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purrna
Reviews
Village of the Giants (1965)
Giant cats, giant teens.. giant laughs..
Interesting movie that I first saw on TNT a few years ago. The writing and effects do leave a lot to be desired but this was actually a fun movie to watch if you don't try and take it too seriously. Lots of laughs at some of the gags and moments that this movie takes. And the music.. oh brother. ha ha.
While some of the giant animals like the dog, cat and ducks look really bad and you can tell that its like a split screen zoom up close effect thing they are going for , those type of scenes and moments could have really worked using todays technology. The ideas for this movie were there and with a good script I really believe this would have been one of the best fantasy/sci fi/comedy spoof type movies made. (Potentially) But unfortunately what we do get is giant cats that exit through the door never to be seen again, giant dogs that can't enter the room at all, giant wooden legs in the middle of a road as cheap built motorcycles circle around. And Ron Howard in a role I'm sure he would rather soon forget he did.
The plot itself was silly. 4 trouble making teens enter a town only to steal some growth formula invented by before mentioned Ron Howards character. Lots of giant kids run loose and tell everyone they are in charge now. But all they seem to do is sit around a lot in a huge auditorium and eat. Lots of sexual innuendo (including a breast ride on one of the giant female teens as she tries to dance with someone) and bad jokes like midgits at the end showing up hoping for some of the formula.
Funny movie but if it was written well and even remade to todays effects could be a great movie all together.
2 1/2 stars in my book. Has a lot of potential and you have to take into effect when it was made.
Cat People (1982)
Thriller and all around fun movie
For a movie made in 1982, this is actually a very well made movie and shouldn't just be seen as a remake as it really makes a whole new life out of the story it was based on.
The acting was actually pretty good and believable and the story worked nicely as they weren't afraid to take chances and be daring. The chemistry between all the character was really there and it seems like they put some effort and actually took the movie they were in seriously and considering the fantasy thriller this is that can be hard to do sometimes. The music score was excellent especially during the final chase scene of Irena as a panther chasing down the girl she is jealous of for moving in on the one she loves. The scene alone is amazingly done and dark but with the music it is really on the edge of your seat as you watch it all unfold before you.
The movie is pretty simple on the surface but there's a lot of twists and turns that take place as the movie progresses. The main girl in the movie, Irena who seems to have no clue about her family origins or what she truly is, develops full circle from the innocent young girl at the beginning to a raging roaring stalking killer big cat at the end and she seems to not want to fight what she is to become. more like accepting it rather then being scared of it. Oliver, a zoo curator, falls for the young helpless seeming girl as he too chances from beginning to end. Not hating what his love interest is but doing what is right for both of them.
The movie doesn't hold back any punches. They pretty much tell the viewer everything they need to know. Irena's brother Paul already knows about the family curse and has been on a life mission to reunite with her. What seems like a family reunion turns out to be a mission of freedom for him. Any time any sexual desires or actions dealing with one of these cat people, they will transform into a black panther only able to change back after taking the life of someone else. The twist is that the brother and sister can only have sex with one another in order to prevent the transformation. From that point on the movie seems to take a new life of its own. Instead of embracing or even believing him she rejects the whole notion or possibility.
There are quite a few graphic and gore filled scenes with Paul in his panther form, killing a hooker at the beginning and totally ripping the arm off of a zoo worker as he lays prisoner in a cage. These really set the stage, almost foreshadowing what is to become of poor Irena. Once her brother is killed there is a feeling of real trouble for her and the movie doesn't disappoint to deliver a wonderful ending and great special effects which weren't overdone like some movies of the late 90's and 2000. The transformation where Irena doesn't fight her sexual desires anymore is really an amazing work of FX. They show in detail her almost becoming like a werepanther all the way to her 4 legged form where she roars in the face of Oliver as they were making love. Quite suspenseful and unexpected and that's what this movie did. Took chances and delivered.
I would give this movie 3 1/2 stars and recommend this to all who like a good piece of fantasy as well as suspense and horror. Story is easy to follow and is well explained and the use of actual panthers instead of animatronic or computer created animals is refreshing to see as it adds that much more realistic feel to the film. There's a little bit of everything and if you don't take the movie to seriously or try to compare it to other movies this is a real classic.