Whoa, now this was wild. A perfect romantic musical comedy set against a horrific, gloomy backdrop. Probably the only cross-genre horror-romance I've ever seen. The only trouble you run into was when it's over, how do you feel? Were you scared? Did you laugh? Did you get that warm, fuzzy romantic comedy date movie feeling? Are you as confused as I am?
The cross-genre thing aside, this was a really great film. It played up all the classic "dead" conventions of body parts falling off and such, while simultaneously constructing a great romantic storyline with one of the best conflicts (live guy marries dead girl). It ran through the film wonderfully creating awkward situations and a wonderful climax.
The characters worked well for me, the pacing and transitions show that Tim Burton is a skilled director, and the Danny Elfman music and songs, while definitely sounding out of character for the traditionally dark Elfman, are quite good.
The only downfall is the musical sequences primarily serve to lengthen the dreadfully short 77 minute run time. I can't help but wonder why it was so short. Granted it moved really fast, but I kind of felt a little cheated when it ended so quickly. We could have tried to spend a little more time getting to know these characters, and it would have only benefited the film as a whole.
If you can wrap your mind around the bizarre genre cross in this one, it's definitely worth watching.
Showing posts with label C Titles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label C Titles. Show all posts
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Cave -- 2005 -- PG-13
So this movie follows a bunch of cave divers who like to explore the underwater world deep within a cave. They go deep in one cave, and once trapped, they discover sinister creatures down there.
The premise is clever and really shows how a good premise can get a movie made, but some of the execution is shoddy. Some of the shots seemed premature in that they didn't make sense until some later shots occurred.
one of the character actions didn't make sense until they explained, again, later. They hopped a ride on a water slide leading down a waterfall. I'm thinking, why are they going down? I thought they wanted out. Learned later in the film (not explained, but I picked up on it) that the water has to come out somewhere, so that worked.
Sometimes, the characters did things that really didn't make sense either. For instance, if I went down a tunnel into a chamber where I was attacked by a bunch of cave scorpians and then one of these freaky demon creatures, I wouldn't go back to everyone and say, "hey, I found the way," and then RETURN TO THAT CHAMBER! Children, we call that stupidity and find another way out.
This happened multiple times during the film too.
Finally, the group inevitably splits up after disagreeing about the best way out. One group climbs up some walls and down others which would put the fittest climber to shame and wear him out. The other decides to follow another underground current and see where it comes out.
Well, the climbers win when they find an exit. However, one of them heroically (or stupidly) goes back in climbing up and down walls AGAIN to find everyone else who followed the current! I'm thinking wait a minute! You don't know where that current went. It could have led straight out as well. Of course it didn't so he's a big hero, but somehow the tunnels led through a few more passages and...ta-da! right into the chamber where the first group was waiting. Wow, what are the astronomically minute chances of THAT happening? The climb was more believable.
Finally, there was this deal with a parasite in the cave water which was clever. It gave the thing a bit of a time element...except...what you're telling me is that through all that climbing, falling, bumping, and crashing, no one got a single scrape on their perfect form to admit this parasite? Having some trouble here.
Characters were ok. They weren't spectacular, but these types of films tend to lack in that area. Thin if any backstory, and very little motivational explanation beyond the character stereotypes. Overall, the combination of the attempt to make us care along with the sheer stupidity of some of the actions balanced us out to curiosity but not a relationship.
The plot itself was well formed and relatively sound. The pacing was fine. The underwater shots were amazing. I liked the creatures and the concept behind them. It basically had a big problem in believability allowing our hero to do too much to be heroic. If you can suspend your disbelief enough, it's good. If you prefer believability, not so good.
The premise is clever and really shows how a good premise can get a movie made, but some of the execution is shoddy. Some of the shots seemed premature in that they didn't make sense until some later shots occurred.
one of the character actions didn't make sense until they explained, again, later. They hopped a ride on a water slide leading down a waterfall. I'm thinking, why are they going down? I thought they wanted out. Learned later in the film (not explained, but I picked up on it) that the water has to come out somewhere, so that worked.
Sometimes, the characters did things that really didn't make sense either. For instance, if I went down a tunnel into a chamber where I was attacked by a bunch of cave scorpians and then one of these freaky demon creatures, I wouldn't go back to everyone and say, "hey, I found the way," and then RETURN TO THAT CHAMBER! Children, we call that stupidity and find another way out.
This happened multiple times during the film too.
Finally, the group inevitably splits up after disagreeing about the best way out. One group climbs up some walls and down others which would put the fittest climber to shame and wear him out. The other decides to follow another underground current and see where it comes out.
Well, the climbers win when they find an exit. However, one of them heroically (or stupidly) goes back in climbing up and down walls AGAIN to find everyone else who followed the current! I'm thinking wait a minute! You don't know where that current went. It could have led straight out as well. Of course it didn't so he's a big hero, but somehow the tunnels led through a few more passages and...ta-da! right into the chamber where the first group was waiting. Wow, what are the astronomically minute chances of THAT happening? The climb was more believable.
Finally, there was this deal with a parasite in the cave water which was clever. It gave the thing a bit of a time element...except...what you're telling me is that through all that climbing, falling, bumping, and crashing, no one got a single scrape on their perfect form to admit this parasite? Having some trouble here.
Characters were ok. They weren't spectacular, but these types of films tend to lack in that area. Thin if any backstory, and very little motivational explanation beyond the character stereotypes. Overall, the combination of the attempt to make us care along with the sheer stupidity of some of the actions balanced us out to curiosity but not a relationship.
The plot itself was well formed and relatively sound. The pacing was fine. The underwater shots were amazing. I liked the creatures and the concept behind them. It basically had a big problem in believability allowing our hero to do too much to be heroic. If you can suspend your disbelief enough, it's good. If you prefer believability, not so good.
Constantine -- 2005 -- R
If you watch this one, you'll like it or hate it. It's the type of fime that requires you to shut off the logic center of your brain and simply go with the ground rules that the movie lays down. If you try to make it religious, you'll hate it.
Now that we've gotten past that, this was a decent film. The main character had a huge flaw and a backstory that tied directly into the body of the film and the story. It was actually quite brilliant. The plot flowed very nicely throughout, and once you hit the end with minimal untied ends.
The only real complaint I had was this guy that was at the beginning. He kept showing up here and there throughout the film without any real intro of who he was or why he was doing what he was doing. We slowly get the idea that he is carrying an artifcat most necessary to the completion of the main plot, but how he becomes supernatural is really never fully explained. Pondering it after the movie ends, I can come up with an explanation plausible within the structure of the film, but I shouldn't have to. This film explained everything except that one point...maybe I missed it.
I might as well hit on the inevitable all-knowing character who lives is a weird location, but seems to have all the answers as long as you know the question. Constantine also has a "sidekick" that disappears for the central portion of the film when he isn't needed. It seems he serves his base purpose in the plot and goes "poof" when we don't need him.
Overall, it made for a good action film, and makes a borderline superhero type of film. I could see it as an underground comics type of hero, and I believe he is actually based on a comic book character. The most difficult part of watching this film is forgetting everything you know about religion and accepting what the film is saying for the duration. However, if you can do this, it's a great ride.
Now that we've gotten past that, this was a decent film. The main character had a huge flaw and a backstory that tied directly into the body of the film and the story. It was actually quite brilliant. The plot flowed very nicely throughout, and once you hit the end with minimal untied ends.
The only real complaint I had was this guy that was at the beginning. He kept showing up here and there throughout the film without any real intro of who he was or why he was doing what he was doing. We slowly get the idea that he is carrying an artifcat most necessary to the completion of the main plot, but how he becomes supernatural is really never fully explained. Pondering it after the movie ends, I can come up with an explanation plausible within the structure of the film, but I shouldn't have to. This film explained everything except that one point...maybe I missed it.
I might as well hit on the inevitable all-knowing character who lives is a weird location, but seems to have all the answers as long as you know the question. Constantine also has a "sidekick" that disappears for the central portion of the film when he isn't needed. It seems he serves his base purpose in the plot and goes "poof" when we don't need him.
Overall, it made for a good action film, and makes a borderline superhero type of film. I could see it as an underground comics type of hero, and I believe he is actually based on a comic book character. The most difficult part of watching this film is forgetting everything you know about religion and accepting what the film is saying for the duration. However, if you can do this, it's a great ride.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory -- 2005 -- PG
I really liked this adaptation of the Roald Dahl novel. It dealt with the material a little differently than the 1971 musical version, however, it did it in a masterful way.
It looks like this movie was made FOR Tim Burton, not just by him. Danny Elfman set Roald Dahl's lyrics straight out of the book to clever and singable music (always enjoyed Oingo Boingo, his band). Willy Wonka was characterized like never before, and it even ended with a touching third act that does not exist in either the book or the 1971 film.
Really, the only weakness I felt the film had was an undercharacterization of the 4 other children that went into the factory. That being the weakest point of this whimsical tale in my opinion makes this a movie that is very much worth watching. Tim Burton is still a master of his art.
It looks like this movie was made FOR Tim Burton, not just by him. Danny Elfman set Roald Dahl's lyrics straight out of the book to clever and singable music (always enjoyed Oingo Boingo, his band). Willy Wonka was characterized like never before, and it even ended with a touching third act that does not exist in either the book or the 1971 film.
Really, the only weakness I felt the film had was an undercharacterization of the 4 other children that went into the factory. That being the weakest point of this whimsical tale in my opinion makes this a movie that is very much worth watching. Tim Burton is still a master of his art.
Citizen Kane -- 1941 -- NR
This 1941 Best Picture winner definitely earned it. Most people are familiar with the infamous last word of Kane ("Rosebud"), and while I had an inkling I knew exactly what it was (thanks to a song from Animaniacs), I learned that unlike most films where knowing the goal spoils the movie, this word was not so much about Rosebud, but what Rosebud represented in Kane's life. Through the film, we learn all about Charles Foster Kane and his take on life and money and politics. We know what he likes and dislikes and wants and doesn't want. All of this was not to build to finding out what or who Rosebud is, but to explain why that was so important to him.
A modern film might spend 20 minutes at the end of the film explaining the meaning of Rosebud, but this film allows the audience to (gasp!) think for themselves and ponder just how deep the meaning goes outside the theatre. This is an amazing film for just that aspect; it was some amazing writing and ponders whather money (for Kane was the richest man in America) is really all it was cracked up to be. In fact, what Rosebud is is not known in the film until the last 30 seconds before the final fade out.
My only complaint was the old Jed Leland. When he as an old man chattered, I was bored to death. Fortunately, he wasn't allowed to talk for long and we got back into the history in short order.
This is an amazing film with an amazing script. I highly recommend it if you haven't seen it.
A modern film might spend 20 minutes at the end of the film explaining the meaning of Rosebud, but this film allows the audience to (gasp!) think for themselves and ponder just how deep the meaning goes outside the theatre. This is an amazing film for just that aspect; it was some amazing writing and ponders whather money (for Kane was the richest man in America) is really all it was cracked up to be. In fact, what Rosebud is is not known in the film until the last 30 seconds before the final fade out.
My only complaint was the old Jed Leland. When he as an old man chattered, I was bored to death. Fortunately, he wasn't allowed to talk for long and we got back into the history in short order.
This is an amazing film with an amazing script. I highly recommend it if you haven't seen it.
Climax! Mystery Theatre -- Casino Royale -- 1954
Full Title: Climax! Mystery Theatre presents Ian Fleming's Casino Royale
In 1954, the television show Climax! produced a 60 minute TV version of Fleming's first Bond novel shifting the characters a bit for American audiences. It had Jimmy Bond of the "Combined Intelligence Agency" who was working with Clarence Leiter of the British Secret Service (He was Felix Leiter of the CIA in the book). This was filmed Live in 1954 and had 3 basic sets: the casino, Bond's hotel room, and LeChiffre's hotel room. This is included as a bonus feature on the DVD of 1967's Casino Royale.
For what it was, this show did a phenomenal job of portraying Bond and his habits. It showed him as a competent agent with little humor and just there for the job. I enjoyed the drama infused and hardly noticed the international shift on Bond to an American agent. He was a strong character and well-developed along with the other characters.
This bonus feature alone is worth getting the DVD for that horrible "send-up."
Casino Royale -- 1967 -- NR
This "send-up" of the James Bond films to date (those being Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, and Thunderball) was not as good as I imagine the filmmakers were hoping for.
Having seen all of the other Bond films released now as well as read several of the books, this film failed to even make a mediocre Bond film. It had its share of silliness, but most of it wasn't funny. It spoofed very little of the Bond empire and made only passing references to its nature of women and gadgets. The majority of its comedic attempts fell absolutely flat; several scenes had no bearing on plot, character, nor did they produce any laughs; at several points in the movie, there were glaring holes in the structure as if there were supposed to be scenes, but they don't exist.
If you want a good spoof of the James Bond empire, try Austin Powers.
I can now say, however, that I have seen every Bond film that has been released. Yay for me.
Having seen all of the other Bond films released now as well as read several of the books, this film failed to even make a mediocre Bond film. It had its share of silliness, but most of it wasn't funny. It spoofed very little of the Bond empire and made only passing references to its nature of women and gadgets. The majority of its comedic attempts fell absolutely flat; several scenes had no bearing on plot, character, nor did they produce any laughs; at several points in the movie, there were glaring holes in the structure as if there were supposed to be scenes, but they don't exist.
If you want a good spoof of the James Bond empire, try Austin Powers.
I can now say, however, that I have seen every Bond film that has been released. Yay for me.
Chinatown -- 1974 -- R
Jack Nicholson leads the cast of this 1974 kickback to the noir films of the past. A private dick, Gittes, is assigned by a Mrs. Mulray to track her husband because she suspects him of an affair. As soon as Gittes turns the pictures over to Mrs. Mulray, they end up in the daily paper. That's when the REAL Mrs. Mulray shows up threatening to sue Gittes for taking the incriminating pics of her husband. Gittes sets out to discover who this fake Mrs. Mulray was and why she would want to destroy Mr. Mulray, and then Mr. Mulray ends up dead and the girlfriend disappears.
This movie gives away nothing as it curves through its clever storyline. The characters were believable and well written (you can tell that when you comment while viewing what a character will do because that's how he is). It's rare to find a film that takes you on an unpredictable ride as it unfolds instead of one where you know how it ends before it begins. Definitely a recommended watching.
Now, if only it had a better ending...
This movie gives away nothing as it curves through its clever storyline. The characters were believable and well written (you can tell that when you comment while viewing what a character will do because that's how he is). It's rare to find a film that takes you on an unpredictable ride as it unfolds instead of one where you know how it ends before it begins. Definitely a recommended watching.
Now, if only it had a better ending...
Close Encounters of the Third Kind -- 1977 -- PG
Overall, this was a good movie with a literary feel to it. Three interlocking storylines come together at the end for the big alien interaction (hence the title, no big spoiler there). The question of "What is at the mountain?" drives the story forward the momentum stays very steady throughout.
The weakness? Richard Dreyfuss' character. His plot line keeps this movie from being perfect. This man has a wife and three children. He starts acting crazy, loses his job, makes his wife nuts with this UFO talk and his propensity to make mountains out of mashed potatoes. As she is on the verge of forgiving him, he goes over the top, destroys the yard (as well as steals from the neighbor's yard) and throws stuff in the kitchen window. This, of course, makes her take the kids to her sister's. Now, all this makes sense, but if they are in a real relationship, she would be willing, even after all this, to forgive him. After all, they have three children and a marriage that seems to be working just fine except for a few recent weeks which can be chalked up to insanity. How does it end for his wife? Her husband is completely gone and she is left with three children, no income, and a house with a mountain of mud in it making it almost impossible to resell without a significant amount of work. Sure, great ending.
If you can get over the complete abandonment of his family by Richard Dreyfuss' character, it makes a great movie, though. Everyone else's motivations and resolutions are perfect.
The weakness? Richard Dreyfuss' character. His plot line keeps this movie from being perfect. This man has a wife and three children. He starts acting crazy, loses his job, makes his wife nuts with this UFO talk and his propensity to make mountains out of mashed potatoes. As she is on the verge of forgiving him, he goes over the top, destroys the yard (as well as steals from the neighbor's yard) and throws stuff in the kitchen window. This, of course, makes her take the kids to her sister's. Now, all this makes sense, but if they are in a real relationship, she would be willing, even after all this, to forgive him. After all, they have three children and a marriage that seems to be working just fine except for a few recent weeks which can be chalked up to insanity. How does it end for his wife? Her husband is completely gone and she is left with three children, no income, and a house with a mountain of mud in it making it almost impossible to resell without a significant amount of work. Sure, great ending.
If you can get over the complete abandonment of his family by Richard Dreyfuss' character, it makes a great movie, though. Everyone else's motivations and resolutions are perfect.
The Crow -- 1994 -- R
This film was based on the underground comic book of the same name and was very gritty and dark. It followed a guy who was brutally murdered with his girlfriend, and then comes back a year later to avenge his own death under the watchful eye of a crow. Overall, the film was very good with lots of action, feeling, and plot. I really feel the weakest point was the beginning.
It opened with the death of our main character. If the filmmakers had tried to flesh out the guy and his girlfriend just a little bit before they were murdered (get some of those hopes and dreams stuff going), then their deaths would have had more impact. We would be expecting a movie about them, and then wonder what just happened when they get killed.
Doing this would have spoiled nothing since the guy learns most of it during the first 10-15 minutes of the film anyway. I think knowing the relationship between himself and the girl would have helped this movie tremendously. As it is, it's good, but it could have been better.
It opened with the death of our main character. If the filmmakers had tried to flesh out the guy and his girlfriend just a little bit before they were murdered (get some of those hopes and dreams stuff going), then their deaths would have had more impact. We would be expecting a movie about them, and then wonder what just happened when they get killed.
Doing this would have spoiled nothing since the guy learns most of it during the first 10-15 minutes of the film anyway. I think knowing the relationship between himself and the girl would have helped this movie tremendously. As it is, it's good, but it could have been better.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari -- 1919 -- NR
This was a weird and interesting film. It involves a Dr. Caligari who has a somnambulist (someone who sleeps all the time) named Cesare that can tell your fortune. Meanwhile, while he's in town, murders are occurring. A man who lost his best friend to the murderer works to unravel the mystery of Caligari and Cesare before more deaths occur.
For a silent film, it was interesting to watch, and easy enough to follow. The intertitles, though long in nature, were done in an interesting to read font that fit with the character of the piece. The sets were really bizarre to look at as well (I believe this film was classified as German expressionism). It even had a decent twist at the end.
For some weak points, the characters were hardly delved into at all beyond their basic function in the story, and we weren't even told the name of the girl until near the end. Almost no relationships were established between the characters -- only a thin one between the main character and his best friend who was murdered -- so I believe that made the story a little thinner than it could have been.
For a film that was still falls under the experimental time of filmmaking, it managed to age very well over the years. Despite its weak points, we did get some change in the characters, and something good to watch.
For a silent film, it was interesting to watch, and easy enough to follow. The intertitles, though long in nature, were done in an interesting to read font that fit with the character of the piece. The sets were really bizarre to look at as well (I believe this film was classified as German expressionism). It even had a decent twist at the end.
For some weak points, the characters were hardly delved into at all beyond their basic function in the story, and we weren't even told the name of the girl until near the end. Almost no relationships were established between the characters -- only a thin one between the main character and his best friend who was murdered -- so I believe that made the story a little thinner than it could have been.
For a film that was still falls under the experimental time of filmmaking, it managed to age very well over the years. Despite its weak points, we did get some change in the characters, and something good to watch.
Casablanca -- 1942 -- NR
Recognize these quotes?
Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she had to walk into mine.
- Kiss me. Kiss me as if it were the last time.
- Round up the usual suspects.
- Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
- Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.
- Play it, Sam.
- Here's looking at you kid.
Cape Fear -- 1962 -- NR
This is the original version with Gregory Peck. I also read this movie got 161 cuts from the British censors, and they still wanted an X rating for it due to themes of sadism and child endangerment. Interesting.
This film was very, very good. It started out with a curiosity of this guy looking for someone else who is a lawyer. It escalates into stalking and then worse. The suspense is tight right from the get go. Things just keep getting worse as our hero tries to protect his family, but with every turn, the villain has the upper hand. Even in the final masterplan, things go horribly wrong.
If you like suspense flicks, this one definitely has it where it counts. We really care about the man and his family, and have some concern for what the bad guy is going to do. Recommended.
This film was very, very good. It started out with a curiosity of this guy looking for someone else who is a lawyer. It escalates into stalking and then worse. The suspense is tight right from the get go. Things just keep getting worse as our hero tries to protect his family, but with every turn, the villain has the upper hand. Even in the final masterplan, things go horribly wrong.
If you like suspense flicks, this one definitely has it where it counts. We really care about the man and his family, and have some concern for what the bad guy is going to do. Recommended.
Christmas With The Kranks -- 2004 -- PG
Based on the book entitled SKipping Christmas by John grisham (of all people), this is a film that deals with one extreme after another, and not always in a totally believable fashion.
The basic premise follows a couple whose daughter is gone, and so in order to save money, they opt to skip out of Christmas and take a cruise instead (saving them $3000 overall for the Christmas season). While the premise is clever enough, it is taken to such an extreme that believability falters in the presentation.
I can understand, perhaps, not doing a lot of the expensive things that makes Christmas such a great expendature, but they refuse to do the inexpensive and even free stuff just to be good neighbors or friends. They completely shut out the world in order to boycott Christmas, which did not strike me as the intention. Additionally, the wife is both ok and not ok with this throughout the film at times praising his genious and at other times condemning his stupidity but all the while playing along with his idea.
Many of the situations are funny and decent conceptions, but too many times, the jokes are not played out to their fullest potential. It's there and then gone.
It's difficult to say whether Tim Allen's character is supposed to be likable or not. He spends a fair amount of time being a Grinch, and one wonders whether he really enjoys Christmas as an annual occasion. Near the end, his personality begins flowing in one direction only to take a complete turn to complete an almost forgotten subplot and deliver the message of the film and get him his grand character development moment. It would have been more beautiful if he remained as he had been throughout the film instead of going more with the flow.
Act III begins with a great twist to it that jump starts the momentum of the film and carries us to the end, but Act II almost gets dull with the continuous motion of "here's another Christmas tradition", "No", "here's another Christmas tradition", "No." And let's take a moment to prepare for the cruise, and back to the tradition-no routine.
So, bottom line. Is this the greatest film the world has ever known? No. Does it make for an amusing film to watch with the family so laughs are shared and a good is had by all. Sure. The comedy is easy and funny. The story is easy to follow. It has a feel-good, sappy, Christmas-movie ending. So, if you want a film to just watch to escape another round of Rudolph. Here you go. If you're looking for an award-winning Christmas movie, time to put It's a Wonderful Life back in.
The basic premise follows a couple whose daughter is gone, and so in order to save money, they opt to skip out of Christmas and take a cruise instead (saving them $3000 overall for the Christmas season). While the premise is clever enough, it is taken to such an extreme that believability falters in the presentation.
I can understand, perhaps, not doing a lot of the expensive things that makes Christmas such a great expendature, but they refuse to do the inexpensive and even free stuff just to be good neighbors or friends. They completely shut out the world in order to boycott Christmas, which did not strike me as the intention. Additionally, the wife is both ok and not ok with this throughout the film at times praising his genious and at other times condemning his stupidity but all the while playing along with his idea.
Many of the situations are funny and decent conceptions, but too many times, the jokes are not played out to their fullest potential. It's there and then gone.
It's difficult to say whether Tim Allen's character is supposed to be likable or not. He spends a fair amount of time being a Grinch, and one wonders whether he really enjoys Christmas as an annual occasion. Near the end, his personality begins flowing in one direction only to take a complete turn to complete an almost forgotten subplot and deliver the message of the film and get him his grand character development moment. It would have been more beautiful if he remained as he had been throughout the film instead of going more with the flow.
Act III begins with a great twist to it that jump starts the momentum of the film and carries us to the end, but Act II almost gets dull with the continuous motion of "here's another Christmas tradition", "No", "here's another Christmas tradition", "No." And let's take a moment to prepare for the cruise, and back to the tradition-no routine.
So, bottom line. Is this the greatest film the world has ever known? No. Does it make for an amusing film to watch with the family so laughs are shared and a good is had by all. Sure. The comedy is easy and funny. The story is easy to follow. It has a feel-good, sappy, Christmas-movie ending. So, if you want a film to just watch to escape another round of Rudolph. Here you go. If you're looking for an award-winning Christmas movie, time to put It's a Wonderful Life back in.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon -- 2000 -- PG-13
This film won 4 academy awards, and none of them (except maybe best foreign film) had anything to do with the quality of the storyline or the film as a whole. Having heard good things about this picture, I knew I'd watch it eventually, and after doing so, I was grossly disappointed.
I can't really fault the dialogue since it was filmed in Chinese and dubbed into English, although the dialogue was rather lifeless through most of the film. While the film got off to a decent start, it was a painfully long time before anything remotely interesting happened. Just a lot of wordy, boring, slow scenes. And when we hit a fight scene, it was boring as well.
The only point of interest in this first fight scene was the almost divine jumping ability of the combatants, however, it quickly turned into shoddy wire work as the actors were clearly "flown" from rooftop to rooftop, their legs flailing as they went along like watching the Broadway version of Peter Pan. I'm thinking, "You've got to be kidding."
I was completely removed from the experience after this point since it looked so ridiculous. The characterizations were fine attempts, and had the plot not been so paper thin, I might have been able to get into them. Once again, though, the scenes were wordy and boring. Fight after fight was poorly choreographed. I was just waiting to see how they would turn it out, and the ending didn't even make sense. I'm sure it was very impressionistic and deep, meaning (if you know about impressionistic art) it doesn't make sense -- don't try to make it make sense.
I did finally figure out, however, the deal with the shoddy wire work. Apparently, this martial arts discipline knows how to suspend their weight, and for all intents and purposes, fly. Had I known this BEFORE the first battle, I'd've totally been into it. Without this very vital piece of info, though, it was just another Broadway production of Peter Pan.
If this was the best foreign film of 2000, I would be frightened to see the other contenders. This is actually really sad since the Japanese Ringu 0 was a far, far, far superior film to this tripe.
But hey, great cinematography, music, and art design.
I can't really fault the dialogue since it was filmed in Chinese and dubbed into English, although the dialogue was rather lifeless through most of the film. While the film got off to a decent start, it was a painfully long time before anything remotely interesting happened. Just a lot of wordy, boring, slow scenes. And when we hit a fight scene, it was boring as well.
The only point of interest in this first fight scene was the almost divine jumping ability of the combatants, however, it quickly turned into shoddy wire work as the actors were clearly "flown" from rooftop to rooftop, their legs flailing as they went along like watching the Broadway version of Peter Pan. I'm thinking, "You've got to be kidding."
I was completely removed from the experience after this point since it looked so ridiculous. The characterizations were fine attempts, and had the plot not been so paper thin, I might have been able to get into them. Once again, though, the scenes were wordy and boring. Fight after fight was poorly choreographed. I was just waiting to see how they would turn it out, and the ending didn't even make sense. I'm sure it was very impressionistic and deep, meaning (if you know about impressionistic art) it doesn't make sense -- don't try to make it make sense.
I did finally figure out, however, the deal with the shoddy wire work. Apparently, this martial arts discipline knows how to suspend their weight, and for all intents and purposes, fly. Had I known this BEFORE the first battle, I'd've totally been into it. Without this very vital piece of info, though, it was just another Broadway production of Peter Pan.
If this was the best foreign film of 2000, I would be frightened to see the other contenders. This is actually really sad since the Japanese Ringu 0 was a far, far, far superior film to this tripe.
But hey, great cinematography, music, and art design.
The Cell -- 2000 -- R
I loved the premise of this film. A psychiatrist uses a mchine to enter the mind of someone else to dig through and get some info they need. The images and such of being in someone's mind were a real trip and fun to endure in some ways (and scenes), but really disturbing in others. Unfortunately, this premise is completely wasted in this film.
The premise is that they enter the mind of a serial killer to try and discover the whereabouts of his final victim. Awesome. The Agent who finally entered the guy's mind (not the psychiatrist) saw a symbol that was on a table at the guy's house, and made the connection using standard detective work, meaning if we were watching CSI, they would figure it out without the help of this machine. Sure it gave the psychiatrist someone to save and to prove her point about something earlier in the film, but when something can be skipped and reach the same solution, it really spoils the plot.
Moving on, the killer's character was very well rounded, but the main pair of the cop and the psychiatrist were very thin. There were some references made that I thought would come out later, but they were never returned to, and another reference later just came out of thin air. Everyone else was completely forgettable.
So, good special effects and a clever premise in a blissfully wasted package of a plot.
The premise is that they enter the mind of a serial killer to try and discover the whereabouts of his final victim. Awesome. The Agent who finally entered the guy's mind (not the psychiatrist) saw a symbol that was on a table at the guy's house, and made the connection using standard detective work, meaning if we were watching CSI, they would figure it out without the help of this machine. Sure it gave the psychiatrist someone to save and to prove her point about something earlier in the film, but when something can be skipped and reach the same solution, it really spoils the plot.
Moving on, the killer's character was very well rounded, but the main pair of the cop and the psychiatrist were very thin. There were some references made that I thought would come out later, but they were never returned to, and another reference later just came out of thin air. Everyone else was completely forgettable.
So, good special effects and a clever premise in a blissfully wasted package of a plot.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Parts: The Clonus Horror -- 1979 -- R
Since The Island borrowed a lot from this film, I opted to watch it again. This one didn't play out as well as The Island did, but it did have that similar premise. We get a lot of information from the get-go here explaining practically everything so everything I've said is not even much of any spoiler.
Believability issues abound here, though. This clone, while having average intelligence, is able to do a lot of things that he could now have learned and really can't be done unless taught. There was a sheet of paper he managed to identify as a map and that he used constantly within a multi-floor facility to find his way around. So not only does he have impeccable map-reading skills, but a multi-floor facility fit on a little sheet of paper. Wow. He also knew about the elevator maintenance hatch...not bad for someone who couldn't possibly have been told this or seen one used. He even knew how to use a VCR. Didn't fit the training programs, nor did they have TV's in their rooms. This clone knew too much for what he would have been taught according to the film.
The music used was cliche and one scene was 70's action sequence all the way. The alarm used in a facility was the "red alert" from Star Trek. The way the clone ended up being tracked reminded me heavily of Mr. Big's network in Live and Let Die (book and movie). And how'd he get out? He avoided being shot by a sharpshooter(?!).
And the ending wasn't much better. Stepford Wives, anyone?
Believability issues abound here, though. This clone, while having average intelligence, is able to do a lot of things that he could now have learned and really can't be done unless taught. There was a sheet of paper he managed to identify as a map and that he used constantly within a multi-floor facility to find his way around. So not only does he have impeccable map-reading skills, but a multi-floor facility fit on a little sheet of paper. Wow. He also knew about the elevator maintenance hatch...not bad for someone who couldn't possibly have been told this or seen one used. He even knew how to use a VCR. Didn't fit the training programs, nor did they have TV's in their rooms. This clone knew too much for what he would have been taught according to the film.
The music used was cliche and one scene was 70's action sequence all the way. The alarm used in a facility was the "red alert" from Star Trek. The way the clone ended up being tracked reminded me heavily of Mr. Big's network in Live and Let Die (book and movie). And how'd he get out? He avoided being shot by a sharpshooter(?!).
And the ending wasn't much better. Stepford Wives, anyone?
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe -- 2005 -- PG
I finally got around to seeing this one as its been in my home library for a few months now. Yes, a few months. What can I say? I don't buy a lot of movies due to the number I rent and get from the library. You can't tell me you have trouble believing that. Anyway...
This was an impressive adaptation. From what I remember of the novel, it was followed fairly closely in terms of plot points. The screen story was well paced, did a solid job of bringing the book characters to the screen, and even gave us some good emotional moments. The imagery we got was very well done and gave us a real sense of this rather fanciful world. The plot was well constructed and each event lead well to the next.
If I were to find a complaint in here, it's that Aslan did not get the kind of development he really needed for us to connect to him. We got an understanding of him before he made his big move, but it was difficult to get an emotional connection because while we were given a lot of information about him, and we got to see his goodness in action, no one really gave us a personal account of their experiences with him, so we weren't given anything to really connect with. This was unfortunate since the stone table scene in the book was one of the most powerful of the whole story. In the movie, it did not quite have that kind of power.
All the same, though, this was a really good film, and here's hoping production is well underway for Prince Caspian.
Cowboys and Angels -- 2000 -- PG
There's a story that goes with getting this one. My wife had ordered it from Netflix and instead of this little romantic film, we got a film of the same name from 2003. That is a completely different movie. Instead of a lawyer-cowboy, we got a gay drug user. On our third attempt to get this movie, we finally got the right one.
This is a really clever film. It follows a guy who before the story began was dumped the day before his wedding and this event haunts him as he tries to move on. At his sister's wedding, he meets a girl named Jojo who takes him to weddings and tries to open his eyes to the world out there. For some reason, she knows everything about him and knows the people around him too. When he falls for her, she splits and he immediately meets Candace. Now he's going out with someone and hung up on two people.
The enigmatic nature of Jojo along with the sheer curiosity of how this little triangle will play out keeps you going through the film. Pacing is a little off here and there as it works to build character and move the plot through the slim storyline that feels like if all the scenes were cut back to their most essential, it would be a rather short movie. This doesn't really hurt it though because at the end of the film, I like what I've seen.
The director has a good eye for some clever shots. There was one shot where our hero, Danny, is in his kitchen with the new girl, Candace. She has just commented on his keeping up the pictures of the woman who jilted him the day before their wedding. The camera moves around and has a shot of him on one side of the kitchen, Candace on the other side, and right between them is a post from the entry with the picture of the ex. There's a picture that tells more than the dialogue.
Awesome use of sound in some places too. At one point Candace meets Jojo, and Danny comments that "she's the girl..." He stops, but in the background at that very moment, the song playing says, "...who stole my heart." I was floored and pleasantly so.
This is a film that is decent from story perspective, but very good from a filmmaker's perspective. This director knows what he's doing and I just might have to check out some of his other stuff. The movie is worth watching and it even has a little twist at the end that is rather unexpected, but again, in a good way. It ties up all of the loose ends very nicely, and you finish it all up with a good feeling.
Cyber Wars -- 2006 -- PG-13
From the beginning, this one felt like a variant of the Matrix and a few other movies I've seen yet don't remember the titles to. We start out with some scrolling text to set us up so we aren't completely lost in the next scene which has our heroine chasing down a guy who has somehow changed his identity using a "simplant." The whole society is linked together via this "Cyberlink" and identity theft isn't so much of a problem as identity changing, or that's how I understood it.
A lot of the story details are rather convoluted, though the movie seems to flow well enough on what it does construct for us. How everyone is linked is never really explained to satisfaction, nor is how these simplant things help those who use them since they don't change the face, but just the perceived identity. The only time anything is used for identification purposes from a societal standpoint is getting into the subway. So....avoid the subway and no one catches you? Not seeing the threat here.
Our heroine is a bounty hunter and of course, she is the best because of her father or something that was also not fully delved into. She is charged to find a guy who can now put this simplant thing into his brain which makes a identity change permanent, and while this sounded very cool, the reason continues to escape me. She actually finds him very quickly in the overall plot, and we learn there's more to the story than just him.
This is where it gets very Matrixy and where we get into spoiler-world. What I can say is there is a lot of virtual reality in this world of theirs, and while it doesn't follow the exact plot of the Matrix (sorry, no machines controlling the world, and they are not living their lives as batteries in a big computer), there are a lot of elements that made the corrolation inescapable.
The characters all ring as very flat throughout and even when something that should be devastating occurs, it falls through because we have no investment in the story. The plot is interesting enough to keep going (even though parts of it don't make a lot of sense), but the characters are just going through the motions to get to the end. Special effects are decent, but very cartoony in a lot of places. It feels like a cheap TV movie where they wanted to do more than the budget allowed for. It would have been good to concentrate on the story first, and then build around that.
In the end, it wasn't the worst film ever. A lot more effort should have been put into developing the characters to the point that we understood them, and could invest in their problems. There were some scenes we could have gone without just to get a little more character. I don't know if it would have saved this mess since the very premise was not explained to my satisfaction (in fact, it was only explained in that little scroll up at the beginning...which was probably added in post when they realized it was never explained), but it would have helped. Good characters can sometimes save a bad story just because they're so hard to find.
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