The Hole 3D

[kevinknapman]

Joe Dante's return to movie-making after 7 years is a kiddie-oriented horror about 2 brothers who move to a small town from New York with their mother and discover a locked trap door that hides a bottomless pit in their basement. When the door is opened people's fears start to become real and the 2 brothers and their attractive next door neighbour decide to investigate. Guilt over a childhood friends death, a sinister clown puppet and an overbearing violent father are among the fears that must be faced.

Now I should say straight off that I'm a big Joe Dante fan. I've grown up with his movies. From his early horrors like Piranha and The Howling, to 80's classics like Gremlins, Explorers and Inner Space to his lesser but still entertaining 90's films like Matinee and Small Soldiers. Plus his TV work including Police Squad, Amazing Stories and Eerie Indiana. (I'll draw a discreet veil over Looney Tunes: Back in Action, his last film)
His body of work could probably be filed under 'Gleeful Chaos' So I was suitably excited when I heard that Joe Dante was back.
Sadly this is minor Dante. A movie that never really seems to get going. It lacks the 'Gleeful Chaos' I mentioned earlier. In the rest of his work you can almost sense Dante behind the camera with a devilish grin as he puts his characters through hell. You never get that sense here.
The 3D is also pretty unnecessary. A couple of point of view shots from inside the hole involving torch light and falling nails are effective enough but that's about it.
Don't get me wrong this isn't a bad movie. It's fun, well made and is never less than watchable. An entertaining film that has a pleasing 80's vibe to it, but overall it feels pretty slight. When the credits rolled, my initial thought was, Oh is that it?
It's still worth seeing though, minor Dante is still heads and shoulders above most things (there's even a (sadly too brief) Dick Miller cameo). I liked it but I wanted to love it (It's better than Looney Tunes though).

[superhero]

When's this film coming out?

[kevinknapman]

22nd September. I'm sure there will be previews.

[superhero]

You think so? There's no many 3D previews recently

[kevinknapman]

Well Cats and Dogs and The Last Airbender weren't too long ago and they both had previews.

[andrews]

When did you see this kevinknapman? I've seen the trailer, and agree that it really doesn't need to be in 3D. However, we are charged more to see films in 3D - an extra £1.50 at Cineworld for example, so maybe that's why we are getting so many. Is it a passing fad, or do you think there is a move to make more and more films in 3D?

Anyway, here is the trailer for people to have a look at: http://theholein3d.com/

[superhero]

Vue did a survey asking exactly that question: is 3D just a passing fad?
It's definitely here to stay but hopefully not for every single film

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

What was the result of the survey?...I have never taken to 3d apart from those in Florida theme park attractions, that's where 3d belongs and also IMAX short documtary films and animated films. But not full length live action feature films.

Anyway, this is about the Hole and I too enjoyed some of Joe Dante movies, of which Gremlins, The Burbs and Explorers were my absolute favourite.

Thanks for the review Kevin! I never expect much from old directing legends, wether it be Carpenter, Scorsese, Spielberg, Lucas, or even Hitchcock. Why? Because like a sportsman or athlete, everyone has to have their prime era and they had theirs early in their career when they were fresh, more energetic, and risk taking. As they all get older, times change and none of them, can ever give us another Jaws, ET, Taxi Driver, Mean Streets, Apocalypse Now, Godfather, Halloween, They Live, Star Wars, 39 Steps, Gremlins etc. But they do become more technically experienced filmakers but more calculated often at the expense of the raw magic they had in their younger days. But that's fine, because now and again, not often, that old magic resurfaces, just not as frequent.

[kevinknapman]

When did you see this kevinknapman?

At Movie Con III at the BFI Southbank, a couple of weeks ago.

[EthanRunt]

I actually preferred Looney Tunes, It's one of those films that has enough chuckles in to survive, this was well done, but kinda dull.