Apollo 18 - There's a Reason the Moon is Boring....

Apollo 18 is a movie about a space mission that was hidden from public record. The movie is supposively composed of only lost footage. It's one of a long list of "lost footage"-genre films (The Blair Witch Project, Troll Hunter, Cloverfield, Chronicle, ~ Paranormal Activity, etc.).

This is important since it seems to be an integral element to the movie. Two-thirds of the movie follows basic space flight exercises and [real-time] procedures. When the "monsters" do show up, they are caught on primarily quick, shaky cameras...reducing the necessity to "flesh" them out. And lastly there are (at least one) camera shots that are impossible by the equipment designated by the movie.

This could easily be overlooked with a solid story, but here the movie fails again. SPOILER: The rocks are alive on the moon. There is no examination, no explanation, no meaningful emotional experience, and no moral. It's all a gimmick.

Life on the Moon is a very interesting concept, but this movie fails to offer any suspense, intrigue, fear, or emotion. Unfortunately poorly made.

Jingo by Terry Pratchett - East Meets West on a Disc!

Jingo is the 21st novel of the Discworld series written by Terry Pratchett.

Those of you who are familiar with the Discworld series know to expect action, intrigue, intricate stories, a magical presence, satire, humor and much more.

Jingo, centering around the City Watch of Ankh-Morpork, is no exception. The satire focuses on the differences between the "Middle East" and the "West". Knowing that this is written by an Englishman only leads one to suspect that the parallels are more precisely British vs. Indian/Pakistani. Either way the nuances of the story do not detract from the pleasure the reader experiences through the events.

However compared to the previous City Watch Discworld novels, this one pales. While it is a good Patrician, Sergeant Colon, Corporeal Knobbs story, it lacks the spice of the previous City Watch novels. One of the strongest aspects of the previous City Watch novels was their introduction of new recruits: a king, a werewolf, a troll, a femal dwarf, an undead, a gargoyle, a golem, the list goes on. They are also spiked with fantastic Captain Vimes vs. Patrician scenes, which this has few of...but still some nice ones.

If you haven't read Guards! Guards! or Men At Arms....start there. Then you will truly appreciate the beautiful novel that is Jingo.

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame - Episode Phantom Mystery!

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame is a standard example of the action-intense films to come out of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong films refined action to beauty. Without glorifying violence, they turned martial arts, gun fights, chase scenes, and many other standard action tropes into a deadly ballet. Martial arts inherently lends itself to beauty with all its graceful movements and counter-action interplay. Plus it has a practical use, unlike real ballet. These martial arts concepts were then integrated into other forms of action like the chase scene and gun fighting.

The first half of this film has intrigue and fast-paced fun martial arts action. The viewer is gripped.

But the second half of the film seems too preoccupied with tying up loose ends. The plot is interesting enough that the viewer is still engaged, but despite its grandeur the story is more a "generic" Sherlock-Holmes-story, rather than a "Moriarty" Sherlock-Holmes-Story.

If you enjoy Hong Kong action or would like to try one, I highly recommend Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame.

The Rules of the Game -The Rules of French Society

Jean Renoir's The Rules of The Game is a film about French society at the onset of World War II, or so I'm told. This is not my type of film.

Perhaps I would find this film more engaging if I knew something, anything, about the French bourgeoisie of the 30-40's.

I shall have to rewatch this film to better analyze it.

Das Deutsche Kettensagen Massaker (The German Chainsaw Massacre) - AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!

Das Deutsche Kettensagen Massaker (The German Chainsaw Massacre) or in some places Blackest Heart (not really an appropriate title). The film takes place in the first week of Germany's reunification.

I highly recommend this film to anyone who experienced, studied or has an interest in Germany's reunification. While it can be enjoyed without having involved information on the reunification, there is a secondary level to the characters and their actions that is enhanced by intimate knowledge of German society on both East and West at the time of reunification.

But mostly the film is about normal people versus crazy-chainsaw-knife-weilding people. You know, the crazy people always win in that situation. There are parrallels to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which is obviously a major influence to this director, but it does not get bogged down in an attempt to reproduce said film. It easily takes the idea and creates something new and different.

Well you might find it hard to get your hands on a copy; I watched a PAL version...definitely worth it.

Hugo or Film History Re-Envisioned

This was a pleasant surprise. I knew very little about this film and every time I read a summary, I became more confused. I had inaccurately thought it was a fantastical epic, similar to Goldam Compass or Harry Porter.

Hugo tells the tale of an orphan who brings Georges Melies back to fame (more or less). The story well executed and heart-warming. Most families should enjoy it.

One aspect, I like, of this film is its historical significance. Much of the information regarding Georges Melies is accurate. As such this film smoothly informs the audience of an important film creator and one of the first.

Unfortuately they take liberties with the truth to simplify the story. For instance, his wife in the film (who he is supposed to have been married to forever) is in reality his second wife.

And just like Hollywood, they couldn't come up with an original story. This one is based off a book (which is based on real life! (why has everyone given up originality?!?)).

The Station Inspector is a horrible horrible person, and yet....they "reward" him after one, JUST ONE, instance of humanity. Apparently you only need to do one good thing to erase all the terrible things you have done in the past. I held no sympathy for this monster.

Despite these valid complaints, I would still recommend this to others, particularly if they nothing of Georges Melies.

Das Komabrutale Duell - The Ultimate Duel...well, sorta

Das Komabrutale Duell is a fascinating movie, but loses me. It is quite fascinating not only for its extreme exploration of gore, but also in its inventive world of "physics"/"medicine". I'm not sure what the plot is, but if I had to guess it would be two guys hate each other and try to kill each other with weapons, brothers, science, henchmen, and so forth.

I find it difficult to appreciate this film because of its disregard for "threat." The human body is quite fragile in many situations, and yet this movie has a scene in which a brain is transplanted with fingers and hot-glue. And it is successful!! Many of the main characters are stabbed, shot, and mutilated beyond recovery, but they seem to survive. If one can recover from a gun-shot to the head, then why would one fear a gun?

This movie would make more sense with an undead vibe, an immortal theme, or a super-healing atmosphere. Yet it leaves few options, but realism, as its crux.

A fascinating movie, but enjoyable to few...those few who can suspend disbelief for gore-ish pleasure.