With time on his hands, his visit to a local gym affords a chance meeting with Louis (Colin Salmon) who is a head doorman and something of a philosopher. This part of the film starts to raise questions about fear and violence which I won't pretend is deep and meaningful but it is very interesting, I understand that the source material is a good read. Louis becomes a mentor to Danny who starts to work the doors with him and his crew. There is a sub plot which involves local drug gangs infiltrating the club doors in order to sell their product, I don't know if this is grounded in truth but it's interesting and serves to move the plot along to an interesting finale and final twist. People have called this a low budget movie but as the script doesn't call for monsters or space ships I can't see why the comment is relevant. The piece is competently filmed, well lit, it has a tight script and the sets serve their purpose. All in all, it's a good hour and a half and has made me want to read the source material. In the end it's about Danny and the changes he goes through as a person which ultimately lead him towards something he recognises as a man.
Showing posts with label movie review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movie review. Show all posts
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
Clubbed - A well crafted indie flick
This relatively unknown drama had me gripped from start to finish. Mel Raido puts in a fine performance as Danny, a meek factory worker living a sad, solitary existence after his life takes one knock too many. Estranged from his wife and living apart from his beloved kids. He's further humiliated by thugs who beat him in front of his children. The fine screenplay really allowed me to feel for this guy, it was poignant and touching at times, especially when he holds his kids close in the squalid flat he has to rent.
With time on his hands, his visit to a local gym affords a chance meeting with Louis (Colin Salmon) who is a head doorman and something of a philosopher. This part of the film starts to raise questions about fear and violence which I won't pretend is deep and meaningful but it is very interesting, I understand that the source material is a good read. Louis becomes a mentor to Danny who starts to work the doors with him and his crew. There is a sub plot which involves local drug gangs infiltrating the club doors in order to sell their product, I don't know if this is grounded in truth but it's interesting and serves to move the plot along to an interesting finale and final twist. People have called this a low budget movie but as the script doesn't call for monsters or space ships I can't see why the comment is relevant. The piece is competently filmed, well lit, it has a tight script and the sets serve their purpose. All in all, it's a good hour and a half and has made me want to read the source material. In the end it's about Danny and the changes he goes through as a person which ultimately lead him towards something he recognises as a man.
With time on his hands, his visit to a local gym affords a chance meeting with Louis (Colin Salmon) who is a head doorman and something of a philosopher. This part of the film starts to raise questions about fear and violence which I won't pretend is deep and meaningful but it is very interesting, I understand that the source material is a good read. Louis becomes a mentor to Danny who starts to work the doors with him and his crew. There is a sub plot which involves local drug gangs infiltrating the club doors in order to sell their product, I don't know if this is grounded in truth but it's interesting and serves to move the plot along to an interesting finale and final twist. People have called this a low budget movie but as the script doesn't call for monsters or space ships I can't see why the comment is relevant. The piece is competently filmed, well lit, it has a tight script and the sets serve their purpose. All in all, it's a good hour and a half and has made me want to read the source material. In the end it's about Danny and the changes he goes through as a person which ultimately lead him towards something he recognises as a man.
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
13th Warrior
I found this troubled production to be hugely entertaining and it is one I enjoy watching time and again. The basic idea is that Ibin (Antonio Banderas) is a wealthy Arab. A well educated man whose elitist (he walks palatial halls) and scholarly (he describes himself as a poet) lifestyle comes to a steady halt due to him being exiled by the Caliph for being a little too "friendly" with a married woman.
Exiled far to the North with a small entourage including (Omar Sharif) he happens upon a camp of Vikings or "Northmen" where he witnesses the ritual burial of a king and the rather swift and violent election of a new leader! A messenger arrives at the camp and 13 warriors are called for to travel back to their homeland to a kingdom besieged by beasts. As one of the warriors must not be a Northman, Ibin is coerced to join this "magnificent 13".
I enjoyed the visual poetry as well as the musical score, I found each to be very rich and whilst there wasn't much time spent on character development I found I could engage with and care for what was on offer.
During the arduous journey (a lengthy passage of time condensed for movieland) Ibin passes the time by watching and listening to his compatriots; we see that these north men are a fairly robust but amiable bunch as they poke fun at each other and talk about their wifes and lives. As an educated fellow, skilled in language and writing, Ibin manages to communicate with his compatriots and at the end of the long journey he learns to speaka de lingo (so to speak).
Upon arrival at the homeland the 13 warriors find that they are up against a bear worshipping tribe which they can only stop by killing the Witch / Mother and the tribal Leader. Whilst achieving their goal we are given a mixture of myth, legend, action, and adventure, all wrapped up in great cinematography and music.
That said, the film undoubtedly has flaws, the unfinished plot line concerning the King's son is unforgivable for a major studio and I echo those comments calling for a directors cut.
Even with its flaws, it beats many other films hands down and is a welcome addition to the genre.
Exiled far to the North with a small entourage including (Omar Sharif) he happens upon a camp of Vikings or "Northmen" where he witnesses the ritual burial of a king and the rather swift and violent election of a new leader! A messenger arrives at the camp and 13 warriors are called for to travel back to their homeland to a kingdom besieged by beasts. As one of the warriors must not be a Northman, Ibin is coerced to join this "magnificent 13".
I enjoyed the visual poetry as well as the musical score, I found each to be very rich and whilst there wasn't much time spent on character development I found I could engage with and care for what was on offer.
During the arduous journey (a lengthy passage of time condensed for movieland) Ibin passes the time by watching and listening to his compatriots; we see that these north men are a fairly robust but amiable bunch as they poke fun at each other and talk about their wifes and lives. As an educated fellow, skilled in language and writing, Ibin manages to communicate with his compatriots and at the end of the long journey he learns to speaka de lingo (so to speak).
Upon arrival at the homeland the 13 warriors find that they are up against a bear worshipping tribe which they can only stop by killing the Witch / Mother and the tribal Leader. Whilst achieving their goal we are given a mixture of myth, legend, action, and adventure, all wrapped up in great cinematography and music.
That said, the film undoubtedly has flaws, the unfinished plot line concerning the King's son is unforgivable for a major studio and I echo those comments calling for a directors cut.
Even with its flaws, it beats many other films hands down and is a welcome addition to the genre.
Doomsday - perfect!
This thing has it all. Can't think of a genre I like which isn't included. Neil Marshall knows his stuff and can pull off a decent action flick. This is one for all us action fanatics and it makes no apology for crashing head first into the mayhem. The basic premise is that an incurable plague decimates Scotland and a giant wall is erected to contain the victims in and leave them to die.
Years later the plague appears beyond the wall and there still isn't a cure. The authorities have suppressed evidence of survivors in the "hot zone" and dispatch a special forces team led by Rhona Mitra to find out how the survivors haven't perished.
What follows is a roller-coaster of action and adventure as the intrepid team look for a cure and make their way through the wasted cities encountering flesh eating tribes and medieval warlords.
This movie is what happens when Escape from New York and 28 days later have a party with King Arthur and Mad Max; almost the perfect movie.
Years later the plague appears beyond the wall and there still isn't a cure. The authorities have suppressed evidence of survivors in the "hot zone" and dispatch a special forces team led by Rhona Mitra to find out how the survivors haven't perished.
What follows is a roller-coaster of action and adventure as the intrepid team look for a cure and make their way through the wasted cities encountering flesh eating tribes and medieval warlords.
This movie is what happens when Escape from New York and 28 days later have a party with King Arthur and Mad Max; almost the perfect movie.
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