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jmarlinbarker
Reviews
Die Siebtelbauern (1998)
Thought-provoking and worth seeing
The Inheritors (Die Siebtelbauern), as I remember it, was amusing and also thought-provoking about general socio-economic changes of the past two centuries or so that today many people in Western countries probably take for granted. Perhaps in vague way, it reminds me of an allegory such as Orwell's Animal Farm in the sense of seeing political theory in an intimate, emotional story rather than in some abstract manifesto.
While the film might not be the most "profound" work of art ever made, it nevertheless deserves a viewing. I say it is quite entertaining and in short, thumbs up.
Morella (1999)
Complete crap.
I feel sorry for whoever has the misfortune to get roped into seeing this: cliched and dull. A waste of whatever talent one or two members of the cast might have. I just happened to be visiting a friend who rented it...ironically, they fell asleep pretty early into it. (Recommended for any insomniacs with a VCR near their bed.)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Sheer brilliance
For anyone who has not seen A Clockwork Orange, it is only fair to point out that the director, Stanley Kubrick, perhaps unwittingly made the U.S. version of Anthony Burgess' novel into film. Burgess seemed jaded that a significantly different ending was cut from his own intended version which for a while could only be found in the U.K.
Aside from the controversy of whether or not the film genuinely relays Burgess' own ideas, I think the film is so brilliant that there is something noteworthy to be observed with each subsequent viewing. It never loses its thunder. I have known a few people to get offended by the violence, but the film does have a sharp sense of satire and even slapstick. The ugliness arguably just mirrors the human condition--in which men "have been on the moon," yet have not conquered brutality on the streets or in the government for that matter.
Tôkyô nagaremono (1966)
Don't Miss Branded to Kill
In my opinion, Tokyo Drifter is worth seeing, but comparing it to Branded to Kill is a bit like comparing apples and oranges.
Branded to Kill is eerie and nightmarishly weird--unforgettably, perhaps like a Hitchcock film or a dark film noire. Tokyo Drifter, on the other hand, is more "romantic." It is fun and chock full of mod 60s fashions and go-gos.
Both films are masterpieces of style. To me, Tokyo Drifter is worth seeing, but it has some silly moments. Somehow, I was left thinking of Woody Allen's What's Up Tiger Lilly and James Bond!