billchiu Reviews

Desierto (2015)

angst in minimal narration

[7/10 · 9 October 2016]

this is a well put together experiment that feels like the original The Hitcher - free-form descent into insanity in a desolate plain - minimal non-goal-oriented dialogues, unhurried narration, motivations that are barely hinted leaving room for implications. well carried with odd mixture of seasoned actors and inexperienced actors - an unevenness that might help to build (and ground) the surreal vibe of the film. story is less narrative and more event and situational. it has a minimalist score, long and wide-angle shots, handful of shocking scenes punctuating its uneven trajectory of an ever-present suspense, a suspense not only of kill-or-be-killed but also exceptions of human nature. the dog (and its dog-nature) were as villainous as its human monster, yet so easily pardoned because of its apparent ignorance and preoccupation with love and angst of its master.

Rabbits (2002)

soothing juxtaposition of medium

[7/10 · 27 December 2006]

the misplaced dialog, off-timed schizo audience tracks, blurred thundering somewhere, sustained cigarette burns, menacing appearance of chanting mouth cut-out, characters fading in and out, unmoving camera position, repetitive character and dialog configurations - watching rabbits is like slumbering in someone else's head - there is no danger only repetitive surprises and soothing crashes of events on our retina; nothing connects and everything for sure was connected once. to repeat, the misplaced dialog, off-timed schizo audience tracks, blurred thundering somewhere, sustained cigarette burns, menacing appearance of chanting mouth cut-out, characters fading in and out, unmoving camera position, repetitive character and dialog configurations - watching rabbits is like slumbering in someone else's head - there is no danger only repetitive surprises and soothing crashes of events on our retina; nothing connects and everything for sure was connected once.

Reign: The Conqueror (1997–2000)

amazing work

[4 July 2004]

beautiful postmodern art animation by peter chung, mixing up the 'idea' of alexander, scientific mysticism (i.e. museum of jurassic technology), the study of charisma, distinction between knowledge and wisdom, all integrated into one coherent narrative that require the brain to function to watch. i agree with the reviewer on aeon flux, if you liked af's non-linear experimental narrative you'll like this, there are similarities, especially in first few episodes when peter still seem to be in control of the production (some voice actor changed midway?). Finally friendly advice to the self-proclaimed literal, things-are-only-as-they-are and i-watch-movie-just-to-relax-and-not-to-use-my-brain people - respect your well known limits and rent something straightforward (a disney movie maybe?) for a very relaxing evening of brain vacation, you deserve it. On the other hand, if you ruthlessly seek out creativity and can't get enough thinking from your boring work, this might delight.

Saint Monica (2002)

outside and inside

[7/10 · 19 March 2004]

love for something, such as religion, can exist just on the outside - a show and display but no more, without joy - with noise and style and fanfare but empty/fake. This film shows a love for faith of a personal sort, from some voice that seem unimportant, powerless, insane, even hopelessly confused, can be something that is complete/enough, and no one would even notice it. This reviewer is not religious and dislikes fundamentalists.

Saint monica is art film, e.g. it is strange and thinking is involved. If that is your thing then this film might delight you.

1+1=4, 4-1=1

Monster (2003)

Rather good

[16 February 2004]

Theron did a good job playing the role of a broken and confused soul desperately trying to find a reason to live in another, and Christina Ricci plays a rather subtle introverted lesbian kid trying to find acceptance in a puzzle-like world she perceives beyond her. Storyline is mostly slack free but do get syrupy/message-oriented on occasion - if you like that then fine.

Finally, for playing the broken messed up women role, my present favorite is still Emily Watson in "Breaking the Waves", but that's a whole different story.

Fubar (2002)

Not bad, but a little deliberate

[20 June 2003]

it's a liberating film work. however, the cuts, the deliberate 'background music track', the interlocking of drama - its too tedious and predictable to feel real - if once in a while you end up saying to yourself 'no.. that whole scene feels really fake' or 'ahh, is it message time again?', it gets in the way of the enjoyment of the film. Suggestions for next film - don't over edit it, leave the footages alone as much as you can, trust it to do its own thing on the audiences - it'll work better.

People I Know (2002)

no genre, use your eyes

[6/10 · 19 June 2003]

subtle, irritating, tasty, multilayered. if you seek fist and gun fights, explosions, over-done remarks, syrupy drama, gadgets, spoon feeding, star power, detective story, good over evil, a good time - you are in the wrong movie, maybe try again in your next life.

watch it if you like to discover gems in the trash pile of work disowned by same self-important nobodys that this film is so good at portraying/betraying.

IMHO, it's a less fantastic version of 'the cube', but then, lots people hated that one too.

With a Friend Like Harry... (2000)

chocolate coated spider

[28 August 2002]

film's camera seem rough at moments, making the film so much more absorbing - one perspective on the film is that creativity - such as writing - requires a potion made from toxic levels of will and chaos, and an unsettling motion to drink it down - when you were Alice after falling into the rabbit hole then the world shows its magical sides. Creativity maybe a willingness to give up everything you were and become who you are.

Love Serenade (1996)

ideologies and realities

[8/10 · 23 August 2002]

a deep and surreal work littered with liberated personal odd moments; can you really separate seduction, love, and experience? and the expectations that drive each characters - maybe with exception of the middle-aged DJ - who is an odd thing that is wholly honest, manipulative, idealistic, quiet, and loud - all in one tall/watchful/private man. Love Serenade is weaved tightly, yet it seems to glide along the beat of slow lullaby to some sure but invisible destinations.

Dungeons & Dragons (2000)

DD but different

[17 February 2002]

I've only seen DD saturday morning cartoons some 10 years ago, otherwise have no background on DD. I suppose all my friends who are into DD play it pretty seriously, it had to be more complex then this movie :) Is it? Regardless, if it wasn't representative of the DD world, I encourage the DD fans organize to make one that shows us what we are missing. As for the movie itself, some okay CGI (compared to 10 years ago) but no complains - the lo-fi CGI gives it a fantasy ambience and helps us to suspend our disbelief. Acting of all the supporting actors are good, but the main actors acts for children. Story follows a predictable narrative, but the camera crew did a good job. I suppose the money lenders probably were pulling strings that invariably results in an expansive broken movie.

Amores Perros (2000)

Stylistic with some undercurrent

[4/10 · 8 February 2002]

Amores Perros is pretty good stylistic film - got all the 'modern' elements e.g. color filters, camera techniques, quick wit gangster talk, disjoint time lines, etc. I'm happy that this is a breakthrough Mexican film, I even praise the thoughtfulness in integrating the modern film techniques with the culture. Well done. I just hoped to see more new styles created by Mexican film industry, in a way that isn't subordinate to American or European film fashions - something even newer and more extraordinary so to make Hollywood/Europeans be the copycat for few decades would be wonderful to see :)

The undercurrent in the film, what's the symbolism of phone calls that hangs-up? (distance? fate?) It happened in two stories, and there is considerable reuse of the phone scenes to warrant some design in the metaphor of the phone. The dog trapped under the floor board, what does that mean? I mean it is extremely unusual people to leave their pet trapped for so long, what does it represent in terms of their relationships or maybe personal baggage, or that their relationship is going through mazes in the dark with rats lurking? What does the floorboard breaking on the first day represent - breaking the surface?

That's all the questions I have right now. Good night.

The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)

audience involvement

[7 October 2001]

The film when watched in spoon fed fashion causes brain damage, the same way the TV wall in Bowie's suite was drilling into his mind - incoherent images that fails to capture reality - the water on earth is an illusion that lured Bowie into his destruction.

The chaos that frustrated me, including totally unrelated scenes and broken scene sequences illustrate the frustration and confusion experience by Bowie. It almost feel like we are watching several unrelated TV programs at the same time - it destroys focus and causes confusion for Bowie and for us. The sex scenes increases as Bowie sinks under its spell, the experimentation and X-ray in the eyes indicate experimentation of TV industry on the audiences (videodrome?), the plot that flys apart toward the last 30 minutes of the film feels like either the director is on drugs or the audience is on drugs - or third possibly - as Bowie's mission was slowly eroded, our experience of the film reflects how the whole mess must feel like from the inside.

We have no choice but to be annoyed and frustrated, this film is experimental and indicate possible potential for further art cinema experimentations in authentic audience involvement in confusion and frustration.

Obviously, most audiences got involved - just look at the amount of confusion and frustrations in the comments :)

B+ Bill

The Virgin Suicides (1999)

Spreading

[6/10 · 26 August 2001]

I'm curious, why was there a sick tree in this film? why does it have to die and get cut off by men in uniforms? why did the suicide spread through the sisters beginning with the youngest? What was the disease that caused the tree's leaves to yellow and die slowly? Why are people so insistent in cutting it down, why was it such a big threat to them? Why did the sisters hug it together to protect it? "Let natural take its course", why did they talk about yet another extinct species early in the film? Why did the sisters commit suicide? Why are the boy's attractions to the girls so remote, with so much intimacy, yet disjoint? How come the girls and boys seems to be living in parallel and disconnected worlds, this high school today? Why were none of the parents seem awake? How many trees were affected already? What's the norm of being sick in this town?

Just some stupid and pretentious questions from my late night's imdb dwellings. -Bill

Trixie (2000)

Good movie

[6/10 · 31 March 2001]

Good movie. Odd, off balance, imaginative, agitating - everything that an ultra-passive braincell-hybernating spoonfed-explosion stale-cool critics-approved movie pencil-envies. My opinion.

Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)

Young idealist's experience

[5/10 · 5 October 2000]

Dawn looks like an idealist intelligent girl who grows up differently then other realistic and materialistic classmates. Being young makes her vulnerable to the views of others different from her, and she is struggling to stand out as her own self. I feel sad that there were no one to support her in her growing up, no one sees the world as she did and they constantly invalidate her perceptions. I think Dawn experiences something many grown scientists, literary professors, and social workers had some experiences of. If this continue to be the state of things in jr. high schools today and tomorrow, then we must do something effective to transform the next generations' schooling experiences - to support and inspire each and all personalities to realize their different potentials and orientations, and create opportunities for students to experience fulfilling and constructive interactions between seemingly opposite personality types.

eXistenZ (1999)

Weird and imaginative

[5/10 · 30 September 2000]

I was frustrated with many components of this film, maybe I harbor expectations of how the film ought to be, and it wasn't. The film feels like a fantastic voyage inside a video arcade, where virtual reality and virtual film making and virtual bad acting and virtual good acting and multiple layers of realities intersect (perhaps including the reality of audiences' possible confusion and agitations?). It gave me a very unnerving experience of reality, and it reminded me of younger days when I sit with scifi friends in jr. high school reading weird and wonderful comics and live for a moment in pure fun and unrestrictive imagined world. eXistenZ is quite unique like that. If you like new experience and not afraid to be frustrated on purpose, give this a try!

The Cell (2000)

Strange and beautiful cinematography

[8/10 · 6 September 2000]

Beautiful and rich in visual imagery, The Cell striked me very closely to "City Of The Lost Children", not considering its plot or its gory posthypnotic suggestions, it is at least equally as imaginative while more technologically refined then the other.

If you like art movies and gothic post-industrial deco, this movie could be a real treat for you. If you are a technophile and drinks metaphoric futurist visions as daily suppliments, this may moist your tongue. On the other hand, if you seek plot and character developement and still watched the movie, may I suggest more research or will?