Log: week 10 / 2018
Way more charming than it's allowed to be. This could've easily been a cheap, quick and cynical cash grab, especially as it's a sequel. But in fact, it's a solid step up from the first one. Well made, funny, charming and completely void of fake sentiment. Prime family entertainment.
The Laundryman looks gorgeous, sports a fun and strong concept and has a cast of solid actors. But for some reason it tries to combine its crime/thriller elements with light-hearted comedy, which takes some of the edge off. Still a lot of fun though, but it feels like a missed opportunity.
A peek into the daily work of US police officers, focusing on the work they put into the community. While interesting, the documenatry only offers success stories and there's little room for failures and setbacks, somewhat hurting the message it wants to convey.
Stylish and atmospheric, but a little too preoccupied with its plot. Some parts of the film are too talky and explanatory, which is a shame because in between there are clear signs of a respectable masterpiece. I'm keeping an eye on Ishikawa though, that's for sure.
Somewhat basic zombie flick that disguishes itself through Aubert's direction. The plot, progression and setting are old news by now, but the editing, the pacing and soundtrack make this film stand out from all the others. Not great, but worth a try, even if you don't like zombies.
Dragon Chronicles: The Maidens of Heavenly Mountain
The early 90s were a golden age for Hong Kong cinema. A generation of seasoned directors started a true onslaught of martial arts and fantasy cinema that would continue for about four years. Famed directors like Tsui Hark, Jing Wong, Johnnie To, Woo-ping Yuen, Ringo Lam and Corey Yuen pumped out one martial arts classic after another. There was a time that I madly devoured each and every single film I could get my hands on, but some years ago I started to feel like I'd seen them all. Luckily I still get a friendly reminder now and then, pointing me to some films that escaped my attention. Dragon Chronicles: The Maidens of Heaven [Xin Tian Long Ba Bu Zhi Tian Shan Tong Lao] is one of those films that I hadn't heard of until just recently. It's more fantasy-oriented than action-oriented (think Hark's Zu Warriors) and it wasn't directed by one of the big names, but it has all the elements that makes this type of film so spectacular. On top of that, it also sports a pretty high-profile cast, so it's a little hard to imagine why this particular film got left behind. Quality or entertainment value clearly weren't the main reason though, because it's a real joy to watch. When you're planning to see this film though, come prepared. If you're looking for a quiet, peaceful evening of film, Dragon Chronicles probably isn't your best choice. It's one of those absolutely manic martial arts/fantasy blends that hits the ground running and never seems to slow down. There's a bunch of characters that are all related and are constantly fighting which each other, whether you actually want to keep track of it all is more of a personal choice. I prefer to let it go a little (because really, I'm not watching these films for their great storylines) and I just appreciate them for their spectacular action and crazy pacing. Dragon Chronicles really isn't an exception to that rule. The only reason why I feel this doesn't qualify as one of the better/best films in the genre is due to its somewhat lackluster direction, which does get a little too flakey at times. These films often lack true attention to detail and they're a little rough around the edges by default, but their vigor and enthusiasm tend to make up for that. Sadly Chin takes a few too many short cuts. Some scenes are a little iffy and the effects in particular can get a little too low budget, even though the rest of the film looks pretty nice. Don't let that deter you though, because there's a lot of fun to be had with this one. There are plenty of insane fights, the film is littered with wacky comedy and Brigitte Lin, Gong Li, Man Cheung and Norman Chu clearly had a lot of fun on set. Not exactly prize-winning material of course, it's all about big gestures and manic laughter, but they make it work alright. The magic effects are a little subpar, but there isn't much time to be annoyed by all of that because of the film's lightning pacing. Dragon Chronicles: The Maidens of Heaven is an energetic and hilarious action film, especially if you have a soft spot for early 90s Hong Kong martial arts cinema. Read all
Surprising sequel. The timing feels random and I still don't see why this film in particular, but Bertino and Roberts defy expectations and deliver a slick, somewhat disturbing and ultimately entertaining horror flick. Not a must unless you're a big horror fan, but still damn good filler.
Smart and stylish genre film, that aptly blends fantasy, romance and drama. The film looks gorgeous, sounds gorgeous and sports a more than solid cast. It's rare for me to agree with the Oscar vote, but even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Cheap, lifeless sequel that fails to add anything to the series. Then again, the only reason Dimension keeps cranking them out is to keep the rights to the franchise, so why put effort in the actual film. I wasn't a big fan of the series to begin with, but this is jus plain awful.
Disease drama that puts all of its eggs in one basket. The film puts all the focus on Julianne Moore, but she misses natural flair to pull it off. The result is a rather forced and contorted drama that fails to engage and offers very little beyond its central theme.
Based on a graphic novel written by a school friend of Dahmer. It shows the early years of Dahmer, before he came the monster people remember. In essence it's a pretty simple school drama, but knowing how it all ends gives it an extra creepy dimension.