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gossamer138
Reviews
In the Line of Duty: Blaze of Glory (1997)
DEJA VU!!!!! It all seems so familiar???
ah yes now i know. i seen this movie nearly a 1 year prior when it was first released as "Normal Life" starring Luke Perry.
Coincidence or not everything is faithfully translated. In Normal Life, Luke Perry stars as an ex-cop who robs banks to please his girlfriend. The girlfriend gets caught up in the rush and is addicted to the excitement and soon begs to become a part of it. Luke Perry sports an Abe Lincoln beard as fake as wet poodle used as a hairpiece. Cops rely on leads such as getting reports from all stolen local late model sedans which he uses as get-away cars. Both lead males want to rob the banks only to get the finer pleasures out of life and then blend in with society but are enslaved by thier mates desires. The women counterparts are hypnotic to the Bonnie and Clyde lifestyle and prove to be the down fall of the systematic plan. I won't provide the spoiler but it ends in pretty much the same fashion. Bruce Campbell(Blaze..) draws amazing parallels to Luke Perry as well as Lori Loughlin to Ashley Judd.
Don't need to point out comparisons because there are too many. The above plot line, characters, and occurrences are blue prints of one another. Both worth taking a look at least once..or twice depending on your view.
Alaska (1996)
A Stunning and Breathtaking Journey of Visual Delight.
If it were only for the splendid and breathtaking scenery i would still recommend this movie. However this film also delivers on the emotional level and follows a journey of transformation as beautiful as the visual aspects.
A single father apts for a change after losing his wife by moving to Alaska with his two children to become a bush pilot. His son is resentful at best, ungrateful, and unappreciative of the vast and stunning riches Alaska has to offer. When their father's plane goes down and rescue efforts fail, they begin a spiritual journey that will forever change their lives. The son, Shawn, played by Vincent Karthieser, soon comes to terms with the death of his mother, the love for his father, and the respect and appreciation for Alaska. Thora Birch, an actress with a promising future, provides the level-headed and sensible approach to the journey in contrast to her brother's cockiness and arrogance which provides for great chemistry between the two.
Along with the natural beauty and landscapes just about every other aspect associated with Alaska is present from: poaching, bushpilots, kayaking, rustic cabins, rock climbing,, moutaineering, camping, and the northern lights along with Cubby, a baby polar bear who tags along and even provides for some tear jerking moments and light hearted humor.
Overall this is a great movie for the entire family or for one with a fascination with the wonders and beauty of the last frontier. It truly evokes a sense of appreciation delivered in a manner without the concept of strong language, violence, and nudity, the three marketing schemes of the industry. It is a fantastic adventure, with great camera angles, stunning visuals and a powerful message. Very well done IMHO.
Fight Club (1999)
Truly the best movie you never saw....
First don't be fooled by the title which limited its widespread appeal to a truer audience, its merely used as a backdrop. Second don't be persuaded by previous ignorant comments that state this movie has no basis or message to deliver. Fight club is ingenious in delivery and concept leading you on a bizarre and twisted psychological journey. It is wonderfully crafted, maybe to much so for the average dullard viewer and reminds me in nature of another great flick THX-1138. It follows a man entrapped by materialistic desires suffering from insomnia despising what his life has become. He can only find comfort and sleep in the connection of those less fortunate then himself in self-help groups to ease his burdens. Until he meets her. He soon discovers feelings for a woman and sorrow in the death of a friend which previous eluded him being blinded by his materialistic greed. His journey takes him through a dark thou enlightning journey or transformation.
The presentation along with the twisted turn of events at the end make this movie much deeper then originally given credit for. Bradd Pitt and Edward Norton deliver nothing less then spectacular acting creating characters as equally dark and disturbing as your worst nightmare. This is one movie that gets better with every viewing and more easily understood. I watched in 5x in one weekend and became more and more engrossed with every viewing. Director David Fincher, director of seven, and the game has outdone himself with this one delivering a fantastic outing with intriguing concepts such as the use of subliminal pictures used in the movie and used as a small role in the movie. There are several, most notable comes at the very end.
As Tyler sez,"how much can you truly know about yourself if you've never been in a fight." You'll be amazed at the small things that make this movie a cutting edge masterpiece of inquisitive nature. Break the rules and tell everyone about Fight Club.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Better the first time I saw it as "The Last Broadcast."
Blairwitch contained elements and techniques that forged new territory, breathing life into mundane hollywood creating an exciting and original experience(well sort of.) One aspect that stands out is the gritty sense of realism. The use of a documentary as a foundation protrays a first person perspective engulfing the viewer as a participant. The interviews and narration all contributed to what appeared to be genuine footage. The frustration, anger, tension, and fear expressed by the three avid film makers seemed unscripted in real-life fashion, unlike most typical hollywood features where the characters are almost always cool, calm, collective under any situation.
Another perspective used was the fear of vulnerability. Anticipation, darkness, and fear of the unknown are much more stimulating, creating an atmosphere of intensity, then that which we can see and comprehend. Sometimes it is the boundless realms of our imagination that is more disturbing and intriguing then special effects.
Another technique used which i truly enjoyed (much to the dismay of others) was terminal climax(ending the movie suddenly at the climatic point.) This atypical style was perfected in writing by one of the greatest horror writers of all time H.P. Lovecraft. The rush cut abruptly short creates a more emotional impact and drain. Another well known lovecraftian style used was "open interpretation" at the end where you are left to draw your own conclusions instead of having everything spelled out for you, making for a more personal viewing experience. Also how the story was created from myth was interesting, but still another H.P. trademark.
Though on the surface this film looks innovative in every way, it is sad to say it was heavily borrowed from "The Last Broadcast" which was done several years earlier and better. For the record, the directors of blairwitch later admitted to knowing of the movie but claimed never seen it.Judge for yourself, see both or save the cost of a rental and just see The Last Broadcast. The similarities are more eerie then the movies.