theo4isobelle Reviews

This Is Not a Love Song (2002)

simple story - great return

[27 December 2003]

I managed to go and see this film at a local university cinema, and I took my mother (not the worlds greatest film connoisseur!) to see it. Result? We both loved it. I appreciated the narrative, disturbing ending and experimental camera work. My mum loved the characters and loved making the links for herself. It was a heavy weight to carry for such a small cast and such a small location, but it didn't need the fancy thrills and special effects of Hollywood. This film stood up entirely on it's own as an entertaining and gripping piece, with a title I adored. After all, that was the reason I wanted to see it (not that I'm superficial)

Ringu (1998)

bitterly disappointed

[27 December 2003]

**spoilers I was left bitterly disappointed with this film after having it hyped by many friends. I saw the American version first, which I now wonder whether this was spoiled by that. The scene with the girl climbing out of the television was much scarier in this version due to it's realistic nature, but to me this film didn't give me the feeling I expected after having watched this. If you want to see a good horror film, try Dark Water. It's by the same director, has similar slants to this, but the suspense is unreal.

American History X (1998)

the four words waiting to escape my mouth as I watched this film were " I love this film"

[27 December 2003]

The last film I can honestly say I fell in love with before I watched this film was Requiem for a Dream (Darren Aronofsky), and I spent a long time searching for another film that touched me in such a way. Always the fan of the film without the happy ending with beautiful camera work, mis-en-scene and a great story with suspense to add to it, this film delivered all the right elements. Giving that I missed the first ten minutes of the film, I really wished I listened to my friend who recommended I watched it properly as he put it on. Regardless of this fact, I was hooked and glued to the screen within minutes and found myself gasping for breath when I sat in pure adoration of some of the composition within this film. I won't ramble too much, but I just have to have it said that the four words waiting to escape my mouth as I watched this film were " I love this film". Norton puts in a stunning performance, and this is a stunning film containing some of the best scenes I've ever seen. A must see.