Monday, 19 December 2011

Review: Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Pan’s Labyrinth is a picture that decodes the symbols of innocence into a wonderful fairy tale. It is presented in a delicate, sincere, and pure representation of humanity.
The film beautifully covers all its angles and aspects of film starting from the plot to the images to the music. The music was carefully chosen as was a clear bases for all the moods of the movie. Javier Navarrete, the director of music, did a great job understanding the mood of the film and scoring the best music for it. If you listen to the music, you will know the story even before watching it. You will find the soul of Ofelia and her world surrounding you.

The pace of the film is very relaxed which allows the audience to think and really interprets the signs given during the film. The establishing scenes of the characters are interestingly written, and the background stories of the characters were deeply analyzed and understood by the writer. It is easy to believe the characters and understand them because of their flawless acting and their emotions are clear but not over dramatized.
The actors have completely absorbed their characters emotionally, psychologically, and behaviourally; specially Ofelia and Mercedes the maid. Ivana Baquero, who plays the role of Ofelia has successfully made us believe her and see the parallel world she lives in through her eyes. Her understanding of the emotional journey of the character is astonishing. In addition, her sense of the scene’s pace, and the technique between the actor and the green screen was remarkably impressive.
Guillermo del Toro, the director, represents the faun in his story is a very interesting way. Usually, according to world mythologies, fauns are scary and mean creatures, but in this film the director made us feel safe and secured in the faun’s presence. The art production of the film is remarkably believable and unique, using a realistic colour theme that united the two worlds and the imaginary limits of Ofelia.
Overall, the film ha prefect balance between music and film and acting. This vie is high recommended for all young adults and adults. (Warning: Not for the weak of heart)

Review: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

2001: A Space Odyssey has got to be one of the most unique films ever created, especially for its time. This is the film that may be overlooked by people watching movies today but is no doubt what has set the standard for great science fiction. 2001: A Space Odyssey is definitely a taste specific film, and it isn't the type of movie that many people will enjoy. It is more for those who have a passion for the art of film making.

The story is quite complicated and many people must reading interpretations before they fully understand the film. But that is one of the points Kubrick. 2001: A Space Odyssey is not a film that has an exact answer to every question is asks which is one of the reasons this film was so well made.

Many people say this film is much too long, and may find it to be very boring. Certainly are parts that drag out a bit. It may be slow moving, but everything in 2001: A Space Odyssey is needed, beginning with The Dawn of Man.

Now for perhaps what is the most important is the technical brilliance displayed here. It is clear the 2001: A Space Odyssey is quite groundbreaking for its time in the field of special effects. In fact, it is not until 1977 when the original Star Wars was released that people began compared the effects to that of this film, ironically many space ships in the Star Wars films were taken of based off of the ships seen in 2001: A Space Odyssey. The cinematography was so great  just in general the spacecrafts floating around the universe was absolutely beautiful, and especially for its time the actual stars and space were done perfectly. Even if someone finds this film boring, it is undeniably beautiful to just sit and watch. With no surprise here, 2001: A Space Odyssey won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

Overall, this is a film that is not matched by an other science fiction film.The special effects cannot be matched for its time, and the cinematography was unbelievable.

Total Rating: 8/10 Stars

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

 Night of the Living Dead, directed by George A. Romero, was the first zombie movie ever made. With out this, the Zombie sub-genera would more likely not have excised.

This film was well made and great bases for most movies with the zombie theme. The most recent and most popular zombie themed show on television to day would be AMCs: The Walking Dead. Many links can be made between the two motion pictures, even thought they are made more then 40 years apart.


Oe example of the influence the movie had was the farm house. Both white, older, in-the-middle-of-no-where, farm houses. They where both well made for the time period but also sent out a stereo-type for almost every farm house you see in movies now a days.

Another influence is the little girl zombie. You will see some form of child in most zombie films. This is because in "Night of the living dead", she was the most frightening thing on screen. Innocence turned horrible.

Many movies were made thanks to Night of the Living dead, and many more will be made.
This movie is defiantly something you should watch if your planning to see modern day zombie movies as well.

Total Rating:
1/2 Kings

Saturday, 22 October 2011

Review: North by Northwest (1959)

North by Northwest, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, was decent motion picture. The sets of the film where more or less thought out, but the story was not the most memorable.

The movie was said to be a Romance, Mystery, Action movie, which it was, but the balance was of and the transitions were very sudden. At one moment characters Roger O. Thornhill, played by Carl Grant, and  Eve Kendall, played by Eva Marie Saint, are staring deep into each others eyes, but moments later  they are running from gun shots. The sets had an interesting design and were able to create some interesting and very small but well worth affects. For example, one of the beginning scenes taking place in a library, had hundreds of book that a first look are straight but if you look closer they are slightly slanted along with their book shelves. This gives a sense of distortion and an panic. But other sets were not the best like:
In this scene you see Eve Kendall hanging off by her finger tips (literally). Unfortunately this scene if physically impossible and not as well made as the rest. Even with the tiny flaws in the movie north by north west is still worth watching if your into old style romantic films.

Total Rating: 1/2 kings

Friday, 21 October 2011

Review: Plan 9 from Outer Space and Ed Wood

Plan 9 from Outer Space & Ed Wood

This would be the Plan 9 Trailer.

This is the Ed Wood trailer.

Plan 9, directed by Edward D. Wood Jr., was a horrible film. The lack of consistency and dreadful acting was almost painful to watch. Not only were the actions of the set physically impossible, for example  at one moment in the film, a police office falls down and kicks a tombstone over. At other times the distance between the too main stages, the grave yard and the house, was never the same, sometimes it was in walking distances, while other times you had to drive there. NOTHING MADE SENSE!!!

Ed Wood, directed by Tim Burton, was a film made before plan 9 from outer space and was in my opinion, just as bad. The films acting was very off and the story, though it was based on a true story, didn't not need to be remade. This was one man no one needed to see.  The film lacked a clear message, as well, it was not the bases of any other films made after.

Plan 9 from outer space was featured in Ed Wood here:
(Also here you see the falling tombstone from plan 9 from outer space at 2:17)

Movies today look at this for all the things they SHOULDN'T do which is probably all they are good for. Over all these film were not thought out, the dialog was plain, the stories were boring, and nothing worked. The rating here in clear.

Total Rating: 0/2 kings

Monday, 26 September 2011

Review: Citizen Kane (1941)

Citizen Kane is probably the world's most famous and highly-rated film, with its many remarkable scenes and performances, cinematic and narrative techniques and experimental innovations. The film grabbed the attention of millions and pulled them into the tragic, heart warming story never told by Cinema before.


The famous line "Rosebud" opened the movie. At the beginning it may seem like this is what to movie revolves aroung but it's acually much more in depth then a simple word. You go through the live of a man names Charles Kane, played by Orson Welles, seeing how one life can affect hundreds.





The camera angles and views were very new in the time period this movie was first show, which helped the development of many films today. The actors were very in depth and well thought out, the story was complex but simple to follow and the effects of the film were pronominal.

Over all this film was really on of a kind, and it you are looking for something new you should defiantly check this out.

Total Rating:
2/2 Kings

Review: Bringing Up Baby (1938)

Bringing up baby was one of the most popular "screwball comedies" in its time. Almost ruining the career of its stars. I was loved and hated by millions around the globe for it's humor and new style  in delivering its message, dialog and characters.

Katharine Hepburn and Cary Gran, the starts of the film, did a very good job in making the audience either hate and/or love them. There acting was very well done and the dialog was something to behold. Their performance together fit quite well and this film went relatively smoothly. Unfortunately movies like this are either loved or hated. For many people this film was "A lost treasure", while other believe if should have never been filmed.

What was really annoying about the movie was the fact that it lacked consistency. In more then on occasion something was dropped and in the next scene is vanished. Also if you didn't fall in love with the characters right away, the movie became slow and torturous with its mild humor and annoying actors.

Over all the movie was well made was well made, but not for everyone

Total Rating:
1/2 Kings