@JohnD: Agreed, the humor comes across a bit more, but I'm just generally referring to the film's deconstructive nature...you can't go in blind twice so it was just a different experience for me..

eXXX

@eXXX: I have seen the original as well. This version worked better for me, because I think much of the subtle humor between the two guys is lost for the subtitles.

For those who haven't seen either version yet, I would recommend the newer version. Unless you speak German.

JohnD

Same thing happens to me every time I see a Dane Cook movie preview.

Tiger_Tanaka

Come on, a movie that makes you throw up and isn't Cloverfield? That's gotta be worth the price of admission!

Sweet Panda Love

Haneke's remake is shot for shot the same as his original. It's hard to watch something like this a second time and have it be as effective as it was the first time around, but I agree with JohnD--the performances were good. I heart Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, and Michael Pitt.

eXXX

...did she get a refund for the "returned" nachos, sno caps and large cherry icee?!

NoGrumpys

This woman is saying she lost a friendship because she vomited? Huh? I don't find her story credible.

Funny Games is really good, I thought. Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet are surprisingly funny, and have great chemistry. The rest of the cast (Watts, Roth) give fine performances, and there are genuinely suspenseful moments.

If you go in knowing this is a deconstruction of violence in movies, and a very dark comedy, that should be enough to keep you from vomiting. None of the "ultra violence" actually takes place on screen.

JohnD

I always wait for "real people" reviews or word of mouth...or as in this case 'gut reactions'. Thanks for sparing me.

Superstarsteve

@TheStarterWife: Really??

That's a new one on me.

Benovite

This proves my thesis on violence and postmodern ennui remarked Haneke upon hearing of the ejected bolus.

WGARefugee

@eXXX: Boom mics in view are usually the fault of the projectionist poorly framing the print.

I wonder how this gal managed to get through Doomsday or Planet Terror.

TheStarterWife

@JohnD: One thing I can't remember if Haneke did in the original... there's a moment in the remake when the boom mic becomes visible for a couple of seconds. Did he do that in the original film?? Anyway, I thought that was a nice touch..

eXXX

@eXXX: Gotcha. I caught the original on IFC once a few years ago and didn't remember it so well, so going to the new version was an event for me. But I see what you're saying.

JohnD

@TheStarterWife: It seems like it would be an explicit choice made for a film such as this though...

eXXX

"Funny Games" was amazing. I hope we get more stories like this. Also, didn't Pulp Fiction give someone a heart attack? I'm sure that in the 2 weeks tops this thing has left (barring a miracle) we can get it to make at least one old person have a rectal prolapse.

SuperUnison

@Benovite: Yep, many if not most films ship on prints with a boom mike visible at some point. It is the theatre projectionist's job to frame the film properly, but it doesn't always work out that way.

Sleepyhead

I had the same reaction after seeing Deuce Bigealow. But I was 16 and drunk.....I did get eight free movie tickets out of it though. And kicked out of the theater.

Artful Slinger

I've also heard of people passing out during a particularly stressful (but awesome) scene in The Princess and the Warrior. I love these kinds of stories.

SharyBobbins

@brechtgirl: [POSSIBLE SPOILER?] The under-the-truck emergency sexy tracheotomy.

SharyBobbins

@SharyBobbins: really? which part? I've seen it and I can't remember any part that was so stressful. Either I have a tolerance for those things or a really shitty memory.

brechtgirl

A torture snuff film was gross? OMFG, they should put warnings on these things!!!

raincoaster

I hate horror movies and it makes me wonder why the heck "Funny Games" was made in the first place. Maybe there is a sense of, well, dread in the American psych right now and Funny Games is just an expression of that.

Why can't we all just sing songs from the exciting Song of the South II: Gangstas Paradise?

migukin

In a recent interview Naomi Watts said that Haneke insisted on personally binding and gagging her for the movie himself. Creepy.

WasatchMan

"I was deeply affected by this movie. This isn't something I'm used to, so naturally I'd like my money back."

mediatryne

A piece of shit movie under the guise of "art". You could argue (successfully) that Saw IV is a better example of "art". And BTW, a $1300 per screen average opening weekend is not impressive at all.

LittleMissPartlyCloudy

I saw this film and Doomsday back to back. In order to wash the awful taste of Naomi Watts dripping snot and being abused for two hours off your tongue, I highly recommend Neil Marshall's Posh Spice Beyond Thunderdome as the ultimate palate cleanser.

Mark Graham

@LittleMissPartlyCloudy: Have you seen it? I'm not gonna say it's "art" but again Pitt and Corbet are very funny, Watts and Roth are both great, and it is an entertaining deconstruction of violence in the movies. You really can't go by the trailer.

To compare it to "Saw" is ridiculous and way off base.

JohnD

Surely this is a lame attempt at Stealth Marketing.

"Dude! That movie totally made this chick throw up!"

Legowombat

What is being tied up by your director if your performance can TRULY move even just one audience member? Reactions like Kate Johnson's make it all worth it!

I hope they film the events involving the "Technicolor Yawn" and make it a secret ending (after the credits) when Funny Games is released on DVD.

Now the entire film suddenly makes sense.

Bravo to Ms. Watts and Mr. Haneke!

moondawg9

yeah, I'd totally believe the 'he's deconstructing our vulgar American craving for seeing violent movies as porn' argument if (a) cathartically violent fairy tales hadn't ORIGINATED IN GERMANY and (b) he hadn't got Naomi Watts to run around in her undies for the entire movie. Y'know, (straight white director) guys can bang on about political statements all they want, but only when they resist putting a gorgeous chick in underwear/peril in their movies can I remotely take them seriously. Is there an expression in German for 'having your cake and eating it'?

lolaperv

"Kicked in the ribs, the public says `art' when they ought to say `ouch'"--Pauline Kael.

regisgoat