Category Archives: Uncategorized

Oct 13 2009

Halloween 2

Viewed – 13 October 2009  Cinema

Halloween, the 1978 version is a masterpiece.  It’s tense, dripping with atmosphere, genuinely scary and expertly put together.  John Carpenter knew how to get under a viewer’s skin.  Now fast-forward to the remake, an admittedly brutally violent but somewhat interesting re-tread of the original, shedding new light on the masked killer’s childhood and family background, before sadly stumbling in the final act by copying and pasting the events of the old movie, but presenting them as if directed by an idiot.

Now don’t get me wrong, Rob Zombie is not an idiot.  He understands what is needed to create that 80′s video nasty vibe.  He showcased this wonderfully in the down right bizarre House of 1000 Corpses and the brilliantly inventive The Devil’s Rejects.  Yet there he was dealing with the off spring of his own warped imagination.  Here though, he’s bastardizing someone elses characters, and spreading them liberally with more gore and violence than was ever strictly necessary.  Laurie Strode is a bit messed up after surviving her ordeal on Halloween night one year previous, and is haunted by nightmares of the masked killer Michael Myers, who everyone believes is dead, but guess what?  No body was ever recovered.  Wait, I know, you’ve heard this one before … but stick with me.  Well as expected said deranged nutcase returns, this time haunted himself by the ghostly apparition of his mother (Sheri Moon Zombie) and his younger self, which I admit is an interesting spin, yet what isn’t at all interesting is the shockingly predictable slayings, which are overly nasty, and the frantic, head-ache inducing editing, where the camera is more often than not so close and epileptic you CAN’T TELL WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT.  Scout Taylor-Compton as Laurie is (once again) no Jamie Lee Curtis, says ‘f***’ a lot, and warbles in hysterics so you CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE IS SAYING.  What ideas this sequel has it never fully develops, the reveal of Laurie Strode being Michael Myer’s sister is both pointless and completely unexplored, and even genre stalwarts such as Malcolm McDowell and Brad Dourif  lend nothing to proceedings making their presence insulting when you consider what gems they have been in previously. 

A terrible horror movie, and contender for worst movie of the year.

Verdict:  1 /5

Aug 9 2009

Batman Returns

Viewed – 09 August 2009  Blu-ray

With all the fuss over last year’s admittedly impressive The Dark Knight, I still came away longing for the old days when Batman was directed by Tim Burton and starred Michael Keaton as the caped crusader.  This 1992 follow up to Burton’s own Batman see’s Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego pitted against two villains (something that grew to a ridiculous degree in the two awful following films) namely Michelle Pfeiffer’s Cat Woman and Danny DeVito’s Penguin.  Great choices following Jack Nicholson’s acclaimed turn as the Joker last time around.

batman_returns_profilelarge

The Penguin you see, was abandoned as a baby in the film’s classy, eerie opening sequence, and chooses Christmas Eve to make his return to a city that shunned him; Gotham.  Teaming up with corporate big wig Max Shrek (Christopher Walken) he makes a bid for Mayor, whilst at the same time Max’s bumbling secretary Selina Kyle (Pfieffer) is transformed into Cat Woman after Shrek pushes her out of a window following an unfortunate ‘curiosity kills the cat’ incident.

Although on paper complex, Burton’s assured direction and obvious love for the material makes everything flow effortlessly, with startling set design and a quartet of brilliant performances, be it Walken’s menacing Max or Devito’s ghastly Penguin.  But for me Pfeiffer steals the show every time she appears; sexy, playful and mad as hell - the perfect Batman femme-fatale.

It is then sad to watch this with the memory of Christopher Nolan’s two Batman films firmly in my mind.  Nolan doesn’t know how to create the Batman look, his Batman (despite the spot on casting of Christian Bale) is bland and uninteresting, with too much screen time given to the villians - and here, although Michael Keaton’s Batman / Bruce Wayne is less showy and more subtle than the foes he faces, Keaton delivers a confident and convincing portrayal of the tortured soul that is Bruce Wayne – perfect casting.  I will add that I couldn’t warm to Devito’s Penguin, totally unpleasant and one dimensional, with a very basic story arch that is sadly the films main focus.  Also some of the effects work is showing it’s age, although this is masked well with Burton’s incredible eye for gothic imagery, given a greater flamboyance when mixed with Danny Elfman’s superb score – still the only Bat theme anyone needs.

So in closing, if your a Batman or comic-book movie fan, this is an instant recommendation.

Verdict:  4 /5

Aug 7 2009

John Hughes dies!

I was saddened to hear that the ‘voice of 80s teen movie angst’ has died of a heart attack at the age of 59 in New York.  In my opinion he crafted a career for himself as one of the most assured and talented directors of the eighties with classic movie after classic movie.  Just thinking this was the man that gave us all these movies:  The Breakfast Club, Ferris Buellar’s Day Off, Wierd Science, Planes, Trains and Automobiles amongst others - he was definitely one of the best comedy and drama directors of the time and will be fondly remembered by many. 

Actress Molly Ringwald had this to say on hearing the news:

“I was stunned and incredibly sad to hear about the death of John Hughes,” said the former teen star, who starred in the “Sixteen Candles,” “Pretty in Pink” and “The Breakfast Club,” in a statement to People Magazine. “He was and will always be such an important part of my life.”

“He will be missed — by me and by everyone that he has touched,” she added. “My heart and all my thoughts are with his family now.”

John Hughes

18/02/1950 – 06/08/2009

John Hughes 01

Jul 20 2009

Star Wars re-visited

Ever since it’s inception way back in 1977, George Lucas’ legendary Star Wars saga has garnered an almost messianic fan following, and it was these fans and critics that chose to dismiss the more recent prequels as rubbish insults to their illustrious older brethren.  I however, although being a fan of the saga, feel the need to defend the new movies and champion the achievements of Lucas and Lucas-film for revisiting.

star-wars-950c01

For a start, the story is definitely one that needs to be told if you have any love of the characters and universe created by Lucas.  The idea of a back story to Darth Vader and how Ben (Obi Wan) Kenobi was back when he was a Jedi Knight, is surely a tantalising prospect.  Thankfully, Lucas chose to wait until his ideas could be matched by the CGI technology to fully realise them, and it is these grand effects that make the new trilogy stand out from the old.  If watched back to back, the older films just don’t look right anymore.  Even if the acting and some of the big moments eclipse the new films for dramatic impact, overall I think the new films are a great addition to the Star Wars saga, and should not be dismissed for the following reasons:

Ewan McGregor

Superbly cast as the young Obi Wan Kenobi, and grows from student to mentor over the course of three films, and is the emotional weight the trilogy needs to work.

Darth Maul

Sadly not used enough – one of the coolest villains in the Star Wars Saga.  He even wields a double ended light saber – how cool is that?

Senator Palpatine

Surely one of the finest screen villains of all time?  Given much more depth than in the older films, and is superbly acted by Ian McDermid.

Yoda

This little fella is no longer just the all knowing wise elder, he now can also kick ass like the rest, if not better – see Episode 2 & Episode 3.

Action

Episode One: The Phantom Menace’s amazing pod-race is an adrenaline fuelled roller coaster ride and a must see for any fan of chase sequences.  Stunning.  Darth Maul VS Qui Go-Jin & Obi Wan in the Phantom Menace.  The hover car chase through the neon metropolis in Episode Two: Attack Of The Clones.  Anakin Skywalker VS Obi Wan climactic light saber duel in Episode Three: Revenge Of The Sith.  All of these are some of the best action you will ever see.  Surpassing anything in the older films.

Yet I will not say the new trilogy does not have it’s faults.  Here’s my run down of what I think the trilogy does wrong:

Anakin Skywalker

Considering the whole trilogy depends on this character, Jake Lloyd as the young Anakin is a cheesy American-kid cliche that gets annoying very quickly.  Hayden Christensen in Episode Two fairs little better, proving awkward at saying the simplest of lines and looking nervous and amateurish.  Thankfully he improves greatly for the final film, going all moody and bad ass, which works perfectly.

Jar Jar Binks

Quite easily the most irritating character ever created.  So what if it’s a fully realised CGI character? He’s shit!  Thankfully Lucas had the sense to side line him for the sequels.

Too many light sabers!

The one thing missing from the new trilogy that the older films did so well, was the mythology surrounding the Jedi Knights.  Now the Jedi’s are everywhere, and it somehow weakens their awe-inspiring coolness.  At one point in Episode Two there are so many of them, I lost count!!!

Anakin & Padme

Without a doubt, the biggest problem with Episode Two, which on first viewing made me hate it – their love story is one big massive cheese fest, and totally unbelievable and sugar-coated with not an ounce of chemistry.

 

So,  so-called Star Wars fans … lay off the new trilogy!  It’s no where near as bad as you might think, has some absolutely stunning moments, has good casting, looks the nuts throughout, and still retains that iconic music, now sounding better than ever.  Yes it has it’s faults, as the original trilogy did (Return Of The Jedi has some serious problems), but overall, it still feels like Star Wars – and at the end of the day … that’s what counts, right?

Oct 2 2008

The King Of New York

Viewed – 30 September 2008  DVD

I thought this kicked all kinds of ass when I watched it once on late night television.  Who can argue with the set up of a respected, feared gang boss (Christopher Walken on electrifying form) who is released from prison and goes about taking over New York City by any means necessary.  Dirty, seedy, sexy and very violent – result!

Yet having sat down and watched it again now – it hasn’t aged well.  Walken of course is superb, but the story and the situations all feel so over-dramatic with little tension or believable atmosphere – it kinda feels like a very bloody comic book - of which I don’t have a problem with…but you can tell this film is taking itself very seriously, and frankly…at times it began to look a bit juvenile.  Scarface would have crapped all over these guys.

The cops (headed by David Caruso and Wesley Snipes) are very unlikable (especially hot shot dick-head Caruso) and the dead-faced Walken is unstoppable…leading to a very weak ending.  Yet saying hat, its still all tits, guns, coke and attitude to spare – and Walken is always worthy of your time.

Verdict:  3 /5