altussomnus Reviews

But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)

Must Watch Queer Cinema

[9/10 · 20 June 2021]

I almost don't want to say more than I need to with this film, but it feels like it came out today, even though it's from 1999.

The colors and sets are an absolute visual feast, the acting is remarkably authentic and hilarious. This movies attitude acts as a cheerleader for it's cast of colorful and charming characters.

If you have lived any amount of your life as a queer person, young or old, this movie has something for you.

I cannot fathom this films lower rating outside it's niche subject matter, and release date. Go watch this one please thank you.

Videodrome (1983)

Fresh Cronenberg!

[7/10 · 18 June 2021]

Incredibly interesting narrative and a style that feels simultaneously of and ahead of it's time.

The film is flippant with it's use of sexual and violent imagry, but it does serve a narrative that deliberately addresses that subject. It's never feels like it's forcing the viewer to go through something horrifying, but there are a lot of challenging images for anyone new to Cronenberg's style of film.

It focuses a lot on television, which may initially feel dated, but it's commentary at times feels relevent to even more modern forms of media consumption. Sometime the tone comes across as weirdly alarmist, but never to the point of being distracting.

The film gets a bit lost in it's own sauce by the end of it, but it's not for lack of visually captivating moments and some fun narrative mind play.

I'm brand new to Cronenberg and this film does support his reputation. Not an easy recommend, but you'll know when you wanna see this one.

The Happiness of the Katakuris (2001)

Horror Comedy Expressionism

[6/10 · 15 June 2021]

There are a lot of factors that make this film an oddity, but its hard to not see how it could have been influential on directors of the time.

My instinct is to say this movie is a fusion between West Side Story and Shaun of the Dead, but this movie predates SotD by 3 years.

For as hard as it can be to follow, though, the humor works surprisingly well for a Japanese film. Nothing game changing, but easy enough to recommend if it looks even remotely appealing.

The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

The Matrix Regretable

[2/10 · 8 June 2021]

Completely lacks the tooth and creativity of the previous 2 films, and does less to genuinely explore the universe of the film than anything from the Animatrix

Frankly verges on making the previous films worse to watch. If you're a seasoned movie viewer, this one hurts. Watch it for archival reasons only.

Lu Over the Wall (2017)

Below Yuasa's Quality

[6/10 · 8 June 2021]

For a movie that begs a comparison to Ponyo, it barely squeaks past it in terms of it's creative presentation, but stumbles at style consistancy and plot coherency.

While nothing in the movie *doesn't* make sense, a lot of it is hard to follow due to weird pacing decisions during important events, and visual decisuons that hamper communication in favor of leaning into Yuasa's presentation style.

The music is just OK for a movie about music, and the few scenes of high energy have a peculiar disconnect from the rest of the film.

Ultimately this movie feels like it started with good intentions, but ran out of creative steam somewhere in development. If you're a big Masaki Yuasa fan, there are things here for you, but it's otherwise OK to miss.

Go watch Mind Game instead if you wanna know what this director is about.