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rhodesmartin
Reviews
Sucker Punch (2011)
A Pan's Labyrinth on Steroids with a few tabs of L.S.D thrown in for good measure?
A Pan's Labyrinth on Steroids with a few tabs of L.S.D thrown in for good measure?
On her mothers early departure from this life 'Baby Doll''s world is torn apart. Committed to a mental institution by her evil stepfather Baby Doll has five days to escape before the doctor arrives to permanently alter her mental state through a surgical procedure...
Baby Doll seeks Escapism through a dual layer alternate reality... A tale of survival and self sacrifice this is an action packed Fantasy of Spectacular visuals...
Gratuitous?Yes!
Different? Maybe.
Worth a watch? Certainly.
Will everyone like it? Certainly not!
District 9 (2009)
If you don't like it your a fooken prawn!
District 9
I had an evening to kill in Kuala Lumpur before my flight home. I was hot, the air was humid, full of food I retreated to the haven of the air conditioned cinema where a purchased a ticket to the next film.... District 9.
Having avoided the trailers & hype for this film i was a blank canvas & was surprised as a spoof documentary followed the promotion of an unlikely character (Wikus Van De Merwe) in a munitions corporation in South Africa. The humour & originality prove excellent from the very start.
Set in the third decade following alien (aka The Prawns) contact with earth, interspecies relations are tense - stranded aliens are seen to be a burden on humans their unusual habits force segregation.
'District 9' a Prawn containment shanty town in Johannesburg, is set to be evicted by a militarised team headed by the newly appointed lead Wikus. All is going well until Wikus comes into contact with a secret alien chemical... From here on in the story spirals through a whirlwind of love, comradeship, torture & self sacrifice set in an alien apartheid.
An excellent film, wonderfully put together it lifts you with comic highs & then drags you down with moments of terror. Entertaining & thought provoking I really do recommend a viewing.
Great film. If you don't like it your a fooken prawn!
(Apartheid echos of the alien plight can be seen during film production. District 9 was not a constructed set, it was a previously residential governmental eviction zone - the people moved on to better government housing.)
Watchmen (2009)
Who should be watching the watchmen?
Who is watching the Watchmen? I suppose the question I'm really asking is: who should be watching the watchmen? I went last night for a late showing (first bad move) & with my girlfriend (second bad move) – My favorite quote from Felicia, whilst sprawling across the seats in a fit of despair, was "Oh no
do we still have a whole war to go in Antarctica"
. The film started in style, a montage of highly saturated, slow-mo, graphic novel images set the scene, dropping us into the mid 80's, this set to a classic Dillon tune made me sit comfortably back in my chair. The comfort factor didn't last long
the comedy both spoof/dark were interspersed with hard core violence & teasing taboos. So is there a need for masked vigilantes? Are super heroes 'super' or 'heroic'? Did Rorschach get it right? I enjoyed this film
it may be suitable for those with a darker sense of humour, & those with a penchant for 'tools & body combinations' e.g. head & meat cleaver, circular saw & arms
you get my drift
Pro's:
i. Soundtrack: (Dillon, 99 Red balloons, Simon & Garfunkle, Hendrix & surely the best use of Leonard Cowen tune used in film to date!)
ii. Rorschach
iii. Lomoesque colours
iv. Malin Akerman
Con's:
i. The numerous blue phallus shots?
ii.The lack of editing (It felt like I was watching the extended version of the film – huge chunks could easily have been left out without detriment to the film - sorry graphic novel fans).
iii.Film length – very very long.
The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
Lacks the ingenuity and breakthrough qualities of the original
'Smile at the camera and say CHEESE.' Were these the directions of the Wachowski brothers? I found that romantic gestures and apparent lines of sincerity were so unbelievable that I spent half of the film giggling! This film lacked the ingenuity and breakthrough qualities of the original Matrix leaving it simply an action film rather than continuing with its ability to mentally stimulate the audience. The films ending was given away prematurely by the Oracle's hint to Neo, as an audience we want to think for ourselves, for example,did they really need to say that agent Smith is Neo's opposite? Oh... I'd never of known!
I never thought that I'd say this but I wish that the matrix had never evolved into a trilogy, the first film was and will remain a classic. However saying that I still want a go in one of those ridiculous APU's, did they remind you of anything from the film Aliens?
KID: But sir i haven't finished my APU training!!!
MIFUNE: Neither did I.
Malibu Shark Attack (2008)
An excellent film that can only be rivaled in brilliance by "Komodo vs Cobra".
Malibu Shark Attack directed by David Lister
Possibly one of the best films ever made. An action packed, high octane thriller, throwing twists & turns into a complex plot that keeps you perched on the edge of your seat.
An excellent film that can only be rivaled in brilliance by "Komodo vs Cobra".
A quake unleashes a pack of hunting Goblin sharks from the bowls of the earth, pushed into the Californian coast by a 100 foot tsunami, the sharks chase down a group of construction workers and lifeguards. Winding their way through a labyrinth of flooded buildings, the survivors race for dry land in a bid to evade a gruesome, limb shredding death.
Not only does the film capture the terror of the deep whilst breeding fear from the flawlessly sculpted CGI Goblin sharks,it also delivers with witty banter & lines of comic genius.
The cast (without exception) command a strong screen presence, at times they demonstrate some vague acting skills. The actors captivate the audience & portray emotions that cannot help but draw us into this angry aquatic nightmare.
This film is a wonder to behold....
I do recommend this film - it has high entertainment value, its certainly best watched in the early hours of the morning (with a degree of intoxication) for the right or wrong reasons you cannot help but be sucked in.
Robin Hood (2010)
140 minute montage of legend ruining storyline
So I was thinking how best to describe this film? The best I can come up with is this: Consider the top big budget films of the last few decades - now from each of these note their most ludicrous slow motion action scene, splice these into a 140 minute montage of legend ruining storyline & 'Bob's you uncle'.
Don't believe me? Let me give you a few examples:
A Knights Tale - a peasant masquerading as a Noble with the occasional flashback to childhood? Oh and an old blind man that feels you face. Kate Blanchet was the best thing in Robin Hood but to be fair I'd rather Sossaman & If fate meant that we had to lose an Australian actor I'd rather it had been Russel Crowe.
Saving Private Ryan - a military beach landing with dead bodies floating in a red stained sea. Was it just me or did the landing craft in Robin Hood actually look like the flat bottomed front opening WWII craft that were used in Normandy?
Temple of Doom/Star Wars - both have walls (one at least spike covered) that close in on the hero, only for them to escape in the nick of time! Kudos for coming up with a new 'two boats colliding with broken spiky oars' concept - only thing is boats float & there is water underneath making the escape far less exciting.
Mask of Zorro - the heroine rescues women & children that have been locked in a burning structure whilst the 'men' battle it out with swords. At least the Mask of Zorro made me laugh for the right reasons, one liners and cheeky banter, not the plot.
Braveheart - Speeches of freedom to the masses without a PA system, everyone cheers but very few people probably heard what was said, let alone agree with him.
I hope you've found my examples sufficient to support my for-mentioned description.
I can allow for geographical/logistical errors in film (such as why they attacked Darlington then Peterborough & then York, very long way round if your traveling by horse) but the lack of anything original is unforgivable.
As you may have gathered I didn't like this film - I payed one whole English pound for the experience and felt that I myself had been taxed heavily by the King to fund a ridiculous campaign.
If I had to describe this film in one word
Woeful.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
The Story Explained - SPOILERS
The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus : The story explained
This film, by some critics, been described as a film of little substance but amazing visuals, I have to disagree
I fear those critics fail to pull out thestory from the imagination of a drunken Parnassus. Yes. Dr Parnassus is a drunk, whose vivid imagination blurs the borders between fact & fiction.
The true plot of the film reads as follows: After the death of his wife (whilst giving birth to his daughter, Valentina) Parnassus spirals into depression, a hopeless drunk & an addicted gambler he becomes a homeless con-man taken in under the wing of his dwarf friend Percy. Chased by volatile crowds & constantly being moved on by 'filth' (police) Parnassus wonders the streets of London with a traveling show.
As fate may have it, the unlikely bunch; Parnassus, Percy, Anton & Valentina meet Tony. Tony, on the run from the law (for embezzlement) & hunted by loan sharks, seeks anonymity in the traveling troupe.
Valentina's admirer Anton, is slowly pushed away as Tony's seductive character hauls her into a romantic whirlwind affair. However it's not long until Anton discovers Tony's sordid past & his criminality is revealed! Valentina's illusion is shattered & Parnassus seeing the pain of his daughter seeks murderous revenge upon Tony. Whilst in a drunken stupor Parnassus collapses into a state of unconsciousness - Valentina fearing her father is dead & blaming herself, flees with Anton to start a new life.
The paramedics cart Parnassus off to recovery but as soon as he leaves their care he is back on the bottle & to the streets, a life of homelessness & handouts which he knows so well. For years he searches for Valentina & whilst begging in the streets he catches sight of his daughter - Parnassus follows her and sees the new family which she has created
Enlightenment hits as he sees how he has held her back & without contact returns to the streets to wander with Percy. Well without a dwarf he would have to find a midget!