franzhabsburg Reviews

Kronprinz Rudolf (2006– )

Can't wait!

[4 April 2007]

I can't vote as I haven't seen it yet, but am looking forward to that moment, especially as I enjoyed Omar Sharif and Catherine Deneuve in Mayerling. That was a splendid production.

This production will intrigue me though as the late Empress Zita insisted that they were murdered... Was she mistaken, or is that "truth" being ignored by the producer of this version?? I'm writing a script at the moment about the life of the Emperor Charles, and am making references to this part of the family history, so perhaps I'd better see this before I complete my story!

I'll be watching to see when the DVD is available. Or will it be released on TV in the UK? Can't wait!

Beyond Borders (2003)

Brilliant!! Stunning!! We were all mesmerised!!

[22 November 2003]

Beyond Borders just knocks you back. The pace and impact is stunning, and any criticism that this feeds off the suffering is cruel. This film has been given the thumbs-up by the UN (they couldn't have used the UN logo without it) and yes, whilst there is a romance in the plot (and why not?) it does, with great pain, show very real suffering and so does, on that level, almost function as a documentary on behalf of the UN, showing very real suffering in the world, and if, as a result, it raises awareness, then it achieves greatness. The cinematography was brilliant, and using the 77 stock again proving that HD still has a long way to go.

I and my students were privileged to meet both Martin Campbell and Phil Meheux and a private screening at Pinewood Studios and so had the opportunity to ask them many questions about the production, and it was very clear that they themselves had also been very effected by the whole experience, as, we all know, was Angelina Jolie herself, who, incidentally, was brilliant in the part, despite having lips to die for.

Only a real cynic with no soul could knock this one.

Below (2002)

One of the best British films never to be shown here!!

[2 March 2003]

I will start with my only criticism - that of the genre change half-way from wartime thriller to ghost story I found a bit much as we were all expecting one of the characters to turn out as a German saboteur. The cinematography by Ian Wilson was excellent and was combined well with the CGI work (the underwater sub looked so real), the above-water sub being done in the 007 tank at Pinewood. Along with Ian Wilson for cinematography, I personally would also nominate it for a BAFTA (of which I am a member) in both Sound and Editing categories, if it was submitted, the latter being particularly slick. We (about 50 of us, including many BSC members) leapt out of our seats at certain points. You were really there, suffering with the crew. It is only tragic that because the bosses would prefer to change it into a horror movie that it will never be released in the UK, so sadly Brits will never see one of the great British films, although the Union flag shown in the end shot should have been a Red Ensign, but then nothing is perfect!