User Reviews

The film starts in a situation where match is about to be lit. Everything is ready for the action to start. After the fingers who hold the match make a move, viewers expect to see a carefully canned initial flames erupting from the end of the match but they should prepare for disappointment: the fingers move the match out off the screen and the most interesting scene is, in a way, 'omitted' from the film. The fingers will return to the screen with the match and the fire is seen consuming the fuel in a gentle fashion. This is probably the most entertaining part of the film. Another disappointment is that the fire does not start to consume the stick but instead it dies off slowly. Of course this is still a very watchable film even if the excitement that is present in the beginning does not pay-off all the expectations.

Well, I just went to the UbuWeb site and watched the first of the short films of Yoko Ono. Called No. 1 or simply One, it basically starts with a match-a wooden one, I believe-about to strike. Several seconds later, it does as we see a flame burning on the head of it. That also happens for about a minute or so or maybe more before it flames out quickly which stays that way for the rest of this five minute short. Remember when I said the last thing I reviewed that was called El empleo was long enough and another short I commented on called Western Spaghetti was too short? Well, this initial Yoko Ono short was definitely TOO LONG for me. I mean, seeing it strike and burning off was pretty entertaining but seeing it off for more than a few minutes after that was a turn-off for me. So on that note, I cautiously recommend No. 1 for any curious Ono fan. (I assume there are some out there)