Reviews
The Brothers Grimm (2005)
Made for drugs. and since i was on them: i really liked the film!
while i probably can't go into too much detail about my Monday matinées with my friend, "herb".. i can say that i watched this movie with "him". and what a perfect film to watch with my good friend. i liked it so much i even saw it the next week. admittedly, it's not that great of a movie but the imagery is truly extraordinary. since there isn't a plot (is there a plot? i couldn't find one), one is left to just sit back and absorb the sheer delight of the unfolding beauty on the screen. my particular favourite is Little Red Ridinghood. for some reason they never mention/show grandmother's house, which is fine because you get lost in the gorgeously sun-dappled forest and the camera angles of the wolf. it is exactly as i would have filmed it and reminds me of Tim Burton and David Lynch's love child. truly stunning. the only other thing i would have liked to have seen (besides a plot, like i mentioned earlier. the little fairy tales just kinda blend together) is for Heath Ledger's character to acknowledge his sexuality. he's so clearly flaming throughout the film (which is fine) but then he went all Hollywood in the end and emerged almost straight at the very end. whatever. it's not like i want him on my team, i just think if you're gonna be all prissy through the movie, then stay prissy at the end. anyway, i digress.. i liked the movie a lot. go see it!
Hellbent (2004)
Quite possibly one of the WORST films i have ever seen.
while i applaud the effort to make a "mainstream" horror film with a gay "edge", i have to honestly warn others of the absolute horribleness of this movie. the cast is compiled of D-list porn actors (no, really. it's true. check for yourself) with almost no known acting abilities other than getting my on their marginal good looks. there's even a part of the movie (i can't tell if this was an intentional joke or not) where they casually drop their age (22) but the actors are obviously about 30. if this movie had played up its camp value (ala Die! Mommy, Die!), this could have been a funny film. but since it takes itself seriously as a horror/slasher film, it just comes across as amateur. the video production is pretty bad too. i don't even think it is worth watching on video. for free. it's that bad. and i had really, really high hopes...
Revelation (1999)
bad acting + bad script x worse story = PILE OF CRAP !
i only rented this because Carol Alt is in it (i really like her). but even her acting is dreadful. this is one of those "christian" propaganda films that is trying to be "spooky" but it just comes across as boring and stupid. and the whole virtual reality aspect of the plot and how it is used to stop Armageddon is just ridiculous and dated. the ONLY good part about watching this is seeing Tony Nappo with his shirt off. sadly, those scenes are limited. thanks to this film (my first "christian" horror film), i won't be seeing any other religious brainwashing movies aimed at the family market. my advice is to not waste your time on this dud!
Palindromes (2004)
For 2005 (so far), this is my favest movie. completely original and hilarious!
This week i have seen Batman Returns AND War of the Worlds. BOTH were predictable and only average at best. but whenever i walk into the theatre for a Todd Solondz film, i KNOW that i will be impressed with the complete originality and unpredictability of his movies. Palindromes was no exception and i was sad when it was over as i wanted to stay a "fly on the wall" in this world for a lot longer. a lot of my friends disagree and think his subject matter is a little too difficult to watch but i think that's the point. this film starts at the funeral of "weiner dog" (dawn weiner) from his film Welcome to the Dollhouse and follows in the life of her cousin, Aviva, a 13 year old girl and her quest to get pregnant so she can have a companion in her empty and lonely life. what follows is just tragically funny (to me, anyway). if you like his previous films, you'll love this one. i can't wait to purchase it on DVD so i can watch it over-and-over!
The Misadventures of Margaret (1998)
I really like this film but the soundtrack is the real treat!
While not the best movie, it was certainly enjoyable to watch. sadly, i have only seen (and own!) the American DVD which is twenty minutes shorter with most of the nudity edited out. and who couldn't use a little more nudity featuring Jeremy Northam? Hmmmm... Jeremy Northam.... but i digress. the best part of the movie is the soundtrack! performed oh so perfectly by Saint Etienne. they even released it (only in Japan) as "The Misadventures Of Saint Etienne". since the film didn't really do very well box office-wise, the cd was made in very limited quantities and went out of print quickly. i wish more of it was used in the film as it's barely heard.