Black Sheep, Ondine, Le Serpent

A bit of a tree theme going on today, it seems! Ah well, can't complain - a mid-week update can only mean that I'm catching up on the ol' backlog.

#1 - BLACK SHEEP

Stars - Nathan Meister, Peter Feeney, Danielle Mason, Oliver Driver, Tandi Wright

Director - Jonathan King

Memorable Quote - 'I'm not a tree. I'm a fucking sheep!'

Review - Now here's a little something unexpected - a dark comedy from New Zealand centered around the idea of rampaging, genetically modified sheep who can make people into more sheep - sheep zombies, if you will. The craziness of the idea in the first place gives a good indication of the kind of things you'll see if you watch it: immense sheep wearing hippy waistcoats, vicious embryos with teeth, defeat by helicopter blade and sheep love all make an appearance, and throughout you'll root for the wimpy, sheep-phobic, righteous younger brother, Nathan. Following the popular theory that it only really works if one of "us" becomes one of "them", there is asomewhat predictable twist that nonetheless comes to a satisfying conclusion. The locations are rolling hills and steep cliffs, the kind of beautiful scenery you'd expect in New Zealand, but there are a few disgusting areas as well. Balancing gore and humour perfectly, you won't find yourself bored or annoyed at it taking itself too seriously. Full of laughs, too self-aware to be precocious, and not too over-zealous with the effects, this is well worth checking out. 4/5

#2 - ONDINE


Stars - Colin Farrell, Dervla Kirwan, Alicja Bachleda,

Director - Neil Jordan

Memorable Quote - Priest: 'And I can't marry her.'
Syracuse: 'No, you're a tree.'

Review - For a night in with pizza and wine, this is nothing short of a treat. Starting as a modern retelling of an old myth, it is sweet and light, though darker depths are hinted at in the characters' backstories and reputations. Annie's medical difficulties add another element to the fairy tale - could this be her magical help from the seas coming to cure her? Things quickly take a turn into reality, however, as the truth slowly leaks through: Ondine is actually an illegal immigrant and drug mule, who has escaped from her dealer and wants to keep away from him for good. By leading dangerous men to their door she risks Syracuse and Annie's lives, and Syracuse allows himself to get so sucked in to the fairy tale idea he almost ruins everything. As the film powers towards its conclusion the tension builds, and everything seems to be getting worse and worse - will the fairy tale ending ever come? 'Ondine' will at first entrall and enchant, then keep you on the edge of your seat, and finally send you off to bed feeling satisfied. Farrell's brooding performance is perfectly matched by the mysterious selkie and his witty daughter. Fully recommended. 5/5

#3 - LE SERPENT

Stars - Yvan Attal, Clovis Cornillac, Pierre Richard, Olga Kurylenko

Director - Eric Barbier

Memorable Quote - n/a

Review - This one is a thriller again - you know how much I love my French thrillers - and what is strongest about it is the deep sense of desperation you begin to feel on behalf of the main character. Surely, surely, there is no way out for Vincent? Plender is a great villain, striding around in his black overcoat, matching thuggish looks with sharp intelligence and appearing every which way Vincent turns. The film plays like a mystery novel, in fact: every new arc is a puzzle we must solve, trying to outguess the movements of each character as their mutual backstory is gradually revealed. You feel that Plender really is a dangerous force, someone who could destroy Vincent's whole life and take it for his own if he wanted to, and the only question seems to be how long Vincent can hold on for. Some of his actions may not follow logically, but they are the actions of a man desperate to clear his name and rid himself of any legal issues before his children are taken away from him. Lastly, he becomes a man desperate to save those children from what might be an unpleasant fate. Well constructed with carefully created characters, I enjoyed this thoroughly and highly recommend it. And come on now, this is the twenty-first century - don't be a Philistine and let the subtitles put you off. 4.5/5

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Right At Your Door, Tropic Thunder, Humains

Well, hello, dear readers! Another little update, two thrillers and a comedy.

#1 - RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR

Stars - Rory Cochrane, Mary McCormack, Tony Perez

Director - Chris Gorak

Memorable Quote - n/a

Review - This movie is a bit of a strange one. I've seen a lot of bad reviews of it, though most of them hinge around labeling the actions of the characters as unrealistic, an argument that can easily be overcome with a little logic (I for one found the ideas very realistic, given the thought processes that the script implied). It isn't the best movie that I have ever seen, but the cast is not a-list and neither was the budget, so that is probably to be expected. The plot at least was a new variant on a popular theme, and the twist at the end packed a killer and unexpected punch. The radio reporters in the background of the scenes provided a constant sense of how the situation was unfolding whilst not giving out too much information - the facts they came up with only seemed to bring up more questions about what was going on, which is great - the less you know in this situation, the less you can point at as scientifically inaccurate or implausible. Large swathes of the film were dedicated to looking around miserably or staring at one another, which may have attributed to some negative opinions, as it slows the pace considerably, making it all the more shocking as the frantic last scene takes over. The sub-plots (is she having anaffair? did the Spanish guy find his wife?) are left mostly unanswered, and although they could have given the film more depth there perhaps was no reason to overcomplicate a simple premise. I think more could have been made of this, but that does not make it a terrible film. Worth a watch if you're into the apocalypse scene and want to see it done differently. 3/5

#2 - TROPIC THUNDER

Stars - Robert Downey Jr, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Jay Baruchel, Steve Coogan, Brandon T. Jackson, Tom Cruise

Director - Ben Stiller

Memorable Quote - 'Now the one man who made a difference five times before... is about to make a difference again, only time this, its different.'

Review - It goes without saying, when you look at the cast list, that Tropic Thunder is a very funny film. Jack Black for once finds a role that fits his goofball act perfectly, and with his looks changed you kind of forget that you're watching him do the same character as always. The storyline is an interesting concept - a set of actors who are filming a war story reenactment end up actually fighting for their lives, though at first the do not realise it. I can't pick out one person as the best performance, though Robert Downey Jr's was the most daring, and for that I can only salute him. A lot of the scenes were far-fetched and you can only really handle this as a comedy, since it goes so far into farce it almost comes out the other side. Stiller directed well, but the prominence of his own character raises a few questions - is this just an exercise in ego-grooming, for one? Whether it is or not, it works, and as an audience I suppose that's all that should matter to us. Like many viewers, the Simple Jack plot left a bad taste in my mouth; not because it satirized disability, but because it was awkward and largely uninteresting. We could have heard about the film without needing to see it, and again I think this is down to Stiller's need to feature heavily. Lastly, the biggest surprise comes from Tom Cruise - well done if you managed to recognise him before the opening credits, because this is a role that it's very difficult to believe is him until you've seen the actual evidence. The fake trailers were a good idea, though they maybe could have taken it even further. 4.5/5

#3 - HUMAINS

Stars - Lorànt Deutsch, Sara Forestier, Dominique Pinon, Manon Tournier

Director - Jacques-Olivier Molon, Pierre-Olivier Thevenin

Memorable Quote - n/a

Review - 'Humains' is another take on the people-get-lost-in-a-strange-place-and-attacked-by-natives plot. This time it's Neanderthals who are to blame, having managed to survive to modern times in a single cave system somewhere in a valley where no one but a few locals go. Now that they have run out of fertile females, they desperately need to impregnate a human woman, or their race will die out forever. If you like the sound of the plot so far, you will want to watch it. It's a thriller but not as scary as it could be, and some of the acting perhaps leaves a little to be desired. You'll be happy when some people die, but shocked when others do. The very final scene was quite intense, and I'll freely admit I didn't get it at all. Either it was an attempt at being dramatic which failed, or there was a deeper message I failed to grasp. Perhaps someone can enlighten me. Anyway, it wasn't a terrible film, and there were some moments that were quite cleverly done - for example, early on the tension was built several times only to have nothing actually happen, putting your nerves on edge and eventually lulling you into a false sense of security which was quickly shattered. There was a nice, neat full-circle moment towards the end as the earlier events of the film were explained by later discoveries, and there was certainly no softness in the inexorable execution of the characters. Good if you want an easy horror film, better if you want to practice your language skills. 3/5

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Con Air, Bangkok Dangerous, The Human Centipede

By my calculations, I am now only three blogs behind with this review business! Ah well, at least you know I'm not about to run out of material.

#1 - CON AIR

Stars - Nicholas Cage, Steve Buscemi, John Cusack, John Malkovich, assorted others

Director - Simon West

Memorable Quote - 'What if I told you insane was working fifty hours a week in some office for fifty years at the end of which they tell you to piss off; ending up in some retirement village hoping to die before suffering the indignity of trying to make it to the toilet on time? Wouldn't you consider that to be insane?'

Review - 'Con Air' is one of those films whose name you hear a lot, but not necessarily in connection with either praise or mockery. It was without many preconceptions, then, that I started watching it - and I have to say, I enjoyed it. Nicholas Cage puts in a rare believable performance, picking a good script for once, and in fact he was probably the perfect person for the role. The casting department did well, actually, since Malkovich makes a good criminal mastermind; Buscemi gives arguably the most interesting performance as the supposedly dangerous criminal who actually does less damage than Cage's hero character, and you can't help but want to cheer when he appears in the final scene. Packed full of explosions, stunts, and one liners, it's a treat for any action fan, with just enough intelligence and humour to appeal to a wider audience. There were a number of goofs throughout the movie, and if you live in Las Vegas I imagine the entire climax scene will make you cringe, but I suppose you can't take it too seriously. The storyline is engaging, pushing you towards the end as you wonder how they can possibly resolve the situation without it all going horribly wrong. Cusack gives a good turn as the good cop, though exchanges with his superiors stray a little too close to farce; it also illustrates why he should never be an action hero, when you compare this movie to, say, 2012. Good effort all round; good enough for a night in with a DVD. 3.5/5

#2 - BANGKOK DANGEROUS

Stars - Pawalit Mongkolpisit, Premsinee Ratanasopha, Patharawarin Timku, Pisek Intrakanchit

Director - Oxide Pang Chun, Danny Pang

Memorable Quote - n/a

Review - This film has perhaps a strange premise even in the world of cinema: a deaf and mute hitman. I'm not entirely sure how he managed to survive, without being able to tell whether or not someone was sneaking up on him or indeed strolling around out of his line of sight, but apparently he does and for the sake of enjoying the film I'll accept that. The character of the low-class stripper was not one that I found very sympathetic - she seemed needy, dumb, and amoral, not really having any qualms about benefitting from murder. Plus, her make up was terrible. It's no wonder, really, that her boyfriend ended up dead - if it hadn't been this situation, there would have been another. The film follows the Eastern tradition of a great warrior overcoming insurmountable odds, as Kong takes down an entire warehouse of goons singlehandedly. The use of laser sights was ingenious, and leant a slice of reality to the scene. I didn't understand the necessity of the ending - after all, he could simply have allowed the bad guy to go to jail and never walk properly again - but it was particularly stupid of the love interest to try shouting at him. The shooting style (by which I mean cameras, not guns) was distinctive and bold, particularly during the rape scene, although I was not a fan of the presentation of the flashback to his childhood. All in all an enjoyable watch, but not for those who dislike violence or tragedy. I suppose now I'd better go see whether or not Nicholas Cage ruined the remake. 4/5

#3 - THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE

Stars - Dieter Laser, Ashley C. Williams, Ashlynn Yennie, Akihiro Kitamura

Director - Tom Six

Memorable Quote - 'What an insane world we live in.'

Review - Dear God. Whoever it was that allowed Tom Six to actually put this film out was clearly either a sycophant or a cretin. No, not because of the 'shocking' premise or the graphic details, but because this is a truly awful movie. The two females could not act if their lives depended on it, and they probably only got the part because they were the only people stupid enough to agree to shove their faces in someone else's bum for an entire movie. Their voices are annoying as hell and you actually begin to hope that someone will come along and horror movie them up, because at least then they wouldn't be talking any more. Unfortunately, after the 'operation' they continue to scream and whimper continually until the end, and I'm surprised the doctor didn't just kill them to get some peace and quiet. The token Japanese simply spouted stereotypical nonsense for his entire part, as if the script had been taken only from things said in anime, and he was clearly there for nothing more than to amuse the audience (which he failed to do). Dieter Laser, sadly for him, actually put in a really good performance, but it was completely wasted on this dross of a film. The plot repeated itself after the operation, as if Six wasn't really sure what else could happen and needed to fill in the time, and I felt as if I was watching the same scene over and over. The ending was dramatic but badly acted, and also strung out for too long. Six is clearly more interested in getting his name in the papers with shock value than actually being a film director or script writer. Really, if you haven't seen it already, don't bother. 1/5

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Frankenstein, Flare Path, Starship

It's that time of year again... theatre special!!

#1 - FRANKENSTEIN

Stars - Benedict Cumberbatch, Jonny Lee Miller, Naomie Harris

Director - Danny Boyle

Memorable Quote - 'All I ask is the possibility of love!'

Review - By now, if you've been paying any attention at all, you'll have heard a lot about Frankenstein at the National Theatre. It was the kind of thing that cannot be missed, and I'm ecstatic to say I didn't. What a treat it was! The direction was world-class, not to mention the acting, the costuming, the effects and make up... It's fair to say it blew me away. Let's go through everything in order then, from the moment we entered the theatre. The ringing of a gigantic bell at certain intervals, marking out ten, five, and one minute to go before the start, set the audience jumping even before they began. The strange, drum-like object spinning round with the moving centre of the stage held our attention, certainly, but we had no idea what it was or what its purpose might be. So, imagine our surprise, then, at the monster's birth - as Jonny Lee Miller climbs out of that stretched skin, which we now understand is some sort of scientific placenta! That's right - he was there all along, naked and covered in grotesque make-up-scars. The next few moments are funny in a pitiful kind of way, as the young monster gradually tries to learn to stand up, and finally, joyfully, learns to run around. Miller's performance is touching, and well-studied: it is easy to believe that he really is experiencing the world for the very first time, as rain falls down from the rain machines and he tastes the grass, as well as his own toes, and he yells with joy at the first sunrise. Cumberbatch's appearance as Frankenstein is, for the time being, brief; for the moment we only focus on the monster. Despised by everyone, but then taken in by a kindly old man (Twister Turrell, for 'Lark Rise' fans, playing a posher variation of the character). There are two distracting characters in the form of the farmer and his wife, who seem to overact their parts, but Miller easily outdoes them with his 'snow' scene and the humour of his exchanges with the old man - some of the jokes subtle enough that a ripple of laughter spreads across the audience a moment or two after the line has been delivered. This segment (complete with an actual entire house that descends from the ceiling and returns to it) ends in tragedy, as did the last; as, you begin to feel, might every segment.

The set changes are nothing short of amazing. My theatre-going companion nudged me multiple times throughout in wonder at the way it would sink, rise up with an entirely different set on it, turn to reveal another set built on the back of the other one, rise up at an angle to create a slope, drop away and leave a chasm, and so on and so forth. It was used to its utmost, something that the director must be credited for. There was not an ounce of potential on that stage left unsqueezed, and the play was all the more spectacular for it.

Onto the Frankenstein family now; and though Naomie Harris fit very well as the subordinate but fiery fiancee, Frankenstein senior was very badly cast. The high pitch of his voice left everything he said amusing rather than serious or intimidating, quite ruining some of the scenes, and the play might have been perfect without him. Each twist and turn of the plot was fascinating and the tension was palpable - every time Frankenstein turned his back, or every time he made a deal, we were holding our breath waiting for the monster, or some other sort of tragedy, to strike. We were in for a shock again as Miller leapt out of a perfectly-made bed that seemed only moments before to have been totally flat, and the rape/murder of Frankenstein's fiancee, though inevitable, was horrifying in both the actions themselves and the monster's regret.

The final scene, as Frankenstein pitifully chases his monster through the arctic tundra, and his monster both taunts and cares for him, has to be the most emotionally charged of them all. Finally giving us a clear view of the real dynamics of their relationship - both hating each other, envying each other, and indeed loving each other at the same time - it brings the play to a dramatic but well-thought-out close, a close that earned the loudest cheering I've ever seen in a theatre. At times it was so well done that I almost felt I was watching a screen rather than a live performance; even the few slip ups that were doubtless made slipped by unnoticed, giving the play a veneer of flawlessness. I would recommend it to all and sundry, but it's over now; still, if you ever get your hands on time travel technology, that's one time and place you'll have to check out. Despite the few flaws, I cannot rate this down by even half a point. Beautiful. 5/5

#2 - FLARE PATH

Stars - Sienna Miller, James Purefoy, Harry Hadden-Paton, Joe Armstrong, Mark Dexter, Clive Wood

Director - Trevor Nunn

Memorable Quote - 'I fall in ze drink!!'

Review - As a follow-up to my 'The Little Dog Laughed' review, here's another play starring someone from 'Robin Hood'! Yes, it's Joe Armstrong this time, though unlike Harry Lloyd he does not in fact get his kit off in this play. It would be rather out of place - in the stiff-upper-lip atmosphere of a British air base in WWII, it seems there is little time for real frivolity. What partying there is is merely a cover for the real emotions going through the wives of the men of the forces - worry, fear, sorrow, and more. Miller and Purefoy are a tad lacklustre in this play; Miller shines only when paired with her stage husband, Hadden-Paton, while her lack of chemistry with Purefoy is palpable. Still, this is the only area where the play falls down; the script is immaculate, bringing to life all the troubles of the time as well as drawing a beautifully detailed picture of each individual character. From the pilot suffering from a terrible fear of letting others down that he hides under goofiness, the old-fashioned couple who love each other more than they dare to say, and the uptight hotel owner, through to the actress who has never acted selflessly before and the actor who thinks love will save his career, each individual shines through every scene. Sheridan Smith is surprsingly good - the leading female, for me - as the new wife of a man who she does not think will return from a mission, and there were not many dry eyes in the audience when his letter finally revealed how he really felt about her. The man himself, a Polish pilot, was played magnificently by Mark Dexter. With impeccable comedic timing and an amazing ability to hold a character (I don't think I saw one single twitch of an eyelid that was not Johnny through and through), he was the real star, and the gasps of the audience as he appeared at the back of the room in the final scene were a testament to this. Even in group scenes he dominated - you could see him trying to listen closely and translate what the others were saying even in the first scene, where he had few lines, and it was difficult to stop watching him and pay attention to the others. In the previous scene we may have shed a tear over his tragic story, but now, during his recounting of what had happened since his crash, it was tears of laughter that were falling into our handkerchiefs. It was here that the play at last reached its full potential, as the story gained pace and voices towards the call of 'he fall in ze drink!', pausing only momentarily to catapult us out of the doors on the rousing call of 'I don't want to join the air force...', a song that was no doubt stuck in many a head for a long while afterwards. Something, again, that is not to be missed, it will leave you with a feeling of pride for our Great British traditions and history, a feeling of sadness for those who went through the war, and a feeling of joy that we did, indeed, get through it. 4/5

#3 - STARSHIP

Stars - Joey Richter, Joe Walker, Lauren Lopez, Brian Holden, Dylan Saunders, Denise Donovan, Meredith Stepien, Julia Albain, Brant Cox, Jim Povolo, Joe Moses, Jamie Lynn Beatty, Nick Lang

Director - Matt Lang

Memorable Quote - "He cut me right in half... vertically... like hot dog style, not hamburger."

Review - Now at last, something you can watch from the comfort of your own YouTube! 'Starship' is proof irrefutable that Team Starkid don't need the help of an existing universe, or Darren Criss' performance, to put on a good show. In fact, they proved that they can put on an original production and smash it right out of the ball park. Set on an alien planet inhabited only by bugs and cute mammals that provide their food, the action is precipitated by two things: the desire of Bug to become a Starship Ranger, and the arrival of a troop of the said. Joey Richter takes over the position of leading man once again, showing off a much improved singing voice, cooler hair cut, and more hilarious range of facial expressions than ever before. The star turns as always come from Joe Walker and Lauren Lopez, two Starkids who always carry the performance no matter their roles. Walker's soldier-gone-soft is both hilarious and emotional, evoking parodies of many a video game or manga character whilst still creating a fresh approach. Lopez on the other hand provides plenty of laughs as the battle-hardened Hispanic soldier - "One more comment like that and I will wrap you up in a tortilla and eat you!" being an example of a typical line. The rest of the cast are less remarkable, though Brian Holden puts in a good performance as Junior; Denise Donovan, the newbie, is memorable in a bad way, however - her voice is irritating and she overplays the dumb blonde act almost to the point of destroying some scenes. The other characters, particularly Richter's Bug, manage to redeem her - but only just. The storyline is as charming and packed full of drama as ever, with excellent writing from Criss and everyone involved. The technology has ramped up - microphones are a very welcome addition to the stage, and for the first Starkid performance ever I didn't need the lyrics sheet to figure out what was being sung. The use of puppets I was at first skeptical about, but they made it work, and after a few scenes it began to seem a thing of normality. There was not much I could criticise save Donovan, and the subplots - such as Noodles' growing relationship with MegaGirl - were just as enjoyable and enchanting as the main action. A thumbs up all round; a little cast tweaking aside, the Starkid team have done what they do best yet again: providing quality entertainment that is ideally suited to the young modern audience. 4/5

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The Day the Earth Stood Still, Cemetery Junction, Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever

Aliens, zombies, and rock and roll!

#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

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East is East, My Sister's Keeper, Young Guns

We're back on track! Didn't I promise there were more to come this week? No need to thank me, just enjoy!

#1 - EAST IS EAST

Stars - Om Puri, Linda Bassett, Jordan Routledge, Emil Marwa, Chris Bisson, Jimi Mistry, Raji James, Ian Aspinall

Director - Damien O'Donnell

Memorable Quote - 'Bastar'!'

Review - 'East is East' is kind of a strange film. Part of a British film scene that is gritty, sometimes shocking, sometimes funny, and always down to earth, it has joined others such as 'This is England' in gaining both notoriety and respect. The cast list reads like a who's who of British TV actors - Eastenders, Holby City, and The Bill are all represented, and many will be easily recognisable with those familiar with television broadcast at tea time. That isn't a reason to be put off, by the way. At times this representation of Muslims living in Britain will make you cringe, whether in sympathy for the pain of an operation or at the political correctness that seems to have gone missing a little bit. We have to sympathise with the children of the family, all but one of whom are utterly repressed. Not wanting to follow their father's traditions but being forced to anyway, it's clear from the word go that something big is going to have to happen for things to have any sort of resolution at all - someone is going to have to back down. Rude, honest, and full of laughs, 'East is East' still reverberates with our current cultural situation despite being set in the 1970s. My one criticism is the way it deals with domestic violence; although this is in the end meant to be a light-hearted film, it dismisses George's actions too easily, in a way that could be interpreted as a return to business as usual. At no point does he apologise or even suggest that he has learnt the error of his way, and this is something that I feel should be clarified more, if only to ensure that the less quick in the audience get the right message. 3.5/5

#2 - MY SISTER'S KEEPER

Stars - Abigail Breslin, Cameron Diaz, Alec Baldwin, Sofia Vassilieva, Thomas Dekker

Director - Nick Cassavetes

Memorable Quote - 'Most babies are accidents. Not me. I was engineered. Born to save my sister's life.'

Review - From the trailer alone you can tell that this movie will not be easy going. That you'll probably end up crying buckets by the end. And the trailer does not lie. Everything about this film is steeped in emotion - from the offset, the tragedy of this family's life is revealed before you, and the individual tragedies of a young girl fighting cancer and her sister who knows she was only born to be 'spare parts'. It's a tearjerker for sure, and most of the casting, most of the script, most of the scenes are perfect... with one exception. Diaz should not have been put into this movie. She is totally wrong for the role, simply playing the same character she always does in a way that here feels fake and annoying. We can see the fact that she is acting. This is a terrible casting mistake that almost threatens to ruin the entire movie, and it is saved only by the brilliance of the young members of the cast. The star character for me, if not the star turn, is the boy who Kate falls in love with, fellow leukemia sufferer Taylor. The most heart-wrenching moments in my opinion came when Kate began to complain that he had not contacted her; in your mind you already know why he has not, and the conclusion is not a happy one. Seeing her life through these flashbacks, you begin to understand why Kate has made her final decision - what kind of a life is lived in hospital, watching everyone you meet there die and knowing it is your turn soon, no matter how many operations you have? Worth a watch by anyone's estimation, particularly if you're able to blank out Diaz, without whom this would have been a five star film. 4/5

#3 - YOUNG GUNS

Stars - Emilio Estevez, Keifer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Terry O'Quinn

Director - Christopher Cain

Memorable Quote - 'He ain't all there, is he?'

Review - Well, there's nothing like watching Charlie Sheen play a crazy guy right after the world realises how much of a crazy guy he is. His death scene holds enough melodrama to outfit the rest of the movie, but it doesn't stop there! This is more of a caricature than a real Western, but that doesn't stop it being good, harmless fun. I have to say that it's quite amazing how many old films I've watched starring Terry O'Quinn since Lost finished, and you can't help but feel he must be double-crossing them in some way because of it; ah, the perils of taking strong roles later in life. Still, there's plenty to chuckle about here, joining the great American tradition of rehashing history into an action comedy, and the facts be damned. Even the little ending sequence about what happened to the gang members later in life is wrong, but hey, I guess if you wanted to know the facts you'd head to Wikipedia, right? There isn't much else I can say about this, except that if you want a nice easy night in, this is the way to go. 3/5

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Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, Stand By Me

Wow, it's been a bit of a hiatus. Unfortunately, work takes over the best of us, and such has been the case for me. Don't worry though, there's more to come soon, and I'm breaking the regular update schedule in the hope of catching up with what I've missed. Double barrels of horror coming your way in this post!

#1 - EVIL DEAD

Stars - Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, and so on

Director - Sam Raimi

Memorable Quote - 'You bastards, why are you torturing me like this? Why?'

Review - Considering that I have seen a lot of love for 'Evil Dead' and its follow-ups, I was surprisingly disappointed by this first offering. Apart from a few twitchy camera angles and some incredibly bad special effects, there was not much offered in terms of visual goodness. The actors used certainly weren't the preened plastic beauties of today's horror b-movie, and their acting skills were only just better; Bruce Campbell is the obvious star right from the get-go. Some of the ideas in the movie are very interesting - the forest molestation, for example, as well as the use of doors and corners to build suspense as the individual characters search the house for one another and, eventually, the bad guys. A lot of things made little sense, however, as is often the way with horror: for example, when being attacked by a forest, why would you think that running through a forest would be the way to escape? Why would you leave something with superhuman strength alive and chained up under a flimsy attic door? I can't say I enjoyed this very much until at least half way through, and even then I was not quite satisfied. The ending made sense as a way to break the curse, but again it was ruined by the fact that all I could think of was plasticine as they melted. I had the feeling for most of it that I just wanted it to hurry up and get somewhere - perhaps that is the affliction of the modern audience, but for a large part of the film there just was not enough suspense. I can see, then, why Raimi wanted to try again, and to attack those sequences that did cause a great deal of suspense on the second run. 2/5



#2 - EVIL DEAD 2

Stars - Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks

Director - Sam Raimi

Memorable Quote - 'For God's sake! How do you stop it?'

Review - Many people who study film or simply enjoy it will tell you that 'Evil Dead 2' is much better than its predecessor. I agree; but only by default. I actually prefer the storyline of the first one - it makes sense, is not 100% crazy, and is easy to follow. Plus there is, as I have said, a lot of potential for suspense and real fear. This one, however, is not a horror movie but a comedy. From the second Campbell starts goofing around and contorting his face like a Scooby Doo character, it loses all horror. Even the talking deer head and moving objects are laughable, and the 'monster' that appears later on is actually just pathetic. Something went wrong in the translation here. A better remake of the first movie, following the storyline but with better effects and camerawork, and lines, would have hit the spot completely; reworking it was, in my mind, a mistake. If I had not seen 'Evil Dead' I would have been completely and utterly confused by the events of the first ten minutes, since the girlfriend is despatched without a word of explanation. Then we sit through the ridiculous Bruce-is-going-mad-and-his-hand-is-from-the-Adams-family segment, which was only enjoyable if you did not take it seriously at all. But the problem is, there's a word for horror movies you don't take seriously: it's either 'spoof', or 'B-movie'. Not the wisest choice, then, for someone actually wanting to make a career in film making. Alright, so it got his name out there and is still talked about today, but I wonder how many people have actually seen it and thought it was genius and how many people are saying they did? On Raimi's report card I would write "Good effort; some revision required. See me. 3.5/5"



#3 - STAND BY ME

Stars - River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Keifer Sutherland, John Cusack

Director - Rob Reiner

Memorable Quote - ‎'Suck my fat one, you cheap dime store hood.'

Review - 'Stand by Me' is interesting for two reasons. One, because of the well-developed characters and plot, and two because you get to play 'spot who's dead or never amounted to much in real life'. It's kind of fascinating to see all these young people who we recognise as their older selves, particularly John Cusack, though Keifer Sutherland appears to be playing the exact same character that he did in 'Lost Boys'.

The story itself is quite charming, in a funny sort of way. It's usually quite shocking to hear children swear or talk in a rude way in movies, as it seems to be a little taboo. Here, though, it is presented as a natural way of talking for the boys, something we can both believe and accept. It's a fact of their lives and upbringing rather than something to be seen as 'wrong' or an affectation of the writer, as with many other films.

The script and presentation of the scenes are quite interesting at times: the story within a story, as well as the mixed-up conversations around the campfire, being two stand-out examples. Finally the film manages to be heartwarming: the way the friends stand up for one another and their shared discovery propels them into a new section of their lives, bringing the narrative to a logical conclusion. Worth a watch if only for its charming combination of the lowest, most childish humour with the biggest, most important themes of life. 4/5

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