Nephren-Ka Reviews

Zero Hour (2004– )

Remarkable

[2 March 2005]

This documentary series is arguably one of the best that I've ever come across in my countless hours in front of the idiot box. It takes a very unique and fresh approach in that it covers some of the most significant recent and controversial historical events and attempts to retrace exactly what happened in the final hour leading up to it.

The film-makers here use a blend of actors in a dramatised short film and splice this with real-life audio outtakes from emergency phone calls made during and immediately in the wake of such events, in-depth interviews with those who were at the event as well as interesting additional facts which help to explain and understand how and why the event took place, all with quite an objective point of view.

The format of each episode is very easy to follow as it merely gives the viewer a minute by minute recount of what took place. Episodes are never spread over multiple weeks, so the package is always nicely wrapped up with each episode.

Highly recommended.

Kærlighed ved første hik (1999)

Good Fun

[7/10 · 28 February 2005]

I stumbled across this Danish film flicking through a foreign films channel here one night and obviously having no idea what to expect of it, I was pleasantly surprised with it being such a fan, easy-going film that was easy to follow as well as enjoyable.

Follows the story of 10th Grader Viktor's efforts to win the heart of his high school crush (who incidentally happens to be 2 years older and slightly more mature than him). His attempts to thwart her relationship with her boyfriend are downright hilarious, while Viktor's little brothers smart-alec comments and escapades at the local convenience store had me in stitches.

Nothing life-changing here but a fun movie if that's what you're after.

Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey (2000 Video)

Remarkable Insight

[10/10 · 27 November 2003]

Arguably the best Bruce Lee documentary available at the moment, and I've pretty much seen every one that is available. Having grown up idolising the great man and having seen all his movies countless times, when I first saw the "Curse of the Dragon" documentary I was most intrigued by an interview which was conducted with Bruce's long time friend, colleague and training partner Dan Inosanto where Bruce's original concept for "Game of Death" was brought to light. Inosanto made mention of the 5-floor pagoda idea and immediately I made it my mission to somehow find this lost footage.

Some years later I have finally been privileged as well as honoured to see the long lost footage from the final battle scenes in "Game of Death" and to see the master in action for one final time. All I can say is that the "Game of Death" footage alone is worth the price of admission and any true Bruce Lee fan will be left salivating after seeing the incredible fight scenes coupled with the philosophical undertones that Lee so wanted to convey to his students, fans and audiences alike.

The lost footage aside, the documentary is also quite solid with excellent insight into Bruce's philosophy and his incredible determination and integrity which truly made him a master in his respective trade. While other documentaries often focused on his meteoric rise to stardom and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his untimely death, this documentary chooses rather to focus on his life, his teachings, his way of thought and his remarkable achievements - all of which made him a legend.

10/10

Romper Stomper (1992)

It started for Russell here

[2 March 2003]

A pretty impressive Australian flick that could easily have faired well overseas as well. It won several AFI [Australian Film Industry] Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe, and would lay the foundations for Crowe's future international acting career.

While the film portrays that there is no real place for racism in society, and that such ideology often leads you nowhere as most films dealing with this topic would, I found that some parts were a little ridiculous, take for example the rather aggressive "love" scene between Crowe and MacKenzie while some Nazi punk song is playing in the background.

Overall, the movie was quite good, especially by Australian standards, although I just found that it wasn't intelligent or thought provoking enough for my liking. American History X is by far the superior movie in this area.

Another more recent Aussie flick worth checking out would be 'Chopper' with Eric Bana of 'Black Hawk Down' fame.