What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

[Yi-Long]

I felt it went overboard with the violence and couldn't seem to decide upon cartoony CGI bloodletting or sadistic brutality and wound up settling (somewhat uneasily) for both.

I actually liked that about it. It felt perfectly fitting.

[Markgway]

No review for Masrine?

I thought the second part was better and more fluently told. The first was too rushed and incoherent. Felt like Mesrine's Greatest Hits. The turn from civilian into criminal was ill-defined. Also that attempted prison break (later in the movie) was pretty dumb. All he did was get a bunch of people killed. Part two seemed more measured and intelligent by comparison.

[Markgway]

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011-USA) **½

Captures the look and feel of the WW2 period... but there's something missing...

[HungFist]

Day 4 (the main event aka midnight marathon): Part 1 (20:00 – 04:45)

High Crime (1973). This is a gem – Enzo G. Castellari’s first poliziotteschi, and often considered one of the best Italian crime films ever made. Franco Nero is rather excellent as commissioner Belli trying to crack down a crime ring in a bad city. Inspired by true events, it’s quite a realistic film that goes into great detail in portraying the politics of crime and law enforcement. Castellari’s focus is on characters, despite some compulsory high quality car chases and shootouts. The use of music, editing and violence is often brilliant – especially in the unforgettable ending sequence! It’s a true shame there are no good quality dvd releases available anywhere in the world – another reason why seeing this on 35mm was an experience to be grateful of.

And the audience was grateful indeed – the screening was sold out to the last seat, with the entire audience giving standing ovations to Mr. Castellari after the film! Castellari was clearly moved by this – he said it was just like in Rome in 1973 when the film first opened to a grand success!

And I had my Japanese book signed by Mr. Castellari! It is now officially the coolest Japanese book on the planet!



3D Sex & Zen: Extreme Ecstasy (2011). Here’s something that’s more of an event than a movie. The 3D upgrade of the 90’s Sex & Zen movies offers what it promises: silly comedy and plenty of beautiful (mainly Japanese) girls with three dimensional assets. Somewhat unexpectedly there’s also a load of sadism towards the end as the story takes a turn to a tragedy. This is one of the film’s flaws – such pseudo-roughness neither has the bite of true Category 3 roughies nor does is go well with the rest of the film. The first half an hour proves fun and even stylish-by-genre-standards erotica well suitable for both sexes. The film is, however, at least 30 minutes too long regardless of version (the various non-censored versions vary in length from under 2 hours to near 2½ hours!) Nevertheless, it a movie theater experience to remember – home video versions, especially in 2D, would hardly be worth anyone’s time.

Indeed, on a giant cinema screen (one of the biggest in Finland) in 3D this was somewhat a surreal experience. “May take a while until something like this hits the Finnish screens again” was the official word. Oh, and all viewers were given an empty plastic cup at the door when entering… (festival humor)

Rabies (2010). Israel’s first horror movie is a strange beast – not only does the whole storyline take place in broad daylight, it also features quite an unusual killer (best not spoiled forehand). It’s very much a writing/acting piece, despite some (thankfully non-CGI) gore. Director/screenwriter duo Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado do, however, stumble a bit with their own cleverness. The result is sometimes jarring, but mostly entertaining and even fresh entry to the slasher (?) genre.

The directors were to attend the festival, but had to cancel on the last moment due to pre-production of their next movie. They did send a video greeting, though.

Deadball (2011). A no holds barred upgrade of the 2003 film Battlefield Baseball, star Tak Sakaguchi and director Yudai Yamaguchi are back to play ball. With more blood, more Nazis, and one Klaus Nomi lookalike! The trashy comedy hits an initial homerun as it begins as an outrageous prison film set to John Carpenter esque score. Unfortunately the lengthy game portion is style free CGI splatter with few laughs – with practical effects it could’ve been insanely inventive, now it’s mainly anticlimactic. Lead star Tak Sakaguchi is the single best asset the messy film has– his performance as a silent, chain smoking, poncho wearing anti-hero shows the man in a whole new – would I even dare to say charismatic – light.

[Markgway]

Oh, and all viewers were given an empty plastic cup at the door when entering… (festival humor)

Would've been even funnier if someone had filled theirs and handed it back.

[Markgway]

Flypaper (2011-USA) **

Coen Bros-esque black comedy about TWO inept bank robberies.

[HungFist]

Oh, and all viewers were given an empty plastic cup at the door when entering… (festival humor)

Would've been even funnier if someone had filled theirs and handed it back.

I did think about spitting into my cup... now I regret not doing it

[Markgway]

Katalin Varga (2008-Romania-UK) *½

Exceptionally dull drama... though the lead actress is good.

[gasteropod]

Halloween (1978) - 4.5/5
Haloween II - 1.5/5
Halloween III: Season of the Witch - 4/5
Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers - 2/5

Re: Halloween III: Season of the Witch - I maintain it is the most underrated film of all time. Apart from the fools who can't get over the fact it's not connected to the previous two, I also think people would appreciate it more if they saw the R1 Universal DVD - uncut and in an excellent 2.35:1 transfer which has clearly been taken from an HD master.

Most people in this country have probably only seen it cut and 4:3 pan and scan, which does the film a great disservice as it's got brilliant cinematography and lighting from Dean Cundey and Tommy Lee Wallace mirrors his mentor so well that if it had been credited as 'Directed by John Carpenter' I don't think anyone would have suspected any differently (and it would probably have a better reputation too).

Gotta love that sinister synth music too! And I think this is the only film in the series to pronounce 'Samhain' correctly.

[Markgway]

Haloween II - 1.5/5

Ooh... harsh!

I recorded Halloween VIII off BBC2 last night. The only one of the original series I haven't seen.


12 Rounds (2008-USA) **½

Non-stop action blockbuster. Does what it says on the tin.

[saltysam]

Halloween (1978) - 4.5/5
Haloween II - 1.5/5
Halloween III: Season of the Witch - 4/5
Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers - 2/5

Re: Halloween III: Season of the Witch - I maintain it is the most underrated film of all time. Apart from the fools who can't get over the fact it's not connected to the previous two, I also think people would appreciate it more if they saw the R1 Universal DVD - uncut and in an excellent 2.35:1 transfer which has clearly been taken from an HD master.

Most people in this country have probably only seen it cut and 4:3 pan and scan, which does the film a great disservice as it's got brilliant cinematography and lighting from Dean Cundey and Tommy Lee Wallace mirrors his mentor so well that if it had been credited as 'Directed by John Carpenter' I don't think anyone would have suspected any differently (and it would probably have a better reputation too).

Gotta love that sinister synth music too! And I think this is the only film in the series to pronounce 'Samhain' correctly.

i agree with most of that,Season Of The Witch is a superb film.Disagree with your rating for part 2 though,it's a decent follow up.i have the producer's cut of part 6,need to give it a watch one day.

[gasteropod]

I watched the 'Producer's Cut' the other night actually and it is significantly different, it's kinda hard to say which cut is better though really, and neither make it a particularly good film.

And lol Mark, part 8 is a travesty although watching clips on YouTube of Busta Rhymes throwing insults at Michael Myers is actually pretty funny when watched separately from the film.

[Keung]

H6: Producer's Cut is my favourite of the Halloween series. There is actually five different cuts of part 6.

[Markgway]

And lol Mark, part 8 is a travesty although watching clips on YouTube of Busta Rhymes throwing insults at Michael Myers is actually pretty funny when watched separately from the film.

I'm already looking forward to it...

[Markgway]

Take Me Home Tonight (2011-USA-Germany) *½

Disappointing attempt to recreate the 80s teen comedy.


BTW. I've added comments to my last few reviews.

[gasteropod]

H6: Producer's Cut is my favourite of the Halloween series. There is actually five different cuts of part 6.

I know of Theatrical, 'Producer's' (which is the workprint), and Unrated - what are the other two?

[Markgway]

Unstoppable (2010-USA-UK) ***

Exciting thriller about a runaway freight train

Halloween: Resurrection (2002-USA) **

Not as bad as I expected...

The Reptile (1966-UK) **½

Not bad Hammer chiller

[gasteropod]

Dead Ringers (1988) - 4.5/5

[Markgway]

Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011-USA) **½

[Markgway]

Bad Teacher (2011-USA) **

Some laughs; but film doesn't have the courage of its convictions. To call Diaz a 'bad teacher' is an understatement, but the film ignores, and in some cases seeks to justify, her rotten behaviour, and in the end softens her to the point where you know she'll become a genuinely good teacher. Predictable and unconvincing.

[gasteropod]

Frantic (1988) - 4.5/5

Excellent Polanski thriller that really reminded me of The Ninth Gate, this needs a proper release with extras and a DC if what IMDb says is true.

[Markgway]

"Due to studio pressure, 15 minutes were trimmed from the original running time and a new ending was shot."

Hmm... I rather liked Frantic... wonder what was dropped/changed?

[gasteropod]

Indeed, how dare they mess with Polanski!

[Markgway]

Devil (2010-USA) ***

Modest, effective chiller.

[gasteropod]

Bitter Moon (1992) - 4/5

Emmanuelle Seigner