Category Archives: World Cinema

May 29 2012

Movies I’m looking forward to

There are several movies I’m eager to see in the next twelve or so months.  On the near horizon is Christopher Nolan’s final part of his Bat Man Trilogy in the shape of The Dark Night Rises.  My reservations aside with what Nolan has turned the Batman mythos into over the last few years, few can argue how good The Dark Knight turned out, especially with the involvement of the late Heath Ledger.  It seemed a movie even Nolan was going to struggle beating, and even though this latest entry has mostly passed under my radar undetected, recent images have immerged of Ann Hathaway’s Catwoman, to get this film goer all twitchy and excited.   Out July 20.

Further on the horizon is the return of cult movie director Quentin Tarantino with his much hyped new western Django Unchained.  Starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz and also Leonardo DiCaprio … this following the excellent Inglorious Basterdz has gotta be a must see by anyones expectation.  ETA: January 2013.

I didn’t know what to make of the forthcoming The Amazing Spider-Man.  A second origin story, this time featuring The Social Network’s Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker in place of Tobey Maguire, and pitting the web slinger against The Lizard, in the form of the always enjoyable Rhys Ifans.  Then I heard that the wonderful Emma Stone will be playing love-interest Gwen Stacy … and suddenly I took notice.  I don’t know how it will compare to the already very good trilogy that went before (especially 1 & 2) but the casting is good, and effects have moved on a fair bit … so it could deliver.  It’s out July 4.

Not quite making it to cinemas here in the UK but for a select few, the latest entry in Spanish horror saga [REC] makes a splash on DVD / Blu-ray in September in the shape of the very interesting looking [REC] Genesis. A prequel to the shaky-camera terror masterpieces that came before it, I fear this may be a bit too action driven and gore laden to have the same disturbing feel of 1 & 2 … but either way, I still have to see it.

Apr 7 2012

Cronos

Viewed – 06 April 2012  Blu-ray

Special Edition

I have long been an admirer of Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, whose style of fantasy horror has led to such genre classics as Pan’s Labyrinth, Blade II and the Hellboy movies.  He has a great eye for action, creepy imagery and comic-book excess, and would have been an ideal choice to direct the forthcoming Hobbit movies if it weren’t for production difficulties causing him to jump ship.  Thankfully we have a rich back-catalogue of movies to enjoy, none more notable than this 1993 debut.

Jesus Gris is an elderly man who owns an antiques shop, who comes into possession of an Archangel figurine, and unknowingly discovers an ancient mechanical device hidden inside.  He learns the device can grant him youth if he allows it to latch onto him, but soon discovers one major drawback – it turns the user into a vampire.  At the same time, a wealthy tycoon on his death-bed has been searching for the device for years, and when he learns of the man’s discovery, a battle erupts for who will claim the device for their own.

Co-starring del Toro regular Ron Perlman as the tycoon’s nephew (and hired muscle) this is a gripping and unusual take on the vampire myth, boasting a quality performance from Frederico Luppi (The Devil’s Backbone) as well an enjoyable turn from Perlman.  Yet this is largely Guillermo’s show and his artistry and imagination is shown off brilliantly in some great camera work, set design and imaginative, how-did-they-do-that make-up effects.  For a horror movie it may lack shock moments or jump scares, but is still undeniably freaky, feeling very Edgar Alan Poe in its atmosphere.  I was also surprised by how effective some of the moments between the old man and his granddaughter were, proving quite moving at times.  For a debut it also proves that del Toro was a real talent from the off.

The Blu-ray boasts a very nice picture, that although lacking in fine detail, is clean and free of artificial enhancements.  Sound-wise the Spanish and English dialogue is clear and precise and the haunting soundtrack is delivered fittingly.  This isn’t a brash, noisy movie but quite subtle, yet is still very effective.  This special edition from Optimum has a wealth of extras, including interviews, a director’s commentary (always a plus from the enthusiastic del Toro), a making-of and various stills galleries.  An impressive treatment for a classic of the genre.

Verdict:

(the movie) 4 /5

(the Blu-ray) 4 /5

Mar 21 2012

The Devils

Viewed – 21 March 2012  DVD

Occasionally here at The Movie Report, I come across movies that for a moment, I hesitate slipping into my DVD player.  Yet movies that court controversy and have had a torrid history with the censors have often intrigued me … call it the forbidden fruit.  One such movie is this, the late Ken Russell’s politically themed religious drama, starring the late, great Oliver Reed and also Vanessa Redgrave.  Reed plays a priest who manipulates women into his bed by using his religious beliefs and standing, and attracts the jealousy and hatred of a conflicted nun (Redgrave) who cursed with deformity, has never been able to capture the priest’s eye, and therefore accuses him of the devil’s work.

This brash, in-yer-face movie seems hell-bent on shocking and offending the viewer from the beginning.  Perhaps in the seventies, this would have been outrageous viewing, but these days with movies dripping with violence, sex, bad language and pretty much anything you can think of … it’s very difficult to be moved by much of what this movie is trying to hit you with.  Acting-wise Oliver Reed is excellent as the priest, as is a hysterical Redgrave in possibly her most controversial role.  The avant-garde set designs by Derek Jarman are also something to behold and is one of the reasons that over 40 years later, this movie still looks fantastic.  Some of the more censor-bating moments, like an orgy and religious imagery (such as a Christ-immitating Oliver Reed) have mostly been toned down in this ‘x’ certificate cut, which post battle-with-the-censors, has less of the shock  moments intact than the director originally intended.

As an example of British cinema at it’s more daring and of a famed director, this certainly remains worth your time.  Although if you’re expecting to be shocked to your core, then sorry – this was just to pantomime at times to be taken seriously.  I am glad I have finally seen it all the way through, but despite good performances and technically good direction, it failed to effect me in the way its controversial legacy lead me to believe.

This newly released Special Edition DVD from BFI, has a packed booklet exploring the movie and it’s censorship issues, and on the movie itself we get an introduction from Brit film critic Mark Kermode, and a commentary from Ken Russell amongst others.  Then on a second DVD we get several in-depth documentaries exploring the history and the making of the movie as well as its standing in British cinema history, with lots of previously thought to be lost footage, including glimpses of the infamous ‘rape of christ’ sequence.   A very impressive package.

Verdict:  3 /5

Mar 1 2012

Colombiana

Viewed – 01 March 2012  DVD

Sometimes, It’s worth going on instinct and not listening to reviews when it comes to a movie.  That may be a strange thing to say as a reviewer myself, but we don’t always get it right.  Or we expect too much.  This can be said for this stylish thriller written by French filmmaker / producer Luc Besson and starring the very beautiful Zoe Saldana (Avatar).

Zoe plays a Colombian girl named Cataleya (yes, not Colombiana) who witnesses her parents get killed by gangsters, and vows revenge.  Travelling to Chicago and being brought up by her uncle, she soon becomes a professional assassin and plies her trade in hope that one day, she’ll find her father’s killer.  This is nothing new, and for Luc Besson, he trod very similar ground in the cult favourite La Femme Nikita.  Yet Zoe Saldana makes for a great ice-cool killer and the various hits are executed with panache (including a very cool Police Station sequence).  Supporting cast are mostly bland, no-name bit part actors who fit the Colombia-heavy stereotype and don’t do much more than look bad-ass and fire lots of guns.  Besson’s chosen director Olivier Megaton (Transporter 3), name sounding like a Transformer aside, delivers a slick-looking experience and is obviously in love with his leading lady (who can blame him?).  The plot does rely on a few too many conveniences though, and some stuff  is very sloppily written, like the frankly bonkers way Cataleya’s identity gets discovered … yet overall this was fast, fun and satisfying – just switch off that brain, and you’ll have a ball.

Verdict:  3 /5

Feb 5 2012

City Of The Living Dead

Viewed – 04 February 2012  Television

In the early eighties, a bunch of horror movies were deemed, at least here in the UK as too shocking for public consumption, and were banned outright.  In subsequent years these so called ‘video nasties’ began to slowly emerge, more often than not in a censored form.  Thankfully these days many of them can be found uncut, and one of the pioneers of such movies was late Italian director Lucio Fulci.  I have only seen a couple of his movies, but can attest they do live up to his moniker of ‘the godfather of gore’.

This 1980 release has a priest hanging himself in a cemetery whilst at the same time a psychic see’s the incident in a vision during a séance.  Soon after weird things start to happen, and recently deceased persons start coming back to life.  The psychic and a group of other people then journey to Dunwhich, where the priest hung himself to hopefully prevent the end of the world … as you do.

This is typical 80′s horror fair, with questionable acting, a couple of pretty females, and stand out moments of gore.  Lucio Fulci was a skilled director that’s for sure, even if his stories were usually wafer thin and incoherent.  This movie is no different, as the plot is mostly left unexplained (like what was the priest all about?) and the characterisation non-existent.  The movie is very creepy however, with some decent atmosphere and the soundtrack certainly works to crank up the tension.  For a Fulci movie the gory moments are a bit hit and miss (the drill sequence is stunning, but the vomit-up-ones-own-guts bit, is just ridiculous) and whatever interesting ideas it has to start with, just degenerates into your average zombie movie towards the end.

This was entertaining though, and I’m glad I have finally managed to see it.

Verdict:  2.5 /5

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