Comsat Angel Reviews

Deathwatch (2002)

Excellent 1st effort!

[7/10 · 1 August 2003]

Given the constraints of time and money that the film makers laboured under, this is a compelling and harrowing horror story, set amidst the carnage of the First World War.

Part of the impact this film has is by avoiding cliche's and pat answers - you have to sit and think about what happened and why, which makes it less appealing to those who want either a slam-bang war film or a gore-fest horror flick.

The DVD is worth buying for the extra's, and I should know, because I bought it.

The Independent (2000)

Dull? Pointless? Did you see the same film as I did!?

[4 March 2003]

A comedy that consistently amuses, to the point of being laugh-out loud funny - the hilarious inserts of Monty's oeuvre are some of the high-points: The Foxy Chocolate Robot, anyone? Or the Simplex Complex? Or, my fave, the Eco-Angels? Plus, everything comes together for a happy ending. Result! Stick around for the end credits; someone carried out a labour of love in creating 437 film titles for Monty's career.

Quatermass and the Pit (1958–1959)

High praise for a vintage series

[5 December 2002]

Very creepy, very eerie and very old! Over four decades old, in fact; and one is entitled to wonder which of the contemporary TV entertainment will still have the power to entertain and alarm in 2042. "Quatermass and the Pit" features Andre Morrell, surely the best of all Quatermass's, a scientist and humanist, fallible but moral. Though the series was filmed in black and white, and the original cliff-hanging endings edited out, it still maintains a slow build-up of suspense. The long running-time helps this gradual increase, as do the un-nerving electronic sounds indicating the presence of - ah, well, that would be telling! Nigel Kneale combines and "explains" a host of myths, legends, folk-memories and the supernatural with science-fiction themes and does it all very well indeed. I bought this video in 1988 and boy am I glad I did so!

Spaced (1999–2001)

Exemplary excellence!

[15 October 2002]

Surpassingly entertaining comedy! A yardstick for others to observe. Also, don't be put off by young sprogs going on about being "20-somethings" and seeing themselves in the characters - I am 41 and laugh myself silly at Tim and Daisy. If you watch all 14 episodes, you will end up feeling genuinely involved in the lives of the characters (my eyes were watering slightly at the end of the last episode) besides laughing madly. The DVD's are worth getting for the commentary and other extras.

Now, Simon and Jessica, when is Series 3 coming out? Soon? It better!

Pearl Harbor (2001)

Hilarious. Oh - it shouldn't be?

[3 September 2002]

To recapitulate MacBeth, this film strikes me as being "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing". O Level English out of the way, after seeing it I got the impression that the producer had leant heavily upon the director's shoulder and said "Son - what I want is a 90's rock video version of World War Two. Lot's of slo-mo, smoke, gratuitous smooching. Oh, and some really big explosions." And the director went to his Big Book Of Movie Cliches for inspiration. Note that the title is a misnomer, most of the film doesn't concern Pearl Harbour. "Tora Tora Tora" is a lot more even-handed and accurate.

Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)

Hilarious drollery

[3 September 2002]

One of my favourite films, ever. The idea of a dreadful Soviet rock band flogging their music around the USA appeals to me, especially as I liked the music that was supposed to be so dreadful. The humour is deadpan and droll, much like Kaurismaki himself. Also interesting for an outsiders look at America. Definitely up there in the Top Ten of Finnish Rock Band Road Movies!

Y2K (1999 TV Movie)

Laughing at it, not with it.

[18 April 2002]

What an hilarious comedy! Oh.

It's supposed to be serious?

This must be one of the most rapidly-dating films ever. Released 6 weeks before Y2K and obsolete 5 minutes after Y2K. It can only really be viewed as a fascinating sociological document of the time(if you feel wildly generous) or a cynical, rather poorly-made attempt to cash in on the crisis de jour at the time (if you feel more realistic).

Judging by the time it was being shown, 6:00 a.m., I don't think Sky feel it deserves a very high profile either.