BookBuffBob Reviews

Paranormal Activity (2007)

Good payoff ... but at what cost?

[10 October 2009]

The last ten minutes of this movie may be the creepiest ten minutes of any movie in at least two decades. That being said, ten minutes doesn't make a 99 minute movie a good film. The story was predictable and poorly told, and the first hour and twenty minutes were repetitive and truly boring. I read somewhere that people were walking out of the film because it was so scary, but that's not the case at all. People walked out of the film because it takes much too long to provide any sort of entertainment. I feel sorry for the people who lasted an hour and left, only to miss a very good payoff. I can't recommend spending the $10-$15 to see this film, but once you've sat through that first excruciatingly boring hour, you really need to stay and see the payoff.

I wish the filmmakers would have found a writer who could have build a story and the characters so that the payoff left the audience feeling like they saw a great film, rather than feeling like "it's about time". Sure, if you are one to be scared by films, the ending will creep you out. But if you are looking for a lasting horror experience coming from a well made and scary 99 minute horror film, you will be disappointed. In my opinion, the ending was good enough to make me glad I didn't leave, but overall I wish I had seen something else. The sum of the experience is negative. This was a missed opportunity.

The Fountain (2006)

Enlightenment

[1 June 2007]

In "Pi" Aronofsky dealt with the subject of the mathematics of the universe, and he touched on the theory that a higher understanding of this math reveals God, and in turn reveals everything about God's creations. The idea was based in part on the Judeo-Christian philosophies and religion, more specifically in the patterns of the Torah and Hebrew language.

In "The Fountain", Aronofsky actually deals with very similar subjects, such as those of the creation of the world, and reaching a higher level of enlightenment. In this film, instead, the ideas and concepts are rooted in eastern religion and philosophy. In fact, having a familiarity with eastern religions would go a long way in understanding this film. An open mind would help a lot too.

If you are looking for a straight forward film with a traditionally defined chronology, or a film that can be easily understood without much thought, this film isn't the one. (I don't say that out of pretentiousness. Sometimes you just want simple entertainment. My statement was not a judgement.) But, if you are looking for a film to ponder and discuss, or if you have interest in eastern philosophy or in the theories of the Mayan's higher level of enlightenment, this film is a lovely interpretation of some of those ideas.

I've read some of the theories about this film on this site. In order to understand this film we can't try and follow a character as much as we must follow energy and life force ... or parts thereof. We also have to let go of our understanding of time and realize that past and future aren't necessarily exclusive if the meaning of time is changed or if the time line is no less easily maneuvered than a roadway. We must also realize that the film is just based on a philosophy, a metaphysical theory, even if it's a powerful one. A concrete understanding of the philosophy (for lack of a better word) can only come with a higher level of enlightenment, if that exists for us in this world. The Fountain is just a very good effort in bringing the ideas to film.

Film, of course, is limited to stimulating our senses of sight and hearing. The film touches on ideas that are to be understood with higher levels of senses. I think that Aronofsky did as well a job as could be done to help us visually follow something that is not visual. He's definitely a bright, knowledgeable and open minded filmmaker.

The Abandoned (2006)

It wanted to be smart, but ended up a messy bore

[30 May 2007]

Okay, so now I've seen The Abandoned. It was the last of the Horror Fest films that I wanted to see.

I wondered why this film, above the others, was able to obtain individual theatrical release. Now I understand why ... to a point. The film had a premise that was a bit more high concept and complex than the others. In fact, it had a couple of high concept premises. A few even. And that was the problem.

The film tried to deal with the concept of dopplegangers (though incorrectly), the concept of inevitability and the similar but more supernatural concept of destiny. The problem is that these concept are often in conflict with one another in this film. In fact, rules are often set up and then broken, and the reason for the whole tale is nullified by the OTHER reason.

I won't say too much because I don't want to use the spoiler warning. However, it seems that the reason for our resolution was inevitability in one explanation, then based on a combination of timing and a chance contact in another. And no, they don't work together. In fact, there is reason to believe that we've been involved in a never ending circle AND reason to believe that the story must end each time. If you see the film you'll understand.

And for those who would like to say that this contradiction is the point, it's really not. It's really just messy storytelling in which the writer didn't completely follow through with one concept, and used the other to try to add more color. Instead, it made the whole movie a non-story.

I can forgive some amount of messy storytelling in a horror film if I'm entertained. That was the most disappointing thing about this film. Until we get to the payoff, which wasn't very well thought out, we are taken along on the most boring journey of any of the Horror Fest films. I'm not one who needs action or explosions, but I do need some interesting building of story. Two people slowly walking around a "ghost town", happening upon a piece of the puzzle every fifteen minutes is not suspenseful, it's just boring.

This film had potential. The storytellers were definitely thinking above the others in the Fest. Still, they didn't chose one story line and set of rules, and they didn't give us anything interesting to see or feel until the very end. Actually, if the payoff had been more well put together, I may have been able to forgive a bit of the boredom. I can't forgive both.

The performances and cinematography were good, but when you are bored through most of a film, they don't really make an impression. I wanted to enjoy this one, but I nearly fell asleep.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)

Beautifully Dark Fragrance

[18 May 2007]

Imagine being born in the darkest place on earth, only to find as you get older that the rest of the world is only slightly less dark and dreary. Furthermore, you are able to see things more brightly and vividly than anyone who has ever lived, but all this "gift" allows is for you to see just how ugly and vile the world really is. You're gift is certainly a curse, until the day that you see the most beautiful thing this vile world has ever produced. The darkness keeps anyone else from knowing or appreciating this beauty, including the beauty itself. This beauty is your gift, and yours alone.

Add to this that from birth you have been used and tossed aside by everyone you've known, including your mother, who left you for dead. And your gift/curse has revealed to you that you have no beauty of your own. So, this most beautiful thing, that only you can see, is not only your gift, but it's all that you have. To you, it's the only "good" in a world of evil, and it will one day be gone, unless you can preserve it. What would you do to preserve that beauty? What would you sacrifice from this ugly world to hold onto the only light among the darkness? I only use this analogy because we tend to put more value in the visual. Obviously, the analogy is for this film, and the visual is replaced by the olfactive. And still, the analogy only touches on a part of this layered tale.

This film is dark and beautiful. I'm very surprised that it's not listed as a fantasy, as crime/drama/thriller doesn't do the story justice. This is a modern day legend. It's brilliantly told with every element that great legends have. "What's a legend?", the main character asks in one line, telling me that the story tellers understand.

This film is not for those who can't enjoy traveling down a dark path. But for those who can, this is a wondrous and enjoyable journey.

I have one problem with the story, and it's somewhat significant to me ... though I enjoyed the film immensely. The women with the scents are all beautiful women. To me, the story tellers missed a chance to go deeper into the perception of beauty. The women, in my opinion, should have been all types physically. We tend to judge beauty as a visual experience, but this being a story of aroma, it could have challenged our ideas of beauty. After all, why would the visually beautiful have the most beautiful fragrance. They wouldn't necessarily. They don't necessarily.

Still, this is a visual and auditory treat (the music was a wonderful compliment). If only eyes and ears could smell.

Unrest (I) (2006)

great carpenter ... terrible blueprint

[27 April 2007]

As a fan of independent films in general, and a fan of the horror genre specifically (though not unconditionally) I figured that Horror Fest was right up my alley. I've seen most of the film, and until recently the two films that I wanted to see that I hadn't yet seen were Unrest and the theatrically released The Abandoned. Now, I've seen Unrest.

I had high hopes for this one from the start because right away I could see that it was helmed by a more talented and professional hand than the other films I've seen from Horror Fest. The pacing was good, the framing was thoughtful and professional, even the score was refined and appropriate, though not very original. The director even pulled good performances from most of his "no-name" cast. Yes, I thought this was going to be a higher level of horror film than the rest. I don't mind a cheesy popcorn horror film, but I also enjoy the well made polished horror. From the start, this filmed promised the latter It broke it's promise.

This was an obvious and sad case of a writer/director who should take writer off of that slashed title. Even with all of the talent that Jason Todd Ipson demonstrated as a director, he could not keep me in this story for very long at all. Why? Because there was no story. There was a concept. To have a story there needs to be cohesive plot points. To have a good story there needs to be developed characters and motivation for their actions. To have a good horror story there also needs to be some threat. This script had none of those elements.

(I don't want to have to put that spoiler warning on this, so I'll just make general observations.) The main protagonists were never in real danger as there was no reason at all that they could not escape the situation. Plus, there was no motivation for them to stay and do the things they did. On top of that, we knew nothing substantial about them, so I didn't care one way or the other about what happened to them.

With such skillful directing and better than expected special effects and makeup, Ipson had the tools to make a great film. He just needed a good script. All good films start with a good script. I'm not a filmmakers, but I have close friends who are, and I've seem them learn that lesson up close. I wish Ipson had learned it a bit sooner. He really needed to find a writer with a script. It was like a master carpenter with great tools building a house from a faulty blueprint (that he shouldn't have drawn himself). The house falls apart and his craftsmanship means very little.

I haven't seen The Abandoned yet, but I've wondered why it was the only one that got it's own theatrical release. Having seen most of the other films I do at least know why they didn't. They all had their qualities, but none had the full package. I'm convinced that Ipson would have made a film worthy of theaters if he'd just searched for a better script, or a capable writer to completely script his idea. He's the best director of the bunch so far ... still the house fell.

Mail Order Wife (2004)

smart

[26 April 2007]

The rating for this film might be a little misleading. Judging by the comments it seems that many of the people who gave it a low score did so out of the sorrow they felt for the main character, and the disgust they felt for the men using her rather than out of a low opinion of the quality of the film. I actually think that the people who gave this film the lowest score are some of the people who felt the exact way the filmmakers want the audience to feel.

This film reminds me of "Dogville" in a way. They both do a good job at demonstrating the immoral and vile behavior that humans can practice toward one another when it's self-serving, and the justifications they can give. (You wonder sometimes if people really believe what they put forth as their point of view, if they grow to believe it out of a need to relieve guilt or if they secretly live in the guilt, being eaten up and causing their often defensive and miserable dispositions.) Don't get me wrong, this film is no Dogville, but the filmmakers do a decent job at revealing this human flaw that is the bane of this society. It's mockumentary style allows us to connect the characters to their real life counterparts rather than tossing their awful behavior aside as just something fictional (though it was).

It was a smart film. It takes thought to make up for lack of budget, and that's why you find some of the best films in the independent film world. I have friends who are filmmakers (honestly, none worked on this film). I hope more filmmakers dig a little deeper, be it in comedy, drama, horror, or whatever. These guys made a film that stays with you past the last bite of popcorn. That's an accomplishment.