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

[HungFist]

Live Night Visions festival reporting

Day 1

Bad start. The train broke down in the middle of nowhere. 35 min delay. And when I get to Helsinki I realize I have too much stuff to carry (bagpack + laptop + a bag full of dvds) and have to take the metro to the dvd shop instead of walking. And I only manage to sell half of the dvds, but I get more money than I expected (35€) from cheap old discs

Manage to negotiate a special deal for the fest tickets. I had to purchase some in advance via internet, but I manage to cancel those and get a custom deal for 16 tickets... save 25€

Open the fest with Revenge - A Love Story - "the more refined choise" as stated by the fest president in comparison to The Thing (2011) that was playing on the other screen. Sora Aoi is pretty much adorable in the film - unbelievable achievement from an AV star. Strong film, too - extremely brutal and hard hitting, but has a clever structure. A bit like Dog Bite Dog but more brutal and with a real love story and without tramatic father relationship bullshit. The ending is poorish though - would benefit from deleting the last 10 min.

Inbred - UK goes hillbilly/redneck splatter, with German financing. This is essentially a comedy with plenty of good laughs, but much of the violence is so gross that it will disgust (in a good way) even gorehounds. A bit irritating characters and no masterpiece by any means, but ultimately on the positive side. Thick accent - I was lucky if I could understand half of the dialogue. The German producer, who was attending the screening, also stated he had to watch it with subtitles in France despite being fluent in English. I feel sorry for the people who will see it in the second screening on Sunday morning at 7 (preceded by 5 other films that night)... they ain't gonna understand a bloody thing in that state.

Yöjuttu: Merkitty. This is a cool, ultra rare Finnish made-for-TV horror film. Rather unintentionally funny but cool. This is the kind of stuff that you're proud to see on fests - it has never been screened in cinemas before, it has never been released on home video, and it has never been seen anywhere since its original (and only) 1984 TV screening. Director and two stars attending, discussing the film and another, less successful production that the director stated "if someone asks me tomorrow, I'll tell him I don't know what he's talking about"



Oh, and I saw Enzo G. Castellari in the corridor with two Nazi-girls. Bloody cool

[Markgway]

Cape Fear (1991-USA) ***

[saltysam]

House By The Cemetery 2.5/5 bonkers Fulci movie makes no sense at all but has a fine score,some nice gore effects and Katrina McColl is gorgeous.

Zombie 4/5 Fulci's most famous effort is definitely a love/hate movie,i love it! great music,great gore,stupid storyline,daft acting,zombie vs shark...madness.

Batman: Year One 2.5/5 ok adaption of the famous Frank Miller comic marred by a poor vocal performance by the actor playing Bruce Wayne/Batman. The central character in this one is James Gordon,not Batman interestingly enough.

Blitz 2.5/5 London based Jason Statham ploice thriller plays like a big budget extended 18 rated version of The Bill. not bad at all,worth seeing.

[Yi-Long]

Batman: Year One 2.5/5 ok adaption of the famous Frank Miller comic marred by a poor vocal performance by the actor playing Bruce Wayne/Batman. The central character in this one is James Gordon,not Batman interestingly enough.

The same score that I gave it:

Ninja Assassin - 1/5
Worst film in a long time.

I haven't seen it yet, but what's bad about it? My girlfriend seemed to like it, but she's got the hots for Rain.
From the bits and pieces I saw it had some crappy unclear choreography, but lots of old-skool gory ninja slicing and dicing...

Batman: Year One

Based directly on the great Year One origin story by Frank Miller, the story was never going to be the problem here. It follows the book quite closely.

The problem lies mainly in all the other aspects of the movie. The voice-acting is mediocre at best, with Kevin Conroy either dropped or unavailable, we now get Ben 'WHO???' McKenzie delivering an uninspired boring performance, which sounds like it was phoned in. James Gordon is better (Bryan Cranston), but only slightly so. Everybody basically sounds like they've just come from a funeral. I'm guessing they're going for the 'film noir' approach, but it doesn't come of as intended.

Music is easily forgettable. I say this cause although it's less than 12 hours ago since I watched the movie, I have no idea if there was actually music.

Visually, it looks pretty damn poor. It takes it's angles straight from the comic-book, but artwork and animation isn't very good. Backgrounds are especially bland, boring and empty, and there has been no attempt to fix this with interesting shadowplay or colours. Pretty much the only slight highlights are the few action-scenes.

Now that Arkham City is (almost) out, and we've seen the gorgeous and fitting CGI trailer for that, it's a real shame they didn't hire that CGI team to do these animated movies completely in CGI. They could be writing history but instead have opted for just gambling on the appeal of the title alone.

Is it a bad movie? Ofcourse not. It's Year One and it stays too close to that to ever fuck up. However, the way it's been done is extremely disappointing, with poor voice-acting and bland and lazy visuals, so in no way is the movie any improvement over the great source-material. And that's a shame, cause the visuals in the comic weren't great either.

2.5 out of 5. Good story, lazy project.

Nice to watch once, but that's about it.

[Markgway]

Horrible Bosses (2011-USA) *½

[Markgway]

Kick-Ass (2009-USA-UK) **½

More enjoyable than I expected... but I still have reservations over the character of 'hit-girl.

[HungFist]

Quite liked it on first viewing, but last week when I rewatched some scenes I mainly got angry. A lot of good scenes, but also many plain awful ones. I already complained about the awful corridor scene (Grim: not the lobby ) near the end... and now I realized Hit Girl's first action scene (in the junkie appartment) is even worse. These scenes demonstrate the sense of style of a 5 year old... (aka these new wave cult-clowns who think they're doing something cool and fun when in reality they don't have a clue...)

Still, Nic is great in the film, the ending is great (possibly accidentally), and there's a bunch of other good scenes here and there...

[HungFist]

Ok, so you coupletely misunderstood.

Okay, so you completely misunderstood too. All of the above sounds most annoying.

Also, I've had the opportunity to go to screenings with "meet the director" but I've never been. It doesn't really interest me nor does meeting artists at concerts. Their work speaks for them. I do like live stuff though, so maybe proven wrong.

ok, fair enough. I'm off to see Enzo G. Castellari and his nazi girls

But first, yesterday's coverage

Day 2

Trick or Treat (1986). "His fans won't let him die. He won't let them live!" A totally cool heavy metal horror movie, with title and tagline that have almost nothing to do with the film! Rock star Sammi Curr (Tony Fields) dies in a fire, but returns from hell to help his high schooler fan take revenge against bullies - and everyone. Excellent semi-cheese coolness with great soundtrack and cameos from Ozzy Osbourne (moralist priest) and Gene Simmons (radio DJ). A real treat. The print was about to fall in pieces, though

Preceded by teaser trailer for King Kong Lives (1986). "He's back, and he's not happy!"

Prodondo rosso (1975). Now this is fuckin something - the shorter, far superior international version (titled The Hatchet Murders) on 35mm - reminds you why films are 10 times more impressive on huge cinema screen than at home! The shorter version deletes the dumb comedy and romance bits, improves pacing, and puts David Hemmings' real voice on the audio track. A very stylish and moody giallo with terrific Goblin soundtrack - thoroughly brilliant, even if it doesn't make full sense half of the time!

Preceded by video greeting by the Goblin for the Finnish audiences


- Trick or Treat trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7IZp2jF3_Q

[gasteropod]

but I still have reservations over the character of 'hit-girl.

[Yi-Long]

I loved Hit-Girl. Never understood why there was any uproar about her character.

[Markgway]

Prodondo rosso (1975). Now this is fuckin something - the shorter, far superior international version (titled The Hatchet Murders) on 35mm - reminds you why films are 10 times more impressive on huge cinema screen than at home! The shorter version deletes the dumb comedy and romance bits, improves pacing, and puts David Hemmings' real voice on the audio track. A very stylish and moody giallo with terrific Goblin soundtrack - thoroughly brilliant, even if it doesn't make full sense half of the time!

Don't tell Gas that!

[Markgway]

but I still have reservations over the character of 'hit-girl.

[luckystars]

Quite liked it on first viewing, but last week when I rewatched some scenes I mainly got angry. A lot of good scenes, but also many plain awful ones. I already complained about the awful corridor scene (Grim: not the lobby ) near the end... and now I realized Hit Girl's first action scene (in the junkie appartment) is even worse. These scenes demonstrate the sense of style of a 5 year old... (aka these new wave cult-clowns who think they're doing something cool and fun when in reality they don't have a clue...)

Still, Nic is great in the film, the ending is great (possibly accidentally), and there's a bunch of other good scenes here and there...

I hated the film.

I thought it started really well and descended into trash. It needed a rewrite and higher production values. Increasingly lazy trash that when you realise that the graphic novel was commissioned while the film was still being written (to hype the film on the indi comic scene, and give the film 'adaptation' status) and the film itself was written by Jonathan Ross' wife (the media over hype reception)....I felt I was being strung a line...it just wasn't anything special

[Markgway]

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.

[bradavon]

I've not seen it but isn't that the point?

[HungFist]

Day 3

Hobo with a Shotgun (2011). Grindhouse trailer contest winner - the comeback of 1970's vigilante movies, except that the surface is far closer to Troma films or the new wave Japanese splatter movement. Rutger Hauer is excellent as a shotgun Hobo - it's a character that sounds like a joke, but has unexpected care and sympathy put into it. The rest of the film (literally) contrasts: the over-charged visual appearance looks like an ass, and the extreme bloodletting is constantly one step away from pretentious. Yet it's impossible not to feel great joy over the fact that such politically incorrect and free-from-studio-regulation trash films are being made (outside Japan as well). The uncompromising nature and the lack of CGI make it a heartwarming movie, even if not quite on par with it's Asian sisters or American ancestors.

1990: The Bronx Warriors (1982). Castellari goes post-apocalypse - The Warriors meets Escape from New York, with more motorcycles and bigger muscles! Mostly shot on location in Bronx, this is one cool-ass cheapo action film with some brilliant villain work by Vic Morrow, strong support from the ever-so-cool Fred Williamson, and an amusingly charisma-free leading performance by the bare-chested Mark Gregory. In technically sense it's nowhere near Castellari's greats (Keoma etc.) and most of the dialogue is downright ridiculous - but that's part of the fun. Old beaten up print with plenty of damage but good colors - serves the film just fine, and looks great on giant cinema screen!

And Enzo G. Castellari motherfucker! The festival guest of honor, a very nice guy who also recalls having made a sequel to The Bronx Warriors, but can no longer remember what the hell it was all about! Having Mr. Having Castellari sitting in the audience certainly boosted the (already through the roof) atmosphere in the theater

Question: "Which one do you think is better, your or Tarantino's Inglorious Bastards?"
Castellari: "Mine, of course!"



8 (2011). A 36 min Finnish horror pic dealing with subconscious. Made with a 6000€ budget it actually looks perfectly solid (better than Hobo with a Shotgun or the new Japanese splatter films). Effective use of music aside, though, it's rather clumsy and predictable. It's obviously it's made by a film school student rather than self-educated cinema fan - there's certain artistic stiffness and formality that comes through and very commonly chains Finnish cinema, as opposed to fresh innovativeness.

Red State (2011). Kevin Smith Attacks! The made-to-be-controversial pic opens as a Smithian teen film, takes a turn to horror, and ultimately ends up a machine gun wielding satire on the post 9/11 America. Conservative Christian movements are the main target, but the US government also gets their fare share of the bite, and towards the end it wouldn't be completely off-the-wall to claim some of the bullets are aimed at Islam, too. An entertaining and semi-important movie regardless of one's political or religious stand (any such movement or politics ought to be critisized, as forbidding criticism would only destroy its credibility) - and frankly speaking far out enough not to be truly insulting to anyone. Smith's jokes do tends to run overtime, though - more than one scene drag, and the film loses some of its bite in the process.

Morituris (2011). American Psycho. Rape and revenge without revenge. Sergio Stivaletti. Zombie gladiators. WTFIGO? Italian horror film magazine editor-in-chief goes film director with a mini budget horror film. It's mean piece, but not as graphic as the recent torture and gorno films it has (slightly misleadingly) been compared to. The dialogue is awful, and there's technical screw ups, such as confusing editing in a few spots and too dark image - but there's something cool about the film. While clumsy and cheap, it's made by enthusiastic horror fans, features old school gore effects, and explains little enough to become even slightly atmospheric. It's a film for hard core horror fans who can appreciate what it is - others need not bother.

Screening attended by director Raffaele Picchio and producer Gianluigi Perrone - two young guys with so much enthusiasm that in the Q&A they were essentially interviewing each other and answering questions before anyone even asked them anything

[Markgway]

I've not seen it but isn't that the point?

I don't think so. It's not that ambitious.

[Markgway]

Source Code (2011-USA-France) **½

[Markgway]

Mesrine: Public Enemy Number One (2008-France-Canada) ***

Friday the 13th (2009-USA) *

[luckystars]

No review for Masrine?

[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.