This police thriller is another notable work of Chinese cinema with a paradoxical story between a police infiltrator in the triads while a triad infiltrator hides in the police. The result is a quite enigmatic film that may cause some head spins, but it becomes very interesting as this conflict between the police and the triads takes a whole twist when trying to discover who the infiltrators on both sides are. These infiltrators become a very relevant element in this conflict and when they get closer to the truth, it generates great tension to know who will be discovered first and how it will end. Although there are not many action scenes, it can be said that the action is quite felt in the environment. With good performances, very good cinematography, striking editing and a beautiful song on the soundtrack, Infernal Affairs is a great crime and corruption thriller that deserves a place alongside other intriguing crime films. My final rating for this movie is a 9/10.
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Two Mules for Sister Sara
(1970)
One mercenary, one nun
5 May 2024
After the dollar trilogy by Sergio Leone, Clint Eastwood had reached the top as the new western icon. It is a fact that with said trilogy he had managed to reach the next level after his beginnings in the Rawhide series. Two Mules For Sister Sara was the next film that sought to further expand the fame that Eastwood had managed to achieve. This may be one of Eastwood's weakest films, but it has a certain charm that makes it stand out alongside the actor's other films. The idea of a mercenary and a nun united by a mission linked to the revolution is something not seen in other films, so it is appreciated that the film offers something that feels original and makes the film unique in its own way. The title seems to announce that this is a comedy, but it's really no different than other westerns and only has a bit of subtle humor. It doesn't have much to expect, but the way Hogan and Sara develop their relationship is good. The way they're going to end already seems somewhat predictable or cliché, but at least the twist about who Sara is actually helps somewhat. One thing about this film that stands out quite a bit is the soundtrack by Ennio Morricone, which becomes unforgettable. Two Mules For Sister Sara fails to be one of Clint Eastwood's best films, but it manages to generate fascination with the chemistry of its two protagonists. My final rating for this movie is an 8/10.
Music Land
(1935)
Different musical genres can have the same value
4 May 2024
Music Land is a short film that does not offer anything very new in its plot, but it has quite interesting symbology. This story about instruments belonging to two different musical genres and the romance that arises between the violin princess and the saxophone prince leave an interesting interpretation. The short film is about the union of jazz and symphonic music. It is fascinating because it is about how two musical genres can coexist, despite the differences. Although, on the one hand, it can be interpreted from a social perspective, on the other it is also worth saying that both musical genres can coexist in the same environment without having to say that one is better than the other. Throughout the generations, new genres have often been questioned by audiences belonging to a previous generation. Jazz has never been so discussed, but it has been questioned at a time when symphonic music was considered a high-level art. As time went by, both genres ended up being considered classics and even worked with other genres that came later. Music belonging to rock, heavy metal, rap and pop have been somewhat questioned depending on the artists and lyrics, but time has made these music last long enough to reach classic status and mix with other genres. Currently, the reggaeton and trap categories are also being questioned for their lyrics or quality, but that does not erase the fact that their audience will ensure that in future years they achieve classic status depending on the strong devotion of the fans. The main point is that music can have different aspects and forms and they are not so different because these genres belong to the same art that only evolved and diversified over time. The romance between the violin princess and the saxophone prince in this short film is a good metaphor that the musical genres to which they belong do not prevent both from belonging to the same art and that is why both have the same value. Music Land is a short film that, when viewed as another Disney product, doesn't offer much, but as an allegory about different musical genres having the same value, it is undoubtedly quite interesting to watch. My final rating for this short film is a 9/10.
Farmyard Symphony
(1938)
Cuteness on the farm
3 May 2024
This is a rather tender and charming short film that only focuses on the interaction between the animals on a farm. It's the usual Silly Symphonies short film that doesn't hold back on offering funny and charming moments with the animated characters. Perhaps the most striking thing is one of the little pigs that never stops roaming the farm to satisfy its hunger. The truth is that the cuteness of the farm animals is what carries a lot about the charm of this short film. Farmyard Symphony is an ideal short film to enjoy in family with the little kidss. My final rating for this short film is a 9/10.
The Band Concert
(1935)
Mickey's Orchestra
3 May 2024
This Mickey Mouse animated short film offers a fun experience like many of the beloved mouse's old cartoons. It includes Donald Duck as the equivalent of Jerry the mouse by getting in Mickey's way while he tries to conduct the orchestra. As usual in these short films, the soundtrack comes with a couple of samples and recreations of symphonic music, including the William Tell composition. It is also credited that this was the first Mickey Mouse short film made in color and that gives it even more value. The Band Concert is another old Disney piece that is worth seeing to laugh and admire what Disney once was. My final rating for this short film is a 9/10.
Make Mine Music
(1946)
An unusual collection for Disney collectors
3 May 2024
This Disney anthology animated film attempts to repeat the Fantasia formula. It's an admirable animated film for its animation and soundtrack, but its look often changes as the segments progress. It's like I have two perspectives that change quite a bit. Some segments are more like intervals because they are artistic animations made in the style of a music video. The other remaining segments are animated stories that can be seen in plot terms. To be clear, the film switches from a visual aspect to a plot aspect and vice versa. That makes the movie strange, but not enjoyable to watch. The segments that have plots such as the boys who go to party, the whale who sings opera, the boy who goes after a wolf and the hat who searches for his lover are the most enjoyable part of this film. Here the film does not pretend to be a masterful spectacle of classical music like Fantasia, what it aims to do is be a union of the musical genres that were popular at the time such as jazz, opera, symphonic music, among others. The only thing that can be said about Make Mine Music is that it is a rare and fascinating piece for those interested in collecting Disney works. My final rating for this movie is a 9/10.
The continuation and conclusion of the cybernetic god
3 May 2024
Although The Lawnmower Man was widely criticized for straying far from the original story written by Stephen King, it cannot be denied that the film has earned some recognition for being one of the first films to introduce the concept of virtual reality. That was enough for this film to have some acceptance, do very well at the box office and motivate New Line Cinema to produce this sequel whose existence was unknown worldwide until the Internet rescued it from oblivion.
Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace continues the story of the previous film with a prologue set after the end of the first film. The previous film left open the possibility of a sequel in which Jobe may have achieved his goal of being a cybernetic god who would threaten humanity, but a detail regarding the prologue is that it ignores the final scene and finding Jobe alive does not have much sense if you take into account what happened to his body in the previous film. This could be considered a contradiction to what was seen in the previous film. As for the rest of the story, the film focuses 6 years later in the future where technology has advanced and virtual reality has evolved to have a more realistic appearance. The big difference with the previous film is that this sequel focuses more on the action genre.
Without a doubt what the film offers is something that could surpass its predecessor, but it still leaves something to be desired due to the lack of more participation in the virtual world. The digital effects are fine, but maybe the problem is that they look simpler than in the previous film or there should have been more virtual world sequences like in the previous film.
Jobe is now played by another actor who gives him a lot of charisma and has what it takes to be a memorable villain. Jobe's body is reunited with his virtual alter ego that had presumably been separated from his body in the previous film. He still has the desire to take absolute control in the virtual world and be a cybernetic god. In that area, Jobe remains the same, with the sole exception that he no longer has telekinetic powers. Aside from Jobe, Peter also now returns as a young street hacker and although he is important to the confrontation with Jobe, it would have been interesting to know how Peter ended up in his current situation and what happened to Dr. Lawrence. Although it is not very well explained who Walker is and why he uses Jobe for his purposes, the truth is that he was involved in the creation of the virtual reality seen in the previous film and it can be intuited that he wants to continue the company's project. , but now including the use of the Chiron chip. What can also be considered a mistake in this movie is that Jobe wanted to contact Dr. Benjamin Trace to obtain information about the link in Egypt and then when Jobe manages to solve that question of the link due to his great intellect without Trace's help, he makes as if the contact he made with Trace had been of no use except for Trace to decide to try to stop Jobe. Of course, in the end it seems that Jobe couldn't completely solve the Egypt link, because of what happens when the maximum power of the chip is activated. That makes things a little confusing in this movie and it's best not to think about it too much.
Whether for better or worse, the good thing about this movie is that it concludes Jobe's story. Due to the different reissues that there were, it seemed that the best thing would have been for Lawnmower Man to be a saga of only two films or perhaps it was already planned that the saga would not have more than two films. Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace may fall short compared to its predecessor, but at least it not only decides to continue the Jobe story in a somewhat questionable way, but at the same time decides to conclude this saga in a quite acceptable way. My final rating for this movie is a 7/10.
Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace continues the story of the previous film with a prologue set after the end of the first film. The previous film left open the possibility of a sequel in which Jobe may have achieved his goal of being a cybernetic god who would threaten humanity, but a detail regarding the prologue is that it ignores the final scene and finding Jobe alive does not have much sense if you take into account what happened to his body in the previous film. This could be considered a contradiction to what was seen in the previous film. As for the rest of the story, the film focuses 6 years later in the future where technology has advanced and virtual reality has evolved to have a more realistic appearance. The big difference with the previous film is that this sequel focuses more on the action genre.
Without a doubt what the film offers is something that could surpass its predecessor, but it still leaves something to be desired due to the lack of more participation in the virtual world. The digital effects are fine, but maybe the problem is that they look simpler than in the previous film or there should have been more virtual world sequences like in the previous film.
Jobe is now played by another actor who gives him a lot of charisma and has what it takes to be a memorable villain. Jobe's body is reunited with his virtual alter ego that had presumably been separated from his body in the previous film. He still has the desire to take absolute control in the virtual world and be a cybernetic god. In that area, Jobe remains the same, with the sole exception that he no longer has telekinetic powers. Aside from Jobe, Peter also now returns as a young street hacker and although he is important to the confrontation with Jobe, it would have been interesting to know how Peter ended up in his current situation and what happened to Dr. Lawrence. Although it is not very well explained who Walker is and why he uses Jobe for his purposes, the truth is that he was involved in the creation of the virtual reality seen in the previous film and it can be intuited that he wants to continue the company's project. , but now including the use of the Chiron chip. What can also be considered a mistake in this movie is that Jobe wanted to contact Dr. Benjamin Trace to obtain information about the link in Egypt and then when Jobe manages to solve that question of the link due to his great intellect without Trace's help, he makes as if the contact he made with Trace had been of no use except for Trace to decide to try to stop Jobe. Of course, in the end it seems that Jobe couldn't completely solve the Egypt link, because of what happens when the maximum power of the chip is activated. That makes things a little confusing in this movie and it's best not to think about it too much.
Whether for better or worse, the good thing about this movie is that it concludes Jobe's story. Due to the different reissues that there were, it seemed that the best thing would have been for Lawnmower Man to be a saga of only two films or perhaps it was already planned that the saga would not have more than two films. Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace may fall short compared to its predecessor, but at least it not only decides to continue the Jobe story in a somewhat questionable way, but at the same time decides to conclude this saga in a quite acceptable way. My final rating for this movie is a 7/10.
Vengeance: A Love Story
(2017)
A minor production with a very good story
3 May 2024
This film is something simple to look at, but it actually has something striking behind it. The participation of good actors like Nicolas Cage or Don Johnson is proof that films from a smaller production have something good to offer. It is a story that is not far from reality due to many things that surround the plot. What we see are people who decide to act outside the law and get away with it. Even what Nicolas decides to do is wrong in the eyes of the law, but it can be considered justice in the same way that the relatives of the guilty feel that it was fair that they were freed and that justice ruled in favor of the victim. What the film proposes is a parallelism where those who commit atrocious acts are those who succeed and the victims are those who fail. Although what Nicolas Cage decides to do seems like the right thing to do, we must keep in mind that revenge is considered a crime in the eyes of justice. Looking at it that way, the film is really interesting, with a very good plot, since it questions something that happens in real life. It is not new that on many occasions the guilty of a crime have managed to get away with it, despite being prosecuted and that the victims have not received the justice they expected from the system. Another thing that is not new is that a police officer decides to act outside the law and although it may be considered correct, many of these police officers end up being fired or imprisoned because justice dictates that this is wrong. It is really striking what this film offers despite limiting some things due to few resources. Vengeance: A Love Story is a good police thriller that offers a very good plot despite being a less produced film. My final rating for this film is a 9/10.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
(2021)
The story repeats itself again, but with an air of nostalgia
2 May 2024
After trying to reboot the franchise with the failed 2016 reboot, Ivan Reitman's son resurrects the saga by returning to the roots and continuing the story of the original films. This fourth installment of the Ghostbusters franchise is the third part of the original saga and takes us several years after what we already saw in Ghostbusters 2. Returning to the original saga was a good decision and what it explores here is the legacy of the Ghostbusters. It is well known that many years have passed and the Ghostbusters that we knew have already aged quite a bit. This film introduces us to those who would be in charge of being the next to carry the mantle and it all begins with Egon's granddaughter. It is well known that the actor who played Egon passed away and the same thing happens with his character at the beginning of the film. The most logical thing was of course to resurrect the famous group through the young Phoebe, who certainly has a lot of Egon's air. It is scientifically proven that grandchildren can be born the same as their parents or grandparents and Phoebe resembles Egon in several ways. Beyond Phoebe and her companions resurrecting the Ghostbusters to finish Egon's work, the film is also a reminder of why Ghostbusters was such a beloved film. It revives quite a bit of the essence of the original film and you can feel the spirit of it, enough to generate nostalgia. There is no doubt that they used a similar formula to Halloween (2018) and did it very well. It is a film that is dedicated to both the original classic and the actor Egon. There are many things that remind us of the original film and the cinema of the 80s as references. The interesting thing is that they decided to take up a lot of the original film, as if the story of that film was repeated again, but in a good sense. It is understood that the building in New York where the confrontation with Gozer took place was not the only place where a portal to the unknown could be opened. This film expands the possibility of there being a second portal, partly helping Gozer to be the definitive rival of the Ghostbusters and, as in the first film, justifying the entry of ghosts into the human world. The original movie mentioned the possibility of a ghost-caused apocalypse and this movie picks up on that. More ghosts probably should have been added, but this movie is just an introduction to the next generation of the new Ghostbusters. What this film proposes to revive the franchise is something similar to the animated series Extreme Ghostbusters that continued the original animated series through new characters. It is quite appreciated that the soundtrack also takes a lot from the original film by recreating parts of the score that was composed by Elmer Bernstein. Ghostbusters: Afterlife is undoubtedly a good sequel that, through the new generation, begins a new chapter to continue the story of the original saga after being inactive for 32 years. It may not be better than the first two installments, but it's certainly better than the reboot they made in 2016. My rating for this movie is a 9/10.
Fantasia
(1940)
The most artistic and inspiring animated concert of all time
2 May 2024
After having brought Snow White and Pinocchio to the big screen, Walt Disney went on to create this third installment of the Disney classic franchise that differs quite a bit from the previous films and those that came after. Fantasia is a rather unusual case because what differentiates it from the other films in the franchise is that it is a symphonic music concert. A concert that is unique in its kind due to the series of animated segments that it presents during the musicians' performance. It is an unusual film that had never been made before, although years later films such as Pink Floyd The Wall, Metallica: Through The Never or Cirque Du Soleil: Wolds Away would emerge that also use the formula of being concerts or musicals that aim to offer a cinematic experience through creative images. The fascinating thing about Fantasia is that it is an anthology that strives more to be an artistic experience on a visual and auditory level. The segments are mostly works of art that already offered a glimpse into the films that would come later such as Hercules, Dinosaur, The Nutcracker And The Four Realms and The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Something about the segments that becomes interesting to analyze is the time period in which each segment takes place. That gives Fantasia a level of relevance because added to the films Hercules, Dinosaur, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs and Wish, this film is clearly part of the definitive genesis of the Disney universe. There is no arguing that Fantasia is an artistic piece that demonstrates the kind of genius that Walt Disney was. It is a film that offers an authentic experience to anyone familiar with the world of art and the world of symphonic music. Although music has changed over the decades, symphonic music continues to have important cultural value that has inspired composers of different genres and other artists. It is a musical that has always been present since the beginning of cinema and that masterful soundtrack that uses musical pieces that are still known to this day, makes Fantasia occupy a place alongside A Clockwork Orange. Many of the musical pieces used in this film are easy to recognize by most audiences even if they do not know the names or who the composers were. Fantasia is more than just another of Disney's great masterpieces, it is a work of art that shows us why music and animation are an art. A film that deserves its place in the world of art history and that deserves to be alongside other films such as Un Chien Andalou, Das Cabinet Des Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu and other films that were created by great artists in an era where cinema was an artistic expression and not a commercial industry. My final rating for this movie is a 10/10.
The Dark
(I) (2018)
The undead and the blind
1 May 2024
The Dark is a film that at first does not attract much attention and has a slow pace. What can be seen is that it offers an original story that is told from the perspective of a teenager who was abused and murdered by her stepfather and returned from her as an undead, spending her next years in the forests as a wild being hungry for human flesh. It is not a horror story as such, but rather a dramatic and tragic thriller. Here the young woman has an encounter with a blind boy who has been kidnapped and throughout the film, the young Mina recovers her humanity. It's a pretty interesting story and it's something that hasn't been seen before. This film offers what it takes to be a great work, but unfortunately it feels somewhat empty and flat. With more depth and development in the relationship between Mina and young Alex, the film could have been better. It even leaves a couple of doubts or loose ends, raising the question of what became of Alex and Mina after what was seen in the film. The flashbacks leave clear hints of what Mina's life was like before, although there is more that could have been shown. Alex is a character about whom a couple of clues are also given, but there is much about this character that we needed to know. It is not explained very clearly how he has lost his sight and the truth is that he still remains unknown in the rest of the film because there is not much that is known about his identity. Without a doubt The Dark is one of the few films with the most originality that can be found, but it could have been better as a film in itself. My final rating for this movie is a 7/10.
Grandma
(1979)
The great irreplaceable treasure of Argentine cinema
30 April 2024
La Nona was initially born as a play oriented towards tragic comedy that reflected Roberto Cossa's vision of society and politics. Most of Cossa's works tended to take on culture shock, as if suggesting that two different cultures cannot coexist in the same territory. Héctor Olivera decided to make this adaptation of the original play while maintaining the social symbolisms and ended up providing what is perhaps the best Argentine film that has ever existed. Currently, Argentine cinema has become synonymous with mediocrity and many of its films have tried to stand out in the field of comedy, drama, auteur cinema or independent cinema. Although there are a couple of new and old films that are redeemable, what is certain is that it is very difficult for any of them to surpass La Nona.
The first thing that makes La Nona an excellent film is that it respects the original source quite a bit. Although there are a couple of changes such as the final scene, they are minor and fit well with the film. The humor is the same, although interpreted from Olivera's perspective. Being a play, each performance he has had in different theaters has been in a different way. But the humor in this adaptation works quite well. As it is Argentine humor, it can be somewhat complicated to understand. The next thing is that Olivera knew how to capture and transmit the social criticism that the work had. Olivera's works are usually characterized by touching on social problems in Argentina and that made him know how to capture the metaphors of the work to translate them into this adaptation. Nona is always hungry to the point that her family lives in poverty and that voracious appetite is a clear allegory to the system that devours everything in its path until it leaves those from the middle or lower class in a serious economic problem.
The original work has satires and Italian stereotypes that the film was able to capture in a very successful way without losing the essence of the work. Many of the actors do their jobs very well and give the impression that they really are caricatured versions of Italian immigrants. That gives a very good flavor to the humor of the film and makes the characters unforgettable. Pepe Soriano is without a doubt the most memorable part of the film. Even with that old woman costume that he wears, he knew how to perfectly embody the voracious old woman of the play. He can very easily be mistaken for a real old woman and it is the best role he could have given Pepe.
Without having absolutely anything to envy, it is clear that La Nona is a worthy adaptation of the original work and a worthy film of Argentine cinema. Despite having passed many years, being an hour long, having few resources, being rarely mentioned and never having been adapted again into film, La Nona remains a unique film in Argentine cinema. Argentina may have produced more comedies before and since, but La Nona has never been replicated in any of them. It's one of those movies that will never be produced again and you have to appreciate it for that. Of the few good films that Argentina has produced, La Nona is the most valuable treasure of Argentine cinema. My final rating for this movie is a 10/10.
The first thing that makes La Nona an excellent film is that it respects the original source quite a bit. Although there are a couple of changes such as the final scene, they are minor and fit well with the film. The humor is the same, although interpreted from Olivera's perspective. Being a play, each performance he has had in different theaters has been in a different way. But the humor in this adaptation works quite well. As it is Argentine humor, it can be somewhat complicated to understand. The next thing is that Olivera knew how to capture and transmit the social criticism that the work had. Olivera's works are usually characterized by touching on social problems in Argentina and that made him know how to capture the metaphors of the work to translate them into this adaptation. Nona is always hungry to the point that her family lives in poverty and that voracious appetite is a clear allegory to the system that devours everything in its path until it leaves those from the middle or lower class in a serious economic problem.
The original work has satires and Italian stereotypes that the film was able to capture in a very successful way without losing the essence of the work. Many of the actors do their jobs very well and give the impression that they really are caricatured versions of Italian immigrants. That gives a very good flavor to the humor of the film and makes the characters unforgettable. Pepe Soriano is without a doubt the most memorable part of the film. Even with that old woman costume that he wears, he knew how to perfectly embody the voracious old woman of the play. He can very easily be mistaken for a real old woman and it is the best role he could have given Pepe.
Without having absolutely anything to envy, it is clear that La Nona is a worthy adaptation of the original work and a worthy film of Argentine cinema. Despite having passed many years, being an hour long, having few resources, being rarely mentioned and never having been adapted again into film, La Nona remains a unique film in Argentine cinema. Argentina may have produced more comedies before and since, but La Nona has never been replicated in any of them. It's one of those movies that will never be produced again and you have to appreciate it for that. Of the few good films that Argentina has produced, La Nona is the most valuable treasure of Argentine cinema. My final rating for this movie is a 10/10.
Eva Peron: The True Story
(1996)
Portrait of a strong woman who became a martyr
30 April 2024
Eva Perón is the most emblematic female figure in all of Argentina and among many people who were involved in the Argentine government, Eva proved to be the most dignified and humble. Something that Argentina will never have again. Few films have been made about this famous historical figure and this present film was released a few months before Alan Parker's version. Each director who has made these films has narrated the figure of Eva Perón from her perspective, but without separating herself from how very significant she has been for the Argentine people. This film directed by Juan Carlos Desanzo makes an effort to respect the figure of Eva and although it is a film that has been somewhat forgotten, there is no doubt that it is one of the best films in Argentine cinema. The film focuses a lot on Eva's rise as a possible vice president and how her opportunity to reach beyond the top was interrupted due to cancer. Surely we expected to see Eva's entire life and her beginnings are only summarized in two flashbacks about her father's funeral and her first meeting with Perón. The film gives quite a bit of relevance to the figure of Eva and the way in which she has challenged the norms and prejudices established by the oligarchy. The script gives a very good depth to that and also to Eva as a character. We see in the film that she was a woman who has suffered a lot of stigmatization for being an illegitimate daughter due to the prejudices of the time. That was something that Eva wanted to change and the film makes her objective very clear in order to understand the change she wanted to propose. Esther Goris gives a fairly strong and believable performance as Eva making her dominate the entire film. You can see the firm and defiant character with which Eva challenged the oligarchy and has earned her the affection of many. We see a pretty strong and feisty Eva who is determined to try to achieve the goal of being the leader that Argentina needed. Even when she falls ill, she still continues to fight and resist quite stoically, leading her to become the martyr that she currently is. In that area, Esther offers a performance worthy of an Oscar award and even Víctor Laplace also offers a great performance as a Juan Domingo Perón who is present when Eva needs him. What is true is that the film leaves out a couple of events that could have contributed a lot and Alan Parker's version is the one that has made the effort to try to tell the complete story. This film also deserves a certain appreciation for offering a fairly realistic and human portrait of Eva Perón in her fight to create a better Argentina for those most in need. My final rating for this movie is a 9/10.
Spider-Man: Lotus
(2023)
The big drama of a superhero
29 April 2024
Spider-Man: Lotus was an unexpected surprise and a curious independent project that no one would expect to reach the advertising media. The fame of this film came due to questionable comments by the actor and the director that have already caused this film to have a bad image. If you leave that aside for a moment, the film is something very different from what audiences are used to seeing in superhero movies. Action and CGI are the greatest strength that superhero movies have and many of us watch these movies expecting to see all that. Being a Spider-Man movie, logically an individual would expect to see the famous hero in action. In this film that doesn't happen and it opts for something else. Being an independent film, it doesn't have what you normally expect to see from a superhero film. There is very little action and the CGI is decent, but uses little.
The film is actually a drama that focuses on the emotional grief that Peter, Mary Jane and Harry suffer after the death of Gwen Stacy. Knowing that it is a project made with a low budget, the creators thought of making a film about the emotional fall that Peter has due to Gwen's death and offer a much more realistic story. Lately, superhero movies don't focus much on the characters' emotions and disappointments and leave them in the background. Although they have unlimited powers, superheroes are still human beings with problems that can affect them mentally and who must deal with their own emotions when they have to make difficult decisions. Loss has always been a relevant factor that has made many superheroes make the decision to fight for justice so that others do not feel the pain that they feel for having lost a loved one. Even doing good is what makes superheroes feel something that relieves that pain inside them.
Here Peter Parker feels a lot of pain and guilt for not saving Gwen and that leads him to a depressive state. In other adaptations such as The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man: The New Animated Series we see Peter feeling so affected and guilty for not having been able to save someone that it leads him to want to quit. In Spider-Man 2 with Tobey Maguire, something similar happens when Peter feels that he can't find the balance between his life as a vigilante and his relationship with Mary Jane and Harry Osborn. What this movie does is explore more of Peter's mind and the torment he suffers from what happened with Gwen. The film does not explicitly show how Gwen's death, her father's death, and Norman Osborn's death occurred. Just the opening credits with a series of images, a couple of flashbacks and a couple of mentions in the dialogues already give an idea of how it could have happened. Even taking into account the latest confrontations seen in Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man and Andrew Garfield's two The Amazing Spider-Man films, one could put together an idea of how the tragedy that torments Peter in this film has happened. It could be interpreted that Green Goblin killed Gwen's father, then went after her, what happened was what we already saw in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 mixed with Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man and the rest is easy to guess. The thing about Peter going to visit a child with a terminal illness that can give him hope is something that has been seen in the animated series of the 90s and takes a lot from that. In fact, this film seems to be quite influenced by said animated series. It must be admitted at this point that the narrative development they gave to Peter's duel is excellent and too much to be an independent film.
The weakness of this film lies in its length, which makes all the drama boring to some, and also in the budget, which did not allow for a little more action. Most likely, if a couple of action sequences had been applied without losing the drama, the result would have been a great work of independent cinema. There's even more of Harry Osborn that should have been explored. Here we see how his depression caused by the death of his father leads him to the point of becoming almost addicted, but we still needed to see more of that suffering that would end up leading him to become the second Green Goblin. So Harry's development feels incomplete in that regard.
As a final conclusion, Spider-Man: Lotus is a dramatic superhero film that does not offer the action that many superhero lovers expect, but it serves to better understand Peter Parker as a human being and not just as Spider-Man. It is a film that respects the essence of the character and it is highly appreciated that it is something that portrays the humanity of superheroes to see that they are still people like the rest of the world. My final rating for this movie is a 7/10.
The film is actually a drama that focuses on the emotional grief that Peter, Mary Jane and Harry suffer after the death of Gwen Stacy. Knowing that it is a project made with a low budget, the creators thought of making a film about the emotional fall that Peter has due to Gwen's death and offer a much more realistic story. Lately, superhero movies don't focus much on the characters' emotions and disappointments and leave them in the background. Although they have unlimited powers, superheroes are still human beings with problems that can affect them mentally and who must deal with their own emotions when they have to make difficult decisions. Loss has always been a relevant factor that has made many superheroes make the decision to fight for justice so that others do not feel the pain that they feel for having lost a loved one. Even doing good is what makes superheroes feel something that relieves that pain inside them.
Here Peter Parker feels a lot of pain and guilt for not saving Gwen and that leads him to a depressive state. In other adaptations such as The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man: The New Animated Series we see Peter feeling so affected and guilty for not having been able to save someone that it leads him to want to quit. In Spider-Man 2 with Tobey Maguire, something similar happens when Peter feels that he can't find the balance between his life as a vigilante and his relationship with Mary Jane and Harry Osborn. What this movie does is explore more of Peter's mind and the torment he suffers from what happened with Gwen. The film does not explicitly show how Gwen's death, her father's death, and Norman Osborn's death occurred. Just the opening credits with a series of images, a couple of flashbacks and a couple of mentions in the dialogues already give an idea of how it could have happened. Even taking into account the latest confrontations seen in Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man and Andrew Garfield's two The Amazing Spider-Man films, one could put together an idea of how the tragedy that torments Peter in this film has happened. It could be interpreted that Green Goblin killed Gwen's father, then went after her, what happened was what we already saw in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 mixed with Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man and the rest is easy to guess. The thing about Peter going to visit a child with a terminal illness that can give him hope is something that has been seen in the animated series of the 90s and takes a lot from that. In fact, this film seems to be quite influenced by said animated series. It must be admitted at this point that the narrative development they gave to Peter's duel is excellent and too much to be an independent film.
The weakness of this film lies in its length, which makes all the drama boring to some, and also in the budget, which did not allow for a little more action. Most likely, if a couple of action sequences had been applied without losing the drama, the result would have been a great work of independent cinema. There's even more of Harry Osborn that should have been explored. Here we see how his depression caused by the death of his father leads him to the point of becoming almost addicted, but we still needed to see more of that suffering that would end up leading him to become the second Green Goblin. So Harry's development feels incomplete in that regard.
As a final conclusion, Spider-Man: Lotus is a dramatic superhero film that does not offer the action that many superhero lovers expect, but it serves to better understand Peter Parker as a human being and not just as Spider-Man. It is a film that respects the essence of the character and it is highly appreciated that it is something that portrays the humanity of superheroes to see that they are still people like the rest of the world. My final rating for this movie is a 7/10.
Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.
(1990)
Another bizarre and promising Troma cartoon made with real people
28 April 2024
After The Toxic Avenger trilogy, Troma presents this comedy with a new superhero that parodies elements of kabuki and Japanese culture. Sgt. Kabukiman is a bizarre fun that has the cartoonish humor of Troma. The film is an authentic cartoon made with real humans that offers several delirious and nonsensical moments that seek to make the viewer laugh. Like The Toxic Avenger, the concept is a parody of superhero cinema and what it offers is something that does not seek to be taken seriously. Like many Troma films, this film has no good acting, no solid script, no character development, and everything is nonsense. It's a comedy that delivers guaranteed laughs and manages to do that without the need to be an excellent movie. That makes it an enjoyable film to watch and Kabukiman has already become an iconic character along with Toxie. The soundtrack has its interesting side as it is based on the opera Madame Butterfly and the Kabukiman song is unforgettable. Perhaps the battle with the evil being should have been more hesitant because the design of that creature is out of this world. Sgt. Kabukiman is another of Troma's bizarre films that promises laughter and guaranteed entertainment. My final rating for this movie is a 7/10.
Hatching
(2022)
The monster of repressed feelings
28 April 2024
Clearly, Ego is a rarity in Finnish cinema that is not for everyone in general. Terror is not the only thing that this film offers, the plot is rather a dramatic thriller with a deep metaphor that only the most intelligent of us will be able to understand. The film is well made technically, the production is impeccable and the creature design is an admirable work by the special effects artists. What the story presents is a family that is subjected to fulfilling the whims of a mother who only wants a perfect life. She brags about it a lot on social media and it is evident that she is a narcissistic woman who only wants her entire family life to be the way she wants without taking into account what others want. That is where the young Tinja comes in, becoming the clear representation of a girl who is obliged to fulfill her mother's wishes. This is the case of a mother who wants to use her daughter to achieve goals that she may never have been able to achieve. It is not far from cases of children who have been overexploited just to fulfill the whims of their parents to the point of bringing them to a terrible end. The mother clearly wants Tinja to be the supposed perfect girl and to forge her in her image and likeness without her caring what the young woman feels. It is evident that in this film, Tinja and her family are slaves to the mother's whims and hide it behind a false smile.
The creature, as it grows, can notice a strong connection that it develops with Tinja and this being becomes a physical manifestation of all the repressed feelings that Tinja keeps inside of her. It is clear that Tinja is not happy because she is forced to be the perfect girl that her mother wants of her and does not let her be herself. These repressed feelings are what cause the creature to grow and become a doppelganger of Tinja. The creature feeds on Tinja's feelings and may even be an example of a changeling who can slowly take on the identity of another. Another interesting analysis that comes from other people is that the creature becomes the reflection of the darkest desires that Tinja keeps inside and is quite related to the doppelganger because many of us have an alter-ego inside that we cannot show and the Younger people sometimes express it through adolescent rebellion. Although it may seem absurd that Tinja protects and hides the creature, even knowing that it is dangerous, it may be because she, feeling so repressed, has developed a feeling of insecurity that does not allow her to handle the situation she faces. Another analysis is that since the creature is a manifestation of Tinja's repressed feelings, the fact that he keeps it hidden is a metaphor for how teenagers or even ourselves hide our wildest side from the view of those who may view it with contempt. Both coincide perfectly with the profile of a young man who has feelings of insecurity that do not allow him to face certain situations adequately.
The concept of the film is really good and the narrative follows the auteur film formula. Of course, he is not looking for something that offers a lot of mobility, but rather to offer a story that is based more on understanding than on understanding. The only thing that can cause logic to be lost a little is when the creature becomes confused with Tinja. There it becomes strange that they do not suspect the creature's animal behavior and perhaps Tero and Tinja's father have been too numbed by Tinja's mother's bubble that they can barely see reality. Only the youngest brother of the family is the only one who still remains awake enough to see the suspicions.
The definitive conclusion is that Ego is a film that must be seen from a psychological and literary perspective and not from a conventional perspective. It is an auteur film that moves away from the conventionalities of common cinema and offers something unusual that no one will be able to digest. That makes it a rather unusual film that, despite not leaving absolute closure, at least offers that peculiarity that could be expected from a film that does not cling to the scheme of films that always offer the same thing. My final rating for this movie is an 8/10.
The creature, as it grows, can notice a strong connection that it develops with Tinja and this being becomes a physical manifestation of all the repressed feelings that Tinja keeps inside of her. It is clear that Tinja is not happy because she is forced to be the perfect girl that her mother wants of her and does not let her be herself. These repressed feelings are what cause the creature to grow and become a doppelganger of Tinja. The creature feeds on Tinja's feelings and may even be an example of a changeling who can slowly take on the identity of another. Another interesting analysis that comes from other people is that the creature becomes the reflection of the darkest desires that Tinja keeps inside and is quite related to the doppelganger because many of us have an alter-ego inside that we cannot show and the Younger people sometimes express it through adolescent rebellion. Although it may seem absurd that Tinja protects and hides the creature, even knowing that it is dangerous, it may be because she, feeling so repressed, has developed a feeling of insecurity that does not allow her to handle the situation she faces. Another analysis is that since the creature is a manifestation of Tinja's repressed feelings, the fact that he keeps it hidden is a metaphor for how teenagers or even ourselves hide our wildest side from the view of those who may view it with contempt. Both coincide perfectly with the profile of a young man who has feelings of insecurity that do not allow him to face certain situations adequately.
The concept of the film is really good and the narrative follows the auteur film formula. Of course, he is not looking for something that offers a lot of mobility, but rather to offer a story that is based more on understanding than on understanding. The only thing that can cause logic to be lost a little is when the creature becomes confused with Tinja. There it becomes strange that they do not suspect the creature's animal behavior and perhaps Tero and Tinja's father have been too numbed by Tinja's mother's bubble that they can barely see reality. Only the youngest brother of the family is the only one who still remains awake enough to see the suspicions.
The definitive conclusion is that Ego is a film that must be seen from a psychological and literary perspective and not from a conventional perspective. It is an auteur film that moves away from the conventionalities of common cinema and offers something unusual that no one will be able to digest. That makes it a rather unusual film that, despite not leaving absolute closure, at least offers that peculiarity that could be expected from a film that does not cling to the scheme of films that always offer the same thing. My final rating for this movie is an 8/10.
One of the best horror tale movies to enjoy before go to bed
27 April 2024
After the success of the original television series, Paramount was in charge of producing this film that does a lot of honor to the series and is without a doubt one of the best films that have been made based on a television series. This Tales From The Darkside feature offers quite a bit as an anthology horror film, since the series didn't focus much on it. The original series had horror stories, but there were also stories that were oriented towards suspense, black humor, fantasy and science fiction. The film, on the other hand, offers stories that are oriented towards the horror genre with a bit of humor in some scenes.
The film also features some recognized figures of the genre who participated in the series. The direction was commissioned by John Harrison (composer of Day Of The Dead and Creepshow) and this film is his great film debut as a director. George A. Romero (creator of the series and Night Of The Living Dead) was involved in the script of the second segment that adapts a story by the famous Stephen King. The first segment was based on a story by Arthur Conan Doyle (creator of the Sherlock Holmes literary saga) and involved the still young Christian Slater, Julianne Moore and Steve Buscemi, who had already participated in the series. The third segment was created by Michael McDowell, who already has recognition for having worked with Tim Burton on Beetlejuice and also on the series on which this film is based. The special effects featured the trio of artists Gregory Nicotero, Howard Berger and Robert Kurtzman. Other actors from the original series who were involved were Deborah Harris and William Hickey. Clearly, it is a film that has a lot of what you would expect from a horror film that follows the formula of those films from the 80s and 90s that are now much loved by moviegoers.
Speaking of the segments, the intermission story used to introduce the film and the other stories is clearly inspired by Hansel & Gretel and it is understood that the idea was to present the stories like any other that a father would tell his children before sleep, but they would still be scary stories. We must remember that even though Hansel & Gretel is classified as a children's story, it is actually a scary story.
The first story in this anthology is a classic story about a mummy who comes back to life to cause disaster. Since the days of Universal's classic monsters, the idea of a mummy as a terrifying monster has been floated. That is something that over time has deteriorated and been reduced to a kind of children's horror story. This film takes that concept and manages to offer a mummy that is threatening enough that very well fulfills that vision of the resurrected mummy as a monster that unleashes terror. Although it is not fully explained why Bellingham revives the mummy, it can be understood that his companions have framed him for something he did not do and that is why Bellingham uses the mummy as an instrument of revenge.
The second story has the strangeness and absurdity that can be found in some Stephen King stories, but this is a story that is taken quite seriously despite having some moments that seem humorous. Although it is never explained where the black cat came from, Drogan's story where he mentions that he has used cats for his experiments could imply that the cat that torments him is a supernatural entity or manifestation that has appeared to punish Drogan for the death of the cats from his experiments. That makes a lot of sense and even more so given the fact that Drogan owns a company that makes drugs that can cause addiction. In that regard, the cat's actions are justified and hitman Halston is clearly someone with a dark history.
The third story has a quite unexpected twist and unlike the previous stories, the victims are individuals who have never done anything wrong. What this story presents is something worthy of a Gothic tale. The protagonist is the failed artist Preston who is quite broke, but the encounter he has with the gargoyle changes his life and he begins to improve. The way this story concludes is unexpected and tragic at the same time. If you think about it for a moment, the gargoyle never had any intentions of hurting Preston. It seemed like she just wanted to help him and the promise Preston had made to the gargoyle seemed more like a pact. Gargoyles are sometimes considered demons and it could be interpreted that the gargoyle in this film is a demon that used Preston's promise as a kind of pact in which if Preston didn't say anything about his friend's murder, his life would go. To be abundant. It is the typical pact between a mortal and a demon who in exchange obtains what he most desires. As seen in this story, Preston gets everything he could ever want, but only if the pact he made through his promise remains intact. The only thing that isn't justified is why the gargoyle attacked Preston's friend first. Perhaps because he had witnessed the existence of him and the gargoyle, he only wanted to present himself to Preston and no one else. You could say that the gargoyle didn't want anyone other than Preston to know of his existence. After all, this may be the best story ever made related to gargoyles, leaving aside the animated series Gargoyles that was produced by Disney.
In conclusion, Tales From The Darkside: The Movie is a promising horror story film ideal for midnight viewing and is recommended for fans of scary stories and lovers of pre-2000 horror films. My final rating for this film is a 9/10.
The film also features some recognized figures of the genre who participated in the series. The direction was commissioned by John Harrison (composer of Day Of The Dead and Creepshow) and this film is his great film debut as a director. George A. Romero (creator of the series and Night Of The Living Dead) was involved in the script of the second segment that adapts a story by the famous Stephen King. The first segment was based on a story by Arthur Conan Doyle (creator of the Sherlock Holmes literary saga) and involved the still young Christian Slater, Julianne Moore and Steve Buscemi, who had already participated in the series. The third segment was created by Michael McDowell, who already has recognition for having worked with Tim Burton on Beetlejuice and also on the series on which this film is based. The special effects featured the trio of artists Gregory Nicotero, Howard Berger and Robert Kurtzman. Other actors from the original series who were involved were Deborah Harris and William Hickey. Clearly, it is a film that has a lot of what you would expect from a horror film that follows the formula of those films from the 80s and 90s that are now much loved by moviegoers.
Speaking of the segments, the intermission story used to introduce the film and the other stories is clearly inspired by Hansel & Gretel and it is understood that the idea was to present the stories like any other that a father would tell his children before sleep, but they would still be scary stories. We must remember that even though Hansel & Gretel is classified as a children's story, it is actually a scary story.
The first story in this anthology is a classic story about a mummy who comes back to life to cause disaster. Since the days of Universal's classic monsters, the idea of a mummy as a terrifying monster has been floated. That is something that over time has deteriorated and been reduced to a kind of children's horror story. This film takes that concept and manages to offer a mummy that is threatening enough that very well fulfills that vision of the resurrected mummy as a monster that unleashes terror. Although it is not fully explained why Bellingham revives the mummy, it can be understood that his companions have framed him for something he did not do and that is why Bellingham uses the mummy as an instrument of revenge.
The second story has the strangeness and absurdity that can be found in some Stephen King stories, but this is a story that is taken quite seriously despite having some moments that seem humorous. Although it is never explained where the black cat came from, Drogan's story where he mentions that he has used cats for his experiments could imply that the cat that torments him is a supernatural entity or manifestation that has appeared to punish Drogan for the death of the cats from his experiments. That makes a lot of sense and even more so given the fact that Drogan owns a company that makes drugs that can cause addiction. In that regard, the cat's actions are justified and hitman Halston is clearly someone with a dark history.
The third story has a quite unexpected twist and unlike the previous stories, the victims are individuals who have never done anything wrong. What this story presents is something worthy of a Gothic tale. The protagonist is the failed artist Preston who is quite broke, but the encounter he has with the gargoyle changes his life and he begins to improve. The way this story concludes is unexpected and tragic at the same time. If you think about it for a moment, the gargoyle never had any intentions of hurting Preston. It seemed like she just wanted to help him and the promise Preston had made to the gargoyle seemed more like a pact. Gargoyles are sometimes considered demons and it could be interpreted that the gargoyle in this film is a demon that used Preston's promise as a kind of pact in which if Preston didn't say anything about his friend's murder, his life would go. To be abundant. It is the typical pact between a mortal and a demon who in exchange obtains what he most desires. As seen in this story, Preston gets everything he could ever want, but only if the pact he made through his promise remains intact. The only thing that isn't justified is why the gargoyle attacked Preston's friend first. Perhaps because he had witnessed the existence of him and the gargoyle, he only wanted to present himself to Preston and no one else. You could say that the gargoyle didn't want anyone other than Preston to know of his existence. After all, this may be the best story ever made related to gargoyles, leaving aside the animated series Gargoyles that was produced by Disney.
In conclusion, Tales From The Darkside: The Movie is a promising horror story film ideal for midnight viewing and is recommended for fans of scary stories and lovers of pre-2000 horror films. My final rating for this film is a 9/10.
Dark Skies
(2013)
Alien terror hidden in the shadows
27 April 2024
Blumhouse enters the science fiction genre with this film, but without abandoning its focus on suspense. Dark Skies is a film focused on alien contact, but oriented toward psychological horror. That's something that had previously been done in films like The McPherson Tape and Fourth Kind, both of which claimed to be true events. Even The X-Files series sometimes took this same tack. What makes this film fascinating as it focuses on psychological horror is that it portrays alien contact as something terrifying. The reason it makes that quite interesting is because the statements of people who have claimed to have extraterrestrial contact are narrated as a nightmarish event. The doubt still remains that if these statements are true or just something invented by lunatics, the truth is that these statements are counted as a terrifying or traumatizing experience. Dark Skies, like other films, takes this into account and that is why it is a success that it presents this story of extraterrestrial contact as something that can inspire fear. In the end, the film fulfills its role as a psychological horror and knows how to handle suspense and tension very well. It may be predictable like many suspense and psychological horror films that became popular in the 2010s, but it has good successes. The story is well told, starting light and then ascending to pure tension. Perhaps what may disappoint is that the aliens appear more as dark silhouettes made with obvious CGI and are not seen in their entirety, but keeping them in the shadows helps with the suspense of the film. Dark Skies is a fascinating science fiction thriller film that fulfills its objective of showing alien contact as a possible terrifying experience. My final rating for this movie is an 8/10.
Witchfinder General
(1968)
The cruelest face of Vincent Price
27 April 2024
Vincent Price has had antagonistic roles in some of his best-known films, but in none has he shown such a ruthless side as in Witchfinder General. The film is based on a novel that presents a fictional version of Matthew Hopkins, but manages to portray the legendary cruelty of this historical figure and some of the horrors experienced at that time. This film portrays some of the crimes committed at a time when superstition was quite abundant and witch hunts were common. Whether some believe that witchcraft is a real thing, the witch hunt was always somewhat questionable due to the number of victims involving innocents or people who had discovered something that people back then were incapable of understanding. The film more than anything emphasizes the savagery of human beings and, as many times, uses his ideas to justify them. In the case of Matthew Hopkins, his motivations in real life were always money and in the movie he always declares that he does God's work. Richard Marshall is motivated by revenge and justifies the pursuit of him by stating that it is an act of justice. The film even suggests that Christian beliefs were often used back then to justify certain vile acts. This is something that dates back to medieval times and was still in force for a while. It can be said that Witchfinder General manages to be a good historical portrait, despite being a fictional film. The interrogation scenes and executions manage to be cruel enough to give a clear idea of what things were like back then when it came to witch hunts. Something that would be repeated again in Salem. Although there is much more that could have been offered, the film achieves its goal. Vincent Price even managed to offer a character cruel enough to make this film one of the most remembered in his career. As on many occasions, Vincent takes over the film, but this time he does it by offering a quite convincing performance. Vincent Price was always characterized by his eccentricity, elegance and friendliness. Here all that is replaced by a rather cold and bloodthirsty attitude that has shown how capable Vincent Price is of playing other types of characters. So in the end Witchfinder General is a memorable film for the way it portrays the cruelty of the witch hunt and for Vincent Price's very convincing performance as a cruel and ruthless being. My final rating for this movie is a 9/10.
Dagon
(2001)
A great adaptation that respects the essence of Lovecraft
26 April 2024
Stuart Gordon and Brian Yuzna adapt another of H. P.'s most popular stories together for the last time. Lovecraft. Although it cannot be said that it was the last adaptation of Lovecraft that Stuart Gordon made, since shortly after he made another adaptation for the Masters Of Horror series, the truth is that this film would be the last adaptation that Gordon would make for the big screen. . This being the third film from B-production company Fantastic Factory, the film takes its title from one of Lovecraft's short stories and the story is based on the story The Shadow Over Innsmouth. This is equally acceptable because both stories are connected by the fact that Lovecraft's works share the same universe. There are a couple of differences towards some situations, the story now takes place in a part of Spain and there are a couple of limitations in the makeup that tries to recreate the human-fish hybrids. Despite this, the film has the essence of Lovecraft. The presence of ancient creatures from Lovecraftian mythology can be felt in the environment. The presence of water and rain makes the atmosphere generate the same sensation that Lovecraft's texts related to Cthulu or other entities that lie hidden in the depths generate. Even for a B series production, it is very well produced. The soundtrack is even beautiful and the chorus feels like something out of The Call Of Cthulu. Although most of the actors are not well known, they are quite good. Erza Godden takes over 70 percent of the film and actually does a very good job. Raquel Meroño is really charming and her beauty makes some of the few scenes of her worth it. Macarena Gómez is perhaps one of the few Spanish actresses for whom it is inevitable to have a certain affection. Her character is another of the memorable things this movie offers. Francisco Rabal is not far behind, since this was his last film before he died. Francisco made the big farewell to him as a vagabond who ended up being an easy character to love. Dagon has been an improvement for Fantastic Factory and to this day is one of the best adaptations of Lovecraft's works. My final rating for this movie is a 9/10.
The Haunted Palace
(1963)
Poe and Lovecraft united
26 April 2024
Continuing with the Edgar Allan Poe adaptations, Roger Corman did something special that makes The Haunted Palace a film different from the rest. Here Corman chose not to just take one of Poe's poems. The film is titled and there are a couple of elements taken from the poem, but the story was built using the story The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward by H. P. Lovecraft. The film is a combination of two texts by two renowned authors of classical literature. It makes sense because you couldn't develop a broad story about the poem and it was better to incorporate a story from another story. Taking into account the importance that Poe and Lovecraft have for Gothic literature, The Haunted Palace becomes a quite attractive case for combining these authors. A couple of years later Corman would adapt The Dunwich Horror, demonstrating his interest in Lovecraft. The film is just as promising as the other Poe adaptations that Corman directed. The participation of the memorable Vincent Price is always something nice to see and here he manages to be dazzled by the way he changes character. Here he repeats the same thing that has been seen in The Pit And The Pendulum when Price falls into madness, but in this film he changes characters quite a bit and his voice always makes his characters believable and unique. Although the film is low-budget, it manages to offer that macabre and gothic atmosphere that characterizes these Corman adaptations quite a bit. The Haunted Palace is a good film recommended for fans of the works of Poe and Lovecraft and to continue admiring Price's iconic image. My final rating for this movie is a 9/10.
Rebellion in Patagonia
(1974)
The battle for Patagonia
26 April 2024
Director Héctor Olivera has proven to be one of the few prestigious ones that Argentine cinema had, since he knows how to tell stories that capture attention and many of his films are closely related to social problems that have been plaguing the country for years. La Patagonia Rebelde narrates a part of the first workers' strike that marked a before and after in Argentine history. It was something that emerged as one of the aftermath of World War I, at a time when Argentina used to be a world power. Although it has a couple of errors and unbelievable deaths, it is a respectable film. On the one hand, it is felt to be influenced by Western cinema and on the other, it manages to portray a couple of essential aspects of the massacre of the workers. What it narrates is something that happened in a time where anarchism and socialism had a great influence, although anarchism was the most priority. The big difference between these is that anarchism sought a solution through extremism and socialism sought a more rational solution. Due to the great influence of anarchism, this is where the phrase "violence generates more violence" comes in. The workers were fighting for a just cause, but Zavala's ascent did not hesitate to resort to military force. The film states at one point that what he did was for the well-being of the country, even knowing that he could be marked in history as an oppressor. Logically, he was a soldier who only carried out his orders and in the official history it is clear that the ranchers thought this decision was better for the same reason that they began to overexploit the workers. For the ranchers it was only for the well-being of the economy, since for a capitalist system production is what matters and the worker is nothing more than another cog in the machinery. A gear that can be easily replaced. What this film reflects is something that has generated changes in certain laws, but it also reflects the reality of the capitalist system that still exists and that has led Argentina to its decline. Although the workers who died are seen as heroes for some and Zavala as a criminal, the truth is that in this case there are no heroes or villains as such and it is only something subjective. It must be taken into account that anarchist ideas have generated tragic moments after the events in Patagonia, since many bombings have been recorded that have involved innocent victims. That would be one of the negative influences that anarchism has left that led to its decline in the following years. The phrase "violence generates more violence" is repeated because the massacre of the workers has caused disastrous events such as the bombings and the death of the colonel. In these aspects, there is more of a level of neutrality in the actual events than a total definition of whether what happened was good or bad. For the workers it was bad because of the lives that were lost, but for the system of that time it was good for economic reasons. Although today there are still strikes demanding good working conditions, the reality is that capitalism is not very interested in that, unless it seems convenient for its own well-being, otherwise it remains silent. In the end, La Patagonia Rebelde is a film that serves to learn about a part of this historical event and is one of the few Argentine films that deserves a chance. My final rating for this movie is an 8/10.
Kung Fu Panda Holiday
(2010 TV Short)
Between responsibility and family
25 April 2024
After the success of Kung Fu Panda, Dreamworks decided to test if this new animated work could offer more before making the decision to turn it into a saga. Being a medium-length film, it obviously offers little in terms of length. Even so, the truth is that the characters automatically won the public's affection after the premiere of the first film. This medium-length film serves to see that Po has a good heart despite his ineptitude. What this Christmas special raises is something that people often face. It is the question about duty and responsibilities in conflict with love for family and loved ones. Po now has a responsibility as The Dragon Warrior, but that clashes when he has to decide between fulfilling that role or spending time with his father during the holidays. What this production proposes is something realistic because many times it happens that a person has to fulfill his responsibilities at work and try to balance that with the time he must spend with his family. It is something that has been seen in other films, but it is a very reflective message for adults who must carry the weight of a work responsibility or a family tradition at a time where they must choose between that and being with those they love. Kung Fu Panda Holiday manages to convey that message and it is a good thing for children who will grow up and have to deal with these types of situations. In that aspect, Kung Fu Panda Holiday manages to offer something else that made us want to know more about this universe through its subsequent installments. My final rating for this medium-length film is an 8/10.
Kung Fu Hustle
(2004)
The best martial arts comedy ever
25 April 2024
After having made Shaolin Soccer, Stephen Chow managed to surpass himself with what is possibly his best film after Shaolin Soccer. Kung Fu Hustle takes up the air of classic martial arts films and offers a fun experience full of action and humor combined. Like Shaolin Soccer, it presents a more exaggerated and cartoonish view of martial arts. That makes the movie a cartoon with real people and CGI. The work is truly wonderful and manages to compensate for the simple story that leaves several things open to the viewer's interpretation. There is not exactly an evolution or development in Sing's character, but what the story makes clear is that destiny is responsible for taking him on the right path. Everything that happens in the film is part of a scheme that is responsible for making Sing fulfill his destiny. Not much is known about the martial arts masters who appear in this film, but they give clues to get an idea of who they were and why they ended up hiding in a poor neighborhood. Much in this film is left up to interpretation and deduction, but the gorgeous, cartoonish action scenes are what steal the show. The CGI didn't need to be the best because it fits well with the cartoonish humor of the film. Kung Fu Hustle manages to be one of the best films from the Asian continent and is a gem that is worth it. My final rating for this movie is a 10/10.
Kung Pow: Enter the Fist
(2002)
An absurd and funny recycling
24 April 2024
Comedian Steve Oedekerk is best known in the world of animation for being the author of the adventures of Jimmy Neutron and Barnyard. Nor can we forget that he has been the author of the first installment of Ace Ventura and the Almighty duology. Kung Pow is another of his most emblematic comedies and what characterizes it quite a bit is that it is not a film that was made from scratch. This film was made based on another martial arts film known as Hu Hao Shuang Xing. That would make Kung Pow look like a reboot or recycling, but Steve made new scenes and dubbed the characters' voices himself, replacing the original dialogue to create a different story. Using the digital chroma key technique, Steve was inserted replacing the protagonist of the original film. A lot of what Steve has done in this film is something that anyone today would do for an internet video, but back then it was a new way to do a parody. Recycling scenes is not something new because Roger Corman had already done that in some films he produced, but Steve did it with the intention of making a parody that works quite well. Steve's dubbing was done poorly on purpose to fit the humor of the film. It must be admitted that he managed to make a unique parody for its time. It's really funny and has good gags. There is no need to explain much because the film speaks for itself. Even the cow scene is unforgettable. Kung Pow is a hilariously absurd film that takes the bad of a ridiculous comedy and delivers it with style. My final rating for this movie is an 8/10.
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