Reviews
Toemarok (1998)
A great start...
My friend rented this feature at my local Hong Kong video store, this Korean Horror film is really quite interesting. The effects are top notch, the premise and characters are beautifully fleshed out and the suspense is built up perfectly.
For a first feature, KC Park did a marvelous job, and I hope this becomes a series. I look forward to Park's next film.
Leprechaun 4: In Space (1996)
This movie made my week.
I just bought the 'Leprechaun 4: In Space Special Edition DVD' this morning. Why? Just so I could say that I have the special edition. My fetish for crappy movies aside, and the fact that I haven't figured out what the 'special' part of this 'special edition' is aside, I was overwhelmed at how much fun this movie is.
The problem is, it's targeted to the wrong audience.
Leprechaun 4 isn't a bad, bad, BAD (I really hated the first 3) slasher flick like the original trilogy. No, it's probably the funniest sci-fi spoof I've ever seen.
The Fifth Element had a few in-jokes. Leprechaun 4 is an out-and-out parody. In the film we have send us of classic sci-fi's like The Fly, Alien, Aliens, Star Wars, I mean name it! It's in here!
The commandos (a la Aliens) spout every cliche in the book. They even have a 'tough chick' and 'civilian chick' along for the ride. The mad scientist (picture a German Dr. Evil) is painfully funny as he boasts his own brilliance every chance he gets. Equally as entertaining (if not more so) is his sniviling dork of an assisstant. Especially when he tries to stand up to the commandos.
Oh yeah, and of course we have the leprechaun, who has finally found a willing bride who is just as megalomaniacal as he is. The scenes where the argue and secretly plot the others demise are among the funniest.
Way worth a rent, and if you find the $7.99 DVD like I did, buy it. Call your buddies over and have a laugh.
Highlander: Endgame (2000)
The TV Series Continues...
Like most, I went in to this expecting another lacking Highlander sequel. In fact, I only went because my younger brother suckered me into it.
I was quite suprised by what I saw!
Endgame follows the continuity of the series (The Gathering hasn't happened yet), thus Highlander 2 & 3 -and the end of the original- don't exist. This shucks the burden of trying to explain how Connor is suddenly immortal, AGAIN.
More so, the movie really belongs to Duncan (Adrian Paul), who we find out -along with Connor- both have a few demons in their past, which makes for some great character work. In Endgame, we find Connor tired of living his life surrounded by death, and Christopher Lambert plays it for all he's worth.
Also of note, Endgame's villain Jakob has very personal reasons for his vendetta and it makes for a very dark character (versus the usual, just for evil's sake Highlander villain).
Now, Endgame has it's flaws, it is a bit slow and uneven. It does appear (and feel) that a few scenes are missing. Notably the scene of Jakob slitting in two that is seen heavily in the trailers is gone. If that's good or bad depends on your tastes I imagine. I was kind of relieved. Also, some loose ends were still loose at the end, but since the gathering hasn't happened yet, a sequel to tie these up is possible (and unlike the previous sequels, will MAKE SENSE and FOLLOW CONTINUITY...I hope)
In summary, Endgame is worth seeing to fans of the TV series, and hopefully to fans who have given up on the films. I hope to see another film with Adrian Paul.
Shin seiki Evangelion Gekijô-ban: Shito shinsei (1997)
Waste of Time
All that this film is, is a 45 minute rehash of the series and an (edited) first 15-20 minutes of End of Evangelion.
End of Evangelion is the real movie in this series, and it is VERY worth your time.
This isn't
Shin seiki Evangelion Gekijô-ban: Air/Magokoro wo, kimi ni (1997)
Pure Art.
This is the perfect ending to a great series. It is truly a powerful film.
The animation was superb, the music was astonishing. The only two complaints one could have is that it didn't answer all of the loose ends of the series (most, but not all), and that it is certainly more disturbing.
Among my favorites.
Fung wan: Hung ba tin ha (1998)
The best comic book movie ever. Period.
Everything about this movie is perfect. Well rounded characters, fantastic acting, breath-taking effects, exciting action, beautiful scenery, great music.
If you get the chance to see it, do.
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
The Great, Plotless Gut-Buster!
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me has next to no plot, but as a viewer, you just don't care.
It is so gut-bustingly hilarious from start to finish, that any shortcomings just disappear.
(speaking of shortcomings, new character Mini-Me steals the show with the bulk of the best gags.)
Part 2 in the series puts aside subtle charms for a bit more of a 'There's Something About Mary' approach to comedy, but there's still a lot of Mike Myers trademark humour present.
The only real let down for me was the waste of Heather Graham, who is a very talented actress (see Boogie Nights), but just seemed to stand around and look pretty. A dull contrast next to Elizabeth Hurley.
None-the-less, go see it... a LOT!
8/10
From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money (1999)
Are you afraid of rubber bats?
I was absolutely terrified while I watched TEXAS BLOOD MONEY.
I was terrified that somebody killed the most talented cast member (Bruce Campbell) off in under 90 seconds.
I was terrified that nobody noticed the massive plot holes and continuity errors between the first and second films.
I was terrified that Scott Spiegel tried so hard to emulate Robert Rodriguez's style to the point of absurdity.
I was terrified that most of the action happened off-camera to try and hide the fact that there was no budget.
But most of all, I'm terrified of little, rubber, dollar-store toy bats were used for most of the 'horror' scenes. Oooh. The terror, the horror, the visible strings.
Don't even rent this if you're desperate.
2/10
Entrapment (1999)
Viewer feels trapped.
It all seemed so perfect. Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones in a cat-and-mouse thriller. How could that go wrong?
Well I still don't know how, but it did, big time.
The movie opens up well enough. We get treated to a high-tech, Mission: Impossible style break in. A mysterious person watching from the shadows. The viewer gets right into it.
Fifteen minutes later all of the suspense goes right out the window.
The first key to a thriller like this is having characters who remain a mystery throughout the movie. Zeta-Jones spills the beans about her character in the said fifteen minutes, and Connery is merely an art thief that everybody in the WORLD knows about.
Key two: A duel of the minds. You can't tell me for one second that you ever thought that Zeta-Jones could outsmart a stump of wood, let alone Connery.
Chemistry, 0.
Dialogue, repetitive and just plain stupid (ie. "You should take a look at the facts!" "Why don't you take a look at the facts?" "Why should I take a look at the facts?")
Suspense, a bit. The robbery scenes are well done, but they always seems effortless.
As far as continuity, this is basically a big wiffle ball of a plot.
A rental if you're desperate... maybe.
4/10
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
A look at things to come...
Simply put: Episode 1 was just good fun.
When I left the theatre after watching The Phantom Menace, I was pumped. I had just watched one of the best sword fights I'd ever seen on film, an amazing racing sequence that just pulls you right into it, some more of George Lucas' amazing creature designs. I don't know what more one could ask of a Star Wars film. (Well, Han Solo, I guess)
The film's flaws are quite simple: The opening was a bit slow (but once the characters land on Tatooine things really pick up), and -of course- Jar Jar Binks was *very* overused, though he does grow on you when they start cutting screen time down!
But the movie's strengths more than make up for it. The action is fast paced, the effects are incredible, the sound effects were top notch, and John Williams' score is arguably the best of the series. Natalie Portman did a great job as the young Queen trying to save her people, and Ewan MacGregor did a superb job as Obi-Wan, you really felt like he was a young Alec Guinness.
What I also really liked was the parallels that Lucas set up between this film and A New Hope (umm... a movie foil?). Both centre and around boys on Tatooine who crave adventure in the far reaches of the galaxy, said boy starts falling for a princess/queen, a bad guy in black just walks on screen and redefines evil incarnate (I loved Darth Maul BTW), and finally the award ceremonies at the end of the movie. A nice version of history repeats itself, I think.
On a final note, many critics have complained about flat characters that don't develop. My response: How much did Luke grow in the first film?
8/10