The Fiancée of Dracula (France, 2002)
"A Van Helsing-like professor and his protegé are tracking Dracula's descendants through the world of "parallels", creatures who are human in form but live quite distinct psychic lives. A circus dwarf who is in love with one of these creatures leads them to a mansion filled with oddly behaving nuns, The Order of the White Virgins. The nuns are detaining a beautiful woman who is the betrothed of the still-extant Dracula. When she escapes, everyone follows her to Dracula's seaside castle, on the way dealing with a baby-eating ogress and a wolf-woman (Brigitte Lahaie in a cameo), witches and madwomen. The bizarre wedding ritual commences." Source: amazon.com
The movie sounds interesting, it actually looks a little cheesy and fake. The actors try to do their best at acting, but sometimes it' just not enough. That makes the story not very credible. The background music is really creepy and the otudoor sets and landscpaes are correctly chosen. Director Jean Rollin likes to combine horror and comedy in his films, and the end result is an erotic and richly visual film that is worth watching.
06 June 2006
The Sun (Sontse, Russia, 2005)
Director Alexander Sokurov shows us the last days of the Japanese empire under the Emperor’s reign after the defeat suffered during World War II. Just as in his earlier film Moloch, in this movie we see how the Emperor spends his days alone in his residence, surrounded by his servants. One day, the American army comes to the residence and arrests the Emperor. He is taken away for interrogation. All along he is treated really nicely, like a member of a royal family. For the Japanese, this defeat meant a great loss of confidence in their Emperor. He was regarded as a superior being by the people. This movie shows in an extraordinary way how his servants reacted and spoke to the Emperor during this time of crisis. With very few actors, Sokurov is able to achieve what many directors strive for: a real interest in the main characters.
Director Alexander Sokurov shows us the last days of the Japanese empire under the Emperor’s reign after the defeat suffered during World War II. Just as in his earlier film Moloch, in this movie we see how the Emperor spends his days alone in his residence, surrounded by his servants. One day, the American army comes to the residence and arrests the Emperor. He is taken away for interrogation. All along he is treated really nicely, like a member of a royal family. For the Japanese, this defeat meant a great loss of confidence in their Emperor. He was regarded as a superior being by the people. This movie shows in an extraordinary way how his servants reacted and spoke to the Emperor during this time of crisis. With very few actors, Sokurov is able to achieve what many directors strive for: a real interest in the main characters.
05 June 2006
L'Aventure c'est l'Aventure (France, 1973)
This comedy is one of the most famous movies from France. It is a classical, according to many, and it includes a very good group of French actors who unfortunately passed away. It is the story of a group of individuals who want to create a new political movement based on stability within confusion. What that means basically is that they end up kidnapping famous people and getting ransoms for their liberation. At one moment they kidnap Che Guevara and even the Pope. The idea is quite original, but I did not find the movie very funny. There aren't a lot of laughs as in other French comedy films. There is nice theme song if that helps.
This comedy is one of the most famous movies from France. It is a classical, according to many, and it includes a very good group of French actors who unfortunately passed away. It is the story of a group of individuals who want to create a new political movement based on stability within confusion. What that means basically is that they end up kidnapping famous people and getting ransoms for their liberation. At one moment they kidnap Che Guevara and even the Pope. The idea is quite original, but I did not find the movie very funny. There aren't a lot of laughs as in other French comedy films. There is nice theme song if that helps.
29 May 2006
Fratricide (Brudermord, Germany, 2005)
Ein eindringlicher und rauer Film über das immer aktuelle Thema der türkischen und kurdischen Einwanderer in Deutschland und die oftmals gewalttätig ausgetragenen Konflikte zwischen den beiden Gruppen. Zwei junge Kurden, Azad und Ibo, ringen um ihr Überleben angesichts der Gewalt, der Blutrache, des Exils und der Gleichgültigkeit, mit der sie konfrontiert sind.
"Boasting astonishing performances from a largely non-professional cast, Fratricide is an explosive tale of desperate conflict and bloody revenge, a savage, furious, and heartbreaking portrait of raw humanity struggling for safety, for dignity, for survival in the face of violence, exile and the brutal indifference of a society that wants no part of them." (www.german-films.de)
18 May 2006
Moloch (Russia/Germany, 2003)
Sokurov's version of Hitler is portrayed in Moloch, a film about the Führer and his and her closest friends. The film is quite slow, but the photography is excellent. The dialogue is a little poetic: I wonder if Hitler ever made such reflections, but in any case, we get a glimpse of what it was like living with him on an everyday basis. There are no war or violent scenes from the concentration camps. Although it is a Russian production, director Alexander Sokurov decided to shoot the film in German to keep the original atmosphere. I especially like the last dialogue, where Hitler says: "We have to find a way to control death", and Eva Braun replies: "What are you talking about? You cannot control death!" Maybe a this point she realizes how insane Hitler really was.
Sokurov's version of Hitler is portrayed in Moloch, a film about the Führer and his and her closest friends. The film is quite slow, but the photography is excellent. The dialogue is a little poetic: I wonder if Hitler ever made such reflections, but in any case, we get a glimpse of what it was like living with him on an everyday basis. There are no war or violent scenes from the concentration camps. Although it is a Russian production, director Alexander Sokurov decided to shoot the film in German to keep the original atmosphere. I especially like the last dialogue, where Hitler says: "We have to find a way to control death", and Eva Braun replies: "What are you talking about? You cannot control death!" Maybe a this point she realizes how insane Hitler really was.
16 May 2006
Onibaba (Japan, 1964)
Director Kaneto Shindo is one of the most prolific film directors from Japan. His tenth film, Onibaba, tells the story of two women trying to survive in medieval rural Japan by killing lost warriors and stealing their belongings. When one soldier comes back, a triangle of love is formed. Then all of a sudden, a warrior shows up with a demon mask. One of the woman kills him and uses the mask to scare the other woman from going to visit the soldier at night. The movie is black & white, and the cinematography is excellent. For a movie from the sixties, it looks really new. The eerie music and atmosphere makes the film scary and worth watching. The story is apparently an adaptation of a Buddhist tale. Director Shindo made this film during the summer of 1964 in the middle of a swamp, in the middle of too many production difficulties (the hot humid weather, constant flooding, crabs, mosquitoes, etc.) This is one of the most interesting Japanese films I have seen.
12 May 2006
Mother and Son (Mat i sin, Russia 1997)
In this 73-minute film, director Alexander Sokurov portrays the life of dying mother and her son. They both live together in the countryside. There isn't much happening in the film, other than occasional walks in the forest. The landscape scenes are beautiful and the classical music used in some sequences combines perfectly with the overall atmosphere, which is quite sad, to say the least. Mother and son talk about life and death, about happiness and sadness and about the fear of dying. However, there is very little dialogue. For a feature length film with only two actors, this is good stuff.
10 May 2006
Mephisto (Hungary, 1981)
This Hungarian movie (spoken entirely in German!) was directed by Istvan Szabo. It won an Oscar award for best foreign film and it is actually pretty interesting. It is the story of Hendrik Hoefgen, a very famous theater actor during Nazi Germany. Mephisto is actually the name of the play that launched his career into stardom. As soon as the Nazi party starts ruling Germany, many actors flee the country because they are afraid their creativity might be censored. Hoefgen, on the other hand, decides to stay, and becomes more and more famous. He has the Nazi leaders on his side because they actually liked his plays. Unfortunately, he later realizes that even as the director of the National Theatre in Berlin, he has no power whatsoever and space for artistic creativity remains very limited.
This Hungarian movie (spoken entirely in German!) was directed by Istvan Szabo. It won an Oscar award for best foreign film and it is actually pretty interesting. It is the story of Hendrik Hoefgen, a very famous theater actor during Nazi Germany. Mephisto is actually the name of the play that launched his career into stardom. As soon as the Nazi party starts ruling Germany, many actors flee the country because they are afraid their creativity might be censored. Hoefgen, on the other hand, decides to stay, and becomes more and more famous. He has the Nazi leaders on his side because they actually liked his plays. Unfortunately, he later realizes that even as the director of the National Theatre in Berlin, he has no power whatsoever and space for artistic creativity remains very limited.
08 May 2006
Russian Ark (Russia, 2002)
Alexander Sokurov is one of Russia's most important movie directors. He has made a couple of award-winning movies in the last decade. Perhaps Russian Ark is the most ambitious one. The story is about a French aristocrat who walks through the Hermitage Museum in St. Petesburg and encounters different chracters from the history of Russia. The movie was shot in one scene. In other words, the scene lasts 96 minutes, and there are no cuts in between. In order to do this, the movie was shot with the newest digital camera technology. It took the work of more than 800 extras placed in the different rooms of the museum. The last minutes of the film contain the famous ballroom dance, with hundreds of people dancing and a live orchestra playing, just like in the time of the czars. The costumes are incredibly detailed and the movie is an exhilarating non-stop ride into the history of Russia and its beloved Hermitage Museum.
Alexander Sokurov is one of Russia's most important movie directors. He has made a couple of award-winning movies in the last decade. Perhaps Russian Ark is the most ambitious one. The story is about a French aristocrat who walks through the Hermitage Museum in St. Petesburg and encounters different chracters from the history of Russia. The movie was shot in one scene. In other words, the scene lasts 96 minutes, and there are no cuts in between. In order to do this, the movie was shot with the newest digital camera technology. It took the work of more than 800 extras placed in the different rooms of the museum. The last minutes of the film contain the famous ballroom dance, with hundreds of people dancing and a live orchestra playing, just like in the time of the czars. The costumes are incredibly detailed and the movie is an exhilarating non-stop ride into the history of Russia and its beloved Hermitage Museum.
04 May 2006
Re-Animator (USA, 1985)
Director Stuart Gordon directs this classical gore horror movie about a medicine student and his girlfriend, who start bringing people back from the dead using a special drug created by a newly arrived student. Chaos breaks loose the moment they all step into the morgue to try their drug on human beings. The effects are terrifying and the pace is excellent. This movie is based on a story by H.P. Lovecraft, a classic American horror writer. This is bound to become a horror movie classic. The music, inspried by Hitchcock's Psycho, suits very well the overall atmosphere of the film. There is plenty of blood and guts all over the place, all in the spirit of those old gore movies from the late 70's and early 80's. This is a must-see for horror fans.
03 May 2006
Le Petit Soldat (France, 1963)
Jean-Luc Godard is one of the most famous French directors ever. In one of his first movies, Le Petit Soldat, we learn about a private detective working and living in Switzerland. During the Algerian war, where rebels fought for the independance of Algeria from France, detective Bruno Forestier is communicating secret information between terrorist groups in Geneva. He meets a Russian girl, Veronique Dreyer, whose accent sounds more French than anything. There are lots of fast shots, cars driving fast along the streets and highways of Switzerland and people running around chasing each other. There is a lot of voice off telling us what our main character, Bruno, thinks about every situation he is experiencing. A little too philosophical and reflective at times, the movie nonetheless keeps you interested until the end.
Jean-Luc Godard is one of the most famous French directors ever. In one of his first movies, Le Petit Soldat, we learn about a private detective working and living in Switzerland. During the Algerian war, where rebels fought for the independance of Algeria from France, detective Bruno Forestier is communicating secret information between terrorist groups in Geneva. He meets a Russian girl, Veronique Dreyer, whose accent sounds more French than anything. There are lots of fast shots, cars driving fast along the streets and highways of Switzerland and people running around chasing each other. There is a lot of voice off telling us what our main character, Bruno, thinks about every situation he is experiencing. A little too philosophical and reflective at times, the movie nonetheless keeps you interested until the end.
01 May 2006
The Church (Italy, 1988)
Director Dario Argento is very famous for his horror movies. His unique style shaped Italian horror cinema. In this movie, a group of archeologist work in the catacombs of an old church. Apparently, a group of devil worshippers were buried beneath this church before its construction, at the time of the Crusades. When one of the archeologists opens a door by mistake, all hells breaks loose, literally! He becomes infected with the "zombie" virus, or whatever you wish to call it, and he starts killing other people. A group of persons, including small children who were doing a tour of the church with their teacher, get trapped inside the holy recinct and one by one they start to die. I did not like the sect and devil worshipping scenes, it makes it look a little cheezy. Nevertheless, the story is coherent and the suspense does build up nicely up until the end.
Director Dario Argento is very famous for his horror movies. His unique style shaped Italian horror cinema. In this movie, a group of archeologist work in the catacombs of an old church. Apparently, a group of devil worshippers were buried beneath this church before its construction, at the time of the Crusades. When one of the archeologists opens a door by mistake, all hells breaks loose, literally! He becomes infected with the "zombie" virus, or whatever you wish to call it, and he starts killing other people. A group of persons, including small children who were doing a tour of the church with their teacher, get trapped inside the holy recinct and one by one they start to die. I did not like the sect and devil worshipping scenes, it makes it look a little cheezy. Nevertheless, the story is coherent and the suspense does build up nicely up until the end.
26 April 2006
Cannibal Holocaust (Italy, 1980)
With that title, what can you expect? It says it all, and it gives you an idea of the hardcore scenes that the movie contains. Director Ruggero Deodato decides to shoot this film in Colombia, right on the shores of the Amazonas river in the middle of the jungle. The film tells the story of a group of journalists who go look for a cannibal tribe. And of course they find it, but they all get killed, and eaten for that matter. Years later, another expeditionist goes to the same place and recovers the film tapes that the group had left. When he goes back to New York and watches all the reels, he and his crew are shocked (to say the least!) with what they see. Cannibalistic rituals, murderous rapes and killings, and a lot of flesh eating. This movie was banned for three years in Italy right after its release and many compare its plot to that of the Blair Witch Project. And this film was shot 20 years before! But believe me, this movie makes Blair Witch Project look like entertainment for kids.
With that title, what can you expect? It says it all, and it gives you an idea of the hardcore scenes that the movie contains. Director Ruggero Deodato decides to shoot this film in Colombia, right on the shores of the Amazonas river in the middle of the jungle. The film tells the story of a group of journalists who go look for a cannibal tribe. And of course they find it, but they all get killed, and eaten for that matter. Years later, another expeditionist goes to the same place and recovers the film tapes that the group had left. When he goes back to New York and watches all the reels, he and his crew are shocked (to say the least!) with what they see. Cannibalistic rituals, murderous rapes and killings, and a lot of flesh eating. This movie was banned for three years in Italy right after its release and many compare its plot to that of the Blair Witch Project. And this film was shot 20 years before! But believe me, this movie makes Blair Witch Project look like entertainment for kids.
25 April 2006
24 April 2006
Where The Truth Lies (Canada / UK, 2004)
This is another film from Canadian director Atom Egoyan. The film tells the story of two comedians, Lanny Morris and Vince Collins, who had a TV show and were rich and famous in the US, very well known for their charity TV marathons (whether this is a true story or not, I haven't found out yet). One day a dead girl is found in the bathtub of their suite in a hotel, and their fame and careers come tumbling down. Fifteen years later, a young journalist has taken the case and wants to find out the truth about the dead girl. The further she investigates and interview these two eccentric persons, the more she becomes involved in their lives until finally the terrible truth is revealed. I particularily like the way Egoyan adds music to his scenes; it makes it all very mysterious. Some shots are of particular interest, especially when the journalist finds out who committed the crime. We see flashbacks and shots of objects that point out to the real killer. The opening scene is one of the best I have scene recently. We see both Lanny and Vince doing a TV marathon, then we cut to another scene were the camera shows us the body of the dead girl.
This is another film from Canadian director Atom Egoyan. The film tells the story of two comedians, Lanny Morris and Vince Collins, who had a TV show and were rich and famous in the US, very well known for their charity TV marathons (whether this is a true story or not, I haven't found out yet). One day a dead girl is found in the bathtub of their suite in a hotel, and their fame and careers come tumbling down. Fifteen years later, a young journalist has taken the case and wants to find out the truth about the dead girl. The further she investigates and interview these two eccentric persons, the more she becomes involved in their lives until finally the terrible truth is revealed. I particularily like the way Egoyan adds music to his scenes; it makes it all very mysterious. Some shots are of particular interest, especially when the journalist finds out who committed the crime. We see flashbacks and shots of objects that point out to the real killer. The opening scene is one of the best I have scene recently. We see both Lanny and Vince doing a TV marathon, then we cut to another scene were the camera shows us the body of the dead girl.
19 April 2006
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (USA, 2005)
This is the story of Melquiades Estrada, a Mexican farmer and cowboy living in the US. Tommy Lee Jones plays the part of Melquiades' friend. He is also a cowboy and the director of the film by the way. After an accidental shooting where Melquiades is killed by a border patrol officer, Tommy Lee decides to seek revenge. He finds out who did it, and embarks on a journey to Mexico to find Melquiades' family. He kidnaps the officer and takes with him also the dead body of Melquiades. The adventure that follows is really entertaining, and we see until what extent Tommy Lee will go to find this family in a remote village in Coahuila, Mexico. It is also worth seeing Tommy Lee Jones speaking Spanish with a Mexican accent. He is really good at it.
12 April 2006
Junebug (USA, 2005)
This is another independant film from US. I have been watching recently a couple of interesting entries, but Junebug fails to provide the necessary emotion. A couple of newly weds decide to visit the husband's family in the countryside. At the same time, they go visit a possible future artist whose paintings they have just discovered. We find out that the husband's family has some problems, and is actually quite dysfunctional. Although the plot is interesting, the movie runs very slow. Director Phil Morrison creates an atmosphere that makes it hard to believe the story is happening in the United States. It is very non-Hollywood, and that is precisely why I like it. But the pace is sometimes too slow, and some scenes could have been shorter. In any case, the movie has had a lot of nominations in different international film festivals.
This is another independant film from US. I have been watching recently a couple of interesting entries, but Junebug fails to provide the necessary emotion. A couple of newly weds decide to visit the husband's family in the countryside. At the same time, they go visit a possible future artist whose paintings they have just discovered. We find out that the husband's family has some problems, and is actually quite dysfunctional. Although the plot is interesting, the movie runs very slow. Director Phil Morrison creates an atmosphere that makes it hard to believe the story is happening in the United States. It is very non-Hollywood, and that is precisely why I like it. But the pace is sometimes too slow, and some scenes could have been shorter. In any case, the movie has had a lot of nominations in different international film festivals.
10 April 2006
Schultze Gets the Blues (Germany, 2003)
Schultze is an accordion player in a small German village who has just retired from working in a mine. When the local music band celebrates its 50th anniversary, his music tastes change radically and he know prefers blues. To change his daily routine, he decides to make a trip to Texas and discover more about the blues style of music. I must admit the movie is a somewhat slow, and there is little dialogue. The ending is worth watching, but for some of you the wait may be too long.
Schultze is an accordion player in a small German village who has just retired from working in a mine. When the local music band celebrates its 50th anniversary, his music tastes change radically and he know prefers blues. To change his daily routine, he decides to make a trip to Texas and discover more about the blues style of music. I must admit the movie is a somewhat slow, and there is little dialogue. The ending is worth watching, but for some of you the wait may be too long.
Days of Being Wild (China, 1990)
With this and other previous films, Director Wong Kar-Wai began to shape his style of filmmaking in order to be able to make films like 2046 or In the Mood for Love. This drama is about York, a young guy who is way too selfish and self-centered. He attracts women and then betrays them. These lovers are affected by this sooner or later, and they get back at him. The story is nothing special, but the mood, the exacting pacing and sultry atmosphere make a difference.
With this and other previous films, Director Wong Kar-Wai began to shape his style of filmmaking in order to be able to make films like 2046 or In the Mood for Love. This drama is about York, a young guy who is way too selfish and self-centered. He attracts women and then betrays them. These lovers are affected by this sooner or later, and they get back at him. The story is nothing special, but the mood, the exacting pacing and sultry atmosphere make a difference.
04 April 2006
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (USA, 2004)
This is a film about a failed oceonographer, Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) who directs his own documentaries with his crew. The documentaries are so cheezy and phony it makes you laugh everytime we see scenes from them. To avenge the death of one of his colleagues who was eaten by a mysterious shark, Steve Zissou puts together a crew to go find this mytical sea beast and make a documentary about it. They have almost no money, old navigation equipment and low morale. This is dark humour at its best, and Bill Murray keeps reminding the audience that his life as oceonographer pretty much sucks. His wife, played by Angelica Houston, is a "rich bitch", as he calls her, who at the end finances all the expeditions. To further enhance the false aspect of the story, all the sea animals are non-stop animations.
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