# I want to watch A History of Violence but ... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 21, 2007, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881 "2007-01-21T20:55:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/1 "2007-01-21T20:55:26Z")
I’m worried that something’s going to happen to Viggo’s little girl. The motel scene was bad enough. I’ve paused the TiVo. Should I keep watching? I love my Viggo and I heard Maria Bello is great in this, but I have a problem with children as victims. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/2 "2007-01-21T20:59:08Z")
I hated this movie with the white hot passion of a thousand burning suns. The audience I was in laughed at the supposedly serious parts, and it was so badly done that I almost wanted to leave in the middle. The parts that were supposed to be best, Maria Bello, Ed Harris, and William Hurt, were so bad to me. So maybe I’m not the best person to ask, but the two hours I spent in that movie are hours I’ll never get back. How it got nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay escapes me. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/3 "2007-01-21T20:59:25Z")
Uhh, I can’t remember exactly but… SPOILERS I think she’s turns out okay. Great movie, worth watching even if I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/4 "2007-01-21T21:07:29Z")
I found the movie really unremakrable except for that they showed a long time married couple actually having a fun sex life. You don’t often see a 69 in a non-porno movie. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/5 "2007-01-21T21:09:03Z")
**Red** , thanks. I’ll keep watching. **RubyStreak** , I can understand that reaction from the little bit I’ve seen. The movie’s not very subtle, is it? Oooh, I can edit! **PushYouDown** , I **know**! That was hot, and nobody was even naked! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/6 "2007-01-21T21:21:57Z")
This was a Hollywood movie. That’s probably all the answer you need. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/7 "2007-01-21T21:54:54Z")
I liked it, but I didn’t understand why William Hurt’s role was singled out for so much praise. It was fine, I guess, but nothing amazing. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/8 "2007-01-21T22:02:29Z")
I’m also watching for Stephen McHattie. I fell in love with him 30-odd years ago when he was in Centennial. I haven’t spotted him yet, unless he’s the skinny guy who was driving the blue convertible. ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/9 "2007-01-21T22:22:02Z")
Spoiler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No harm comes to Viggo’s little girl. You’re safe. If I remember correctly, the boy is hit by a stray bullet, but it is not a serious wound. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/10 "2007-01-21T22:36:55Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] I’m also watching for Stephen McHattie. I fell in love with him 30-odd years ago when he was in Centennial. I haven’t spotted him yet, unless he’s the skinny guy who was driving the blue convertible. [/QUOTE] I once knew a woman online who claimed to be his ex-wife, and made all sorts of batty statements about him. No, I didn’t believe her. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2007, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/11 "2007-01-21T23:29:02Z")
If I was going to claim to be an actor’s ex-wife, I don’t know that I’d pick McHattie. But maybe – it’s not like many people know who he is or anything about him. I’d love to see him in a movie with Lance Henriksen, but I might not be able to tell them apart. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/12 "2007-01-22T00:08:01Z")
[QUOTE=Snooooopy] I liked it, but I didn’t understand why William Hurt’s role was singled out for so much praise. It was fine, I guess, but nothing amazing. [/QUOTE] I liked everyone’s acting but his. I hated him in this movie. He wasn’t believable. His stupid accent was contrived. I detested him in this movie. Nothing happens to the little girl, but damn she was creepy looking. She had a 35 year old face on a little girl body. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/13 "2007-01-22T01:14:04Z")
Wikipedia’s entry on McHattie says he was once married to Meg Foster. Remember her? Gorgeous but sorta creepy silver-gray-green eyes? Makes me wonder if that silver-eyed woman from the herpes ad is theirs. I’ve hijacked my own thread. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/14 "2007-01-22T01:23:05Z")
_A History of Violence_ is one of the best movies of 2005, precisely because it \*was \* so subtle. There’s a great deal more to this movie than meets the eye. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/15 "2007-01-22T02:35:16Z")
I thought HoV was a terrific film, as did many others as it scored an [86%](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/history_of_violence/) at Rottentomatoes. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/16 "2007-01-22T02:51:26Z")
I hated every minute of it. I went through every scene and thought about the many ways it failed miserably until I decided to put it out of my head forever as a bad nightmare. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/17 "2007-01-22T03:08:12Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] I hated every minute of it. I went through every scene and thought about the many ways it failed miserably until I decided to put it out of my head forever as a bad nightmare. [/QUOTE] Pfft. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/18 "2007-01-22T03:31:16Z")
[QUOTE=LorieSmurf] I liked everyone’s acting but his. I hated him in this movie. He wasn’t believable. His stupid accent was contrived. I detested him in this movie. [/QUOTE] This is pretty much what I came in here to say. Except I detest him in most things, but his performance in this was laughable. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/19 "2007-01-22T03:48:50Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] _A History of Violence_ is one of the best movies of 2005, precisely because it \*was \* so subtle. There’s a great deal more to this movie than meets the eye. [/QUOTE] For once, I agree wholeheartedly with you, **lissener**. The movie was exceptionally subtle. Terrific film. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881/20 "2007-01-22T04:13:56Z")
I loved it. Fantastic movie, and the graphic novel it was based on isn’t half-bad either. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-watch-a-history-of-violence-but/388881.md?page=2)