Novastar - December 29, 2007, 6:31pm

First i watched’The Brave one’ .Well to say it directlty this was Hollywood crap of the highest order.Foster putting the same acting as in flightplan.Neill Jordan embrasing the Hollywood formula and giving it an onethical ending,to keep the American viewer happy.And just when i thought that it couldn’t be worst,i watched James wans ‘deathsentence’.if i could give a razzie award to a movie ,then deathsentence would be the winner by far.I am traumatized and will not watch a revenge movie comming out of Hollywood for a decade.

I actually thought THE BRAVE ONE was a fantastic piece of filmmaking.  sure it had a heavy handed moment or two with the radio-station stuff, but the analysis of when overconfidence is shattered and turns into paralytic fear (the first 1/3 of the film) was top shelf.  Furthermore, the ending of the film and the complexity within is something Hollywood should embrace more often actually.  I think The Brave One was one of the underestimated studio films of 2007.  Neil Jordan did this as somewhat of a paycheck/favour, and it TOTALLY DOESN’T SHOW.  Jordan is the man.

Rambo - One of the things that Hollywood often fails to produce in action movies is an enemy that we can truly be disgusted by and enjoy hating on. In fact all too often the baddies are more interesting than the heroes. Beyond the loud, brutal and brash violence, the key component that makes Rambo a surprisingly successful fourth installment is the fact that the Burmese military are unflinchingly cold and flat-out detestable from the word go. We get subtitles on their end up to a point and then they’re simply not required any further for we know that nothing coming from their mouthes is going to be remotely pleasant. The genuine Burma media reel before the titles roll sets a menacing tone and for sure locks you into a mindset that doesn’t have you expecting to see another whacky chopper Vs. tank showdown. There’s also much suffering to behold before John Rambo decides to stand up one last time and when he does you want the enemy to sink like concrete. Even if it is a shade manipulative it’s clean cut and unapologetic with regards to where the film is going. Rambo also harks back to First Blood Part I in that it’s a more contained affair than the sequels, which isn’t a bad thing since the threat feels closer and more pronounced by the time John and the Mercs hit the camp. Naturally the bandana’d one gets seperated from the majority of the rag tag group and must take it upon himself to keep the nasty bastards off their trail while they lead the aid workers to safety. Complications arise and of course it’s time to whip out the bow, machete and machine guns! The trailer cut a fairly lean impression of the hardcore violence on the go because this is gloriously heavy stuff...soldiers don’t just spray a little of the arterial stuff and keel over, they’re blown to pieces time and time and time again! Flying limbs, popping heads and bodies burned to a crisp - I can’t remember the last time a mainstream action flick was so ballsy in it’s execution. It’s not much mote than that but anyone who would dare to expect more clearly hasn’t paid attention to most Sly Stallone movies over the years. Switch off the noggin and enjoy.

A BLOODY ARIA

A Bloody Aria is a disturbing look into the ongoing cycle of violence and bullying in Korea. It has no hero or even anti-hero, only protagonists and victims often one in the same. The story begins with a professor driving with a former student taking her to a remote destination with malintentions. A chain of events come into play bringing forth several other “country folk” characters that will lead to a tension filled explosion of violence linked to bullying and institutions such as the military.

The film is primarily a bleak revenge flick with offbeat characters and dark humor. The director conveys his views on violence in Korea through bullying and the circle that evolves from it. Filmed primarily in one location the story is still engaging for the simple fact you have no idea how these characters are going to react next. However, the film seems to think it’s a little more clever than it is involving the twists that come into fruition. I figured one major twist out within the first 15 minutes of the film and the other large twist was hard to believe or at least hard to believably comprehend the character’s actions and emotions. Some of the subplots such as the rat poison and introduction of a gun fall flat. I enjoyed the film despite its flaws and look forward to what this director brings next.

“1408” - The relatively high-praise for this baffles me. I felt it started OK, was entertained by Sam Jackson’s brief schtick, then 10 mins of eerieness once John cusack gets into the room, but after that it just goes down hill for me. No subtlty, nothing special. Blah.

“We Own The Night” - Poor reviews didn’t dissuade me. I’m a fan of James Gray, and had hoped people had been missing something. Well, they hadn’t really - it WAS a bit generic, without the bleak edgy bite of Little Odessa or The Yards - but that said there was enough to keep me entertained throughout, and it does boast one of the finest car chases I’ve seen in a long time. Sod it - I think I might watch it again....

“Things We Lost In The Fire” - This got some pretty average reviews in the UK, but I think there is more here than the miserablist melodrama the British press pegged it as.  I love Suzanne Bier, and for me, no one delivers an emotional punch better than her. Her films are simple stories, but jam-packed with thousands of things said, half-said and unsaid. Berry was fine. Del Toro was blinding.

Be Kind, Rewind - Much more sentimental than I had imagined and at that, a more worthwhile endeavour and actually the first Gondry film that I’ve really enjoyed. I think most folks in here who watch the film, enjoying it or otherwise will at least agree on the premise being fantastic. The aim throughout rests on the laurels of heartfelt communal pull and for the most part I got the good vibes from the oh so good people of Passaic, New Jersey. Not before buckling in my seat at a number of the ‘Swedes’ and gags. The laughs were few and far between in the theatre, most of them coming from me and I’m sure that says enough about me and the people around me in my town… To be certain, plenty of the latter comedic string pulling is a bit on the weak side, but early in the game I allowed myself to sink and enjoy as much as I could. The Ghostbusters Swede was by far my favourite, I can’t remember the last time I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard at home in front of the telly nevermind at the cinema. Of course it helps to have seen everything they’re remaking, I couldn’t shake the feeling that quite a few in the audience were missing out on the fun of the Driving Miss Daisy, When We Were Kings and 2001 Swedes amongst others - maybe most of it just wasn’t funny, but I’m not going to argue with myself since I did laugh effortlessly at plenty of the movie. Could have done with a touch less of the Fats Waller history lesson and overly sticky sweetness of Danny Glover in particular, but it’s a pretty endearing little number that I would actually love to own on VHS of all formats...a tape cover on the DVD at least!

Went to the cinema for the first time in ages (not counting IFFR) and saw “There Will Be Blood”.

I thought it was a surprisingly straightforward movie, as in there were fewer twists than I expected.
Daniel Day Lewis and Paul Dano were both absolutely fantastic, and the use of music sheer genius. A simple story, but the three hours (intermission included) flew by.

(And I know it’s just a role, but man… I wanted to smack Paul Dano’s smug face with a club, as hard as possible, by the end of the movie, so...)

Bench2020 - March 7, 2008, 8:59am

“1408" - The relatively high-praise for this baffles me. I felt it started OK, was entertained by Sam Jackson’s brief schtick, then 10 mins of eerieness once John cusack gets into the room, but after that it just goes down hill for me. No subtlty, nothing special. Blah.

I enjoyed 1408 but it certainly had some faults.

I’ll copy and paste a little review I wrote elsewhere.

First off if Cusack doesnt at least get nominated for an oscar then there is something wrong, the guy carries a film that could of been boring without that performance, he was excellent and relayed every emotion he needed to for the film to work.

The film itself I enjoyed, I dont think it was excellent or anything, just a pretty decent film, I am reading about people not liking it because it didnt scare them and I think those people are missing the point of the film really or thought it would be a different film to what it was, I dont get scared at movies anyway but normally understand why people would but with this it was more a suspensful type film rather then a jump out ya seat type film, as said a mindfuck.

Few minor niggles, I didnt think the film did a good job at explaining the story very well even with the flashbacks, would of liked to have seen more on the actual room itself, the dad etc and I also didnt think the film did a good job about having us care about Cusacks character, which was no fault of his own, it also got a bit cliche.

And I am not sure how I feel about the ending, maybe it was because I was expecting something big, but to me the ending was so simple, but I think it is because I was expecting something more then that prior to it.

Overall the film made you think throughout it and that means the film did its job, but at same time I couldnt help being a bit let down once it was all over, but I would still recommend it as I still enjoyed it overall, a good psychological suspensful thriller that people who like an all action blood and gore type film that you dont have to think about won’t enjoy.

Would of been better for them not to release it in the summer, tho.

I found 1408 very frustrating - started out with a lot of promise and really stumbled downhill fast from there.  Still enjoy John Cusack, tho.

Been catching up on a lot of classic horror lately - Last Man on Earth, The Haunting, Island of Lost Souls all viewed within the past month.  Watched Leprechaun with some friends for St. Patty’s day.  As terrible as ever…

I watched The Changeling again the other day.

Collin Armstrong - March 25, 2008, 6:20am

I found 1408 very frustrating - started out with a lot of promise and really stumbled downhill fast from there.  Still enjoy John Cusack, tho.

Been catching up on a lot of classic horror lately - Last Man on Earth, The Haunting, Island of Lost Souls all viewed within the past month.  Watched Leprechaun with some friends for St. Patty’s day.  As terrible as ever…

No disagreements on 1408 here, Collin.  As soon as Cusack makes it into the Hotel room, the film is just piss in the wind.

These are the films we watched recently, old & new. Great films.

1) The Edge Of Heaven by Fatih Akin
2) Spun by Jonas Åkerlund
3) No Country For Old Men by Coen Brothers
4) Kite Runner by Marc Forster
5) Inland Empire by David Lynch
6) Paranoid Park by Gus Van Sant
7) Before The Devil Knows You Are Dead by Sidney Lumet
8) Following by Christopher Nolan
9) Citizen Kane by Orson Welles
10)Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask by Woody Allen

Regards,
1minutefilmreview

**SPOILERS**

Well I’ve just come back from a late night showing of the full “Grindhouse”. 
I enjoyed it.
I appreciated the effort (being a huge fan of the entire Grindhouse period - from the films themselves, to the locales, to the cinemas to the personalities involved) and I loved the faux trailers.

But I have faults and confusions to pick at as well.

I liked “Planet Terror” (away from the “Grindhouse” idea, it was just an enjoyable movie in its own right) and I liked the damaged print effects.
It just never felt like a ‘Grindhouse’ film at all, nor even a film from this period, and in fact (CGI, mass of extras, big FX, mention of Iraq) screamed out how much it was a 21st century creation in almost every frame.
At best it was sort of like a late 80’s flick that would be a big renter on VHS.
But it was not even that because of the extensive use of CGI and the obviously huge budget.

And this contradiction, best shown in “Planet Terror”, is my problem with the whole “Grindhouse” set-up. 
Are they trying to make films that truly looked like they were 70’s fodder?  No…
Obviously this is not the case due to the CGI, mass of high tech FX, loads of extras and modern day references.
So then they are making very obviously 21st century films (and not hiding that fact) but simply presenting them as if they were flea pit cinema damaged goods.
Strange indeed.

I thought the first half of “Death Proof” was very good (slightly too long with the dialogue but the setting and the cutaways to Mike helped) and carried a 70’s psycho movie vibe in general, especially during the nasty Rose McGowan death scene.
That had a definite 70’s sadism vibe and if it had concentrated on Mike for the rest of the film we would have had a very Grindhouse styled psycho creation.
Only the (again) expensive gore FX during the (damn fine) crash/murder sequence screamed out ‘21st century movie’ to any great effect during the first half.

But the 2nd half was pretty poor.
It lost all that 70’s vibe in style and content and I thought it was very arrogant of QT to lose all the ‘damaged print’ effects for this part as well.
Almost as if he decided his film was now far too good to carry on the homage as nothing should distract from his car stunt finale.
It sure distracted form the rest of the “Grindhouse” experience though.
RR meanwhile carried the rough print idea throughout. 
Good for him.

And the 2nd bunch of women in “Death Proof” were a big mistake, personality wise, to be Mike’s downfall.

Nothing up with strong, kick ass women...but there is something wrong with nasty, obnoxious, arrogant, loud mouthed women. 
Or men. 
Or anyone, if we are meant to root for them.

And why does a movie stunt woman, the hateful Kim, talk like a QT Gangster?  Just because she was black?
It was out if context here and in fact every one of Sam Jackson’s QT characters would have even found Kim too much to take and (PRAISE THE LORD) shot her.

She ruined the end as well as QT had to give her big mouth a close-up every time she sped the car up so we could hear yet another “BITCH, MUTHAFUCKA, BITCH, NIGGA, BITCH” rant.

The turning the tables on Mike was a good idea, the revenge of the ladies was fun and the stunts/car chase was very well done and pretty exciting (although it was obvious nothing was going to happen to Zoe Bell - sadly - and her ‘hood surfing’ scene did smack of just being there to show it was in fact her doing the surfing...good stunt though) but the fact that QT chose 4 of the most annoying, vile, deserve death fuckheads to turns those tables was very nearly a mortal wound to the entire film.

and “Vanishing Point” is not a good film either.  It’s damn tedious and up its own hippie arse.  Although yes, the car was nice.

So a mixed bag, a sometimes contradictory and confusing mindset in what the films show/contain compared to the way they are being screened and some dire characters in the 2nd half of “Death Proof”.

But “Planet Terror “ was a lot of turn the brain off fun, the damaged print effects were enjoyable, the first half of “Death Proof” is better than almost all of “Kill Bill 2”, the joke trailers are GREAT and.....
I appreciated the effort that went into doing this.

Just saw *Man From Earth*
I really, reeeeeally loved the concept of this movie! BUT - OMG! The casting, directing and acting of this SUPER LOW budget film was weak. It was also really slow. They should take a refresher on screenwriting 101. Liked the ideas but flat.

The actor did a good job of the 14,000 year old caveman and
captured the detachment of knowing people and them dying, PERIOD!
He had SO MANY LEVELS to this he could have played but he was dull which means they picked the wrong guy for this lead. The other characters were prety dull too. The girl with the least lines had the most charisma of the whole ensemble.

I thought the stuffed, fat shrink (his son) was obnoxious. They either over acted or flatlined…

No matter what...no matter how simple...each actor has to show an inner conflict on different levels to capture and grab the audience.

The whole movie was almost like watching an ok play but that’s all. It should have been more exciting so the writing was pretty weak especially when it came to things he could have shared. C’mon, think about it most of his schtick was amnesia and history books. There were some good ideas which I loved but the whole as a whole fell flat.

Oh yeah, as usual, and unfortunately, as Hollywood typically does is go after the Christians and *try miserably* to undermine the fabric of it. The funny part is that is what created this country’s foundation. It’s pretty dumb. (I’m cracking myself up).

If you bash what created and built a strong foundation and brought you the opportunity to have a career in movies then all you’re doing is shooting yourself in the foot. Unbelievable.

Because if one steals seeds of faith and hope that are geared toward giving and helping the community...then what takes its place is what you see on TV.

THEY SHOULD REMAKE AND REWRITE this movie without Christian and Jewish haters...leave it out and make it a science fiction movie like we expected instead of a 2nd rate stage play in a living room!

Geesh, they even had the campfire effect from the fireplace. 

I’ve been watching comedies like Semi-Pro. I wanna see Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Fucking Amal - Surprised how long i took in getting around to this early Lukas Moodyson film, but damn if I didn’t enjoy every frame of this high-school movie.  Stylized shooting, great perfs from the leads and above all a very, very solid script make for a fab 83 minutes!

Zodiac Extended Cut - basically the same movie the extra seven minutes are in one ‘imageless’ transition.  I still think this was the best mainstream studio release of 2007. 

Flight of the Conchords - Late to the party on the Eagle vs. Shark fellows folk-musical-sitcom.  This show hits my magic Gondry DIY button in spades.  “Baby.  It’s Business Time!”