itt: it

somehow i enjoyed it. i think it was just the overall vibe of "adults who were childhood friends get back together and rekindle the flame of first love," i'll take a shot of that no matter how poor the quality.

This is basically where I'm at wrt "Chapter 2" also. What makes IT one of the only King books that still kinda has its hooks in me is the both-sides-now child-adult mirroring, with both halves regretting something they don't have yet/anymore. In any case, this one ditches almost all the Stranger Things shit that ruined the first part, so advantage belongs with this one.

Also, yes, scary fast hot naked booby granny gross tango was a highlight.

Also, Mike spiking Bill's water with root -- "What did you do to me?!"

Also, everything everyone negative to say about bullying Pennywise until he turns into Rubber Johnny and sheds copious tears of a murderous clown clearly has never read a single page from the legendarily and lovably embarrassing bibliography of one Stephen King.

Also, production values are entirely too high tbh.

Also, much hotter "not fat anymore" Ben than the ABC mini, even if his chemistry with the rest of the cast is at the level of a hologram.

Also, Xavier Dolan using his last dying breaths to make a joke about his gay basher's mullet looking like a Meg Ryan wig is chef's kiss, and only one of two anti-mullet punchlines made by someone badly wounded.

Also, I don't care what anyone else has to say on this, the curious decision to turn Richie urp-prone Trashmouth into a closeted homo carrying a torch for the somehow straight mama's boy Eddie inhaler-sucking Kaspbrak, and unveiling that plot point vis-a-vis a needle-drop appearance by Pennywise goading Richie into a game of Truth or Dare, and watching this all play out in a movie theater while sitting next to a straight childhood friend with whom I also experienced my first erections in the presence of another dude from sleepover games of "reluctant" Truth or Dare (emphasis on Dare), was let's just say a moment.

But yes, the endings sucked.

wins relentlessly otm on this thread esp here:

Nothing is allowed to matter

even torture porn horror schlock allows characters to present themselves as traumatized by the shit they're going through: they get jumpy, they become hyper-vigilant, they become constantly reactive to the possibility of further insult. tobe hooper was great at this -- once a person sees some truly soul-altering shit, he/she doesn't just start cracking wise five minutes later with the threat still present. nothing against good horror wisecracks but once you're down the well in this movie, you are fucked up, and you're going to be fucked up for a long time. nothing here seems to touch anybody, unless it kills them.

but it's also a good bad movie as eliza d. says: a fun watch with a bunch of dumb shit, like all the cheap 80s horror movies I love. And Skarsgard is fucking glorious, every minute he spends onscreen is a gift.

I am otm but probably too relentlessly sometimes - as a person who will rewatch thinner I am glad some people are enjoying this bad movie 🙂 I can see myself maybe softening on it over time as long as I never have to watch it again

Re the “curious decision” to make Richie the gay one (was trying not to spoil this earlier as it’s a surprising choice that actually works), I strongly suspect either that this was made after casting Hader or that the filmmakers were just big Richie fans - that actor/character is given the only interesting stuff to do p much. One of the more egregious examples of “nothing can matter” is the losers being surprised to see Richie grieve their friend who died horribly minutes before. It’s a good moment for him but shouldn’t those guys give a shit as well?

The mook they got to play hunky Ben = total void

I liked the first "chapter" for the engaging performances from the child actors and because it hit my 80s nostalgia sweet spot. Chapter 2 is three hours of expensive-looking CGI.

Otm

Yep. Tried watching the second one twice, fell asleep both times.

I stand by most of what I wrote (while buzzed) above but have no desire to ever watch it again, to be clear.

Ok, I did laugh at the King and Bogdanovich cameos.

Chapter 2 was definitely a chore

it was an assload of fuck