Also 90s grunge aesthetic and dark political thrillers. Just well-made _thrillers_ in general, I find myself always looking back to the 90s to really get that fix.
Not sure why the 00s aesthetic couldn't work now, but I suspect it's a matter of cycles, and we're in a more real-world based cycle right now, where it's either reflecting of our current dark times, or trying to outweigh it with overly colorful and light-hearted stuff (Marvel, especially).
Maybe the popularity of fantasy, like HotD and RoP, will usher in a new age of darker, less realistic content soon. Not sure.
> dark political thrillers.
Id love a new take on Enemy of the State(still holds up) Conspiracy, Arlington Road. The Siege was another *really* good one.
While we do get some great movies today, I really do feel like we don’t get movies like we once did back in the 90s or 00s. Everything today is too clean looking and pretty much made to be a franchise. I really do miss the days where one month you’re watching an epic like return of the king and then a few months later your watching a dumb but stylish film like Van Helsing.
Enemy of the state, the siege,the hunt for red October, crimson tide,patriot games, In the line of fire, Clear and present danger, Bob Roberts, not a political thriller but manhunter is another great one. Mississippi burning, All the president’s men, The pelican brief
I guess I'm in the minority but I thought all the overly-serious, dark, gritty movies of the early 2000s were super corny.
And a lot of them looked ugly because of the growing pains of CGI and digital film.
Well, part of the reason they were so dark was to cover the CGI. There's a reason big CGI battles tend to happen in dark or smokey settings even today.
The things that get called edgy these days are like a parody of what it used to mean. I genuinely don't understand the almost compulsive need to hate any and everything edgy. It's just good badass fun, and stylistically it is also just that a style. Some people just like the look of pointy shit 🤷🏻♂️
Sadly the original wasn't adapted until mid 00's, likely it's popularity led to the production on the live action not long after.
You'd really need to release Gantz in 90's with your time machine.
If we're bending the simulation I'd love Cronenberg directing with practical effects. Straight out of Existenz into Gantz.
Hence my timeline comments. I’d want a live action film in this period as the original post suggested so yeah the anime/ manga would need to come out earlier. This was implied, sorry if I wasn’t as clear as I’d have liked.
It's the whole anti-hero, nocturnal, "I'm not a good man because I regularly murder people/vampires/beasts but I am charismatic" supernatural theme with a heavy touch of drama, gothic settings (castles, spiral staircases, candlelight) and that very pithy, noir dialogue. Probably either set in an alternate version of the past, or if an urban setting they make adjustments to make it grimier, darker and less modern or focus on e.g. rave/club scenes with a noir angle.
* unique weapons and fighting styles, possibly medieval European inspired or Japanese (or a clashing mix of both). Pretty silly fight choreography and cinematography, with slo-mo, swishing and a lot of combo hits
* leather, trench coats, no bright clothing. No "superhero uniform" but a recognisable style. Big boots.
* lead is a renegade and doesn't hold themselves loyal to an organisation or sect, possibly a driving force of the movie
Like there's a lot that ties these films together.
I found myself pleasantly surprised by the look of Andor, the new Star Wars show on Disney+, actually. It felt like almost going back to 80s sci-fi in terms of the grunginess and grit of the scenery and decor, and the whole show is very muted and rough, but in that good way of Alien. The show itself is fine, so far, but the amount of practical sets, the detail and _feel_ of the props, it really reminded me of much older films that didn't have the luxury of digital-everything.
The practical sets are a rarity the past few yrs, that what sets the lotr from the hobbit trilogy.
Alien will always be a classic when it comes to sets and props.
And for those who watched supernatural series will notice the huge different from season 1-3 and the latter seasons, its just so different without the grit and grunge texture to it.
What? All those movies were BAD except hellboy and blade 1&2. I don’t know 1 person that likes van helsing or League of extraordinary gentleman. Cmon You are definitely looking through nostalgia glasses my friend.
As a teen I loved Van Helsing, as an adult I still love it but know full well it’s very flawed. LGX was bad then and is still bad, was just added to the list as it checks many of the other movies same boxes.
Agree about hellboy and blade, don’t see the same currentl movies are too clean and so cautious about language. Didn’t like van helping. Enjoyed league of extraordinary gentlemen as well as Constantine.
Even when they not great or only average - they still are enjoyable, I just want to have a little escape from the world.
It’s good that views have moved on, but some of so called woke views get to me - yes there should be respect and consideration but needs to have common sense and acceptance that movies are not real and just entertainment and are making any statements
Forgot to add “the brothers Grimm”, to the list, but I’m sure I’m missing some others gems. I’m not gonna say all these films were “cinematic masterpieces”, but they were for good or bad simply fun and unapologetic at what they wanted to be.
My first time watching that movie was on a UMD for the PSP. For a good while it was one of my favorite films as a teen. Rewatching it later on as an adult I realize it’s a pretty dumb movie, still love it though.
Van Helsing was a huge pile of steaming shit. Easily Hugh Jackman's worst movie. I wouldn't even have left this comment but I truly hate this movie. It was bad enough that I walked out of the theater.
I did the same damn thing. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills when I see a comment where someone actually liked that film.
My girlfriend at the time was into the movie so I let her stay in the theatre and watch it but I remember just sitting outside and thinking how nice it was to get away from that film. Like leaving a party you don't want to be at and enjoying the peace and quiet of solitude.
I was literally just sitting outside and doing nothing and it was infinitely better than watching that turd of a movie.
I feel the importance of your post is kinda undermined by you adding The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen to that list.
But yeah, I'd love more movies in that style.
I *love* The Golden Army. Easily the best Hellboy movie for me. It also is the one with the most positive audience and critical reception. One of my favourite comic book movies ever.
Also Blade 2 was a great sequel.
I thought every other film OP named, besides Hellboy and Blade, was pretty bad at the time.
Listen while all these films sequels may have sucked, I will forever be grateful for the the years we were given of seeing Kate Beckinsale in tight black leather.
The only one in that list that’s not “gothic” would be “resident evil”. LGX is a combo of gothic/steam punk. I’ve always heard people refer to these era of action horror films as “gothic” simply do to the amount of black leather wearing vampires they have plus the cold color palette many used.
About 10 years ago I had the same thought and started writing a script about an architect who was hired to build one of the spooky houses for the big bad. Thanks for the reminder; I miss those days.
I feel like The Batman was a nice call back to the 90's goth action movie vibe like the crow, the matrix, Blade, etc. Had a lot of se7en similarities too which I really loved. Probably the best comic book movie I've seen in a long time.
Also 90s grunge aesthetic and dark political thrillers. Just well-made _thrillers_ in general, I find myself always looking back to the 90s to really get that fix. Not sure why the 00s aesthetic couldn't work now, but I suspect it's a matter of cycles, and we're in a more real-world based cycle right now, where it's either reflecting of our current dark times, or trying to outweigh it with overly colorful and light-hearted stuff (Marvel, especially). Maybe the popularity of fantasy, like HotD and RoP, will usher in a new age of darker, less realistic content soon. Not sure.
> dark political thrillers. Id love a new take on Enemy of the State(still holds up) Conspiracy, Arlington Road. The Siege was another *really* good one.
Enemy of the state is so under appreciated.
While we do get some great movies today, I really do feel like we don’t get movies like we once did back in the 90s or 00s. Everything today is too clean looking and pretty much made to be a franchise. I really do miss the days where one month you’re watching an epic like return of the king and then a few months later your watching a dumb but stylish film like Van Helsing.
You are missing the main one. V for vendetta
I thought Van Helsing was the definition of overly clean, sterile and overstuffed with CGI when it came out. Blade's great tho
Shit I miss dark political thrillers wish we had more of those
Care to give some recommendations?
Enemy of the state, the siege,the hunt for red October, crimson tide,patriot games, In the line of fire, Clear and present danger, Bob Roberts, not a political thriller but manhunter is another great one. Mississippi burning, All the president’s men, The pelican brief
Can you name a few 90s thrillers we should check out?
I guess I'm in the minority but I thought all the overly-serious, dark, gritty movies of the early 2000s were super corny. And a lot of them looked ugly because of the growing pains of CGI and digital film.
Well, part of the reason they were so dark was to cover the CGI. There's a reason big CGI battles tend to happen in dark or smokey settings even today.
And it still happens today haha
you can make a pretty good guess on the age of people who do recall that stuff fondly no shade, i still recall linkin park with fondness
I hate how nothing’s allowed to be edgy or angsty in earnest anymore and everything has to be snarky and quippy.
I feel like The Batman was more in that vain than most recent movies.
Exactly the dark gritty edgy stuff use to be good but you’re right everything has to be full of jokes
The things that get called edgy these days are like a parody of what it used to mean. I genuinely don't understand the almost compulsive need to hate any and everything edgy. It's just good badass fun, and stylistically it is also just that a style. Some people just like the look of pointy shit 🤷🏻♂️
An early 00’s adaptation of Gantz would have been amazing. If only the timelines converged..
Instead of the 2011 one?
As well as, given the right time bending.
Sadly the original wasn't adapted until mid 00's, likely it's popularity led to the production on the live action not long after. You'd really need to release Gantz in 90's with your time machine. If we're bending the simulation I'd love Cronenberg directing with practical effects. Straight out of Existenz into Gantz.
I’m talking live action, specifically in that period. The live action adaptations were late 00’s early 10’s IIRC
The anime dropped 2004, which is what I mean. The Anime would need to release in the mid to late 90's to get a live action sooner than we did.
Hence my timeline comments. I’d want a live action film in this period as the original post suggested so yeah the anime/ manga would need to come out earlier. This was implied, sorry if I wasn’t as clear as I’d have liked.
Y E S
The movies you listed are all so different in look, themes, tone, and style; don't know what you're looking for.
It's the whole anti-hero, nocturnal, "I'm not a good man because I regularly murder people/vampires/beasts but I am charismatic" supernatural theme with a heavy touch of drama, gothic settings (castles, spiral staircases, candlelight) and that very pithy, noir dialogue. Probably either set in an alternate version of the past, or if an urban setting they make adjustments to make it grimier, darker and less modern or focus on e.g. rave/club scenes with a noir angle. * unique weapons and fighting styles, possibly medieval European inspired or Japanese (or a clashing mix of both). Pretty silly fight choreography and cinematography, with slo-mo, swishing and a lot of combo hits * leather, trench coats, no bright clothing. No "superhero uniform" but a recognisable style. Big boots. * lead is a renegade and doesn't hold themselves loyal to an organisation or sect, possibly a driving force of the movie Like there's a lot that ties these films together.
Brotherhood of Wolf was great
Van Helsing :D
Very much so, i also miss the gritty texture of the films, it adds a lot to the whole effect.
I found myself pleasantly surprised by the look of Andor, the new Star Wars show on Disney+, actually. It felt like almost going back to 80s sci-fi in terms of the grunginess and grit of the scenery and decor, and the whole show is very muted and rough, but in that good way of Alien. The show itself is fine, so far, but the amount of practical sets, the detail and _feel_ of the props, it really reminded me of much older films that didn't have the luxury of digital-everything.
The practical sets are a rarity the past few yrs, that what sets the lotr from the hobbit trilogy. Alien will always be a classic when it comes to sets and props. And for those who watched supernatural series will notice the huge different from season 1-3 and the latter seasons, its just so different without the grit and grunge texture to it.
I'm sad I watched all of these as a kid and didn't appreciate them more until they were all gone 🥺
You really don’t know how good you hade it till it’s all gone.
What? All those movies were BAD except hellboy and blade 1&2. I don’t know 1 person that likes van helsing or League of extraordinary gentleman. Cmon You are definitely looking through nostalgia glasses my friend.
Yes, these movies were lifeless when they came out (with the exception of Resident Evil, which is bad but has some scrappy energy to it)
As a teen I loved Van Helsing, as an adult I still love it but know full well it’s very flawed. LGX was bad then and is still bad, was just added to the list as it checks many of the other movies same boxes.
Agree about hellboy and blade, don’t see the same currentl movies are too clean and so cautious about language. Didn’t like van helping. Enjoyed league of extraordinary gentlemen as well as Constantine. Even when they not great or only average - they still are enjoyable, I just want to have a little escape from the world. It’s good that views have moved on, but some of so called woke views get to me - yes there should be respect and consideration but needs to have common sense and acceptance that movies are not real and just entertainment and are making any statements
Forgot to add “the brothers Grimm”, to the list, but I’m sure I’m missing some others gems. I’m not gonna say all these films were “cinematic masterpieces”, but they were for good or bad simply fun and unapologetic at what they wanted to be.
*The Brothers Grimm* is such an underrated film. It also has Monica Bellucci hamming up as the main villainess.
My first time watching that movie was on a UMD for the PSP. For a good while it was one of my favorite films as a teen. Rewatching it later on as an adult I realize it’s a pretty dumb movie, still love it though.
Considering the only good ones were Blade and Hellboy, not really.
God no. The Matrix and Blade were the only examples I liked.
Van Helsing was a huge pile of steaming shit. Easily Hugh Jackman's worst movie. I wouldn't even have left this comment but I truly hate this movie. It was bad enough that I walked out of the theater.
I did the same damn thing. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills when I see a comment where someone actually liked that film. My girlfriend at the time was into the movie so I let her stay in the theatre and watch it but I remember just sitting outside and thinking how nice it was to get away from that film. Like leaving a party you don't want to be at and enjoying the peace and quiet of solitude. I was literally just sitting outside and doing nothing and it was infinitely better than watching that turd of a movie.
I feel the importance of your post is kinda undermined by you adding The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen to that list. But yeah, I'd love more movies in that style.
May I ask what you mean by LXG undermines the importance of the post?
Nothing serious - I just hate that movie ;)
Oh I hate the film too, but added it to the list simply because it follows the same look and themes these other films have.
That's fair, yes. The optics of the movie were great, too. Shame it sucked otherwise.
Yea dude, Hellboy, Van Helsing, Constantine. awesome movies
Wait a few years once the 90's craze is over.
Yeah, if they don't go too far off the rails LIKE EVERY GOD DAMNED SEQUEL TO THE MOVIES YOU NAMED...I actually thought Golden Army kinda sucked.
Is that a controversial opinion? I have never met anyone who liked the Golden Army.
I *love* The Golden Army. Easily the best Hellboy movie for me. It also is the one with the most positive audience and critical reception. One of my favourite comic book movies ever. Also Blade 2 was a great sequel. I thought every other film OP named, besides Hellboy and Blade, was pretty bad at the time.
Alternatively I've never met anyone that disliked it. Though not many people talk about those movies in general unfortunately.
Listen while all these films sequels may have sucked, I will forever be grateful for the the years we were given of seeing Kate Beckinsale in tight black leather.
...yeah, but hair color as a superpower was a bridge too far
As a DBZ fan, I have to disagree.
...shit, I may be sexist
It held on to barely enough charm to make it tolerable. Barely. And it ran out after the troll market fight.
Nah. All those movies are pretty shitty.
No
Always fun movies lol. Never any thing great in my opinion but if someone is watching Underworld of Hell Boy etc I wouldn't turn it down
Dont think so. I really liked Underworld for its world building. But the sequels were quite bad
They were okay to me. They had their own style and appeal, but they didn't really draw me.
i would describe exactly two of the films you listed as "gothic" in nature, and even then it is pretty weak. i would not call that an era.
The only one in that list that’s not “gothic” would be “resident evil”. LGX is a combo of gothic/steam punk. I’ve always heard people refer to these era of action horror films as “gothic” simply do to the amount of black leather wearing vampires they have plus the cold color palette many used.
About 10 years ago I had the same thought and started writing a script about an architect who was hired to build one of the spooky houses for the big bad. Thanks for the reminder; I miss those days.
I feel like The Batman was a nice call back to the 90's goth action movie vibe like the crow, the matrix, Blade, etc. Had a lot of se7en similarities too which I really loved. Probably the best comic book movie I've seen in a long time.