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Reviews
Legend of the Bog (2009)
Puzzling
After watching this film, I had to ask someone else what genre it was supposed to be. It's really unclear. My gut reaction was horror, but the music, locations, and "creature" aren't scary. In fact, the music works to diffuse any tension that might have been accidentally created. This movie feels like the filmmakers meant for this to be a drama and at the last minute decided to play up some horror aspects since that genre is popular right now. Either way, Vinnie Jones doesn't deserve to be in this film, and with the exception of a few moments when the cinematography is pretty well done, this film doesn't lend itself to a single viewing. I believe the people at the helm of this one need more practice.
Se7en (1995)
A Brilliant Film
This film is a fantastic piece. One of the best you'll see from any genre. The story propels you forward right from the start and doesn't stop until the final scene. This propulsion starts early once the main title sequence begins. It's mesmerizing, and sets the mood brilliantly. Even the end credits are done in such a way that becomes unique to the story. The locations, production design, and cinematography work seamlessly to create such a perfect world, that's found in no other film. In addition, the two leads, Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, are so diametrically opposed in almost every way, creating an interesting chemistry on screen. As often as I've seen this film, I never tire of it.
Thorns (2009)
Morality Tale set in ancient Rome
This short film was really well done. I saw it at the SSG Shorts Film Festival recently and it was easily the best one I'd seen that day. The story is pretty tight, and the cinematography is great. It's always refreshing to see films shot in scope. The story is quite ambitious in nature, and it's always difficult to do period pieces, especially if they're set in first Century Rome, but the plot is interesting and the payoff is well worth the price of admission. Also, this is a very solid endeavor by a first time director. That said, although I did have a few minor issues with some scenes, I was pretty engrossed. Plus, I think that's standard when you look at any short film, considering you're working with limited resources, a tighter shooting schedule, and a smaller budget. Also, the issues I had had nothing to do with the story. The bottom line is, there was a strong plot with interesting characters in this film, and I enjoyed it immensely. It really felt like a short version of a feature film. Really great work.