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bretw
Reviews
The Giant Spider (2013)
Reverent, funny homage to 50s-era "Giant Bug" movies
I've been following Christopher R. Mihm's film career for a couple of years now, and The Giant Spider is easily the best, most accomplished film he's made. Mihm has made a career of mounting reverent homages to 50's horror/sci-fi films, and the polish of each of his films (this is his eighth!) grows with each film. The pacing, acting, special effects, directing, and technical achievement of The Giant Spider is pretty darn impressive for an independent film-maker - some stand out elements for me: The "spider" simply puts all other film beasties to shame - compare it directly with 1955's "Tarantula" and you can see how much better this one is filmed and presented. The puppetry is AMAZING! The close-up of the spider's face is really, really first rate. And the theme song has been stuck in my head for days! Love, love, love it. A film that made me laugh out loud several times (not AT it, WITH it), and left me with a great big smile. Perfect film for fans of the genre.
Parang-juuibo (2005)
"Love Story" for Korean audiences...
I'm not certain why Korean audiences are going through the "sappy love story" phase that the United States had to endure in the 1970s, but "My Girl and I" follows the same dubious steps as "Ryan's Song" and "Love Story" complete with heart-wrenching tragedy, young love, class struggles, and with the oddly Korean addition of broad comic sidekicks without which the film would be unbearable. Beautifully shot, and acted with a heavy gravitas, the script is the biggest fault in the movie, with overly-ripe dialog which becomes more earnest and overbearing as the film progresses. The music is similarly unsubtle, with thundering strings and a solo piano line increasing in volume whenever a tragic scene raises it's head. Perfect date movie for the romantic sentimentalist foreign-film enthusiast (you know who you are).
Tengoku wa matte kureru (2007)
A treacly, obvious melodrama
Tengoku wa matte kureru ("Heaven can wait. Maybe...") is a painfully labored melodrama about three school friends whose youthful friendship turns into a strained love-triangle. The three characters are little more than types: the smart, quiet boy; the slow but determined blue-collar worker; and the object of both of their affections, the professional store clerk who can't choose between her two best friends.
The big plot twist, such as it is, is surprisingly tame, and it's lack of suspense leaves the subsequent events without tension. Much of the film is filled with repetitive camera shots of a fish market, hospital room, and the insertion of vapid pop songs, leaving little room for plot or character development, and what story there is, is predictable and bland.
With a script and acting that seems more suited to daytime soap operas than a feature film, and sugary music that dripped with pathos, I found it hard to muster much sympathy or interest for any of the characters.
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
A spectacular, emotional film.
I was surprised, despite the plethora of positive reviews, at how impressed I was with this sequel. The writing shows deep respect for the characters, and despite its high-gloss Hollywood credentials, the film mines deep emotional currents, and throws in surprise after surprise for the audience right up to the end. Despite some repeated moments from the first film, (the moment on the train echoing too closely to Spidey's climactic fight with the Goblin in the first film) "Spider-Man 2" is easily the best sequel to a comic book film ever made (I know that's not saying much). But the acting is true and resonant, the build-up between events and characters rings true, and the conclusion is so stunning, and satisfying that I left the theater wiping tears out of my eyes. The actors are superb across the board, and the story is extraordinarily well-crafted; juggling several characters and situations to logical (for a comic character) conclusions.
Disneyland: Escapade in Florence: Part 1 (1962)
Fun, but vacant...
I just watched the film, and seeing what people were voting for it (it was weighted 9.4!), I figured I'd better add a dose of reality. The music is AWFUL! If the Sherman Brothers (who I love) could sink any lower than writing "Dream Boy" I haven't heard it. Annette is perky and pretty as usual, but her voice is seriously out of place singing Italian opera, it shows her off to her worst advantage. The plot is pedestrian, and only saved by the extremely likeable actors (all of whom are well-cast) and scenery (and since when should a movie be given points for it's scenery?) OK, that said, it's a likeable enough film, although in my book there could have been much more slapstick, much more humor, and I'll say it again, a LOT less canned (EVERYONE in this movie sings with a heavy studio echo) pseudo-Italian singing. I gave it a four.