Sunday, May 26, 2013

Oz - The Great and Powerful 2013 **** 1/2


I absolutely loved this. If it's Disney you know it's going to be pretty darn good. And it was. It's the prequel to 'The Wizard of Oz' and explains how Oz winds up in the Emerald City. Certain parts are very clever, hinting at areas of the original film that you have to do a double take on. Oscar Diggs is a small town magician, and when he is hurled into Oz after a hurricane he gets mistaken for a great and powerful wizard. The city and all it's riches will be his, if only he can take down the real 'Wicked Witch.' But who is she??
Wonderful graphics, very like 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus' and Danny Elfman's score is brilliant and fitting as always.
I can see how people might be divided in their reviews of this film, but I thought it was very well done. 

(HORROR) Dark Skies - 2013 ****


I wouldn't normally count sci fi as one of my favourite movie genres, in fact I tend to try and and avoid it if at all possible. 'Dark Skies' was different. It was frightening and real and I found myself thoroughly disturbed by the end. A family begin to witness strange and abnormal activities taking place in their home, added to which, their son has started to behave in a very peculiar way, seeing things, staring into space and drawing pictures of grey men in his room who he says want to take him away. Before long, the family are starting to realise that something otherworldly is happening, and they are absolutely powerless to stop it. 
This isn't a particularly original film, but it's really scary and well done. I liked it. One of the better films of the year. 

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Fatal Instinct - 1993 ****


I do love spoofs and parodies and this encapsulates both! Sean Young plays the crazy, bunny boiler femme fatale who becomes obsessed with a lawyer after she has a brief affair with him in the style of 'Fatal Instinct' (which was at it's peak when the film was made). You could actually make a list of every crime/thriller noir that this film makes references to as there are at least 20 in the mix to look out for. Armand Assante is good as the male lead, with a perfect voice for the over-scene narration that was so popular in so many noirs. A funny film, and it tests your knowledge of other famous thriller noirs from cinema history.