werdnahall Reviews

Chronicle (2012)

Missing cinematic magic, imo

[5/10 · 2 January 2013]

Cool idea, pretty good acting, convincing effects, yet I'm underwhelmed. If you enjoy camcorder POV movies for their ultra realistic approach then this is a good one. I find them hard to get into for their lack of depth of story and lack of artistry in style, and felt the same here. There's not much arc here, just a semi-worst-case scenario of what might happen if some high school kids wondered upon special powers. B+ on the execution I just couldn't warm up to it. (Just noticed the minimum length for a review, which I respectfully disagree with. I might understand discouraging reviews under 25 words or something, but jeez, it doesn't take 10 lines to establish a legitimate point of view that someone else might find helpful.)

Cold Fish (2010)

(No big spoilers, actually.)

[7/10 · 11 December 2012]

So, this movie is bonkers. To give you an idea just how bonkers, imagine the director having a preliminary chat about the roles of his two female leads:

Director Sono: This role is… a bit difficult and… maybe a bit embarrassing.

Kagurazaka (as Taeko): Right.

Sono: Do you understand fully? To put it bluntly.. Taeko will be raped twice, one of which she seems to be enjoying it, and that's separate from the nude scene.

Kagurazaka: Yes, I understand.

Sono: Er, so… please do your best.

Kagurazaka: I'll do my best with cheer! ********************************************************************* Sono: Ms. Kurosawa, the role of Aiko is… quite irregular.

Kurosawa: Yes… it is, isn't it? Sono: Basically... you are a really crazy person. And we don't know why. Your crazy husband's back-story will be explained a little, but you are a mystery. Just really messed up in the head.

Kurosawa: I roll around in blood. I cut up bodies. I don't mind. As long as I have a master I'm happy.) Sono: Yeah, that's the idea.

Kurosawa: I don't know compassion but I'm still lively and have a pleasant sense of humor.

Sono: Right right right. You understand perfectly.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Doesn't hold up

[5/10 · 5 September 2012]

Just re-watched, a couple nights after Raiders of the Lost Ark, which does. Actually, if this hadn't been part of a beloved trilogy -- if there was no Raiders and this had been released on its own merits -- I'm thinking box office as well as critical failure; certainly not a 7.6 on IMDb. So "doesn't hold up" probably isn't quite as accurate as "never was very good." This isn't a knock on the action set-pieces possible in the day, which are still fine, actually, but the story, the dialogue, the performances, it's all lacking; the lighthearted is just goofy, the dark is dark but not in any nuanced or interesting way. Just a lot of uninspired or poor decision making here. Where Raiders had a relatively cool heroine, Temple has the shrieking showgirl lost outside the city. Where Raiders went creepy-fun (spiders on the back, snake pit) Temple goes gross-out (snake surprise, insects thick as a carpet). The one scene this movie is really remembered for, the heart scene, is pretty masterful. But it can't atone for the whole movie.

Inception (2010)

Viewed after wine

[7/10 · 11 February 2011]

Given it's IMDb score, this is evidently close to a perfect movie in a lot of people's eyes. I can't say I saw it that way. I watched this moderately drunk. I was not able to keep up with all the plot intricacies. Before angrily shouting at your screen that the magnificent, air-tight intricacy was the whole point, let me just say this: while on a second viewing I would undoubtedly 'get it' more, and be impressed the way it's all built up and 'works', there would be a few things holding it back for me. Certain things you're still attuned to, perhaps even sensitive to, drunk: namely, emotion. I didn't feel much of a hit on the emotional level. I didn't feel I knew or cared much about the characters. Little of the dialogue struck me as memorable. These weren't really the points of the movie. I get that. But, for me at least, a movie needs the full palate to be truly great.

Man, Woman and the Wall (2006)

Bit of an odd cocktail, but watchable (minor spoilers)

[6/10 · 9 July 2010]

Watched this one on Netflix Watch-now, so didn't have many expectations. Intentionally or not, kind of an indefinable blend of styles. Turns up the erotic dial pretty high sometimes so that it starts to seem like one of those Japanese 'pink eiga' (think late night on Showtime), but it also throws in some humor, some action/suspense, large helpings of conversation, while mixing a reality TV feel at times with pure fantasy. Maybe the biggest 'never seen that before' aspect for me was having a guy who could both be a creepy voyeur type and a real social charmer. Not a combo I've seen. Some of the acting feels amateurish, and I can't say that the female lead ever comes across as much more than a nice-looking chick, but the film holds your interest regardless.

Yôkirô (1983)

Surprised so few have seen it

[8/10 · 8 June 2010]

And it definitely deserves higher than a 6.9. I'm giving it an 8 on tough scale. Really remarkable movie. I don't get my kicks shooting down Hollywood movies, but the most obvious comparison of course is Memoirs of a Geisha, and this one squashes it in terms of giving you a believable look into geisha affairs -- alongside a compelling, non-linear story. Performances are solid to great across the board, with Ken Ogata's character becoming an instant-favorite of mine. As I understand it this one was something of an award-winning, all-around big deal in Japan. Would've thought it was headed for major cross-over status, but for whatever reason--the quirky non-linearity of the story probably contributing--it didn't achieve it.

Green Snake (1993)

FYI: White Snake is as important as Green Snake

[8/10 · 7 June 2010]

Sorry for the silly title -- though it's true (my notions about Chinese would have it called 'White Snake, Green Snake'.) OK, now that I've outed myself as a bit of a HK-geek, I'll just say that I enjoyed this one quite a bit. If you're the type you likes the quirky, wonderful comedy/supernatural/action genre perfected by Hong Kong cinema you won't be disappointed. (Of the action it's more magic and wires than kung-fu, but still action to be sure). The main draw for me though, besides the well-played and attractive leads (and interesting tension in knowing they're both snakes) was the originality of the story, and relative unpredictability as to where it was going. Nice details throughout told me this was the work of a thoughtful director, despite the odd moment of unintentional comedy.

Serenity (2005)

Not baaad bad

[6/10 · 27 February 2010]

Saw this after reading a few glowing reviews. I take it it's a bit of a geek-insider fan favorite. I have no problem with that, it just wasn't exactly what I was expecting. Apparently it derives from a TV show called Firefly, and essentially that's what it feels like: a longer, more violent, TV episode. The writing was pretty good, probably its strongest point. The acting and camera-work, though, felt more TV-level; the special effects, as well, just a bit above what I'd expect from the sci-fi channel (though I thought the fighting scenes were rather well done). Overall not too bad, just don't go into it with the same inflated expectations I did.

Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)

Worse than I would've thought

[5/10 · 26 March 2009]

I hadn't seen this is years, but always had a favorable recollection of it. Watching it the other day, though, I was pretty disappointed. It is pretty action-packed, you have to say that for it. But a lot of the jokes don't work, and, though not its fault, the constant bantering on race issues feels very 90s and dated. But flat humor is its fault, as well as, at times, flat drama--especially when we're first getting to know Simon, his whole persona seems quite goofy. The other supporting cast seemed rather weak as well (the police chief for instance). I'd also argue it ran on a bit too long (or maybe I was just getting sleepy). Not to say I hated it, or that it didn't hold my interest for the most part, but I'd expect more from the director of the original Die Hard.

Suicide Club (2001)

Discriminating people beware

[5/10 · 7 February 2008]

The best film-making is in the first 20 minutes, as we're taken around Shinjuku station in jittery, hand-held shots that feel lifelike(I suspect some of them were) followed by the hospital scenes, good because they took their time, building tension naturally, and keeping secret as to where things were going.

But it all started to lose me pretty quickly, any number of ways: spotty acting (some of the cops were decent, but most of the youth was mediocre to lousy), too many unbelievable elements (villains appearing right behind the computer girl as the screen said 'look behind you' (how were those knuckleheads supposed to have found her in the first place?), cartoonish blood spraying all over the place when people fall to the ground, little girls that manage nothing more than 'Mommy's funny' after watching her start to slicing her hand, and on and on. Guys, it's silly stuff. Quality movie-making translates across language and culture. I've seen quality Japanese cinema. This one doesn't cut it. The only justification for all the absurdity is to call it satire, but satire must be clear-headed and coherent. Vagary is not the key to being profound. What is being targeted here? Presumably it's the conformity of Japan, and, in the big philosophical turn of the movie, the issue of self-connection is raised, and how it becomes undermined by all the external connections with others--sort of presenting the Western individualistic ideal as an alternative to the traditional Japanese 'all for one'. Hardly new ideas here, and hardly a rigorous debate carried forth. If you want philosophy on the self I can recommend some books. If you want blood that shoots out like a garden sprinkler, here's your ticket.

Forbidden City Cop (1996)

Liked it a lot, leaning toward 9

[8/10 · 26 January 2007]

***Possible spoilers, though they won't mean much to you... I won't try to put this in perspective of HK movies because I haven't seen enough of them; but I know movies, and this one's a lotta fun. The action is interesting and inventive, if not always amazingly produced, and the story--yes, there is one--isn't bad either, at least on the more immediate level. Do we really know a lot about the villains' broader plans and ambitions? No, you could say the bigger picture is underdeveloped, as well as the villain characters generally, but frankly I was enjoying the comic bits too much to worry about it. Some scenes--the awards scene, the dance scene with disco moves, the scene of doctor/patient switching roles, perhaps--mostly borrow off other movies (with reference to other times & places I always think of Mel Brooks) and for that reason it was more a nod of acknowledgment than a laugh from me. But it was the little details throughout, a line here or there, that really were fresh, and got me loving this movie. If you like your comedy a little out of the mainstream, I think you'll see what I'm talking about. I'll resist quotes, it's hardly funny out of context... And yeah, I agree with others about his wife--it was surprisingly touching, watching their relationship. Again, I'd credit some nice details; it pays off. Sparking some emotional involvement in a kung-fu comedy, alright, you're doing something right.