It's a bit too slot and bit too long, but, as the Tim League recommended in the Fantastic Fest guide, if you're going to see this the best bet is to go in totally blind. What happens after 42 minutes should be a total surprise.
Kamogawa Horumo - Battle League in Kyoto
2009, directed by Katsuhide Motoki
Friday, September 25, 2009
Paranormal Activity
This film is generating so much hype here today. Together with the industry presence (30+ seats blocked off for cast and crew) and enhanced security, it's either going to be a huge blockbuster or a serious disappointment.
...watches...
Eh, it was ok, but not worth the hype. It was very predictable and lacked the stick-with-you creepy factor of similar films like The Blair Witch Project. I didn't go to sleep thinking about ghosts, I went to sleep thinking up a better ending. I overheard the guy sitting next to me say that there are eight endings, and he described one of them. Sadly, the one he gave was better than the one they used.
Paranormal Activity
2007, 99 minutes, directed by Oren Peli
read on for spoiler thoughts
The CG in the last second was totally out of place, and the ending was 100% predictable from the moment of the slashed picture. Come on, when she decides to not leave it's obvious she's been possessed. Rather than all of that, wind back to when she's dragged down the hall. Instead of having her pulled into a back bedroom until Micah rescues her, let's see her (via an arm, whatever) get pulled up into the attic through that back closet just before the door slam. Then Micah shouldn't be able to rescue her. He ends up alone. After the tension (and the activity) mounts over five minutes of him frantically figuring out what to do, she should reappear, just give a little grin, and then plug in the she-slaughters-him ending of choice.
...watches...
Eh, it was ok, but not worth the hype. It was very predictable and lacked the stick-with-you creepy factor of similar films like The Blair Witch Project. I didn't go to sleep thinking about ghosts, I went to sleep thinking up a better ending. I overheard the guy sitting next to me say that there are eight endings, and he described one of them. Sadly, the one he gave was better than the one they used.
Paranormal Activity
2007, 99 minutes, directed by Oren Peli
read on for spoiler thoughts
The CG in the last second was totally out of place, and the ending was 100% predictable from the moment of the slashed picture. Come on, when she decides to not leave it's obvious she's been possessed. Rather than all of that, wind back to when she's dragged down the hall. Instead of having her pulled into a back bedroom until Micah rescues her, let's see her (via an arm, whatever) get pulled up into the attic through that back closet just before the door slam. Then Micah shouldn't be able to rescue her. He ends up alone. After the tension (and the activity) mounts over five minutes of him frantically figuring out what to do, she should reappear, just give a little grin, and then plug in the she-slaughters-him ending of choice.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Solomon Kane
Harry and the director wanted to be clear right off the bat that this film was new material, not drawn from any source novel, so as to preclude offense taken by the fanboys in the room. As I have no history with the content, that was unimportant to me. What I wanted to see was a kickass sword and sorcery adventure without the silliness or self-mocking-awareness all too often present in such films, and I got just what I wanted. The director shaped the film brilliantly with the resources he had, and the acting and photography brought it home. If it hits as well with a general audience (fingers crossed) as it did with me, this should become a series to follow.
Michael J. Bassett is a very eloquent director able to convey his passion for this material. Were I a producer, I'd want to bring him on and unleash that passion on my intellectual property.
Solomon Kane
2009, directed by Michael J. Bassett
Michael J. Bassett is a very eloquent director able to convey his passion for this material. Were I a producer, I'd want to bring him on and unleash that passion on my intellectual property.
Solomon Kane
2009, directed by Michael J. Bassett
Gentlemen Broncos
This Fantastic Fest, I wanted to see one of the big gala premieres. It would be Zombieland except Harry scheduled a secret screening on top of it, something I can't resist. So instead I'm here at the beautiful Paramount theater, a wonderful place to look at ... the place, but an awful place to watch a movie. As usual, all four good seats are reserved for cast and crew. My view is only partially blocked, and at least I'm on the end of a row so I can breath and move my legs.
So, Gentlemen Broncos. Small town kid in uncomfortable situations finds himself and wins big. If you liked Napolean Dynamite, well you'll get to see part two. If you didn't, like I didn't, well meh.
Gentlemen Broncos
2009, directed by Jared Hess
So, Gentlemen Broncos. Small town kid in uncomfortable situations finds himself and wins big. If you liked Napolean Dynamite, well you'll get to see part two. If you didn't, like I didn't, well meh.
Gentlemen Broncos
2009, directed by Jared Hess
Первый отряд (First Squad)
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
[REC]
As usual I neglected to plan ahead to see my Fantastic Fest prequels via Netflix. I expected to find only the U.S. remake Quarantine at the local Blockbuster, but to my surprise they had not just one but two copies of [REC].
This is a delightful low-budget shakey-cam survival horror flick. I quite recommend it in its original version and native tongue, as the actual low-quality tape (instead of the via-special-effects fake stuff that Hollywood would use) and low-budget effects leave room for the imagination to take over.
Next week, we'll have to see how much I like the convoluted plot they'll have to use to make a sequel...
[REC]
2007, 78 minutes, directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza
This is a delightful low-budget shakey-cam survival horror flick. I quite recommend it in its original version and native tongue, as the actual low-quality tape (instead of the via-special-effects fake stuff that Hollywood would use) and low-budget effects leave room for the imagination to take over.
Next week, we'll have to see how much I like the convoluted plot they'll have to use to make a sequel...
[REC]
2007, 78 minutes, directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza
Saturday, September 12, 2009
9
I'm really disappointed. The film starts with far too little time spent introducing the audience to the environment - the newly formed lead character intrinsically knows too much too quickly, and the action commences before the characters have context. Going back later and filling in the history with movie reels is no excuse for writing a poor exposition. This really just ruins the film.
It's billed as an adventure for adults and children, but I think anyone over 8 will be disappointed by the clumsily advanced plot, and anyone under 8 will be scared by the imagery. The saddest part is that, since the film is SO short, they could have had plenty of time to create a good story with proper pacing. Did they run out of money? I expected better.
9
2009, 79 minutes, directed by Shane Acker
It's billed as an adventure for adults and children, but I think anyone over 8 will be disappointed by the clumsily advanced plot, and anyone under 8 will be scared by the imagery. The saddest part is that, since the film is SO short, they could have had plenty of time to create a good story with proper pacing. Did they run out of money? I expected better.
9
2009, 79 minutes, directed by Shane Acker
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