What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

My quick thoughts on what I saw at the cinema today:

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is probably not as entertaining as the previous episode, but it's still a very well made and thoroughly entertaining piece of sci-fi action/adventure cinema. The performances are all excellent, the direction and SFX extremely good, and the writing and editing keeps things moving along while packing an awful lot into about 150 minutes.

There's several moments where everyone in the cinema laughed out loud due to exchanges or motions which wouldn't be out of place in a Guardians of the Galaxy movie (but which felt perfectly natural here), and it's amazing how naturally Carrie Fisher appearances are, and the emotional impact I felt they had.

STRONGER has the potential to be a cheap 'Hallmark Channel' emotionally exploitative or jingoistic piece of exploitation. However, the material is well handled and I thought the experiences of Jeff Bauman, whose lower legs were amputated due to injury sustained in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, were thought-provoking and engrossing. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Jake Gyllenhaal is shortlisted for the Best Actor Oscar along with those responsible for making his legs 'disappear' in the same way as Marion Cotillard looked like a double amputee in Rust and Bone.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

December 12th - Beyond the Gates. (2016)

Some pointless nonsense about a video cassette board game that you hook up to your tv and you get Barbara Crampton's face talking to you. Sadly it's not POV porn as that would have been entertaining for five minutes whereas this doesn't even achieve the accolade of being entertaining for five minutes.

[Demoncrat]

NOW rewatch The Void D. Cough.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Trouble With the Curve (2012)

Probably Clint Eastwood's final acting role as an aging baseball scout whose daughter, Amy Adams, goes on a scouting trip with him to attempt to mend their estranged relationship.

Despite not being a big fan of baseball it was easy to follow in sporting terms, and had a cool feelgood finale, (The curve of the title refers to the trajectory of a pitched baseball) but the majority of the film deals with the father / daughter relationship and the obstacles to overcome. Eastwood is made for roles like this, his gruff persona a mirror image of his earlier roles yet there's a sweetness to him that's not quite scrabbling to get out but threatens to crack a smile every so often. Look out for scenes from Firefox as a younger Clint gives a child molester a beating.

A strong supporting cast including Justin Timberlake, John Goodman, Robert Patrick and sneery Matthew Lillard help make this a thoroughly entertaining experience.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

December 13th - The Devonsville Terror (1983)

1683, Massachusetts, where three women, including Suzanna Love, in the town of Devonsville are kidnapped by the townsfolk and tortured and executed as witches. Naturally they announce they will return, and do so 300 years later in 1983. Unfortunately for them Doctor Sam Loomis begins to investigate the witches curse on the town as supernatural events begin all over again.

Beginning and ending with some terrific wicked witchery and some ingenious torture methods, Uli Lommel's film should be better than it actually is. The problem i have is that two days later and i can't remember a damn thing that happened in between the scenes of torture and execution. Having said that i do recall thinking it was okay as the credits rolled, just not very memorable afterwards.

[Demoncrat]

Psycho III (1986, Anthony Perkins)
Another vhs ... Boy this is cut somewhat what? Cough. Norman helms this installment of the franchise ... sadly he's hitched his wagon to the reliably forgettable Roberta Maxwell (what else was she in ?? ). Regardless ... with the Fahey bringing up the rear, things don't to plan but at least it's watchable. BD safe? Surely?

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

December 14th - Morgiana (1972)

Klara and Viktoria are sisters. Their father dies, leaving most of his property to Klara. When Klara becomes involved with a man that her sister loves, Viktoria begins to plot her murder.

Yes, that basically sums up Morgiana. However what it doesn't tell you is how damn good this Czech film actually is. Similar in style to Valerie a týden divu (1970) in that it's a poetically beautiful dreamlike masterpiece of Gothic cinema. The sisters are both played by the same actress - Iva Janzurová - who's splendid as both the dark haired, scheming Victoria and the lovely raven haired Klara. The Morgiana of the title is actually Klara's cat, not a black one in this case, but it does give the impression of being an interpretation of Poe's story by director Juraj Herz with added dream-like qualities. One thing i did find odd was a conversation about Klara's lover, who was going to be an airline pilot? Eh? The film takes place in the mid 19th century. A good 50 years before the Wright brothers appeared on the scene.

Full of over the top sets, costumes and make up (Check out the lipstick on the nun tending the ailing Klara), Morgiana really is a thing of beauty which i was unable to take my eyes off. It's fairy tale like ambiance grabbed me immediately, as did Herz's wide angled photography which often distorts what we see, again giving the film an often hallucinatory feel to it.

Highly recommended.

[platostotal]

Warning!!! huge pile of crud alert... this is soooo bad destroy any copies you see, a 'found' footage tale where (I kid you not the footage cuts to black about every 5-10 seconds when anything happens) two young women get trapped in Tokyo when barley seen huge worm monsters attack, the constant cuts to black and wobbly camera will have you throwing your telly out the window rock-star like in anger, oh and the sound also cuts out with the video so all you really get is a 90 minute headache, one of the very worst I've seen in years, 0/10 avoid at all costs.

[Justin101]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

December 14th - Morgiana (1972)

Highly recommended.

Sold! It sounds right up my street!

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Justin101

Sold! It sounds right up my street!

I think you'd like it, Justin.

Makes me want to watch The Cremator from the same director straight away but i'll hold off for a few days.