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alinayanta
Reviews
Southland Tales (2006)
Big Budget meets Art-house Style... doesn't meld well
Feels like a typical movie Hollywood would produce with an art-house format twist. The format is very indie but the packaging is very big budget, it makes for a different watch that leaves you feeling very confused at the end.
Very complex (overly complex, as in 'let's give it some more flash... more cowbell!'). As a story the point or moral is probably about Americian people's preoccupation with pleasure and self advancement at the cost of anything or anybody, including the planet (and thus themselves). Takes huge jabs at the American invasion/war overseas which I hear, despite it's huge budget, was the reason for it's limited release (too close to voting time and bad PR). Some plot details hit very close to home, as in raising gas prices, running out of oil, wars over commodities, civil unrest, governments brainwashing the masses with manipulation of the media, drafting, loss of freedoms. Where it does hit on some very real issues, it also makes light of them with a lot of flash that leaves you distracted by skimpy outfits and pyrotechnics.
Entertainment for the brainless masses, in which it's only redeeming quality is the very serious underlying story of political powers behaving badly and the very evil that any government is capable of. It also seems to hint that if people let the American government take more civil liberties from them, that their non-too-distant future will begin to crumble into the chaos that this movie seems to exude in spades.
Has some very funny parts and a lot of explosions, fireworks, gun fights, car chases, a robbery, a music video, sexual content, fist fights, sci-fi tech, drug use, conspiracy, politics... name one thing and I think this movie has it. Most of this extra content is in no way needed to make the movie better, it's just extra flash.
Definitely has to be watched more then once to truly grasp all the minutiae and content in the story. It's a movie that makes you think, and not in a good way, more in a 'what the heck did I just watch' way.
People will call this movie 'artsy' which is just a way of saying it was different then the norm ('different', not necessarily meaning better or well done). Personally I prefer a more clean story that doesn't distract me from it's message with a lot of effects, superfluous action scenes and POINTLESS character banter and plot developments.
Mermaid Chronicles Part 1: She Creature (2001)
Wow! A must see!
Low budget 'B' TV movie, with an 'A+' in story telling. Just proving you don't need a giant budget to make an AMAZING movie. I picked up this movie from the discount Blockbuster used movies bin and thought the cover and write up looked good. I had always wanted to see a mermaid movie that was more like the Greek stories of sirens luring sailors to their deaths then happy little bubbly sea-waifs. This movie does not disappoint! Was I ever surprised to find a movie full of an amazing cast, amazing costumes and cinematography. Sexy, suspenseful, chilling, creepy and very well done. Great character development, really makes you feel a range of emotions through out. Very realistic lines and acting. A great watch again and again!
Black Water (2007)
Wasn't Scary...Reapetive and Predictable
One of those movies where you take bets on who will die first and who will survive at the end. There was just something about the movie that made me zone out. I think because I keep looking back and thinking "yep still in that tree...still looking at the water". Poor character development. I felt nothing when they were in danger. I was voting for the croc. I found it hard to believe a croc would try to tip a boat in the first place and then when it jumps into the boat I find that really unlikely as well. The croc seems too supernatural at times ('all knowing all seeing'). Also when the croc attacks it's behavior seems very unrealistic. It's a killing machine and wouldn't be letting victims escape twice to three times in a row, especially when attacking in the water.
Ginger Snaps (2000)
Best Kept Secret
I heard a friend tell me he saw this in theaters at a film festival and it was AMAZING. I had never heard of this movie before and had a very hard time finding it to rent or even buy. That was over 6 years ago. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie collection, even 6 years later. After 6 years I am finally hearing other people talk how good this movie is. It's ABOUT TIME! I am so very disappointed in the poor advertising and limited release. It's a shame more people have not seen these movies. Well done, fresh and witty horror movies. Not campy, and very intelligent and realistic and entertaining. The only horror movie that I have been able to watch again and again and again. Definitely watch the second and third movies, they are all excellent. Desinted to be a cult classic. Best kept secret in horror.
Fingerprints (2006)
Hudge Plot Holes
I get that the conductor likes to torture and kill children and taught his daughter to do the same. But the villain kills older teens and an adult. These are not little kids. Is the killer targeting anyone who sits at the train tracks? Targeting anyone who snoops at the train station? Or just targeting anyone in the main character's life? At the end we find out the conductor's daughter is killing people because the towns folks lynched her father and are now trying to get her father's train station torn down. Wouldn't she be targeting the people who lynched her father or city officials in charge of the demolition? Why not attack little children like she was taught? Or at least the main character for asking too many questions. If she just happens to be a serial killer then she would have a victim profile... like all teens who visit the train tracks. How does the counselor fit into the picture? She never even met the guidance counselor, as far as we know. The killer has no motive for killing these people. If it's just killing people that the main character knows, then why not her mother and father (god knows I was hoping her mother would get it). Or do they have to have visited the tracks first? It's confusing and isn't really made clear.
Also at the end after the main character defeats the villain an entire troop of police cars 'just happen' to show up with sirens blazing. Why were they racing to the train tracks? No one had time or a cell phone to call for help. There were no gun shots to alert them to trouble. Possibly they are looking for the main character who has just fled the police station...however the police seem very polite and helpful saying "how can I help you two ladies?" Not exactly like police sent to arrest someone. Also, the dead boyfriend's truck mysteriously disappears at the end...it was parked in front of her car just 15 minutes before.
Catacombs (2007)
Very entertaining, but not a classic
Loved the location. Loved the plot. Main character's performance was believable. Sister (Pink) was irritating, and I wanted to give her a beat-down from the first frame... although one could argue that is what the director was looking for. There were a few plot holes. Some of the choices the main character makes while fleeing from danger will have you throwing popcorn at the screen, but in reality, stupidity is a typical human reaction when panic sets in. Although why didn't she just hide while turning the flash light off, since there were a few times she had a major lead on the villain and could have easily given him the slip or doubled back. Also character development was weak. The movie conclusion definitely makes sense and isn't confusing like other poor horror endings. I think the main character's reaction at the end is completely plausible. Although I felt the ending could have been edited a bit better. The best part was that the main character felt real and intelligent, and was not a stupid big boobed bimbo. Although she was screaming a lot and at weird times (giving away her location after she had eluded the villain). I enjoyed the movie and thought the ending was fresh.