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Reviews
Halloween Ends (2022)
A fitting end full of dark surprises
A fitting end to the series with some dark surprises
This film is genuinely surprising. It takes place a few years after the previous film. Laurie Strode is much more balanced, steady and focused in her day-to-day life (and she's writing about her experiences). Michael Myers has not been in sight during all this time. Much of the film (including the bewildering prologue) centers on a new character, Corey, who has an unfortunate babysitting experience which leads him to be ostracized by most of the local townies. He also has a run-in with some awful shape from the distant past.
Much of this film is exciting and will have you waiting for a) some deeper explanation for Michael Myers and his reanimating powers, b) a showdown between Laurie Strode and Michael, and c) Michael's mask to be removed: suffice to say, you may be satisfied with two of the three above expectations but disappointed by the ambiguity, yet the film ends with a powerful, bloody climax and some relief for a certain character who has been put through the wringer in life. Also, we learn a bit more about Michael's abilities, including a new one which was the most interesting revelation of the film.
If you were at all pleased or disappointed with Halloween Kills, by all means get to the theater to see this last Halloween chapter.
The Black Pearl (1977)
A colorful, exciting coming of age adventure
The Black Pearl is a colorful coming-of-age adventure for young adults, based on the novel by Scott O'Dell (author of Island of the Blue Dolphins). Set in Baja, California, a village teen, Ramon, wants to retrieve a legendary black pearl from an island seemingly guarded by natural forces which will kill anyone trying to take the pearl. The film's locations are lovely village life seems tranquil and inviting. The special effects of the giant manta ray are what they are (check out the big bulging eyes), but they were quite typical for a film made in the mid-late 1970's. The film is well-directed, with excitement and a sense of wonder. Especially impressive is the sequence in which Ramon goes underwater while holding his breath to retrieve the pearl in a sea cave. Mario Custodio gives an energetic, earnest performance as young Ramon, who must develop survival skills and go on his own quest. It's a shame that this film has never been released on dvd or blu. Perhaps it will be remade, but re-releasing this exciting film would be better.
The Alphabet Murders (1965)
Bad bad mockery of a fascinating Christie novel
The Alphabet Murders (1965) is one of the worst films of all time. A sort of 'Casino Royale (1967), this too mocks the source novel and Hercule Poirot character while hardly referring to the actual events in the book. This movie has bits of 60's attitude with Tony Randall (and everyone else) hamming it up. Want to see Robert Morley (eyes bugging out) running through the street in only a towel? Want to see Tony Randall in a balding skullcap beating others at bowling perfectly and flirting (with eyes bugging out) with a groovy 60's babe? I didn't think so. Avoid unless you can take the ultimate cringe factor.
Paradise Hills (2019)
Feminist fantasy is painful to watch.
Let a deluded feminist director make a film with a decent budget covering cinematography and pretty costumes, and this is the result. This is pure painful fantasy in which women are 'forced' to be feminine in a kind of enforced 'finishing' camp for young women. There are scenes where the actresses sing songs, and they're bad. The film is playing here in Southeast Asia, and audiences are mostly avoiding it.
Rambo: Last Blood (2019)
Rambo's Last Stand?
FEW SPOILERS AHEAD. If you're a fan of the Rambo films, watch what may be the last in the series. It races past in less than two hours. Rambo pays a high price for his vengeful rage in trying to save his nice who gets kidnapped and corrupted south of the border. The story here is so simple- the reluctant hero is forced out of the peaceful life to do what he considers the right thing. Stallone knows this character through and through, and he takes his character to a sadly inevitable conclusion- or does he? Great directing, camera work, and acting. The use of "5 to 1" by The Doors is wholly fitting for the carnage in the tunnels. But the brutality in this films surpasses any of the violence in the previous Rambo films. For Rambo fans and lovers of heroic cinema.
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)
Now THIS is how to make a follow-up to a well loved 80's flick! Spoilers ahead
I just finished watching the last episode of the new Dark Crystal series. Yes, it's visually fantastic (and it even has the original theme by Trevor Jones). But the plot is about as complex as a season of Game of Thrones, and there are lots more characters and plot twists than what is seen in the 1982 Dark Crystal film.
Basic bare-bones spoilers here: in the first episode, we see that the Skeksis are the dominant ruling class, with the Gelfling rulers showing respect to them and giving frequent tributes to them. It is treasonous to criticize Skeksis, as they appear to be the benevolent benefactors of the Gelflings. Rian (who is a guard of the palace) and his girlfriend learn of certain secrets (beginning with the escape of a spider-like creature from the palace). Events escalate, and we see how largely ignorant the Gelflings are. Rian witnesses things which others refuse to believe. Constant denial on the part of the Gelflings and the secret horrors which are uncovered lead to widespread conflict and social upheaval.
The voicework of all the actors is great. Aughra sounds very much as she did in the '82 film (as does the Chamberlain), and Mark Hamill's Skeksis character is vicious, gravelly and reminiscent of his demented Joker. The array of flora and fauna in the world of Thra is startling: we get to see a wide variety of plants and creatures, some of which were just glimpsed in the '82 film. Spending more time in the crystal palace and new settings gives the world of Thra real scope, which James Cameron will have to work hard to rival in his upcoming Avatar sequels. And there's a creepy pleasure in watching the Skeksis plot, manipulate, and exploit nature to their dark hearts' content. And while there doesn't appear to be much SJW material in this series, the Gelfling culture is ruled directly by a matriarchy, for better or worse.
Puppetry in cinema has come a long way in the last thirty-plus years, and watching puppets in sword fights and carriage chases works impressively. The sheer epic scope and otherworldliness are overwhelming, and it's all such a satisfying, fitting tribute and continuation of the beloved '82 class film. Now we need to await Season 2.
Black Hole (2010)
Good enough to seem like part of a full-length film (contains spoilers)
This short film is available for view on Rupert Sanders' website. The film covers the arrival of Keith, who comes out of a rainstorm to drop by a house where several mutated teenagers are getting stoned, watching The Wolf Man on TV and generating mindless menace. He finds his girlfriend, Chris, in the kitchen- she's nude, making a sandwich, and swishing her tail. There are some great psychosexual images straight out of the graphic novel (e.g. slit frog's belly; bodily defects). The film concludes with some nightmarishly-dreamy imagery also faithful to the creepy comic by Charles Burnes. Temp score is music from one of John Carpenter's 80's films. This tantalizing short film has some decent acting, nicely murky camera-work, and good makeup effects-it's an impressive little appetizer for now, as it's anyone's guess how long it'll be until the graphic novel BLACK HOLE by Charles Burns will be available.