Miss Congeniality 2
4 out of 10
Miss Congeniality is a fun Sandra Bullock comedy. Sure it's a bit silly but it definitely works and crucially it's funny. It's probably Sandie's best film. That doesn't mean the story is strong enough for a sequel. Boy this film is a turkey. The plot is a complete mess and like Shrek 3 it's not even a finished script as far as I'm concerned.
It's not funny and the central kidnapping plot is just woeful. Michael Cain played a camp stylist in Miss Congeniality, his presence is sorely missed. Avoid!
Tai-Chi Master
5.5 out of 10
So I finally see this, one of Jet Li's best films. I suppose considering how much it's loved I was bound to be a little disappointed.
First the good:
The fights were excellent. Both Li and Yeoh as per usual were great. Both have lots of charisma and of course now how to perform martial arts. The interplay between the old (and also young) Junbao and Chin Siu-hou worked well.
However:
As happens far too often in martial arts films when the action wasn't happening it was a little bit dull. The film seemed to be coming to an end around the 60 minute mark but so as to bump the film to the required 90-100 minute mark Yuen Woo-ping opted to plonk in a completely pointless and stupid comedic section. Which really didn't work and stopped the film dead.
Thankfully it picked up at the end. I'd have liked it if Yeoh had also joined in at the final fight. That was a wasted opportunity.
Fist of Legend
6 out of 10
I saw this film years ago on the MIHK Video and decided it was about time I reappraised it been underwhelmed the first time. Sadly my opinion back then hasn't changed much today.
First the good:
Obviously the fight scenes are great and boy this film is full of them. I liked the fact they changed the story so while it felt like a remake it was still very different in places. The fight between Chen Zhen and the uncle looked nice too, with the leaves flowing in the wind. The final fight between Chen Zhen and the general is very good.
However:
The dojo fight between Chen Zhen and the Japanese doesn't come close to the original Fist of Fury fight. I don't mind that particularly as it was still good.
The film-makers clearly spent so much time on the fight choreography they opted to completely and utterly forget about a story, character development or anything other than the fights frankly. This deeply hurt the film. I didn't care about any of the characters nor was I rooting for Jet to win. Like Tai-Chi Master, Fist of Legend was all a bit dull when the fights weren't happening. I do wonder why they even bother making films. It would make much more sense to just film fight documentaries, that's all most fans and the film-makers are really interested in.
As the fights were more frequent and were definitely better than Tai-Chi Master however, it does make it a better film to Tai-Chi Master.
The Once Upon a Time in China Trilogy are fine examples of what can be achieved when as much time is spent on characters, story, plot, cinematography and fight choreography. The cinematography in the OUATIC Trilogy is just wonderful in places. I was so happy when Wong Fei-hung finally got together with Aunt Yee in OUATIC3.
I no longer give a monkey's when Dragon Dynasty get around to releasing Fist of Legend or Tai-Chi Master. I am looking forward to Bodyguard for Beijing though, which I remember being much better.
Coffy
6 out of 10
Following all the recent talk I've been having with Hung over his fetish for Japanese Exploitation it got me thinking about American exploitation and in particular blaxploitation.
Coffy is the film that started Pam Grier's career. Yes the acting is woeful, yes the story is non-existent. The pimps costume is completely ridiculous and cannot be taken seriously in the slightest. But the joy of watching Pam Grier kicking ass and telling every badass what she really thinks is such a joy it really doesn't matter. Grier has bags of charisma. In fact many of the negative aspects are also positives. Whenever you see the pimp costume you have to laugh.
Coffy knows it's completely ridiculous but doesn't care.
I appreciate these are somewhat odd comments considering my disappointed at the martial arts films above for not spending enough time on aspects other than the central ones. I guess the film just worked for me. I don't consider it a keeper though.
Foxy Brown
4 out of 10
Foxy Brown is considered the bigger of the two. Frankly I don't really know why. I suspect due to the success of Coffy director Jack Hill decided to give us more story this time, but sadly he's clearly not a very good director so instead of a fun and no frills film we get a more serious film that fails to work.
Foxy Brown takes itself far too seriously and way too much time is spent on the supporting characters, when all we really want is Foxy kicking the shit out of someone and spieling off one liners. Speaking of the supporting characters there is way too many of them. An entire new character is introduced 15 minutes before the film ends and has no value whatsoever.
Both films do have some classic dialogue though. "Yah Dig! Right on Brother"
Overall a disappointed.
Eastern Promises
7.5 out of 10
A new one this one. I think it only opened over here last Friday. It's the new Cronenberg film. You can download trailers here:
https://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/ ... php?t=3712
While it doesn't entirely work. Naomi Watts English accent is acceptable but a bit ropey, like most attempts at an English accent it's too over the top (unlike Gwyneth Paltrow who is able to pull it off perfectly). The story is also a little all over the place, some better editing was in order.
Those aside it is a solid crime thriller.
The decision to set a Russian mob story in London worked very well indeed. Apart from her accent Watts is as usual very good. Armin Mueller-Stahl as the father was excellent. The two stand outs however are Viggo Mortensen as the driver and Vincent Cassel as the son. Both are grimy Russians and are both clearly really enjoying themselves. Viggo Mortensen is particularly excellent.
On the whole Eastern Promises is a well made and solid film. Recommended!
2001: A Space Odyssey
9 out of 10
I've left the best for last. I first saw this on a Full-Frame VHS video years back and I simply didn't get it. I thought it was dull and to put it simply I was baffled. I was also not mature enough to appreciate the magnitude of the subject matter.
I watched my DVD the other day (it's a solid remastering job, with slight edge enhancement early on) and 2001 is one of those films that is completely and utterly lost when shown in a full-frame fashion, unlike most films where you "could" watch cropped if you had to. The sheer magnificent of the cinematography is crucial to the film and this needs Widescreen!
For those who don't know the film opens to the "Dawn of Man" with a fantastic opening 20 minutes features apes first use of "tools". 2001 then jumps 4 million years in the future (with a brilliant jump cut). Here man has become so dependent on his tools, in this case spaceships and computers.
The scenes in space are outstanding. Space is literally deadly silent except for the breathing of the astronauts. Oh my god the ending is at the same time baffling but also incredibly beautiful and moving. Talk about an epic subject Kubrick is discussing here, but at the same time the film's meanings are completely left open to interpretation, as Kubrick doesn't do anything to help you figure out what on earth you've just watched.
I won't say any more of the plot as A: It would seriously hinder your enjoyment of the film and B: I could be completely wrong anyway. I think I worked it out to only read an Essay on Empire website that gave a completely different account of the film. I prefer their interpretation than the one I came up with.
If I have one complain it is that 2001 is a cold film, it's not a film you can empathise with and nor could you watch it very often. Not that it ultimately matters as the cinematography and sheer epic scale of the story more than makes up for this. This is storytelling at it's highest.
It's crazy to imagine 2001 is 40 years old next year. It barely looks it. Highly Recommended!
