Guillermo Del Toro

[countchocula]

Del Toro is one of the most versatile genre directors that we've been blessed with in quite some time. Blade II and The Devil's Backbone are extraordinary accomplishments, yet they're polar opposites in every aspect. One serves up high-octane action sequences, wet gore, and an unyielding pace, while the other retains a subtle, gloomy atmosphere and is bereft of action altogether. Mimic could have been phenomenal if it weren't for Dimension's meddling. The first hour is as tight as you could hope for, but the third act just dies out. I can't imagine how cool that flick would have been had Del Toro had creative sovereignty. I've yet to see Cronos, but I hear a deluxe DVD is approaching...

Not only is he superb behind the camera, but he seems like a cool, down-to-earth individual in person. If it ever materializes, I'd love to see what he could do with a Creature From the Black Lagoon remake. He would do the Gillman justice!

[Lord Crumb]

Del Toro is the coolest! He is very versatile, but for a reason...he does big-budget pictures like MIMIC and BLADE 2 so he can fund the projects he REALLY wants to do (DEVIL'S BACKBONE, CRONOS). He was in Toronto for the film festival and I saw an interview with him. He's just TOO cool of a guy. I'd LOVE to meet him. He's currently working on HELLBOY with Ron Perlman. Looking forward to that and let's hope that the CFTBL project gets going soon afterwards.

[Psychocandy]

Del Toro, more than any other director working in the genre, has the ability and passion to make a horror movie that will trancend the genre on every conceivable level. I'm hoping that movie will be the adaptation of Lovecraft's "At The Mountains Of Madness" that he has been known to wax lyrical about in interviews. This man could do justice (for the first time) to the terrifying prose that Lovecraft put on paper. So far even his least movie, Mimic, had enough of the good stuff to be worthwhile.

Cronos - 4/5
Mimic - 3.5/5
The Devil's Backbone - 4.5/5
Blade II - 4/5

The guy is a genius. Roll on Hellboy.

[bowieee]

The man is amazing and funny as hell. At the San Diego Comic Con he had everyone cracking up every time he said Fuck in his crazy accent. I got a chance to talk to him as he was signing a poster for me and he took the time to talk to me for quite awhile even though there was a huuuge line behind me. i told him I really liked the Devils Backbone and he just lit up and started sharing with me all the options on the dvd and shook my hand like 3 times and was just extremly animated. You can tell he really loves the genre and I have nothing but the utmost respect for that man. I belive he may soon find his place in the history of horror filmmakers next to names like Carpenter, and Craven.

[Fisting Ackbar]

One of my favorite horrordirectors. Looking forward to HELLBOY.

[Scully1888]

Del Toro is the only thing that was good about Blade 2.

I hate to say it, but Blade 2 sucked so much ass on so many different levels, on my opinion.

The script was terrible (not Del Toro's fault), the CGI was PSOne-style (not Del Toro's fault) and the plotholes were so big you could orbit planets through them.

Del Toro's directing saved it from getting a 1/5 rating from me, instead getting it a 2.

[countchocula]

I'll have to agree about the obvious CGI. It felt more like a video game than a motion picture, but I think that was the intent. The script could have used a good polish and the storyline was admittedly anorexic, but for me, all of these downfalls were trivial. I was too caught up in the slick action/gore/directing to even give a flying fuck about plot holes! Del Toro was merely trying to dull the viewer's senses. That's it. Blade II is probably one of the best action/horror hybrids I've seen in ages. I can see how it could rub some genre fans the wrong way, though. One of my best friends absolutely loathes it for the same reasons that you do. I'll try my damndest to convert the both of you!

[Antonio]

Along with Alejandro Amenabar, Guillermo Del Toro is my favorite new foreign horror director, always injecting originality, style, panache and substance into his handful of greats from the genre: THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE, BLADE II, MIMIC and CRONOS.

[bowieee]

Originally posted by countchocula
I'll have to agree about the obvious CGI. It felt more like a video game than a motion picture, but I think that was the intent. The script could have used a good polish and the storyline was admittedly anorexic, but for me, all of these downfalls were trivial. I was too caught up in the slick action/gore/directing to even give a flying fuck about plot holes! Del Toro was merely trying to dull the viewer's senses. That's it. Blade II is probably one of the best action/horror hybrids I've seen in ages. I can see how it could rub some genre fans the wrong way, though. One of my best friends absolutely loathes it for the same reasons that you do. I'll try my damndest to convert the both of you!

Del Toro says he's done with that kind of action movie during his presentation. Now he wants to concentrate on what he calls "Quiet Horror" like the Devils Backbone. Thats how he is going to focus in on hellboy. He said there are going to be some kick ass battles with huge monsters but done in a more subtle way. I can't wait personally.

[countchocula]

It's cool that he strives for something different with each project. Some directors simply regurgitate a mood and formula that has won them praise in the past (Craven), so we're very fortunate to have Del Toro on our side.

[the night watchman]

Del Toro is the best thing to happen to horror cinema since ... Peter Jackson. There's nothing he's done that have have not been deeply impressed by. "The Devil's Backbone" was astounding. "Cronos" was brilliant, "Mimic" was one of the best monster movies ever made, and "Blade II" a rare successful fusion of horror and action. Cant' wait for "Hellboy" and "At the Mountains of Madness."

By the way, is the "At the Mountains of Madness" interview on-line, Psychocandy? I'd love to read it. I cannot wait for this one. It may be the first real Lovecraft adaptation! (Although I have an abiding affection for Stuart Gordon's "Dagon".)

[countchocula]

Try these articles out...

http://www.fangoria.com/news_article.php?id=368
http://www.fangoria.com/news_article.php?id=343

[the night watchman]

Thanks Count!

DAMN this sounds fucking cool! Obviously some stuff has been added: "The whole movie, the main plot takes place during an Arctic storm, so when they step out of their little tents, it's limbo. It's white. And something comes out of the white and grabs them. There's a great scene where a guy falls under the ice and he's drowning, but the creatures are above." These moments are extraneous to the novel, but I'm cool with that. "Mountains" filmed as is would be comprised of only people walking around looking at things ... until the end, that is. (I hope they keep the giant penguins.)

But this got me giddy: "Wayne Barlowe will be there, but the next person that I called immediately was Gahan Wilson because that is a guy who knows Lovecraft back and forth."

Christ! Wayne Barlowe and Gahan Wilson! Oh, man, this movie is going to rock!

Ia! Cthulhu fhtagn!

[bowieee]

*claps hands like a little girl*

Holy shit. Too many good movies... too far away............

[Psychocandy]

If anyone can do Lovecraft justice it's Del Toro. He's proved himself capable of doing big and dumb (Blade 2 and to a lesser extent Mimic) but anyone who has seen Cronos and The Devil's Backbone will testify that he is truly capable of creating work of intelligence and artistry, a skill that will lend itself to an adaptation of At The Mountains Of Madness. I'm looking forward to Hellboy but ATMOM has me positively drooling with anticipation. I'm praying that it actually happens. It's the kind of endeavour that could easily fall apart due to studio indifference and caution.

[the night watchman]

Drooling right there with you, Psychocandy. If the worst happens and the studios get weak kneed and allows the project to fall thru, I hope they at least release a portfolio of the production and art design. Have you seen Barlowe's rendition of an Old One (Elder Thing) in "Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials"? I think he's definitely the man for the job. Can't wait to see the Shoggoth!

[dh1989]

I just wanted to chyme in with a little comment. Del Toro is amazing. Blade II was great (9/10). It had wonderful effects, an non-stop pace, and some of the coolest action scenes ever. Now The Devil's Backbone was also very good. It was slow, and not exactly an action-fest, but had a very creepy mood. Mimic was cool, though it had a weak script. Cronos I have yet to see, but I hear good things. Hellboy is gonna blow us all outta the water.

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