While Mos Def is minding Danny Glover's video store, Jack Black accidentally gets his head magnetized and wipes all the videos in the store. Fearful of letting Glover down they decide ro remake a film for one of their customers, which leads to filming another and suddenly their films are more popular thanthe originals.
Michael Gondry’s films in the past have been something to treasure. Offbeat, they refreshingly walk an original path through today’s mainstream mire of movie monotony that seems to pervade the cinemas from across the ocean. Both ‘The Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind’ and ‘The Science Of Sleep’ were off-kilter pleasures that entranced long after viewing had stopped. On the face of it Be Kind Rewind looked like it was going to be similar but somewhere along the line it became one of the movies it poked fun at. That’s not to say it’s bad, far from it - it is a most enjoyable movie, it’s just that it lacks the preternatural enchantment that the aforementioned films had.
Thursday, 16 April 2009
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
The Chorus (2004)
A failed musician comes to a tough boarding school for troublesome kids and turns their life around when he starts a choir.
This tries hard to be a heartwarming, poignant drama and nearly succeeds but ultimately it ends up lacking character interest as it features the teacher strongly far more than some of the children that are integral to its plot development. However, it is impossible to dislike and you do warm to Mr Mathieu, the teacher. And the music is perfect.
This tries hard to be a heartwarming, poignant drama and nearly succeeds but ultimately it ends up lacking character interest as it features the teacher strongly far more than some of the children that are integral to its plot development. However, it is impossible to dislike and you do warm to Mr Mathieu, the teacher. And the music is perfect.
Who Saw Her Die (1972)
George Lazenby's daughter is killed and he goes on a mission to find the killer, undaunted by the amount of bodies piling up.
Reminiscent of the following year’s classier ‘Don’t Look Now’, this also revolves around a dead child whilst in the midst of a Venetian backdrop, but George Lazenby is no Donald Sutherland (but saying that, Sutherland has never played Bond, and never will, so there.) and he seems to sleepwalk through his role. However it’s yet another highly watchable giallo that’s neither one of the best nor one of the worst. There is an amusing bit right at the end where a character comes running shouting to Lazenby what is basically a disclaimer against any possible bad press from certain factions which is head scratchingly out of place and seems more damage limitation than plot. Mention must go to the superb Morricone soundtrack, one of his best.
Reminiscent of the following year’s classier ‘Don’t Look Now’, this also revolves around a dead child whilst in the midst of a Venetian backdrop, but George Lazenby is no Donald Sutherland (but saying that, Sutherland has never played Bond, and never will, so there.) and he seems to sleepwalk through his role. However it’s yet another highly watchable giallo that’s neither one of the best nor one of the worst. There is an amusing bit right at the end where a character comes running shouting to Lazenby what is basically a disclaimer against any possible bad press from certain factions which is head scratchingly out of place and seems more damage limitation than plot. Mention must go to the superb Morricone soundtrack, one of his best.
Monday, 6 April 2009
Planet Of The Vampires (1965)
Two spaceships answer a distress signal and get lured to a planet where the occupants start to get picked off. The dead then start to rise from the graves re-animated by an evil host bent on escaping the planet in their ship.
This miniscule budgeted piece of hokum would be quite torturous to watch if it wasn't for the director, Italian supremo Mario Bava, working wonders with no back up whatsoever. He makes the planet look suitably creepy using imaginative lighting and forced perspective sets and does his best to keep the story moving along. Alas, the dialogue is poor and stilted and confused in places. For staunch Bava fans and fans of low budget schlock.
This miniscule budgeted piece of hokum would be quite torturous to watch if it wasn't for the director, Italian supremo Mario Bava, working wonders with no back up whatsoever. He makes the planet look suitably creepy using imaginative lighting and forced perspective sets and does his best to keep the story moving along. Alas, the dialogue is poor and stilted and confused in places. For staunch Bava fans and fans of low budget schlock.
Sunday, 5 April 2009
Bronx Warriors (1982)
In the future the Bronx has been turned over to the people as the authorities can no longer police it and it is run by gangs. The heir to a gun manufacturing business runs away to the Bronx to hide from the people who wish to control her assets. A maniac cop called Hammer (Vic Morrow) is sent to get her. Meanwhile she has fallen in love with Trash, leader of The Riders. When she is kidnapped by the Zombies, Trash goes to The Ogre (honest, I'm not making this up) to ask for help in securing her release.
Coming across as a hybrid between Escape From New York and The Warriors this is an Italian Trash Classic and as such goes beyond criticism. And anything with a violent tap-dancing gang is ok in my book. Sure the fight scenes are crying out for a decent director and editor. Yes, the dialogue makes you cringe, when you aren't laughing. For definite Mark Gregory (Trash) is the worst actor, like, ever. But it remains fab.
Coming across as a hybrid between Escape From New York and The Warriors this is an Italian Trash Classic and as such goes beyond criticism. And anything with a violent tap-dancing gang is ok in my book. Sure the fight scenes are crying out for a decent director and editor. Yes, the dialogue makes you cringe, when you aren't laughing. For definite Mark Gregory (Trash) is the worst actor, like, ever. But it remains fab.
Alien Autopsy (2006)
Two men on a Elvis memorabilia buying expecition in America are offered footage of an alien autopsy. They borrow the £30,000 needed to buy the film which, by the time they get to show it, has decomposed. Un daunted the lads get their family together to make a reconstruction
The big hoax of 1995 becomes a vehicle for Ant and Dec and it is surprisingly enjoyable. Very lightweight with plenty of humour with the two geordies putting in an assured performance. Not bad at all.
The big hoax of 1995 becomes a vehicle for Ant and Dec and it is surprisingly enjoyable. Very lightweight with plenty of humour with the two geordies putting in an assured performance. Not bad at all.
Saturday, 4 April 2009
The Perfume Of The Lady In Black (1974)
A young women is disturbed by a series of visions which is driving her insane, but are her family and friends really trying to help?
While it may sound like a by-the-numbers Hammer psycho offering , this is actually quite an intelligent, tricksy crossbreed of giallo and supernatural horror, with echoes of Polanski (especially Rosemary's Baby). And just when you think you have a handle on what is going on ....POW, the ending just makes stare blankly at the TV and it takes a while to realise it is not as ridiculous as it first appeared. A film that definitely requires a second viewing.
While it may sound like a by-the-numbers Hammer psycho offering , this is actually quite an intelligent, tricksy crossbreed of giallo and supernatural horror, with echoes of Polanski (especially Rosemary's Baby). And just when you think you have a handle on what is going on ....POW, the ending just makes stare blankly at the TV and it takes a while to realise it is not as ridiculous as it first appeared. A film that definitely requires a second viewing.
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