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Reviews
Gagga (1971)
A Great Maltese Film
This movie shows that the Maltese do have the talent to produce a quality movie worthy of the attention of true movie-lovers. Rather than focusing on stunts and action sequences or soap opera style drama, renowned Maltese director Mario Azzopardi had made a film in the early 70s, based on a famous Maltese novel "Il-Gagga ta' Frans Sammut", which concentrated on good story telling skills and convincing acting.
It tells a story of Maltese life in the 60s, where people were hopelessly blinded by religious and political fanaticism, and of the effects of these on the main character Fredu. He has to endure rantings, heartbreak, hallucinations and tragedy, until the time comes when he does not care about anything anymore. The surrealism sequences remind of Luis Bunuel, but are very well made and show that Azzopardi has an eye for the unusual. There were episodes that had a distinct feel of black humour in them, which I think may have been the underlying intention. This was a controversial film in its time, which I am told was banned locally, for the same previously mentioned fanatical reasons.
It is tragic that many Maltese still do not appreciate the quality of such movies. This is why some really excellent movies don't make it past the first week in the cinemas, and mindless crappy movies last for weeks on end.
It is also a pity that this particular movie cannot be fully appreciated by a foreign audience, since the director seems to assume the audience is knowledgeable of certain aspects of the local lifestyle. My suggestion for Maltese producers is not to target an exclusive local audience if they intend to make another movie of this calibre.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)
First half much better than second
The first half of the film is fascinating because we get to meet and explore Jean Baptiste, following his intriguing and extraordinary life story from his very birth, most unusual in itself, to his setting off on his quest to capture the scent of everything. The dark cinematography is beautiful and convincing and Dustin Hoffman gives a remarkable and amusing performance as the perfumer Baldini. In this half of the film we also see what in my view is the most crucial and at the same time most enchanting episode of the film, Baptiste's romantically tragic meeting with the plum girl, played beautifully by the gorgeous Karoline Herfurth.
The second half of the film continues on a very different note. The time span has now been reduced to Jean Baptiste's last few months of his life in Grasse. The cinematography is still beautiful and contrasts well with the dim and gloomy setting of Paris of the first half, but I personally prefer the darker setting for atmosphere. The plot is mostly reduced to a manhunt now, or to be exact a girl hunt, after a killing spree which reminisces of the same-sort-of-era famous true story of London's own Jack the Ripper, but capturing none of the thrill, not even through the power of suggestion. The story culminates to the utterly ridiculous ending which has been described by critics as odd, ludicrous, silly, preposterous and delirious, with which I fully agree. It is not in keeping with the previous perspective of the story of Jean Baptiste's talent, which only asks us to stretch the limit of credibility to a reasonable extent. We are now expected to stretch this limit to an impossible extent, while watching a crowd of people ridiculing themselves in a nauseating display. The script writer may have been understandably captured by the story as told in the original novel, but this sort of ending is in my opinion much better left to the imagination, and is therefore much more suited to a good read rather than a full-screen display. I think a less faithful script was called for, which would have produced an ending much more suitable to a remarkable film, that would otherwise have certainly made it one of the best films of the year.
Angli: The Movie (2005)
Pleasantly surprised
I went to see this movie with great reluctance. I had seen the trailer and it looked like some cheap excuse for a film with stupid dialogue, bad acting and very bad special effects, and probably some poor excuse for a plot.
So it was with some surprise that as soon as the film started, it had gripped me, probably with the dramatic effect of a realistic and unfortunately not too uncommon episode of a life-and-death situation in a cop's life. True, the acting, dialogue, plot and special effects were poor in the extreme. But the plot was no different that a hundred other crime thrillers that Hollywood releases each year. As for the special effects, the explosions looked like they were taken straight off some video game from your 15-year old computer. And, it was the first time that I could tell that the film was shot in digital as I could actually see the pixels. But still, there was one particular car chase that ended up with a nice car aerial somersault that was clearly shot live with no CGI. For a debuting film industry, it was pretty impressive.
Some of the fight sequences were admittedly laughable. In fact I could not help laughing out loud in the theatre at the unexpected entrance of Agent Mark Möller in a grocer to the rescue of our supposed cop hero in a hold-up, putting the criminal to shame with some kung fu style moves. But this was actually intended to be funny anyway.
So I would give this movie a deserved 7 out of 10 for some good entertainment, hoping that in the future the Maltese film makers focus more on the plot and the acting rather than on cheap explosions and special effects. After all, they did show that they have some good ideas, it was just their execution that was not good enough. They should take the example of some other foreign low-budget movies.
Van Helsing (2004)
Good entertainment
Although the script writer has taken unlimited liberties with the plots of both classic novels Dracula and Frankenstein, you cannot deny the blatant entertainment offered by this movie. The plot still works and the portrayal of the monsters and vampires, most notably Dracula's brides, is made superbly. Kate Beckinsale is very attractive as Anna Valerious and is the star of the show. Unfortunately, this is not matched by Hugh Jackman's performance as Van Helsing, but this does little to reduce the entertainment. Van Helsing has been unfairly over-criticised, but it never pretends to be anything other than a fun action/adventure movie.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
A Class Of Its Own
I saw this film expecting a very original well written masterpiece and I was not let down in the slightest. Pulp Fiction must rank as one of the wittiest funniest and truly enjoyable films I have ever seen. And to top it all, the film boasts a star studded list of fine actors who all seem to give their utmost in performing their roles.
There were two things that made the film as good as it was: the dialogues (which of course is what Tarantino is famous for) and the humour. What I liked most, however, was the humour. The `Oh, I'm sorry, did I break your concentration?' sequence certainly cracked me up. For me, though, there could and should have been even more of such humorous episodes.
Dead End (2003)
Good horror without overstating
This is quite a good horror movie considering that it was made on a low budget. It does provide a few scares, and the mood of the film is felt to become more tense as it progresses.
The acting too is quite convincing. Trying to convey a horrible picture to the audience without actually revealing it, using only the disgusted expressions (and fainting) of its witnesses, requires considerably good acting.
The Lady in White spices up the feeling of doom that gradually takes over the film to great effect. This all adds up to a sense of incredibility that is emphasised at one point by Richard saying "This all reeks of alien activity".
The final twist is what I liked most about the film. While not being at all original, it certainly took me by surprise and put this movie a cut above most of the rest of its genre.
Boat Trip (2002)
Surprisingly funny
I was forced to watch this film with some misgivings, thinking that it would be another one of those films with lots of gross out predictable humour... Well, actually it was, but it was done so well thanks in particular to Cuba Gooding Jr, that you simply had to laugh at most of the jokes. The only real star of the show was in fact Cuba Gooding, with most of the rest, including one of my favourites Roger Moore, performing as if they've never acted in a comedy movie.
The final verdict is this movie is worth watching if you just wanna have a laugh.
Pet Sematary (1989)
Good horror movie
I must admit I only wanted to watch this movie because I had read the book. Having said that, this movie is directed in the same spirit as the original Stephen King novel, and most of the plot is included in the film, albeit with a few modifications.
In the first half of the film the story is rushed a bit and we are bombarded with a fast developing plot that is a bit too quick when compared to the Stephen King style of writing.
There were also a few scenes which could have been developed further.
All in all, this movie is a good horror movie and is probably not for the easily spooked and squeamish, in view of the blood and death and all the other themes of the film. Go see it if you like this type of film.
Memento (2000)
Brilliant
This is one of the most brilliant films I've ever seen. It surpasses most other films in its originality, and there is always a surprise round the corner keeping you on your toes. The ending takes you by surprise in a way that leaves "The Sixth Sense" and "Unbreakable" looking very predictable.