Oct (NF20/MM3)

* The Wizard of Oz - 70th Anniversary edition: (1939 - Adventure, fantasy, family, musical) This refurbished, HD version of the classic movie was presented by Netflix on the 3rd of October (for free). The HD version (720p) was awesome. The colors and details were definitely enhanced in this version. Directed by Victor Fleming (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932 & 1941), Treasure Island, Gone With the Wind). Starring Judy Garland (Dorothy), Frank Morgan (Professor Marvel / The Gatekeeper / The Carriage Driver / The Guard Who Cries / The Wizard of Oz), Ray Bolger (Farm hand / The Scarecrow), Bert Lahr (Zeke / The Cowardly Lion), Jack Haley (Hickory / The Tin Man), Billie Burke (Glinda - The good Witch of the North), Margaret Hamilton (Elmira Gulch / The Wicked Witch of the West / The Wicked Witch of the East), and others. There's no place like home - This movie is a classic family adventure unlike any other. I remember being enchanted by the images of Munchkins, Flying Monkeys, Technicolor horses, Wizards and Witches. After a particularly bad day, sweet Dorothy is swept away by a tornado. Transported to a land of imagination and wonder, Dorothy is distressed at her predicament and seeks to return home. On the quest to find her way, she meets a variety of colorful characters. The Scarecrow, the Lion and The Tin Man give her courage, heart and the smarts to unravel the riddle of her return. Based on stories by L. Frank Baum, it's a great cautionary tale of family bonds and adventure in the heartland of America. Kansas must have seemed so much better after her harrowing adventure. I'm certainly glad she took me along. Dorothy and her friends learn that the things we most desire are only as difficult to achieve as we imagine. This timeless piece of art gets a 5 out of 5, and I'm really glad it got the HD treatment. It truly deserved it. Please don't remake this move.
* Tokyo!: (2008 - Drama, fantasy / France, Japan, Germany, South Korea) Three short stories are directed by three directors - Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Science of Sleep, Be Kind Rewind - Directs 'Interior Design' story), Leos Carax (The Lovers on the Bridge - Directs 'Merde' short), Joon-ho Bong (Memories of Murder - Directs 'Shaking Tokyo' sequence). These three short films star (Mostly Japanese) actors that are unknown to me. I think I recognized one face amongst the cast. This movie is a series of three unconnected short stories set in the Heart of Japan. I don't really care for the 'many stories equals one' - format. I find that it is typically a disingenuous way to present short stories that would otherwise never be permitted a screen release or wider distribution, regardless of their merit. We need to change the industry norm in this regard and stop forcing the consumer to accept a consolidated format for the sake of exposure. I want to judge a films merit on it's merit, combining them into one release does no justice to any of them. Aside from my displeasure at this format, I was pleased to find that these stories were not animated. I so prefer the live action. The 'Interior Design' sequence features a young couple trying to make a go of it in the big city. The young woman eventually starts to feel a bit like a fixture. Ignored and increasingly irrelevant, she undergoes a quite astonishing transformation to escape from her feelings of isolation. The second segment, 'Merde' features a primitive sewer dweller who emerges into the daylight and wrecks havoc on the ordered city and her inhabitants. The third sequence, 'Shaking Tokyo', features a shut-in who finds his world shaken up when an earthquake and a beautiful young woman motivate him to get out of his apartment. Two of the stories (Merde and Shaking Tokyo) could easily warrant a full length treatment, but Gondry's fantastic tale (with awesome effects) won't likely expand beyond the confines of this short. 3 out of 5.
* The Unknown Soldier: (2006 - Documentary / Germany - Der unbekannte Soldat) Written and directed by Michael Verhoeven (not to be confused with Paul Verhoeven). This documentary was a gripping exposition on the Wehrmacht Exhibition of the late '90s / early 2000s. This documentary/the exhibition challenges to commonly held German belief that most regular army troops had nothing to do with, nor did they know about the atrocities committed by the SS/the Third Reich. Presumably, the common Wehrmacht soldier knew nothing about the holocaust or extermination of non-combatants. Or did they? This documentary explores the Nazi crimes of WWII, and who knew about them. The evidence revealed in this documentary (by the Exhibition) indicates that the common soldier knew about the atrocities, and many (many more than previously estimated) participated in the extermination programs, pogroms and other atrocities The documentary also pays attention to the backlash against the exhibition and the resurgence of extremism and nationalism in Germany. Unfortunately, the documentary lost focus at times. More attention to the facts, and less attention on the reactionary elements would have been a better way to illustrate the point of the documentary. 3 out of 5.
* Mouth to Mouth: (2005 - Drama / U.K., Germany, Canada) Written and directed by Alison Murray (only has two feature length directorial credits in IMDB), this movie stars Ellen Page (Hard Candy, X-Men 3, Juno, Smart People), Natasha Wightman, Eric Thal, Jefferson Guzman and various other actors (mostly unknown to me) in a very personal drama about a runaway. Ellen Page plays Sherry a teenage dropout and runaway (she was 16 when the movie was filmed), traveling across Europe in search of escape... The movie starts as she hooks up with a cult like group of recovering drug addicts, sexaholics and disaffected youth. The leader is a gigantic, charismatic man who asserts his dominance often. The group parties frequently, rejects standard social norms, and appeals to young people looking for a social compact that doesn't demand classical behavior castes. The longer Sherry stays with this group, the more she comes to realize that their commune in Portugal isn't the Utopia she was hoping for. A very realistic portrayal of adolescent angst and struggle (partly based on Alison Murray's real-life experiences). Excellent acting by Ellen Page and Jefferson Guzman, great soundtrack, and an extremely authentic feel. Unfortunately, the direction was lacking and the cast seemed unsure how to act/react in certain scenes. Why did it take nearly two years for me to get a copy of this movie? 4 out of 5.
* Morituri: (1965 - Drama, war) Directed by Bernhard Wicki (The Longest Day, Paris Texas), this movie starred Marlon Brando (as a German Defector) and Yul Brynner (as the captain of a German cargo ship). The movie takes place in 1942, and WWII is heating up in the pacific. The Ingo - a Japanese cargo ship - is loaded with a precious wartime commodity - Rubber. This cargo is headed for Nazi Germany, to fuel the flames of Hitler's war in Europe. While the Allies lack the Naval power necessary to interdict the ship, the British have one weapon they're willing to aim at the Morituri's hull. Marlon Brando plays Robert Crain - a German defector, and someone who can infiltrate the crew in an attempt to scuttle the German plans. High tension on the high seas. A great drama with an excellent cast and fine camera work. Won two Academy awards in 1966. I give it a 4 out of 5.
** Seven Up! / 7 Plus Seven: (1964 & 1970 - Documentary, biography / U.K.) An unusual series of films. The Seven Up series is a documentary that shines the spotlight on a group of British children. The first film (Seven Up!) was filmed when the children were 7 years old. It's a series of interviews and candid responses from a rather innocent set of youngsters. The kids come from a variety of social backgrounds, and the program focuses on how the kids backgrounds may affect their future. The first film was an amazing insight into life during the 60s. The follow-up loses some of the novelty, but it continued to fascinate this viewer. The two films were packaged together on one disc, and I rate the combo 3 out of 5.
* Mystery Science Theater 3000 - Zombie Nightmare: (1994 - Satire, horror) Starring the cast of MST3K (Mystery Science Theater 3000) - Mike Nelson, a bunch of robots (including Crow and Salvo) with human personalities, and a few others. Mike is forced to watch terrible Sci-Fi / Horror movies as torture by a mad scientist. While they watch the movies, they lampoon them. Inserting their own versions of dialogue and quick quips designed to make the movie less dreadful. In 'Zombie Nightmare', Adam West (from the original Batman series) plays a Police Captain investigating a case of Zombie murder. Someone has enlisted the skills of a Voodoo priestess in order to exact revenge upon a group of juvenile? delinquents. While the movie is fairly terrible, Adam West's performance was great - He couldn't have cared less about this movie. His mood was flippant, arrogant and definitely had a "Let's just get this over with" edge to it. Combine that performance with the wisecracking crew of MST3K, and you'll find a mildly enjoyable flick. I give it a 3 out of 5.
* Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison: (1957 - Action, adventure, drama, war) Directed by John Huston, starring Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr. Here's an escapists war movie, an adventure set on a tropical island. The story is incredibly simple, yet extremely complex in it's social layers. On an island in the Pacific, an American Marine (played by Robert Mitchum) is shipwrecked with an Irish Catholic Nun (played by Deborah Kerr). Not only do these two seek to avoid a Japanese presence, they also do their best to hide from their feelings for each other. At first everything seems simple enough; wait out the war on this tropical island. Feast on fresh fish, fruit and coconuts. Then things get difficult; the Japanese military decides to use the island as a base for their Pacific campaign. Forced to hide out in the islands caves, things heat up quickly. Not only are his feelings for Sister Angela making things uncomfortable, the smothering presence of the Japanese troops are putting them in an increasingly risky position. Outstanding performances, an excellent location, great cinematography and fantastic direction. Nominated for two Academy Awards in 1958. I give it a 4 out of 5.
* My Own Private Idaho: (1991 - Drama, romance) Co-written and directed by Gus Van Sant (Drugstore Cowboy, Good Will Hunting, Finding Forrester, Milk). This movie starred River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, James Russo and others. This indie hit was a surreal, dramatic look at two hustlers living on the streets of Portland. River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves aren't exactly gay lovers, but they are best friends. Mike (played by River Phoenix) plays a narcoleptic gay man who falls in love with his best friend Scott (played by Keanu Reeves). Scott has adopted an extreme lifestyle in order to embarrass his wealthy but oppressive father. The two characters are street people, hustlers, prostitutes. They do drugs, tricks and other stunts in the city and suburbs of Portland. Their adventures take them from the gritty streets to the countryside of Italy in a quest to find Mike's mother. Along the way, their friendship is tested when Scott becomes involved in a serious relationship with an Italian woman. Great drama. Well written, directed and acted. I give it a 3 out of 5.
* 49 Up: (2005 - Documentary, biography / U.K.) Directed by Michael Apted (who did the original movie (and every one since then) back in 1964), this 'movie' stars a cast of completely normal 'kids'. The kids from various segments of British society are now 49 years old. I skipped to the latest version of the series. There's been regular installments every seven years, and this is the latest. Having seen the first two, I wanted to see whether anything had changed since the original documentary, back in '64. It hasn't there's nothing new to see here. It's a social experiment, a biography that charts the lives of 12 (two of the original 14 refuse to participate) children as they've grown up, made life choices, and followed their journey through life. Catching up every seven years, this documentary is a voyeuristic attempt to make sense of our own lives by peaking in on their emotions, beliefs, expectations and achievements through the years. It's interesting but dull. Extremely well done in it's interviews and documentary style, I liked it, but can't imagine watching any more of these 'movies'. 3 out of 5.
* The Hudsucker Proxy: (1994 - Comedy, drama, fantasy, romance / U.K., Germany, U.S.) Co-written/Co-directed by Joel & Ethan Coen. Starring Tim Robbins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Paul Newman, Charles Durning, John Mahoney and others. Here's a comedic movie by the Coen brothers. The main character is Norville Barnes (played by Tim Robbins). A simple mail clerk who stumbles into the position of CEO at Hudsucker Inc. The founder of this successful company has committed suicide and the board decides to appoint a dummy to run the company. They're hoping to buy the company after the stock drops low enough. Much to their surprise, the simpleton they've selected keeps the company in the black with a series of brilliant new inventions. A tongue in cheek, satirical, and comedic look at big business. Well written, great characters, and excellent direction. I really liked this sarcastic comedy. 4 out of 5.
* Land of the Lost: (2009 - Adventure, comedy, sci-fi) Directed by Brad Silberling (Lemony Snicket: Unfortunate Events), starring Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, Danny McBride, Jorma Taccone and others. Based on the Sid and Marty Krofft saturday morning cartoon. Here is an attempt to turn television into feature length. Those don't usually work, and this movie continues that time tested tradition. Will Ferrel plays Dr. Rick Marshall, a crackpot high-school science teacher who invents a 'space-time' distortion device, designed to allow access to alternate universes, Dr. Marshall is the laughing stock of his peers. When he finally fires up the device, it turns out that his crack-pot theory isn't all that crack-pot. Rick, Holly (played by Anna Friel) and Will (played by Danny McBride) soon find themselves in an alternate universe dumping ground. A strange place where alien creatures, dinosaurs and mixed up timelines converge to create a 'Land of the Lost'. As an adaptation, it works fairly well. Unfortunately, the original material and by inheritance, this adaptation just doesn't go anywhere. The plot is juvenile, the digital effects poor, and the performances lack-luster. It made me chuckle a bit, but it really wasn't worth the effort. I give it a 2 out of 5.
* Island of Terror: (1966 - Horror, sci-fi / U.K.) Directed by Terence Fisher (The curse of Frankenstein, Revenge of Frankenstein, Horror of Dracula, The Mummy, and many other horror movies). Starring Peter Cushing, Edward Judd, Carole Gray and others. I remember watching this movie late at night, under cover of a blanket to keep my parents from knowing that I was up so late. Watching the late night 'Creature Feature' was a thrill for this young fan. This particular movie featured a fantastic story, a very dark mood, genetically engineered creatures, and an isolated community. A small, remote, British Island is home to an experimental laboratory. That laboratory. is investigating a possible cure for cancer. Unfortunately, their experiments lead to the creation of something terrible, something that feed on the bones of living creatures. Experts rush to the island to investigate a bizarre series of murders, but they're cut off from the mainland when a storm moves in. Soon they're confronted with the terror of these 'Silicates'. These rapidly reproducing creatures are quickly exhausting the supply of cattle on this island, and the only food source left is the terrorized citizens. Can the crew of 'experts' protect these people from this genetically engineered life form? Despite the poor quality of this DVD transfer, the thrilling plot and excellent pacing make this sci-fi horror flick an excellent treat. I give it a 4 out of 5.
* Absurdistan: (2008 - Comedy, romance / Germany) Co-written and directed by Veit Helmer (Tuvalu). Starring a cast of unknowns, this charming romantic comedy has a fantastic setting. This movie is set in a small Turkish (was filmed in Azerbaijan) village. When the last working vestige of technology - running water - stops working, all the women in the village go on strike because the men won't fix anything. What leverage do women have? What service do they provide that the men can't do without? Sex! This sex strike impacts the romantic relationship of one young couple. As they're about to commit to an adult relationship - you know, get it on! - the strike begins. As this event greatly impacts the young mans plans, he's highly motivated to 'fix' the problem. It's a great movie. Sweet, comedic, off-beat, romantic (at times) and very well made. It's so well made and so visual, that it could easily have been a silent movie. I give it a 3 out of 5.
* Drag Me to Hell: (2009 - Horror, thriller) Written by Sam and Ivan Raimi, directed by Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, Spies Like Us, Evil Dead 2 - Dead by Dawn, Miller's Crossing, Army of Darkness, The Gift, Spiderman). Starring Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver, Dileep Rao, and many others, including several members of the extended Raimi family. I really like Sam Raimi's movies. The horror movies always have a slightly comedic feel. In this movie, the comedic touches are far more subtle than the Evil Dead series. It's a serious horror movie. The story - Christine the loan officer (played by Alison Lohman) is hungry for a promotion when she makes a fateful decision to show her willingness to say no. She refuses to extend a loan to the hopeful Mrs. Ganush. The old lady turns out to be a genuine Gypsy, and she lays a heavy duty curse upon Christine. Christine's husband (Justin Long) and a local psychic (Dileep Rao) do their best to avert the curse, but the Lamia isn't easily appeased. Thrilling pace, great camera work, direction and excellent writing. The ending was outstanding. 4 out of 5. No Bruce Campbell?!
* X-Men Origins - Wolverine: (2009 - Action, sci-fi, fantasy, thriller) Directed by Gavin Hood (Tsotsi, Rendition). Starring Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Will i Am, Lynn Collins, Kevin Durand, Dominic Monaghan, Taylor Kitsch, Daniel Henney, Ryan Reynolds, and others. Marvel comics have now become one of the defacto standards when it comes to live action comics on the big screen. Here the studios extend the brand, building on its immense popularity. This particular movie goes backward (an origins story), in order to go forward. The movie is primarily a method of introducing new characters and actors to the franchise. Building a fan base, and extending the franchise. The story really wasn't something we needed. Two mutant boys (Logan and Victor - Played by Jackman and Schreiber) are scarred by a tragic childhood. As a result they become immortal fighters and killers. Something like a pair of Casca-esque mercenaries. When one tries to heal (spiritually), the other becomes jealous. When the government gets involved, things get weirder. Lots of action, some crappy cgi, and barely tolerable acting mark this movie. If you're a fan of the series/franchise, or enjoy over the top action flicks, then this film is for you. I enjoyed it for the entertainment value, but I doubt I'd watch it again. 3 of 5.
* Traitor: (2008 - Crime, drama, thriller) Screenplay and direction by Jeffrey Nachmanoff. Starring Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Jeff Daniels, Saïd Taghmaoui, and others. Another 'War on Terror' movie. This one has an investigative, deep-agent, infiltration slant. Don Cheadle plays Samir Horn, a devout Muslim, a former special ops soldier and a traitorous American, who betrays his country and joins a terrorist group opposed to America. While the story is fairly intelligent, thrilling and suspenseful, it follows some rather worn cliche's to their illogical conclusions, perpetuating stereotypes and racial prejudices promoted by post-911 fear mongers. It examines some of the motivations behind terrorism, but assigns those motivations and beliefs to all the Muslims portrayed in the film. When the movie deviates from the typical stereotypes it does much damage by veering off in a totally different direction. Displaying the suicide bombers as typical Muslims (persons of middle eastern origin/descent) living, working, and raising families in America - Watch out America, your neighbor could be a suicide bomber! What a great way to hype up the fear factor, while simultaneously vilifying all the Muslims in America. The only shining points of this movie are Don Cheadle and Saïd Taghmaoui performances, the excellent pacing/editing, and the technological treatments of communications and the internet. 3 out of 5.
* Year One: (2009 - Adventure, comedy) Directed by Harold Ramis (Caddyshack, Stripes, Heavy Metal, Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, High Fidelity, Knocked Up). Starring Jack Black, Michael Cera and others. The story - Jack Black and Michael Cera play Zed and Oh. They're banished from their prehistoric village because they're F-Ups and Zed has eaten the forbidden fruit. They embark upon a bible inspired journey in search of a better place to live. The movie has no real plot as such, just a series of mocking biblical skits, held together by the characters. Michael Cera played a great 'Straight Man' caveman, and Jack Black was funny (They both play the same characters they always play). Unfortunately, the story sucked. It just didn't go anywhere. The only thing worth watching (that isn't in the trailers) are the cameo scenes. Do yourself a favor, watch 'History of the World - Part I' instead. Religious types may find this movie insulting. 2 out of 5.
* Clerks II: (2006 - Comedy, drama). Astonishing. A comedic masterpiece. This time around, the lines aren't just there to fill the space between one scene and the next. The conversations were more realistic. The humor was truly amazing. The dramatic touches were excellent. How could anyone make a movie this funny into something more than a laugh fest? Only Kevin Smith could do it. A serious relationship, self examination drama takes place while we're laughing our asses off. The characters are great and the direction is outstanding. The writing was brilliant. This one bears watching, again, and again. I'm glad I bought a copy. 5 out of 5.
* Killing Me Softly: (2002 - Drama, romance, mystery, thriller / U.S., U.K.) Directed by Kaige Chen (Together (2002), The Emperor and the Assassin (1998)). Starring Heather Graham, Joseph Fiennes, Natascha McElhone, Ulrich Thomsen and others. I thought it was going to be more thriller, less romance. I should have known what I was getting myself into when I picked a movie directed by Kaige Chen. This movie is an 'Erotic' Thriller, with emphasis on the 'Erotic'. The story. Alice (played by Heather Graham) is happy but bored with her current relationship. She dumps Jake in a heartbeat when she becomes enthralled with her new hunky mountain-climber (played by Joseph Fiennes) boyfriend. Engaging in an illicit relationship, Alice is thrilled to be her new Beau's sex slave, but she can't resist a bit of snooping. She soon discovers some disturbing facts about Adam's previous lovers, things that turn out deadly. The story was well crafted, but the plot twist was unsurprising. In addition to the recycled plot point, this movie really was a chick flick, and I didn't care for that aspect of it. If you're looking for a skin flick, this one will satisfy. Heather Graham naked was worth a four star rating, but the bad acting and stale story bring it down to a 2 out of 5.
* The Land Unknown: (1957 - Adventure, fantasy, sci-fi) Directed by Virgil W. Vogel. Starring Jock Mahoney, Shirley Patterson, William Reynolds, Henry Brandon, Douglas Kennedy, Phil Harvey and others. I'm a sucker for those old sci-fi movies featuring giant dinosaurs. Here we have a great plot - The U.S. Navy has discovered a tropical time-capsule in the bowels of a Antarctic crater. An expedition is launched to investigate this isolated environment, and hopefully uncover some of its secrets. Unfortunately, the explorers start off on the wrong foot when their helicopter encounters technical problems and a crash landing brings them down hard in the midst of a miniature Mesozoic mesa. Heated by geothermal energy, this isolated land unknown is home to tropical forests, deadly dinosaurs, carnivorous plants, and a castaway with plans of his own. If the crew can't repair their helicopter they may end up stranded in this Mesozoic microcosm. The acting was horrid, the effects were mixed poorly, and the transfer terrible. I'm planning to watch another copy soon (Netflix recently added a double-feature copy). I hope it's in better shape. 2 out of 5.
* The Family Stone: (2005 - Comedy, drama, romance) Written and directed by Thomas Bezucha (his second movie). Starring a huge cast - Claire Danes, Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Dermot Mulroney, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Wilson, Tyrone Giordano, Brian J. White, Elizabeth Reaser, Paul Schneider, Savannah Stehlin and others. This was one of Kim's picks. It's a holiday story, a homecoming, a comedic drama revolving around the dysfunctional, extended, family Stone. Congregating around the family hearth at Christmas time, this large family is host to a family reunion gone bad, in the tradition of 'Meet The Parents', but lacking all the out loud laughs. When the favorite son brings home his latest girlfriend, everyone is convinced that she's no match for their family. As nearly everyone disapproves of Meredith, she becomes the catalyst for a whole series of dramatic escapades designed to make this movie a misadventure with a happy ending. The characters constitute a politically perfect ensemble cast. A gay, deaf son with his black 'life partner'; a pregnant daughter with a young child (but no father?); a judgmental and righteous younger daughter; the laid-back stoner son, the perfect parents, etc. When Meredith invites her hot looking sister for moral support, the end game becomes apparent. The pre-ordained ending take a bit to reveal, but the movie manages to survive on it's high production value, the fine interplay between characters, and some good acting. A complicated Christmas tale for uptight city dwellers. 3 out of 5.