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Reviews
Ted Bundy (2002)
A questionable, and not very impressive, movie
In a way, TED BUNDY reminds me a lot of "THE" other movie by Matthew Bright, FREEWAY: its visual style is quite similar, and content-wise both of the movies tell a story of violence and murder.
The difference between the two of them lies in the fact that TED BUNDY is not a fictious story. It claims to be based on the actual events which cost the lives of up to 150 women. And one can't help but find it a little odd that such a movie obviously aims at being mainly one thing: entertaining. Whilst I usually don't have the slightest problem with violence being brought to the screen (FREEWAY, by the way, is a movie I absolutely recommend), I definitely DO have a problem with a movie depicting one of the sickest guys of our times as someone who's always good for a laugh or two, and most of his victims as being incredibly stupid and ridiculous, in fact at least as responsible for their own deaths as their killer, Bundy.
Honestly, this movie appears to be a - violent, of course - comedy-sort of film much rather than anything else. And thus it lacks an adequate feel of seriousness - which Bundy's crimes and victims would have deserved, as one should think. Furthermore, it totally lacks anything like an examination of Bundy's psyche, his past, the "reasons" for his behavior (apart from 20 seconds of monologue, which have nothing to do with the REAL Bundy). Important facts have been altered or even omitted. And all that remains is a shallow image of yet another killer, nowhere near the real phenomenon, who obviously was an incredibly charming, yet at the same time lethal man. One can't help but think that the name "Ted Bundy" and the nothing but vague outline of the real Bundy's story was used as a mere ploy to attract attention towards this movie.
Apart from that, the movie is quite well done from a director's point of view, and on the most part, the actors are really good. But all in all, given the "potential" of the REAL story, TED BUNDY is nowhere near as shocking and convincing as, say, HENRY - PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER. And what it has to say about its subject and its deeds is, without a doubt, highly questionable.
The Bunker (2001)
Germans don't make for good Movies.
We've slowly grown accustomed to the fact that Germans don't
seem to be able to make good movies. Now, for a change, maybe
a movie ABOUT Germans could be good? Nope. Not this one, at
least.
And this is to say even though it starts off quite fascinating:
claustrophobic, moody, dark. Together with a Nazi soldier, we
move through a gloomy tunnel in a bunker, and those of us who
have ever played Wolfenstein or even Doom will feel at home
almost at once. And so we start looking forward to shocks, to evil
things hiding in the dark, to a creepy atmosphere the film will use
and enhance until we will feel like being lost inside this bunker
ourselves, with nowhere to go.
Unfortunately what we really get is a lot of talking in the beginning,
later on a lot of gun-fighting, and, in between, second to none of an
atmosphere. Then again, how should it be possible for any
atmosphere to develop, since it is permanently being interfered
with by extremely weak actors? Actors who don't seem "German"
at all, and who have to enact highly unconvincing characters
loaded with clichés. B-movies typically don't care much about
atmosphere, and this one makes no exception. And it thus spoils
the only chance it had, looking at the story, which is nearly non- existing to annoying, looking at the obviously NO budget, looking at
the actors who are clearly below average. And, in contrast to other
B-movies, there's not even anything HAPPENING here! The movie
has nothing whatsoever to offer that could make it at least a
LITTLE interesting; neither concerning the story, nor the staging,
nor the effects.
All together, this ends up in: a moral to the story that barely
reaches the level of cheap soap operas; not a single character
being believable and not ridiculous; a monotonous staging of a
story that is totally irrelevant. Except for a small number of
moments actually managing to create something like an atmosphere, THE BUNKER means possibly as much a waste of
time as one could imagine it. Bury this movie - and bury it deep.
Sliding Doors (1998)
Way more fun to watch than "Run, Lola, Run"
Surely not a great film. But an entertaining one. One which has a story to tell (two, that is). And this is enough to make it way more interesting an fun to watch than that German wanna-be flick "Run, Lola, Run" (aka "Lola rennt") - which uses the same basic plot-idea, but only to show off; to let the audience go "Wow, this director is really something different", as I feel it. All in all, "Sliding Doors" is nothing too special - but it delivers good entertainment. And that's more than a heck of a lot of other films.
Kenn' ich, weiß ich, war ich schon! (1981)
Bizarre.
This thing has no plot, or has it? Well, I guess it's somehow about a young and untalented chap trying to make a good movie but failing miserably. In the end, this doesn't matter; and this doesn't even matter to the main character, either, because he succeeds at something much more important to him: getting down with some girl. All in all, watching this movie is really worthwhile, if you're in for studying how bizarre the 70s have been. Or if you're into watching a 13 year old (!!!!) Katja Bienert getting naked. This was the one thing I liked about the film. For the rest of it ... was just plain silly. I rate it with 3 points, because Katja Bienert's role is rather small and she alone doesn't make this movie entertaining (enough).
El tesoro de la diosa blanca (1983)
This is what people refer to when they're talking of "TRASH"
Ummm. A Jess Franco-movie from the early 80's. So what would you expect? Right: actors incapable of acting, incredibly dumb dialogue and a whole lot of joyful nudity (and downright disgusting sex scenes with totally unattractive guys and girls). Which I regard as absolutely worthwhile and entertaining - but that's just my personal opinion. The story? Story?? oh, well, it's kind of a remake of TARZAN, plus some adventure- and cannibal-stuff. But basically it's about seeing Katja Bienert nude, and it works when it comes down to that. Just realize: she was about 15 or 16 when this film was made, and she was really not very shy. Anyway: go get this one if you're able to find it, but be prepared to feel the urge to throw it in the garbage can once you've seen it. P.S.: This film has been re-issued in 1999 by the german label X-RATED CULT MOVIES, but with a different title: MONDO CANNIBALE 4. Obviously for marketing-reasons. Cause you'd better not expect to watch one of the infamous Euro-Cannibal-flics when you put this in. Franco has done better than this. Katja Bienert has, too. But the jungle has never looked more corny. So ... you get the idea. I like it.