#1 - THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL
Stars - Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Billy Gray, Sam Jaffe
Director - Robert Wise
Memorable Quote - 'We have come to visit you in peace and with goodwill.'
Review - This was a rather big surprise for me, in a way that I think would strike other modern viewers: just because it is in black and white, does not mean that the effects are outdated. This great sci-fi offering manages to be believable throughout, and Rennie makes a star turn as the alien himself. The key to the success of the special effects is their simple, understated nature: we don't need to see some fancy melting animation that will be out of date in ten years, a flash of blinding light is enough to convey the basic idea. The characters are also uncomplicated, almost simplified stereotypes of human beings. Although the concepts are more complex, they are, therefore, easy to swallow and understand, keeping you interested throughout. I enjoyed the time after the alien's escape from hospital more than I did the time after his discovery in the streets, largely due to the calm, friendly feel to this situation that paints the alien as compassionate and a good father figure. Also due to the fact that we all know, by now, how boring I find chase scenes. Although the way he is portrayed adds up to make him seem as though he 'came in peace', his actions during the film do raise some questions about his alignment. To break up an engagement, cause international panic and mayhem, and leave without a second thought do not seem the correct ingredients to make a hero. However, end results of his visit aside, this is an enjoyable watch, unmissable for sci-fi fans and recommendable to all film fans alike. Given its age, it is readily available on television, online, and in libraries, so there is no excuse to miss out on this. 4/5
#2 - CEMETERY JUNCTION
Stars - Tom Hughes, Christian Cooke, Ralph Fiennes, Ricky Gervais, Matthew Goode, Felicity Jones
Director - Ricky Gervais/Stephen Merchant
Memorable Quote - 'Freddie, stop listening to music made by poofs. Stick on some Elton John.'
Review - I'm the first to admit that seeing Ricky Gervais' name plastered all over the DVD cover made me expect the worst. I wasn't even looking forward to watching it, but simply watched it because it was there and nothing else was. And I have to say, it blew me away. This is a finely-tuned drama with great comedic moments, that takes you through a rollercoaster of emotions as you realise the hidden tragedies behind each character's life, and the joy of overcoming them. The characters themselves are well-cast and strongly played, so that we follow every twist of their lives with bated breath. My only criticism on this front was the over-annoying performance by David Earl, but considering that Gervais and Merchant asked him to play his own character I suppose that's the only effect of the "worst" that I was expecting. In all other ways the film was very impressive - the directing, the script, the soundtrack were all exceptional, and the main trio (Bruce, Snork, Freddie) were powerful enough to make you care about what happened to them. The film drives you forward right to the very end, and beyond, to the point where you want to know more about what happened to them and whether they ever really made it out. A surprising and masterful piece of work from a directing duo I would not previously have recommended. 5/5
#3 - CABIN FEVER 2: SPRING FEVER
Stars - Noah Segan, Rider Strong, Alexi Wasser, Rusty Kelley, Giuseppe Andrews
Director - Ti West
Memorable Quote - n/a
Review - This film is a very strange entity. It calls itself after another film released in times past; it appears to follow on from the storyline of said previous film; and yet two films could not be more dissimilar. 'Cabin Fever' dealt a frightening horror punch combined with a twisted sense of humour, whereas 'Cabin Fever 2' delivers a frighteningly bad comedy combined with a twisted sense of horror. Little more than another teen movie, it seems more concerned with how many sex jokes can be made in the space of two hours than with any kind of worthwhile or plausible plot, and I feel as if I've just watched multiple Michael Cera wannabes auditioning for the next teen spoof, nothin more. This is simply a case of cashing in on a film brand, with no actual value. What a shame, particularly for Eli Roth, whose name can only be tarnished in association. 1/5
If you enjoyed reading this blog, please take the time to comment, rate, or even click on an ad to support a starving blogger.
No comments:
Post a Comment