Today I have watched 3 films. And I've walked in halfway through a 4th.
Firstly, Blades of Glory. John Heder's seems to refuse to give up on Napoleon Dynamite's success. Monster House had a CGI Napoleon just rocking on computer games, and this is just Napoleon on skates. I'm just waiting for Kip's cage fighting movie. But anyway, it was a relatively funny film, if you're into the whole 'I'm Will Ferrel; I'm a man-child' thing, which I NEVER find funny in the cinema but on DVD, I seem to laugh. I think it's because I've paid for the cinema and I want a little bit more than just improv comedy, but on DVD (or illegal download, sorry the industry) I tend to not have paid so I let him get away with it. One thing I might add is it's over use of cameos. A Will Ferrel or Frat Pack movie is usually choc full of cameos from other members of their crew, but this is just full of randoms, like Sacha Baron Cohen, Brian Boitano and JOHN FUCKING MALCOVICH. He doesn't say anything, and has about 0.5 seconds of screen time, but he's fucking there. And if it's not, it his twin.
Anyway, if you like Wedding Crashers/Dodgeball and all that jazz, Blades of Glory is definately worth a watch, if not just for the 'Capture the Dream' scene, which actually had me dying of laughter. Just don't watch Talladega Nights.
Second up, The Devil's Backbone. Guillermo Del Toro is pretty much my favourite animal, I mean director (lolz at connecting my moviezzzzzomgz) at the moment. I think he's everyone's, actually. He's sky-rocketed since Pan's Labyrinth, and now he's got the fucking HOBBIT. The Devil's Backbone is superb. Excellent casting, excellent story and excellent visuals. The whole ghost-film genre is just fucking wonderful, occasionally falls foul to a piece of shit Hollywood crap-bag, but the Europeans get it DOWN every time. This film should be seen by everyone, unless you're ignorant and don't like subtitles (sorry for being a snob, but there won't be an american remake). It revolves around an orphanage for boys, run by former left-wing activists, and objectors to Franco's fascism during the Spanish Civil War. It, if you haven't already noticed, is similar to Pan's Labyrinth, and del Toro has stated that Pan's Labyrinth is the feminine to Devil's masculine. The story's are similar, in the sense they are both coming-of-age films, and they're stylistically similar, set in rural Spain, based in large country houses, with lots to explore. I won't bang on and ruin it, but it's a beautiful film, very easy to watch apart from a few shock moments, and wonderfully acted. It's in a boxset with Pan's and Guillermo's other masterpiece, Cronos.
Finally, after spotaneous boredom whilst in the vicinity of a cinema caused a moment of sanity, and I went to see HELLBOY II! It's a banger. The trailer shows it as an action film, but its not, it's funny, clever without being to snobbish, and so so so so so so so easy on the eyes. Not just the hot troll-femmes, but also the mood of the film is warm. I can imagine, during the Troll Market scene, Guillermo was in heaven. The mixture of comedy background characters reminds me of the Jim Henson's spectacles such as The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, where fleeting shots of odd little beings make you giggle. It's got a lot of 'why the fuck didn't they just do that in the first place' going on, but if they 'did that in the first place' it'd be a shit film. I love that Guillermo does his hollywood alongside his european, especially when you see them straight after each other, because he's just such a masterful film-maker. I love everything, from his sets, to the shot construction and plot construction. I just love him. If you've seen and adored the first Hellboy, then you'll love this film. If you kind of enjoyed Hellboy, but want more action, you won't like this, but if you wanted more characterisation and Ron Perlman jokes then this is the film for you. The new member of the crew, Dr Krauss, is an ectoplasmic being who can control mechanics and life, and he's funny as a badger eating a cracker. He's awesome, and fits in so well with the already established party. As well as Abe Sapian, who grows in this film, to less of Niles Crane to more Frasier, complete with cheesy remote control CD-players. There are marmite moments that will have you either laughing, or turning to the person next to you and saying 'wuttuf?!'. I happened to to both, but then again I happen to like Marmite on certain occasions, but dislike it in others.
Peace out, no doubt I'll watch a film tomorrow and tell you all about it.
PEE ESS, WHAT IS WITH GUILLERMO AND COGS? I need to know, apparently he explains it on his guest commentary of the film Vampyr, which I am so buying tomorrow.
Every film I watch I'm going to review. I shall also include discussions with my very good friend, Joseph Godzilla Coady-Stemp (godzillaspettriffid.blogspot.com)
Much love
x
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
