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Reviews
Stilyagi (2008)
Mixed Opinion
This movie really has 1 thing going for it, which is the unusual cultural element presented. The Russian style and music movement this film is about is extremely eye opening, and the crew did an specular job visualizing it. It follows a typical Russian youth's discovery of and assimilation into a movement to expel the monotonous, monochromatic lifestyles of Soviet Moscow by extremely obsessing with Western fashion and music. Imagine Happy Days interpreted by someone on the other side of the world. The film features some musical elements and some modern songs.
From my older Russian relatives comments, sets and wardrobe were not extremely over the top. Stilagi means something like "stylish obsessed people" - it comes from the word stil' meaning style.
The film was not written for a western audience for the most part, but it could lead to some interesting discussion afterward. For instance, vinyl records were really bootlegged on x-ray sheets and certain musical instruments were extremely illegal!
I thought the actors did a nice job especially the young leads. But they did not sing the songs, nor were the songs from the proper era. The film felt more like a story with musical elements thrown in like Miike's Happiness of the Katakuris - except no zombies, claymation, etc.
However, unless viewing the film with some Russians you probably won't get the full potential presented here. Many of the older actors are extremely famous. The lead female is an actress with some Western recognition. Also some cultural elements like communal living, youth groups, social status, and relevance of characters' names were not explained for Western viewers.
On the negative side, the story itself is at times predictable and other times just absurd. Granted, this is a musical! The writers could have easily set up a straight forward love story set in troubled times, but they chose to extend the third act too far. If the film ended 40 minutes earlier, maybe I would enjoy it more. The plot has multiple loop holes, but addressing them would not help the narrative.
Overall, this can be equated to one of those weird Asian cinema offerings where since you can't get much of the language you ignore the ridiculous story and just focus on the vivid, excellent visuals. It also helps that there are some creative intimate scenes.
A Scanner Darkly (2006)
Very close adaptation of wonderful book
Without getting much into the plot, I'd like to comment on the story for those who've actually read the book. This'll contain a few spoilers in case you don't want any aspects ruined.
The film's editing needs a complete reworking, I'd say. A number of scenes were left out, and some scenes were placed out of order to drive the plot. The bicycle scene is unfortunately not complete and not fully explored. A few things here and there are cut. But I think what spoils the movie is the scene order. In the novel, we learned more about Bob the drug user than Fred the police officer first. The entire bit about Bob's device (don't remember the name at all) that got mysteriously broken is gone. The entire story feels shrunk.
The other problem is that it's all dumbed down. That's something you'd expect and I guess it's partly due to the ending. Everything is openly (literally) said. The film focuses too heavily on Bob's attraction to Donna, but vital dialog is missing overly simplifying everything. The third act is very rushed, and not as "heavy" as in the novel. Still, the film makers left the author's message at the end.
Unfortunately, if the film was re-edited from the theatrical music it would need to be shorter. I remember, there was a part at the end that should be entirely cut.
Lik wong (1991)
It's one of those "so bad it's good" movies.
This is an amazing cult movie. If you haven't seen it yet, and some how, you've found this page for it, you MUST see it. Go to amazon and get it from a zshop for like $8. Show it to your friends and laugh.
SPOILERS
An opening scene in the film basically describes it all. A van drives onto a LARGE POOL OF BLOOD on the floor and people get out. Why there's a huge pool of blood we never find out. That summarizes this story. The film prologues with some sort of message about it being the future, but that has no meaning at all.
I've noticed many reviewers don't mention the character of the Warden's son. Where the hell did the film makers find this fat, ugly asian. The best part is that the dubbing for him is hilarious. It's like a grown man trying to sound like a child. Watching this kids antics is amazing.
The complete lack of common sense or care for plot makes this movie great. Ricky's girl friend basically runs off a building to her death, and somehow the drug lord is to be held for blame. An elephant gun makes people get really fat and explode? And to top it off the skinny warden turns into a huge cheapy made rubber monster.
Did anyone notice that the assistant warden has porn tapes lining his office?
This movie is best viewed with english dubbing and english subtitles because they don't match at all.
Freedom Downtime (2001)
Great Documentary About Kevin Mitnick and the Hacker World
I was fortunate enough to see this film at its first screening at HOPE2000 in New York City. The first release was not the final and it had some minor problems. I watched the finished version at the NY Film and Video Festival at the Sutton Theatre. There were many interesting changes, mostly for the better.
The movie is about the life of "SUPER HACKER" Kevin Mitnick. It explains why his case was flawed and the propaganda the media released about the trials. The narrator, Emmanuel Goldstein, goes on an adventure with some of his friends from NYC to various places relating to Kevin or the Hacker world.
There are scenes thrown in just for fun and also very serious messages about the government's misuse of power. An X-Con, Bernie S, explains his chilling experience in jail and how it nearly cost him his life. All of this over a box of crystals that could be used to steal telephone service.
The movie is funny and educational. It should appeal to all members of the hacking community and those who wish to become informed.
The film doesn't end at the credits.
Dark Asylum (2001)
Almost Clever B-Movie
I think this film went straight to tape. It isn't particularly good in any field; the acting and plot aren't anything special.
You'll probably see this film on Cinemax or another cable movie channel.
Dungeons & Dragons (2000)
Add This to Your "NEVER SEE" list
Two thieves, Ridley and Snails, get entangled in a plot to get the magical man-made stick to control red dragons. Along side a 'low level' mage and a dwarf they found in a pile of feces. Later an elf ranger comes into play as well. This movie has some nice CGI effects and costumes. It has a nice setting and atmosphere most of the time. Also there are a few scenes that are acted out well. (2 or 3) But the greatest part of this movie is when Snails played by Marlyne Waynes dies. Now this gives something away but with a story this god forsakenly bad I don't think anyone would mind. The acting is bad, the story is bad, the characters are bad, the props, and other small details suck. Jeremy Irons, an Oscar winner, is probably the best actor but to me his character changed too many times. My theory is that the script for the movie was so bad it didn't let the actors understand how to play their characters. The princess is so bad I couldn't resist laughing.
They also didn't follow D&D's rules too much. They said that mages were looked up to while everyone else was a commoner. And they insisted on using the word mage not magic user or magician or wizard. Ridley the thief possesses some special ability but it is never known what it is; there are some really bad attempts at foreshadowing it. The elf ranger has only a few lines yet one of the reasons I came to see that movie was to see her. (She is very nice looking) The young wizard that comes with the thieves doesn't even cast any spells until she gets her hangs on some magical Tinkerbarry dust. This movie is so bad it made the group I was with laugh. The ending is so damn pathetic. Originally I would rate this movie ½ higher until I saw what happened at the end. Ridley stands around while the princess fights it out with the dark spell caster. The ending sequence has got to win some kind of award for stupidity. What were they thinking?