Customer Reviews

Peter Jackson's Bad Taste

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4 star:		(39)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

Peter Jackson's directorial debut, "Bad Taste," is a hilariously good time involving a whole lot of blood, guts, brains, the chugging of vomit and tons of laughs. Done in the true slapstick-horror fashion, this is a disgusting and pleasantly demented flick that refuses to take itself seriously. It's over-the-top in every way, and that's what makes it so fun to watch. It's not recommended for people with weak stomachs, but people looking for carnage and laughs will feel right at home with this.

It doesn't have the most scientific or complex plot, but why should it? It involves aliens from another planet that are disguised as humans--acting more like zombies, but they move a lot faster and are handy with automatic weapons. The aliens are here for one thing only... hamburger meat--made from humans! They have already completely massacred an entire town and plan to do the same to the rest of the world! Now, it's up to a couple of goofball assassins to save humanity and take these extra-terrestrial psychos head on... God help us all!

This was everything I was hoping it would be. It's completely over-the-top, ridiculous and a real gross-out event. What more could you want? This isn't a movie where you're looking for brilliant acting or directing. You just want to enjoy yourself. The movie is purposely goofy, as it is never afraid to make fun of itself in many ways. The best way I can describe this is it's "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" meets "The Evil Dead." It's not scary, but since it is slapstick-horror it doesn't really need to be. Considering how low of a budget Jackson and company had, it has some pretty cool and disgusting special effects. I could never make something like this, that much is for sure.

As I said in the beginning, it's not recommended for people with weak stomachs. Sure, it was made on a low budget, but the special effects are still disgusting enough to make you feel sick if you're not up for it. You also have to not take this seriously. If you try to take it seriously, then you will loathe every second. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the chaotic freak show. The limited DVD edition offers a really neat changing-cover. The picture and sound is as good as it can get (the sound is the real prize, allowing you to hear all the squishy-squishy joy of blood and brains splattering all over the place!). Special features include the theatrical trailer and a making-of documentary.

"Bad Taste" is for anyone who has a sick and twisted sense of humor, and who is in the mood for something extremely goofy. I think Peter Jackson should revisit the genera again in the near future, as he really shines in it with this movie. I'm sure he has a lot of fun with it, too. Again, not recommended for the weak, but if you're looking for all the blood and guts you can handle while laughing at the same time, it's all right here. A great gem that is bound to entertain you over and over again. -Michael Crane

enough people have reviewed the merits of the movie, I just want to let people know, this particular listing (ASIN: B00004Z1GI ), as of the date of this review, is described by amazon as the 2-disc special edition. It's not. It's a cheapo single disc release by an obscure company, and it pretty much looks like it was transferred from a VHS tape in full screen. Definitely not worth the listed price of 17.99.

Absolutely crazy horror comedy and Peter Jackson's (who is now busy making 'Lord of the Rings')debut movie. Gore and blood abound as 'The Boys' are called in to get rid of an alien menace killing townspeople to use them as the latest fast-food taste sensation on another planet.

At one point, one of our heroes, Derek, falls off a cliff and splits his head wide open - the rest of the time he has to wear either a hat or belt on his head to keep his brains in! Exploding sheep, aliens eating brains and vomit, 'The Boys' killing everything in site and a starship in the size of old house - this film has it all and twice over. All done with more than a hint of humour, this extremely black-comedy, blood drenched from beginning to end will make you laugh hysterically and feel a bit grossed out at the on-screen display. Directed with passion, made over four years' worth of weekends with a bunch of friends and virtually no-budget, this cult classic is essential viewing for all horror fans, especially those who enjoy cheesy humour. If you like 'Evil Dead 2' and the Monty Python films, you'll love this - watch it now!

This movie is absolutely hilarious. While definatly not for those with a weak stomach, this movie wil reward those with a dark sense of humor and those who love camp films. Peter Jackson's film just brims with a playful sense of glee, like a child given a video camera for the first time and set free to make whatever movie came to mind. Very fresh and invigorating to watch. This movie is the cure to the piles of mainstream generic fare that is sent our way. Highly recommended for those who love horror or campy underground films.

Wait! Anchor Bay is releasing a remastered version of this film later this year. They're probably remastering it, so I'd wait and get that version.

Just because I call this film a cult classic doesn't mean that it is a good film, by any means. It is amazing, though, the quality of the film considering how long it took Jackson to make it, just shooting it in the areas around his home, mostly on weekends. When it was about 3/4 done, the New Zealand Film Commission heard about it, and decided to finance it the rest of the way for this maverick, unheard of filmmaker. The result is a cheaply made, but sickly entertaining film about an alien invasion of a small town in New Zealand.

Not much is ever explained about the aliens, except for the fact that they are here to turn our race into meat for their fast food company on their planet. A group of men known only as "the boys" are sent into the town to stop the aliens from getting away, or killing more innocent civilians. The aliens have disguised themselves as humans (they aren't really capable of too much, though, they sort of run around like zombies, which makes for some great, entertaining kills). Peter Jackson even has a fairly important role, although it doesn't require much acting skill, as one of the aliens in disguise as a human. It is actually surprising how action-packed the film is. Granted, it isn't the highest quality action, but the gore in the film is totally over-the-top and ridiculous, which is all I could expect from the man who brought us Dead Alive.

This film isn't one to really remember, though. It is more of just a cult classic, I think, because of the insane fame that Peter Jackson has attained recently. There are a bunch of fans out there who loved Jackson before LOTR, regretfully I wasn't one of them (The Frighteners was the only film of his I'd seen before Fellowship). For those fans, this film will always be regarded as a classic. It is a film that really shows you what a great talent Jackson is, because this movie is a lot better than films that have a 50 million budget these days.

This is a definite addition to the library of any fan of low-budget, crappy-acting, gore-filled horror films of the 80s. It is only a plus that the director happens to be one of the most talented men in Hollywood these days.

It is no surprise that when hollywood decided to do the biggest film project in the history of movies(three major feature films in two years), that they chose Peter Jackson to run the show. This guy is what directors are made of, pure genius. Bad Taste is Mr. Jacksons first feature film. And, you can kinda tell from the production value. But, still for being low-budget, this is an excellent piece of work.
Its about some town in New Zealand, that is invaded by aliens. The aliens take human form and set out to hunt for dinner(humans). I don't want to give to much away but there are extremely graphic scenes involving brains,blood, and vomit. The acting is sub par but what do you expect for a b-movie. I have never(and probably never will witnessed anything like this movie). If you are into graphic violence, dark humor, and just plain screwball comedy. Or if you would like to see Peter(Lord of the Rings)Jackson's earlier work, I would recommend Bad Taste. Your in for a treat.

In celebration of THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING joining the 11 Oscar Club (11 is the most Oscars won by a movie; BEN HUR and TITANIC hold this distinction as well), among them Best Director for Peter Jackson, I purchased his directorial debut BAD TASTE yesterday and watched it this morning. I must say, everyone who knows Jackson by his incredible endeavor of bringing the blueprint for the fantasy genre to life (it was well worth the wait and the effort IMHO) are going to be in for quite a shock when they see what he did before LORD OF THE RINGS!
BAD TASTE is a horror/comedy in the tradition of the EVIL DEAD movies, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, and RE-ANIMATOR; a quartet of commandos set up for alien activity take on an alien fast food restaurant chain whose specialty is human flesh! Along the way, the leader Derek ("I'm a Derek. Dereks don't run.") quite literally loses his brain after a nasty fall, a charity collector becomes part of the menu, heads splatter, guns go off, a sheep is blown to bits, and vomit is consumed ("I think the gruel is ready.")
BAD TASTE is the most cartoonish of the horror/comedy wave of the mid-1980's; it's like Looney Tunes with a Grand Guignol sensibility. This movie is like THE A-TEAM on acid; just imagine if those guys ever had to face alien invaders! But what appeals to me about BAD TASTE is the simplicity of the story and the execution; the special effects and the one-liners are the stars of this movie and the script and the plot are thin enough to accomodate the smirking attitude of the whole movie. A short film that slowly became something much more (an international cult classic), Peter Jackson's BAD TASTE is extremely recommended for cult horror enthusiasts, gorehounds and low-budget buffs alike!
Gotta love that cover art with the alien flipping the bird! The limited edition made it holographic so the other finger could go up (the British bird-flip) like on the standard release. The limited edition includes a little documentary on the making of BAD TASTE. This gives you some insight on Peter Jackson when he was starting out in the film industry. Yes indeed, this man has come a long, long way since this little film and now he is a highly respected and imaginative director.

Okay, so the title of my review doesn't make a lot of sense. Anyway, the plot is simple. A small group of goofy government agents are sent to investigate a mass disappearance of the residents in a New Zealand town. The disappearance is linked to a huge extraterrestrial fast food conglomerate which sets up shop in the town. I shouldn't have to tell anyone what they put in the burgers.

This is Peter Jackson's first movie. As many of you know, he went on to direct Lord of the Rings, as well as the equally gory Dead Alive and the more mainstream but still great The Frighteners. However, this film shows how well he was able to work with a far more modest budget. Some of the effects and action sequences are impressive considering the limited resources, especially the chase scene involving agent Derek (played by Jackson) and an alien zombie (also played by Jackson).

You should tell just by looking at the cover, which depicts an alien who looks like a Star Wars cantina reject flipping us the bird, that this is not to be taken seriously. This really is not a horror movie as much as it is a comedy, an extremely gory comedy in which much of the humor revolves around the gore. An example would be the hilarious scene in which Derek falls off a cliff and fractures his skull. He literally has to keep his head together by tying his belt around it.

Even though I can't recommend Bad Taste to all audiences, I truly think people who like Monty Python or South Park may find something to enjoy about it.

This is the first movie directed by Peter Jackson that made it big. Peter Jackson, currently working on "The One Ring" (the big screen adaptation of the classic "Lord of the Rings"), is a rising star from New Zealand, and has directed instant cult classics as BrainDead (aka Dead Alive), Dangerous Creatures and The Frighteners.

Bad Taste is Peter Jackson at his worst, or best, depending on your point of view. I found the DVD immensely enjoyable. The story centers around the semi-brave mercenaries from Astrological Intergalactical Defense System (yep, thats AIDS for short) who have traveled to a small New Zealand town taken over by Aliens with an appatite. In 90 minutes we see them battling the hordes of mindless, zombie-like mutants, and no holds are barred!

Right from the start things get wild. The guys from AIDS battle their way to the HQ of the aliens where they infiltrate behind enemy lines (and even a little bit deeper) to resque a hostage. After that the movie takes a rampant Rambo-esque turn when an all out battle burns loose. Sure, the story may not be that good, but its good fun!

Dont expect flashy computer generated special effects. Expect lots and lots of gore! Expect bad jokes, bad music, bad dialogue, but all with an incredible amount of fun! To sum it all up : Expect Bad Taste! This is definitely one of those movies you will either love or hate!

If you like movies like Evil Dead and Braindead you will love this! If you're a serious movie buff steer clear!

Trivia : Peter Jackson himself plays the hilarious Derek who has a tendency to lose little pieces of his brains during battle. The complete soundtrack was done by the main cast (dont you love small independant productions?).