My name is Bruce

Its so nice to see a film that takes the micky out of the star performer. Plus, its always amusing to watch Bruce Campbell. Coming soon to DVD...i know, i'm sad about that too.

Monster Movie Theory

I've got a theory it could be bunnies....

okay before you start singing along, this is actually a somewhat serious post. I was recently reading a blog about how popular Monster Movies are a response to things that happen in the real world. For example, the movies like Godzilla are the response to the nuclear attacks in Japan. The blog then went on to suggest that when the monsters changed to Vampire or Zombies, they were responding to viral plagues that were blood related, such as AIDS.

As i began thinking about the popular monster movies of today, i began to think of films such as Saw or Hostel. These are films that play off the fear of a monster but with a few considerable differences.

In the big Monster films of the past, the monsters were killed by humans working together to destroy the villain. In monsters films of the moment, the monster is human but he has isolated his prey to a point they are helpless against him. In the end, the victims do not over come the villain. At best the victim becomes the villain, reviling in the torture himself.

The 1950s films, while still ending in uncertainty (about whether or not this monster was the last one they would have to kill), there was still a certain amount of hope in the future. Today, the films are reflecting a hopelessness and helplessness. Is this a product of living in a society that believes global warming is going to be our undoing? Is it because terrorism and fear (from both the middle east and western countries) has taken a place of authority in our minds? Is the fear we see in the film reflecting our own fear and helplessness?

I do not know the full extent of what these sort of films are telling us, but i do believe that these monster film are telling us something truly scary about the world we are living in.

film review: Penelope

I love a good fairytale. Modern fairytales make me happy, but often leave me cold. I love the idea of them, but they just don't pull off the wonder that so many other fairy stories leave me with.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the film Penelope, starring Christina Ricci, was lacking in the cold area. The story was beautiful and exciting.

The tale centres around a girl who as been cursed with the nose of a pig. Her mother hides her away from the public and at the same time tries to marry her off to a "blue blood" to break the curse.

I especially like the end where the moral of her story is told by children.

Penelope: [telling her class her story] And we lived happily ever after - well, happily ever after so far at least.
Child #1: I don't get it. What does it mean?
Penelope: Well, you tell me what you think it means.
Child #2: Rich people stink!
Child #3: It's always the mothers fault.

With the help of some beautiful acting and careful cinematic work, and best of all, a real script, it has won its place as one of my favourite films. And yes, our next movie night will probably feature this film. Brace yourself.

Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium

Today i watched a children's film that was really quite fun. I enjoyed it for its ability to keep my brain working. My brain worked to figure out what they'd say next. While the story is a little sad...its also a lot fun. I give it a full 3.5 stars out of 5.

(warning: the film deals with death without being remorseful about it)

Dinner For One

Enjoy this New Year's Cult Classic film about an old lady who firmly sticks to tradition for her birthday celebration!

Film review: "I have been thrown far from grace. Now all i can do is fall on it"

Gabriel

My husband took me to the cinema. As we sat, preparing to watch an Australian low- budget film, our hopes weren't high. So it was a great shock to find that this film was so good. With only the tiniest of budgets they managed to make a film that was quite well done. So lets talk specifics.

Technical (cinematography)
Most of the shots are very artistic. They were enjoyable to look at because they were just so well set up. The camera work on the film was quite nice for the most part. There were a few shots at the beginning where i wondered what the director was thinking. But overall, well done.

Script (Dialogue)
Sad, but the dialogue was not the best i'd ever seen in a film. At times the scenes are painful because the dialogue is delivered so 'exact' that it sounds forced. Although, there are scene where the dialogue is exactly what the film needs. So like most things, you have to take the bad with the good.

Script (plot)
The plot was extremely simple. Angel comes down to save purgatory from hell taking over. The big surprise twist at the end; my husband saw coming, although i did not. While the plot is simple, i don't think that is really a bad thing. It meant that more effort could be put into the scenes themselves. Some of the scenes were extremely touching. My favourite was a scene where Gabriel detoxes a fallen angel. "This is going to hurt...a lot". The entire scene was extremely powerful.

Really the entire film is on some level a commentary about human's fight against the darkness. Each shot has something to say about our spiritual battles. Each fallen angel struggles with being so far away from 'the light'. It was nice to see a film where love and forgiveness are the heroes in the film instead of hatred and violence. (which isnt' to say that these things don't feature in the film, but they are not revelled in)

If you get a chance to go see this film, GO! Espcially people who like action films. I give this 3.5 stars out of 4.

Movies movies movies

I have a great love of film. I love morbid comedies like the whole 9 yards (and its sequel, the whole 10 yards), grosse pointe blank...and so on.


The newest comedy to appeal to my morbid nature is called War, Inc. True, it isn't out yet. and no i haven't seen it. but i am anticipating it quite a bit. After all, a hit-man with a conscious is always more fun than the regular action film.

be afraid

I saw the trailer for a filmed called Jesus Camp. I've never been more afraid of christian america in my life! The film is a documentary about christian children's camps. It has me really interested in seeing the film in its entirity. Here's a quote from the trailer you might appreciate.

Levi: At five I got saved...
Becky Fischer: Yeah?
Levi: ...because I just wanted more of life.
(Levi looks like he's twelve here.)