Change Your Image
danielnquinn
Reviews
The Happening (2008)
Where did all the 'B's go?
B-movies don't come much better than this! Whalberg's annoying is-my-voice-just-breaking accent is perfect for the role of an apparently doomed science teacher backed up by the wonderfully ditzy Zooey.
As the story goes it is absurd and "out of this world" paranoid although seemingly down to earth and, albeit for me to say, timely in these days of threat after threat. Our protagonists start their journey from gloom to doom in the unassuming all consuming city of New York. Chillingly reminiscent scenes of people falling to their death without compunction serve to remind one of the awful events of 9/11. The explanation for these events are not explored to the fullest and it is to the films credit, as disasters can never truly be understood.
Where many have found flaws in this film I felt I had finally seen M. Night's reconnection with reality. Seeing dead people, weirdos living in a cul-da-sac, crop-circle-tastic aliens and fairy tales without faries are put to the side so the director can treat the audience to a meatier stew.
When leaving the theater I couldn't help but be affected by the notion the wind could actually kill me. Hats off, M. Night. You put the buzz back in 'B' movies.
Kakushi ken: Oni no tsume (2004)
Best Samurai Film Ever
And I've seen a few. A film revolving around the advent of artillery warfare and the outmoding of the Samurai shogunite, directed with nostalgia and passion, against the backdrop of feudal Japan, fixed in it's ideas of honour and duty, makes this film a true depiction of 19th century Japan.
The love story aside, which is a real and understandable love, the film is more central to the beliefs Japan held on to for 500 years that suddenly and devastatingly became untenable, and yet the honour remains.
See this film. Brilliant in every regard.
They Live (1988)
"Life's a Bi**h. And now she's on heat"
The film works on so many levels. As, no doubt, others have said before me the film is a reflection on America's down-trodden working masses. The symbolism doesn't so much hint at America's destructive capitalist fervor as much as it beams it directly into your skull.
Paranoia is the name of the game here. He puts on his sun glasses, beats up a few cops who know that he knows what they're up to, walks into a bank and tragically makes the unthinkable a reality. "I'm here to chew bubble gum and kick ass." Is this not an observation of the hysterical paranoia that gets played out all to often across the Sates? Being a pommie I didn't realise the leading actor was a wrestler until the hilarious fight scene between him and Frank. Casting him for the role was a stroke of genius. No a-lister would have been able to give such a performance. But I have no intention of putting this film down. I truly believe it is an important film. In it's imaginative plot and many sub-plots it delivers a refreshing glance at the funnier side of America's darker side. In this respect it is second only to Starship Troopers.
Unknown (2006)
I think I have a case of ... amnesia
As others have pointed out, this film is wholly forgettable. The script was tripped over by actors who deserve better. And the plot went down like a case of selective memory loss. The premise was good but the execution was messy.
"Who am I? Who are you?" After a while I was asking myself the same question, along with some others, "What am I watching this for? Where is this going" Truth be told, a fine ensemble cast (Barry Pepper certainly deserves better) couldn't help the flawed script and the screwy nonsense of a story. Still, they made the effort, which was the only thing that made the film palatable. Unfortunately for all concerned, they couldn't figure out how to leave the building. Half way through, I was looking for door too.
Epic Movie (2007)
Epicly Bad
This film is so bad that it is less like watching a film and more like having a film beamed into your skull from a malign planet of crap. If I had anything to do with this film I wouldn't want my name on it, near it or even referenced in it.
This film is such a money grabbing exploit that it makes me wonder how they can get away with it. The script is non existent, there's no plot and no original gags. Bad performances and terrible music makes one thankful that it was all over in 68 minutes. All of which makes it seem like a crime they charge people to see it. They should pay us!!! The makers of this tosh add credence to my argument to bring back stockades to humiliate bad people in public. They took my money and now I want to throw rotten fruit at them. Who's with me?
The Office (2005)
Brilliant and ground braking - again!
The American office holds everything that the original held dear: gritty realism fused with natural humour and heart wrenching moments. From an English perspective I must admire the American's ability to drop the canned-laughter and sentimentalism. The acting is superb, the fictional location is perfect and the script, though over-baked in parts, holds its own when it comes to revealing the idiosyncrasies of marginalised American culture. The Office phenomenon will prevail and will hopefully continue. The show itself should end. If it is dragged out it would be a sad demises. In the words of one of your own: "He who attaches himself to a joy..."