HMRWS - Starring Pennywise!

Seil · 05-09-2009, 02:33 AM

Does anyone really read these? Like... at all?

Okay, so Imma review "It." Now, if you're scared of clowns, avoid this movie. Like, a lot. The main... "character" of this movie is a clown - and if you thing "Big deal, clown's aren't scary!" watch this: Clowns aren't scary. Because in 1990, when this movie was released, that was some freaky ass shit. Especially since I was about five when I first saw this.

It is a movie about a monster who has some frightening supernatural powers - It can do pretty much anything. It's favorite form is a clown named Pennywise, which is how I'm going to refer to It for the rest of the review. Pennywise likes little children - not in the creepy way, he likes them as snacks. He can really eat anything he wants to, it's just that the fears of children are easier to apply physically, terrifying them. Or as he calls it "Marinating the meat."

Now the story centers around seven people - all kids. Bill, Eddie, Richie, Beverly, Stanley, Mike and Ben. All of these people have either a physical problem or an environmental one. Bill, for instance, has a terrible stutter. Eddie has a mother who's determined he's ill and he's psychologically dependent on an inhaler - later revealed to be a placebo. Ben is overweight. Stan is a picture perfect boyscout. Mike is black, which made him susceptible to some racist classmates. Richie is a wise-cracker, who often doesn't know when to stop. Bev lives with her alcoholic, abusive father in poor town.

All of the above problems/characteristics made them victims of extreme bullying by a classmate, Henry Bowers. Bowers is a sadistic bully whose tormenting causes the aforementioned kids to meet each other and become good friends. They take on a moniker given to them by Bowers, The Losers Club.

As the movie progresses, each Loser is plagued by It. It usually appears as itself, or one of their worst fears, and terrorizes them... however it doesn't kill them as it's done with many other children. Through the film, it's revealed that the Losers give each other strength. This may sound really stupid, but It cannot pick them off if they're supporting each other.

Now, the story takes place in a place in Maine, called Derry. In Derry, there's been a rash of child killings, where bodies of children are found brutally murdered - including Bill's brother, George, which is one of the opening scenes of the film and introduces us to Pennywise. Everyone is terrified that they'll be next, but as the Losers quickly learn, it's not just that there's a murderer in Derry. There's something wrong with the entire town. Everyone minds their business, no one gets involved in any scuffle or fight... There's something wrong with Derry.

Though the movie is dated, the effects are great for the 90's - though not as great as they could be. But for a made-for-TV movie, it's pretty impressive. Pennywise, who seems to be able to whatever he needs to to terrorize the Losers, has some truly great scenes where he's able to shape-shift, create things from nothing, or manipulate objects, whatever they may be. He also seems to be able to affect perception of things or events, as seen in the second half of the movie with Bev.

And believe you me, Pennywise is scary. The movie, like I said, is pretty dated, but Pennywise - if you're not a fan of Stephen King, and can excuse the Pantheon that It's part of, and if you can excuse the "Deadlights" references - he's terrifying. Pennywise is nothing really but an entity that terrifies you because It thinks you taste better after you've wet yourself - and It can do pretty much anything to make you scared, from turning himself into a horror movie creature to psychologically tormenting you.

The special effects of this movie, for the era and what they had to work with, make Tim Curry, who plays It, genuinely scary. He's not so much Michael, or Jason - who, if you see them, know that their appearance inspires fear, but it's what It does that makes you scared. He's what makes you scared of clowns in the first place.

Viridis · 05-09-2009, 03:04 AM

It's the freaking teeth.

And, well... everything about clowns on top of that.

Seil · 05-09-2009, 04:58 PM

Tim Curry does a great job of Pennywise. In the book originally written by Stephen King, it goes into much greater detail about nearly everything, with someone saying - to the best of my memory:

"The movie made me scared of clowns for years. The book made me scared of clowns forever."

You might remember Tim Curry from such movie as The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Ooh, and there's gonna be a remake. ...Apparently.

Lumenskir · 05-09-2009, 10:55 PM

God, I've always thought that IT was King's most overrated book and the movie has the honor of being just a little less laughable than The Stand featuring the stupid receptionist from Becker.

05-09-2009, 02:33 AM	#1
Seil Super stressed! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 8,081	HMRWS - Starring Pennywise! Does anyone really read these? Like... at all? Okay, so Imma review "It." Now, if you're scared of clowns, avoid this movie. Like, a lot. The main... "character" of this movie is a clown - and if you thing "Big deal, clown's aren't scary!" watch this: Clowns aren't scary. Because in 1990, when this movie was released, that was some freaky ass shit. Especially since I was about five when I first saw this. It is a movie about a monster who has some frightening supernatural powers - It can do pretty much anything. It's favorite form is a clown named Pennywise, which is how I'm going to refer to It for the rest of the review. Pennywise likes little children - not in the creepy way, he likes them as snacks. He can really eat anything he wants to, it's just that the fears of children are easier to apply physically, terrifying them. Or as he calls it "Marinating the meat." Now the story centers around seven people - all kids. Bill, Eddie, Richie, Beverly, Stanley, Mike and Ben. All of these people have either a physical problem or an environmental one. Bill, for instance, has a terrible stutter. Eddie has a mother who's determined he's ill and he's psychologically dependent on an inhaler - later revealed to be a placebo. Ben is overweight. Stan is a picture perfect boyscout. Mike is black, which made him susceptible to some racist classmates. Richie is a wise-cracker, who often doesn't know when to stop. Bev lives with her alcoholic, abusive father in poor town. All of the above problems/characteristics made them victims of extreme bullying by a classmate, Henry Bowers. Bowers is a sadistic bully whose tormenting causes the aforementioned kids to meet each other and become good friends. They take on a moniker given to them by Bowers, The Losers Club. As the movie progresses, each Loser is plagued by It. It usually appears as itself, or one of their worst fears, and terrorizes them... however it doesn't kill them as it's done with many other children. Through the film, it's revealed that the Losers give each other strength. This may sound really stupid, but It cannot pick them off if they're supporting each other. Now, the story takes place in a place in Maine, called Derry. In Derry, there's been a rash of child killings, where bodies of children are found brutally murdered - including Bill's brother, George, which is one of the opening scenes of the film and introduces us to Pennywise. Everyone is terrified that they'll be next, but as the Losers quickly learn, it's not just that there's a murderer in Derry. There's something wrong with the entire town. Everyone minds their business, no one gets involved in any scuffle or fight... There's something wrong with Derry. Though the movie is dated, the effects are great for the 90's - though not as great as they could be. But for a made-for-TV movie, it's pretty impressive. Pennywise, who seems to be able to whatever he needs to to terrorize the Losers, has some truly great scenes where he's able to shape-shift, create things from nothing, or manipulate objects, whatever they may be. He also seems to be able to affect perception of things or events, as seen in the second half of the movie with Bev. And believe you me, Pennywise is scary. The movie, like I said, is pretty dated, but Pennywise - if you're not a fan of Stephen King, and can excuse the Pantheon that It's part of, and if you can excuse the "Deadlights" references - he's terrifying. Pennywise is nothing really but an entity that terrifies you because It thinks you taste better after you've wet yourself - and It can do pretty much anything to make you scared, from turning himself into a horror movie creature to psychologically tormenting you. The special effects of this movie, for the era and what they had to work with, make Tim Curry, who plays It, genuinely scary. He's not so much Michael, or Jason - who, if you see them, know that their appearance inspires fear, but it's what It does that makes you scared. He's what makes you scared of clowns in the first place. Last edited by Seil; 09-27-2013 at 01:35 AM.

05-09-2009, 03:04 AM	#2
Viridis oh, what fun we will have! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Lafayette, LA Posts: 1,773	It's the freaking teeth. And, well... everything about clowns on top of that.

05-09-2009, 04:58 PM	#3
Seil Super stressed! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 8,081	Tim Curry does a great job of Pennywise. In the book originally written by Stephen King, it goes into much greater detail about nearly everything, with someone saying - to the best of my memory: "The movie made me scared of clowns for years. The book made me scared of clowns forever." You might remember Tim Curry from such movie as The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Ooh, and there's gonna be a remake. ...Apparently.