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Pyro's Piss poor review
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Thanks for the review Pyro, I think I'll skip that one.
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OK, forget Kitano (for now)- and moving away from Asia, this time we're in Spain for....
Abre Los Ojos (Open Your Eyes)
(Alejandro Amenabar, 1997)
The plot for this film is tricky to explain while avoiding spoilers, its very jumbled and has a mixed chronology with events left unexplained. Now, trusting most of you have some experience with slightly more challenging films, this shouldn't be a problem- think Mulholland Drive only with an explanation.
The plot basically revolves around a handsome fellow (Cesar) who has many one night stands, however never sees the woman again. One night at his birthday party, one of his accomplishments (Nuria) is waiting, wanting more, Cesar rejects her and uses his best friend's (Pelayo) love (Sofia) to help avoid her. Sofia is reluctant to fall for his charm but as time turns, things change. His best friend Pelayo accepts their relationship in order to save their friendship. However, after spending a night with Sofia, the woman from the party, Nuria, is back, neither got any the night before so Cesar takes a ride with her. Unfortunately, the Nuria is psychotic and crashes the car, killing herself and disfiguring Cesar.
Cesar desperately tries to restore his looks however, it's near impossible. He rejects himself and becomes unhinged. He meets Sofia again, who, hardly knowing him, is a little disconcerted by his appearance. Sofia, Pelayo and Cesar meet in a club, with Cesar hiding his face behind a mask. He drinks himself silly and tries to rekindle the spark he and Sofia experienced at his party, only he makes a fool of himself and they all leave and go there seperate ways. Cesar eventually realises Pelayo and Sofia have met up again and are now seeing each other. In despair, he passes out, from the alcohol, on the street. This marks a change in the story that will make sense after watching it, so i'm reluctant to go into details. During all this time we have intercuts of Cesar being confined in prison with a psychologist (Antonio) claiming he's a murderer.
The twisty second half succeeds as an almost seperate film, while not alienising the 1st half. The mixture of character development and tense sci-fi mystery create a joyful mixture and are masterfully blended. The second half did take me by suprise and out of context seems a little un-original and stupid but it's so masterfully built up it seems completely natural. The acting, especially be Chete Lera (Antonio) gives a perfect reflection of the mixed emotions and confusion we should be feeling- grounding the surrealism in reality whilst Cesar is enlightened, becoming sane and Antonio in effect swaps roles, becoming the unhinged character. His character is a good point of identification as he articulates the thoguhts of the audience, as the mystery of Nuria appearing as Sofia and his ongoing nightmare is gradually revealed. Cesar's gradual downfall is potrayed excellently Eduardo Noriega, and Penelope Cruz gives great support showing the complex emotional range necessary to pity and love the disfigured Cesar, the weakest character was Pelayo who seemed to be neglected a bit unfairly.
The pace is maintained throughout, the occasional enigma thrown in keeps you on your toes, guessing the outcome yet it is kept perfectly subtle, giving no major pointers to any possible outcome. As i said, the what would normally be a cop-out cliched finale takes you by suprise and is built up so well and logically, it's just a fantastic ending. It also ends just when it should, some films tend to make an emotional impactful scene to end on, but then drag it out some and loose that punch. Open Your Eyes does it all right. Superb all round. A haunting and subtle sublime blend of genre.
10/10
In case you didn't notice, this has been remade as Vanilla Sky. I havn't seen it but am pretty sure in saying, you should see this one first. Penelope Cruz plays the same role, not sure if she flashes them in both, but she sure does in Open Your Eyes- so see it for that alone
Abre Los Ojos (Open Your Eyes)
(Alejandro Amenabar, 1997)
The plot for this film is tricky to explain while avoiding spoilers, its very jumbled and has a mixed chronology with events left unexplained. Now, trusting most of you have some experience with slightly more challenging films, this shouldn't be a problem- think Mulholland Drive only with an explanation.
The plot basically revolves around a handsome fellow (Cesar) who has many one night stands, however never sees the woman again. One night at his birthday party, one of his accomplishments (Nuria) is waiting, wanting more, Cesar rejects her and uses his best friend's (Pelayo) love (Sofia) to help avoid her. Sofia is reluctant to fall for his charm but as time turns, things change. His best friend Pelayo accepts their relationship in order to save their friendship. However, after spending a night with Sofia, the woman from the party, Nuria, is back, neither got any the night before so Cesar takes a ride with her. Unfortunately, the Nuria is psychotic and crashes the car, killing herself and disfiguring Cesar.
Cesar desperately tries to restore his looks however, it's near impossible. He rejects himself and becomes unhinged. He meets Sofia again, who, hardly knowing him, is a little disconcerted by his appearance. Sofia, Pelayo and Cesar meet in a club, with Cesar hiding his face behind a mask. He drinks himself silly and tries to rekindle the spark he and Sofia experienced at his party, only he makes a fool of himself and they all leave and go there seperate ways. Cesar eventually realises Pelayo and Sofia have met up again and are now seeing each other. In despair, he passes out, from the alcohol, on the street. This marks a change in the story that will make sense after watching it, so i'm reluctant to go into details. During all this time we have intercuts of Cesar being confined in prison with a psychologist (Antonio) claiming he's a murderer.
The twisty second half succeeds as an almost seperate film, while not alienising the 1st half. The mixture of character development and tense sci-fi mystery create a joyful mixture and are masterfully blended. The second half did take me by suprise and out of context seems a little un-original and stupid but it's so masterfully built up it seems completely natural. The acting, especially be Chete Lera (Antonio) gives a perfect reflection of the mixed emotions and confusion we should be feeling- grounding the surrealism in reality whilst Cesar is enlightened, becoming sane and Antonio in effect swaps roles, becoming the unhinged character. His character is a good point of identification as he articulates the thoguhts of the audience, as the mystery of Nuria appearing as Sofia and his ongoing nightmare is gradually revealed. Cesar's gradual downfall is potrayed excellently Eduardo Noriega, and Penelope Cruz gives great support showing the complex emotional range necessary to pity and love the disfigured Cesar, the weakest character was Pelayo who seemed to be neglected a bit unfairly.
The pace is maintained throughout, the occasional enigma thrown in keeps you on your toes, guessing the outcome yet it is kept perfectly subtle, giving no major pointers to any possible outcome. As i said, the what would normally be a cop-out cliched finale takes you by suprise and is built up so well and logically, it's just a fantastic ending. It also ends just when it should, some films tend to make an emotional impactful scene to end on, but then drag it out some and loose that punch. Open Your Eyes does it all right. Superb all round. A haunting and subtle sublime blend of genre.
10/10
In case you didn't notice, this has been remade as Vanilla Sky. I havn't seen it but am pretty sure in saying, you should see this one first. Penelope Cruz plays the same role, not sure if she flashes them in both, but she sure does in Open Your Eyes- so see it for that alone
Last edited by Pyro Tramp; 08-06-05 at 08:15 PM.
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If anyone reads this, i'd appreciate some general feedback on my style, negative and positive.
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hmm...well i saw this movie some years ago ( well before the vanilla sky incident ) and was absolutely blown away by it, but i just din't see any moral message or emotional depth that you seem to speak off, i just saw it as a clear cut thriller...i didn't want to watch vanilla sky, because why would you really wanna watch the same thing only in english and with tom cruize, i hate remakes especially when they're made so recently after the original, and i hate the fact that vanilla sky made much more money even though abre los ojos is clearly superior.....
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I said emotional depth? I just loved the way Sofia looks at Cesar for the first time after the accident. She was disugsted but tried to hide it and gave a loving look, i just thought it was nice acting- her eyes said a lot.
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Well its up to you, but you might be better off with a very general summary that keeps most of it under wraps rather than telling us the first half of the movie.
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Originally Posted by Pyro Tramp
Is that a problem?
Strum is trying to treat the problem, not the symptoms.
*Stifles a tear drop!*
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Our real discoveries come from chaos, from going to the place that looks wrong and stupid and foolish.
Embrace the chaos and sour adversity, for wise men say it is the wisest course.
Since you asked for feedback on your style, I will say I agree with Strummer. One paragraph is plenty, IMO, about the plot. I am interested, as a reader, in knowing your reaction to it. I can see the movie for myself. 
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Review: Cabin in the Woods 8/10
Review: Cabin in the Woods 8/10
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Mulholland Drive (David Lynch, 2001)
As a young film viewer, i rented this film in earnest on it's release, knowing nothing of Lynch and had little comprehension of the film. Years laters, at college, it seemed every media and film class had to screen this film to students at least once a year, slightly annoying when based on a previous viewing, i had no ****ing idea what it's all about. But, after choosing to watch it several more times (which are essential if you want to enjoy this film), it's becomes clear that the films a media students wet dream.
David Lynch comes under flack for making a film that has no clear, linear narrative, and can quite understandably be described as making no sense. The story begins with Rita, suffering from amnesia after a car crash, living with an aspiring young actress called Betty. The film plays out the set up as one would expect, trying to find Rita's past and love blooms. Along the way meeting several characters who seem midly irrelevant. The plot comes to halt and does a triple flip backwards in the last third, and this is where people get pissed. The characters rolls have been reversed, nothing of what we once knew exists, only minor threads linking the two universes.
For me, this is a master stroke of genius. Lynch manages to maintain enough structure for the threads between each section to be seen hance not making completely seperate and random films. A lot is down to personal reading, anyone can understand this film in anyway they like, there is no preferred reading. Which personally i think is great, it's a film truly for an active audience, who get what they give from the film. Of course, this is also the film's downfall, people unwilling to appreciate or try and create their own perception of the universes Lynch creates come away empty and annoyed. There are clues placed around, i like to think of the 1st section as a dream, which for me, explains most aspects.
As well as the great plot, the performances are spot on. Justin Theroux's two film directors are both the same yet different. All the actors, especially Naomi Watts and Laura Harring play their roles to a tee, the backflip and character reversal is almost perfect. From niave to heartbroken and desperate, and lost to cold and manipulating. The direction has to be good to make the film work, and Lynch succeeds. For fans it also has several of his trademarks evident. It has great cinematography. I feel it bears strong resembalance to Lynch's earlier Lost Highway and as a film maker he has improved on this considerably, making this the peak of his film making work, imo.
10/10
And if my review doesn't persuade you to watch this, it has hot lesbian action.
As a young film viewer, i rented this film in earnest on it's release, knowing nothing of Lynch and had little comprehension of the film. Years laters, at college, it seemed every media and film class had to screen this film to students at least once a year, slightly annoying when based on a previous viewing, i had no ****ing idea what it's all about. But, after choosing to watch it several more times (which are essential if you want to enjoy this film), it's becomes clear that the films a media students wet dream.
David Lynch comes under flack for making a film that has no clear, linear narrative, and can quite understandably be described as making no sense. The story begins with Rita, suffering from amnesia after a car crash, living with an aspiring young actress called Betty. The film plays out the set up as one would expect, trying to find Rita's past and love blooms. Along the way meeting several characters who seem midly irrelevant. The plot comes to halt and does a triple flip backwards in the last third, and this is where people get pissed. The characters rolls have been reversed, nothing of what we once knew exists, only minor threads linking the two universes.
For me, this is a master stroke of genius. Lynch manages to maintain enough structure for the threads between each section to be seen hance not making completely seperate and random films. A lot is down to personal reading, anyone can understand this film in anyway they like, there is no preferred reading. Which personally i think is great, it's a film truly for an active audience, who get what they give from the film. Of course, this is also the film's downfall, people unwilling to appreciate or try and create their own perception of the universes Lynch creates come away empty and annoyed. There are clues placed around, i like to think of the 1st section as a dream, which for me, explains most aspects.
As well as the great plot, the performances are spot on. Justin Theroux's two film directors are both the same yet different. All the actors, especially Naomi Watts and Laura Harring play their roles to a tee, the backflip and character reversal is almost perfect. From niave to heartbroken and desperate, and lost to cold and manipulating. The direction has to be good to make the film work, and Lynch succeeds. For fans it also has several of his trademarks evident. It has great cinematography. I feel it bears strong resembalance to Lynch's earlier Lost Highway and as a film maker he has improved on this considerably, making this the peak of his film making work, imo.
10/10
And if my review doesn't persuade you to watch this, it has hot lesbian action.
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Originally Posted by Pyro Tramp
Mulholland Drive (David Lynch, 2001)
And if my review doesn't persuade you to watch this, it has hot lesbian action.
And if my review doesn't persuade you to watch this, it has hot lesbian action.
Drunken Master (Yuen Woo Ping, 1978)
For me, this ranks alongside Shaolin Master Killer as the greatest martial arts film ever. Forget the over indulgent visual fests like Hero and Crouching Tiger, this is where it's at. It has the stereotypes you expect in the genre bought together in an unsurpassed martial arts epic. There's non of that high flying wire work, this is the ****.
Jackie Chan makes his breakthrough as the young Wong Fei Hung. The son of a kung-fu master, he has no respect, and while showing of to friends, he dishonours the family name by accidental incest. His outraged father tries to kill him, but his Aunt offers a diet of strict training courtesy of Beggar Su. WFH escapes and meets with an old drunk, who happens to be amazing at kung-fu. WFH later learns this old drunk is Beggar Su.
A lot of the film is training, however, it's all tongue in cheek and oftern very humouress, instead of dull and boring like many other similar flicks. WFH encounters a nemesis after fleeing from Beggar Su, Hwang Jang Lee (martial arts B-movie legend) setting up the final battle after the nemesis is given a contract on WFH's father. Fully trained, the best kung fu fight ensues between Chan and Lee.
The performances, although shaky and cheesy are just what you want. For best results, i reccomend watching with subtitles and the dubbing, some of the completely different translations are hilarious. Yuen Woo Ping (Kill Bill, Matrix) knows how to direct a fight scene, and the final fight is epic. It's great to see the training of the 8 Drunken Gods merge into a complete style. And of course the concept of Drunken kung fu is shown in it's full glory. Sweet premium wine! The fillers are ammusing and seeing the old Beggar Su roll around is a sight to see. And the film IS funny, it's not the cringe humour or the trying to hard, it's spot on, the 8th Drunken God Miss Ho, lol.
It's a shame kung-fu films aren't made like this anymore, even though set in a historical time, it still has all the awe inspiring action needed, without wires and CGI. For me, this is the peak in the genre. Anyone who likes lesser Chan films like Rush Hour etc, has an obligation to see this film.
See it with friends and some wine, and let the inevitable happen. 10/10
For me, this ranks alongside Shaolin Master Killer as the greatest martial arts film ever. Forget the over indulgent visual fests like Hero and Crouching Tiger, this is where it's at. It has the stereotypes you expect in the genre bought together in an unsurpassed martial arts epic. There's non of that high flying wire work, this is the ****.
A lot of the film is training, however, it's all tongue in cheek and oftern very humouress, instead of dull and boring like many other similar flicks. WFH encounters a nemesis after fleeing from Beggar Su, Hwang Jang Lee (martial arts B-movie legend) setting up the final battle after the nemesis is given a contract on WFH's father. Fully trained, the best kung fu fight ensues between Chan and Lee.
The performances, although shaky and cheesy are just what you want. For best results, i reccomend watching with subtitles and the dubbing, some of the completely different translations are hilarious. Yuen Woo Ping (Kill Bill, Matrix) knows how to direct a fight scene, and the final fight is epic. It's great to see the training of the 8 Drunken Gods merge into a complete style. And of course the concept of Drunken kung fu is shown in it's full glory. Sweet premium wine! The fillers are ammusing and seeing the old Beggar Su roll around is a sight to see. And the film IS funny, it's not the cringe humour or the trying to hard, it's spot on, the 8th Drunken God Miss Ho, lol.
It's a shame kung-fu films aren't made like this anymore, even though set in a historical time, it still has all the awe inspiring action needed, without wires and CGI. For me, this is the peak in the genre. Anyone who likes lesser Chan films like Rush Hour etc, has an obligation to see this film.
See it with friends and some wine, and let the inevitable happen. 10/10
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Ya man, glad to see another Mulholland nut around. Good work!!
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Good work Pyro 
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