February 2001 (Pt. 2 of 2)
Shower
- Dir. By: Zhang Yang
- Studio: Imar Films/Sony Pictures Classic
- Video: 1.66:1 enhanced
- Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 or Dolby Surround, Mandarin Chinese
- Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
- Extras: Bonus trailers, Talent files
- Length: 94 min.
- Rating: ****
An unexpectedly enjoyable film featuring the main actor from The King of Masks, and in its own milder way just as wonderfully heart-warming as that Chinese gem. It's won all sorts of International Best Picture/Best Director awards and deserves them. The story takes place mostly in a traditional men's bathhouse in Beijing run by a pleasant old man and his mentally-challenged son. An older son with a high-pressure business career comes to visit due to misunderstanding a note from his brother suggesting that their father is dying. The comedy and pathos are well balanced and one begins to feel very close to all the characters in the bathhouse. An unlikely subject for an entertainment movie, but in the end a joyful and emotional viewing experience.
- John Sunier
The Great Locomotive Chase (1956)
- Starring: Fess Parker, Jeffrey Hunter
- Directed By: Francis D. Lyon
- Screenplay: Lawrence Edward Watkin
- Studio: Anchor Bay
- Video: 2.35:1, Full Frame
- Audio: DD 2.0
- Subtitles: None
- Extras: None
- Length: 1 hour 27 minutes
- Rating: ***1/2
The Great Locomotive Chase recounts the famous true story of the Andrews' Raid during the time of the American Civil War. A Union secret service agent enlists the aid of 21 Union soldiers and steals a Confederate train. The men are forced to dress as Southern Sympathizers and blend in as they venture into the South. The plan is to destroy the train tracks and bridges along their perilous ride South. As they take the train through Southern occupied territory they discover countless obstacles including a dedicated Confederate train conductor who will not stop until the train is recovered and the men are captured. As the men struggle with their mission infighting occurs, but in the end all work together towards the common goal. Despite their failed attempt, the men who survived capture are the first to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.
This is the first release of this film in the past 10 years. The film is newly restored and is entirely enjoyable to watch. In some ways it is dated in its style of action, but it never fails to keep the viewer involved in the story line and guessing as to what will happen next. There are many close calls, and even though the outcome is already known, each little subplot and character sqiurmish is just plain fun. For those of us who like old trains and westerns, this film will be worth a look! And for anyone who likes a good old style chase, pick this film up. (Ed.: This event was also the origin of Buster Keaton's masterpiece The General - which told the story from the Confederate point of view and has viewers entirely on his side of the conflict.)
- Brian Bloom
The Harder They Come (1973)
- Starring: Jimmy Cliff, Janet Bartley, Carl Bradshaw
- Directed By: Perry Henzell
- Screenplay: Perry Henzell, Trevor D. Rhane
- Studio: Criterion Collection
- Video: 1.66:1
- Audio: DD Mono, Audio Commentary
- Subtitles: English
- Extras: Video Interview w/ Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, bio-discographies on musicians in film
- Length: 1 hr. 43 min.
- Rating: ***1/2
This film is loosely based on a old time folk hero/ outlaw from Jamaica. Ivan is a young man looking for fame and fortune. As soon as he returns home, all his possessions are stolen and he is left to looking for work without any solid experience. He finally gets work for a preacher and begins fixing things. He has a natural talent for music and persues the local record company owner who controls what music will be a hit and what the radio stations will play. He finally gets to record a song which will be a big hit, but only receives $20 for it. There is no way he and his girlfriend can survive without so little money, so he turns to the life of crime. An accidental shooting leads to an almost legendary pursuit as Ivan stays underground and away from the law. But his luck can't last forever.
The Harder They Come is a noteworthy film for a few reasons. As Jamaica's first full-length feature film, this movie has a lot to be proud of. The plot is interesting and the characters are all well portrayed. Jimmy Cliff has quite a screen presence and obviously helps to make this movie as good as it is. The film is full of great reggae music, and is ripe with political and social commentary. According to the insert, this film was the prime force in introducing this type of music to America, and thus helped to give it much of its popularity. The movie is filled with optimism even though one sees the awful conditions that many of the people are forced to endure on a daily basis.
My only warning is although the film is spoken in English, for many, the Jamaican accent will be hard to understand. Luckily, English subtitles are available and will help with some of the trouble spots. The film definitely has a period feel, but this helps in its appeal as well. The film is billed as a cult classic, and in many ways I heartily agree. It's portrayal of "real life" is heartfelt and rings true. Recommended for reggae music lovers and others too.
- Brian Bloom
Tales Of Terror (1962)
- Starring: Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Basil Rathbone
- Directed By: Roger Corman
- Screenplay: Richard Matheson
- Studio: MGM
- Video: 2.35:1 Widescreen Enhanced, 1.33:1 Pan and Scan
- Audio: DD Mono
- Subtitles: French, Spanish
- Extras: Trailer
- Length: 1 hour 29 minutes
- Rating: ***1/2
Three stories from a master of short story telling: Edgar Allen Poe. The first story is of Morella, a young woman away at a boarding school who comes back to meet her father after being gone for 26 years. She finds the castle where he lives empty of servants, and other people. The place is obviously run down, and her father has seen better days; he is lonely and has decided that he needs to be closer to his dead wife. Need I say more?
The Black Cat is not only a symbol of bad luck, but in this interesting story, a cat can be the cause of real trouble. A drunken man comes home as usual to steal money from his beloved only to spend it on more drink. A certain black cat has a strange affinity for his presence, or perhaps the opposite. Another night in the local tavern is not as pleasant as usual and on the way home he happens across a wine tasting session--a real find! An expert wine taster vs. the local drunk leads to a chance meeting between the expert and the man's lovely unfulfilled wife. Revenge is in the air, so who knows what evil lurks in the nature of man...
Mesmerism and naked lust are the topics in The Case of M. Valdemar. A man in a tremendous amount of pain seeks relief through the mystical powers of a mesmerist. After his hypnosis the man is free of his pain and can enjoy the last moments of his life with his beautiful wife. But this freedom is not without a price. He has promised to allow himself to be used as an experiment to discover the nature of death, and to determine how long the magician can keep the suffering man's mind alive and under control while his body dies. Will he finally break free from the magician's spell?
Vincent Price gives a haunting performance in all three short films, as well as handling narration and an introduction to each. Acting is good, and these stories will keep your attention all the way through. Peter Lorre is especially good in The Black Cat. If you like scary stories then you will definitely enjoy Tales Of Terror. Pick it up.
- Brian Bloom
Rave Un2 The Year 2000 (1999)
- Studio: Image Entertainment
- Video: 1.33:1 full screen
- Audio: DTS, DD, DD 2.0
- Subtitles: None
- Extras: Innerviews (interview), Work 4 Hire (about amendments to recording act and record companies), What Should be Souled? (about artists and music rights), Bonus Groovez
- Length: 1 hour 53 minutes
- Rating: ***
Song List & Artist(s): (All Prince except where noted)
1. Let's Go Crazy
2. She's Always In My Hair
3. I've Got the Look
4. Kiss
5. Jungle Love- Morris Day & The Time
6. The Bird- Morris Day & The Time
7. American Woman- Lenny Kravitz
8. Fly Away- Lenny Kravitz
9. Get Off
10. Medley- Rosie Gaines, Mike Scott & Maceo Parker
11. It's Alright
12. Everyday People- Cynthia Robinson & Gerry Martini
13. Higher
14. Purple Rain
15. The Christ
16. Blues Medley- Maceo Parker & Johnny Blackshire
17. Nothing Compares to U
18. Take Me With U/ Raspberry Beret
19. The Greatest Romance Ever Sold
20. Baby Knows
21. 1999 Intro
22. Baby I'm A Star
23. 1999Bonus:
1. Flashlight- George Clinton
2. The Undertaker- Cathy Jensen
3. The Undertaker- Jimmy Russell
4. Release Urself- Larry Graham, NPGThis disc is a really good live compilation of Prince songs from over the years including some classics and a few new songs as well as some great performances by other artists. There is no doubt that this disc is a planned event including all sorts of camera work and flashy editing. If it wasn't a live concert I'd say they had it down so perfect that they took several takes. So, call it a studio performance! There is dancing, Prince, flashy lights, Prince, lots of cool music from all different genres, Prince, cool guitars, and did I mention Prince? Anyway, most people will enjoy this disc, and if you like R&B inspired pop/rock music then you will inevitably find a place for this disc somewhere in your collection--check it out.
- Brian Bloom
James and the Giant Peach
- Studio: Disney
- Video: 1.66:1 widescreen
- Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 & DTS 5.1
- Subtitles: Spanish, French
- Extras: Behind-the-Scenes documentary, Stillframe gallery of puppet and concept artwork, Original trailer plus for other movies, Randy Newman music video
- Length: 79 min.
- Rating: ****
I should admit that I was just going to have a quick look at a portion of this children's classic and then send it on to one of our reviewers, but I quickly got hooked and found it a thoroughly enjoyable animation feature for any age. It's been 40 years since Roald Dahl's original book and with modern advanced techniques of not only stop motion puppet animation but also live action and computer effects, the materials are at hand to give the story full justice in its telling. Tim Burton was one of the producers, and many of those involved in this production were on the team that created his Nightmare Before Christmas. The different technical means blend together smoothly for a different-looking fantasy world. Color is brilliant and creatively used and digital artifacts are minimal. The creativity extends to the use of the 5.1 surround (including the LFE channel), which is fully employed - unlike in most movies. The voices of Jame's new insect friends inside the giant peach are provided, among others, by Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon and David Thewlis. The music is by Randy Newman, whose concluding song is one of the few such songs at the end of a film that actually serves the story perfectly and doesn't upset the stomach either.
- John Sunier
Showgirls (1995)
- Starring: Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, Gina Gershon
- Dir. By: Paul Verhoeven
- Studio: United Artists/MGM Home Video
- Video: 2.10:1 Widescreen
- Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Surround, English, French, Spanish
- Subtitles: French, Spanish
- Extras: Behind-the-Scenes Featurette; Original trailer, Booklet with essay
- Length: 2 hrs., 11 min.
- Rating: *?
What to say about this controversial opus from Verhoeven that hasn't already been said - both with the theatrical release and the laserdisc that followed? No big changes here. Same glitsy, kitchy, over-the-top treatment of the underbelly of glitsy, kitchy, over the-top Vegas show life that Verhoeven, writer Joe Eszterhas and the willing-to-bare-all actresses put up on the screen. A young dancer is out to seek her fortune in Vegas. An opportunity comes up to get a star shot in the Strip's top show and she proceeds to seduce both the casino's entertainment director as well as the current star of the show (his girlfriend) to ensure her place in the spotlights. Some Chorus Line-type competition/suffering/anxieties are also part of the drama.
Pushing the NC-17 rating, which Verhoeven intended to do, the film has some undeniably steamy erotic scenes but they don't rescue the bad acting and dumb plot line. Color is good - especially the flesh tones, of which there are plenty. Resolution could be better, however. Good use is made of the 5.1 surround in the showy dance extravaganzas. One of the ersatz dance numbers is unfortunately shown twice - once with the original star and then again later with Berkley. That only points up the really dumb choreography that might have slid by on the first viewing due to the distractions of all the stage nudity.
- John Sunier
- Brian Bloom bigbrianb@usa.net
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