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Reviews
Daredevil (2003)
Finally, a truly decent superhero movie.
Having seen the awful mess that was made of all four modern "Batman" films, and the pre-pubescent travesty that was "Spiderman", I had obviously lost a lot of faith in the superhero genre...("Mystery Men" and "X-men2" at least provided some relief). When I saw that "Daredevil" was being filmed I cringed in horror at the potential damage Hollywood could possibly visit upon another comic-book hero. Consequently I didn't go to the cinema to see "Daredevil", I felt there was only more disappointment round this particular corner. Luckily I was totally wrong.
Having just watched DD on DVD, I am very pleasantly surprised indeed. It's a wonderfully dark and adult vision of an extremely ambiguous subject matter. Sure it has a few of the old superhero cliches but the way this subject matter has been treated so seriously seems to have paid off.
This film does not pander to the adolescent minds and attitudes of so many cinema-goers, young and old(see Spiderman for one that does). I didn't feel at all patronised once. A realistic vicious world which contains no moral absolutes, this is a "grown-up" film by any standards. If you want mindless comic book action then look elsewhere, DD is a breath of fresh air in an increasingly stagnant genre.
If, like me, you've been saddened by the moronic, mass-market pandering, facile, over-hyped, superhero blockbusters of times past, then look no further. Fingers crossed for "The Hulk".
La ardilla roja (1993)
Highly unusual and hugely entertaining
This is truly one of the most intriguing and satisfying films I have ever seen. It mixes surreal drama with suspense, romance and humour, but unlike the crass attempts of "mainstream" western cinema, "The Red Squirrel" manages this mix without seeming unnatural. The scenes set in the eponymous campsite stir vivid memories and sensations (for me at least) of the slightly bizarre, claustrophobic experiences of childhood camping holidays. As you settle into the comfortingly artificial community of the campsite, you really feel the true awkwardness of the forced politeness of your "camping" neighbours. You also never lose sight of the unanswered plot questions and the inevitable confrontation of several possible truths which are tantalizingly just beyond reach.
Highly unusual and hugely entertaining. Buy it, watch it, spread the word.