This past weekend's reviews:
This weekend I watched:
Casanova (2005) - A very cliche-ridden film I watched with falfax, techix and looking_askance Friday night. Just as the film was wrapping up I called out, "And now you'll see cursive lettering spell out the word, 'The End' before it fades out". Within seconds it happened. That's how predictable this romantic comedy was. I had the hardest time trying to determine what demographic the film is aimed at: Aside from a sex scene during the opening 3 minutes that warranted it an 'R' rating, the film otherwise feels aimed at pre-teen girls. However, its rating would've (mostly) kept them away, and as an adult film, its too-cliched and sunny. This made me miss my romatic comedy class, because we would've had a fine time dissecting its structure and tone aside The Lady Eve, Shampoo, It Happened One Night, and Much Ado About Nothing (a sunny spectacle that works in spite of itself because of the contrasting tonal conflicts).
Wolf Creek (2005) - An okay "true story" serial killer film set in Australia. The Australian setting tremendously helped distinguish this usual laborious fare from its American cousins, and the antagonist is a real memorable winner. The clincher is that the main character wasn't present for most of the proceedings, so 90% of what you see is speculative. However, the fact this film presents a real mystery by the end ranks it alongside Open Water as compelling enough to be worthwhile.
Werewolves on Wheels (1971) - From the instant I heard about this seven months ago I knew I had to see it. Its the great-grandaddy of Snakes on a Plane. When you hear that title you either crave to see it or not. Despite the ravaging this film has received from armchair-critics, it occured to me that most of their perceived problems with the film were in fact subtle details they had somehow missed in the lazy perception that this film couldn't possibly supply any depth whatsoever. Boy were they wrong! This film is laced with symbolism and commentary about the human condition, underneath the veneer of exploitation. This film was great enough that I actually watched it a second time immediately after it ended.
The Warriors (1979) - I can't believe I never saw this comic-book cult film before last night. The opening sequence is one of the most intense and amazing openings I've ever seen. No wonder this film was named in the top 20 of greatest cult films of all time by Entertainment Weekly a year ago. It's solid work through and through.
Casanova (2005) - A very cliche-ridden film I watched with falfax, techix and looking_askance Friday night. Just as the film was wrapping up I called out, "And now you'll see cursive lettering spell out the word, 'The End' before it fades out". Within seconds it happened. That's how predictable this romantic comedy was. I had the hardest time trying to determine what demographic the film is aimed at: Aside from a sex scene during the opening 3 minutes that warranted it an 'R' rating, the film otherwise feels aimed at pre-teen girls. However, its rating would've (mostly) kept them away, and as an adult film, its too-cliched and sunny. This made me miss my romatic comedy class, because we would've had a fine time dissecting its structure and tone aside The Lady Eve, Shampoo, It Happened One Night, and Much Ado About Nothing (a sunny spectacle that works in spite of itself because of the contrasting tonal conflicts).
Wolf Creek (2005) - An okay "true story" serial killer film set in Australia. The Australian setting tremendously helped distinguish this usual laborious fare from its American cousins, and the antagonist is a real memorable winner. The clincher is that the main character wasn't present for most of the proceedings, so 90% of what you see is speculative. However, the fact this film presents a real mystery by the end ranks it alongside Open Water as compelling enough to be worthwhile.
Werewolves on Wheels (1971) - From the instant I heard about this seven months ago I knew I had to see it. Its the great-grandaddy of Snakes on a Plane. When you hear that title you either crave to see it or not. Despite the ravaging this film has received from armchair-critics, it occured to me that most of their perceived problems with the film were in fact subtle details they had somehow missed in the lazy perception that this film couldn't possibly supply any depth whatsoever. Boy were they wrong! This film is laced with symbolism and commentary about the human condition, underneath the veneer of exploitation. This film was great enough that I actually watched it a second time immediately after it ended.
The Warriors (1979) - I can't believe I never saw this comic-book cult film before last night. The opening sequence is one of the most intense and amazing openings I've ever seen. No wonder this film was named in the top 20 of greatest cult films of all time by Entertainment Weekly a year ago. It's solid work through and through.