Monster

Jack Torres8 NewcomerOP

1 message
joined Jan 2005

#1 · Mar 2, 2004

Hey everyone!
Sorry if this has already been asked elsewhere.
Does anyone know when this movie hits theaters here in the States?
Thanks.

Lisa Smith50 Newcomer

1 message
joined Feb 2005

#2 · Mar 5, 2004

The movie is slated to hit theaters on March 18th, assuming the distributor doesn't decide to move things around at the last minute, but as of right now, that’s the date we're looking at

driftingorca24 Member

26 messages
joined Apr 2004

#3 · Mar 5, 2004

There was a thread about this once; I ended up getting mine back in January.

Daniel Lopez Active Member

187 messages
joined Sep 2003

#4 · Mar 9, 2004

Could someone please drop a link to that thread? I've been hunting for it for the last half hour and can't find it anywhere.😳

Aaron Gonzalez4 Member

25 messages
joined Sep 2004

#5 · Mar 10, 2004

Alright, I just finished downloading it—so hang tight for a second while I actually dig in and get my thoughts together.😛

Daniel Lopez Active Member

187 messages
joined Sep 2003

#6 · Mar 10, 2004

Aaron Gonzalez4 said:I just finished downloading it, so give me a little bit before I weigh in.😛

I took a look yesterday, but where is the old thread about this? Or am I just missing it within the first 15 pages of the movie discussion?😁

northernfalcon30 Active Member

90 messages
joined Sep 2003

#7 · Mar 15, 2004

While we're all just sitting here waiting for Musin to weigh in, I might as well drop my two cents.

Charlize Theron was honestly incredible in this. That Oscar was totally earned, and I'm not just talking about the whole "physical transformation" thing. It’s such a blast watching someone act with that much soul—no shame, no holding back, no playing it safe. I really think this role was a massive turning point for her career... making such a gutsy move clearly paid off.

Now, about the movie itself. It's a bit of a mixed bag, if I'm being real. Honestly, the only reason it works at all is because of Charlize. Everything else feels pretty surface-level—not enough detail, no real depth, just hints of things here and there. But hey, it's basically a one-woman show.
It starts off feeling a little pretentious, but again, thanks to Charlize's powerhouse performance, you get some good vibes from it. Still, the movie doesn't really go anywhere beyond her; it stays stuck on that single character and that one central story. It's a story we've heard a million times before—usually way better told—but this time, it felt like they just wanted to give Charlize a chance to shine.

Yeah, they definitely milked her talent for all it's worth. Besides her, there isn't much to remember... maybe just Christina Ricci being annoyingly cute and actually pretty solid, and that weirdly bizarre romance between the two of them.

The movie is an easy watch, but it's thin. Super shallow, really... though not bad by any means.
I actually had a good time watching it.

P.S.
One more thing.
The transformation for Charlize was top-tier, but man, they didn't need to turn her into some eyebrow-less monster. Even if she wasn't supposed to be a beauty, still...
She looked like she barely survived a horrific accident that left her face totally scorched.

👋

Andrew Anderson6 Active Member

90 messages
joined Dec 2002

#8 · Mar 15, 2004

northernfalcon30 said:P.S.
Another thing—
I get that Charlize went all in on the transformation, but making her look like an eyebrow-less monster felt a bit much, even if she wasn't playing a beauty.
She looked like she’d barely survived some horrific accident that left her face totally scorched.

I actually had the same thought, but check this out: At age six, she suffered scarring facial burns while she and Keith were setting fires with lighter fluid...

Via http://members.tripod.com/ahrens/serial/wuornos.htm

Anyway, Charlize is 👍 but the movie itself? Just feels kind of... gross.

Aaron Gonzalez4 Member

25 messages
joined Sep 2004

#9 · Mar 15, 2004

Finally managed to sit down and watch this after dealing with some annoying technical glitches.

Charlize deserved her Oscar, no doubt about it—but honestly, I don't see why they had to go so extreme with the prosthetics. I get it, they wanted her to look like a real person, but in my opinion, that whole transformation didn't actually make the movie any better.

The story itself feels pretty unconventional for an American audience. We've seen plenty of serial killer flicks before, but they usually focus on the investigators or some high-powered FBI agents... this one actually dives deep into the killer's own perspective.

That said, the execution felt a bit sanitized—it could have been much more "gritty"—and the ending was kind of a letdown. You've got those guys in the bar, maybe some connection to bikers (though I doubt it), then Ricci calls her in prison, and she knows she's being bugged... it just felt a bit thin.

Plus, they clearly trimmed the fat because if they hadn't, it probably would've pushed past the two-hour mark.🙄

Overall, I'd give it a 4 out of 5.

northernfalcon30 Active Member

90 messages
joined Sep 2003

#10 · Mar 15, 2004

A little bit of hairspray on top!

Alexander Sullivan73 Newcomer

2 messages
joined Apr 2004

#11 · Mar 16, 2004

I haven't seen the movie yet, but if it stars Charlize, I’m definitely in. She’s just incredible.

northernfalcon30 Active Member

90 messages
joined Sep 2003

#12 · Mar 17, 2004

We’re talking movies here, and honestly, your take is straight garbage.👎

Peter Watson Newcomer

1 message
joined Mar 2004

#13 · Mar 17, 2004

I found *Monster* to be a pretty heavy watch, but what really rubbed me the wrong way was how much the movie seemed to be making excuses for her behavior. I get it—she had a horrific childhood and went through some serious trauma. But that doesn't justify murder, period. That specific angle really grated on me, and honestly, it kept me from enjoying the film at all.

On top of that, the amount of makeup they put on Charlize was just overkill. It felt excessive. Why didn't they just cast someone who didn't need such an intense transformation? It would have saved them a lot of hassle in the makeup chair...

velvetridge85 Newcomer

3 messages
joined Jan 2004

#14 · Mar 21, 2004

I am definitely adding that movie to my watchlist!

Daniel Anderson20 Newcomer

5 messages
joined Feb 2003

#15 · Mar 27, 2004

Peter Watson says:
I found Monster to be a real slog, but what actually ticked me off was how they kept trying to justify her behavior. Look, I get it—she had a horrific childhood—but that’s zero excuse for murdering people.

B]

Monster wasn't a slog for me at all. It wasn't hard to watch. Sure, the constant emphasis on her upbringing was irritating, and you definitely get the vibe that the filmmakers were trying to excuse her actions, even if just a little. It feels like they wanted the audience to sympathize with a killer despite the heinous crimes... honestly, I don't feel bad for her one bit. Her past doesn't justify what she did, and that whole "I can't forgive myself" bit felt totally forced to me. She didn't have a conscience. But enough complaining—these minor gripes don't ruin the movie. It’s an excellent, unconventional film. We can all agree Charlize deserved an Oscar, and Christina Ricci was great too. Everything is shot powerfully and feels incredibly real. Overall, I liked it.
rating: 7.5 / 10

Donna Garcia42 Newcomer

8 messages
joined Dec 2010

#16 · Mar 28, 2004

Charlize gave an absolutely stellar performance—she earned that Oscar !!! without question... As far as the movie itself goes, her portrayal is really the only thing that’s going to stick with me... 👎 Regarding the point about the crew partially justifying her actions, I think there's some truth to that. Even I found myself feeling a bit sorry for her at times. Ultimately, though, it was the people around her who turned her into a "monster."

John Thomas2 Active Member

88 messages
joined Feb 2012

#17 · Mar 30, 2004

Honestly, this movie was incredible. I was a total wreck, crying my eyes out like it was a monsoon season. 😳 😢

Anthony Miller13 Active Member

61 messages
joined Mar 2004

#18 · Mar 30, 2004

I honestly expected much more from this film.
Charlize delivered a solid performance, doing exactly what was required of her.
Christina Ricci did her part as well.
However, Charlize’s appearance was quite jarring; I think they went a bit overboard with the transformation, and she looks significantly heavier, almost unrecognizable. I suppose there is a certain logic to it—if you're portraying a serial killer, looking somewhat monstrous can create a specific psychological effect, but it still felt off.
The attempt to make us empathize with Charlize was furthered by the plot point where Ricci plays the villain who betrays her, leaving Charlize to be the one who ultimately saves the day.
All in all, the movie feels a bit overrated considering what it actually brings to the table.
The soundtrack was good, and I appreciated how the musical score was used to emphasize certain scenes; I'm a fan of that technique. 👏
Is it a thriller? Not really. There are plenty of films out there that are far more suspenseful. The only truly tense moment for me was at the beginning, when Charlize is tied up and that guy uses the rod or whatever it was on her, causing her to scream.
Just my two cents...
☕

Henry Anderson47 Active Member

94 messages
joined Aug 2004

#19 · Apr 19, 2004

I'm running a bit behind on my watchlist lately, so I've just been digging through the archives to catch up. 😁

To be honest, I wasn't really feeling the vibe for Monster at first. The whole subject matter isn't exactly my thing—trying to look at the "humanity" of a serial killer from any angle... I don't know. 😛

But anyway, the movie itself is actually pretty well made. I guess you could call it a bit one-dimensional, but that makes sense given how sensitive the topic is.
Charlize is totally unrecognizable, so I suppose the beauty enthusiasts (haha) didn't get much out of that. Personally, I don't mind the heavy prosthetics; if she can pull off those expressions with all that makeup, she could do it with way less.
She's honestly a better actress than I remembered, and she truly deserved that Oscar. :klap:

By the end of it, I found myself thinking about how incredibly hard it must be to be a juror or a judge—deciding who lives, who dies, or who spends their life behind bars. I don't think I could ever be in their shoes.
You have to sleep with those decisions at night, especially when things aren't exactly black and white (though that might not even apply to Aileen Wuornos).

silentpilot6 Regular

295 messages
joined Sep 2004

#20 · May 8, 2004

maristella69 said:While we wait for Musin's take, I'll offer mine.

Charlize Theron delivered a fascinating performance; her Oscar win was completely earned, and certainly not just because of the physical transformation. It was a joy to witness such inspired acting—unapologetic, uncompromising, and raw. I believe this role marked a major turning point in her career, proving that taking such a drastic risk can truly pay off.

As for the movie itself, it’s a slightly less successful achievement. Most of its merit comes from Charlize, because aside from her, the portrayal feels quite thin. There isn't much depth or detail; key elements are merely hinted at because, ultimately, it functions as a "one-woman show."
It starts off feeling rather pretentious, yet thanks to Charlize's commanding presence, several themes are suggested. However, the film doesn't fully dive into those depths, staying focused solely on her character and one central narrative—a story told a million times before, often with much better development, but this time it felt as though the film existed primarily to give Charlize a chance to shine.

Yes, they certainly exploited her talent, but she's really the only thing I'll remember, perhaps along with an infantinely sweet and quite good Christina Ricci, and the somewhat bizarre romance between the two.

The film is easy to watch but a bit shallow—or rather, thin—though definitely not bad.
I genuinely enjoyed watching it.

P.S.
One more critique.
While Charlize's transformation was excellent, they didn't really need to turn her into a browless monster, even if she wasn't playing a beauty.
To me, she looked like someone who had survived a horrific accident that left her face scarred.

👋

👍

What else is there to say?

Big spoiler. Don't read further unless you absolutely have to. 😁

Before watching, I read that she was portrayed as some kind of victim. I mean, WTF.
Fine, okay, she's a tragic woman or whatever. Sure, she probably should have taken out that first character, and maybe the others...
But come on, it's not like they were all evil. She seemed to be searching for a motive, but the reasons provided were basically: "You have ugly shoes, so now you're dead."

Monster

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