Change Your Image
apaglia
Reviews
The Riddle of the Sands (1979)
Lovely Picture
For all sail and film enthusiasts: I'm not going to spend much time talking about this film. It's just really nice to watch. Is that a negative comment in this age? Nice? The film is beautifully crafted, excellently acted, delightfully photographed. What more do you want? All the main players act their head's off in the best possible way. When you have your next hour and forty minutes spare - watch it!
For all modern film enthusiasts: Try it. You never know you might discover what a real plot and characters look like. A real delight, and from an historically influential novel too!
And now I have to fill up the text to 10 lines, so here goes. My favourite and only football team is Southampton FC. Every other side is there purely to play us. No other club exists except for that purpose. Quite nice when you look at football things that way.
I wonder if those are enough lines by now?
Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)
So This Film Isn't Accurate
But I love it. It's a huge film in every scale. Even the cinematic format was huge in Ultra Panavision 70. TV just doesn't do this film justice. It only comes alive when in the cinema, and that never happens nowadays. Perhaps a big domestic projector and hi-fi could do the job, as it were.
A complete flop at the time, the story was just not what people were after when spending their earnings. And it's a shame because for my money it's the best of the MotB versions. The 1930's version is just too Hollywood for my tastes, despite the usually excellent Charles Laughton, and the 1980's The Bounty is (for me) too unevenly acted. In the 1960's film, everyone turns in a reasonable act, and though the film may be overlong for some; if you're committed to the cause and in the right mood, it's about right. This MotB is not trying for accuracy, it's after the bigger aspects of the story to go along with its big images and soundtrack. Marlon Brando (Fletcher Christian) is quite comic and tragic in turns, and Trevor Howard (William Bligh) is a determined man who's dark side is revealed by his over commitment to his mission. The rest of the impressive cast ably assist to keep the pot boiling.
None of the versions are entirely accurate, indeed the accounts of generally accepted recorders Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall are still subject to a little debate. The details that effect the films are the true nature of the characters in history, and their eventual fate. None of the MotB's serve to even try to tell the true story of the Bounty's officers and crew. As such, it is in the gift of the filmmakers to bring their story to the screen. To my mind, the 1960's version gives the story its true magnitude in history, even if Fletcher Christian didn't die by fire, but by the hands of the Polynesian crewmen who were badly treated by British crewmen. It's an eerie thought that the Polynesian women (and wives to the British men) took revenge on their own nationals by killing them while they slept. In fact, the story of that settlement on Pitcairn Island and the rediscovery of its descendants by the ship Topaz is another tale worthy of telling on the big screen. But telling it truthfully would make a change from the usual cinematic screenplay.
The History of Mr. Polly (1949)
The Adventures Of A Mr Timid
This film is something of a family favourite. John Mills is almost always good value, and he doesn't disappoint here. In Alfred Polly we have the average little man who dreams of great adventure, but is neither intellectually equipped, nor has the emotional stature to see past his uneventful march to the grave. He is a social misfit; unable even to pass for a success in mediocrity. And it's because he desperately wants to be something different, but doesn't know how to be. And so, despite little opportune moments, Alfred Polly begins his journey to the cemetery. Until he gets the idea to kill himself - and it's the making of him. Polly finds he can change his life, or at least make it a damn sight more interesting. Set with a renewed vigour our misfit begins an adventure to fit his limited ambitions. And so he finally finds contentment.
It's not the journey that entirely makes this film work. Indeed, watchers may become fidgety at the film's smallness of story, and the accent on the human peculiarities. But it's this quirky nature of the film; the little detailed bits that have undoubtedly been left in from the original novel that preserve the flavour and make this film ultimately so enjoyable. The manner is which Polly comes out with occasional words that he's read in books, which might otherwise indicate a wide understanding and vocabulary if he didn't completely goof up the pronunciation. The little fabrications of stories he tells other people; and the occasional references to a Little Dog, when he is under great stress in certain situations.
Ultimately, do we like Polly? Is he a character who we want to succeed? This is crucial to our liking of the story. There will be those people who will lose patience with Polly, just like some of the characters in the film. And there will be those willing him on to his adventures and finally, sharing in his own contentment.
The Time Machine (2002)
Is This Film Still OK Despite Not Being Faithful To Wells' Original Story?
I remember going along to the cinema when it was released, full of anticipation of what modern technology in films could do with a story like The Time Machine. I exited the cinema totally disappointed. Surely Simon Wells couldn't allow such a thing to happen to his great grandfather's novel? Where was Victorian London? Where was the after dinner experiment with the model? Where was the real time-traveller? Just details from the original, but it conjured up a flavour which the modern film totally rejected. Even the great political lesson of the widening of the gulf between the haves and have-bots was overlooked. Rather naive and strange in these supposedly enlightened times.
And yet, just a year later I was buying the DVD. Make no mistake, the novel is a wonderful creation and the 1960 film is a vastly simplified, yet colourful rendition of the book. And yet, I really like this version too. Admittedly, I have got over the shock of seeing H.G.Wells' story torn to shreds, and now I just like the film for it's own ends. It's no masterpiece, but there are some simply stunning pieces. The time travelling sequences are magical; hugely aided and abetted by a music soundtrack that is quite the best thing about the film. You'll be humming this one for a long, long time. The acting is actually reasonably good throughout. I thought Guy Pierce gave a pretty good account of himself, and Sienna Guillory makes for a excellently tragic Emma. I liked and was frustrated by Vox (Orlando Jones) simply for the fact that he resembled a latter day Internet so well. The snippet where he asks Alexander if he would like to hear a song from the musical of The Time Machine by Andrew Lloyd-Webber (who although immediately saying NO because it's not what he asked for, gets ignored and he has to hear a rendition) is so reminiscent of present day search engine answers that have almost nothing to do with the enquiry, and yet are almost forced upon the enquirer.
There are areas of the screenplay that don't tie together well but, as H.G. would have said, ...take it as a story, what do you think of it? Well I find that I do enjoy The Time Machine as a story, and if I want the real thing I read the book. There's always the Wells estate authorised sequel, The Time Ships by Stephen Baxter that could be filmed. Now that would make an excellent film. Just don't play around with that one too much eh, filmmakers?
The Wicker Man (1973)
Questioning Accepted Belief?
This may come as a bit of a surprise to some, but I don't find The Wicker Man in the least bit uncomfortable to watch or mildly even frightening. Recently, I watched it for perhaps the 6tth or 7th time. All previous attempts have been ended by distraction at various stages of the film. But this time I was able to view it throughout without interruption. So, considering this film's reputation, and after at last giving it my fullest attention, I find that it is not a horror film of the classic genre, and neither is it a real thriller because its pace is so laid back. In fact, in previous partial viewings I've often thought Sergeant Howie should just push off back to the mainland like he is constantly being advised to, and let the Summer-islanders get on with their lives. And I've wondered if it is because I'm not a hard and fast religious person? To me it is no shock at all that the islanders are pagans. If it suits them, then go for it. Not so, Sergeant Howie. All this may make people think (from this review) that there is nothing in the film of worth to titillate or entertain. And that would be completely the wrong conclusion.
Don't look for shock value in The Wicker Man. It is a beautifully crafted and complete film that, despite the obvious lack of budget, manages to convey the way of a tight island community. Outsiders are not altogether welcome until, ironically they are, called in by the islanders on a special premise unbeknown to the outsider. And a Christian police officer is the perfect guinea pig. There is plenty of community wit, humour and a prominent celebration of the sexual act. Remember, this is paganism and unlike strict Christian belief, sex is one of the joyous fruits of nature. And it is this celebration of life (and death) that comes through most of the film, to Howie's disgust and later temptation. And it is only in the last 5 minutes or so that the full reason for Howie's presence on Summerisle is revealed to him. And by that time, your sympathies may even have sided with the islanders, despite the dark deed they are about to perform.
Night of the Demon (1957)
A Horror Film In The Traditional Sense.
What a lovely film. I always get a thrill from Night Of The Demon. Based on solid M.R.James story writing, it has all the ingredients that make for a classic horror film, and are nearly always missing from today's obviously shocking offerings. They miss the point of the horror movie. This film has it in spades.
Highlights - where to start? The dismissive, but clear headed scientist (Professor Holden). The gentle and powerful, but also fearful dark leader (Karswell). We enter the movie with another scientist fleeing from his destiny because he knows.. he knows he was wrong! The Demon is real, his death is real, and so the scene is set. From then on we are treated to a series of incidences that heighten the tension and entertainment. It's impossible not to enjoy this film, it is so engaging. A persistent eerie tune (introduced just at the right time); staring into elongated dark corridors; smoke chasing Holden in a dark wood; and many other moments. And a really smart move - to introduce the idea to Holden that he will die at a predetermined time and date almost right from the off. And to enforce that fate with every twist and turn. This eventually colours Holden's reasoning, actions, and our perceptions that not all will end as it should. Holden is definitely not in control of his destiny. And so, what does Holden do? He gives up and admits he's wrong. Holden's no idiot and now he's convinced as well. And then.... well that would be telling.