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Psychomanteum (2018)
New British horror film stands out from the crowd
Psychomanteum (perhaps not the most memorable or easily searchable name) stands out and above all recent lacklustre anthology films since it avoids cliches to deliver original and seriously messed up stories that are weird and memorable. The interlinking narrative piece reminded me of "This Unnameable Little Broom" by the Brothers Quay, no it's not animated, but it does have the same mad, frenzied energy that left me with a haunting takeaway. OK a couple of the short films are weaker because they end before they really get going but there are more than enough multiple award winning stand out films to justify the price of viewing, which at under a dollar is a steal and free if your an Amazon Prime member.
The Matrix (1999)
Wildly original, inspired!
Watching this again on DVD what really impressed me was the special effects in this film which were leaps and bounds ahead of their competition and still some of the best to date, it deservedly won the Oscar.Many people believed that in should have also won Best Picture.But a science-fiction film has never won this award, which perhaps shows that the Oscar Academy Board is still filled with people who are a little behind the times! The film has all the physical energy of an action film: shoot-outs, hand-to-hand fighting, and acrobatic stunts.This is complemented by imaginative visual work that includes the use of shadows, slow motion and quick cuts.But the film does not rely on the special effects alone.As well as a lot of computer generated effects, the film also has great tradition stunt action that put the Bond films to shame! The film touches on many interesting philosophical questions: do we exist? How do we know we exist? Is what we perceive real? How can we know this? In one scene Neo receives a lesson on human perception and reality from a child. It takes place while Neo is waiting for an interview.The child is in deep concentration, using his own mind to bend spoons.He tells Neo:"Do not try and bend the spoon. That is impossible.Instead, only try to realize the truth. What truth?There is no spoon. Then, you will see that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself". In another provocative scene, Neo has a "deja vu": a black cat passes in front of him and arches its back,then another identical cat does exactly the same thing. Morpheus explains that deja vu is really a glitch in the Matrix. Then, what is real? Unfortunately the two sequels failed to surpass the greatness of this wildly original film, unlike the Rings trilogy which went progressively from strength to strength.
Boy Meets Girl (1994)
Female Hannibal Lectern makes a demented snuff movie!
After watching and being disappointed by Day of the Sirens (the directors latest movie) I was slagging the film off to a friend when she asked me had I seen Boy Meets Girl, she insisted that I borrow her copy and to watch it. Though highly sceptical I decided to humour her, resigned that I would be turning it off within minutes I sat down to watch it. What a shocking surprise, I was glued to my seat, genuinely disturbing the film was intelligently written and felt at times as real as a documentary and left me with recurring nightmares. I was warned not to watch it alone or late in the evening and to my regret I did not heed the warning. This is the darkest film I've ever seen, you really don't believe that what you are watching is or could be a real movie, more like you are watching some sort of sick home movie made by a female Hannibal Lectern who has decided to make a demented snuff movie. I felt constantly abused and challenged throughout the movie and couldn't sleep for hours, no most of the night. Perversely brilliant and unlike any other film I've ever seen I was repelled and drawn to it simultaneously, a movie more like a play written by a reincarnated Marquis De Sade. Loved it and hated it at the same time and not for the faint hearted or easily shocked. Beware you have been warned!
Love Actually (2003)
A bus load of characters!
Watching this film felt getting on a crowded bus and having talk to everyone on it! Too many stories, each one of which felt like the initial draft of the first and last chapters of separate screenplays which had been stitched together, using the general idea of "Christmas" as a unifying theme and to coincidentally (I'm sure) goose holiday box office revenues. The way that many of the actors involved have been circulating on talk shows, en masse, to promote the movie makes me suspect that each was given a percentage of the gate receipts in return for their participation and promotion. The movie provided a few smirks and smiles but I never really got to care much what happened to any of the characters. The story line with Firth and his Portugese cleaning lady had potential but then Colin goes back to London, learns passable Portugese in just one week, which is typical of the flaws in just about every storyline. While the stories are all light confections, the only jarring notes came when the auther/ director introduces a little anti-American left wing cant by portraying the President as a cartoonish caricature combining a groping Bill Clinton and a bullying George Bush. If I was American I would have also been insulted by the typical "middle America" (Idaho, I think) girls who are portrayed as attractive but empty headed bimbos always eager for a shag or orgy with anyone at anytime, anywhere. Americans don't come off looking good in this movie which is a surprise considering that the US will be it's greatest market. But then, I guess the participants are smug in the belief that the average American theatre goer isn't sophisticated enough "to get" the inside joke. It's always more satisfying when you can take their money AND insult them at the same time.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
The best of the 3
This is the best of the trilogy. Let's hope there's not another decade before the fourth. I'm not normally a fan of big Hollywood blockbusters, not least the high-grossing trilogies of recent years (Harry Potter, Matrix, Lord of the Rings), but there's something about the first two Terminator films I've always liked. Maybe because it's set in the real world, I don't know. When I had the opportunity to see a preview of Terminator 3, I thought I was bound to be disappointed, not least because the director Jonathan Mostow made the appalling U571. But I was enthralled. From start to finish, I couldn't tear my eyes from the screen for one moment. Much of the film is similar to the first two, in that there's an evil Terminator after the good guy with someone from the future to protect them. Cue high adrenalin car chases, stunts, explosions, etc., all done with panache and good humour. But there's more to this movie than its predecessors, more than just simple chasing. There's a bigger picture, about fate, about the relentless march of technology and the naivety of the American military. Quite simply, it's an interesting film. Nick Stahl and Claire Danes are believable and have good chemistry, Arnie is entertaining, with some great one-liners and the female Terminatrix blends in without any problem.
Bichunmoo (2000)
Incredibly silly!
Lots of guys that look like they are frantically peddling push bikes whilst being hoisted on wires between buildings. Ridiculous action sequences where people perform dozens of spins whilst flying through the air like seagulls. Reminded me of 'Monkey' the old TV show. The script is crazy stupid, the lead man dies several times each time to miraculously rise from the dead, characters keep on changing their loyalties, inconsistantcy and the absurd are the key words here. I found it extremely difficult to even follow the bewildering story line where fifteen years pass between scenes and you just have to figure this out because characters have changed from boys to men etc. I admit at times this film is beautifully shot and staged, I take my hat of to the art department and the cinematographer, but the rest is garbage, utter tosh, incredibly silly, to stupid for adults to confusing for children!
Day of the Sirens (2002)
Going against type!
A big problem with this film for me, and I guess many others, is that Rik doesn't play a comic role, he in fact plays a very camp DJ. Now I can't be the only one that was very disappointed by this. Rik is one of Britain's greatest comedians, why go against type and cast him in a none comic role, it just doesn't make sense! This apart, I enjoyed the film, Jaffrey was very good and I really liked the 'Spanish couple's' story, but I'm only going to give the film a one out of ten for duping me on the Rik front! Mr director do you intentionally like to wind people up?
Donnie Darko (2001)
A real teen movie
Films like Legally Blonde, Hey Dude wheres my car are presented and marketed as 'teen' movies. They are shallow and totally unsatisfying, quickly forgot, bubblegum movies. Now Donnie Darko, gets under your skin, leaves you wanting more and having nothing of the same caliber on offer, one is forced to watch the film again and again, savouring all the nuances and subtleties of this wonderful film on repeated viewing is a real delight. Please, please studio exec types pay attention, more films like this, less dumb ass childish comedies.