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Reviews
The Story of an African Farm (2004)
Disappointing
I'll be the first to admit that turning Olive Schreiner's monumental work into a movie is a daunting task. The book is deeply layered - many of the vignettes are out of sequence or devoid of context. And, probably the most difficult part - much of the story involves the psychological and spiritual development of the children (particularly Waldo and Lyndall).
That being said, it's hard to understand why the producers chose to focus on Bonaparte. In the novel itself he is a throw-away character, a caricature if you will. He serves little purpose other than a foil against which the children's formative years are thrown in sharp relief. To make matters worse, the movie ends with Bonaparte's ignominious expulsion from the farm - however, it is precisely here that the book takes it's most powerful and controversial path - following the lives of Waldo and Lyndall as they grow to adulthood.
The many themes of the book are only hinted at - Waldo's journey from Christian fanaticism to eventual atheism; Lyndall's desperate (and ultimately futile) attempt to overcome the shackles of female oppression, her desire to find someone who is worthy of her love, and to be loved in return.
None of these complex themes are addressed - perhaps they never can be. I must say that Kasha Kropinski presents an outstanding performance - she is exactly as I pictured Lyndall would be. Kudos also to Luke Gallant and Armin Mueller-Stahl for great performances.
Perhaps someday someone will undertake the herculean task of translating Schreiner's work to film. Sadly, this movie is not it.
Car Trouble (1986)
One Long Unfunny Joke
Plot: an amorous couple decide to engage in some extra-marital hijinks in a flashy car. They then become stuck (literally) in a Compromising Position, while said car wanders aimlessly about the countryside until the hapless couple are rescued by the authorities.
That's it. That's the entire movie. There may have been some dialogue here and there, but nothing comes to mind. It should be obvious by now that this movie is not just pointless, but actually physically painful to watch. The fact that it starred two of the UKs best up-and-coming actors (one of whom is now sadly deceased) only adds to the horror.
Ian Charleson was outstanding in the very much deserved Oscar-winning 'Chariots of Fire'. Let's remember him for that role, and try hard to pretend that this particular celluloidal abomination never happened.
Battlestar Galactica (2004)
Galactica - Down to Earth
The original Battlestar Galactica series followed hard on the heels of Star Wars, and contained much of the same trappings. 'Death Ray' weapons, a host of aliens and whizz-bang (for the time) special effects. The re-imagining takes a distinctly different track. While the plot is roughly similar (at the beginning, at least), there are a number of subtle differences which make the new series (in my opinion) far edgier, grittier, and yes - better. Gone are the laser guns, odd array of aliens and Vipers improbably banking in tight circles in hard vacuum. In their place are far more believable props - the Battlestar troopers carry pistols and semi-automatic weapons, the Vipers are equipped, not with ray guns, but with projectile cannons and attitude control jets. The Battlestars and Cylon baseships fire thermonuclear missiles at each other. The Cylons are no longer a mysterious alien race, but are, in fact, both the creations and the nemeses of the Humans. The only necessary concessions to sci-fi are the Battlestar's hyperdrive engines, and the existence of an extremely advanced artificial intelligence.
More importantly, the series is far more character-driven. Yes, Starbuck is now a woman - but a hard-drinking, hard-fighting, conflicted and completely believable character. The same goes for the other characters - the younger Adama's strained and yet co-dependent relationship with his legendary father, the capable and yet vulnerable XO, and Adama himself - looking forward to retirement, but thrust suddenly and unwillingly into the fight and flight of his life. Each character has their own internal demons to battle, while simultaneously forced to confront the external menace of the Cylons.
Even the Cylons have undergone a radical change - although the metallic monsters remain, a new breed emerges: engineered to look, think and act exactly like humans, giving rise to the age-old question - if we build a machine that mimics human behavior in every way, even to the point that they themselves are unaware of the machine beneath the skin - at what point does the Machine end, and the Human begin? Special mention should be made of Olmos, Bamber and Sackhoff, who all deliver great performances, aided by an exceptional cast and excellent direction.
BSG is by far the best sci-fi series on TV at present. If you (like me) are a fan of the original series, you still owe it to yourself to watch the latest installment - you won't be disappointed.
Streets of Fire (1984)
Come for the Cheese. Stay for the Music.
Sure, this movie has a plot that can be summed up in three sentences (Bad Guy kidnaps Good Guy's ex, Good Guy rescues girl and kicks some serious ass, Good Guy and Witty Sidekick ride off into the sunset), dialog that would make a B-Movie writer cringe, and acting that 'over the top' doesn't even begin to describe.
But you didn't come for the plot, now did you? You came for the Music, and boy, did you ever get your money's worth. 'Streets' has to have by far the best soundtrack of any movie. Ever.
Where else could you find an original Stevie Nicks song ('Sorcerer)', perfectly executed by Marilyn Martin? Or a Tom Petty ballad ('Never be You') exquisitely pitched by Maria McKee? Not to mention two of the legendary Jim Steinman's finest (and most underrated) Power Ballads - 'Tonight is What it Means to be Young' and 'Nowhere Fast'. These two songs alone would be worth the price of admission, but you also get a slew of Ry Cooder rockers 'n rollers in the bargain.
So go ahead and watch this movie till your eyes bleed, or your DVD player melts. But whatever you do, make sure that you have the volume on your amp is cranked up to 11.