Got around to making another Top favorites list: my official top ten James Bond films. Here they are:
10:
[Show spoiler]Licence to Kill (1989)
This might just be the bloodiest and most brutal Bond film of the entire lot. It gets pretty gnarly as one poor henchman gets shredded in a grinder, another guy gets stabbed by a forklift, and one of the major baddies gets stuck in a decompression chamber that causes his head to explode. In a way, these excesses work in favor of the film, because it makes the threat a lot more real, especially when it comes from the hands of the main antagonist: Franz Sanchez (Robert Davi), a real cold and brutal drug dealer who could give Tony Montanna a run for his money. Timothy Dalton plays Bond, who plays it real hard and tough as he tracks down Franz. The real twist here is that Bond is not just running after the bad guy for king and country: hes in it because they messed around with his buddy Felix Leiter, murdering his wife and having his legs bitten off by sharks, so naturally Bond wants some payback. With the theme of vengeance running strong, Licence to Kill stands out as one of the most hard-hitting Bond movies.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Good
09:
[Show spoiler]Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
As the 90s marched on, globalization really started to kick in with the advents of the Internet, satellite communications, and world news delivering information around the world all the time. With this in mind, TND builds its concept from a frighteningly realistic notion: what if the CEO of a news company decides to start a war, for the sole purpose of selling the news? Maybe this is still a little outlandish, but compared to every other Bond film, this is a premise that fits in perfectly with the information age. Jonathan Pryce plays a rather hammy villain, orchestrating all this madness, while Pierce Brosnan puts on his usual charm and cool wit opposite Michelle Yeoh to kick a lot of serious butt.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Good | Film: Good
08:
[Show spoiler]Quantum of Solace (2008)
Underrated masterpiece, or underwhelming disappointment? Most viewers seem to fall on one side of the fence or the other with this film; strangely, Ive felt both. On the first viewing, I was really thrown off by the films erratic, rapid-fire editing, which slams the action into the viewers faces. As for the plot, it strings together a bunch of insane action sequences and doesnt really draw the lines from point A to point B the way the other films do.
On repeat viewings, however, I found myself more complacent with the loud, crazy, fast-cut action scenes; the opening car chase really makes you feel like youre in the passenger seat with Bond as he careens through the Italian countryside and blasts this machine gun out the window. As for the rest of the film, it touches upon a lot of key issues that resonate with the modern age: the diminishing natural resources, poverty, class differences, corporate manipulation of governments, and more. As Bond treads through a morally ambiguous political terrain, he winds up rushing against the grain with his own allies. Whats most important, however, is the theme of revenge, especially in the final scenes, which bring closure to the events of Casino Royale. In spite of that, Quantum of Solace is best seen back-to-back with Casino Royale, forming a cohesive double-bill that fully develops Bonds character (portrayed with serious skill and attitude by Daniel Craig).
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Pretty Good
07:
[Show spoiler]The Man With the Golden Gun (1974)
Certainly not the best or most serious film in Roger Moores repertoire as James Bond, but this might be the funnest, at least in my opinion. Bearing little in common with Ian Flemings novel, this film pits Bond against the hotshot assassin Scaramanga (played by Count Dooku I mean, Saruman I mean, Christopher Lee), and his vertically-challenged sidekick Nick Nack (Herve Villechaize). The story tears across all of Thailand with some really fun boat and car chases; one big highlight of which includes a car performing a magnificent 180-degree roll across a river. The most interesting showdown occurs on Scaramangas island hideout, where he and Bond chase each other in a funhouse-style maze. What helps make this stand out is Scaramanga himself, who comes across as what Bond himself would have been if he was evil (a type of parallel that would also come into play in Skyfall).
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Good | Film: Good
06:
[Show spoiler]The Living Daylights (1987)
Expanding upon one of Ian Flemings short stories, this flick kicks up the action a great deal, as Bond hops around the world from one big car or foot chase to another. He serves as a sniper in the beginning, leads a full-blown rebellion toward the end, and uses a small wealth of gadgets to give armies of bad guys the slip. Its a pretty heavy case of one-thing-leading-to-another, and it makes for a nonstop thrill ride. Timothy Dalton shows some adequate charm and wit in this film, but mostly channels a type of angst that helps give him a more serious attitude (only outmatched by Daniel Craig). Maryam dAbo plays the Bond girl in this flick, and might be my favorite one. Funnily enough, Joe Don Baker plays the villain, even though he reappears later in GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies as an ally.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good
05:
[Show spoiler]Skyfall (2012)
Not everybody has taken too kindly to the latest 007 film, citing it as appearing far less like James Bond and more like Jason Bourne. Skyfall additionally takes some huge influences from Christopher Nolans Batman films, so the film is loaded with some serious plot twists that might strain some believability, and may cause some viewers to call this film weak, pretentious, or overrated.
As a fan of both Bond and The Dark Knight films, any issues in Skyfall never really bothered me that much, and I enjoyed it quite thoroughly. I was personally impressed as to how high the film kicked up the stakes: this is the first time in a Bond film where MI6 itself is targeted and bombed, and where M becomes a target (she was captured in The World is Not Enough, but in Skyfall, its a lot more intense). The film goes on to reintroduce a few old characters in a completely new way, appealing to old-time fans while paving the way for a canonical future. Daniel Craig continues in his mean streak as Bond, while Javier Bardem puts on a quality performance as one of the weirdest and creepiest Bond villains of the lot. Their interactions serve to underscore some strong themes regarding the characters progress and future, and ultimately fuel the complex dynamics of the story. Whether you love it or hate it, it proves once and for all that Bond is here to say.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good
04:
[Show spoiler]Goldfinger (1964)
There can be no best-of list for Bond without mentioning Goldfinger in any respect. This film has all the classic moments that have defined the franchise over the decades: the girl covered in gold, the creeping laser-beam scene, the man with the iron hat, the fight in Fort Knox, the car with the ejector seat, the bad guy appearing with a golden pistol chances are that you may know these scenes even if youve never seen the film. Its not just a bunch of random cool scenes though: the film plows through its fun and simple story at full speed, loading it up with action and suspense. Sean Connery, cool as ever, plays Bond for the third time in his career, while Gert Fröbe portrays a decently wacky villain. Honor Blackman appears as one of the most famous Bond girls, thanks largely to her unintentionally suggestive name.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good
03:
[Show spoiler]GoldenEye (1995)
This was the first Bond movie I saw, and it remains a top favorite. After a six year gap, Bond blasted back to the big screen with loads of incredible action: it starts of thrillingly as Bond bungee jumps off a dam, before blowing up a Russian base, having plenty of intense shootouts with bad guys, driving a tank through St Petersburg, and ultimately duking it out with the villain on top of a satellite dish array. Not only is the entertainment good, but the story is too, as Bond is forced to confront a specter of his past while facing the challenges of the future. With the Cold War ended, it seemed as though Bond was a useless relic; this film turned it around and paved an endearing future for the character, and the stories.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good
02:
[Show spoiler]Thunderball (1965)
Of all the Bond movies, Thunderball has always seemed like the sexiest and most exotic film of them all. Set in the gorgeous beaches and waters of the Bahamas, the film runs through a fairly simple story (theft of nuclear weapons, pretty standard action-movie territory by todays standards) with plenty of style. It is probably the closest adaptation of an Ian Fleming novel to date, for it is scene-by-scene and word-for-word the same for about 95% of it. The film brims with beautiful women and locations. Plus, it has a lot of intense fist-fighting, pursuits, and suspenseful scenes. The film is long and thrilling, and it makes for a very satisfying adventure. Sean Connery is still the man as James Bond; Adolfo Celi is iconic as the eyepatched villain Largo, while Claudine Auger and Luciana Paluzzi add some serious sex appeal to the mix.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Very Good
01:
[Show spoiler]Casino Royale (2006)
After 20 Bond movies, the series had decidedly grown stagnant, ending with the rather overblown Die Another Day (a film held in very little regard, but still ranks as a top favorite guilty pleasure for me personally). It was decided that Bond needed a fresh start. So in 06, Casino Royale was released.
This new Bond proved to be very fresh, bold, and different. It may rub long-time fans the wrong way, seeing Bond without his famous gadgets, spending more time in a card game than kicking butt, and in seeing blonde hair on the guy for a radical change.
Personally, I never saw much ground for such complaints: Daniel Craig established himself very well as James Bond, adapting a perfectly volatile mix of suave charm, brutal attitude, and cold-heartedness that has always defined Bond, but was never quite as vibrant or intense as seen in Craigs performance. The film starts off hard-hitting, showing Bond in a hard-edged fistfight in a gaudy bathroom, in the assignment that grants him his initial license to kill. From then on, the film plows ahead at full steam: the opening scenes in Africa are incredible as Bond runs down a parkour master through a construction yard and into an embassy, practically destroying both locales in the process. Bond constantly runs into danger from then on, having to fight goons, finding himself poisoned, running down a terrorist at the Miami airport, and ultimately confronting a gang of baddies in Venice. The film is long, but its so full of action that it feels very fulfilling.
At the heart of it, the film still focuses very well on its storytelling, especially in regards to showing Bonds first mission and his attachment to Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), whose fate would affect Bond in all his future endeavors (perhaps moreso than the events of On Her Majestys Secret Service, which provided a major turning point for Bond throughout the original series). In the end, Casino Royale is one of those few movies I value the most: the type that perfectly balances storytelling with action, and does so with style.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Drama, Romance, 102 minutes
Directed by Stephen Chbosky
Starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller
[Show spoiler]When the trailer proudly stated that The Perks of Being a Wallflower was from the producers of Juno, I found myself wishing that it had the same writer and director too. But after seeing the movie, I'm more than happy with what I was given. Stephen Chbosky wrote and directed, and he has captured the same feeling that some of the best teen movies of the 80s (The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller, Heathers) had, and has probably improved upon them.
Perks feels more like a combination of Dead Poets Society and Stand By Me than some of the pure comedies from that era, but it has an abundance of funny scenes mixed in with the more serious and reflective observations. In short, it's a mature look at what teens have to go through. Everybody who has lived through their teen years will identify with this movie.
We see the world through the eyes of 15-year-old Charlie (Lerman). He's about to start high school and he's terrified that he won't be able to make any friends. His nightmares appear to be confirmed until he joins two students at their table during lunch. They are a little older than him, but seem sympathetic to his plight.
Minor spoilers follow, but nothing that isn't revealed in the opening minutes of the movie:
His two lunch companions are Sam (Watson), who is an outgoing girl and seems very sure of herself, and Patrick (Miller), who has already caught Charlie's eye by playing pranks in class. Charlie thinks they are a couple, but Sam is in fact Patrick's half-sister. Charlie likes both immediately and quickly becomes smitten with Sam. Patrick is flamboyant and we learn that he's gay. The friendship between the three is the very heart of the film.
The themes are not exactly original, but definitely a part of growing up. You'll see the agony of young love, drunken parties, experiments with drugs, and deeper emotional problems that most young people face at one time or another.
Another major theme is the importance of music. One scene involving the three friends features a drive through a tunnel in which they discover an unknown song on the radio. It's one of the key scenes in the movie. Not only does it capture a feeling associated with youth, it also highlights the difference between Sam and Charlie. He's shy and reserved, while she has a free spirit. We see Charlie develop throughout the movie and try to recapture that feeling. I did feel old for a moment when I realized that younger people might not know the music of David Bowie, or would consider the music of the Cocteau Twins old.
The movie touches on deeper themes that would not belong in a pure comedy, but they just add to the richness of this wonderful story. Fans of The Rocky Horror Picture Show will be pleased that a couple of the scenes touch on the influence of that movie and play a part in the overall story.
One thing that I was interested to see was the performance of Emma Watson. I did catch her small role in My Week with Marilyn, but this was the first time I had seen her in a major role since the Harry Potter movies. When you know an actor for one role in particular, it can be difficult to imagine them as anyone else, but I was impressed with Watson's performance. Although I still recognized some familiar gestures and expressions, she wasn't Hermione Granger. She's very believable as Sam.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower surprised me considerably. My teen years seem like a lifetime ago, but the movie took me right back to those formative years. I was on the verge of tears several times and laughed often. What more could you want from a movie?
One of my close friends will love this movie. Especially a scene in which someone claims that music sounds better on vinyl.
Overall score 4.5/5
Really looking forward to seeing this. A theater around here finally got it a few weeks ago, but since the Blu-ray is possibly coming out in January and I'd rather just put the gas money and $7 towards the Blu-ray, I decided to wait.
This has actually been a pretty good year for indie movies. This, Safety Not Guaranteed, Moonrise Kingdom, Ruby Sparks, Your Sister's Sister, Silver Linings Playbook... Granted I've only seen Safety Not Guaranteed and Moonrise Kingdom so far out of that group, I know the other films can speak for themselves.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Drama, Romance, 102 minutes
Directed by Stephen Chbosky
Starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller
When the trailer proudly stated that The Perks of Being a Wallflower was from the producers of Juno, I found myself wishing that it had the same writer and director too. But after seeing the movie, I'm more than happy with what I was given. Stephen Chbosky wrote and directed, and he has captured the same feeling that some of the best teen movies of the 80s (The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller, Heathers) had, and has probably improved upon them.
Perks feels more like a combination of Dead Poets Society and Stand By Me than some of the pure comedies from that era, but it has an abundance of funny scenes mixed in with the more serious and reflective observations. In short, it's a mature look at what teens have to go through. Everybody who has lived through their teen years will identify with this movie.
We see the world through the eyes of 15-year-old Charlie (Lerman). He's about to start high school and he's terrified that he won't be able to make any friends. His nightmares appear to be confirmed until he joins two students at their table during lunch. They are a little older than him, but seem sympathetic to his plight.
Minor spoilers follow, but nothing that isn't revealed in the opening minutes of the movie:
His two lunch companions are Sam (Watson), who is an outgoing girl and seems very sure of herself, and Patrick (Miller), who has already caught Charlie's eye by playing pranks in class. Charlie thinks they are a couple, but Sam is in fact Patrick's half-sister. Charlie likes both immediately and quickly becomes smitten with Sam. Patrick is flamboyant and we learn that he's gay. The friendship between the three is the very heart of the film.
The themes are not exactly original, but definitely a part of growing up. You'll see the agony of young love, drunken parties, experiments with drugs, and deeper emotional problems that most young people face at one time or another.
Another major theme is the importance of music. One scene involving the three friends features a drive through a tunnel in which they discover an unknown song on the radio. It's one of the key scenes in the movie. Not only does it capture a feeling associated with youth, it also highlights the difference between Sam and Charlie. He's shy and reserved, while she has a free spirit. We see Charlie develop throughout the movie and try to recapture that feeling. I did feel old for a moment when I realized that younger people might not know the music of David Bowie, or would consider the music of the Cocteau Twins old.
The movie touches on deeper themes that would not belong in a pure comedy, but they just add to the richness of this wonderful story. Fans of The Rocky Horror Picture Show will be pleased that a couple of the scenes touch on the influence of that movie and play a part in the overall story.
One thing that I was interested to see was the performance of Emma Watson. I did catch her small role in My Week with Marilyn, but this was the first time I had seen her in a major role since the Harry Potter movies. When you know an actor for one role in particular, it can be difficult to imagine them as anyone else, but I was impressed with Watson's performance. Although I still recognized some familiar gestures and expressions, she wasn't Hermione Granger. She's very believable as Sam.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower surprised me considerably. My teen years seem like a lifetime ago, but the movie took me right back to those formative years. I was on the verge of tears several times and laughed often. What more could you want from a movie?
One of my close friends will love this movie. Especially a scene in which someone claims that music sounds better on vinyl.
Overall score 4.5/5
This was an excellent film. Acting was great all around and I found it to be very realistic and affecting.
That's a good question, and it's difficult to answer. Quite frankly, I didn't know how to perceive what was portrayed on screen: dark comedy? biting satire? a celebration of anarchy? Was I seeing Dadaism on film? Holy Motors certainly is radically different from just about any movie you'll see this year. Some of the visuals were interesting. I was intrigued by a few of the sequences, and some of the ideas I guessed may have been developed in the protagonist's "appointments". But I must admit I left the theatre perplexed at the movie's overwhelming positive critical reception. I couldn't see what was being praised.
An interesting and some what depressing look at love and relationships. Michelle Williams and Ryan gosling and both fantastic in their roles. The movie rolls on a nice pace and mixes things up a little with a back and forth time line.
The Good:Chloe Moretz. Hit Girl. Great performances from Aaron Johnson, Mark Strong, and Nicolas Cage. Lyndsy Fonseca hotness. Awesome, memorable, and highly repeatable action sequences. Raw, gory, and packed with fun and energy. "F*ck this shit, I'm getting the bazooka."
The Bad:Bad CGI. Non-action parts don't hold up as well after (numerous) repeat viewings.
The Bottom Line:Kick-Ass is recommended for fans of superhero movies and dark comedies.
Ummm, the person did say they borrowed it, so obviously they are going to watch it at some point.
Agreed though. They were both very good in it. Not my usual kind of a movie, but it oddly enough worked for me. The ukulele scene alone is worth watching the movie for.
Love the ukulele scene too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange
One of these days, I might do what you did and check out the other Wes Anderson films before giving The Life Aquatic another try.
So far, I've only seen the Fantastic Mr Fox.
Cool. Hope you'll like it the second time around.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KilloWertz
This has actually been a pretty good year for indie movies. This, Safety Not Guaranteed, Moonrise Kingdom, Ruby Sparks, Your Sister's Sister, Silver Linings Playbook... Granted I've only seen Safety Not Guaranteed and Moonrise Kingdom so far out of that group, I know the other films can speak for themselves.
I've seen all of those except Your Sister's Sister (gotta check that one out), and yeah, they're all quality films.
Quote:
Originally Posted by menaceuk
Blue Valentine - 8/10
An interesting and some what depressing look at love and relationships. Michelle Williams and Ryan gosling and both fantastic in their roles. The movie rolls on a nice pace and mixes things up a little with a back and forth time line.
Really looking forward to seeing this. A theater around here finally got it a few weeks ago, but since the Blu-ray is possibly coming out in January and I'd rather just put the gas money and $7 towards the Blu-ray, I decided to wait.
This has actually been a pretty good year for indie movies. This, Safety Not Guaranteed, Moonrise Kingdom, Ruby Sparks, Your Sister's Sister, Silver Linings Playbook... Granted I've only seen Safety Not Guaranteed and Moonrise Kingdom so far out of that group, I know the other films can speak for themselves.
I've seen Perks and Kingdom. Missed Ruby Sparks just due to time constraints and limited screenings, Sister's Sister just isn't doing it for me, Saftey Not Guaranteed isn't released until the end of the year over here for some absurd reason and I'll be checking out Silver Linings Playbook next week I hope.
We also had Beasts of the Southern Wild, not really a rom-com but it's an indie film that has similar beats.
Really looking forward to seeing this. A theater around here finally got it a few weeks ago, but since the Blu-ray is possibly coming out in January and I'd rather just put the gas money and $7 towards the Blu-ray, I decided to wait.
I do that a lot too. I even have a local store which has movies used within a month of their release date. Perks isn't full of explosions and special effects, so there's not a huge benefit in seeing it on the big screen. I'll buy it for sure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jhiggy23
This was an excellent film. Acting was great all around and I found it to be very realistic and affecting.
Yes, the main three were particularly good. I thought Miller's character was the more memorable of the three. He played that part with so much enthusiasm. The music added a lot for me and helped capture some of that nostalgic feeling.
Directed by : Jean-Paul Salomé Starring : Sophie Marceau, Julie Depardieu, Marie Gillain Format : HDTV
Story : A few weeks before the Normandie landings in 1944, Louise Desfontaines (Marceau) is recruited by the SOE to form a special women commando and help in the rescue of a British agent in a German hospital in France. Her team excute the rescue but a German special agent did manage to confirm that a landing will be taking place s he suspected and he must now convince the generals of it. Desfontaines and her team race to Paris in order to kill the agent before he can convince his superior of what he suspect.
Comments : Marceau's character was actually based on Lise de Baissac a real SOE agents. I am not a big fan of war movies but I never miss a chance to see a movie with Sophie Marceau. Had a big crush on her since I first saw La Boum when I was 12 years old back in 1980.
That's a good question, and it's difficult to answer. Quite frankly, I didn't know how to perceive what was portrayed on screen: dark comedy? biting satire? a celebration of anarchy? Was I seeing Dadaism on film? Holy Motors certainly is radically different from just about any movie you'll see this year. Some of the visuals were interesting. I was intrigued by a few of the sequences, and some of the ideas I guessed may have been developed in the protagonist's "appointments". But I must admit I left the theatre perplexed at the movie's overwhelming positive critical reception. I couldn't see what was being praised.
Holiday season is here, so I had to watch one of my all time favorites.
The Wizard of Oz
5/5
wait. i thought you hated this film? or is that Surf?
i haven't seen this since i was around 12 or so, but what does this have to do with the holiday season?
wait. i thought you hated this film? or is that Surf?
i haven't seen this since i was around 12 or so, but what does this have to do with the holiday season?
Perhaps he was celebrating the end of twister season.
wait. i thought you hated this film? or is that Surf?
i haven't seen this since i was around 12 or so, but what does this have to do with the holiday season?
I have always loved it.
As a child I looked forward to this being shown on TV every year near Thanksgiving. It was a tradition to watch it.
wait. i thought you hated this film? or is that Surf?
i haven't seen this since i was around 12 or so, but what does this have to do with the holiday season?
Once again, following in one of bearcat's reviews, it just sounded too amusing to pass up:
Quote:
Originally Posted by iam1bearcat
Deadgirl - 1/5
two friends drink beers in a gigantic abandoned insane asylum and find a "dead" girl tied up in a basement sewer tunnel.
so like all logical 17 year olds, one decides to make her his sex slave and rape her repeatedly for days on end.
oh, and she can be killed and comes back to life, so there's that. she's a zombie of sorts.
just the kind of thing you wanna put your wiener into right!?!?!
but you don't get sick or anything, only if she bites you. makes sense...
and then there is a crazy Resident Evil style dog for no reason.
and some crazy tough meth head who two guys try to kidnap at a gas station that apparently has no one working, yet somehow you go inside and pay for gas.
and then more people catch wind of the "dead" girl and also rape her.
1 star because the guy who played JT had some solid acting moments in all his psychotic, zombie-banging free time.
all in all, one of the dumbest films i have ever painfully sat through, although Teeth would also be on this list if i would have finished it.
oh and the ending is horrid. the main character is the only one with a conscience and the ending essentially says, "nope. he's just as perverted as everyone else in this film". nice touch!
I can affirm that the film is indeed stupid. I think when I read the above review, I was hoping for more of the type of grotesque craziness that went into that scene in the 2003 Dawn of the Dead, where the dude kept his zombie wife tied down and it gave birth and all kinds of gnarly stuff ensued...
Well, there's absolutely no pulp appeal to Deadgirl; it's not only just as stupid as bearcat indicated, it's also rather plain. The film is very sparing in the graphic details; some blood and gore and sex and nudity, but a lot of the gorier scenes are limited to split-second shots with no lasting impact, leaving only the creepy sex to stand out. What makes it worse is that the film can't seem to decide if it wants to be something darkly comedic, or something dreadfully serious. Striking the middle tone, the film winds up coming off as just plain dumb.
As if the story itself just doesn't sound dumb, the characters prove to be the absolute worst. Every single one of them has the intelligence of cavemen (although such a statement might be an insult to our primal ancestors).
The film looks plain, with drab and unremarkable photography and stupid editing. Acting and writing are, like, whatever man. This production has fine and dandy sets, props, and costumes, but nothing particularly great.
1.5/5 (Entertainment: Average | Story: Awful | Film: Very Poor)
Recommendation: I'd recommend swallowing a bottle of bleach before I'd ever recommend this film.
Last edited by Al_The_Strange; 11-20-2012 at 07:34 AM.
Directed by : Jean-Paul Salomé Starring : Sophie Marceau, Julie Depardieu, Marie Gillain Format : HDTV
Story : A few weeks before the Normandie landings in 1944, Louise Desfontaines (Marceau) is recruited by the SOE to form a special women commando and help in the rescue of a British agent in a German hospital in France. Her team excute the rescue but a German special agent did manage to confirm that a landing will be taking place s he suspected and he must now convince the generals of it. Desfontaines and her team race to Paris in order to kill the agent before he can convince his superior of what he suspect.
Comments : Marceau's character was actually based on Lise de Baissac a real SOE agents. I am not a big fan of war movies but I never miss a chance to see a movie with Sophie Marceau. Had a big crush on her since I first saw La Boum when I was 12 years old back in 1980.
Ratings : 3.5/5
Enjoyable film but, apart from Sophie Marceau's presence, not overly memorable, at least I can't remember much of it, which is neither here not there...My Sophie Marceau moment actually occurred in Braveheart~ she makes 'smart' really appealing and at the same time she radiates a vulnerability a la Audrey Tautou.
I've love to see La Boum, and the rest of her work but have just never found it available, as is the case with so much of French cinema. And, although the up-scaled DVD's are not that bad, I dream of blu-ray up-grades of Manon des Sources and Jean de Florette, My Father's Glory, My Mother's Castle, and of course Le Hussard Sur La Toit, among others.
That's a good question, and it's difficult to answer. Quite frankly, I didn't know how to perceive what was portrayed on screen: dark comedy? biting satire? a celebration of anarchy? Was I seeing Dadaism on film? Holy Motors certainly is radically different from just about any movie you'll see this year. Some of the visuals were interesting. I was intrigued by a few of the sequences, and some of the ideas I guessed may have been developed in the protagonist's "appointments". But I must admit I left the theatre perplexed at the movie's overwhelming positive critical reception. I couldn't see what was being praised.
The critical analyses I've read thus far, which have been confirmed by the director, have stated that the point behind the movie is that it's about the disintegration of classic filming techniques due to the use of very small cameras. That's why the main character plays a different role in each set-piece. My brief explanation is undoubtedly confusing, but it makes much more sense when you read the critical analyses.
Once again, following in one of bearcat's reviews, it just sounded too amusing to pass up:
I can affirm that the film is indeed stupid. I think when I read the above review, I was hoping for more of the type of grotesque craziness that went into that scene in the 2003 Dawn of the Dead, where the dude kept his zombie wife tied down and it gave birth and all kinds of gnarly stuff ensued...
Well, there's absolutely no pulp appeal to Deadgirl; it's not just as stupid as bearcat indicated, it's also rather plain. The film is very sparing in the graphic details; some blood and gore and sex and nudity, but a lot of the gorier scenes are limited to split-second shots with no lasting impact, leaving only the creepy sex to stand out. What makes it worse is that the film can't seem to decide if it wants to be something darkly comedic, or something dreadfully serious. Striking the middle tone, the film winds up coming off as just plain dumb.
As if the story itself just doesn't sound dumb, the characters prove to be the absolute worst. Every single one of them has the intelligence of cavemen (although such a statement might be an insult to our primal ancestors).
The film looks plain, with drab and unremarkable photography and stupid editing. Acting and writing are, like, whatever man. This production has fine and dandy sets, props, and costumes, but nothing particularly great.
1.5/5 (Entertainment: Average | Story: Awful | Film: Very Poor)
Recommendation: I'd recommend swallowing a bottle of bleach before I'd ever recommend this film.
I kind of want to see it now just to see how the characters justify finding a girl and raping her repeatedly -- "hey, just found this girl down there, tied up. Weird, right?"
"Yeah...should we, like, rape her or something? I know you said she looks like she's died and come back to life but...you know..."
Please let me know if that dialogue is better than that in the film and I will be contacting the studio straight away with a script for Deadgirl 2.
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Al's Top 10 James Bond films!
Here they are:
Glad you liked it.
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