The Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954)

[CJ_01976]

I love "The Creature From The Black Lagoon".

[SlightlyDemented]

Like King Kong, I hope to someday have two great versions of this film to love. And we have Stan Winston to thank for the fabulous updates on the classic monsters in The Monster Sqaud.

[CJ_01976]

"The Monster Squad"=class.

[visitedbyvoices]

THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON follows some of the classic Universal monster formula, but has some striking differences. The creature is purely natural- not man-made (FRANKENSTEIN) or supernatural (DRACULA, THE MUMMY). Our sympathy for him, then, is much the same as our regret at the climax of KING KONG. Neither creature deserves to die simply for being what it is, but human society seems destined to destroy anything it views as its better or even equal- you could argue that many classic monster films are an argument against man's dissolution of the concept of God. The GillMan represents a legitimate alternative to humanity, albeit one that has yet to form language or a society. The "scientists" expect to find a fossil, their assumption being that a creature such as the GillMan would have been driven out by natural selection eons ago (as the prologue to the film hints). When they discover a living creature instead, they attempt to capture it, in essence reducing it to the level of a caged animal.

Now, I ask you, what modern horror film gives you this much to think about?

[living dead man]

Originally Posted by visitedbyvoices

THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON follows some of the classic Universal monster formula, but has some striking differences. The creature is purely natural- not man-made (FRANKENSTEIN) or supernatural (DRACULA, THE MUMMY). Our sympathy for him, then, is much the same as our regret at the climax of KING KONG. Neither creature deserves to die simply for being what it is, but human society seems destined to destroy anything it views as its better or even equal- you could argue that many classic monster films are an argument against man's dissolution of the concept of God. The GillMan represents a legitimate alternative to humanity, albeit one that has yet to form language or a society. The "scientists" expect to find a fossil, their assumption being that a creature such as the GillMan would have been driven out by natural selection eons ago (as the prologue to the film hints). When they discover a living creature instead, they attempt to capture it, in essence reducing it to the level of a caged animal.

Now, I ask you, what modern horror film gives you this much to think about?

Great post! well, they just don't make sympathetic monster movies anymore. Actually the last one was "Nightbreed".

[Slasher Freak]

I watched this for the 1st time recently and I love it.
Yeah, I'm finally watching more b&w horror.

8/10

[ZantiMisfit]

Wow, a classic monster-movie thread at B-D! "Creature" is an interesting movie. It's well after the first wave of classic Universal monster movies, and at the time when the "atom age" sci-fi movies were becoming the rage. As such, it has a mixture of characteristics from the two eras. As noted, the Gill-Man is a sympathetic monster in the vein of Frankenstein, Wolf Man, and the Mummy. But you have the more "modern" themes of mankind's quest for exploration and inherent arrogance. "Creature" is an A-list movie, beautifully shot with production values well ahead of its peers. And the design of the Gill-Man is iconic. Great music too. The B&W oldies may have lost most of their power to scare these days. But their sympathic view of the monsters give them an emotional power that many more current movies lack.

Unfortunately, the 2 sequels go downhill really fast. The budgets for both for massively downgraded, resulting in most of the movies being land-based. "Revenge" is laughably bad, and was a deserving target of scorn by MST3K. Not to say that it wasn't entertaining ... and the Gill-Man has some good moments. But the dialog and plot are silly as can be. Of note is one of the first speaking roles (in not THE first) of Clint Eastwood. It's a silly scene, where Clint plays a dim-witted lab assistant and essentially provides a little comic relief. "Creature Walks" has some good ideas, and a truly powerful ending. But there's a lot of dull talking and lame melodrama taking up a lot of space.

It's worthwhile getting Universal's "Legacy" pack, with all 3 movies and retrospective features and film commentaries. Hell, they're all worth getting -- for just the cost of one movie you get 3-5 classics plus bonus features.

[Ashton]

YEAH!!! The Creature rocks; I love this movie as well. The sequels, like pretty much all the sequels in the classic Universal franchise(s) aren't very good (the exception as far as Universal's sequels go, is of course "Bride of Frankenstein."

Aaaanyway, the original "Creature from the Black Lagoon is an amazing film, emotional, creepy, with fantatic special effects for the time.

But as some of you may know, there's going to be a remake.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485799/

IMDB lists it as being released in '08...

[PERISH]

Originally Posted by Ashton

YEAH!!! The Creature rocks; I love this movie as well. The sequels, like pretty much all the sequels in the classic Universal franchise(s) aren't very good (the exception as far as Universal's sequels go, is of course "Bride of Frankenstein."

Aaaanyway, the original "Creature from the Black Lagoon is an amazing film, emotional, creepy, with fantatic special effects for the time.

But as some of you may know, there's going to be a remake.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485799/

IMDB lists it as being released in '08...

I hope thay don't fuck it up!!!!:confused:

[Slasher Freak]

I can't wait for a GOOD remake of this.