene after scene is just visually great. However, Ihave come away with a very dissatisfied feeling about the storydenouement and the graphic violence and distressing scenes involvingchildren. With such a rich palette of visuals to celebrate, againScorscese overdoes the mass murder. For me it was revolting, it yankedme from my enjoyment of the story and the film so greatly that it wasactually irritating. One mass murder scene in a concentration camp isjust a spandau ballet death gimmick and is really disgusting Tarantinolevel visual atrocity. The graphic deaths of some children are someticulously displayed at great length that it is so upsetting that Ireally mostly felt anger towards the film maker instead of being moreimmersed in the storyline. Overall it is a fascinating topic and thesubplots of WW2 liberation and the trauma from the frontline of day oneliberation are excellent plot lines with disturbing results. SHUTTERISLAND might be a better watch the second and third time around and Ihope I can plunge more into it's Gothic hospital cyclone of fear andhallucination more. I want so to really embrace this film. I am just sosick of Scorcese's irritating desire to whack us with atrocity visualswhen it need not be so explicit. Anyone who loves THE WICKER MAN (1973version) and LA CONFIDENTIAL and THE INNOCENTS and THE SIXTH SENSE willget a terrific charge from the art direction and set design and ValLewton style RKO noir imagery. Again Leonardo displays his remarkabletalent for really being the character. He is absolutely perfect.SHUTTER ISLAND like CASINO before is flawed by the Scorcese atrocityexcess but redeemed by the fantastic tech qualities and acting.

Eric Melin 2012-05-22 14:53:55

It's almost as if the big reveal is actually a foregone conclusion and Scorsese knows it. When it finally comes, it allows you to catch your breath. It feels real. It makes sense because you knew it deep down all along.

Theo Robertson 2012-05-19 00:22:19

A Disappointment From A Master Director

Martin Scorsese is in my opinion the greatest living movie maker . Hestarted off during the New Hollywood era in the late 1960s and isdescribed as a " movie brat " , a film maker who was brought up on afine diet of cinema during his formative years and it shows . He isvery much an aficionado of cinema and this in depth knowledge shows inSHUTTER ISLAND The story itself is somewhat similar to the works of Val Lewton andScorsese shows his influences and he builds upon the tension . He's onrecord as saying he's been a big fan of British cinema and anyone whoremembers the opening shot of ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE will havenoticed a similarity to the great British director Michael Powell .Throughout the running time the cinematography emulates the gloriousrich and lurid look of a Powell film whilst Scorsese adds grotesqueimagery of his own . Even if you're not overwhelmed by the storythere';s still much to admire about the movie !!!!! SUGGESTIVE SPOILERS !!!!!Alas the problem with the movie is that it's constructed around a plotinvolving a twist ending . Scorsese has never been a director who makesplot driven movies , he makes character driven ones but the faults ofthe film are down to either screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis or even theoriginal source novel by Dennis Lehane . There's two ways the film willend . One that is similar to SHOCK CORRIDOR - the One I was hoping for- or the one we did get which was the one I hoped we wouldn't get .Scorsese deliberately uses unrealistic mis-en-scene on occasions thatshows where the movie is heading but even if he didn't you'll stillmanage to work things out for yourself There is a telling question thefilm poses at the end if it's better to live as a monster or to die asa good man ? but this isn't enough to rescue the pay off . Worse stillthe screenplay has an overlong sequence where the plot is spoon-fed tothe audience as if they've been in a coma for two hours . INCEPTION isanother film that felt the need to explain its plot mechanics . Oneworries that in the future we'll be seeing a film directed by MichaelBay where characters have to explain what explosions and loud noisesare All in all SHUTTER ISLAND is something of a disappointment as has muchof the director's work in the 21st Century . Movies like THE AVIATOR doimprove on second viewing since they're character driven . The problemwith having a high concept plot is that once the cat is let out of thebag it stays out of the bag . That said it is remains a highlyimpressive film on a visual level and posing the question of " Is itbetter to die as a good man than live as a monster ? " is consistent inkeeping with Scorsese's running theme of existentialist angst in mostof his work .

austynphillips 2012-05-18 11:05:52

not too bad

shutter island has a good story and everything but the way it lookscheaply made and how the characters act is way too stupid. For examplethe tomb scene that was very corny.Also when the wife is talking in hisdreams its just stupid. But don't get me wrong there's good partstoo,like the lighthouse scene that was awesome,i also like the noirtype theme. yes i agree with everyone else its not as scary as iexpected,and this is coming from a person who's not a fan of scarymovies.Shutter island also is a little hard to keep up with but afterthe movie when you put the pieces together you'll start to understandit.Well all in all shutter island is good with the story and twist buteffects and character acting is not that good 2 of 10

brasslotus 2012-05-14 22:48:18

Insane in the Brain

I must be crazy to have watched this movie for two and a half hours! Ifelt as if I was locked up in that penitentiary and couldn't get upfrom my seat waiting for the plot to thicken. Why did i stay? I shouldhave ran when I first felt the urge to get out! I think Martin Scorcesepurposely made this film to make you feel sick and insane and filmed ina way to make you feel mentally and physically ill. I left with aheadache, neck ache and an ulcer. The characters were filmed so closeup you wanted to press your head back into the chair to get a betterperspective. You felt as if you were being interrogated. After two anda half hours of listening to crazy talk and find a shred of rationalthought......you felt depleted by the end to have realized that youjust had a bout of temporary insanity for staying in the damn theaterfor all that nonsense! This movie is not a psychological thriller but apsychopathic torture chamber! Don't waste your money and sanity.

Russ Stewart 2012-05-14 11:53:20

Gripping thriller

The 2009 made but 2010 released Scorsese film Shutter Island was a veryentertaining thriller in similar genre to his remake of Care Fear. Thisfilm is set up as a crime thriller with two marshalls (LeonardoDiCaprio & Mark Ruffalo) sent to an island that housing around 66 ofthe most dangerous criminally insane psychiatric patients. Their job isto investigate 1 missing female patient with the assistance (or not) ofthe hospital staff led by Ben Kingsley & Max Von Sydow. Suffice to say,things get much more complex with Leos character suffering fromincreasing migraines & some PTSD symptoms relating to the loss of hisrecently deceased wife (beautifully played by Michelle Williams) & hisexperience as a US soldier closing down a Nazi concentration camp. Thisis an absorbing complex film that is technically excellent as one wouldexpect from Scorsese. The performances are really good although it isinitially difficult to take Leo seriously. He looks like a little boyclothed form the dress up box. The plot twists are interesting & themusic creates a foreboding sense of doom form the opening scene. Thereare some plot holes or areas left unexplained at the films end. It islengthy at almost 2hrs 20 minutes but it is well paced. I had read manynegative reviews prior to the screening & found Shutter Island anenjoyable if not completely satisfying experience.

The-Driver92 2012-05-14 03:47:19

"Better to live as a monster or die as a good man?"

I think that some of the mixed things I'd heard about it come from thefact that some audiences were a) expecting something different and b)don't like to think. To be fair the studio mislead them by sellingShutter Island as a fun, edge of your seat, thrill ride. It's really apsychological drama disguised as a B grade horror movie. It indulges inall the Gothic tropes: the isolated mental hospital, the hurricane thatcuts everything off from civilization, hints of Nazi experiments, eventhe music plays into it. But really that's just the setting. If youtake it as the whole thing, that's where you'll run intodisappointment. It's more about what's happening in the mind of themain character- which is a puzzle in itself- than the big twist ending.I think that The Sixth Sense and others of it's ilk did a disservice toaudiences in a sense. People look for the "trick" in movies, studiosadvertise the "big twist ending". But this isn't a movie about a twist.Yes, there's a big reveal in the end, and the "what" of the reveal isfairly obvious. It's the "how" and the "why" that we should be thinkingabout. These are the answers to the psychological puzzle of the film.People get so into the "what" after being groomed on twist endings thatthey forget there is a "how" and a "why". When the big reveal comesit's more about the catharsis, the coming full circle, the emotionalconfrontation, than the twist itself.Yes, it can be confusing not to know whether the main character isdreaming or hallucinating, or really seeing what is. But with patiencethat becomes clear and the beautifully photographed, eerily hauntingdream sequences are worth watching without trying to "figure them out".Just enjoy the performances (impressive across the board), the score,the cinematography, and go where the film takes you. Some might callthe ending a cop out. But really it leaves audiences with even morequestions: are there some things that are so painful that we're betteroff (literally) cutting them out of our brains? Is a delusional mind aprison or an escape? Who is sane? Is sanity a choice? In my opinionanswering these questions would be the cop out!

ifilmstuf24 2012-05-13 14:06:06

Martin Scorsese has created a Thrilling Epic...

As a fan of Martin Scorsese, I was became quite sad when I found outthat his newest film would be delayed till the following February.Well it is now February and I must say that this is one great motionpicture.Nothing on Earth would destroy my expectations for this film.Scorsese uses the same thrilling formula that made 1991's "Cape Fear"work so well. He puts you on the edge of your seat and puts in on ahuman level.Never have I experienced a film like "Shutter Island". It is a filmthat never gives up on its audience. It always keeps you guessing andalways changes your perspective. It always has you choosing what youbelieve in.DiCaprio turns in one of his best performances as Teddy. MartinScorsese's direction is pure dynamite. The cinematography by RobertRichardson is breathtaking. And the music is on the spot.This movie is a Masterpiece of Thrillers 10*** out of 10***

Ecstatic-Tickle 2012-05-13 04:07:06

You won't forget your stay at this particular island resort

Not gonna lie, this movie scared the sh*t out of me. As once he didback in the 80s with the lesser known After Hours, Scorsese has rampedup the tension in a warped cinematic world of high tension, albeit in avery different location. From the ultra psychedelic dream visions tothe blustery heart of the island itself, he uses eerier device possibleto enrapture the audience in this camp Gothic hell. DiCaprio is on verygood form, more vulnerable than in Revolutionary Road, more blisteringthan in The Departed - and he is ably supported by a stellar ensemble -featuring some great names...Kinglsey. Ruffalo. Clarkson.Williams...they all shine in their respective warped roles, not tomention Jackie Earle Haley and Emily Mortimor as two seemingly brokensouls. For nothing is as it's seems on Shutter Island. This story, mygod...the definition of a mindf!ck.Scorsese doesn't let up for a minute throughout, there is no breathingspace for the audience - you really spend the time there, from thebeginning up until the bitter finale. I didn't know the secret, and wasfully invested in finding the truth of it. If there are criticisms tomade it surely would fall on the fact that some of the stylistic choiceare a bit heavy handed, that Scorsese throws it at you gale forcerather than mysterious draught...and to contextualise the story inpost-war Communist paranoia, likening the practices of the institutionto the death camps of the Holocaust - Scorsese is treading verydangerous water. But then there is nothing really safe Shutter Island -for the entire running time your at the mercy of a master filmmaker,and there are worse way to spend two hours or so. Go see it.

Jackson Booth-Millard 2012-05-12 11:57:58

Shutter Island

From director Martin Scorsese, he teams up with his star of Gangs ofNew York for the fourth time in this dark looking film that was biggedup quite a lot at the time of release, I had to see why. BasicallyFederal Marshall Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) is assigned toinvestigate the disappearance of a patient on Shutter Island, a placededicated to treating and holding the mentally insane and psychotic,along with his new partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo). He has taken thisassignment more for personal reasons though, because on the island issupposedly the man responsible for causing the fire at his house thatkilled his wife Dolores Chanal (Michelle Williams). The hospital, runby Dr. John Cawley (Sir Ben Kingsley), claim to have found RachelSolando (Emily Mortimer), but as the investigation continues, Teddyfinds some interesting leads that may suggest she is not the real girlthat escaped. He goes deeper into the many elements of the island andit's facilities, he even talks to a mental patient or two hoping forclues, and after witnessing what looks like Chuck disappearing he findsthe real Dr. Rachel Solando (Patricia Clarkson). He knows that the onlyway to get to the bottom of what is going on is to go to the lighthousewhere Teddy believes that mental patients are being taken and tamperedon to do something with their minds. It turns out that Dr. Cawley isthere, and he explains the real reason for everything that Teddy hasbeen through, Teddy's real name is actually Andrew Laeddis, the man hehas been searching for responsible for the fire, so he himself killedher after she did indeed drown their three children. Andrew seesthrough flashback what really happened, he basically created a newidentity in the job he did used to have as an investigator, he has beena patient himself on Shutter Island for two years, and everything hasbeen a role play to see if they can finally break the reoccurringmemory strand. In the end, it turns out that Andrew has not changed andcan never go back to normal, having started his "replay" of events allover again, and the only choice is to give him a lobotomy. Alsostarring Max Von Sydow as Dr. Jeremiah Naehring, A Nightmare on ElmStreet remake's Jackie Earle Haley as George Noyce, Ted Levine asWarden, Elias Koteas as Laeddis and John Carroll Lynch as Deputy WardenMcPherson. DiCaprio gives a reasonably intense performance, but to behonest, I predicted almost from the start that he was mad himself, thesupporting cast also have their moments, it does have some intensemoments, if slightly predictable, so while it is a little long, overexplained and patchy at times, it is a quite good mystery thriller.Worth watching!

classicsoncall 2012-05-07 20:33:44

"Men like you are my specialty, you know?"

There are a number of films I've seen more than once, and if they'regood (the only reason really, to watch them again), they become aricher experience and one gains a greater appreciation of them."Shutter Island" might be the only picture that on subsequent viewings,becomes a DIFFERENT film from the one originally seen. I say thisbecause the first time around, there's no way to take the character ofTeddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) other than at face value. He's adetective investigating a missing person case on an island. Not yournormal island, but one that's home to an institution for the criminallyinsane. Every interaction he has with a character in the picture is onebetween himself, Detective Daniels, and that character. As we come tolearn, all that changes when Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley) reveals thetwist near the end of the story, at which point, one is left eithertotally disillusioned or utterly blown away.What's unique and brilliant about the writing here is evident upon asecond viewing. What we now know to be true about Teddy Daniels becomeseven more evident. We're able to understand that in Teddy's firstmeeting with Naehring (Max von Sydow), Naehring is actually speaking toLaeddis. Yet those references to Laeddis/Daniels' 'defense mechanisms'could have been offered and taken either way. George Noyce (JackieEarle Haley) was speaking to Laeddis as he had no reason not to. Thevision of Rachel Solando in the cave was warning Teddy that he had nofriends, and that there was no way off the island. This was a way forthe viewer to understand that in some small way, Teddy/Laeddis wasconversing with himself, sometimes with clarity and other timesdelusionally. The Warden (Ted Levine) is clearly speaking directly toLaeddis when he picks up Teddy after his night in the cave. This is allso masterfully done that even watching the picture multiple times, it'samazing to pick up on the nuance that went into developing the story.Now I have to admit, the first time I saw the picture and it becameapparent that Teddy Daniels was Laeddis, I wanted to blow it off as oneof those cheap constructs that film makers are prone to indulge in justto play with the viewer's head. But somehow, this was different. Thiswas a study, a grand two day experiment if you will, designed to forceLaeddis to come to terms with himself and what he had done to becomeconfined to an institution. The way the whole story evolves isfascinating to watch, almost like watching the making of the movieinstead of the movie itself. I've seen "Shutter Island" three times nowin the space of about a month, and I know with certainty that I'll bewatching it again. There's not many films I can say that about, butthis one just begs it, almost like a patient requiring youruninterrupted attention.

Brian Gibson 2012-05-07 12:48:02

An exercise in style so overheated that the controlled burn reignites the gothic's tropes. Slips out of its genre shackles by suggesting we're eager to drug ourselves on the thriller formula.

btacct 2012-05-03 04:55:45

Brilliant, brilliant movie full of paranoia in Hitchcock style

My expectations were a prison movie with US marshals on the rampagestory, little knowing that it was a psychological jig-saw puzzle. Oftenoffering horror movie and holocaust atmosphere with lashing of bloodrather than logic, you enter an on-screen game that references pastglories of cinema (WWII movies, horror classics, concentration camps)and throwing them at you like the ever present debris of a storm ragingon the outside walls of the institution and with screams of insanityfrom within, the movie unravels the mystery in our minds. The movie wastruly brilliant.Filmed on an island off Boston (1954) during a fascinating period inhistory which has been mostly overlooked by film makers (end of war1945 to 54), it shows an almost forgotten period in time, rich incostumes making you almost think everyone is dressed and ready forchurch or a funeral. Post-WWII, pre-Kennedy's, pre-rock'n'roll and theend of the Great American Song Book period with up tempo jazz/crooners,it was a period in history that has been left in the dormitory (ormental institution buildings of the movie) for so many years. The worldwas recovering from the end of WWII; the baby boomers were learning towalk or starting school; the baby boomers were 5 years from bobbysocks. It was a rather sedate world that was awaiting the arrival ofRock n Roll.While watching it, I was constantly thinking Hitchcock and North ByNorth West where Cary Grant questions his sanity against the backgroundof a story that develops on screen - also similar to Vertigo and otherHitchcock where the main character suffers paranoia. In the background,there was an ever present suspenseful sound track reminiscent of againof Hitchcock and the literal cliff hanging scene.There were some truly disturbing images contrasted with absolutetenderness. In a few spots, I thought Leonardo was playing a weak rolebut as it works out, he is playing the character's weaknesses andflaws. For a moment, in one scene I thought he showed the facialexpressions and mannerisms of a frustrated Jack Nicholson to brillianteffect.Great support cast including a few look-a-likes and almost circuscaricatures. A prison scene shows a character looking like Robert DeNiro in "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" but it is not him. The securityguards and hospital staff were perfectly picked looking like mainstreet cops and prison guards from 1950's USA. Hilarious and disturbingselection of extras as patients - they were straight from an old horrormovie.Mark Ruffalo plays a different part as a breakaway from his usualrom-com roles. Great to see the past masters like Max Von Sydow and BenKingsley. Patricia Clarkson keeps popping up in movies these days as acareworn eccentric and her old world-style glamour. She usually playsthe supportive wife, mainstay or consort of a lead but here plays agutsy character role.A dazzlingly and macabre revelation was Michelle William's character(Dawson's Creek and mother of Heath Ledger's child) who was amazing asLeo's wife. A truly magnificent role for our sweet Jen Lindley: I keptlooking for Dawson. Joey and Pacey; expecting to spot Jack and the baby- all grown up.

2012-05-02 10:39:46

Psycho Snore -

"Shutter Island" is set in 1954 and the main character, Edward "Teddy" Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a former World War II soldier. Teddy is now a U.S. Marshal that investigates the disappearance of a patient from a strange prison-like mental hospital on the rocky formidable East Coast Shutter Island. The hospital is for the criminally insane. Teddy is shown traveling on a boat to Shutter Island with his Deputy (Mark Ruffallo). The waves and wind make him sick and he has to sit down when he reaches the office of the head of the institution. Ben Kingsley plays the man in charge and explains the radical treatments they perform here. While Teddy is trying to get his "land legs" he is given a pill for headaches. Teddy has strange dreams, flashbacks, visions during his investigation and paranoia sets in that he is being drugged or poisoned. Teddy quizzes the head of the institution along with most of the staff on the disappearance of Rachel Solando (Emily Mortimer), a patient admitted after she murdered her three children. The movie is filled with flashbacks, as you wonder why a U.S. Marshall was sent to such a place. More and more psychological issues arise and Teddy suspects the authorities in charge are not telling him the truth. The remote Ward C looms large in his mind, he thinks they are holding the arsonist who murdered his wife. Secrets are unraveled that Teddy fights hard not to believe. "Shutter Island" is not that engaging and the abundance of eerie visions end up being more of a sideshow. It is a hard-to-believe premise for a story, but they try to give it weight by quoting German Concentration Camp and North Korean experiments with prisoners. Overall, the movie was a psycho snore.

f_mckissack 2012-04-30 06:46:27

Not bad, but for Scorsese that's not good enough

What is nagging me the most about this film is that it is not reallybad, it's just not particularly good, and at times it gets ratherboring.Many reviewers are stating that the plot "twist" is predictable withinthe opening moments of the film, and they are not wrong. Unfortunately,once the twist is guessed at (or even as it is revealed in the film)all that is left is some brooding cinematography and an overtlydramatic music score that fails to excite. There are some brutal WW2flashback moments, but their relevance is questionable and rather thanadd weight to De Caprio's character and the plot they are more likelyto frustrate an audience who wished there was more to them. Some of theimagery throughout is brutal and chilling, but it does not go farenough when the plot itself fails to unnerve. Moments of exposition aretoo drawn out, De Caprio is good but I've seen his range of expressionsnumerous times, Kingsley is convincing but his character is barelyfleshed out.... From the opening moments it is clear that this film is directed by abrilliant film maker, but as the hours drag on one starts to ponder ifthe script were written by a brilliant screen writer. Ultimately,dwelling on the thought that Scorcese could be behind something soaverage is likely to drive a person insane. Best avoided.

wrbones 2012-04-29 16:34:42

Strange Film For Someone Like Scorcese

I'll start by saying that I did enjoy this film overall but there are alot of really annoying aspects to it. First off is DiCaprio's stubble,which in 1954 would have made him a vagrant, not a US Marshall. Thenthere was the ridiculous music that accompanied an inconsequentialscene of the marshals entering the asylum gates for the first time. Itbuilt up and built up, then nothing happened. That kind of thing isreally annoying. The score overall veered from terrific to grating andinappropriate in places. I often found it quite distracting. There weremany continuity problems throughout. If it was meant to add anotherdimension to the film, it failed. Instead it was distracting and gavethe impression that they ran out of time/budget more than anythingelse. The plot is largely obvious from early on. If it takes you morethan 15 minutes to work out what is going on, there is something wrongwith you. OK, the full extent of the revelations at the end is harderto divine before it's revealed but the thrust of it is obvious. Thefilm was, as you'd expect, beautifully shot and the cast was prettygood, although DiCaprio's Boston accent came and went at differenttimes. The setting was also magnificent, which added to the overalleffect. As a genre film, Shutter Island doesn't work nearly as well asothers. Identity comes to mind as a far better attempt at the same kindof story. It's probable that it's strength is that it is not really agenre film and will, therefore, appeal to a broader audience. However,it is definitely not one of Scorcese's best. If I had to rank it, itwould sit somewhere near Bringing Out the Dead.

danialpoorjafar 2012-04-29 01:24:49

drowning in imaginations

Every body has it's own imagination, dreams, fears and etc. But whatmakes us to get lost in our imaginations? What makes us to cross theline? What makes us to look crazy as much as we seem normal?I think this movie has answered some of those questions. I realizedthat when you have nothing to believe in, no one to trust in and yousuddenly loose every thing you have, you have no way but going throughyour imaginations.By a survey at Scorsese's movies we see that most of them have a kindof apocalyptic atmosphere. "taxi driver", "The departed", "The gangs ofnew york" and the last one "Shutter island". And the best term todescribe their hero's situation is this; "when you're facing a loadedgun, what's the difference?"[1][1]: "the departed"

karenmiller-310-74787 2012-04-28 09:20:05

Dicaprio is good!

All the actors in the movie are in top-form. Once again, you can't gowrong with a Leonardo DiCaprio/Martin Scorsese collaboration. As theprotagonist, we the audience are thrust into his shoes and we are aboutas confused and scared as his character is, we feel what he feels. Itbecomes a psychological trip that poses many, many questions aboutoneself, that to discuss them here would spoil the entire movie. Thereare some flashbacks in the movie, but all of them are important cluesto DiCaprio's character. DiCaprio gives a stunning performance, onceagain tempting the Academy to give him another Best Actor nomination.DiCaprio gives a vivid portrayal of a vulnerable, haunted andultimately terrified man. Apart from DiCaprio there's really not much Ican say about the supporting cast, because they are all also terrific.Ben Kingsley; Mark Ruffalo; Michelle Williams; Max Von Sydow; JackieEarle Haley; Emily Mortimer; Patricia Clarkson; Ted Levine; EliasKoteas; John Carroll Lynch. All of them.

Mery Keshishyan 2012-04-28 08:02:20

Seriously Awesome...Brilliant even!

Wow. Not much else to say but wow. This movie takes you through twistsand turns and throws stuff at you that you didn't expect. It was abrilliant movie. It captivated me to the point that I didn't want toleave the theater. It does mess with your head because of the way it'sfilmed. You really feel like you're a part of that movie. Every timeyou think you know what's happening, you find out you're wrong. I won'tgo into details or examples of what happens because it will ruin theexcitement for you.Trust me when I say it really messes with your head. I cannot rememberthe last time a movie truly engaged me but this one did. Is it atypical horror movie? No. It's a psychological thriller. If you likemovies with a lot of blood and gore, definitely not for you. But if youlike to think and be involved, this is a must.DON'T MISS OUT! GO OUT AND WATCH IT TODAYYY!

ThatDoesntMatter 2012-04-27 16:30:09

I feel disappointed and betrayed

I never watch previews. There was one film long ago where I'd seen thepreview a couple of times and then in the cinema watching the film Icame to realize that I'd already seen the best bits and there's notmore coming...plus, a film has to tell a story as it goes along,without introduction.So, I came to Shutter Island "virginal", you could say. (Believe me,only in a cinematic way...;-)). And didn't it start promising? A retrothriller, I thought, let's see what the hero uncovers/goes through,suspense expected, interesting story please.Turns out - he isn't a hero at all - duh!!! Huuuuuuuge let-down.Remember, I didn't know anything about this movie, so I came inbelieving. So they fooled me (until the storm and that chapel scene -was it a chapel? At the cemetery) - was that their intention??? Hmmm,not nice, then....and then I completely lost all interest in the movie,I was really a bit angry, thinking: What a disappointment, how lame!!!What a letdown for the hero, too (I think I felt more for him than forme...lol)I think this could have worked told in a straightforward way (startingwith their marriage etc...), but then of course all the mystery withthe experiments and crazy scientists would have to have been cut.