Log: week 31 / 2023
Often cited to be one of the worst films ever made, but I don't really see it. Sure enough, this is a pretty cheesy affair, the kind of film Ishiro Honda would make if he'd had no budget at all, but one thing it is not is boring. And there are many similarly cheap films that can't even claim to be fun. These old B-movies are often extremely dialogue-driven (and terribly boring as a result), as a way to disguise their lack of budget. Wood Jr. doesn't cut back on effect shots (or silliness), instead, he makes do with what he's got. Yes, it's a complete cheese fest, but the pacing is slick and there's enough wackiness to prevent boredom from creeping in. Much better than many give it credit for.Read all
My final Kubrick. There's no reason why I saved this one for last, I'm just not his biggest fan and this seems to be one of his least-regarded films (though still very popular). It's not quite what I expected (the controversial part of the film is rather weak by modern standards and it's very talky for a Kubrick), which I why I still ended up relatively disappointed with the result. The controversy is purely thematic (an older man with a young girl), the film itself is almost all dialogue. Mason and Lyon aren't the best actors though, so their romance never felt very real. The black-and-cinematography is also pretty dull and the runtime is a bit of a hassle, but the film does pick up the pace in the final 30 minutes.Read all
Horror was hot in Asia two decades ago, and they sure love a good anthology film over there. So a Pan-Asian horror project made perfect sense. The weirdest thing about Three is that Japan wasn't invited to the party, but it gave the less horror-centric countries a fair chance to show their worth. Three respected directors all put in a worthwhile effort, and while none of the shorts is truly extraordinary, they're all very strong, moody, and capable horror films that deliver the goods. If you're looking for two hours of quality horror, go for it.
Hideaki Anno's Shin Kamen Rider is a rare piece of fandom. It's clearly B-level kitsch, executed with an A-level budget, but without sacrificing that B-grade charm. Most tokusatsu films end up on the cheap and cheesier side, if you're wondering what a blockbuster rendition of the genre would look like, here's your chance. I didn't know much about Kamen Rider, but the lore is quite a bit crazier than most other tokusatsu franchises I know. Anno doesn't hold back either and leans into the action and weirdness of it all. It's still a bit too cheesy for my liking, but I definitely appreciated the dedication and the random twists and turns this film took.Read all
A peculiar documentary that tries to connect various unrelated things found in a centralized place. It sounds like a stretch, and sadly, it is. Guzmán tries very hard to connect astronomy and Chile's dark past by exploring the Atacama Desert, but his poetic associations lack substance. An abundance of new age quotes sit badly with the gruesome history of Chile that many are trying to forget. The only tangible link between these themes is the Atacama Desert, but putting everything in a single documentary makes little sense. A failed experiment, but not without its moments.Read all
A sweet and delicate Japanese drama that fails to cash in on its very strong opening scene. It's a shame that Lonely Glory doesn't keep its sole focus on the lead but opens things up by including her brothers and sister. Fans of the genre will find a confident film from a promising director, though also a film that fails to rise above its peers. Haruka is an interesting character and I would've preferred for the film to focus on her story. Instead, three extra characters are added, each with their own troubles. The cinematography is nice, so is the score and the performances are very good. It's a more than solid film, but there are so many of these and Sakon didn't do enough to set it apart.Read all
Katsuhito Ishii's first is a mid-length feature that showcases his promise as a director. It's not quite up there with his best work, but it has a fun vibe and a cast of kooky characters that make this a very easy watch. If you're looking for a short, chill Japanese comedy, look no further. The plot is utter nonsense. It's all about the characters, the dialogue, and the silly situations. The setting is pleasant, the tone is light throughout and the short runtime is a blessing. Ishii would improve in his later films, refining his trademark elements, but this was a very good start to his career.Read all
A fine and gentle Japanese coming-of-age drama with a minor twist. It's not a twist really, just a slightly quirky detail that adds a tiny bit of extra flair to the film. It's not trivial though, as there as so many films in this niche that anything that sets a film apart is crucial to make it a more memorable experience. A pleasant seaside setting, a small town, and some high school drama. Add two girls who are battling their own demons and find strength in each other's company, and you have a bunch of familiar themes and tropes. Sakuko's art project (a funky self-made boat) is the real star piece of the film, the rest is sweet and wholesome, but not quite unique enough to become a true gem. Prime filler though.Read all
A rather disappointing rewatch. I was quite a fan of Van Sant's slow cinema trilogy, and films like Elephant and Gerry were still lovely the second time around. I didn't really manage to get into Last Days though, and then a film like this because quite the struggle. It's certainly not all bad, but far from a personal favorite. There are some very poignant scenes, but I didn't care for the ones that were music-led. The problem with this type of minimalism is that when it doesn't grab you, you're just looking at rather dull scenes that drone on endlessly, and there are a few too many of those moments. Not bad, but Van Sant did it better.Read all
Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly
The best of the DBZ films so far (though still no match for the original series). I wasn't really looking forward to another Broly revival, but I think this is the first of all the Z movies where there's an actual semblance of a plot, and where the last half hour of the film isn't spent on one tiresome, random fight. The animation is slightly better, the plot doesn't stop dead in its tracks halfway through and the fight sequences are a bit more exciting. I still don't see the greatness of this franchise, but I do think it's at its best when it leans into the crazy and the weird, rather than the action. Decent.Read all
An Ishiro Honda film with a more international setup, but that doesn't really change a whole lot. I'm watching his films for the cheese and the cute model work, and both are available in spades here. It's a pretty decent adventure too, with a tad more happening than is usually the case. There's a bit of everything here, from lost/hidden worlds to laser fights and mutant animals. It makes little sense, but it allows Honda to play around like the giant kidult he is. It also makes sure there are few dull moments. It's not the most glorious or fancy cinema, but there's an undeniable charm that makes these films quite easy to watch.Read all
Hirobumi Watanabe is a bit of a cult director. His previous films were pretty interesting, though not exactly great. Techno Brothers is a big step down, though I will say a personal hang-up prevented me from liking the film more. It's just that for a 2023 film called Techno Brothers, I find it unacceptable to come out with a Kraftwerk-inspired synth-group comedy. Either get with the times or change the title of the film. The music is horrendous, the indie look isn't effective in hiding the lack of budget, and while some of the jokes are nice, too many of them are predictable and lazy. Japan is really bad at music-based films, even the indie ones can't save face. Maybe if they'd tried it with some actual techno ...Read all
Hardcore fantasy anime. I'm unsure whether watching this without having seen the series beforehand is a good idea. I did manage to catch up halfway through the film, but this anime comes with some pretty heavy fantasy lore and it takes itself very seriously, so you better be ready to wade through long conversations explaining the finer details of the magic capabilities of the leads. The character designs don't match the backgrounds, the animation is awkward and the dub feels flat and lifeless. The film is also way too long and some of the lore is tedious, but I will say that things pick up in the second half, when the film works toward a truly epic finale. It's not enough to save the whole thing though. This is just TV anime posing as a feature film.Read all
An early horror anthology. I say horror, but the film is mostly a mystery, with lots and lots of dialogue, sometimes regarding supernatural phenomena. I can see how this setup could've been quite influential, but by modern standards, it's a pretty dull collection of supernatural stories. Dialogue-driven, like so many other films of its time. It's the opposite of what I look for in a film, so it's no surprise this didn't really do it for me. The performances weren't great either, and the stories were pretty underwhelming. The anthology-like setup did mean there was enough happening to keep me occupied at least.Read all
League of Gods: God of Trident
More League of Gods fun. Not the fancy blockbuster kind of course, but the cheaper streamer stuff. Still, these films are pretty amusing nowadays and God of Trident is no exception. It's certainly not without faults, but the slick pacing and the short runtime made this an entertaining ride. And so another fantasy adventure starts. The film offers a mix of fantasy, action, and comedy (with comedy being the most questionable part of the film). The CG is passable, the action is amusing, and the fantastical elements are lush. Solid streamer fun in other words, exactly what I expected from it.Read all
Twomey's latest is another fine animation that stands in shrill contrast with its American counterparts. Like most of Cartoon Saloon's films though, the creativity and tone may be there, but the quality of the animation and the detail in the art style is a bit of a letdown. My Father's Dragon is no exception. The music is nice, the adventure is exciting and there are some lovely moments between Elmer and the dragon, but the whole feels a tad childish and visually underdeveloped. It would be nice to see Twomey and cohorts make a film for a slightly more mature audience, I'm certain it could be amazing.Read all
Quite a bit better than I expected, but I'm afraid I went in with extremely low expectations. Horse films are rarely any good and The Black Stallion suffers from some of their classic downfalls. But the first part of the film was a real surprise, not enough to make it a great film overall, but it helped sitting through the second part quite a bit easier. Most of the first half is silent, which was a great relief. The cinematography is nice and the bond between the boy and the animal is properly developed. Once they return to society the quality takes a big dip, but there are still a few moments that stand out. It's a shame the film is so sharply divided into two parts, especially with the best part coming first. Still, this could've been a lot worse.Read all
A documentary about one of South Korea's most notorious scientists. Hwang Woo-suk became famous for his work on stem cell research (and cloning), but it would also become his downfall. The big pull of this documentary is that the subject was actually willing to give a proper interview. Still, it's nice to see Woo-suk given a proper, openhearted interview, not looking to blame others or ignoring his own responsibility in the matter. His take on science is just a little different from the Western one. Making a good doc is not easy, but I feel the quality baseline should be higher than it was here.Read all
A pretty basic romcom. The whole movie seems like an excuse for Lawrence to play an edgier part, where she's "the bad guy" for a change. It just didn't work that well. Feldman on the other hand felt like a weaker version of Michael Cera, fading away into the background rather quickly. The plot is pretty basic, the jokes are rather predictable and there's little cinematic appeal here. It's just a very average romcom, with Lawrence being the main attraction of the film. That's not quite enough to make it stand out, but it's not the worst 100 minutes you can spend with a film either.Read all