What happened to ultra violent films?

SkeeterUK · 9 Dec 2011 at 17:07

Used to be some really good over the top violence in films in the 80s, where did they go?

I remember some good ones from the guy from highlander that used to be good. Especially the one where he was captured and sent to this hard ass prison thing where he had to escape. Edit - Fortress i think it was.

Films also like total recal with arny.

Just wondering really cos it seems any 18+ films are really lame in comparison today as they were in the 80s.

Jay794 · 9 Dec 2011 at 17:13

Films seemed more violent back then because CGI was crappy, it was all atmosphere and makeup lol.

Saw isn't exactly violent but it's gore level is pretty equivalent to the old "X rated horror films.

Total Recall violent? really? try Battle Royale lol

I think people, especially kids are just desensitised what with COD MW games and the news

Nitefly · 9 Dec 2011 at 17:29

There are some very violent films still being released - I feel Hobo with a Shotgun will be right up your alley.

A word of caution, that film is pretty sick.

SkeeterUK · 9 Dec 2011 at 17:37

Hmm that hobo .. looks ok tho some bits in the trailer looked a bit pap.

Nitefly · 9 Dec 2011 at 17:49

SkeeterUK said:
Hmm that hobo .. looks ok tho some bits in the trailer looked a bit pap.

It's about 500x more violent than the films you have mentioned. Personally I didn't like it, Machete was much more fun.

Calabi · 9 Dec 2011 at 17:57

Machete wasnt really that violent. It was more like a tongue in cheek thing, like jumping out a window hanging onto someones intestines. Silly violent, not Verhoven ultra violent.

We dont seem to get many mainstream violent films these days, horror films are mostly 15, excepting the torture porn films.

Nitefly · 9 Dec 2011 at 18:00

Calabi said:
Machete wasnt really that violent. It was more like a tongue in cheek thing, like jumping out a window hanging onto someones intestines. Silly violent, not Verhoven ultra violent.

Nobody said it was ultra-violent... I mentioned it because it's similar to HWAS.

But I would still argue it was violent film, and as it's funny, it's worth a peek OP.

SkeeterUK · 9 Dec 2011 at 18:01

Never watch horror films im more asking about the good violent action films of the 80s. Maybe its just that i miss the old actors in their prime but they did do some good films imo.

Nitefly · 9 Dec 2011 at 18:03

SkeeterUK said:
Never watch horror films im more asking about the good violent action films of the 80s. Maybe its just that i miss the old actors in their prime but they did do some good films imo.

Yeah, you want to watch Machete.

SkeeterUK · 9 Dec 2011 at 18:09

Seen it, thought it was meh tbh. Only liked the jessica alba bits.

ThomasTheTankEngine · 9 Dec 2011 at 18:28

Did you miss Rambo 4? (or whatever it was called).

That was certainly ultra-violent.

robgmun · 9 Dec 2011 at 18:33

jimbob27 said:
Did you miss Rambo 4? (or whatever it was called).

That was certainly ultra-violent.

Ah best me too it! I came in here to say that! Yeah Rambo 4 is your good, old fashion Ultra-Violent action film.

Pestilence · 9 Dec 2011 at 20:43

Jay794 said:
Films seemed more violent back then because CGI was crappy, it was all atmosphere and makeup lol.

Saw isn't exactly violent but it's gore level is pretty equivalent to the old "X rated horror films.

Total Recall violent? really? try Battle Royale lol

I think people, especially kids are just desensitised what with COD MW games and the news

If you look back on it, Total Recall is actually pretty nasty. The squibs are HUGE -- just look at the scene on the escalator where the innocent bystander is nigh on obliterated by gunfire.

Rambo was one of the most over-the-top ultra violent movies of recent years, for sure.

Skeeter -- Hobo with a Shotgun ought to be up your alley. It's exceptionally nasty and violent, not to mention it's Rutger Hauer!

smit101 · 9 Dec 2011 at 20:54

Recently watched a Korean Movie 'I saw The devil' graphically violent throughout tbh, seemed to take it a few steps further than a lot of the so called violent movies today, good film too. Co-stars the lead actor from 'Old Boy'.

Rids · 9 Dec 2011 at 21:11

Doesnt Hollywood intentionally try to avoid 18 certificates because it limits their audience?

Glaucus · 9 Dec 2011 at 21:28

Rids said:
Doesnt Hollywood intentionally try to avoid 18 certificates because it limits their audience?

Yep

, just look at loads of recent films like AvP, no chance of it being good without an 18 rating.

ThomasTheTankEngine · 9 Dec 2011 at 21:55

Rids said:
Doesnt Hollywood intentionally try to avoid 18 certificates because it limits their audience?

Well thats because of America's crap system of rating films.

They've got a different system which doesn't really cater for adult films.

They have PG-13 which is similar to our 12 rating, then they've got "R" which means that anybody under 17 has to be accompanied by an adult.

After that is NC-17, which guarantees commercial failure for a film, because 95% of cinemas refuse to show NC-17's and most papers/magasines/tv channels won't allow you to advertise an NC-17 film. Either edit it down to an "R" or accept you won't make any money in the cinema, and jsut hope to hell it sells well on DVD.

Even films like the "SAW" series are cut to hell so they can make it into the "R" rating, where they can be seen by 4 year olds as long as their mummy takes them.

Nitefly · 9 Dec 2011 at 22:07

Glaucus said:
Yep , just look at loads of recent films like AvP, no chance of it being good without an 18 rating.

I don't think it's possible to be an 18 rated film on gore alone any more. I think it needs an explicitly sadistic skew, such as violence against the vulnerable or sexual violence.

The Thing and Alien would never be rated an 18 by today's standards.

SixTwoSix · 9 Dec 2011 at 22:24

smit101 said:
Recently watched a Korean Movie 'I saw The devil' graphically violent throughout tbh, seemed to take it a few steps further than a lot of the so called violent movies today, good film too. Co-stars the lead actor from 'Old Boy'.

Best movie i've seen this year, one of the best horror movies i've ever watched!

Robosapien · 9 Dec 2011 at 22:34

T2 was pretty violent.

Compare it to the shambles with Christian Bale and I totally see the OP's point.

Actions films, not really horror films, are given this big budget sugar coating these days, totally devoid of realism.