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akiveverkova
Reviews
Lung do kei yuen (2005)
just plain awful...direct to video not film festival material!
I saw this film this evening at the Freer Gallery in Washington, DC, as part of their 10th Annual Made in Hong Kong Festival. Yes, yes I understand it is the first ever computer generated kung-fu movie out of Hong Kong, but it was awful. I guess this is as much a rant about the film as it is about including it in the film festival. This is an example of a highly pandering (can you say that?) direct to video for pre-schoolers. The animation is completely awful. It looks like a late 80s video game...just purely awful. I will give it that some of the fighting is 'neat', but did that make me want to sit through 90 mins of horror for? NO. It references countless films. As a cinephile of course ya get me every time...but in recent days this has become far too much (a few other films in this 'genre' come to mind). It is just one and another reference, line, on and on...are you trying justify us parents (not that I am one) sitting through this garbage? This is a great example of a direct to video minor film. Then again do we need more examples of that?
Black (2005)
great design, weak story
First, the positive: there are some amazing shots in this film. Absolutely breath-taking. The production design is also amazing. The director/ DP really took time to plan this and it comes across very strong. Overall, the acting is quite decent. At times it feels a bit overacted, but overall (especially considering the child actor) the acting is decent+. The problem: the story has been done before and it was done better the first time. To say that this isn't a remake is a bit naive. When I was walking out of the theatre there were multiple groups of people who were comparing it to THE MIRACLE WORKER. Is this a bad thing? No. There is nothing wrong with re-making/ being inspired by a great film, but overall it is not an improvement on the original. If you really want to see it, see it on a big screen for the set design/ photography. 6/10
Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire (2004)
Very well edited
I have seen a few movies re: Dallaire, read his book and have seen him speak. I think what puts this film above all of the other background information that I have is the editing. Yes, some of the footage is stock (stock as in seen in other documentaries re: Rwanda) IT IS ALL REAL. THIS IS A VERY GRAPHIC FILM. The editing is amazing. The photography gives the beauty of the landscape and the stock footage is placed in very well. Overall, it is an amazing movie. I give most of that credit to the editor. It is important to put this film in context. I don't expect most people to understand this context, but if you are interested (which I hope you are) there are many wonderful books that can get you started. Not only is this an important film in the documenting of Dallaire and Rwanda, but it is a VERY honest look at the affects of war. If you watch him as he speaks (on film and in person) this is a man whose very core has been horribly affected. Can he ever overcome those scares? I don't think so. Should he? No. He should do what he is doing now...show them to the world. The sad part is that some parts of the world will never listen to him, but that can not distract him. He has to keep going....I hope this makes some amount of sense. Please, see the film. Understand the history. Teach your children so this isn't again our future.
Dare mo shiranai (2004)
Very very depressed
I just came home from the NYC premiere at MOMA with the director and DP. First, I want to say that whatever award these children won they deserve it 10000000%. It is absolutely amazing how the director got those performances out of them.
On the other hand, what is the point? To make us all want to kill ourselves? It goes on for 2 hours a 21 minutes..there is zero hope in it...it is depressing as hell.
Yep, I agree it is extremely well acted, has a great script and some wonderful shots...but come on! It is depressing as all hell. DEPRESSING. I see too many films...but this one definitely takes the cake.