Category: Movies

Watched Reign of Fire on DVD.

One word to describe this film – unfinished. Unfinished as in work in progress. The original idea is good, but the plot has many holes and lacks details. There is no character development what-so-ever. Some good special effects with the dragons, but also need work. Plenty of fire during the course of the film, but there is no “temperature” feeling. Dialogues need more work. Good photography at the beginning and at the end of the movie, but practically nothing to pleasure your eyes with in the middle. Soundtrack could have been better.

5 out of 10.

I have finally did something that I should have done a long time ago. I’ve watched a movie with Uma Thurman that has nothing to do with Quentin Tarantino (or at least to my knowledge). I am glad I did it. The star union of Quentin and Uma is well known and needs no introduction. I have also seen plenty of Quentin’s work. Uma, on the other hand, hasn’t recieved a respectable amount of my attention (when she is alone that is). She is a star on her own. She can act, she can sparkle and she “digs it”. I’ll be watching more of her.

The film I’ve seen this time is “The Truth About Cats & Dogs“. It is a an excellent romantic comedy with the usual love triangle, friendship, and not so usual animals. The film is very kind, light, and relaxing. It entertains and when its done, all you have is this good feeling about world in general and life in particular being totally balanced.

The story could have been better or fresher. There weren’t anything in the stunt or special effects departments, but there was something cooking in the dialogue section. I think its about time Audrey Wells appears on IMDB, so if you are hiding one, please upload.

6.5/10.

Watched “I Capture the Castle“. It is an interesting, romantic drama, which is not like all the others. Note though that you might need to put up an effort to get through the first third of the film or so. It is very slow opening, but an a really excellent film afterwards. It is also very emotional and thought provoking.

The make of the film forced me to think of the conflict. When I see modern films about old times I seem not to be satisfied by anything. If there are any attributes of the modern filmmaking in the movie, like bright colors, mobile camera work and good lighting, it keeps breaking my mood. I notice these things and the film loses. On the other hand, if the film is properly done as an old one, I don’t have any eye candies. Instead I keep seeing “old mistakes” and again the pleasure is gone. This conflict of mine does not allow me to properly enjoy films about times past. Thus, the only way I can enjoy such a movie is if the movie is really good with the story and characters. It carries me away than and I don’t see it is a movie anymore. I am all inside.

Well, with “I Capture the Castle” I managed to think about my attitudes and feelings and still enjoy the film. That is because I had enough time to think things over while it was slowly unfolding in the beginning. Later though I was carried away.

8 out of 10, for I really enjoyed it and for I cannot let the film that helped me to understand myself better go with lower rating.

No, I am not talking about myself this time. I am talking about a film – “Big Fat Liar“. We watched this one with Martin this time. It is a really hiliarious comedy which not only makes you laugh your belly off, but massages a few serious issues. Issues like: parents should watch over the children, lying is bad, and, most importantly: Don’t mess with kids. Ever. Period.. Seriously.

On the film wave, I’d like to point out excellent acting by everyone, particularly by Frankie Muniz and Paul Giamatti. Frankie Muniz mixed together with events in the movie was making me wonder all the time – where is Ashton Kutcher? Really, everything was so “Punk’d“!

Also, this film touches upon an amazing number of other movies. It parodies some, and references the other. But it’s not like in a regular parody where you see parody becaue it is so obvious. No. Here you have just hints and bits of other movies. If you haven’t seem them, it is still funny and makes sense for you. But if you have, it’s like a total new level of fun.

What more? I rarely mention the make-up. This film used a whole bunch of it and it was really impressive. Blue skinned Paul Giamatti with red hair was totally amazing. I guess he had to do like 6 hour make-up sessions or something like that.

On the downsides, I wish there were more character development. Basically, only the two main characters are well done. Everyone else is just a mess and a few ideas. Also, some untemplated twist to the story would be nice. They say that there are only 14 scripts in Hollywood. I think I am starting to forget the 4. Get something new! Put some risk in it!

Anyway, the film got me with a lot of fun. Thus 7 out of 10.

One of the good things that come out of having a DVD club as a neighboor is that a good relationship can be established between the club owner and its customers. It can be very educational both ways. People talk and thus learn more, open up their minds and broaden their horizons. The key here is both ways.

Today I asked Martin to give me something Chinese with lots of action and martial arts. He responded with “Azumi“. The name rang some bells in my mind but nothing to specific. Anyway, I’ve got a bit suspecios, because “Azumi” doesn’t sound like Chinese. It sounds like Japanese. But I didn’t say anything, because I wasn’t that sure anyway and Martin already saw the film.

Than I watched it. It is a nicely done traditional Japanese action. Unfortunately, I don’t like Japanese movies very much, but I enjoyed it non-the-less. Lots of blood, sword fights, and excellent photography. Light needs some work (with three or four shadows from the same person under a sun – its too much). Music sucked. It was too Western. American even. The story was pretty simple and straightforward, but don’t take my word on it, because I watched it in Japanese with Greek subtitles and these are two languages which I have yet to learn.

I’ll rate it as a 7 out of 10. If you like Japanese films, I am sure you’ll give it more.

Now that I am through with the movie, I will add a few points on HOWTO diffirentiate regular Chinese action from regular Japanese action.

• IMDB. The easiest of all is of course to look the film up at IMDB. Both the country and languages can give you the idea.
• Sound of the language. In order to hear the difference, I bet, it is enough to watch two Japanese and two Chinese movies in a short period of time. Chinese sounds like “wing” and “tounge”. Japanese sounds like “kimono” and “banzai”. There is a difference.
• Production. Regular Chinese action movies look and feel cheap. Japanese look and feel expensive, stylish, and thought through.
• Martial arts. Chinese fights are mostly fiest fights. They use body and rarely any weapons. If they do, weapons usually occupy small part of a fight and might be changed several times (stick, sword, gauntlet, knife, stick, sward, etc). Japanese are most exclusively use swords. Sometimes you can see ancient rifles and canons. Chinese fights are always longer. Plenty of hits and styles, lots of moving around the scene. Japanese fights are usually short, samurai-type – kill with as little movement as possible.
• Blood. Jananese movies are all bloody as hell. Every time there is a fight, there is a kill, and blood is fontaining out of the dead body in all directions. Chinese films rarely have any more damage than a bloody running nose. Sometimes you can hear the sound of breaking bones, but almost never you can see one.
• Photography. Japanese films are filled with excellent photography. You can make posters out of almost every screen capture. Mountains, lonely house, man and woman inside the house, expensive aesthetically perfect samurai swords, etc. Chinese movies have very poor photography. If they show any scenery that is for the only reason to introduce it to the audience so that the following fight on that ground would be easier understood.
• Pace. Japanese movies are slow and dramatic. There are lots of pauses between events in the film. There are many moments when there are no people at all in the frame. Or even if there are few they don’t move. Chinese films are fast. There is always someone moving, someone coming, or someone fighting. If only a single person is shown he or she is most probably practicing kung fu.
• Drama. Japanese movies are way more dramatic. Orphans are pretty usual. Building up character and strength for revenge are usual. All friends and relatives of the main character are usually dead by the end of the film. Closing scene can make you cry – evil is conquered, but there are no good people left except for one tired and exhausted character who doesn’t care about good anymore. And has hands covered in blood. Chinese movies on the other hand are much lighter. People rarely die. In the end, evil is conquered and made fun of by the main character and one or more friends and relatives of his/hers.

Why did I write all of that? Because it is important to know that not all martial art movies are the same (I didn’t even touch the Americans now). People who like martial art movies usually like either Chinese or Japanese. I have yet to see someone who loves both equally. And although I can appreciate a good Japanese movie, I still prefer Chinese for the lightness and fun that they bring.