10/21/2008
This is a wild horror film directed by John Gulager, son of actor Clu Gulager (who is in this film), is a product of the Project Greenlight thing created by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. There was a lot of talk about this film. I guess the director had some people skills issues and supposedly it went over schedule, etc. Whatever, I didn't really hear much about it.
I saw the first five or so minutes a year or so ago with a friend and we didn't like the wildly jerky camera movements at the time. Really hard to see what was going on. So I blew it off then. But since, I've heard many people say good things about it and now they have filmed two sequels with the second just being released a week or so ago. So I figured I'd give a another shot. Being Halloween season, it's a good choice. Turns out, I liked it.
So, these creatures show up at this bar in the middle of the American southwest desert and trap a bunch of people inside. Much blood and gore ensue. This thing is pretty fast and ferocious with not a lot of down time. The creatures are pretty frightening and the humor is camp and fun. And again, the gore and blood is gratuitous, but that's good for this film. But keep in mind, this is NOT for the squeamish.
And once you settle in, the camera work actually works to its' advantage, both creatively and fiscally. It's a low budget film, so the fast camera movements keep the creatures scary without seeing too much. Though when you do see the creatures, and you do, they look great.
There are a slew of actors you'll recognize from TV and some film, among them are Clu Gulager, Judah Friedlander, Krista Allen, Balthazar Getty, Navi Rawat, Henry Rollins, and Jason Mewes. And you know, they are all great.
Happily, there are things in this movie you haven't seen before, and they will make you squirm and laugh at the same time. Some really over-the-top stuff. And there's even a few twists that surprised me, which is hard to do these days with a horror film.
You like creature horror? Check this out.
3 1/2 to 4 really gorey stars. : )
~ Neil
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
"The Golden Compass"
10/17/2008
This is that movie based on a book series, "The Dark Materials", that supposedly are filled with anti-religion or pagan subtext. Whatever. When you see the film, it won't matter. Why? Because it just isn't that good a film.
I won't spend an inordinate amount of time on this, because I just won't need it. This movie is like reading the book but only getting random sections and pages. It's fairly convoluted and much is not explained at all let alone thoroughly.
This "Golden Compass" is supposed to tell the holder of it the truth. But not everyone can make it work. They don't really tell you how, though. This little girl moves the three hands of it, each to a different little picture and then it glows and, well, then the camera goes into it real close and then as if it goes, oh, I don't know- into the compass or something and shows her stuff. It's pretty random and they certainly are expecting the audience to suspend the hell out of our disbelief.
Oh, I know, it's a fantasy movie, but if you don't establish some rules and explain things a little, you lose the audience; they won't care. And I didn't.
And then there's all the animal spirits. Everyone has one and if you kill it or the person, the other dies, too. Well, other than some fun scenes of giant armored polar bears fighting, This is sort of inexplicable, too.
This movie lacks all the emotional components of "The Chronicles of Narnia" films and the visual effects are not as impressive. It's just not nearly as satisfying or engaging. Certainly not for adults. As for kids, you might get some into it, but some of it will be too dark and action oriented and it will still be full of unexplained nonsense.
You should probably just keep to the books on this one, even though this movie ends clearly expecting a sequel. Not for me, thanks.
2 stars, maybe 1 1/2
~ Neil
This is that movie based on a book series, "The Dark Materials", that supposedly are filled with anti-religion or pagan subtext. Whatever. When you see the film, it won't matter. Why? Because it just isn't that good a film.
I won't spend an inordinate amount of time on this, because I just won't need it. This movie is like reading the book but only getting random sections and pages. It's fairly convoluted and much is not explained at all let alone thoroughly.
This "Golden Compass" is supposed to tell the holder of it the truth. But not everyone can make it work. They don't really tell you how, though. This little girl moves the three hands of it, each to a different little picture and then it glows and, well, then the camera goes into it real close and then as if it goes, oh, I don't know- into the compass or something and shows her stuff. It's pretty random and they certainly are expecting the audience to suspend the hell out of our disbelief.
Oh, I know, it's a fantasy movie, but if you don't establish some rules and explain things a little, you lose the audience; they won't care. And I didn't.
And then there's all the animal spirits. Everyone has one and if you kill it or the person, the other dies, too. Well, other than some fun scenes of giant armored polar bears fighting, This is sort of inexplicable, too.
This movie lacks all the emotional components of "The Chronicles of Narnia" films and the visual effects are not as impressive. It's just not nearly as satisfying or engaging. Certainly not for adults. As for kids, you might get some into it, but some of it will be too dark and action oriented and it will still be full of unexplained nonsense.
You should probably just keep to the books on this one, even though this movie ends clearly expecting a sequel. Not for me, thanks.
2 stars, maybe 1 1/2
~ Neil
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