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sad_antoine
Reviews
Flesh for Frankenstein (1973)
So terrible it's genius!
I really don't know how to rank this.
On the one hand, it's a bunch of actors who cannot act, and can barely speak English, in a farcical plot involving zombies, with some really terrible special effects, some gratuitous sex and nudity (and slurping noises!), and a script consisting of nothing but clichés.
But you cannot take your eyes off it! Udo Keir's shrieking manic Baron is hypnotic, he is probably the second-most compelling German ranter in history. As long as you don't in any way take this film seriously, you cannot help but be entertained! There is one much discussed line in the film which in itself is very funny and worth quoting. But honestly... trust me... you have to see Udo's delivery to get the full effect!
Purely Belter (2000)
Grim, grim, grim up north
I've never heard the expression "purely belter" either (and I live less than a mile from Newcastle city centre), but I suppose "geet lush" wouldn't have made as good a title.
*spoilers*
I found it difficult to empathise with two clearly anti-social criminals for whom drug use, violence and the threat of violence, and theft are all acceptable currency.
Tim Healy's character is possibly the nastiest piece of work portrayed on screen in a British movie, the scary thing is that there are people like that out there. But just because the behaviour of the people around them is worse doesn't justify the actions of the young "heroes" of this film.
With sickness, homelessness and poverty all affecting their lives, the "grim" quotient of this movie is high, but in remaining upbeat and sympathetic to the characters, I am worried the movie's message might turn out to be "everything else is crap, but its OK as long as you've got football."
Riverworld (2003)
What do you expect?
I read and loved the books, and was keen to see this adaptation. Now I finally have seen it, and as an adaptation of the concept it was quite good.
But you have to understand the limitations - it's not all about budgets.
There is nowhere on Earth like Riverworld - an endless river with a flat plain on each side leading to unclimbable mountains. The locations were beautiful, but they could never be like Riverworld. So already the concept has to be altered. So why not make use of the terrain you have, and have fortresses on hills and cliff top dives. A movie with the same scenery is going to get dull, however good the story.
As for the characters, I've no problem with excising Burton and replacing him with Mr All America. Few viewers will have heard of Burton, and while a novel has the luxury of as many pages of back story as it needs, a teleplay demands quicker narrative. Besides, the character was basically the same, just given a different name and an easier background to take in. And any Riverworld virgins who didn't recognise Mark Twain straight away should be ashamed... although I don't think it was made clear enough exactly which Alice Alice was.
It's also understandable that Herman Goering would make an unsuitable bad guy, and perhaps King John's profile in America isn't that great (wretched lion in Disney's Robin Hood?). Nothing wrong with Nero, someone everyone will know about, and far back in history enough to take some liberties with.
It was obviously intended as a pilot for a show that never happened, but which would have had a terrific scope for infinite plots - worth the sacrifices in my opinion. I hope it is revisited someday more intelligently and more closely to the books - perhaps with a Final Fantasy-style fully CGI look.
In the Name of the People (2000)
Thought-provoking, but not very believable
I agree this was a thought provoking movie but I couldn't get past some of the basic flaws - there seemed no motivation for the murder; Lisa's closeness to her father who must have been in jail as long as she can remember; and most of all, the adoption sub-plot. I couldn't help but think of the child's point of view; she was being told to go and live with the people who wanted her father killed! Under the circumstances she was very calm about it.
I would also imagine a stay of execution on compassionate grounds would have stood a good chance of success given what happened towards the end of the film. Surely even Americans aren't that heartless!