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Reviews
Tenebre (1982)
Can you take this axe out of my head please
Awful, yes it is, don't argue, this has got to be one of the worst movies I've ever seen, seriously, even the the so called gore is lame - it might have been more horrific if it wasn't for the diabolical, early 80's, electro-jazz-fusion soundtrack, which did nothing but remove any viability there might have been in this movie actually having a suspenseful ambiance. It's just a really bad movie, there are no two ways about it. 'Inferno' I enjoyed more but it is not without it's flaws, I think Suspiria if my favourite. Lets see if Argento can deliver with the final instalment of the Three Mothers Trilogy which debuts next month.
The Lost (2006)
Yeah baby
Why did the distributors pitch this as a horror? I, like someone else commenting here, saw this at a horror convention so was expecting something very different. What I got instead was one of the hardest hitting movies I saw all year (06). I found it pretty heavy, especially the ending, this is not a nice movie, but it's not supposed to be, that's why it worked for me. Well acted, especially the lead. It's a pity it didn't get more attention on release. Well I need to write 10 lines, so here are the fillers, rent it, you won't be disappointed; if you like gritty psychological dramas. A fine study of one young mans demented narcissistic psychosis.
Inland Empire (2006)
re: Elephants
Well, yeah, whatever David. Proof that you should not let someone who has practiced TM for 20 years roam around with a digital camera. This metaphysically meandering, hodge podge of a movie, rehashes many of the concepts (and cinematic devices) he has trudged over in previous works. Intentionally contrived to the point of boredom is how I would describe it. Do I really want David Lynch to give me lessons in "reality", "causality", and "relativity"? it's fairground philosophy at it's worst. I should have just smoked some DMT, that would actually have been meaningful, lasted only 15 minutes, but left me with something worthwhile to think about. Oh yeah, the Pendereki, cheap, really cheap using this music as he did - same with the way Kubrick milked Ligeti for what it was worth in the Shining. Textural dissonance does not necessarily equal "scary"; contrary to what so many film makers seem to think. Lynch fancies himself as a so called sound designer: so use your fricken imagination dude, instead of using the same old tactics to create tension. And the whole jolting scary face thing, give me a break, how many more times is he going to roll out this cheap trick. Earth calling David, earth calling David, come in David....................... Too much Yogic flying I guess.
P.S. go and watch 'Chetyre' instead
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Yawn of the Dud.
I just paused the movie to write this, that's how lame it is, rent the original, it's a classic, this is not a good movie, and as far as contemporary zombies movies go, this one has a bit of catching up to do.
Hey! let's send the dog with some food, ooops, that didn't work so well, hey, lets use the sewer connection to rescue the dumb ass chick who drove over to get the dog, yah! great idea, duh, so why didn't they just use the friggin sewer in the first place if it was that easy all along? Just one of the dumb ass things that happens in this film, it's lame, it's tame, it's a down right bloody shame they didn't do the original justice.
4 (2004)
Memorable
First I want to address some of the inane reviews here that are moaning about the lack of narrative, or more inane still, the lack of "plot"?? What can I say to that? You know SFA about cinema (as an art form) by the sounds of it and would probably be better off sticking to Hollywood fare. If you have a social conscience and know something about the underbelly of capitalism you will 'get' this movie - though a sense of humour helps (something it seems some of these reviewers do not have). From a technical point of view I was most impressed by the use of sound in this work and would recommend it to any music and image student looking for a good example of creative sound usage in film making. Put simply, I liked this film, I found it touching, I was moved, what more can I say?
The Departed (2006)
Forget this and go out and rent State of Grace instead.
First gripe, Jack Nicholson, an American-Irish mobster?? give me a break. Nicholson is way passed his sell-by, a miscast one dimensional performance, Nicholson is always Nicholson in my opinion (The Crossing Guard was the last movie of his that I enjoyed) most definitely not convincing as a psycho mobster. The other badly miscast role in my opinion was that of Wahlberg as a hard-nut cop, lame, an Oscar for that??? I can not fault the casting of DiCaprio or Damon, both were feasible, same can be said for the supporting cast. For the most part I did not find the plot engaging, though I enjoyed the ending, I can't say I anticipated it resolving in that manner. I found the constant non-diegetic mood music not only unnecessary but irritating, I really do not see why it was there, it did nothing to enhance the movie, it was simply cheesy, was that the intention? I really can not fathom how this work was awarded an Oscar for best movie, Scorsese is out of touch, passed his sell-by, just like Nicholson - they should just have given him (Scorsese) the life time achievement award and given the Oscar for Direction and Best movie to Babel (which, in terms of the cinematic art, was leagues above The Departed). I know there are people who enjoy this type of movie, most likely the same ones who have religiously followed the Sopranos since it's inception, but I just found it stale. Scorseses' days as a ground breaking film maker have long since passed, but if he can do no wrong in your eyes, you'll love this.
Vidocq (2001)
Enjoyed this.
I saw this a few years back when it hit the cinema in France and thought that overall it was not a bad attempt at a Gothic horror/thriller (a genre I like). Initially I found the digital footage a little off putting but settled into the "look" eventually and ended up really liking it. So, OK, it's not high art French cinema but surely that's not a reason to dislike it? I have to say I was surprised to find so many reviews here because I heard nothing of this movie after the French release, which surprised me (especially as that movie Brotherhood of the Wolf was doing the rounds, which I thought was a pile of s**t in comparison). Also, 28 Days Later appeared not long after this, touting a similar digital look (but i thought that movie seriously sucked also). In conclusion, if, like me, you disliked the movies mentioned, maybe you will like Vidocq. I think, that in time, it will possibly gain cult status . What do you think?