boy_in_red Reviews

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)

Boring

[3/10 · 30 June 2011]

This film is perfect evidence that money and talent are different things.

How can a film have so many special effects, some pretty impressive acting talent (no I don't mean the leads) and still manage to feel so overly long and , let's face it, boring.

Another thing, this is not family fun. Transformers shows robots ripping each other's heads off, it seems to have very pro-war leanings, and treats women as sex objects. There's no innocence , wonder or even real morality here. It's just... grimy. If a 2 and a half hour car commercial is your idea of great fun, knock yourself out.

Scream 4 (2011)

The Scream series back on form

[8/10 · 15 April 2011]

I've just come back from an early showing of Scream 4- I was adamant that I would watch the film before anyone revealed any spoilers, so rest assured this review will be spoiler free.

Scream is a series I have a lot of affection for. The first film was released while I was in my teens and it seemed to single handedly revive horror films on the big screen. As a fan of old school franchises like Elm Street and Friday 13th, it was a very exciting time, and more so the Scream films seemed particularly fun for those who had a knowledge of horror- naming the rules and clichés while twisting them enough to keep us glued to the screen.

Scream 3, however, was a limp entry into the series. Kevin Williamson's writing was missed and somehow the horror series had transformed into pure Hollywood pastiche with some kill scenes (Jay and Silent Bob cameo, anyone?).

The return of Kevin Williamson was the reason I actually held hope for Scream 4, and in short he doesn't disappoint. Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette all reprise their roles in this instalment, but we're also introduced to a younger cast of high schoolers, including Sidney's niece Jill.

I was initially afraid that this film would be Scream- The Next Generation with a bunch of younger faces reducing the characters we know and love to nothing but bit parts, but thankfully i think a good balance is found to please old fans and new. Sidney, in her attempts to protect her niece, is now the voice of wisdom, a survivor who can share the strength she has in protecting Jill.

In contrast, Gale Weathers- Riley (nice nod at the double-barrel name there!) locks horns with the younger generation. She wants to reignite her journalistic career, to reclaim her identity post-marriage, but she's at odds with rapidly moving technology- live streaming video blogs, boys with their gadgets, even a killer who appears more techno savvy. Perhaps it sounds like Im reading far more into a horror film than I should, but as a writer Kevin Wiliiamson has always given his characters an emotional hook to draw audiences in.

The film has some fantastic tense moments, as well as the occasional jump scare and plenty of comedy too- even mocking it's own self referential loop of commenting on films within films. A perfect mix of comedy, human drama, social commentary and scares- the Scream series is truly back!

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

Michael Bay does not understand human beings

[3/10 · 17 March 2010]

Michael Bay introduces this film's heroine bent over a motorbike in very short shorts. The only other young female who gets screen time in this film reveals a metallic tail from underneath a very short skirt. Michael Bay doesn't know how to write women.

He has created 2 horrendously stereotypical black robots, gold teeth and large ears included, with names like "mudflap" and "skids" one of whom proudly proclaims they don't know how to read. Michael bay can't write black characters.

Transformers is a film series derived from a cartoon and toy range. Despite this Michael Bay doesn't mind including words slang word for female genitalia in the dialogue, and featuring a hot lady cyborg (with a tail no less) trying to seduce the hero. Michael Bay does not have a sense of what is appropriate for his target audience.

Michael Bay is very good at displaying all things military. He can make any shot look like he is trying to sell cars- this atrocious advertising slickness where everything mechanical is fetishised. He's very good at orchestrating fight scenes that make NO visual sense- just bits of metal hitting metal. And he's very good at making a film last about an hour longer than it needs to.

Transformers: ROTF is dreadful. One can almost find a strange respect in the epic scale of it's dreadfulness. There's an audacity there, one that suggests many involved in this film have somehow lost touch with the real world. If you have a love of bad films, or find movie clichés hilarious, it may even have some replay value. What it doesn't have is a single believable human character... or a soul.

Train (I) (2008)

Enough Xenophobic Horror Already

[4/10 · 14 March 2010]

When Hostel was released I found it to be an interesting twist on the likes of Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Hills Have Eyes, playing on the fear of being outside one's normal environment, but exchanging the backwoods for Eastern Europe. Even back then, however, I noted the American-centricity of the film.

Since then we have had Hostel II, Turistas (known as Paradise Lost here in the UK), and now we have Train- another in this unfortunate sub genre that shouldn't be called Torture Porn, but rather "Don't be Leavin' America!" Because yet again those poor beautiful Abercrombie And Fitch mannequins are under threat by Eastern Euopeans who want to take their organs.

A film I recently enjoyed was Saw VI. Yes- seriously. The sixth part in a series of horror films and it still felt fresher than this film. Why? Probably because it quite cleverly, highlighted the brutality inherent in the medical insurance system of care in the US, and selfishness of banks practically handing out risky loans that has led us to this economic crisis. This was a horror film brave enough to assess America's own problems.

In contrast films such as Train are contemptuous of all things non- American. It makes me wonder about the the directors of these movies- did they take their middle-American rite-of-passage trip to Europe as students- backpack around? At what point did they decide to cinematically urinate on the countries they visited? The film itself is bland, feels cheap and thinks revealing a character's pierced nipples counts as character development. Thora Birch looks annoyed at having signed on- I'm pretty sure there are moments her face screams "I was once in American Beauty." And let's be grateful this film was about Eastern Europeans stealing organs, because if it was about bottling charisma or likability, no one would have died.

Avatar (2009)

Special effects and soul

[10/10 · 8 January 2010]

2009 has been a year of soulless special effects films- Transformers 2, and GI Joe come to mind in particular. Military-centric and lacking in anything resembling a real character, it depressed me to find such emotionally cold film-making was making so much money.James Cameron is the remedy.

As a director, he has often very successfully managed to balance intriguing and exciting film premises with human elements that made you care for characters- he has an amazing way of making you invest in the people he created.

But Avatar, for me, represents a more mature James Cameron. In Aliens and True Lies Cameron, much like the Michael Bays of today, had a boyish fascination with weaponry and the technology of war. Now James Cameron, the man, expresses his disgust at these objects. This is NOT a worship of firepower- it is a damning indictment of it.

Avatar has a story that acts as analogy for many things- colonialism, America's supposed war on terror, labelling Palestine's resistance fighters as terrorists, the human desire for profit vs the human need for environmental preservation. It is very much a product of our time, and it is hugely passionate in its execution. In my mind Avatar represents Cameron's rage.

More that this, when we hear the horrified and angry screams of an invaded population, we hear our own frustration. The film had me in tears at some points, because of the clarity and resonance of its message.

The film is not all doom and gloom- it is inspiring also. It demonstrates there exist universal principles that transcend race or allegiance of country, it celebrates spirituality, and abhors the arrogance of men and their guns. There were moments when the film gave me goosebumps.

Please see this film if it feels like the world around you doesn't always show the humanity you feel it should, if you don't understand why people's lives are so expendable in the pursuit of oil, land or empty victory. It is a strangely validating experience to find so many of your feelings so poetically reflected. Thank you Mr Cameron.

The Ruins (2008)

Stick with it... it pays off

[8/10 · 11 February 2009]

Admittedly the first half an hour of The Ruins made me wonder if I was going to have to endure a Turistas/ Hostel clone where a bunch of not-especially-likable American tourists get it, but I've got to say that by the end I was completely engrossed in the storyline, and invested in the outcome of characters- thanks to some fantastic moments of psychological, as well as gory, horror.

Some spoilers below...

The film impressed me also because it took what was potentially a ludicrous concept (killer plants- also focused on in The Happening) but opted for the infection/body-horror slant, which really brought the horror home. It worked far more successfully than Cabin Fever at this. So yep- a thumbs up from me, there are definitely far weaker examples in this sub-genre of horror.

My Bloody Valentine (2009)

Great fun!

[8/10 · 16 January 2009]

I missed out on the 80's 3D craze- films in the Jaws, Amityville and Friday the 13th franchises all getting 3d instalments on the big screen. Well it seems 2009 will make up for that, with My Bloody Valentine, Final Destination 4 and Pirahna all adding an extra dimension to their proceedings.

My Bloody Valentine is a great start. It's fun, gory, doesn't spend too much time on the dialogue, because it understands we're wearing these ridiculous glasses for a reason! I really enjoyed it actually- and for someone who has watched so many slashers, the 3d did add some wonderful novel touches, so it felt like more than just a retread. I know it's cool to bash remakes these days (and admittedly so many are very weak) but I much prefer this to the original- which seemed to plod along at quite a pedestrian pace, and besides the mining town setting, really didn't offer anything especially new. This film is far tighter and doesn't take itself so seriously- it has its tongue-firmly-in-cheek.

The only downsides are perhaps the stalk and kill sequence involving a naked lady. I guess some horror fans like their nudity, but in a genre so often viewed as misogynistic, it didn't do itself any favours. Admittedly the character is actually quite strong and fun- you don't feel her nudity weakens or humiliates her, but... I dunno, perhaps pandering a little too much for the teenage boys? Go catch this at the cinema, take a few friends, and enjoy an hour and a half of silly fun.

Prom Night (I) (2008)

Doesn't deserve the bashing it's getting

[8/10 · 6 November 2008]

I think sometimes it's fashionable for everyone to hate, or at least state they hate, a film. A couple of years ago it was 'I Know Who Killed Me' and with both these films, I watched them with an open mind and found them both to be fun. entertaining and stylish movies, that really didn't deserve the critical bashing they got.

No Prom Night doesn't resemble the original- but if there's one thing Gus Van Sant's Psycho remake taught me, a remake that sticks too closely to it's source material is more interesting in concept than execution. It's the same with US remakes of East Asian horror- while most people are raving about how fantastic The Ring is, those who have seen the original are bored by it's uninspired retelling. I want people to take the source material and roll with it, I want new ideas, a completely new take- because if I wanted to watch the same film twice, I'd replay the original, not venture out to the DVD store. Perhaps this is the reason I was very impressed by Rob Zombie's Halloween- well at least the first half.

Prom Night reminds me of the slasher films I fell in love with during the 90's- horror was given a boost after Scream and fun, hip films like I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Faculty and, to a lesser extent, Urban Legend were out in cinemas, and for a teenager who grew up on horrors, it was heaven. Prom Night is a tight film, with likable characters, breezy dialogue, some slick cinematography, and some genuinely tense moments. There's so much horror out there that drags on, perhaps under the misplaced belief that it's building tension, but this film hits the ground running, and keeps going.

It's not especially original, some of the shots of the Prom Night partiers feels a little bit too music video which comes across as trying too hard to be cool, but the film kept me watching, and interested all the way through.

With regards to the gore, this film doesn't need it. I watched the unrated DVD, which apparently only adds a minute of blood splats here and there, but even without this I don't think this film would feel neutered- because this film isn't about gore. It's not like the DVD of My Bloody Valentine I watched recently, where the cuts to gore were so apparent that the film felt like it had lost something important- like I was watching the shreds of what was left after a major edit.

Prom Night was never made to depend on gore to draw it's audience in- you get a coherent fun little film despite this. And at a time when so many horror films rely on gore, torture and sadism, it's nice to have a film that almost feels like a more simplistic, even innocent, entry into the genre- one where you want the girl to survive, not wondering what gruesome way she can be murdered.

Retro Puppet Master (1999 Video)

Not the strongest of sequels, though nowhere near as bad as 4 and 5

[6/10 · 5 November 2008]

Retro puppet master This tale precedes the events of Puppet Master III, and explores the origins of the puppets themselves. Sadly, as grand a concept as this has- a story starting in Egypt in the late 1800's where the secrets of a God's power are stolen and then moving to a young Toulon running a puppet show in Paris in the early 1900s, the whole affair is a little too drawn out to fulfil it's potential.

It's a shame because director Decoteau has previously directed two of the stronger Puppet Master entries- part 3 (perhaps my favourite) and 6- a fun return to form after a couple of really bad sequels.

This is not to say it's a film without merit- any fan of the Puppet Master series will enjoy finding out about how it all began, the cronies of the god are fairly sinister in an Agent Smith/ Matrix kind of way, and there are a couple of new puppets to keep you entertained.

The film could be described as ambitious too, considering budgetary constraints. Creating a period piece obviously creates complications in filming, so this, as with Puppet Master III, is admirable- the simplest route was not selected.

On the downside, the puppets themselves move especially badly in this entry- it's a far cry from the beautiful stop-motion animation of earlier films- we really are talking about movement like a 4 year old's Barbie. Also considering these are meant to be early versions of the puppets we know and love, some of these wooden versions really miss the mark. Blade especially. When looking at the cover I actually assumed Dr Death's skeletal appearance was an early, and quite impressive, early version of Blade, when in fact he's this bizarre troll-faced puppet, with only the hair and costume in common. Quite sad really, as the puppets are after all the stars. And the male lead, Greg Sestero as a young Andre Toulon, is perhaps more wooden than the puppets.

Still, it's worth renting perhaps rather than buying, (I'm not sure how much replay value it has) for those who have to know how it all began. Just don't expect anything super special.

Curse of the Puppet Master (1998 Video)

Better!

[7/10 · 5 November 2008]

Phew! After the torture of plodding through through parts 4 and 5 (I kid you not it must have taken about 6 separate attempts for me to make it all the way through both those films) the sixth film is the series is actually a lot of fun and, thankfully, a change in direction.

What I like about the stronger Puppet Master films is that rather than simply present a film about puppets killing people, there's often a lot more happening. Colourful characters, or set amidst a Nazi uprising, there have definitely been factors that make this straight-to-video series a little more sophisticated than you would expect.

This film is not the strongest of the series, but still we're given some nice story elements that keep us watching- the shy Robert taken in by Dr. Magrew, who runs a showroom of oddities, a man who seems to have dark secrets that go beyond the living puppets he now owns.

I enjoyed this film, it took the action away from Bogada Hotel, and it doesn't follow continuity with the previous 2 films (thankfully!) It brought a sense of fun, tension and mystery back to Puppet Master.

Of course it's not perfect. Yes some of the acting is downright atrocious, and it's clear this film represents director Decoteaus' first steps towards his soft-core "jocks in tight boxers" style of horror film making, opting for looks over talent in some of his male actors, but thankfully it doesn't dominate this film- I watch horror to be scared, not aroused.

Overall a fun way to spend 90 minutes, and one of the better sequels.

Puppet Master 5 (1994 Video)

Boring Rehash

[4/10 · 5 November 2008]

Puppet Master 5 is nothing more than a boring rehash of the previous film, featuring the same demon from underworld (looking like a power rangers cast-off bad guy) sending a Giger-inspired (read: Alien rip-off)critter to Bogeda Hotel to kill people. Dull and overly long, I really wonder why parts 4 and 5 were filmed back-to-back- there's not enough plot, or variation or direction for 2 movies. It's a mystery to me.

There are unintentional moments of hilarity though. Lauren, who spends most of the film comatose, seems to be there only to convulse and occasionally jump out of her bed screaming. Great characterisation (!) It's unfortunate because the initial set up- Rick Myers looks very guilty of murder, Dr. Jennings, a scientist being corrupted by a big organisation to find the the secret of the puppets, could potentially have led to an intriguing film, instead of the uninspired ' people wandering around a dark hotel and getting killed' number.

Yes it's a formula that worked in the earlier puppet master films, but the characters had actual character, and weren't just cardboard cut-outs. As campy and hammy as they may have been, you felt for them. If I ever have a puppet master marathon, I can quite easily say I'll skip both 4 and 5- they really are the least inspired of the series so far.

Zombie (1979)

Is this it?!

[4/10 · 5 November 2008]

When I find myself watching a film, and mentally performing my own edit- "that bit was unnecessary" "that could have been cut down" then I know I'm not being entertained. And sadly that's exactly what happened during Zombi 2.

It's a film I'd attempted to watch years ago, when it was first released on video here in the UK after being banned for a number of years. I didn't make it past the first half an hour.

But since then I've heard a lot of hype about what a 'classic' film it is, and having enjoyed recent zombie films such as Diary of the Dead (I love Romero's dead films), 28 Days/ Weeks Later and the recent TV series Dead Set, decided to give it a second chance, getting an uncut copy of the film from the US.

It's not a classic. It's not even very entertaining. For me, it's one of those films that plods so slowly, you're actually quite grateful for the end, once it finally arrives.

That's not to say it's completely without merit. I'm sure you've heard of scenes involving a shark, another with a splinter of wood (I won't say too much in case you haven't) and the final shots we see of NYC are all quite impressive. Special mention to Olga Karlatos, who has a wonderful intensity as Dr Mernard's wife, the only cast member who has some real spark about their performance. Unfortunately it just isn't enough. It needed pacing, it needed dialogue that felt like it drew its audience in, rather than merely filling time, and it lacked atmosphere, tension and real scares, instead opting for gory effects.

This is the second Fulci effort I've seen- the other being the equally incoherent bore-fest House by the Cemetery. I think I'll be leaving Fulci's other works alone. Disappointing.

Rest Stop: Don't Look Back (2008 Video)

Fun little gem

[8/10 · 10 October 2008]

I enjoyed the first Rest Stop movie- considering it was a straight to video, low budget horror, I felt it was a tense off-the-beaten track film, with some nice, and unexpected, supernatural elements. Though I'm not claiming it's a horror classic, it was a fun film, and certainly felt like one of the fresher films in this sub-genre of horror, especially when compared to the tired Texas Chainsaw prequel and Hills Have Eyes sequel- both of which were out around the same time.

I think the sequel is equally fun- if not more so. Anyone witnessing the porta-potty scene will know there's a real streak of humour in this film. The supernatural aspects are also capitalised upon- allowing for a good twist or two. The sequel fleshes out some of the history of the freakish family, we find out what happened to the characters from the last film- all in all, it does what a good sequel is supposed to! So if you want a fun hour and a half, you could do far worse than watching this.It's silly fun, with some laughs, some gory parts and some tense moments, but then that's the point, I expect. It's a nice feeling when a straight-to-DVD film demonstrates a lot of what is missing in big budget cinematic horror films today- bring on Rest Stop 3!!!

Black Christmas (2006)

Nice looking but uninspired

[5/10 · 25 November 2007]

Black Christmas is a very beautiful film- it features stunning girls, some wonderful camera shots, and very much captures the Christmas feel- the movie is positively awash with reds and greens. There's no denying it's a feast for the eyes.

It's a shame because Black Christmas is such a beautiful looking, sleekly filmed movie, I WANT to like it. However, as we all should know, a film should be about more than just aesthetics and despite what appears to be some high production values and a relatively tight 80-something minute running time, the film plods and manages to feel rather dull.

I think a major factor is the characters- or supposed characters, as they don't feel like characters at all. We meet a sorority house full of girls, some disposed of sooner than others, and yet it's hard to distinguish them- a few sassy lines aside, and this isn't helped by the fact they all look incredibly similar. I guess this is the price you pay for the Hollywood trend of focusing on beautiful looking people, rather than those conveying an, at least vaguely, interesting persona.

The original Black Christmas fleshed out the girls far more- they had lives outside the confines of the sorority house they were likable, funny, occasionally downright bitchy or crude- but essentially you found yourself caring for these girls. The remake attempts to do this- there is a subplot featuring a sex tape and love-rat boyfriend, apparent tension amongst some of the girls, but these are fleeting and , because ultimately we don't especially care about the girls, these don't strike an emotional chord. I suspect the writing was more focused on the back-story of the killer than the people we were actually supposed to be rooting for- the heroine is the ultimate in non descript and bland.

In a similar fashion to the recent remake of When a Stranger Calls, the vast majority of the action now takes place in the house itself. Whereas one would expect a build up of tension, claustrophobia and dread, both fail miserably. What we find instead is beautiful on the eye, but something that feels altogether overly long and rather routine.

Revelations (2005)

An interesting, if not hugely original, take on the apocalypse

[7/10 · 3 January 2007]

The end of the world is always intriguing subject matter, for the religious and non-religious alike, and with cinematic explorations of the Apocalypse such as the Omen it's themes are at least vaguely familiar to even those of us not raised in Christianity. Revelations does not stray far from the formula in that respect- the birth of the anti-Christ, the second coming of Jesus, it's all handled or hinted at in ways that will not wow us with originality, but it does manage to place them in a contemporary context without alienating the audience- we are drawn into the story, and it is believable to us.

Bill Pullman and Natascha McElhone play the spiritual equivalents of Mulder and Scully, but with the gender roles reversed. It's a well-worn concept- the believer and the pessimist having to work together to achieve a common goal, but credit has to be given to the actors, who do bring something new to the roles, and make them characters we can acre about easily. Natascha McElhone conveys the wide eyed Sister Josepha Montafiore with such conviction that you find yourself envious of her sense of almost child-like wonder. Bill Pullman also shines as a jaded man who has lost so much.

Revelations also follows the recent trend of focusing on family- it's something I noticed recently in the cancelled sci fi show Invasion. I think it's an effective way of bringing the events occurring around the characters home, quite literally, for the audiences, and for a theme as huge as the world ending, it's a way of not overwhelming the audience with ideas- this is not a cinematic epic, it's very much about the central characters.

There are of course weaknesses with the show also. Prisoners who share a jail with Satan worshipper Isaiah Haden are very easily "converted to the dark side" and it's not completely believable because they are treated as a homogeneous group- they are in jail therefore they must all be unrepentant people who will side with Satan in order to feel good about themselves. It just doesn't work, and considering the depth in writing in some aspects of the show, it's a stark contrast. Similarly, the brief references we get terrorism are handled in a very Christian-centric manner. In a show that deal with God and faith, you would expect some exploration of different religions, and the different forms in which faith and a belief in God can manifest itself, but instead I felt we were being spoon-fed things that boiled down to "good" and "bad@ and that's not what an adult audience wants.

Despite these weaknesses, it's unfortunate that the show was not given an opportunity to grow- I would have been very curious to see the direction the show would have taken, particularly with more episodes per season to really explore the themes laid down in these 6 episodes.

I would certainly recommend this to people who are interested in the subject matters stated earlier, and for those in the mood to get into a story that won't take weeks to see through.

Batman Begins (2005)

Paint-by-numbers action flick

[6/10 · 3 January 2007]

I've heard a lot of hype regarding Batman Begins as an effective re-imagining of Batman's cinematic origins, but ,though I can't claim it's a dreadful film, I did feel underwhelmed by it.

I guess the main reason is the fact it all feels so... routine. Yes there are exciting action sequences, some snazzy CGI effects, and a pretty strong cast, but somehow all these factors come together to form something that feels not at all spectacular.

I understand that for many people, this film represents an antidote to the campiness that the later Batman sequels adopted, a return to the Tim Burton-esquire moodiness we were treated to in his earlier cinematic outings. Visually this is certainly achieved, Gotham is gloriously brooding, as is Batman himself,but it's disturbed by fanboyish moments like focusing excessively on the bizarre reworked batmobile, east Asian martial arts mysticism and the compulsory " cop observing the action enters witty line here" moments.

I also was not entirely convinced by Christian Bale's performance- he just felt a little stiff in places, and there are moments of dialogue that are obviously supposed to profound but come away as laughable. Similarly Liam Neeson is miscast, as he was is Star Wars Episode I- some people just weren't meant to fight on screen. The twist involving his character is again a moment of drama that comes across as comedy or worse, it is cringe inducing.

I have to say Katie Holmes is a shining star amongst this. Before watching the film, friends had described her role as tokenistic, and unnecessary to the plot, but I felt quite the opposite. Her role, in many respects, forms Bruce Wayne's moral compass, and Katie Holmes manages to convey her passion, and her dedication to justice beautifully. It's a stark contrast to her counterpart Christian Bale.

So overall, I would say the film is certainly worth renting, but perhaps not the amazing retelling of Batman's origins that you may have been led to believe. It's fun in places, thoughtful in others, but doesn't mesh together to form a coherent whole, and with it's fair share of ropey moments, it is anything but extraordinary.

Tiptoes (2002)

A surreal film that makes for good intoxicated viewing

[7/10 · 29 December 2006]

I watched this film with a bunch of friends while "under the influence" and I've got to say it's a bizarre film, which is difficult to classify, but nonetheless very entertaining. The difficulty comes from not knowing whether this was a serious heart-felt attempt at conveying the trials and tribulations of the vertically challenged, or if it's a tongue-in-cheek exercise. Perhaps it's a little of both.

I'm not going to pretend it's a perfect film- far from it. Some of the lines are truly dreadful, and there are more than a fair share of soap opera moments. You wonder how such a stellar cast, including Gary Oldman and Patricia Arquette. got roped into such a project. Part of you suspects they signed the contract after they'd been drinking heavily. But the cast do seem to be having genuine fun- Patricia Arquette, as always, is a joy to watch, and her ditsy character really brings a great presence to the screen.

I would definitely recommend renting it- it's worthy of a few guilty giggles, and the dialogue clunkers are great. It does seem to have a warm heart beating underneath it, so it's certainly not a film that could be viewed as being cruel or exploitative, but it will leave you wondering what the intention of the film actually is.

Puppet Master 4 (1993 Video)

Too good to last?

[5/10 · 4 September 2006]

Puppet master 4 lacks many things that made the first three movies feel like something special. There is the absence of that quiet, almost fairytale, quality found in previous instalments, noticeable right from the opening score.

I tried to be patient with this film- and indeed the opening, which focuses on other worldly demons who wish to guard the secret of life as tapped into by Toulon, feels like it has the potential to be interesting, something new, a further exploration of the puppet master mythology perhaps.

But it's wasted potential- nothing is explored in any kind of depth. This is especially disappointing in contrast to the thoughtful Puppet Master III. Up until now Puppet Master's puppets have always played a relatively small part in a greater story. Yes they probably are the reason people rent these movies, but we are treated to a lot more than just puppets killing people- there's interesting character development, some great building of tension, a rich past to explore but this film focuses mainly upon the puppets themselves, and these demonic critters sent from another dimension.

The whole cat/ mouse feel of the action gets really tiresome. It's just not fun to watch the same "scream, struggle a bit then eventually kill the baddie" routine over and over again in this movie. There's a genuine lack of tension as well. For example we see the puppet master's chest being prised open for about five minutes. The audience knows what will be inside- we've seen the other films, and yet we're forced to sit through this. Why? That isn't tension- a revelation, isn't a revelation if we already know what to expect.

Everything feels overly forced too. The boy-genius in his Converses who enjoys jumping around his room firing lasers at robots because he's "crazy fun!" too. He's not especially likable, he just feels like some, I dunno, Micheal J Fox in-the-80s throwback. The techno-babble is another annoying aspect of this film- we know means nothing so why bother? Even the selling point of this chapter- "when bad puppets go good!" is redundant because we've seen these puppets as justice-givers in the previous instalment. It's just really a sad contrast to the interesting characters we've met in previous instalments and the simplistic charm of those films too.

The sad news is this was filmed back-to-back with its sequel Puppet Master 5. I have the box set, so I'm inevitably going to watch it, but I'm not excited. I don't care about this badly executed plot. The characters aren't interesting to me. A definite change in direction is what I'm looking forward to. Still here's hoping I don't find myself whistling in boredom during the next one.

Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge (1991 Video)

A brave prequel, rather than an obvious sequel

[8/10 · 4 September 2006]

Puppet Master III is actually a far braver follow-up to the original movie than Puppet Master II- a satisfying move away from the familiar set up of visitors at Bodega Bay, as seen twice before, instead setting it in Nazi Germany, following Toulon's life with some surprising revelations as to how our killer puppets came to exist.

At the end of Puppet Master II there's an implication that the next film would be set in some teenage delinquents centre. It's a pleasant surprise this film instead opts to down a route more challenging than "let's give the puppets new fodder in the form of angry teens!"

Despite loving the Puppet Master films for it's underlying sense of camp, there are moments in Puppet Master III that really do resonate- you do feel the air of suspicion and paranoia during Hitler's Germany- of course Puppet Master III is never going to be Schindler's List, but it does use Nazi Germany as more than a fascinating backdrop, and you do get at least a taste of the tragedy.

There are some tender moments also. Toulon in Puppet Master III is not the pantomime bandaged villain we are introduced to in the Puppet Master II. Here we see the tender old man with an almost paternal love for his creations, as glimpsed in the first film. It makes for a more interesting character- we can sympathise with him, and the puppets themselves, and it adds an extra dimension to the film. It also removes the guilty pleasure element of the death sequences- when the puppets kill in this film, you're behind them one hundred percent. Oh and can I just say it was great to see Ms Leech again- strange how you can't help but have a favourite right?!

Puppet Master III represents a good horror sequel, something I feel is quite difficult to find these days. It isn't afraid to try something new, yet stays true to the roots of the characters, in fact adding to their complexity and the sense of tragedy there. I know, I know, maybe I'm taking it all a little seriously but even on a shallow level- "Killer Puppets in Nazi Germany?" Genius!

Puppet Master II (1990 Video)

A retread that manages to retain some of that Puppet Master charm

[7/10 · 4 September 2006]

Puppet master II does not stray far from the setting and basic plot line of the original. It manages to get away with it- the grand hotel at Bodega Bay is after all a fantastic setting, so it is a joy to return there, and though it may initially feel like a complete retread (paranormal investigators returning to the hotel rather than psychics etc etc) it does have a few interesting plot developments to draw the audience in.

Toulon is brought back from the dead, with his own maniacal plan that involves human sacrifices- he is no longer the sweet, paternal toymaker we met in the first film, but a monstrosity wrapped in bandages with his own sinister desires. We get an interesting insight into the origin of the living puppets, and there are also some scenes that will definitely make you smile- for once in a film the annoying kid actually gets it!

So overall it is, for the most part, an enjoyable retread of old territory. But it is territory that is still enjoyable to revisit, right down to the musical score. It still manages to retain its hammy charm, and is guaranteed to make you crack a smile at least a couple of times. I'm hoping though that the future chapters in this series stray a little further away from the formula that seems to be forming right now. It is still fun and endearing right now, but I can imagine it growing very stale.

I do have to mention the Video Zone extras found on the DVDs as well as the original VHS tapes I believe. They're essentially behind the scenes shorts that nicely compliment the movies, giving you some insight into the film-making process. However unlike the promotional work we find for today's bigger blockbusters you do get a sense of genuine enthusiasm from the cast and crew- Charlie Spralding is a lot of fun to watch especially. It just allows the audience to feel a part of things.

Amityville 1992: It's About Time (1992 Video)

won't make for high brow film discussion, but silly fun nonetheless

[7/10 · 2 September 2006]

Okay I admit it. The Amityville movies are definitely one of my guilty pleasures in life- but hey everyone has a vice right? I just genuinely get excited before I'm about to see another, and so far (with the exception of the incoherent snooze-fest that is Amityville 3/ 3-D) they've all been pretty entertaining.

So they aren't highly polished works of art, the standard of acting is variable to say the least, and the series did very quickly descend to made for TV/ straight to video territory. But I find the films to be a lot of fun, and considering the sheer number of sequels (seven and a remake to date) for the most part each film does manage to bring something new to the series, and considering the original concept of a haunted house doesn't lend much in the way of creative flexibility, it has been fun to watch the different ways in which the subject matter is approached.

Amityville 1992 : It's About Time (or simply Amityville: It's About Time as it is known on DVD) continues the theme of items from the original Amityville house ending up in new households, only to wreak havoc, as introduced in Amityville: The Evil Escapes. In this case it is an antique clock, which the audience will discover has a history of its own. However, rather than go for the obvious "and then things get thrown around the house and the walls bleed route" the writers have decided to play with the theme of time- we see glimpses of the past, time slows down and speeds up, and events are undone. Yes the premise of course is ultimately silly- time warps don't fit comfortably with Amityville lore, but it does make for a nice twist in the saga.

I liked the fact that characters were flawed also- our heroine Lisa (played convincingly by Megan Ward is introduced to us as a woman who is cheating on her psychiatrist boyfriend with an ex she knows she shouldn't get involved with/ Okay it's not groundbreaking stuff, but for the genre of horror it's a nice move away from the virginal stereotypical protagonist. In many other horror films she wouldn't be the female lead, she'd be the prime victim.

Expect some unintentionally hilarious dialogue, one of the charms of the Amityville horror movies, and look out for an interesting death scene which reminds me of the Final Destination films- you think you've escaped death by oh no you haven't. In fact it's delivered with (I hope) a real tongue in cheek sense of humour- you'll know what I mean when you see how the poor character is finished off! So to summarise- silly fun that's certainly worth renting. If you've seen the other sequels you'll know what to expect- it won't make for high brow film discussion, but it'll entertain for a couple of hours, and make you laugh a couple of times too.

Amityville: A New Generation (1993 Video)

A different take on the Amityville saga which has its own odd charm

[7/10 · 2 September 2006]

Amityville: A New Generation marks a different take on the Amityville saga- focusing on the personal history and demons of our main character, the likable floppy-haired Keyes Terry played by Ross Partridge, rather than focusing solely on things that go bump in the night. In this sense Amityville: A New Generation is a more thoughtful film that its predecessors, and a bit of a slow burner.

It certainly won't win any awards but it does try something different- time is taken to introduce us to characters, in this case a group of struggling artists very much in the 90210/ Melrose Place mould of attractive, living in amazing apartments but supposedly broke and angst ridden. It's endearing in its own way- right down to the fashion. The occasional self importance regarding the "artwork" can lead to some unintentional humour, all of which adds to the odd charm of this film.

It is nice to see appearances from an older David Naughton (the male lead David Kessler in An American Werewolf in London) and a younger Terry O'Quinn (who plays the enigmatic Locke on the television drama Lost)

Overall though the film is unlikely to set anyone's world alight it does draw you in, and you will find yourself caring for the lead. However as I've said before, expect a different pace and style from the earlier Amityville horror films. Like 1992 its focus is as much on characters changing as supernatural happenings. So be aware of what to expect if you're thinking of picking this one up.

The Devil's Rejects (2005)

The Devil's Rejects is not always an easy film to watch

[7/10 · 2 September 2006]

The Devil's Rejects is not always an easy film to watch. It has a genuine savagery that makes recent films such as Hostel or Saw II, non spectacular though they were, appear rather tame.

I think part of the reason the film is such uncomfortable viewing is through Rob Zombie's creation of a strong sense of ambiguity as to who we are supposed to sympathise with- who are the antagonists and the protagonists? Initially things seem quite clean cut- psychopathic killers= evil, Sheriff on a vigilante mission = good, but then the lines blur. The Sheriff turns nasty, yet we the audience take joy in his sadism- are we as bad as these killers? And at the same time we the audience feel flashes of sympathy for the killers too- through glimpses of their own, warped domestic bliss. This is interesting and

one that gets under your skin and disturbs.

I have to mention the humour also- which is also a nice contrast to darkness, though some of the humour is very close to the edge- you DO need those moments of light relief, to prevent the proceedings becoming completely grimy and depressing.

The only main downside of this film is it does at times feel overly long, almost deliberately drawn out,and that can distract from the intensity of things.

Personally this film marks a huge improvement for Rob Zombie after the debacle that was House Of 1000 Corpses, a masturbatory fan boy effort which had an okay build up but quickly descended into cartoony drivel. With The Devil's Rejects Rob Zombie seems to have shifted focus from being a kid with a film camera and a budget, and shifted focus on telling a story, and making the audience FEEL something, and he actually does a pretty good job of it too.

Special mention has to go to Sheri Moon. A real delight to watch. I can't help but smile when I see her on screen- I wouldn't be at all surprised if she finds herself with a huge gay following. A lovely mixture of sassiness, innocence and an edge of something slightly darker. I like her a lot- well at least when she's not making racist playground chants fashionable again.

I'm actually excited now about Zombie's remake/ reinvention/ prequel of Halloween. Okay so the term "remake/ reinvention/ prequel" fills me with an underlying sense of dread, but I'm going to breathe out and try trust Rob Zombie on this one. If nothing else, I know it'll be anything but bland.

Puppet Master (1989 Video)

Quiet, kooky little gem that isn't afraid to take its time

[8/10 · 2 September 2006]

Puppet master is a film that has a quiet kooky charm about it. I came to the film relatively late in life- reading other IMDb entries people often talk about it as the stuff of nostalgia, something they caught as a kid or teenager, and that worried me- I didn't grow up on these films, how would I find them as an adult viewing for the first time? Truthfully it's a lot of fun. It's an intriguing little set up, where some interesting characters find themselves in a grand hotel with killer puppets on the loose. Whether it's deliberate, or the side effect of a low budget, we do get a lot of character development and some exploration of the different manifestations of psychic ability in the lead characters. Some nice moments of snappy dialogue too- special mention has to go to Irene Miracle as Dana, who has some wonderfully cutting one liners.

The inevitable twists are silly and hammy, but you get the sense that this is all done with a self deprecating sense of humour. While it's far from slapstick, there is a camp sense of humour in this film- after all it IS about killer puppets! The movie is certainly worth a rent- but be in the right frame of mind for it. I wouldn't say it was a party film, it's a quiet little film that isn't afraid to take its time building up the situation and characters, so perhaps more for a quiet night in and a change of pace from modern, loud, ultra slick cinema.

I have to mention the stop-motion effects used to animate the puppets. I found this to be really effective, rather than dated as other reviewers have mentioned. I find in these days of CGI, it was a real treat to watch, and did have a certain realism you find missing in computer animation today.

I luckily managed to get hold of this much discussed Puppet Master 1- 7 Box Set from Full Moon- even more surprising as I live in the UK! I'm actually really curious to see where this series goes over the next few chapters. All in all though a very encouraging start!

Scary Movie 4 (2006)

A handful of laughs over an hour and a half

[5/10 · 27 August 2006]

I was excited about watching Scary Movie 4- I needed some silly no-brainer laughs and Scary Movie 3 had been a pleasant surprise after the pretty diabolically unfunny Scary Movie 2.

Sadly, this entry, while not completely dreadful, left me feeling pretty so-so about the whole thing. For a film that lasts for about an hour and a half I'm sure I only laughed out loud or cracked a smile maybe a handful of times- not a great ratio really.

Maybe it's the nature of the films being spoofed here- War of the Worlds, Saw, The Village, The Grudge- they don't exactly scream comedic potential right? And as the Scary Movie films are very much about parodies of recent releases, it is perhaps highly dependent on the sort of film that have come out lately. However, having said that the screenplay had THREE writers- surely one would expect creativity there to overcome such hurdles? There are some good points too. Anna Faris is always a joy to watch- there's something so instantly likable about her, and she somehow manages to be funny without saying a word. A real talent. Regina Hall is a lot of fun also as Brenda, but her character didn't get to shine as much in this film. I hope for future entries they give her better material to work with.

Perhaps worth a rent on a rainy day, but not worth a blind purchase (something I did yesterday in my excitement) unless you're a completist, and know you're going to have to own it anyway.