Rish's Reviews
In this remake of the 1971 film, Crispin Glover plays Willard, a shrinking, miserable social reject who lives in a big, vermin-infested house with his sickly mother and is tormented by his overbearing boss, played by R. Lee Ermey. Instead of killing the rats that run rampant in his house, however, he befriends them (particularly a cute white one he names Socrates), and eventually trains them to do his bidding.
I think tyranist would have enjoyed this film more than I did (he always does). That being said, Willard was not a very enjoyable film. In fact, it was quite unpleasant. A lot of that had to do with Crispin Glover's performance as the title character. I like Crispin Glover (ever since I saw him in a better movie than any I've reviewed on this site), but a lot of his performance was actually hard to watch. Perhaps I related too much to the character (and what would that say about me?), perhaps it went overboard, perhaps he was just so pathetic it was uncomfortable, and occasionally painful. The depth to which his character lowers himself reminded me a little of the scene in Schindler's List when the kids are hiding under the outhouse, an image so scarring no amount of alcohol can wipe it from my memory. I can certainly identify with Willard, except I'm probably a little less attractive. But still...
Rat lovers and haters should have their mettle tested in this one. On one hand, you have little white Socrates, and on the other, big ugly brown Ben. I actually like rats, myself. A lot of people, including a roommate I saw the trailer with, are terrified of them, but they don't really bother me at all. Which is a little strange, considering a rat attacked my sister when she was very small (which sounds like another of the many sick lies I like to tell, but actually happened). I guess the thought of teeming armies of squirming, biting rats would scare anyone, but the only time I was disturbed by them was when they were attacking a character I liked.
Ermey basically plays the same detestable, barking character he always plays, and the love interest with the vague accent was really sweet and pretty, but the show belongs to Glover and the four-legged beasties. The song "Ben" is played, both the original, and a new version sung by, believe it or not, Crispin Glover.
I also really like director/writer Glen Morgan. He and I talked on more than one occasion, and Final Destination was one of the best horror films of this new decade. Unfortunately, the film is quite unpleasant. A pall of bleakness and pessimism hangs over it, from the opening titles on. My last trip to the dentist was more fun*, and fun's what I seek out when I go to these flicks.
I don't know how this one compares to the 1971 original, as I can't remember ever seeing it (I think I saw Ben, though, its 1972 sequel), but I don't think I'll rush and check it out now. The film wasn't very successful financially, and I guess that's for the best, though I always want Horror to do well. You might want to check it out on video and see what you think.
*Actually, that's not an exaggeration. My dentist is a rather attractive young woman (can you believe they make those?) with dark hair who leans in quite close when she's looking around my mouth. Come to think of it, I think I feel a cavity forming right now.

The tyranist's thoughts
I remember seeing the trailer for this one and thinking that it looked like it might be fun. As happens, however, I put off seeing it. There were just more important movies to see. For once I was right. This wasn't a must see.
So how do you make a movie watchable in which the lead (and almost only) character is a strange, reclusive human-being who has few redeeming characteristics before he goes completely mad and befriends the rats in his basement? I guess you don't. Crispin Glover played Willard exactly as he should have and it made it really hard for me to enjoy any of the movie at all. I had no sympathy for him. In spite of the obvious disadvantages he had, his mother, a bad boss, etc., he did nothing to help himself until he was mad. And let's be honest, if you befriend a rat, aren't you setting yourself up for tragedy?
Anyway, I just found little to enjoy about the movie. Kind of like A Simple Plan except that it didn't have the levels of suffering and pain and regret and great characters and and desperate plot and Bridget Fonda. I love A Simple Plan. In fact, if you'd like to see a movie about someone in a purely desperate situation and how they react to it, rent it instead of Willard.