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  • Category: Reviews
  • Founded: Jan 13, 2002
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#627 From: "Mike" <filmfan99uk@...>
Date: Mon Nov 18, 2002 9:41 am
Subject: Re: In A Lonely Place - Odeon W/End - LFF 		filmfan99uk
Send Email Send Email
  
Hi Robert, you are right this is a little different than your average
Bogart movie. In fact it deals with an almost universal theme of
otherwise normal men, who just cannot control their temper, and the
violence within them.

Gloria Grahame was very impressive (I have no idea what else she did
in her career) as the sassy women, who despite loving Bogart, ends up
finding him to be just too hot to handle.

Mike
filmfan99uk

--- In filmtalkuk@y..., Robert Holz <mensch_uk@y...> wrote:
> Much as I enjoy a Bogart movie, "In a Lonely Place" is
> so much more!
> This is Nicolas Ray before "Rebel Without a Cause" and
> it is possible to see that he was at home in the Film
> Noir genre in fact one might say that "Rebel" is "film
> noir" in colour.
> rob
>  --- Mike <filmfan99uk@y...> wrote:
> <HR>
> <html><body>
>
>
> <tt>
> When I was a kid there was usually two occasions when
> my dad would <BR>
> take charge of the TV and insist we all watched as a
> family. One <BR>
> would be when 'Muhammad Ali' was taking part in a
> fight, the other <BR>
> was whenever there was a 'Humphrey Bogard' movie on
> TV. Now I have <BR>
> pretty much seen most of these 'Bogard' movies (KEY
> LARGO being the <BR>
> one I would particularly recommend), however I had
> never previously <BR>
> seen IN A LONELY PLACE. Thus showing as the restored
> classics part of <BR>
> the Film Festival, this was too good to miss. To my
> surprise a lot of <BR>
> people felt the same way as the Odeon West End 2, was
> four fifths <BR>
> full for a 1.00pm screening!<BR>
> <BR>
> 'Bogard' (he of the bloodhound facial expression) has
> always been the <BR>
> archetypal American Adam; namely the rugged,
> independent, self <BR>
> driven, anti hero. Usually he can be found as some
> type of private <BR>
> gumshoe. Here however he is a Hollwood screenwriter
> 'Dixie Steel', <BR>
> having the usual hassles of finishing a script from
> someone elses <BR>
> dodgy novel. Enlisting the help of a cloakroom girl to
> precis the <BR>
> story for him back at his apartment, he ends up
> becoming murder <BR>
> suspect one, when she doesn't make it home in one
> piece. Not that <BR>
> this seems to initially bother neighbour 'Gloria
> Grahame' who <BR>
> provides an alibi of sorts to the feds (just trying to
> use the right <BR>
> jargon here). Thus a tempestous affair begins between
> 'Bogard' <BR>
> and 'Grahame'. The problem being however, is that he
> has a tendency <BR>
> to fly off the handle for nothing, making her think
> that he may have <BR>
> murdered the cloakroom girl after all. Of course by
> the time the real <BR>
> killer coughs up, she is ready to fly away to New york
> to get out of <BR>
> marrying him, making him mad as hell, and ready to
> murder her. The <BR>
> usual sort of thing don't you know.<BR>
> <BR>
> This made quite a refreshing change to see a film from
> 1950 blown up <BR>
> on the big screen, and retained ones interest, when
> one probably <BR>
> wouldn't give it a second glance on the TV. 'Bogard'
> said in the Q&A <BR>
> afterwards that he thoroughly enjoyed making it, and
> would like to <BR>
> act more often, if he could still find directors
> working in Black & <BR>
> White.     <BR>
> <BR>
> filmfan99uk<BR>
> <BR>
> </tt>
>
>
> <br>
> <tt>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:<BR>
> filmtalkuk-unsubscribe@y...<BR>
> <BR>
> </tt>
> <br>
>
> <br>
> <tt>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the <a
> href="http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms.html">Yahoo!
> Terms of Service</a>.</tt>
> </br>
>
> </body></html>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
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> Everything you'll ever need on one web page
> from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts
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Reply | Messages in this Topic (4)
#628 From: Robert Holz <mensch_uk@...>
Date: Mon Nov 18, 2002 11:15 am
Subject: Re: Re: In A Lonely Place - Odeon W/End - LFF 		mensch_uk
Send Email Send Email
  
Yep some great directors had a story to tell and just
had to tell it.
Even if they had to use Humphrey and Gloria to do it.

  --- Mike <filmfan99uk@...> wrote:
<HR>
<html><body>


<tt>
Hi Robert, you are right this is a little different
than your average <BR>
Bogart movie. In fact it deals with an almost
universal theme of <BR>
otherwise normal men, who just cannot control their
temper, and the <BR>
violence within them. <BR>
<BR>
Gloria Grahame was very impressive (I have no idea
what else she did <BR>
in her career) as the sassy women, who despite loving
Bogart, ends up <BR>
finding him to be just too hot to handle.<BR>
<BR>
Mike<BR>
filmfan99uk<BR>
<BR>
--- In filmtalkuk@y..., Robert Holz
<mensch_uk@y...> wrote:<BR>
> Much as I enjoy a Bogart movie, "In a Lonely
Place" is<BR>
> so much more!<BR>
> This is Nicolas Ray before "Rebel Without a
Cause" and<BR>
> it is possible to see that he was at home in the
Film<BR>
> Noir genre in fact one might say that
"Rebel" is "film<BR>
> noir" in colour.<BR>
> rob <BR>
>  --- Mike <filmfan99uk@y...> wrote:
<BR>
> <HR><BR>
> <html><body><BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
> <tt><BR>
> When I was a kid there was usually two occasions
when<BR>
> my dad would <BR><BR>
> take charge of the TV and insist we all watched
as a<BR>
> family. One <BR><BR>
> would be when 'Muhammad Ali' was taking part in
a<BR>
> fight, the other <BR><BR>
> was whenever there was a 'Humphrey Bogard' movie
on<BR>
> TV. Now I have <BR><BR>
> pretty much seen most of these 'Bogard' movies
(KEY<BR>
> LARGO being the <BR><BR>
> one I would particularly recommend), however I
had<BR>
> never previously <BR><BR>
> seen IN A LONELY PLACE. Thus showing as the
restored<BR>
> classics part of <BR><BR>
> the Film Festival, this was too good to miss. To
my<BR>
> surprise a lot of <BR><BR>
> people felt the same way as the Odeon West End 2,
was<BR>
> four fifths <BR><BR>
> full for a 1.00pm screening!<BR><BR>
> <BR><BR>
> 'Bogard' (he of the bloodhound facial expression)
has<BR>
> always been the <BR><BR>
> archetypal American Adam; namely the rugged,<BR>
> independent, self <BR><BR>
> driven, anti hero. Usually he can be found as
some<BR>
> type of private <BR><BR>
> gumshoe. Here however he is a Hollwood
screenwriter<BR>
> 'Dixie Steel', <BR><BR>
> having the usual hassles of finishing a script
from<BR>
> someone elses <BR><BR>
> dodgy novel. Enlisting the help of a cloakroom
girl to<BR>
> precis the <BR><BR>
> story for him back at his apartment, he ends
up<BR>
> becoming murder <BR><BR>
> suspect one, when she doesn't make it home in
one<BR>
> piece. Not that <BR><BR>
> this seems to initially bother neighbour
'Gloria<BR>
> Grahame' who <BR><BR>
> provides an alibi of sorts to the feds (just
trying to<BR>
> use the right <BR><BR>
> jargon here). Thus a tempestous affair begins
between<BR>
> 'Bogard' <BR><BR>
> and 'Grahame'. The problem being however, is that
he<BR>
> has a tendency <BR><BR>
> to fly off the handle for nothing, making her
think<BR>
> that he may have <BR><BR>
> murdered the cloakroom girl after all. Of course
by<BR>
> the time the real <BR><BR>
> killer coughs up, she is ready to fly away to New
york<BR>
> to get out of <BR><BR>
> marrying him, making him mad as hell, and ready
to<BR>
> murder her. The <BR><BR>
> usual sort of thing don't you know.<BR><BR>
> <BR><BR>
> This made quite a refreshing change to see a film
from<BR>
> 1950 blown up <BR><BR>
> on the big screen, and retained ones interest,
when<BR>
> one probably <BR><BR>
> wouldn't give it a second glance on the TV.
'Bogard'<BR>
> said in the Q&amp;A <BR><BR>
> afterwards that he thoroughly enjoyed making it,
and<BR>
> would like to <BR><BR>
> act more often, if he could still find
directors<BR>
> working in Black &amp; <BR><BR>
> White.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<BR><BR>
> <BR><BR>
> filmfan99uk<BR><BR>
> <BR><BR>
> </tt><BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
> <br><BR>
> <tt><BR>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email
to:<BR><BR>
> filmtalkuk-unsubscribe@y...<BR><BR>
> <BR><BR>
> </tt><BR>
> <br><BR>
> <BR>
> <br><BR>
> <tt>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
the <a<BR>
> href="<a
href="http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms.html">http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/info/te\
rms.html</a>">Yahoo!<BR>
> Terms of Service</a>.</tt><BR>
> </br><BR>
> <BR>
> </body></html><BR>
>  <BR>
> <BR>
>
__________________________________________________<BR>
> Do You Yahoo!?<BR>
> Everything you'll ever need on one web page<BR>
> from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts<BR>
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href="http://uk.my.yahoo.com">http://uk.my.yahoo.com</a><BR>
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</tt>

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Reply | Messages in this Topic (4)
#629 From: "Mike O'Brien" <mob61uk@...>
Date: Mon Nov 18, 2002 8:09 pm
Subject: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest [Milos Forman, 1975] 		mob61uk
Send Email Send Email
  
This is generally regarded as a classic, and with some
justification.  This tale of the "outsider" entering a mental
institution, and causing mayhem within its carefully controlled
regime, is still as amusing, shocking and thought provoking as on
its release in the `70s.  Not only is it still a relevant allegory
of the individual within the state, but it is also a beautifully
drawn character study of the charismatic R P McMurphy.

Watching the film again after some years, I'm stuck by Forman's
control of mood.  There is a beautiful example when, during a group
session, Tabor (Christopher Lloyd) leaps up in fright because a
cigarette has been burning through the turn-up of his trousers.
This simple piece of farce sets off Cheswick (Sydney Lassick) again,
who has been demanding his cigarettes from Nurse Ratched.  Only this
time, he bursts out with a truly obscene tirade at the fearsome
Nurse, which leads to violence breaking out, and is followed by the
disturbing electric shock scene.  This move from farce, to violence,
to horror, is handled perfectly.

This is, of course, Nicholson's film.  He is mesmerising.  The
supporting cast, though, are very good too.  In particular, Louise
Fletcher is excellent as Nurse Ratched.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)
#630 From: "Mike O'Brien" <mob61uk@...>
Date: Tue Nov 19, 2002 6:14 pm
Subject: Rabbit-Proof Fence [Phillip Noyce, 2002] 		mob61uk
Send Email Send Email
  
All countries have their skeletons.  One of Australia's is the
shameful Government policy that forms the background to this moving
film.  It is set in 1931, at a time when "half-caste" Aboriginal
children were stolen from their home by the State, in order that they
could be prepared for integration into the white community, and
eventual marriage to whites (so that the Aboriginal could be bred out
of them).  The three half-caste children at the centre of this film
are captured, but escape from the orphanage they were taken to which
is 1200 miles away.  They find their way home by following the rabbit-
proof fence built to protect the vast tracts of farmland.

The story is based on the real experinces of three girls.  It is a
simple, but moving one, which is simply told.  The film's real
strength lies in two elements.  Firstly, all three actresses (who I
believe are non-professional) are good, but the elder of the girls,
Molly, is played by an outstanding Everlyn Sampi.  The camera just
loves her.  Secondly, the photography by Chris Doyle is perfect.

My only quibble is that the script is a touch too literal when
setting out plot developments.  Most of the dialogue was redundant.
For me the looks of the characters said more than enough.

Be prepared for truly a moving ending.  Wonderful stuff.

On the whole, a good film.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (4)
#631 From: "Mike O'Brien" <mob61uk@...>
Date: Wed Nov 20, 2002 12:15 pm
Subject: London Film Festival: Lilja 4-Ever [Lukas Moodysson, 2002] 		mob61uk
Send Email Send Email
  
If you go to this film expecting something similar to
Moodysson's "Together" or "Show Me Love", you are in for quite a
shock.  This is much, much darker: a relentless bleakness that left
the audience at this UK premiere quite stunned.

The story is set in an unnamed city of the former USSR, and centres
on the eponymous 16 year old Lilya, who dreams of escaping her
surroundings, but is betrayed by almost all the important people
around her.  She is certainly no saint, but she is essentially a good
person, and the film charts her descent into what can only be
described as hell.

From the opening credits - which show Lilya half running through a
city, with battered face and a look of utter despair, all of which is
underpinned by a loud aggressive rock soundtrack -  you know that you
are in for a rough ride.  The story then moves to 3 months
previously, and tracks how show came to be in this state.  All the
elements of this film work perfectly together: good script, superb
performances (especially from Oksana Akinshina who plays Lilya),
assured direction, and powerful soundtrack.

The director (as well as the lead actress) was present at the
screening, and said afterwards that he felt that there was some hope
in this film: it was not one of utter pessimism.  For me this did
come across in the film.  It has a sense that even in the utter
darkness of the subject matter, there is hope in the goodness of
people such as Lilya and the younger boy she befriends called
Volodya.  There is a sense that things do not need to be like this.

Much was made during the question and answer session of the political
aspects of the film (concerning the criminal world Lilya gets dragged
into).  This is certainly an important aspect of the film, but like
all good art, it is not just a single issue movie.  It speaks to us
all about the darker side of human beings, and the despair they
experience when living in a community with out hope.

This is another movie to add to my "favourite films" list for 2002.
It is a powerful and moving film, and an important one.  It confirms
to me that Moodysson is one of a handful of truly great modern
directors.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)
#632 From: Mike Ballard <swillsqueal@...>
Date: Wed Nov 20, 2002 7:08 pm
Subject: Re: Rabbit-Proof Fence [Phillip Noyce, 2002] 		swillsqueal
Send Email Send Email
  
Thanks for the review.  I'll check it out.  Any idea
when it'll be available on dvd?

Cheers,
Mike B)
--- Mike O'Brien <mob61uk@...> wrote:
> All countries have their skeletons.  One of
> Australia's is the
> shameful Government policy that forms the background
> to this moving
> film.  It is set in 1931, at a time when
> "half-caste" Aboriginal
> children were stolen from their home by the State,
> in order that they
> could be prepared for integration into the white
> community, and
> eventual marriage to whites (so that the Aboriginal
> could be bred out
> of them).  The three half-caste children at the
> centre of this film
> are captured, but escape from the orphanage they
> were taken to which
> is 1200 miles away.  They find their way home by
> following the rabbit-
> proof fence built to protect the vast tracts of
> farmland.
>
> The story is based on the real experinces of three
> girls.  It is a
> simple, but moving one, which is simply told.  The
> film's real
> strength lies in two elements.  Firstly, all three
> actresses (who I
> believe are non-professional) are good, but the
> elder of the girls,
> Molly, is played by an outstanding Everlyn Sampi.
> The camera just
> loves her.  Secondly, the photography by Chris Doyle
> is perfect.
>
> My only quibble is that the script is a touch too
> literal when
> setting out plot developments.  Most of the dialogue
> was redundant.
> For me the looks of the characters said more than
> enough.
>
> Be prepared for truly a moving ending.  Wonderful
> stuff.
>
> On the whole, a good film.
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> filmtalkuk-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms.html
>
>


=====
"Man first begins to philosophize when the necessitites of life are supplied." 
Aristotle

"determinatio est negatio"  Spinoza

"There are no ordinary cats."  Colette

http://au.profiles.yahoo.com/swillsqueal

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Reply | Messages in this Topic (4)
#633 From: "Mike O'Brien" <mob61uk@...>
Date: Thu Nov 21, 2002 1:58 pm
Subject: Re: Rabbit-Proof Fence [Phillip Noyce, 2002] 		mob61uk
Send Email Send Email
  
Hi Mike

I can't find any scheduled release dates for the DVD.  It only came
out here in the UK a week or so ago, so the DVD will be at least
another 6 months.  The following link shows the date the film was
released in various countries, so you can estimate when the DVD will
be issued wherever you are.

http://uk.imdb.com/ReleaseDates?0252444

Hope this is of some help.

Cheers.

Mike



--- In filmtalkuk@y..., Mike Ballard <swillsqueal@y...> wrote:
> Thanks for the review.  I'll check it out.  Any idea
> when it'll be available on dvd?
>
> Cheers,
> Mike B)

Reply | Messages in this Topic (4)
#634 From: "Mike Ballard" <swillsqueal@...>
Date: Thu Nov 21, 2002 6:55 pm
Subject: Stone's throw... 		swillsqueal
Send Email Send Email
  
From Film Comment, Nov.-Dec. issue:

HE STANDS ALONE

Oliver Stone is working on a trilogy of documentaries on political
leaders
who oppose Western hegemony: the first on Fidel Castro (already
completed),
the second on Yasser Arafat, and the third on Kim-Jung-Il. For the
second
film, Stone has interviewed not only Arafat but Shimon Peres, Ariel
Sharon,
Benjamin Netanyahu, Ehud Barak and members of Al Aqsa.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)
#635 From: "Gary Couzens" <gjcouzens@...>
Date: Thu Nov 21, 2002 7:05 pm
Subject: Re: Re: Rabbit-Proof Fence [Phillip Noyce, 2002] 		garycouzens
Send Email Send Email
  
It's released in Australia on 10 December and is available for pre-order at
www.ezydvd.co.au (which is where I buy all my Australian DVDs) for A$32.95
(about £12). It's a two-disc special edition. I suspect you'll need a
multi-region player though, as discs from this distributor (Magna) are quite
often Region 4 encoded.

Gary
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike O'Brien" <mob61uk@...>
To: <filmtalkuk@...>
Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2002 1:58 PM
Subject: [filmtalkuk] Re: Rabbit-Proof Fence [Phillip Noyce, 2002]


> Hi Mike
>
> I can't find any scheduled release dates for the DVD.  It only came
> out here in the UK a week or so ago, so the DVD will be at least
> another 6 months.  The following link shows the date the film was
> released in various countries, so you can estimate when the DVD will
> be issued wherever you are.
>
> http://uk.imdb.com/ReleaseDates?0252444
>
> Hope this is of some help.
>
> Cheers.
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> --- In filmtalkuk@y..., Mike Ballard <swillsqueal@y...> wrote:
> > Thanks for the review.  I'll check it out.  Any idea
> > when it'll be available on dvd?
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Mike B)
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> filmtalkuk-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms.html
>
>

Reply | Messages in this Topic (4)
#636 From: "Mike O'Brien" <mob61uk@...>
Date: Sat Nov 23, 2002 12:17 am
Subject: Les Valseuses (Bertrand Blier, 1974) 		mob61uk
Send Email Send Email
  
I'm quite a fan of Blier's films, with their absurd, anarchic,
darkly comic plots and fresh cinematic style.  However, this is the
first of his films in which I have been disappointed.

Les Valseuses is Blier's first feature and is as radical and
provocative as many of his later films.  Two young men, played by
Gerard Depardieu and Patrick Dewaere, amuse themselves by stalking
people, stealing cars, abducting women, etc.  The tone of the film
is akin to the French New Wave films of the previous decade, and
very much in the spirit of breaking the cinematic taboos of its
day.  There are some really good scenes, but I just don't think the
whole enterprise holds together.  No matter how absurd Blier's
plots, they are usually faithful to their own internal logic.  In
this case, though, I feel this internal cohesion is missing.  There
is also a real sense that some of the more shocking scenes are
rather gratuitous.

It's certainly not a bad film, but in my opinion it does not come
anywhere near Blier's more mature work.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)
#637 From: "Mike O'Brien" <mob61uk@...>
Date: Sat Nov 23, 2002 6:48 pm
Subject: Pauline en Paulette [Lieven Debrauwer, 2000] 		mob61uk
Send Email Send Email
  
This is a lovely gentle and understated comedy drama.  Pauline is a
mentally handicapped 60 year old, who is cared for by her sister.
She worships her other sister Paulette, who owns a nearby shop and
is an amateur operatic singer, and is also rather embarrassed by
Pauline.  However, circumstances force Paulette to take on some
responsibilities.

Debrauwer keeps everything low-key, relying on the superb
performances (particularly Dora van der Groen as Pualine), and some
really good set designs.  The themes are gently probed - not too
deeply, but not are they just used as comedy fodder.

One of those films that has a warm glow to it.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)
#638 From: "Mike O'Brien" <mob61uk@...>
Date: Sun Nov 24, 2002 1:53 am
Subject: The City Of Lost Souls (Hyoryuu-gai) [Takashi Miike, 2000] 		mob61uk
Send Email Send Email
  
My only previous experience of a Miike film has been the
disturbingly violent but brilliant "Audition".  I keep hearing very
good things about this director, and so rented this film when I saw
it in the video shop.

Unlike Audition, this is much less serious, and though it has a lot
more killings, its just cartoon violence.  The film has a
preposterous storyline that seems to involve a macho Brazilian
shooting his way through Japan.  Having said that, the film is
enormous fun.  I am not normally a fan of action and adventure films
(I generally find them very boring), but this one is brilliantly
directed and seems to take a very tongue-in-cheek attitude to the
genre.  I particularly like the fighting chickens suddenly parodying
the famous freeze fame shot in The Matrix.

Great entertainment.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)
#639 From: "Mike" <filmfan99uk@...>
Date: Sun Nov 24, 2002 11:16 pm
Subject: Rabbit Proof Fence - UGC Trocadero 		filmfan99uk
Send Email Send Email
  
This is a quite extraordinary tale of Australian attempts at racial
purity. Thus worried about the consequences (?) of European whites
breeding with Aboriginal blacks, the authorities instigated a policy
in the Thirties (continued up to the Seventies) of forcibly removing
all half caste children from their parents, for placement in special
camps. RABBIT PROOF FENCE is the true story of three aboriginal
girls, who having been forcibly removed, flee the camp in an attempt
to navigate their way home to their mother, by virtue of a fence
across Western Australia.

The first thing that immediately made this film superior to the
godawful MAGDELINE SISTERS, is that those in charge of the scheme,
such as 'Mr Neville' (Kenneth Branagh) or the nuns who ran the camps,
were not portrayed as cartoon monsters. Instead they were well
meaning but hopelessly misguided people, who in 'Branaghs' words were
merely: "trying to protect these people from themselves". Of course
such is often the way of all human rights abuses, and as the saying
goes 'The road to Hell is paved with good intentions'.

The centrepiece of the story is the actual journey on foot across the
wilderness of these three litle waifs. This part of the film is in
many ways similar to Nic Roegs film WALKABOUT (minus of course a
naked 'Jenny Agutter' swimming - lets not go there). Anyway two of
the girls eventually make it home, but the ever present sadness in
their young faces seems to read as a script, on how the rest of their
lives will turn out. A point reinforced with the postscript at the
end, when we meet the real 70+ year old Molly and Daisy, and see how
history repeated itself.

Two questions for me at the end were: what was the Australian
authorities planning to do with all these children, when they grew
up ? Also is one half of Australia full of rabbits and the other half
full of carrots ?.

Mike
filmfan99uk

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)
#640 From: "Mike" <filmfan99uk@...>
Date: Thu Nov 28, 2002 7:29 pm
Subject: Donnie Darko - UGC Shaftesbury Avenue 		filmfan99uk
Send Email Send Email
  
"Hello I would like to join your unlimited monthly pass scheme" I
said.
"Yes you will need a bank statement, two id's, pint of blood, direct
debit" he said.
"No I just want to pay it all in one go on my credit card" I said.
"Oh well I am on my own, so try again at 4 o clock" he said.
"no I want to join now" I said.
"Oh well, have a free ticket to DONNIE DARKO which has just started,
and try again when you come out" he said.

So despite having missed the first ten minutes of this, it wasn't too
hard to pick up the thread. DONNIE DARKO is a troubled teenager
(aren't they all), who is both a paranoid schizophrenic, and subject
to hallucinations. Strange things start happening after an
aeroplane's engine crashes through the roof of his house; not least
of which is the continual appearance of a large ugly rabbit, who
keeps putting 'Donnie' up to various acts of vandalism. Anyway this
is surreal suburban America ala BLUE VELVET or AMERICAN BEAUTY, so at
times one wonders is it 'Donnie' or everyone else who are really
strange. Well I won't spoil the ending for you, instead just think of
THE SIXTH SENSE or THE OTHERS (see told you I wouldn't spoil it).

One other aside was that 'Drew Barrymoore' was looking sexy as ever,
as 'Donnies' English teacher. There was one poignant moment for me,
as she was walking into the school in a bad mood, while all the kids
were leaping about in a good one. It just seemed to juxtapose the
many worlds a child can inhabit, as opposed to the singular world one
can as a grown up. DONNIE DARKO of course, by nature of his
schizophrenia inhabits quite a few. So an interesting movie, but one
to wait for when it comes onto the TV, rather than dashing to the
cinema to catch it.

So anyway back at the desk of the UGC Shaftesbury Avenue, I was then
told that they didn't have any Unlimited Scheme forms, and was
advised to try the UGC Haymarket. So having trotted down there, they
appeared to be a bit more on the ball, and took my photo, took my
money, and gave me a membership card. Not a bad days work I thought,
until I got home and noticed the girl had written the EXPIRY DATE AS
28/11/02.

Watch this space.
filmfan99uk

Reply | Messages in this Topic (3)
#641 From: "Mike O'Brien" <mob61uk@...>
Date: Thu Nov 28, 2002 7:52 pm
Subject: The Devils [Ken Russell, 1971] 		mob61uk
Send Email Send Email
  
What a strange concoction this film is.  There is no doubting the
seriousness of its subject matter - religious and political intrigue
in 17th century France – but Russell just cannot resist constantly
undermining almost every scene with anachronistic "humour", or
misguided attempts at satire.  This meant that I could not take most
of the film very seriously.  In the end, it just becames a grotesque.

This is a shame, because it has a lot going for it.  Oliver Reed
gives a well judged, mature performance as the plotted against
Father Grandier.  There is also some fabulous set design from Derek
Jarman, complemented by a suitably surreal score from Peter Maxwell
Davies.  The famous scenes of writhing nuns in scenes of sexual
frenzy are also surprisingly powerful, and the final scenes with
Grandier are truly horrific as well as quite moving.

This could have been a great film, but for me at least, it's an
interesting failure.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)
#642 From: Robert Holz <mensch_uk@...>
Date: Fri Nov 29, 2002 8:32 am
Subject: Re: Donnie Darko - UGC Shaftesbury Avenue 		mensch_uk
Send Email Send Email
  
Mike
at the risk of sounding picky - A paranoid
schizophrenic by definition suffers from
hallucinations either psychological, visual or aural -
but always in terms of their way of thinking - fo
instance, the notion that a number of people are
conspiring to do something when they are not is an
hallucination.

Sorry to complain about the tautology. Film sounds
great; must go see it.

  --- Mike <filmfan99uk@...> wrote:
<HR>
<html><body>


<tt>
"Hello I would like to join your unlimited
monthly pass scheme" I <BR>
said.<BR>
"Yes you will need a bank statement, two id's,
pint of blood, direct <BR>
debit" he said.<BR>
"No I just want to pay it all in one go on my
credit card" I said.<BR>
"Oh well I am on my own, so try again at 4 o
clock" he said.<BR>
"no I want to join now" I said.<BR>
"Oh well, have a free ticket to DONNIE DARKO
which has just started, <BR>
and try again when you come out" he said.<BR>
<BR>
So despite having missed the first ten minutes of
this, it wasn't too <BR>
hard to pick up the thread. DONNIE DARKO is a troubled
teenager <BR>
(aren't they all), who is both a paranoid
schizophrenic, and subject <BR>
to hallucinations. Strange things start happening
after an <BR>
aeroplane's engine crashes through the roof of his
house; not least <BR>
of which is the continual appearance of a large ugly
rabbit, who <BR>
keeps putting 'Donnie' up to various acts of
vandalism. Anyway this <BR>
is surreal suburban America ala BLUE VELVET or
AMERICAN BEAUTY, so at <BR>
times one wonders is it 'Donnie' or everyone else who
are really <BR>
strange. Well I won't spoil the ending for you,
instead just think of <BR>
THE SIXTH SENSE or THE OTHERS (see told you I wouldn't
spoil it).<BR>
<BR>
One other aside was that 'Drew Barrymoore' was looking
sexy as ever, <BR>
as 'Donnies' English teacher. There was one poignant
moment for me, <BR>
as she was walking into the school in a bad mood,
while all the kids <BR>
were leaping about in a good one. It just seemed to
juxtapose the <BR>
many worlds a child can inhabit, as opposed to the
singular world one <BR>
can as a grown up. DONNIE DARKO of course, by nature
of his <BR>
schizophrenia inhabits quite a few. So an interesting
movie, but one <BR>
to wait for when it comes onto the TV, rather than
dashing to the <BR>
cinema to catch it.<BR>
<BR>
So anyway back at the desk of the UGC Shaftesbury
Avenue, I was then <BR>
told that they didn't have any Unlimited Scheme forms,
and was <BR>
advised to try the UGC Haymarket. So having trotted
down there, they <BR>
appeared to be a bit more on the ball, and took my
photo, took my <BR>
money, and gave me a membership card. Not a bad days
work I thought, <BR>
until I got home and noticed the girl had written the
EXPIRY DATE AS <BR>
28/11/02.<BR>
<BR>
Watch this space.<BR>
filmfan99uk <BR>
<BR>
<BR>
</tt>

<br>

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Reply | Messages in this Topic (3)
#643 From: "Mike" <filmfan99uk@...>
Date: Fri Nov 29, 2002 2:02 pm
Subject: Re: Donnie Darko - UGC Shaftesbury Avenue 		filmfan99uk
Send Email Send Email
  
Hi Robert

To be honest I was second hand quoting this, from the Donnies doctor
in the film; I wasn't totally sure what it meant.

Anyway the film is worth a look. If you are not expecting too much,
you may be pleasantly surprised. However I don't think it quite lives
up to some of the hype.

Mike
filmfan99uk


--- In filmtalkuk@y..., Robert Holz <mensch_uk@y...> wrote:
> Mike
> at the risk of sounding picky - A paranoid
> schizophrenic by definition suffers from
> hallucinations either psychological, visual or aural -
> but always in terms of their way of thinking - fo
> instance, the notion that a number of people are
> conspiring to do something when they are not is an
> hallucination.
>
> Sorry to complain about the tautology. Film sounds
> great; must go see it.
>
>  --- Mike <filmfan99uk@y...> wrote:
> <HR>
> <html><body>
>
>
> <tt>
> "Hello I would like to join your unlimited
> monthly pass scheme" I <BR>
> said.<BR>
> "Yes you will need a bank statement, two id's,
> pint of blood, direct <BR>
> debit" he said.<BR>
> "No I just want to pay it all in one go on my
> credit card" I said.<BR>
> "Oh well I am on my own, so try again at 4 o
> clock" he said.<BR>
> "no I want to join now" I said.<BR>
> "Oh well, have a free ticket to DONNIE DARKO
> which has just started, <BR>
> and try again when you come out" he said.<BR>
> <BR>
> So despite having missed the first ten minutes of
> this, it wasn't too <BR>
> hard to pick up the thread. DONNIE DARKO is a troubled
> teenager <BR>
> (aren't they all), who is both a paranoid
> schizophrenic, and subject <BR>
> to hallucinations. Strange things start happening
> after an <BR>
> aeroplane's engine crashes through the roof of his
> house; not least <BR>
> of which is the continual appearance of a large ugly
> rabbit, who <BR>
> keeps putting 'Donnie' up to various acts of
> vandalism. Anyway this <BR>
> is surreal suburban America ala BLUE VELVET or
> AMERICAN BEAUTY, so at <BR>
> times one wonders is it 'Donnie' or everyone else who
> are really <BR>
> strange. Well I won't spoil the ending for you,
> instead just think of <BR>
> THE SIXTH SENSE or THE OTHERS (see told you I wouldn't
> spoil it).<BR>
> <BR>
> One other aside was that 'Drew Barrymoore' was looking
> sexy as ever, <BR>
> as 'Donnies' English teacher. There was one poignant
> moment for me, <BR>
> as she was walking into the school in a bad mood,
> while all the kids <BR>
> were leaping about in a good one. It just seemed to
> juxtapose the <BR>
> many worlds a child can inhabit, as opposed to the
> singular world one <BR>
> can as a grown up. DONNIE DARKO of course, by nature
> of his <BR>
> schizophrenia inhabits quite a few. So an interesting
> movie, but one <BR>
> to wait for when it comes onto the TV, rather than
> dashing to the <BR>
> cinema to catch it.<BR>
> <BR>
> So anyway back at the desk of the UGC Shaftesbury
> Avenue, I was then <BR>
> told that they didn't have any Unlimited Scheme forms,
> and was <BR>
> advised to try the UGC Haymarket. So having trotted
> down there, they <BR>
> appeared to be a bit more on the ball, and took my
> photo, took my <BR>
> money, and gave me a membership card. Not a bad days
> work I thought, <BR>
> until I got home and noticed the girl had written the
> EXPIRY DATE AS <BR>
> 28/11/02.<BR>
> <BR>
> Watch this space.<BR>
> filmfan99uk <BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
> </tt>
>
> <br>
>
> <!-- |**|begin egp html banner|**| -->
>
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Reply | Messages in this Topic (3)
#644 From: "Mike O'Brien" <mob61uk@...>
Date: Fri Nov 29, 2002 5:39 pm
Subject: Drifting Clouds (Kauas Pilvet Karkaavat) [Aki Kaurismaki, 1996] 		mob61uk
Send Email Send Email
  
I have not seen any Kaurismaki films before, not even the
famous "Leningrad Cowboys Go America".  A few people have
recommended him, though, and this is the first of his films I have
been able to get hold of.

Minimalist is a word that is often used to describe Kaurismaki's
style, and I can see why.  On the video sleeve, the director
comments that "A film is always drawn into a certain scale.  If one
starts to shoot about and play with explosives, then nothing will be
enough.  If the film is tuned on a minimalist level, even the sound
of a cough is dramatic."  This film is certainly proof of this
theory, and works very well within its pared down style.  The use of
primary colour set designs, sparse dialogue, deadpan humour, all
contribute to a surreal, funny, and heart warming film.

The subject matter is pretty depressing though.  It deals with a
couple both experiencing unemployment in a recession hit Helsinki.
Kaurismaki, though, somehow manages to convey the underlying
strength of the couple's relationship with each other and their
friends, all through the use of almost no action, little dialogue,
and no camera trickery.

If you like lots of gags and plot twists, avoid this film.  If you
are prepared to just sit back and let yourself be drawn into
Kaurismaki's strange world, you may be in for a pleasant surprise.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)
#645 From: "Mike" <filmfan99uk@...>
Date: Fri Nov 29, 2002 7:53 pm
Subject: Changing Lanes - UGC Shaftesbury Avenue 		filmfan99uk
Send Email Send Email
  
So where was I ? Oh yes I turned up to the UGC Haymarket today to
point out that the Unlimited Cinema card they issued to me yesterday
on 28/11/02, had an expiry date of 28/11/02 written on the back.
"No problem" said the guy there, "it's only meant as a temporary card
anyway, until your real one turns up in about a month".
He then proceeded to scribble over the 11 converting into a dubious
looking 12. Not entirely convinced that another cinema would accept
this slightly obvious alteration, I trotted over to the UGC
Shaftesbury Avenue to try it out. Well so far so good, which is how I
ended up watching CHANGING LANES.

This is a tale of what happens when two worlds collide in the high
pressure cities that most of us now inhabit. The two worlds being
sleazy lawyer 'Ben Affleck', and custody and alcholism
battling 'Samuel L Jackson'. The collision takes place on the New
York freeway (spotted WTC again), with both men hurrying towards
important court appointments. Now 'Jackson' wants to do the old
exchange of details bit by the book, however 'Affleck' just wants to
get on the move again. So tossing 'Jackson' a blank cheque, he shoots
off leaving 'Jackson' stranded, with the parting words: "Better luck
next time". Unfortunately luck and time is out for 'Jackson', as by
the time he gets to court, the judge has already heard his case,
denying his plea to stop his ex wife and kids moving to Oregon.

Things however are no better for 'Affleck' as in mid court, he
discovers a vital case file has been left on top of 'Jacksons' car,
when he was writing out the cheque. Thus if he doesn't get the file
back, he could be indicted on a charge of corporate fraud.
Thus 'Afflecks' desperate quest to get his file back ends up being
scuppered, when 'Jackson' tells him he can only have his file back,
when 'Affleck' gives him back the twenty minutes that cost him his
kids. Thus the stage is set for a tit for tat battle of wills between
both men, desperate to have their way and prove a point.

Now there are some important points to be made here, about how self
destructive escalating any conflict can be. Also both men ultimately
lack any moral base in their lives, and think any problem can be
solved by offering a deal (i.e. 'Affleck' initially offers 'Jackson'
a new car, who in turn is offering his wife a new house), without
ever looking at the real root cause of the problem. I also think the
film covers one of the real evils of modern society, in that everyone
believes the world centres around themselves, and divides other
people into who can help them get on, and who is in their way.

Yet despite all those grandiose themes, I don't think this film ever
really cuts it. Far better (and far funnier) was the film TIN MEN
(that starred 'Richard Dreyfuss' and 'Danny de Vito') which again
started with a fender bender. Somehow with CHANGING LANES, you just
can't like either 'Affleck' or 'Jackson'; yes you see they have a
point of view, but it is not one you can have any real empathy with.
What does hack me off though, is YET A F****** GAIN, we have to have
the patronising happy Hollywood ending, cleaning up any grit that the
film mustered for itself. Do they think the cinema going public are
children who have to be patronised in this way; it makes me wonder!

Mike
filmfan99uk

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)
#646 From: "Mike O'Brien" <mob61uk@...>
Date: Sat Nov 30, 2002 1:14 am
Subject: Birthday Girl [Jez Butterworth, 2001] 		mob61uk
Send Email Send Email
  
This starts out as a story about an English loner (Ben Chaplin) who
buys a Russian mail-order bride (Nicole Kidman).  Later, some
friends of the bride turn up and the film suddenly becomes a
gangster movie.

The best thing about this film is Kidman: she turns in a good
performance (as usual).  Ben Chaplin, who I have been pretty
indifferent to in the past, is not bad – though a bit week at the
end.  The storyline is ludicrous, but quite amusing.

If you don't take the film too seriously, it's OK.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)
#647 From: "Mike O'Brien" <mob61uk@...>
Date: Sun Dec 1, 2002 8:54 am
Subject: Roberto Succo [Cedric Kahn, 2000] 		mob61uk
Send Email Send Email
  
I was very disappointed in this portrayal of real life serial
murdered Succo.  The film, especially at the beginning, lacked the
subtlety that most of the reviewers seemed to be praising: I found
it rather heavy handed and quite bland.  Things towards the end,
though, did come together for an impressive finale.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)
#648 From: "Mike O'Brien" <mob61uk@...>
Date: Sun Dec 1, 2002 9:19 am
Subject: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets [Chris Columbus, 2002] 		mob61uk
Send Email Send Email
  
I agree with what seems to have emerged as a pretty general
consensus about this film: its better than the first one.  This film
is a bit darker, and is all the better for it   Daniel Radcliffe's
acting has improved quite a bit (I thought it was quite lame in the
previous film), though I find Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley pretty
aggravating.  The performance that seals the show, for me, is Jason
Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy: it's worth the ticket price on its own.  On
the whole, a fun film.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)
#649 From: "Mike O'Brien" <mob61uk@...>
Date: Sun Dec 1, 2002 9:35 am
Subject: Witchfinder General [Michael Reeves, 1968] 		mob61uk
Send Email Send Email
  
Pretty much b-movie stuff by my book.  Quite a crass script, with
lots of "I'm now going to tell the audience what is happening" type
dialogue, and paper thin characterisation.  Price is pretty good as
the Witchfinder, even though he has to speak such bad lines.  The
only other saving grace I could find was the truly horrific last
scene of the film: very powerful.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)
#650 From: "Mike O'Brien" <mob61uk@...>
Date: Sun Dec 1, 2002 9:25 pm
Subject: Ice Age [Chris Wedge, 2002] 		mob61uk
Send Email Send Email
  
Very enjoyable.

The characters are likeable and funny, and there are some great
sight gags.  The opening sequence of the squirrel and his nut is
priceless.  The film does suffer badly with the oh so sweet and
sickly Disney feel, but its inventive enough to still be good fun.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)
#651 From: "Mike O'Brien" <mob61uk@...>
Date: Mon Dec 2, 2002 9:49 pm
Subject: Re: The Royal Tenenbaums 		mob61uk
Send Email Send Email
  
Well, I said I'd give this film a try on DVD (see below), and I
have.  I must admit that I was wrong.  This film's tone is just
right, and very funny.  I loved it.

Just goes to show that audience atmosphere and the people you are
with can radically affect your perception of a film.

--- In filmtalkuk@y..., "mob61uk" <mob61uk@y...> wrote:
> I'm going to be one of those "miserable sods who dislike this
> movie".
>
> Or rather, I should say I was very dissapointed with it, rather
than
> disliking it.  I loved the look of it, and the acting was
brilliant.
> But I just felt it was trying too hard to be a cutting edge,
> independent, wryly comic film.  It just felt flat.  Having said
that,
> the showing I saw was rather spoilt by an extreemly anoying person
> who laughed very very loudly in a sort of manic way all through
the
> film.  It was consequently rather difficult to enjoy the tone of
film.
>
> I shall give it another try when it comes out on DVD.
>
>

Reply | Messages in this Topic (12)
#652 From: "Mike O'Brien" <mob61uk@...>
Date: Tue Dec 3, 2002 8:40 pm
Subject: Dinner Rush [Bob Giraldi, 2000] 		mob61uk
Send Email Send Email
  
A little gem of a film.

Mostly set in the confines of a small upmarket Italian restaurant in
New York, this movie mixes the hectic high pressured downstairs
world of the kitchen, and the upstairs restaurant world with its
strange mix of characters – from pretentious art critics to
gangsters trying to muscle in on the business.

Gangsters feature quite prominently in the plot, but the real joy of
the film is watching the beautifully filmed ensemble work, and the
fantastic performance of Danny Aiello, the central character around
which the whole piece revolves.

The ending is rather neatly pulled together, but it is so clever
that I think it works very well.

Highly recommended.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)
#653 From: "Mike" <filmfan99uk@...>
Date: Tue Dec 3, 2002 9:39 pm
Subject: The Quiet American - UGC Shaftesbury Avenue 		filmfan99uk
Send Email Send Email
  
Strangely enougth this is directed by the same guy 'Phillip Noyce'
who directed RABBIT PROOF FENCE. Anyway in this adaption of a 'Graham
Greene' novel, we are in early Fifties Vietnam, with the French army
fighting the Commies far away from exotic Saigon.

'Thomas Fowler' (Michael Caine) plays a seasoned Times journalist,
onto a good thing in this out of the way posting. For starters he is
on salary, despite only submitting three stories in the last year,
and more to the point he is shacked up with the graceful young
Vietnamese beauty 'Phuong' (Hai Yen).

However two things happen to upset 'Fowlers' applecart. First their
is the arrival of American medical aid (Duh C.I.A.) worker 'Mr Pyle'
(Brendan Fraser), who immediately makes a play for 'Phoung'. Then
horror of horrors, the Times fed up with him being out there on a
paid junket, wants him to come back to London and work for a living.
This second problem 'Fowler' is able to deal with, as he starts to
become a little more proactive looking for stories to send home
concerning the civil war. The first problem is not so
straightforward. 'Phoung' wants him to marry her, but as his wife in
London will never give him a divorce, she doesn't want to end up
alone; especially as she will be unable to have a Vietnamese husband,
having lived with a European. Thus she decides to throw her lot in
with 'Pyle'.

Eventually 'Fowler' susses 'Pyle' is C.I.A. (I sussed it at the start
at the film, when he said he was an American Aid Worker - surely an
oxymoron). Thus despite his claim to be a straight up Neutral
reporter, he is forced to take sides when the American sponsored
atrocities start to mount up.

I am not entirely sure what to make of this film. I read the other
day that the film is of some contemporary relevance, giving the
Afghanistan, Iraq (and I suppose Kosovo) situations. On the other
hand, it could also be just another love triangle picture, with
Fifties Saigon as the backdrop. The fact that 'Caine' hasn't
forgotten how to act, does not in any way make this the performance
of his career (as it trumpets on the poster). What does stand out
though, is the stunning (and I repeat) graceful beauty of 'Hai Yen'.
One would hope this is not the last we see of her (as seems to be the
case with many Asian actresses who touch base with mainstream
Hollywood).

Despite not being entirely involved or convinced by THE QUIET
AMERICAN, I would say it is still one to consider catching.

Mike
filmfan99uk

(God I love this UGC Pass)

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)
#654 From: "Mike" <filmfan99uk@...>
Date: Thu Dec 5, 2002 10:05 am
Subject: Die Another Day - UGC Shaftesbury Avenue 		filmfan99uk
Send Email Send Email
  
Hmmm looks like 'Bond' is up to his old tricks again. Even though
it's getting harder and harder to find a piece of Cold War these
days, up he pops in North Korea to give those Commie Bastards what
for. Oh yes and there is also the obligatory megalomaniac intent on
destroying the world. Normally all in a days work for 'Bond', however
not this time as an MI6 traitor has betrayed him, leaving him on the
wrong end of an eighteen month slapping around. Still a least he took
a few of them out in the process, or did he? As when he finally gets
handed back to the West, two of those dodgy Korean types have gone in
for plastic surgery in a big way, as well as come up with a satellite
that can melt snow and a few other things besides.

Well of course none of that matters a jot, as with a 'Bond' film all
that counts is the locations and the girls. This time round we are in
North Korea (said that already), Cuba, London (of course), and
Iceland (including an Ice Palace); gawd I can barely stop myself
heading for Thomas Cook. The girls are quite spiffing as well. First
we have 'Halle Berry' as some sort of American swimwear model, who
also has a bad attitude when it come to the North Koreans. Then we
have 'Rosamund Pike' as a terribly British MI6 spy, who is also an
Olympic fencing champion (doncha know), with some impressive padding.
Finally we have some old dame as 'Bonds' boss, who doesn't exactly go
out of her way to welcome him back to the West. Needless to
say 'Bond' shags the first two, but passes on the Queen Victoria
lookalike.

Anyway it is all a terrific hoot, with plenty of explosions, bullets,
and spectacular scenery to satisfy the most demanding of action
buffs. 'Brosnan' is impressive as always as the super smoothy with a
hard as nails edge. A few years ago I might have thought this had all
become a little AUSTIN POWERS/DOCTOR EVILISH; however in a post
September 11th/Bin Laden world, 'Bond' has probably extended his
contract.

Needless to say this needs to be seen at the cinema, and not on your
TV. The special effects are something else, none more so than 'Bonds'
invisible car; lets see Hollywood top that.

Mike
filmfan99uk

Reply | Messages in this Topic (2)
#655 From: "Umit Unal" <asyadada@...>
Date: Thu Dec 5, 2002 2:17 pm
Subject: 9 in london 		asyadada
Send Email Send Email
  
My first feature film as director, 9, is being shown in London- Rio
Cinema during 10th Turkish Film Festival. For information
http://www.riocinema.co.uk
For info on 9:
http://geocities.com/asyadada/dokuzpage.indexhtml
Talk to you later.

Reply | Messages in this Topic (2)
#656 From: Robert Holz <mensch_uk@...>
Date: Thu Dec 5, 2002 5:24 pm
Subject: Re: Die Another Day - UGC Shaftesbury Avenue 		mensch_uk
Send Email Send Email
  
I liked this bond romp.
It is interesting that the films are now heavily self
referential. Not so much in Cinematic terms but in
regards to the iconography - it makes specific
reference to rosa Klebb's poison tipped shoe and
several other "Bond Gadgets" that have appeared in
earlier films. They seem to be saying that a Bond film
is almost a cultural mueum.

  --- Mike <filmfan99uk@...> wrote:
<HR>
<html><body>


<tt>
Hmmm looks like 'Bond' is up to his old tricks again.
Even though <BR>
it's getting harder and harder to find a piece of Cold
War these <BR>
days, up he pops in North Korea to give those Commie
Bastards what <BR>
for. Oh yes and there is also the obligatory
megalomaniac intent on <BR>
destroying the world. Normally all in a days work for
'Bond', however <BR>
not this time as an MI6 traitor has betrayed him,
leaving him on the <BR>
wrong end of an eighteen month slapping around. Still
a least he took <BR>
a few of them out in the process, or did he? As when
he finally gets <BR>
handed back to the West, two of those dodgy Korean
types have gone in <BR>
for plastic surgery in a big way, as well as come up
with a satellite <BR>
that can melt snow and a few other things besides.<BR>
<BR>
Well of course none of that matters a jot, as with a
'Bond' film all <BR>
that counts is the locations and the girls. This time
round we are in <BR>
North Korea (said that already), Cuba, London (of
course), and <BR>
Iceland (including an Ice Palace); gawd I can barely
stop myself <BR>
heading for Thomas Cook. The girls are quite spiffing
as well. First <BR>
we have 'Halle Berry' as some sort of American
swimwear model, who <BR>
also has a bad attitude when it come to the North
Koreans. Then we <BR>
have 'Rosamund Pike' as a terribly British MI6 spy,
who is also an <BR>
Olympic fencing champion (doncha know), with some
impressive padding. <BR>
Finally we have some old dame as 'Bonds' boss, who
doesn't exactly go <BR>
out of her way to welcome him back to the West.
Needless to <BR>
say 'Bond' shags the first two, but passes on the
Queen Victoria <BR>
lookalike.<BR>
<BR>
Anyway it is all a terrific hoot, with plenty of
explosions, bullets, <BR>
and spectacular scenery to satisfy the most demanding
of action <BR>
buffs. 'Brosnan' is impressive as always as the super
smoothy with a <BR>
hard as nails edge. A few years ago I might have
thought this had all <BR>
become a little AUSTIN POWERS/DOCTOR EVILISH; however
in a post <BR>
September 11th/Bin Laden world, 'Bond' has probably
extended his <BR>
contract.<BR>
<BR>
Needless to say this needs to be seen at the cinema,
and not on your <BR>
TV. The special effects are something else, none more
so than 'Bonds' <BR>
invisible car; lets see Hollywood top that.<BR>
<BR>
Mike<BR>
filmfan99uk <BR>
<BR>
<BR>
</tt>

<br>

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