kinojunkie Reviews

Number 17 (1932)

This movie is bananas!

[8/10 · 8 November 2007]

Hitchcock's Number Seventeen has to be his most experimental film by far and it's actually quite an enjoyable watch from a technical perspective if you can get beyond the confusing plot. The film is basically divided into to parts (2 acts almost - this movie runs just over an hour) the first taking place in a deserted house and the second being a wacky chase between a bus and a train. During the first part the use of shadows in the lighting is incredibly bold. It's reminiscent of a German Expressionist films and there are even some subtle shapes formed in the shadows possibly intended as subliminal tension builders. Editing is what shines in the second half during the chase. It's gleefully frantic and honestly makes some of Michael Bay's work seem slow. The action frantically cuts back and forth between different people and locations. So be warned: Number Seventeen strength lies in it's technical bravery - not really in anything else.

Sabotage (1936)

Packs a real punch

[9/10 · 7 August 2007]

Sabotage is an absolutely gripping film about the dual life of a terrorist who operates a movie house in London. Surprisingly dark and completely suspenseful as Hitchcock throws a few uncharacteristic curves our way. There's an oft-talked about scene that I won't describe due to the spoiler element and the fact that we see glimpses of the "bad guy's" life that allow us to empathize a little more with him than other Hitchock baddies. These rare shades of gray make for all the more engaging a film. Sylvia Sidney is wonderful in this - carrying herself with dignity and confidence in a way seldom seen in Hitchcock's women (she was also excellent in Lang's The Fury made around the same time). Joseph Conrad's novel "Secret Agent" on which this film is based is now on my reading list. I have a feeling we may get a better sense of Verloc's motivations in this form but their absence from Sabotage is no big loss. I'd recommend this film to anyone interested in seeing a good piece of cinema - not just Hitchcock fans.

The 39 Steps (1935)

I'm sorry but...

[7/10 · 3 August 2007]

I think that The 39 Steps is a good film. Well rounded, nicely crafted fun stuff. But I don't just don't see what all the praise is about. Sure, it's suspenseful, the actors are charming and it's a good story. I just find, and I'm speaking as a Hitchcock fan, that he's done it better in other films. Young And Innocent for example is very similar in plot (just lacking some of the foreign espionage elements) but for me personally it packs more of a punch on every level. I must admit the DVD I saw of this film was struck from an absolutely horrible print that was completely washed out with a terrible audio track. Maybe one day I'll give the Criterion disc a chance and see what all the fuss is about.

See Hitch as a litterbug when the action first moves onto the street.

Jamaica Inn (1939)

Make Way For Pengallan!!!!!

[7/10 · 19 July 2007]

What starts as an action packed cut-throat jamboree overflowing with absolutely incredible atmosphere quickly becomes a stagy film with too much talking. It's not without it's humorous jabs at both the upper and lower class and although it's rather over the top, Charles Laughton's performance is almost enough to carry the film alone. There are some surprisingly dark moments (both in light and tone) particularly the opening scene and the nighttime exterior shots are simply magical. Strangely lacking in some of the more distinctive camera techniques one would expect from Hitchcock, Jamaica Inn overall is still an enjoyable watch – just slow.

Young and Innocent (1937)

A Great Film

[9/10 · 16 July 2007]

It is strange that this film often isn't mentioned amongst other classic Hitchcock titles as Young and Innocent is an excellent thriller loaded with many of the master's elements we've come to love. It tells the story of a young man who has been wrongly accused of murder and is on the run with the assistance of a young woman. As the couple struggle to stay one step ahead of the police while the searching for clues that could prove his innocence, we are treated with a wonderful visual style, wit, humor and suspense. The film is fast paced, especially considering the time in which it was made, and contains an incredible tracking shot that ranks amongst Hitch's most memorable ones. The actors are charming and charismatic, the story is engaging and it's understandable why Hitchcock considered this to be one of his best films.

Watch for Alfred's cameo outside the courthouse.

The White Diamond (2004)

One of Herzog's finest

[10/10 · 6 June 2006]

Werner Herzog's work is some of the most incredible material ever contributed to the history of cinema and I consider this film to be amongst the finest of the roughly 35 films of his I've seen. This documentary about a man obsessed (of course) with his project of building a large air- balloon to explore the canopy of the jungle is handled in a style that feels like Werner has it down to a clockwork. A passionate, refined, beautiful clockwork that is. It's amazing how poetic and lyrical the images in this film are and all of Herzog's ranting about finding an "ecstatic truth" really comes full swing here. The film isn't so much about the man - or the balloon. It's the film as a whole that is somehow magically able to reflect the bigger questions about the world and our place in it. It's amazing that this shot-on-video minimalist film with a somewhat sloppy narrative is so powerful. Better than Grizzly Man, Wheel of Time and Little Dieter. Wow.

Monster a Go-Go (1965)

Truly terrible

[1/10 · 6 June 2006]

I am a fan of bad movies. Movies like Fiend, She Demons, Giant Spider Invasion, Beyond The Seventh Door, Invasion Of The Star Creatures and Laserblast are examples of films that I'd rate higher, and rather watch, than a lot of material from so called "masters". This one however just stinks. It almost deserved a second star because of the strange looking monster, the go go dancing and the train wreck of an ending - but not quite. I must stress to you, as a true fan of B-Cinema, this one is NOT worth the watch even as a curiosity piece. It's strange that the director did go on to make the Giant Spider Invasion which is actually quite decent.

Dark Water (2005)

Worth A Look

[6/10 · 29 July 2005]

Dark Water's lack of a well rounded story is what ultimately sinks it's hopes of being a great film but there's plenty going for it. It has great performances by Jennifer Conelly, John C. Riley and Tim Roth and their characters all have some excellent material to work with. Although the film isn't really SCARY per say, it does have a very spooky atmosphere complimented by great production design, cinematography and a nice steady directing style. Unfortunately it's another title on the growing list of American remakes of Japanese horror films and although the formula might work in terms of box office numbers, it likely won't ever produce a great American horror movie.

Contempt (1963)

Good but not Great

[6/10 · 29 July 2005]

I've heard nothing but praise for this film and I have to say... it's overrated. First my complaints: The whole conflict between the scriptwriter (Picolli) and his wife (Bardot) is way over played. It becomes redundant, repetitive and ultimately the most boring (and central) part of the film. What I assume are attempts at subtlety and ambiguity in their relationship end up dragging out far too long. Cinematographer Raoul Coutard has done way better. I've heard a lot of praise for his work on this film but I've found many other pictures he's shot to be far better looking. As with a lot of Godard's films, the music is way too repetitive and overused. Lastly, and people might say I'm crazy, but I think Brigitte Bardot is one of the most uninteresting, non- charming, uncharismatic leading lady I've seen in a Godard film. This may be why I found the plot between her and the scriptwriter so dry. It's obvious that we're supposed to admire her hugely but give me Anna Karina over Bardot any day. Come to think of it, the fact that Bardot wasn't larger than life in this film probably weakened some of the points it was trying to make.

Contempt does have plenty going for it though. Of course Godard plays with form and style a lot, often rather effectively. Jack Palance is hilarious as the American producer and Fritz Lang is so watchable and interesting as himself. What I liked the most about this film is it's overall expression of love for cinema, while still acknowledging both the ups and downs of it. This is not amongst the best of the Jean Luc Godard films I've seen but it's still well worth a watch.

Ambition (1992)

Average

[5/10 · 29 July 2005]

I like Hal Hartley's stuff and this short film definitely has his signature on it but something's lacking. Basically it's a day in the life of this guy whom the whole world is literally against. Walking to work he must fight for survival against every passerby including one wielding an automatic weapon. Hartley plays with form; shots repeat themselves one after another and one scene has an actor mouthing but not actually saying his angry side of a conversation. Unfortunately there's no real meat to sink your teeth into with this film. It's very similar in style and theme to Hal Hartley's Theory Of Achievement which was made around the same time and is a much better short film.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

There's Garbage and then there's Mr. And Mrs. Smith

[1/10 · 29 July 2005]

I don't typically enjoy big budget Hollywood films but after hearing that this film is about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie trying to kill each other, I thought it might be an entertaining offbeat popcorn flick. It just sucks. Essentially you have two alcoholic (watch closely, if you must watch at all) assassins who are married and work for these corporations killing lots of people. Neither one knows what the other one does. They're each assigned the same particular job and they "spot" each other and it's the rule that after being spotted one must kill the spotter. After trying to kill each, they fall in love again and must defeat a new enemy in order to survive. The film is just terrible. It has no charm and it's morally empty. I repeatedly found myself wishing that one of the thousands of bullets that Mr. And Mrs. Smith dodge would actually hit them and put an end to these white-bread murderers lives that I'm supposed to empathize with. Vince Vaughn's character is funny and the cinematography is nice but that doesn't even come close to saving this two hour turd.

Brave (1994)

Why Have Thou Forsaken Me Richard Stanley?

[3/10 · 29 July 2005]

I liked director Richard Stanley's HARDWARE and I really liked DUST DEVIL so when I saw this "concept" film by the director on DVD, I forked over the money and crossed my fingers. Brave is a film that revolves around it's musical score which is a full length album by a British band called Marillion. Now, I'm not a fan of their music. Aside from some nice ambient moments I can barely stand the tunes but I wasn't going to let this stand in the way of my enjoyment of the film. I figured Stanley would amaze me given the creative control one assumes comes with making a "concept film". Expecting the surreal, bizarre and abstract, I was instead given a repetitive, boring and clichéd 50 minute music video. The story concerns a young woman who has lost her memory and is being hypnotized, remembering various (mostly painful) moments of her life that have led he to a bridge, possibly to kill herself. Sounds promising but everything is so dull and predictable. The effects look cheap and the imagery lacks the punch I was hoping for. Worst of all, Stanley cuts to footage of the band "rocking out" or close ups of the singer being a poser and singing into the camera throughout the film. There's a lot of emotion in the songs, performances and story, but it all falls flat for me. Fans of Marillion might be forgiving but those watching this hoping for a dose of Richard Stanley will likely be disappointed. Three stars out of ten for the honest attempt and the odd moment that works.

The Giant Spider Invasion (1975)

What did you expect?

[7/10 · 29 July 2005]

Giant Spider Invasion is a low budget monster movie reminiscent of the giant bug invasion pictures of the 50's but it was actually shot in the 70's. It's all very predictable, these giant spider eggs travel to earth on board some meteorites and land in a small Wisconsin town. People start disappearing, cattle are found mutilated and things just aren't quite right. Needless to say, it's up to the local Sheriff, astronomer and out of town NASA specialist to find out and ultimately confront the source of the strange things going on. Of course it's all being caused by these giant spiders that are running amok, devouring everyone in sight. The effects are pretty bad and the acting is very hammy but it's all part of the fun. Amazingly, they actually built full sized giant spiders for this film and although they look terrible, it's wonderful to see these massive creatures roaming the Wisconsin country side wreaking havoc where ever they go. Giant Spider Invasion is good mindless fun that's better than 90% of the horror/sci-fi films being made these days.

Shark (1969)

Dumb and Fun

[6/10 · 27 July 2005]

The majority of this Fuller film takes place in a little Sudanese village where Burt Reynolds can't seem to leave because of a little arms smuggling incident. He plays his usual tough guy role which is amplified ten times because this IS a Sam Fuller film. It all concerns a rather ridiculous plot involving sunken treasure in shark infested waters. What actually hat makes up 90% of this film is just a lot of macho, stupid and funny moments revolving around theft, fighting, drinking and romancing in a foreign land. Man Eater a.k.a. Shark! is an entertainingly mindless piece of celluloid that will probably go down better with a few drinks and some friends who can appreciate the trashier things in life.

Zombie 3 (1988)

Fulci's Dullest?

[5/10 · 27 July 2005]

I absolutely love Lucio Fulci's Zombie a.k.a. Zombi 2 and every film I have seen by the director has at least been original in some stylistic respect and in that sense this is his driest film. It's obvious that this film was simply pumped out assembly line style with no real passion from many of the people involved. The story is the typical Italian, Romero inspired, fare but that hasn't prevented good films in the past. Unfortunately here it does. I could complain about how some Zombies stumble around as they do in Zombie while other's leap about at super high speeds. I could complain about the meaningless different directions the story takes. But watching the interviews on the DVD you realize that this was a problematic production from the start where one director didn't want to finish the film and producers likely just wanted a completed product. Can an 80's Italian zombie movie REALLY be unwatchable? Not from what I've seen. However this is probably the worst of the bunch but it still offers some thrills.

We All Fall Down (II) (2005)

Well made but derivative

[5/10 · 27 July 2005]

It's hard to make an effective short horror film and We All Fall Down is a pretty decent, if ultimately forgettable, little film. A typical morality horror tale, it tells the story of a group of kids who accidentally run over a little girl and, of course, must face the consequences at that most difficult of times: "FIVE YEARS LATER"... You probably get the idea by now. We All Fall Down has it's creepy moments and some genuinely disturbing scenes. It falls short in it's jumping on the American "Japanese Horror" bandwagon both in story and style, and with it's generic albeit decent performances. None the less, there is some definite talent in this little short and it's worth the watch but you probably won't lose any sleep over it.

Incubus (1966)

Amazing and surreal art/horror film!

[9/10 · 27 July 2005]

I've known about this little film for a while now and thought that it would be nothing more than a cinematic oddity featuring William Shatner speaking Esperanto. I was shocked at how great of a film it is! Set some time in the past it tells the story of a woman who seduces and kills men in order to send their souls to hell. It's all getting rather boring for her so she decides to up the ante and attempt to corrupt a "pure" soul that ends up being Shatner himself. The film is beautifully photographed in black and white by the legendary Conrad Hall. It oozes with creepy atmosphere. The story is very Christian and puritanical, but has a wonderful fairy tale feeling to it. The use of Esperanto is actually effective in creating the feeling of a different time and world. This great film actually reminded me of a Bergam or Fellini film at times and I can't recommend it enough. I was amazed! The only short comings are the (at times) over the top performances (mostly from Shatner not surprisingly) and the abrupt ending. I will definitely be watching this one again.

Monstrosity (1987)

Could've Been A Classic!

[5/10 · 26 July 2005]

Monstrosity is a terrible film. Every aspect of it is poorly executed. But the real problem with Monstrosity is that about 20 minutes into the film, it becomes a self-aware, over-the-top comedy. It's much more entertaining to watch a film genuinely attempt something that is so absurd and awful than watching one that is aware of it's shortcomings and essentially gives up. Monstrosity concerns a group of young men, one of whom's girlfriend has been brutally raped and beaten and THEN killed by the same assailant in her hospital room (making for a crazy, distasteful, ultra-violent first 20 minutes). The young men (mulletts and 80's getup included) decide to make a golem/frankensteinesque avenger. When the avenger finally comes to life, it's a ridiculous giant retard with a gorilla's arm and red afro who murders bad guys with an ax. There are some funny jokes in the film, along with the occasional bad taste moment making the film feel sort of like a cross between Blood Sucking Freaks and a poorer man's Toxic Avenger. The film does offer a glimpse of 80's Hollywood, funny hair, and almost non-stop repetition of one of the most annoying music cues in history (listen closely, there's a metal guitar solo going nuts underneath that music cue). All in all a worthwhile watch as you aren't going to find many films like MONSTROSITY.

Fantastic Four (I) (2005)

Dull and Predictable

[4/10 · 25 July 2005]

Fantastic Four is an almost passable popcorn flick that doesn't offer much of anything. It's standard super hero fare in the most predictable of ways and this film ends up feeling like a T.V. movie with a big budget. The story concerns a group of unlikely scientists who go into space and are exposed to some sort of cosmic mutator that inevitably gives them bizarre powers. The CGI effects are alright, the acting ranges from bad to so so (with the occasional good performance from Ben a.k.a. The Thing), there are three terrible jokes/gags for every good one and ultimately it's a waste of time. It's sad to see films ranging from mediocre to garbage topping the box office these days.

War of the Worlds (2005)

Surprisingly Dark and Relentless

[7/10 · 20 July 2005]

War of the Worlds surprised me. I was expecting a sugar-coated popcorn flick and almost immediately the film becomes very dark and viscous. This is certainly the most relentless "fantasy" film Spielberg has made. We essentially see the entire human race being indiscriminately annihilated by these aliens over the course of one day. I actually found it scary! I generally loathe CGI, but this film has some of the best I've ever seen. The cinematography by Janusz Kaminski is incredible and Spielberg keeps the tension high for most of the movie. The only big downside to the film is the last fifteen minutes or so where the film does a complete 180 and the Spielbergian Hollywood ending inevitably occurs. It's like the film hits a brick wall and becomes a completely different movie, making the first hour and a half loose it's power and momentum and ultimately destroying what could have been a classic. Great film, terrible ending.

Theory of Achievement (1991)

Pure Hartley

[7/10 · 6 July 2005]

Theory of Achievement is a great little film where about a bunch of down and out college educated Brooklyn residents who clearly desire more to life. They mope around and spew out their anecdotal existential philosophies. It all revolves around the price of rent in NYC and their attempts at making something out of themselves and their modest lives. It's funny, the dialog is great, the Hal Hartley style music is there and it all wraps up quite nicely into this little short. Charming and well worth a watch. This was Elina Lowensohn's first film and she's a pleasure to watch as always. Available on video with Hartley's Surviving Desire.

One Way Out (1996)

I got jerky Frank!

[5/10 · 6 July 2005]

You can say a lot of things about One Way Out but you can't say it's normal. The film tells the story of a group of misfit criminals working their way south towards their ultimate goal, a bank robbery. On the way they hold up a variety of gas stations, general stores and restaurants. Sounds pretty standard huh? Well it's not. This kind of feels like a cross between Jim Jarmusch and John Cassavettes except that it doesn't really work. There's an attempt at a ultra naturalistic approach to the acting (a la Cassavettes) but it usually fails, the only exception being Jeff Mohanan's strong performance (which is far better than his script). Basically you have a lot of scenes of people sitting around doing nothing (a la Jarmusch) except there's no charm or naturalness to it. The film is packaged as an action flick but it offers very little in that department either. The originality appeal of the film is often lost as the script is loaded with clichéd dramatic plot points that go nowhere and are ultimately meaningless to the almost non-existent story. This movie does have some beautiful images in it. A lot of the shots are wonderfully composed and most scenes are covered in only one or two shots. Michael Ironside makes a fun but brief appearance. The ending is refreshingly down beat (although it doesn't tie the loose script up in any way). It's obvious that One Way Out was made on a low budget and it's strangely fascinating to watch it's failures and occasional successes. Five out of Ten… six if I was feeling generous.

The Thief of Bagdad (1940)

Extremely dated but worth a look.

[6/10 · 28 June 2005]

The acting is terribly hammy, the sets are drenched with artifice (yet are still incredibly well designed) and the plot is predictable. But that's the kind of film The Thief Of Baghdad is. It's a larger than life fantasy adventure constructed by some very capable filmmakers. Fans of Michael Powell's work will certainly see his signature here in terms of the shot designs and uses of colour. The special effects photography is quite brilliant for it's time and the film is loaded with these visual tricks. The most exciting parts of the film are the thief's adventures without the presence of the lead character King Ahmad. His encounter with a genie, fight with a giant spider and travel by magic carpet serve as the more memorable moments that will likely appeal much more to younger audiences (and this viewer) than the main plot line involving Ahmad and his love for a princess. This film has made it onto a lot of top 100 lists and I was a little bit disappointed by what I saw. It's magical and well done, but likely serves more as a nostalgia piece for a lot of viewers than a work of excellence.

The film scores a few points in the cheese department. When Ahmad goes blind (not a spoiler, he's blind to begin with) he screams "My eyes! I'm BLIND!!!!" In a manner that's so over the top it parallels the performance of the lead in the last movie I watched: Maniac (1934, see reviews). The absurdity reaches a high point when the thief battles a giant spider while hanging over a pit of giant octopi (which is pretty cool). Ahmad couldn't sword fight his way out of a wet paper bag, yet he manages to defeat numerous guards. Lastly the "Arabs" in this film are so blatantly British that it's almost funny. It's indicative of the artificial nature of the picture. Nonetheless, this film is a fun fantasy adventure however when it comes to that genre, I'd much rather spend my time with a film like The Never Ending Story or Labyrinth.

Maniac (1934)

Disappointing

[3/10 · 28 June 2005]

I've heard quite a lot about this film over the years and it certainly didn't live up to it's notoriety. The film concerns a doctor's assistant whom upon murdering the doc, assumes his identity and downward spirals into a world of madness. Known for it's scenes of violence, nudity, and general mayhem one quickly realizes that these scenes aren't worth the hype, even considering the context of the time the film was made. One can find earlier films that pushed the boundaries much further. One thing that actually IS interesting is the exploitive, low-budget nature of the movie. It almost serves as a precursor to the decades of American exploitation cinema to follow. Numerous times the film reminded me of a tamer version of something Herschell Gordon Lewis might produce. As for the technical execution of the film; it's abysmal. Bad cinematography, writing, directing, editing… Bad EVERYTHING. The acting is either terribly amateurish or terribly over the top. This offers some "so bad it's good" points but not nearly enough to keep you entertained for the whole 50 minutes. The scenes between the doctor and his assistant are particularly funny. The assistant gives what may very well be one of the most over the top performances ever committed to celluloid while the doctors lines are delivered with the grace of a constipated mule. Maniac does score some points simply as a curiosity piece, but there's little to recommend here.

Kung Fu Zombie (1981)

Kung Fu Zombie Delivers!

[7/10 · 27 June 2005]

Kung Fu Zombie is a charming flick loaded with fast paced martial arts fighting. The story is too over the top to try to explain here, but it's worth mentioning that this film has zombies, ghosts, a vampire, a wizard, possessions, an exorcism, paintings that shoot lasers out of their eyes and a healthy does of well executed kung fu! All of this is packed into a film on the short side of 80 minutes. Intentionally funny, Kung Fu Zombie is a hilarious, tightly edited, romp of a film. The big pay off is at the end of the film when Billy Chong fights an undead vampire martial arts master. The energy and absurdity of this scene is magnificent. If you're expecting a lot of zombies, you may be disappointed, but if you're looking for an entertaining ride on the wonderful roller-coaster of crazy kung fu films, Kung Fu Zombie won't disappoint!