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BrendanKilpatrick
Reviews
Solaris (2002)
Hauntingly beautiful (CAUTION: SPOILERS)
About 20 minutes into "Solaris," I noticed that there were some strong similarities between this film and the video game "Silent Hill 2" (this is a positive comparison, mind you, but I won't get into a discussion of SH2 here). My friend had asked me to rent it, and to be honest, I was wary of it, at first. I had heard bad things about it, and was prepared for it to be truly awful. What I got, instead, was one of the most beautiful and tragic things I've ever seen. Chris Kelvin (George Clooney) is a psychologist who has ample emotional baggage of his own. He is quiet and brooding, never letting on the torment that is going on in his mind. The pattern of his mundane life is disrupted when a couple of strangers show up with an ominous message: Chris's friend, Gibrarian (Ulrich Tukur), who is in charge of a space ship that is investigating the planet Solaris, cryptically begs Chris to come to the ship and help them, never quite divulging what is wrong. Chris obliges, and before too long, has arrived on the ship. However, he finds that Gibrarian, along with one of the other scientists, is already dead. The only survivors are Snow (Jeremy Davies), who seems eerily detached from all the madness that surrounds him, and Gordon (Viola Davis), who is paranoid and suspicious of everyone, especially Chris. Chris is unable to convince Snow and Gordon to leave right away, unsure of what is going on. In the night, Chris is visited by the apparition of his wife, Rheya (Natascha McElhone), who has been dead for three years. Thinking it a dream, Chris awakes, only to find out that Rheya is all too real.
As it turns out, Solaris, for better or worse, creates 'visitors' for the crew members of the ship, which are fashioned from their feelings and memories. These visitors are manifestations of guilt, of regret, of longing, and of love. Chris, blaming himself for Rheya's suicide, is unable to fully comprehend the idea that the visitor is not real, because he so desperately needs the second chance that Rheya's 'ghost' represents. Therefore, he fights tooth and nail with Gordon, who wants to destroy Rheya and go back to earth. However, Rheya's increasing self-awareness drives her to despair, as she realizes she is not the Rheya that Chris remembers, and therefore allows herself to be destroyed. However, the ship itself is in grave danger. Snow's eerie calm was a mask for his deranged state of mind...and his treachery causes the ship to be put on a crash course with Solaris. Although Gordon is able to leave the ship, Chris, upon rumination, is not. He is left behind with Snow to face whatever is in the heart of Solaris, and what exactly he finds there is open to debate, without a doubt. Whatever it is, it provides peace, love, and forgiveness for his tortured soul. "Solaris," from it's gray, dark opening, to its beautiful, mystifying conclusion, is stunning. The music is amazingly haunting and lingers in your mind long after the last chord has faded. The visuals are stunning, and each scene is a work of great beauty. The clean, cold nature of the ship contrasts sharply with the raw power of emotion flowing between the four main characters, as they struggle with reality and unreality, and what they are and what they are not. The acting is remarkable, as well. I was a big fan of Clooney's performance in "O Brother Where Art Thou," but his work here was amazing. Fantastic. He really conveyed the brooding and suffering plaguing Kelvin's psyche, making the role his own. Natascha McElhone is also wonderfully cast as Rheya. Her confusion, her pain, and her mysterious, evasive nature are all portrayed beautifully. Both of these characters elicit so much love, sympathy, and frustration, that it's amazing how much you find yourself caring about and mourning for two souls that are as adrift as they are. Davis, Davies, and Tukur all do fine acting jobs, as well, to their credit. Davis is the force of reason on the ship, yet somewhat ominous, because one wonders who...or what...her visitor could be. Davies, the manic Snow, portrays the spooky character perfectly. He's excitable, and hyperactive, to be sure...yet, he doesn't seem to be bothered by anything around him. Tukur, as Gibrarian, really enhances the scenes he is in. The scene in which he converses with Chris from beyond the grave is very haunting and is a particular stand-out. Rarely have I seen a film that evokes as much emotion or portrays as much beauty as this one. Everything, from the sets, to the effects, to the acting, music, and visual style, form together to create a work of near perfection. My only complaint was that it was too short!
What happens to Chris when he enters the heart of Solaris? There is no definitive answer to it, but trying to find one is a great exercise for the mind. See this movie with someone you love. (Next time I see my girlfriend, she's being forced to watch this...I think it would have an even more profound emotional impact on couples) 10/10
Red Dwarf (1988)
Great series
I had been pressured by a friend to watch Red Dwarf for some time now. Recently, I was able to accomplish this. After watching all 8 seasons, I must say it is an oftentimes hilarious bit of comedy. However, it does have its flaws. The plot is simple enough: 3 million years into space, the mining ship Red Dwarf. An accident had killed off the crew, leaving as its only survivors Dave Lister, the lowest ranking, laziest, sloppiest piece of filth imaginable, and Cat, a vain, selfish, shallow creature that evolved from Lister's pet cat. The droll computer, Holly, to keep Dave sane, brought back Dave's old bunkmate, Arnold Rimmer, back to life as a hologram. In season 3, they are joined by the mechanoid, Kryten, and in season 7, Rimmer is temporarily replaced by Dave's ex-girlfriend Kristine Kochanski. Let me just say this: The best seasons, by far, are 3-6. The worst is, by far, season 7. Seasons 1, 2, and 8 are mediocre. Seasons 3-6 had the funniest plotlines, the best dialogue, and excellent characterization. The overall tone is lighthearted, but the underlying theme of despair and loneliness is never far off, and sometimes comes out in dismal bits and pieces.
Seasons 1 and 2 are generally very depressing. They focus on the relationship between Lister and Rimmer, born enemies. However, despite truly funny moments, there are multiple times in which the utter hopelessness of their situation overwhelms them, and we are given episodes like 2.04 (Thanks for the Memory)...which you'd be better off not seeing, unless you like major downers. In season 7, Rimmer left in the second episode (Stoke Me a Clipper), and it all went downhill from there. Chris Barrie plays rimmer to the hilt, and without him, the show just isn't the same. Lister has no natural rival, and the tension and conflict just aren't there anymore. Instead, they bring in Kochanski, who just isn't all that funny of a character. In addition, the departure of one of the writers caused an overall decrease in the quality of the writing, and it shows. Season 8 is much better than season 7, and is on a par with 1 and 2, but it's still not great. Though a lot of people would tell you to avoid 7 and 8, I would have to disagree. Season 7 episodes "Tikka to Ride" "Stoke me a Clipper" and "Blue" are all great (since they all have Rimmer) and Epideme parts 1 and 2 are at least watchable.
Season 8 is a huge step up, since Rimmer is brought back, along with the original Holly. The final episode, "Only the Good..." is actually a fitting (if silly) ending to the series, with Rimmer cheating Death in a most unconventional way. Overall, fans of British comedy should love this. It's sheer hilarity, for the most part. Try to watch "DNA," "Quarantine," "Emohawk," "Dimension Jump," "Blue," "Backwards" and "Polymorph", among many others, but watch out. You might find your sides splitting before you know it.
Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
One of the finest moments of television I have seen.
Okay, this is going to be laden with spoilers, but oh well.
I posted a review for "I, Claudius" not too long ago, which at the time was the finest bit of television I had ever seen. Then the same friend that introduced me to "I, Claudius" also introduced me to "The Black Adder." Although "I, Claudius" is still the best, in my mind, "Blackadder" is right up there with the greatest. Although the first three series are all very funny and very well written, it is with the fourth and final series that it reaches its peak. I'll go through the cast, then the reasons why this series was the best of the four.
First, Rowan Atkinson returns as Edmund Blackadder, who has now fallen to the status of an army captain. He is in this series at his slickest and most scheming, though not quite as evil as he was in the third series. Atkinson is once again hilarious, as is Tony Robinson as the grimy and completely witless S. Baldrick. Hugh Laurie once again rounds out the trio as Lt. George, a much nicer and more pleasant character than the Prince Regent, but just as dim and naive.
Tim McInnery, who was mostly absent from the third season, makes a return as Captain Kevin Darling, a desk jockey at headquarters who is Blackadder's> rival. Darling is quite an interesting character, and certainly a huge change from Lord Percy. Stephen Fry returns as the hilariously inept (and completely insane) General Melchett. World War I, as we know, was one of the most pointless wars in recent memory. It was carnage for the sake of dubious causes, where millions of common men gave their lives for god only knows what, at the command of men scarecely fit to dress themselves let alone cunduct a war.
The series itself is hilarious, the cast is brillaint, and the episodes "Private Plane" (with Rik Mayall giving another hilarious performance as the obnoxious Lord Flasheart) and "Corporal Punishment" are particularly funny.
The best of the season, though, and the best, by far, of the entire series, is the final episode "Goodbyeee". I was struck speechless when I saw this episode. There was an impending sense of doom hanging over the heads of our beloved characters as they waited for the end. George, who had up to this point been champing at the bit to charge the Germans, began to show signs of misgivings...for all of his friends had been killed in the war, and he began to realize that he, too, was afraid to die. Baldrick, who seemed perfectly thick with no mind whatsoever, also began to display pathos. He remembered how wonderful and honorable it seemed to serve in the military. He also wondered why the war had to go on, and why it couldn't just stop and everyone couldn't just go home.
There are two real defining moments in this episode, though:
1.) When General Melchett sends Captain Darling off to the front line as 'a favor.' Darling, is of course, terrified. He's a pencil pusher and a snivelling desk jockey, and now, the very real spectre of death faces him. As he turns to go, the door is opened and a bright shaft of light enters the previously darkened room, outlining the shadow of a soldier who salutes. General Melchett says, in a solemn and somewhat moving manner, "Goodbye, Kevin Darling." In this poignant and moving scene, the up to this point loathsome Captain Darling is suddenly a tragic character, as he goes off into the light to face his almost certain demise.
2.) As Baldrick, Blackadder, George, and Darling prepare for the end, they both say a few last words...Darling wishing that he could just go home and go on with his life and marry his sweetheart, George finally starting to fear death and missing his friends that he lost, Baldrick confused and disenchanted by the pointlessness of the war, and Blackadder resigned, bitter, and hopeless. Blackadder had, earlier in the episode, tried to get out of the war by pretending to be mad, but in the end, realizes that in a war run by madmen, one more loony wouldn't be noticed. The four men then charge over the trenches, and are consumed in the smoke of battle. The next scene shows the ruins of the battlefield, which segues into the field as it is today, covered in poppies, serene and peaceful, a grotesque opposite of what it once was. There are no end credits. Simply the end. This ending was beautiful, fabulous, very moving and well constructed. It must be seen to be believed, it is among best I shall ever see. "Goodbye, Kevin Darling." Indeed.
I, Claudius (1976)
Simply Amazing
I had been interested in seeing this series for quite some time, and had just gotten the opportunity recently when one of my friends borrowed the DVD set from his family and brought it back to school with him. All I can say, is that I was most certainly not disappointed. In fact, from start to finish, I was totally absorbed by the story and its characters. It might just be the finest work ever done for television, with some of the finest acting I've ever seen, and brillaint writing to back it up. The story covers the early Roman Empire, from the reign of the benvolent Augustus, to the rule of the tragic tyrant Tiberius, the savage Caligula, and the pathetic, haunted Claudius. "I, Claudius" is the ultimate in family dramas. It is very dark and moving, but it has some quite funny scenes, especially with Caligula and Augustus. As far as the acting is concerned... Sian Phillips is quite venemous as the scheming Livia. She's so vile and loathsome that you almost wish for her to poison herself. However, she acts the part well, as such an evil, relentless woman must be difficult to play with a good conscience. Brian Blessed lights up every scene he is in as Augustus. A genuine good sport, he provides some of the more amusing scenes with his almost infantile temper tantrums (and the memorable line "Is there anyone in here that has NOT slept with my daughter?"), and his death scene is one of the finest examples of acting I have ever seen. George Baker gives an excellent performance as the tormented Tiberius. He was actually my personal favorite, as he was perhaps one of the most tragic characters in the series. As his whole life crashes down around him, we get to see him unravel and eventually become the monster that history knows him as. Tragically, he is underused, especially later in the series, but the second episode absolutely belongs to the brooding Baker. John Hurt's Caligula has to be seen to be believed. His performance is so believably terrifying that it'll alternate between keeping you in stitches and givng you nightmares. Hurt's acting is magnificent, and he portrays Caligula with a lot more restraint than good old Alex did in the X-Rated attempt at mainstream porn, "Caligula". In this case, less is more. A quiet, almost boyish madman is much more frightening than a raving loony.
Derek Jacobi, the star of the series, is an excellent Claudius. Living an existence where his friends and family die one by one, he is forced to hide behind the veil of idiocy to escape from the suspicions of Tiberius and Caligula. Jacobi's performance is first-rate, as he alternates flawlessly between the stuttering fool and the shrewd, calculating politician. Interestingly enough, Jacobi also played "Claudius" in Branagh's 'Hamlet'. Finally, Patrick Stewart turns in an intriguing performance as the ambitious Sejanus. This is Stewart as you are probably not used to seeing him. Sejanus is oily, evil, and conniving. There is little saving grace to his character, and he is perhaps even more loathsome than Tiberius. Stewart's acting job is excellent, as he is all cool and harsh, until the very end, when he realizes that he's doomed... All in all, I was amazed by the beauty of "I, Claudius." It included some of the most powerful imagery ever caught on film. The final ten minutes have to be seen to be believed...they could not have ended the series in a more touching, haunting manner. Also of note is the death of Castor (Tiberius' son)...I won't spoil for you, but it is a VERY powerful image, one that is not soon forgotten.