<b>TrolleyDaves Film 09 #1</b>
Welcome to the first post of what I hope to make a semi-regular thing, film news and reviews! I plan on reviewing new and classic films. I'll review Hollywoods output as well but I'll try and focus on stuff that not everyone might have seen/heard of.
For this post I've just reviewed 2 films, one full review and one quick review. In the future though I'll hopefully be reviewing 4 or 5 films in each one. If you've got a review you want to submit then send me a PM and I'll happily include it.
First up though is some movie news :
<b>News</b>
<i>Go to hell with your horror remakes!</i>
I honestly don't mind remakes of some horror films, while they're not always on par with the orginal sometimes they bring their own twist to the tale while still retaining what made the original scary. Usually though they're just complete and utter bollocks, missing the point of what made the original movie so scary/creepy. The Omen remake is a good example. Yes it had more gore, but where was the evil atmosphere. It's not just blood and guts that make a horror movie great, it's about the underlying evil and menace. It's one of the things that made Wes Cravens first outing The Last House On The Left one of my favourite films of all time.
It's just plain menacing, yes there's some violence in there (with a litle bit of gore) but that's not what makes it such a great horror. Kruge (David Hess) and Co. are evil, simple as. There's no relying on loud music during a quiet scene to offer you a scare, the characters themselves are the horror. That's why I died a little inside when I saw that they had remade it. The fact that they were doing escaped my radar, either that or my brain just wasn't capable of processing the fact that someone would be raping one of my favourite movies in the near future!
I've watched the trailer, and like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Omen the makers of this remake have completely missed the point of what made The Last House On The Left such a horrifying movie. Yes the plot is similar but from the looks of it they've missed the point. Why Hollywood why? Why must you take a film so full of chills and pure basic horror and turn it into a diluted mess that goes for style over substance? The original LHOTL had no real style, looking more like a home movie with a folk style soundtrack but damnit it was powerful.
<i>Friday The 13th</i>
Another one of my favourite films has been remade. While Friday The 13th was undoubtedly a slasher flick it also had a nice twist at the end which is what made it so original and
still stand up today. From what I've heard about the remake though that twist at the end has gone. Shame on you Hollywood remakers, shame on you!
<i>A Clockwork Orange not being remade - hooray!</i>
That's right folks, a remake of ACO was in the works but has now been cancelled. While the reasons for it not being remade are sad I'm happy as hell that it's not happening. It was being remade by Heath Ledger, who had planned to play Alex DeLarge. While there's no denying that Heath Ledger was a fantastic actor, he most definitely did not have the menace or the presence to carry off a character like Alex.
<i>Ip Man 2 going ahead!</i>
Ok, I know most of you probably haven't seen Ip Man yet but once you have you'll be happy the sequel is going ahead! It once again stars Donnie Yen in the main role and this time focuses on Ip Mans life in Hong Kong, including the portion of his life spent training Bruce Lee. The question I'm wondering though is will they show Bruce Lee in an idolized form or will it show him in a realistic light?
<b>Reviews</b>
<b><i>Ip Man (2008)</i></b>
<img src="http://www.gscmovies.com.my/movies/img/3ipman00.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Directed by : Wilson Yip
Stars : Donnie Yen (Drunken Tai Chi, SPL), Simon Yam (Election, SPL)
IMDB : <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1220719/" target="_blank">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1220719/</a>
This story was a long time coming! It's the first film based on the story of one of the greatest Wing Chun masters, Yip Man - the same master that taught Bruce Lee. While this story may upset a few because it makes no reference to Bruce Lee, it is one of the greatest martial arts movies of all time.
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YkHmYJmfuWg&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YkHmYJmfuWg&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
I've always been a big fan of Donnie Yen, more so than Bruce Lee, Jet Li and Jackie Chan. His martial arts ability is outstanding and always an impressive watch. What makes him really stand out above the names more nomrally known to western audiences is the fact that his acting ability is just as strong as his martial arts ability. His ability to suck you into the characters he plays is astounding and can make you feel for the character he's playing even when he's beating someone to death with a bloodied pair of fists! In this one he really shines and shows you why he should be more famous than Jet Li! He plays the Ip Man character with such heart that he really draws you into the role, the range of emotion he shows is incredible and it's what sets this martial arts masterpiece miles above the usual.
<img src="http://pix.gbatemp.net/61451/Donnie_IpMan.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
The film is set during the Japanese occupation of China and tells the story of why Ip Man had to flee from his hometown in mainland China to Hong Kong. The film starts out by introducing us to Ip Man through his family life, his martial arts ability and his friends. He is a peaceful, non-violent man at heart who even when challenged to duels strives to take the least violent route to a win.
This all changes though when the Japanese invade and turn Ip Mans home town upside down. Still promoting peace even through the tyranny that was the Japanese occupation of China his mind is changed when he witnesses the brutal shooting of another Chinese martial arts master at the hands of a Japanese soldier. For most people this is where the film will start, as this is where the fighting really starts. Ip Man then challenges, and destroys, 10 Japanese soldiers.
The general is so impressed by Ip Mans ability he demands that he begins training the Japanese army. Ip Man declines and the general then challenges him to a duel, which Ip Man declines. He then goes into hiding and a hunt for him by the Japanese general begins which eventually ends in Ip Man and the general fighting a duel in the town center and Ip Man fleeing mainland China.
Yes, it all sounds standard martial arts movie fare but it really isn't. The film has alot of heart, and the Ip Man character is deep. The film doesn't focus solely on the martial arts element of Ip Mans life, it focuses on what made him so great. His wisdom, his knowledge, his personality and his kindness. Here was a man capable of overwhelming fighting ability yet even when faced with a duel with another martial arts master he chooses the peaceful path each time, even during duels!
Don't get me wrong though, there's plenty of violence in this flick. It's also some of the most brutal and honest martial arts violence I've seen in a film. When people get hit they don't just fly back, roll over and become unconcious. Limbs and bones break, blood and teeth fly and opponents are destroyed quickly and brutally. There are moments in the action where you'll be wondering if the stuntmen were paid extra by the production team to take real punches! I did at least!
The film is beautifully shot, and contains all the style of the usual Wilson Yip film. As I never lived in China during the Japanese occupation I can't say whether it captures it perfectly or not, but it definitely looks great! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> You'll find yourself drawn into the story visually with each shot looking like time was spent figuring out the perfect angle and lighting. It almost reminds of a Kubrick film with the amount of attention paid to them. The soundtrack is also perfect for the film, while it doesn't contain any music as memorable as the theme to Once Upon A Time In China it is fantastic and helps draw you further into the story.
All in all this is an incredible film, not just as a martial arts film but also as a story of struggle, survival and the wisdom of peace. Even if you're not a fan of the genre you will probably still be drawn in by the great performances, characters and story. If you're a fan of the genre then all I can say is you've never seen anything like this! The fighting is spectacular, and spectacularly brutal!
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3qhPDEOYbx4&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3qhPDEOYbx4&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
Overall : 10/10 - This is a must see for fans of the genre, the balance of story, characters and action are perfect. The fight scenes are incredible.
<b><i>Quick review : Rocknrolla (2008)</i></b>
<img src="http://www.filmofilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/rocknrolla-poster_m.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Directed by : Guy Ritchie
Stars : Tom Wilkinson (The Full Monty, Batman Begins), Gerard Butler (300, Reign Of Fire)
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_t0PnE1P_E0&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_t0PnE1P_E0&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
TrolleyDave says :
'At last Guy Ritchie returns to making the type of film he makes best, the bumbling crime caper comedy. While I enjoyed Revolver to some extent Ritchie tried to be smarter than his actual brainpower. Full of pointless twists that weren't really as clever as he thought.
Not with Rocknrolla though! This a return to idiotic criminals and their bumbling antics. The main character is a "fixer", someone who uses their contacts to ensure that councils give planning permission and that kind of thing. The character has made a deal with Russian gangster to get him planning permission for a building. The Russian mobster then lends him a painting and the that's where the cockney fixers problems really begin.
Like Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels the plotline is intricate and each characters storyline interweaves with all the other characters. Like Snatch there is ALOT going on. This is why I don't want to tell you much about the story, each event that happens in the film has a kind of cause and effect so telling you something may actually ruin certain moments for you! If you've seen Snatch you'll know exactly what I mean.
What I'll do instead is tell that it's one of the funniest films I've seen recently and I would rate it as highly as I rate Snatch. It's fast paced, contains some stellar dialogue and the story never bores you. Put it this way, by the middle of the opening monologue I switched off the 360 and started paying attention. Then by the the time the opening titles had started I was gripped.
The dialogue is sharp, funny and classic Guy Ritchie. The film has a similar visual style to Snatch, where it's quick, bright and loud rather than the subtle, casual style of Lock Stock. The dialogue is heavy on the cockney and the accents are quite thick on some, Gerard Butlers Scottish accent is strong, so Americans may need the occasional subtitle use.'
p1ngy says :
'So I watched RockNRolla, it was good, a lot better then Revolver thats for sure, I didnt switch this one off like I did with Revolver at least. However Im not sure that its that great either, I liked where Guy Ritchie is going with this, but at times I found myself loosing interest in it. It definitely has its moments but at times I thought it dragged a bit. I liked how this film had less slapstick and stupidity then say Snatch did, the dialogue was a bit less forced then his other films too. Less over the top cockney stereotypical dialogue then usual, but I dont know, I found it lacked something, that little oomph you get from Guy Ritchie at his best. I wouldnt say its that hilarious either, like the way you made out in your review, yeah it had humorous moments, a few classic lines and some nice visual gags. But I wouldnt really class it as a comedy the way I would with Lock Stock or Snatch.
Im a bit on the fence with this one, I didnt hate it, but I dont think I would watch it again either. Basically if someone asked me about RockNRolla I think I would just say "Its ok"'
Rating : 8/10 - All in all a very enjoyable comedy in the usual Guy Ritchie style.
Next time I'll hopefully be reviewing some new films as well as Redneck Zombies, The Promise and The Orphanage.
Welcome to the first post of what I hope to make a semi-regular thing, film news and reviews! I plan on reviewing new and classic films. I'll review Hollywoods output as well but I'll try and focus on stuff that not everyone might have seen/heard of.
For this post I've just reviewed 2 films, one full review and one quick review. In the future though I'll hopefully be reviewing 4 or 5 films in each one. If you've got a review you want to submit then send me a PM and I'll happily include it.
First up though is some movie news :
<b>News</b>
<i>Go to hell with your horror remakes!</i>
I honestly don't mind remakes of some horror films, while they're not always on par with the orginal sometimes they bring their own twist to the tale while still retaining what made the original scary. Usually though they're just complete and utter bollocks, missing the point of what made the original movie so scary/creepy. The Omen remake is a good example. Yes it had more gore, but where was the evil atmosphere. It's not just blood and guts that make a horror movie great, it's about the underlying evil and menace. It's one of the things that made Wes Cravens first outing The Last House On The Left one of my favourite films of all time.
It's just plain menacing, yes there's some violence in there (with a litle bit of gore) but that's not what makes it such a great horror. Kruge (David Hess) and Co. are evil, simple as. There's no relying on loud music during a quiet scene to offer you a scare, the characters themselves are the horror. That's why I died a little inside when I saw that they had remade it. The fact that they were doing escaped my radar, either that or my brain just wasn't capable of processing the fact that someone would be raping one of my favourite movies in the near future!
I've watched the trailer, and like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Omen the makers of this remake have completely missed the point of what made The Last House On The Left such a horrifying movie. Yes the plot is similar but from the looks of it they've missed the point. Why Hollywood why? Why must you take a film so full of chills and pure basic horror and turn it into a diluted mess that goes for style over substance? The original LHOTL had no real style, looking more like a home movie with a folk style soundtrack but damnit it was powerful.
<i>Friday The 13th</i>
Another one of my favourite films has been remade. While Friday The 13th was undoubtedly a slasher flick it also had a nice twist at the end which is what made it so original and
still stand up today. From what I've heard about the remake though that twist at the end has gone. Shame on you Hollywood remakers, shame on you!
<i>A Clockwork Orange not being remade - hooray!</i>
That's right folks, a remake of ACO was in the works but has now been cancelled. While the reasons for it not being remade are sad I'm happy as hell that it's not happening. It was being remade by Heath Ledger, who had planned to play Alex DeLarge. While there's no denying that Heath Ledger was a fantastic actor, he most definitely did not have the menace or the presence to carry off a character like Alex.
<i>Ip Man 2 going ahead!</i>
Ok, I know most of you probably haven't seen Ip Man yet but once you have you'll be happy the sequel is going ahead! It once again stars Donnie Yen in the main role and this time focuses on Ip Mans life in Hong Kong, including the portion of his life spent training Bruce Lee. The question I'm wondering though is will they show Bruce Lee in an idolized form or will it show him in a realistic light?
<b>Reviews</b>
<b><i>Ip Man (2008)</i></b>
<img src="http://www.gscmovies.com.my/movies/img/3ipman00.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Directed by : Wilson Yip
Stars : Donnie Yen (Drunken Tai Chi, SPL), Simon Yam (Election, SPL)
IMDB : <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1220719/" target="_blank">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1220719/</a>
This story was a long time coming! It's the first film based on the story of one of the greatest Wing Chun masters, Yip Man - the same master that taught Bruce Lee. While this story may upset a few because it makes no reference to Bruce Lee, it is one of the greatest martial arts movies of all time.
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YkHmYJmfuWg&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YkHmYJmfuWg&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
I've always been a big fan of Donnie Yen, more so than Bruce Lee, Jet Li and Jackie Chan. His martial arts ability is outstanding and always an impressive watch. What makes him really stand out above the names more nomrally known to western audiences is the fact that his acting ability is just as strong as his martial arts ability. His ability to suck you into the characters he plays is astounding and can make you feel for the character he's playing even when he's beating someone to death with a bloodied pair of fists! In this one he really shines and shows you why he should be more famous than Jet Li! He plays the Ip Man character with such heart that he really draws you into the role, the range of emotion he shows is incredible and it's what sets this martial arts masterpiece miles above the usual.
<img src="http://pix.gbatemp.net/61451/Donnie_IpMan.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
The film is set during the Japanese occupation of China and tells the story of why Ip Man had to flee from his hometown in mainland China to Hong Kong. The film starts out by introducing us to Ip Man through his family life, his martial arts ability and his friends. He is a peaceful, non-violent man at heart who even when challenged to duels strives to take the least violent route to a win.
This all changes though when the Japanese invade and turn Ip Mans home town upside down. Still promoting peace even through the tyranny that was the Japanese occupation of China his mind is changed when he witnesses the brutal shooting of another Chinese martial arts master at the hands of a Japanese soldier. For most people this is where the film will start, as this is where the fighting really starts. Ip Man then challenges, and destroys, 10 Japanese soldiers.
The general is so impressed by Ip Mans ability he demands that he begins training the Japanese army. Ip Man declines and the general then challenges him to a duel, which Ip Man declines. He then goes into hiding and a hunt for him by the Japanese general begins which eventually ends in Ip Man and the general fighting a duel in the town center and Ip Man fleeing mainland China.
Yes, it all sounds standard martial arts movie fare but it really isn't. The film has alot of heart, and the Ip Man character is deep. The film doesn't focus solely on the martial arts element of Ip Mans life, it focuses on what made him so great. His wisdom, his knowledge, his personality and his kindness. Here was a man capable of overwhelming fighting ability yet even when faced with a duel with another martial arts master he chooses the peaceful path each time, even during duels!
Don't get me wrong though, there's plenty of violence in this flick. It's also some of the most brutal and honest martial arts violence I've seen in a film. When people get hit they don't just fly back, roll over and become unconcious. Limbs and bones break, blood and teeth fly and opponents are destroyed quickly and brutally. There are moments in the action where you'll be wondering if the stuntmen were paid extra by the production team to take real punches! I did at least!
The film is beautifully shot, and contains all the style of the usual Wilson Yip film. As I never lived in China during the Japanese occupation I can't say whether it captures it perfectly or not, but it definitely looks great! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> You'll find yourself drawn into the story visually with each shot looking like time was spent figuring out the perfect angle and lighting. It almost reminds of a Kubrick film with the amount of attention paid to them. The soundtrack is also perfect for the film, while it doesn't contain any music as memorable as the theme to Once Upon A Time In China it is fantastic and helps draw you further into the story.All in all this is an incredible film, not just as a martial arts film but also as a story of struggle, survival and the wisdom of peace. Even if you're not a fan of the genre you will probably still be drawn in by the great performances, characters and story. If you're a fan of the genre then all I can say is you've never seen anything like this! The fighting is spectacular, and spectacularly brutal!
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3qhPDEOYbx4&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3qhPDEOYbx4&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
Overall : 10/10 - This is a must see for fans of the genre, the balance of story, characters and action are perfect. The fight scenes are incredible.
<b><i>Quick review : Rocknrolla (2008)</i></b>
<img src="http://www.filmofilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/rocknrolla-poster_m.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Directed by : Guy Ritchie
Stars : Tom Wilkinson (The Full Monty, Batman Begins), Gerard Butler (300, Reign Of Fire)
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_t0PnE1P_E0&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_t0PnE1P_E0&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
TrolleyDave says :
'At last Guy Ritchie returns to making the type of film he makes best, the bumbling crime caper comedy. While I enjoyed Revolver to some extent Ritchie tried to be smarter than his actual brainpower. Full of pointless twists that weren't really as clever as he thought.
Not with Rocknrolla though! This a return to idiotic criminals and their bumbling antics. The main character is a "fixer", someone who uses their contacts to ensure that councils give planning permission and that kind of thing. The character has made a deal with Russian gangster to get him planning permission for a building. The Russian mobster then lends him a painting and the that's where the cockney fixers problems really begin.
Like Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels the plotline is intricate and each characters storyline interweaves with all the other characters. Like Snatch there is ALOT going on. This is why I don't want to tell you much about the story, each event that happens in the film has a kind of cause and effect so telling you something may actually ruin certain moments for you! If you've seen Snatch you'll know exactly what I mean.
What I'll do instead is tell that it's one of the funniest films I've seen recently and I would rate it as highly as I rate Snatch. It's fast paced, contains some stellar dialogue and the story never bores you. Put it this way, by the middle of the opening monologue I switched off the 360 and started paying attention. Then by the the time the opening titles had started I was gripped.
The dialogue is sharp, funny and classic Guy Ritchie. The film has a similar visual style to Snatch, where it's quick, bright and loud rather than the subtle, casual style of Lock Stock. The dialogue is heavy on the cockney and the accents are quite thick on some, Gerard Butlers Scottish accent is strong, so Americans may need the occasional subtitle use.'
p1ngy says :
'So I watched RockNRolla, it was good, a lot better then Revolver thats for sure, I didnt switch this one off like I did with Revolver at least. However Im not sure that its that great either, I liked where Guy Ritchie is going with this, but at times I found myself loosing interest in it. It definitely has its moments but at times I thought it dragged a bit. I liked how this film had less slapstick and stupidity then say Snatch did, the dialogue was a bit less forced then his other films too. Less over the top cockney stereotypical dialogue then usual, but I dont know, I found it lacked something, that little oomph you get from Guy Ritchie at his best. I wouldnt say its that hilarious either, like the way you made out in your review, yeah it had humorous moments, a few classic lines and some nice visual gags. But I wouldnt really class it as a comedy the way I would with Lock Stock or Snatch.
Im a bit on the fence with this one, I didnt hate it, but I dont think I would watch it again either. Basically if someone asked me about RockNRolla I think I would just say "Its ok"'
Rating : 8/10 - All in all a very enjoyable comedy in the usual Guy Ritchie style.
Next time I'll hopefully be reviewing some new films as well as Redneck Zombies, The Promise and The Orphanage.
