Reviews

Why is this movie playing in an art-house venue, or any other theater, I thought. Joined several other curious strangers to find out. A local broadcast tv station had been having marathons of shark fantasy movies and some of them were fun. This should be better, yes? Anyway, no one gets caught up in a story like this for long. Too many things take you out. The lady playing the Chinese technician (survivor of a tragic and low-budget naval disaster) does a nice poker-face while acting displays itself furiously around her. This character is being held on a U. S. Naval vessel so that makes way more sense than most of what happens. Loads of exposition, and it looks like this is a sequel to some movie I've never heard of, so I came late to the story. Real Naval personnel don't have such entertaining banter with officers, or stand around on the deck directing fire when "world war three" is imminent. Why would giant sharks attack ships, San Diego, or anything? Part of a Chinese plot! Okay. Wishing good fortune on all who set sail with this project. Don't think it will play well on tv at home. Show it in a theater packed with intoxicated people though, and you could have something!

Oh, how I loved Flip. He has some expert help keeping you entertained this time, sort of like his variety show, but you may have heard of the cast for this special. A lot of what you will experience is dated but mostly in a great way, and all of this entertainment style was popular at the time. Ms. Reeves and her band are great. I didn't really get a some of the preachers in church bit, but you might. Mr. Sellers does one weird joke. Good comic acting by Mr. Pryor as only he could. The pool hall scene is very funny. Ms. Tomlin joins Flip in a long variation on one of the routines that made her a star. Sort of hit and miss, but worth your time for sure.

This is a movie for people who like this sort of thing, especially the first one. It is worth remembering that the original was extra interesting for a variety of reasons, including the way in which it was developed and produced. This one is an imitation that uses the same tricks and adds some. New technology is introduced that does not help the hapless victims at all and even makes things worse for them. Do not recall seeing one map or compass. Didn't hurt that the characters don't seem to be designed to be very sympathetic. This time we are the old folks by the side of the road waving "goodbye". Once the nonsense plot is established things become increasingly nightmare-like, which is cool. Nightmares need not make sense. Spoiler: no survivors, and we can't really even tell what happened to them.

Also funny. Almost anything I can say would be a "spoiler". You may not want to let the children see this, as it might upset and confuse them. For adults it could be very entertaining and even thought provoking. If you liked Hausu (1977), Night of the Living Dead (1968) and The Birds (1963) then you might like this. Full of weird surprises to keep you guessing exactly what is going on, and who on Earth dreamed this up. Gruesome, violent and disturbing in places, beautiful and technically well-executed. The setting is realistic but the story is so strange that the acting might appear odd at times. That this movie seems intended to say something about society says something about society.

I saw this in a theater in 2D and found it enjoyable. 3D should make it better, a little (if you like this sort of thing; otherwise, stay away). Has everything a proper Godzilla movie should have. Yet another origin myth is provided, but it isn't too bad and does not take too much time to explain. The actor in charge of this does a nice job and this little bit of exposition ended with applause from the audience. The rest of the exposition is gotten out of the way so fast it is almost comic. No problem. A kid wearing a red baseball cap has a ringside seat for some of the giant monster battle. Most of the Godzilla movie homage is not so obvious, unless you count the entire plot. Massive destructive action is exciting and dramatic but not too harsh. Most kids don't give a darn when people are getting killed in a movie unless they don't realize it is only a movie, so let them know. Humans are portrayed as noble and heroic and doing the best they can in a difficult situation. Some of the human elements of the plot kind of threw me like they did not make sense and it goes by pretty quick. Repeated viewing should not hurt this movie much. Worth seeing once.

Saw this in a theater in two parts and found it fascinating entertainment, as well as educational and sobering. At the end the audience was very still and quiet, clearly impressed. This movie tells a barely plausible story of five young Germans who happen to be celebrating their new adulthood as their country's war against the world is heating up. The characters and situations that follow seem like the usual composites from history. The really great thing is the artistry and technical sophistication with which it is presented. Rather than cartoon villains and heroes and clearly contemporary style situations we are presented with a variety of personalities, right down to the smallest character, dealing with situations that really occurred during the war. The only spoiler I want to give you is that the five friends have agreed to meet back home in Berlin when the war is over (around Christmas?) but as things get worse they sometimes joke that they may not be in time for the Fall Semester (of what year?). After a while the audience is really wondering who, if any, shall survive. Please show this to impressionable young people for a quick history lesson.

I seldom give movies an 8, but this one is quite good. Not caring much if it is inspired by alleged true impressions of events, or whatever. Basically a story of supernatural horrors trying to kill people, to put it mildly, and how they reach out for help. Will everybody get killed? Kind of looks like it in the super scary first half. Then they tone it down into more of an adventure. Seems a little well lit at times, but when the darkness comes it acts like a character, and of course it is out to get them. Many skilled artists did great work on this picture. The soundtrack could be used in your Halloween yard haunt 'cause it is real creepy. Be advised that the supernatural horror likes to attack children. Enjoy.

Everything about this movie is excellent, unless you are looking for lots of special effects and dislike storytelling. Concerns a young lady who has become an orphan somewhere in Spain between the Great Wars who goes to live with an old bachelor. He rejects the mores of society and preaches freedom of thought and action to his friends but tends to be rather traditional and overbearing when it suits him. It pleases him to control his young ward and treat her like a wife. In time she meets an artist who she likes and things get more complicated. If you laugh, things are funny, if you are enraged or afraid for the characters, then it is drama. In this kind of slice-of-life movie you can pick and choose who to root for. Story flows beautifully like a good novel.

Gentlemen, this is it. A fascinating contribution to world culture presented in film documentary by the great Mr. Wiseman. Fantastic t and a displayed by talented artists whose dedication cannot be denied. A fast education on how a modern burlesque venue operates and maintains the enviable status of "best in Paris and possibly the world" (my words). As usual Mr. Wiseman allows his subject to speak for itself. Glimpses of the city also provided. Really interesting to see how the tableaux are created. To see these wonderful stage effects without having to travel all the way over there is a treat. Highly erotic and charming. If you want your children to think that erotic entertainment is bad trash or if you cherish a belief that this sort of thing cannot be classy, forget it. Otherwise, yes.

I love that our beloved Hammer horror movies are well enough remembered that people are trying to make stylish, classy and inexpensive movies like this. Hammer also made comedies (hint, hint). This one turned out very good. Well written, with the first hour devoted to setting up and exploring a good variety of tastefully presented horrors. Good acting, good staging and camera work, good story-telling. Seems these two people are in a state of distraction due to grief over the horrible death of their little girl. They up and move to a little farming community where things are a bit odd. They are invited to gain some closure by resurrecting their child ... for three days. That is all. Must obey the rules and do everything correctly or extremely dangerous unspecified results will happen. They go ahead anyway. How on Earth the folk of this village ever learned this supernatural trick would make a story in itself, and we are fortunately invited to imagine it for ourselves as the expected flashback/exposition stuff never comes. None of these people really know what they are playing with in true folkloric tradition, any more than we do. This charming family time soon becomes a violent supernatural nightmare for a half hour of more typical horror fun. In the end we get a non-resolution bordering on madness. Nurturing family values get a bit twisted, so this movie is not for everyone. Once in a while I see something I would have done differently, like a lady giving up blood for a weird ceremony by having her veterinarian husband cut open the palm of her hand. Why the palm? Couldn't he have done that better? Never mind. A movie this good will be noted for it's few imperfections. Great Halloween gift for certain people.