Mayahuel Reviews

Rapid Fire (1992)

Good For Brandon Lee's Fans

[5 July 2001]

But this movie isn't good for much else. If you enjoy watching Lee in action, either in martial arts or in more Western shootout-type things, you'll probably like this movie. He's very good and quite entertaining, and therefore might be a good reason to keep watching. But everything around Lee--the plot or lack thereof, the secondaries, the dialogue (it's truly terrible)--falls something short of interesting. There's a bizarre section involving a love scene (out of nowhere) meshed in with footage of a drug bust gone sour which is just "Whatever". I also can't understand how Lee was cast and might have continued to be typecast (though The Crow would indicate otherwise) as an Asian character (nevermind having Bruce Lee as his father) when the man had blue eyes and, at least as far as I can see, didn't look terribly Asian at all. In the end, however, there are films much worse than Rapid Fire, and this film can fit your bill if you're looking for 90 minutes of somewhat mindless action entertainment--and you might also come to agree with those who reflect upon Brandon Lee and regret that his acting career was cut short.

Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991)

Given A Choice Between Learning Ikebana And Martial Arts...

[5 July 2001]

Johnny chose the part of his cultural heritage that would land him in this goofball fun action film. I have to agree with the commentator who said people don't seem to just have fun with movies. This carries all the social and artistic weight of guano, but it's entertainment first and foremost. Sure, entertainment can be art as well, but it's not a necessary requirement. Showdown is a quick, silly little film that goes more for the giggles than anything else. I mean, come on--Dolph Lundgren donning a stereotypical Japanese headband and spouting Zen quips was supposed to be serious? If you're looking for Crouching Tiger in this film, you will be profoundly disappointed. If light fare is your thing, you might want to check this one out.

Assassins (1995)

High Hopes Dashed Upon The Rocks Of Medocrity

[30 June 2001]

I've been on a Banderas film kick lately, and when I discovered that Assassins had been penned by the Wachowski brothers (The Matrix, of course), I was doubly enthusiastic. More's the pity for me, as this film is awful. It's hard to put my finger on exactly why it was awful--the acting (save Stallone, for whom I think the word "actor" is a misnomer--he's no more exuberant than those sides of beef he boxed in Rocky) isn't bad, the principals are pleasant to look at, and the plot has a lot of promise. But somehow, I didn't feel this all came together for me. Julianne Moore is a wonderful actress, and it was a pity to cast her as a neurotic, cat-obsessed stereotype (I'm not sure why I see it as a stereotype, but ah well) regardless of how smart and savvy she may have also been. And Antonio Banderas as a psychopath assassin of unknown Hispanic origin randomly firing off quips en espanol--the actor deserves a better role (El Mariachi from Desperado and Armand the vampire come to mind as Banderas at his best). I was expecting a whole lot more thrills and action than Assassins actually delivered, and maybe some viewers will have a difficult time believing I would need something more. On a positive note, Pearl the Cat was outstanding. When a lead's pet is the only saving grace in a film, it's time to shelve the thing.

The 13th Warrior (1999)

Loki, Smite This!

[7/10 · 16 June 2001]

First I would like to point out the delicious irony of having Spaniard Antonio Banderas playing an Arab in the film. If you're not conversant with history, check out the Spanish expulsion and persecution of the Moors.

In brief, I think Loki (Norse deity of troublemaking and chaos) has already had at this movie--perhaps he was even the evil genius behind the script writer. It's not that this is a bad movie--it's watchable. Rather the problem is that things get smooshed together and made into a plot with little to no explanation. How did this Arab ex-poet fall in with Vikings? How was he able to learn their language by listening? Why didn't he ditch his customary gear for something that would help him fit in? For me, if the seed of a film makes no sense, neither will the film.

Desperado (1995)

So Good, I Was Surprised

[10/10 · 16 June 2001]

Okay, I'm getting this one on DVD. Whoever said that Desperado was like Pulp Fiction in Mexico was right on the money. I found every moment of this gripping. And Banderas? Has he ever looked better? This is the drool film for Banderas fans. My only objection was the character Carolina, who seemed all sex appeal and no moxy. But when Selma and Antonio jump in the sack together, it's a beautiful thing.

Sailor Moon (1992–1997)

Guess What? It HAS Been Dubbed Into English!

[27 April 2001]

However, the dub is a very bad one from what I've seen so far. The musical score is reminiscent of "The Love Boat", which was to me a huge step down. Whoever they got to do the English dub for Usagi is even more irritating than the voice actor from the first series. All in all, it looks like a pretty complex and intense series--starting right off the top with a new and stronger enemy and the mysterious appearance of (who we soon learn are) Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune. I would prefer to see this subtitled, but the action is so gripping that maybe I can try to overlook the horrendous dub job.

The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)

Flynt Was Right All The Way, And I Thank Him

[21 April 2001]

The point that the right to freedom is vital to the existence of the American nation is at the heart of this film. This is a freedom that comes in many degrees. It's the freedom to agree or disagree, to like something or dislike the same thing. Myself, I've been fighting for the First Amendment for what seems like forever, although on a lesser scale than Larry Flynt, but the message remains the same. I enjoyed this film tremendously in part because it struck a chord so familiar to me, but mostly because it showed some indisputable logic behind freedom of speech--who was it that said "I may dislike what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"?

Unfortunately, I don't think this film will get enough exposure in the parts of the population which most need an eye-opener. This is another tragic case of "preaching to the choir"--those of us who are liberal and do support First Amendment rights actively already know the lesson the film teaches. Honestly I'd like to see more conservative sectors made to watch this film, and then have its principles--freedom of expression--applied to what THEY consider important. Freedom isn't for one side or the other, but for both.

The performances in the film are excellent, particularly Courtney Love in what could not have been an easy role. When Althea, Larry's wife, finally dies of AIDS, and then a bit later we see Flynt watching Jerry Falwell rant about AIDS being a scourge against the "unholy", I had to cry. These underlying messages--like how can a "man of God" speak with such hatred against the sick and dying--are throughout the film.

The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)

"In Haiti, there are secrets we keep even from ourselves..."

[21 April 2001]

First I have to mention that while the book (The Serpent and the Rainbow by Wade Davis) is infinitely better and deeper than the movie that shares its name, comparing the two is unfair. The audience is informed that the movie was "inspired" by the content of the book, for whatever interpretation you give inspired. What makes the book more interesting, aside from it being a true documentary, is how it balances light and shadow in much the way the Vodoun religion balances both. This film may leave you thinking that Haiti is a horrible place filled with monsters and boogeymen, and I don't think that's a fair estimation.

The film confuses many things and ideas which I feel should have been explained. Not everyone is an ethnoreligionist, after all. Totems, houngans, hounfours, mambos, bokors, le Bon Dieu, and the Amazon shaman are just mentioned in passing as if this is everyday vocabulary to the audience. The character of Marielle is presented as a dedicant of the goddess (loa) Erzulie. Well, this is a nice touch, but what of Damballah and his consort Aida-Wedo--the original serpent and the rainbow? And what about the man dressed as a skeleton in an obvious tribute to Baron Samedi--yet the Baron is never mentioned. What really made me chuckle is how Alan's totem saves the end, a totem we had only seen in glimpses without the concept of a power animal ever being explained.

Through in the confusion of the collapse of the Duvalier government and we have the perfect recipe for movie mayhem. Oh, come on...you just knew the overthrow of Duvalier had to work itself in here somewhere, right? We must have the obligatory "I am an American citizen--you cannot touch me" scene when dealing with the so-called Third World.

Bill Pullman was entirely wrong as the protagonist. I just found it unbelievable that this man could find his way out of a Happy Meal box let alone 200 miles of Amazon rainforest. He is abrasive and unpolite, two things which are professional suicide for anybody dealing in international cultures. All right, one can allow for a certain degree of cynicism on his part, but I find it difficult to believe that a man of his caliber and academic background would be fool enough to shoot his mouth off as he does.

Watch this film with an acrostic eye. It isn't a bad film, in spite of the faults I personally found with it. Just watch it cautiously. If it whets your interest, definitely go check out the Davis book.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Not As Good As I Remembered

[1 April 2001]

I finally saw Temple of Doom after 16 years, and it was more like a trip to the Cenote of Disappointment. When I first saw this film, I did not know so much about India and Hindu culture as I do today. Now I am able to see that the film's premise is a misconception of the Hindu spiritual order--in fact, it is a struggle to fit that order into a dualism Western audiences would be able to understand. Thus, we have the goddess Kali as the "evil" side and Siva as the "good" side, and a film wandering lost between the two. Hindu thought, however, isn't dualistic. True, Kali tends to be regarded as a darker entity, but she is also looked upon as a mother figure and a protector. Siva is no god of goodness and light--he is both creator and destroyer. Combine these with a representation of the Thuggee cult unlike anything I've ever read about, and I had a film with no substance giving an impression of the Indian subcontinent that is blown way out of proportion. Maybe the film wouldn't be ruined for everyone, but it was for me.

Joan of Arc (1999)

Quality Hokey

[21 March 2001]

I should preface this with a disclaimer--Medieval History is my academic field, and therefore I tend to be something of a stick in the mud when it comes to authenticity. Then too, the mystery of Jeanne d'Arc has always been a special interest for me. Granted, I would not expect a production made primarily for entertainment to have had historicity first and foremost, and even so, this Joan of Arc isn't so tragically off the mark anyway. Still, the history is fictionalized enough for me to see this as Joan fantasy (no spoilers, but I will say that I doubt it was snowing at the end of May, 1431). But fantasy or not, this is good stuff. The acting is exquisite, particularly Leelee Sobieski in the title role and Neil Patrick Harris, who gave a spectacular performance as Charles VII. Sobieski really carries the production, however, with her combination of outer angelic sweetness masking a will and strength of iron. No, it's not straight history, and yes, it does get hokey at times. But it is quality--and it might even get viewers interested enough to look into the actual history of La Pucelle and her times. That's value enough.

The Crow: City of Angels (1996)

This One Just Didn't Fly

[1/10 · 19 March 2001]

I was so irritated that this film was made in the wake of the tragedy surrounding the original Crow that I waited five years to try and watch it on video. Put simply, City of Angels lacks all of the things which made The Crow such a wonderful movie--not the least of which is Brandon Lee's superior work in the lead role. Now Vincent Perez is certainly an excellent actor, and he wasn't all that bad of an avenging angel. However, this role as defined by Lee in the original is physically challenging and demanding, both of which Perez couldn't quite handle. Additionally, Perez' accent was such that many of his lines--which might have been quite clever--were garbled. I did like the backdrop of the Day of the Dead, but I don't feel this was used as well or as much as it could have been. In short, I'd suggest that fans of The Crow stick to the original movie so as to avoid the pain of discovering what all is lacking in the sequel.