When a new type of story is introduced to the public from another country sometimes the audiences isn't to receptive, but then there are times that the audience is so blown away that their left panting and wanting more. That's what happened when Night Watch came on the scene, the first in a trilogy of stories based on the sci-fi novels by Sergei Lukyanenko. The base of the story is classic, light against dark, but the bulk of the story has some new twists and turns that just smack of greatness.
Night Watch - Anton fights with the Night Watch to keep the forces of Darkness in check, but when a prophecy about a renegade "Other" who could bring about chaos for the whole world starts to come true life becomes more complicated. This is a very good base movie to begin the character development that will continue into a series of films. The characters and the plot are well put together and with special effects that at times rival what Hollywood is putting out on the market, the audience is given a treat that just seems to get better every time you watch it. With strong actors that seem to be as seasoned as any that the American audience is used to, this film will become a classic before to much time goes by.
Day Watch - While Anton is set up by the Day Watch for the unauthorized murder of a Dark Other; he begins his search for an ancient relic that could destroy the peace between the Light and Dark. This movie is quite a bit longer than the first but once your wrapped up in the story you just don't notice the time. Bringing back the actors to reprise their roles, even with the smallest of cameos, helps with the continuity of the story and just enhances the plotline. The special effects are stepped up a few notches here from the first film and are done in such a grand manner that it leaves you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next.
I was completely taken aback by how good these movies are, after I originally show the first one I couldn't wait for the second to come out. Now that the second installment is here it's going to be hard to wait for the third. These stories are so good I want to search out the original books and see what other things Lukyanenko has written. With films being imported to the US like these, and the sci-fi movie District B-13 from France, the American audience is being given a chance to see that not all of the best films are being made in Hollywood. If you've never seen these films and enjoy a little intelligence in your horror films you have to check this story out, it will leave you wondering why other films aren't this good.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Monster House
When I was growing up there was always a house that was in the neighborhood that had a suspicious look to it, and most kids thought that it was haunted. A haunted house to kids was usually their first delving into the realm of horror and terror, but now a days it's more of a slasher film mentality that initiates kids into that territory. But here we're given a story that starts out just like the way we remember it from our childhood, and then the house comes alive and starts to terrorize the neighborhood. With Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg at the helm of this imaginative tale will be a classic for the kids during the Halloween season in the years to come.
A scary house in the neighborhood seems to have it out for anyone who even approaches the property, but when the house really comes to life three young teenagers work together to discover the frightening secrets and stop the rampage. The animation is a little cartoonish; it's not up to par with some of the other movies that have been released lately. The strongest element here is the story, with the comedic terror and the blossoming friendships of the main characters it's a tale that's easy to follow and in no way becomes too vulgar for the parents watching. With voice talents that include, Kathleen Turner, Steve Buscemi, Jon Heder and Jason Lee, this film would rival some of the big budget movies coming out of Hollywood today.
The entire film from beginning to end is as playful and funny as any animated film out there, and with a story that parents will enjoy as well as the children everyone will have fun watching it. Of course this story isn't going to explain all of the haunted houses that were around when we were kids, some of those were just old, disheveled houses that needed a lot of repair work. But you know as well as I do, that just doesn't explain away some of the things we've seen and heard in our youth, right.
A scary house in the neighborhood seems to have it out for anyone who even approaches the property, but when the house really comes to life three young teenagers work together to discover the frightening secrets and stop the rampage. The animation is a little cartoonish; it's not up to par with some of the other movies that have been released lately. The strongest element here is the story, with the comedic terror and the blossoming friendships of the main characters it's a tale that's easy to follow and in no way becomes too vulgar for the parents watching. With voice talents that include, Kathleen Turner, Steve Buscemi, Jon Heder and Jason Lee, this film would rival some of the big budget movies coming out of Hollywood today.
The entire film from beginning to end is as playful and funny as any animated film out there, and with a story that parents will enjoy as well as the children everyone will have fun watching it. Of course this story isn't going to explain all of the haunted houses that were around when we were kids, some of those were just old, disheveled houses that needed a lot of repair work. But you know as well as I do, that just doesn't explain away some of the things we've seen and heard in our youth, right.
Next
Time travel stories have become a dime a dozen in the film industry lately, but every now and then one comes along with enough of a twist that makes it unique. This film is based on a short story by Philip K. Dick called The Golden Man, and with Nicolas Cage in the lead role we end up with a pretty decent action movie. With co-stars like Julianne Moore and Jessica Biel, Moore being the antagonist and Biel being the love interest, the story's action keeps a nice even keel. The only true draw back this story has is that it's another terrorist plot to blow up a city with a nuclear device, this is becoming old really quick and hopefully someone will come up with a better storyline soon.
Only being able to see a few minutes into the future Cris Johnson uses his talent as a Las Vegas magician, until the FBI want his help in preventing a nuclear attack on Los Angeles. The camera effects that are used to emphasize the time travel are very inventive, with a mix of slow motion frames and rewind the effect is subtle and isn't over powering. One of the aspects that's fun in this story is at times when you think the scenario is moving forward and the characters are interacting, all of a sudden the rewind button is pushed and you find out that what you just saw was the look into the future by Johnson. One effect that stands out from the rest of the film is when Johnson is on a ship; to search multiple decks he goes off on his own and splits off into multiple versions of himself in order to accomplish this. It's a cool effect that is worth the time that it was put into it for the film.
Stories that allow the audience to be drawn into the plot and wonder along with the characters as to what happens next is in my book a film to see. Here we're given a set of characters that we enjoy watching through thick and thin, and when the final show down is achieved we're taken along as if we are a part of the story. With all of the films that Cage has done this one isn't one of his best but it is quit enjoyable, and isn't that the point of watching a movie. This film has just enough sci-fi in it to push the envelope of reality, it doesn't over power the plot, which in turn allows the drama to come through.
Only being able to see a few minutes into the future Cris Johnson uses his talent as a Las Vegas magician, until the FBI want his help in preventing a nuclear attack on Los Angeles. The camera effects that are used to emphasize the time travel are very inventive, with a mix of slow motion frames and rewind the effect is subtle and isn't over powering. One of the aspects that's fun in this story is at times when you think the scenario is moving forward and the characters are interacting, all of a sudden the rewind button is pushed and you find out that what you just saw was the look into the future by Johnson. One effect that stands out from the rest of the film is when Johnson is on a ship; to search multiple decks he goes off on his own and splits off into multiple versions of himself in order to accomplish this. It's a cool effect that is worth the time that it was put into it for the film.
Stories that allow the audience to be drawn into the plot and wonder along with the characters as to what happens next is in my book a film to see. Here we're given a set of characters that we enjoy watching through thick and thin, and when the final show down is achieved we're taken along as if we are a part of the story. With all of the films that Cage has done this one isn't one of his best but it is quit enjoyable, and isn't that the point of watching a movie. This film has just enough sci-fi in it to push the envelope of reality, it doesn't over power the plot, which in turn allows the drama to come through.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Audition
There are some films that you hear about and your told that it's the most amazing, horrifying thing that has even been put to film, and then when you finally see it, it changes the way you look at films forever. This film was so far beyond anything I could have expected, the changing of story gears from a drama to a horror is flawless and takes you completely unprepared. The mastermind behind this work of genius is Takashi Miike, who has the uncanny ability to take ordinary and familiar situations and turn them into something that is more sinister and frightening then we've even been witness to before.
A middle-aged man, who has been a widower for seven years, is coerced into using a phony film audition to meet women, and focuses on a young ballerina whose mysterious past contributes to her psychotic behavior. The calm and collected way that the story comes around to bite you is disturbing, you follow a nice relationship that seems to be like any one of a hundred that we've seen and then it turns on a dime before you know what's happening. This film shows the expert filmmaking of the director as well as the actors, with Eihi Shiina and Ryo Ishibashi in the lead roles we are driven through a full gambit of human emotion so that by the end we're thankful it's over but we're also left wanting more. The performance that Shiina gives is outstanding, the flip-flop of emotion and the character expressions are superb. From the moment that she comes on the screen as a shy submissive young woman to the psychotic maniac cutting off her lovers foot with razor wire we're exposed to a dizzying array of human emotion that disorients the viewer from one moment to the next.
This movie is not for the faint at heart, even though it starts out as a nice homey love story it later on becomes a film that a lot of people would be disturbed at watching. There are some scenes that are grotesque and hard to watch, and some that may give you nightmares, but the story itself is captivating and once your sucked in Miike doesn't allow you a chance to get away until the very end. In the grand scope of films what this movie does for blind dates is the same thing that Fatal Attraction did for infidelity in marriages, it makes you think two or three times before you take the next step. This movie does something special for this genre of films, even though most Asian horror films deal with the supernatural this one could take place next door to any of us and that alone is more chilling than most horror films.
A middle-aged man, who has been a widower for seven years, is coerced into using a phony film audition to meet women, and focuses on a young ballerina whose mysterious past contributes to her psychotic behavior. The calm and collected way that the story comes around to bite you is disturbing, you follow a nice relationship that seems to be like any one of a hundred that we've seen and then it turns on a dime before you know what's happening. This film shows the expert filmmaking of the director as well as the actors, with Eihi Shiina and Ryo Ishibashi in the lead roles we are driven through a full gambit of human emotion so that by the end we're thankful it's over but we're also left wanting more. The performance that Shiina gives is outstanding, the flip-flop of emotion and the character expressions are superb. From the moment that she comes on the screen as a shy submissive young woman to the psychotic maniac cutting off her lovers foot with razor wire we're exposed to a dizzying array of human emotion that disorients the viewer from one moment to the next.
This movie is not for the faint at heart, even though it starts out as a nice homey love story it later on becomes a film that a lot of people would be disturbed at watching. There are some scenes that are grotesque and hard to watch, and some that may give you nightmares, but the story itself is captivating and once your sucked in Miike doesn't allow you a chance to get away until the very end. In the grand scope of films what this movie does for blind dates is the same thing that Fatal Attraction did for infidelity in marriages, it makes you think two or three times before you take the next step. This movie does something special for this genre of films, even though most Asian horror films deal with the supernatural this one could take place next door to any of us and that alone is more chilling than most horror films.
Monster
This story is about something that is rarer than a four-leaf clover, the female serial killer Aileen Wuornos who had been caught and tried for her crimes. The acting that Charlize Theron did for this film is outstanding, it's amazing how strong it is and the make up job that was performed on her just completes the character. Taken from real events this is a strong story with a cast that is easy enough to follow. Even though stories of this kind are slanted one way or another here we're given an account of things completely from Wuornos' point of view. That's not to say its wrong but the story seems a little lop sided, and because of that you get the feeling that something is being left out on purpose.
After years of abusing drugs and prostitution Aileen Wuornos is attacked, raped and almost murdered, and while continuing her trade she begins to murder any "John" that she thinks is going to rape her again. The realism that is on display throughout the film is wonderful, everything from the props to the costumes to the sets that were developed come across as authentic. With all of this backing the actors up the audience is transported into the world that Wuornos inhabited, and with Theron and Christina Ricci both turning out performances that are at times breathtaking the audience is captivated.
With the two main actresses here doing jobs that are completely top notch you lose yourself in this world of prostitution and murder and feel some sympathy for the way that they were treated. But with the extent that this story is slanted the audience is lead to believe that Aileen was in no way mentally ill and only killed these men because society drove her to that point. I don't know if you could say that this film was enjoyable to watch or that it was fun to see these actors portray characters that were out of the norm, but it was interesting to see the examination of this life that, according to the film, never had a chance from the beginning.
After years of abusing drugs and prostitution Aileen Wuornos is attacked, raped and almost murdered, and while continuing her trade she begins to murder any "John" that she thinks is going to rape her again. The realism that is on display throughout the film is wonderful, everything from the props to the costumes to the sets that were developed come across as authentic. With all of this backing the actors up the audience is transported into the world that Wuornos inhabited, and with Theron and Christina Ricci both turning out performances that are at times breathtaking the audience is captivated.
With the two main actresses here doing jobs that are completely top notch you lose yourself in this world of prostitution and murder and feel some sympathy for the way that they were treated. But with the extent that this story is slanted the audience is lead to believe that Aileen was in no way mentally ill and only killed these men because society drove her to that point. I don't know if you could say that this film was enjoyable to watch or that it was fun to see these actors portray characters that were out of the norm, but it was interesting to see the examination of this life that, according to the film, never had a chance from the beginning.
Helter Skelter
Murder is one of the most destructive acts that one human being can do to another, and the murders that took place in the Hollywood Hills in the late 60s were particularly brutal. When the story of Charles Manson and his Family hit the news it was covered extensively by newspapers and television, but by the time the trial started the whole nation was watching. This made-for-TV movie is based on the book by Vincent Bugliosi who was the prosecuting attorney for the State of California, and deals with all of the aspects of the crime and the investigation that went into the capture of the killers and the trial.
After the most grisly murders in California history are discovered all evidence points to a cult leader Charles Manson and his followers, but once the trial starts things just get weirder. Considering that this a made for TV movie its amazing how detailed the story and graphic the scenes are, even today you wouldn't half of what they show you in this film. Even though the story is three hours long it doesn't feel like it, the story keeps moving at a pace that is fast enough for the audience not to notice the time. All of the performances here are very well done from the individual followers to the attorneys but Steve Railsback as Charles Manson is stupendous. He captures the essence of Manson demented personality and physical mannerisms, so much so that you get the feeling that it really is him on the screen.
Where this film is so long it's a rare occurrence that its shown from beginning to end in one shot, but with the DVD your able to see the progress of the characters, and story, without interruption. Seeing the complete story of the Tate/La Bianca murders and all of the intricate evidence that was gathered is at times disconcerting. But what's worse is the knowledge that Manson was able to convince these young people that he was Jesus and what they were doing were things that God wanted them to do. Even after all this time the story, and film, haven't gotten old, with all of the movies being made about serial killers and mass murderers this would seem like just another drop in the bucket, but truthfully after all this time its hard to hold a candle to Manson and his Family.
After the most grisly murders in California history are discovered all evidence points to a cult leader Charles Manson and his followers, but once the trial starts things just get weirder. Considering that this a made for TV movie its amazing how detailed the story and graphic the scenes are, even today you wouldn't half of what they show you in this film. Even though the story is three hours long it doesn't feel like it, the story keeps moving at a pace that is fast enough for the audience not to notice the time. All of the performances here are very well done from the individual followers to the attorneys but Steve Railsback as Charles Manson is stupendous. He captures the essence of Manson demented personality and physical mannerisms, so much so that you get the feeling that it really is him on the screen.
Where this film is so long it's a rare occurrence that its shown from beginning to end in one shot, but with the DVD your able to see the progress of the characters, and story, without interruption. Seeing the complete story of the Tate/La Bianca murders and all of the intricate evidence that was gathered is at times disconcerting. But what's worse is the knowledge that Manson was able to convince these young people that he was Jesus and what they were doing were things that God wanted them to do. Even after all this time the story, and film, haven't gotten old, with all of the movies being made about serial killers and mass murderers this would seem like just another drop in the bucket, but truthfully after all this time its hard to hold a candle to Manson and his Family.
M*A*S*H (TV series)
When I began writing this blog I knew there would be times that the task at hand may seem to daunting or to hard to accomplish, but so far I've persevered and have completed each assignment that I've set for myself. I knew at some point I was going to get around to watching this series and that it was going to be tough to sit and get through all eleven seasons. Considering the Korean War was only three years long and the television series lasted eleven seasons says something very strongly about all of the actors, directors, and writers that were involved in putting this story together. The wittiness of the jokes and the seriousness of the issues drove this series into television history. Based on the highly successful movie directed by Robert Altman and the novel by Richard Hooker (with a little bit of the novel Catch-22 for good measure), this show took off into the stratosphere and never looked back.
A team of U.S. Army doctors work at a M*A*S*H (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) unit during the Korean War and fight the system, and each other, with humor that flies around faster than the bullets and artillery. Being a situation comedy a laugh track was used (yet never in the OR - operating room) and as the years went on it was used less and less and by 1983 when the finale was done there was no track of laughter at all. Some very inventive story devises were developed during the show, one episode was done in real time with a clock running in the corner of the screen, one was entirely shot from the point of view of a wounded soldier, and one even went into the subconscious minds of the characters in their dreams. There were many other innovative stories, just too many to describe here. With the set design and the location shooting there are times when its hard to tell what was shot outside and what was on a soundstage, but that doesn't matter because each scene is done in such a way that it all seems to blend together. The story aspects changed about half way through the series and began to focus on more serious issues and the comedy became secondary, but that's not to say the shows weren't funny its just that the comedy was in the back seat for a while.
Of the numerous directors that had a part in this groundbreaking series some of the actors themselves were allowed to get behind the camera and develop their talents there, and with these episodes we're given a more in-depth glimpse into the characters that they portray. This series was one of the few shows that were able to change popular main characters and not lose a footing in the ratings. Of the original first season cast only two survived to the series finale, Alan Alda and Loretta Swit, but by the end all of the actors were noticeably getting tired and wanting to move on to other things. So after eleven seasons, 99 Emmy nominations, 14 Emmy awards and the highest ratings of its existence the cast took a final bow and ended the series with a two and a half hour finale that was watched by 77% of the viewers that were watching television that night (making it the most watched show in television history, an honor that still stands today.) One of the bonuses that the DVDs have is that all of the edited footage, that has been taken out over the years has been replaced and in some cases after all this time we're finally given missing dialog that helps with jokes or helps sets up situations. I have heard from a lot people over the years that they either love M*A*S*H or hate it for a variety of reasons, but after watching the whole series from beginning to end I can truly say that I love this show, more than I thought I did before.
A team of U.S. Army doctors work at a M*A*S*H (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) unit during the Korean War and fight the system, and each other, with humor that flies around faster than the bullets and artillery. Being a situation comedy a laugh track was used (yet never in the OR - operating room) and as the years went on it was used less and less and by 1983 when the finale was done there was no track of laughter at all. Some very inventive story devises were developed during the show, one episode was done in real time with a clock running in the corner of the screen, one was entirely shot from the point of view of a wounded soldier, and one even went into the subconscious minds of the characters in their dreams. There were many other innovative stories, just too many to describe here. With the set design and the location shooting there are times when its hard to tell what was shot outside and what was on a soundstage, but that doesn't matter because each scene is done in such a way that it all seems to blend together. The story aspects changed about half way through the series and began to focus on more serious issues and the comedy became secondary, but that's not to say the shows weren't funny its just that the comedy was in the back seat for a while.
Of the numerous directors that had a part in this groundbreaking series some of the actors themselves were allowed to get behind the camera and develop their talents there, and with these episodes we're given a more in-depth glimpse into the characters that they portray. This series was one of the few shows that were able to change popular main characters and not lose a footing in the ratings. Of the original first season cast only two survived to the series finale, Alan Alda and Loretta Swit, but by the end all of the actors were noticeably getting tired and wanting to move on to other things. So after eleven seasons, 99 Emmy nominations, 14 Emmy awards and the highest ratings of its existence the cast took a final bow and ended the series with a two and a half hour finale that was watched by 77% of the viewers that were watching television that night (making it the most watched show in television history, an honor that still stands today.) One of the bonuses that the DVDs have is that all of the edited footage, that has been taken out over the years has been replaced and in some cases after all this time we're finally given missing dialog that helps with jokes or helps sets up situations. I have heard from a lot people over the years that they either love M*A*S*H or hate it for a variety of reasons, but after watching the whole series from beginning to end I can truly say that I love this show, more than I thought I did before.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)