strongmedicine51 Reviews

Immortal (2004)

Am I Blue?

[30 January 2008]

Enki Bilal and Immortal January 29, 2008 03:53PM

Firstly, I was perusing the science fiction area of my local video rental store, thinking sci-fi films seem to be really good or really awful, and trying to find something new to me, that isn't awful. Immortal was in the new section and I just decided to take a chance on it. I am still amazed that I found a used copy to buy. I loved this flick and watched it 4 times before returning it. It is a blue screen film and the sets are based on Enki Bilals artwork from his graphic novels. He also directed and produced this film. It is also an international film (like Beowolf & Grendel) with Charlotte Rampling (English), Thomas Kretschmann (German, also in Peter Jacksons King Kong, and for film buffs, Jackson uses some of Kretschmann's dialogue from Immortal) and the perfect actress for the alien/protagonist Linda Hardy (French) although the film is in English.

The story is based on Bilal's novels about an ancient god's search to avoid death in 2095 by reincarnating although only a very special kind of female will do. To me it has everything a sci-fi film should have and more. The art is fascinating, the world created interesting and almost believable. It has a lot of humor and it is super creative, in my humble opinion. The god's idea of procreation is typical of god's through the ages, that is not exactly by consent. Yet this god, Horus does try to find a human host for himself that is compatible but who will also be compatible with the woman he pursues.

I don't know why but apparently this film did not do so well in theatrical release. Still if you did like V for Vendetta I think you will like Immortal. Here is the Secondly. I HATE films that I have to read. Film is a visual medium and reading a film can make me miss the imagery that is so important. So I am very tolerant of dubbed films but I really appreciate good dubbing. And after watching Immortal at least 10 times I was bollixed to learn that Linda Hardy only speaks French and is dubbed. It is the best dubbing I have ever seen. See this movie and decide for yourself and THEN come tell us all what you think.

Sopyonje (1993)

Unforgettable

[8/10 · 6 April 2005]

This is one of the best films about the Blues that I have ever seen. I defy you to find a member of the Hoary Tarnation of Blues, Delta, Mississippi, USA, that wouldn't spit, squint up at you and say, "Dang! That is the Blues!" Verdad! And while I'm exclaiming away, I swear to you that as I sat in our little local art house theater the audience just let the tears stream when they must with complete abandon. With no shame. Now there is some eastern magic.

The film begins in an interesting way. The style is clearly modern and places the story distant from a medieval or fantasy era. The young actor's (Kyu-chul Kim) style however hearkens to the older traditions in Korean Theater. And soon his search fades into the story of his emotional roots. The film doesn't make an obvious judgment about the 'life' of these three people or their domination by their father-mentor. Yet the film challenges you to decide if his assumption to rule these growing children is culturally acceptable or extraordinary even in their world at large.

There is a scene in a pension when the song master (Myung-gon Kim) becomes very drunk and garrulous. It is at once hilarious, tense and pathetic. Another, when the itinerants are walking with back packs in the middle of nowhere and begin a spontaneous dancing walk as they go along their way. These are glowing moments in cinema. The productions values are good and keep you placed always on the edge of the wild.

And then the music! This is the blues. Truly, I can say no more.

The Boy with Green Hair (1948)

Terrific Anti War Film

[5 April 2005]

This film really touched me as a child. Firstly, it was the only serious film about a kid, with a kid as the star, that I had ever seen. None of this Disney stuff. Though later came the '5,000 Fingers of Dr.T', another great film for youngsters. Secondly, it was about a child's pain and inner life. There are a few platitudes thrown around by the wooden adults but the film seems to aim at exposing this kind of no-communication. It just isolates and abandons a youngster when they most need a strong and comforting adult connection.

Every time I see this film again it is just as good as the first time. Another interesting aspect of this film's story is that although the boy has lost both of his parents during WWII, he has become stuck and needs to move on and incorporate this difficult time. And in doing so he becomes aware of the many WWII orphans everywhere and becomes able to identify himself with the many children who are in his own circumstances or worse. He doesn't feel so alone. He finds that he truly cares about the suffering of other orphans and wants to do something to alleviate this suffering.

There! And I didn't give away the 'green hair' thing. I have a collection of anti-war films- Glory-Three Kings-Courage Under Fire-Coming Home. I only need "The Best Years of our Lives' and the 'Boy with Green Hair' to make it complete.