Princess Mononoke (Mononoke-Hime) (1997)
Runtime: 134 minutes
Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
Starring: A bunch of Japanese voice actors
From: Studio Ghibli
I saw this movie last night in a theatre and I am glad I got to see this for the first time in such a fashion. The movie is a classic, and not just of animated movies, but of all movies. I wax poetic about it below:
Last month I had the opportunity to see Spirited Away on the big screen. I had the controversial opinion that it was not a movie I warmed up to. I was hoping things would be different when I watched this last night on the big screen, on the day that happened to be Miyazaki's 76th birthday. Well, people can put away their pitchforks and torches, as this is an excellent movie.
I thankfully went into this not knowing anything about the plot. I'll try to be vague here for those not familiar with this movie. We have a young hero (Ashitaka) who is cursed after a battle with a demon. He needs to go West to try and find a cure. From there he runs into a bunch of memorable and awesome characters, both human and otherwise. The story is mature and the characters aren't black and white; all are layered and you can understand all their viewpoints, whether or not you agree with them. In addition, what you may think early on, your opinion could flip-flop.
It's a story set in feudal Japan so you get such things as samurai, beautiful forests... and some graphic things that you expect to see in other samurai movies. This is definitely more violent than a typical Studio Ghibli picture. But alongside the typical feudal Japan stuff is various mystical creatures. Various themes are present (such as being anti-war and pro-environment) but they aren't hammered home in an obnoxious overbearing manner.
This is a magnificent movie that is not just a great animated picture; it's a great picture period. I understand the dubbed version has its issues with the voice cast but at least I got to see it subbed and that version can easily be watched. Watching this theatrically with the spectacular images in your face and the incredible score from Joe Hisaishi made this a great experience. This is something that I should watch multiple times in order to fully appreciate all its subtleties, but I say everyone should see this at least once.
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Friday, January 6, 2017
Riot On 42nd Street
Riot on 42nd Street (1987)
Runtime: 89 mnutes
Directed by: Tim Kincaid
Starring: John Hayden, Kate Collins, Michael Speero, Frances Raines, Jeff Fahey!
From: Several no-budget companies
Yesterday I saw a pair of movies. One was legitimately great; this was not it. Yet it is entertaining in a bad sort of way, a la Miami Connection. I try to explain why below:
This was a movie reviewed by a mutual earlier in the week. I had never heard of it, but I certainly knew of the director (Tim Kincaid) and his other movies. No, not the hardcore gay pornography he's done for much of the career, but rather the few mainstream things he's done, such as... Robot Holocaust and Breeders. Yes, an illustrious filmography. I have to clarify right away that the rating is due to sheer entertainment value. At times I see awesomely bad things (you know, like Miami Connection) and sometimes I give them high ratings for that reason. Well, if you love things like Miami Connection, this is a must-watch.
The plot: Vietnam vet-but of course-Glen Barnes (w/ incredible full mustache) gets out of jail on a manslaughter charge and he opens up his old club on 42nd Street in New York City. Note that this is still NYC before it was cleaned up in the 90's, so seeing the neighborhood and how bad it was provided plenty of laughs for me. Anyhow, a rival club owner (Farrell) tries to stop this in over the top ways, and Barnes is out for revenge.
Here are some highlights:
* 42nd Street was smut-filled (grindhouse joints, X-rated theatres and legit places all right by each other; I laughed at seeing which movies were playing at which places. The people there may be awful but I'd love to see the double-bill of Vampire Hookers then Dolemite).
* People randomly rollerskate.
* A guy who looks exactly like mid 1970's Burt Young asks for a free handjob from a hooker. She responds in an appropriate way.
* Two punk rockers are randomly seen; one of them acts like he's strung out on heroin, or maybe it wasn't an act...
* We see a place called THE SUPER-FLY BOUTIQUE but never go in it. For shame.
* The soundtrack... always amazing. It's solid gold 1980's.
* The film has some names of note in the cast. Kate Collins, she is mainly known for once acting on the soap opera All My Children... and being the daughter of Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins. No kidding. 70's martial artist Ron Van Clief briefly appears... as himself. But everyone will laugh when I say that a supporting role is played by JEFF FAHEY, and this is after Psycho III! It's not a big or important role for him.
* This movie, it has about as much sleaze as you'd expect from a porno director, meaning “a lot”. After all, the club that Barnes reopens features illegal gambling and women cavorting around on stage naked. Farrell's clubs also have naked women strutting around on a stage-in front of men who look like total degenerates-along with peep rooms... and he forces his girls into prostitution, basically.
* The movie is pretty inept: Not only is Van Clief only seen for one scene (always shot from a wide angle talking to someone, and he's never identified by name. What a wasted cameo), a scene is literally out of order! We see someone escape then two minutes later we see how they escape.
Technically this is pretty bad-there are plenty of moments I did not reveal here-yet I was so entertained by everything, I had a good time. Between the music, the at times terrible acting, the few moments of graphic gore, and them delivering on the promise of a riot (even if some of the participants are children!), this will be a hell of an experience for certain film fans.
Runtime: 89 mnutes
Directed by: Tim Kincaid
Starring: John Hayden, Kate Collins, Michael Speero, Frances Raines, Jeff Fahey!
From: Several no-budget companies
Yesterday I saw a pair of movies. One was legitimately great; this was not it. Yet it is entertaining in a bad sort of way, a la Miami Connection. I try to explain why below:
This was a movie reviewed by a mutual earlier in the week. I had never heard of it, but I certainly knew of the director (Tim Kincaid) and his other movies. No, not the hardcore gay pornography he's done for much of the career, but rather the few mainstream things he's done, such as... Robot Holocaust and Breeders. Yes, an illustrious filmography. I have to clarify right away that the rating is due to sheer entertainment value. At times I see awesomely bad things (you know, like Miami Connection) and sometimes I give them high ratings for that reason. Well, if you love things like Miami Connection, this is a must-watch.
The plot: Vietnam vet-but of course-Glen Barnes (w/ incredible full mustache) gets out of jail on a manslaughter charge and he opens up his old club on 42nd Street in New York City. Note that this is still NYC before it was cleaned up in the 90's, so seeing the neighborhood and how bad it was provided plenty of laughs for me. Anyhow, a rival club owner (Farrell) tries to stop this in over the top ways, and Barnes is out for revenge.
Here are some highlights:
* 42nd Street was smut-filled (grindhouse joints, X-rated theatres and legit places all right by each other; I laughed at seeing which movies were playing at which places. The people there may be awful but I'd love to see the double-bill of Vampire Hookers then Dolemite).
* People randomly rollerskate.
* A guy who looks exactly like mid 1970's Burt Young asks for a free handjob from a hooker. She responds in an appropriate way.
* Two punk rockers are randomly seen; one of them acts like he's strung out on heroin, or maybe it wasn't an act...
* We see a place called THE SUPER-FLY BOUTIQUE but never go in it. For shame.
* The soundtrack... always amazing. It's solid gold 1980's.
* The film has some names of note in the cast. Kate Collins, she is mainly known for once acting on the soap opera All My Children... and being the daughter of Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins. No kidding. 70's martial artist Ron Van Clief briefly appears... as himself. But everyone will laugh when I say that a supporting role is played by JEFF FAHEY, and this is after Psycho III! It's not a big or important role for him.
* This movie, it has about as much sleaze as you'd expect from a porno director, meaning “a lot”. After all, the club that Barnes reopens features illegal gambling and women cavorting around on stage naked. Farrell's clubs also have naked women strutting around on a stage-in front of men who look like total degenerates-along with peep rooms... and he forces his girls into prostitution, basically.
* The movie is pretty inept: Not only is Van Clief only seen for one scene (always shot from a wide angle talking to someone, and he's never identified by name. What a wasted cameo), a scene is literally out of order! We see someone escape then two minutes later we see how they escape.
Technically this is pretty bad-there are plenty of moments I did not reveal here-yet I was so entertained by everything, I had a good time. Between the music, the at times terrible acting, the few moments of graphic gore, and them delivering on the promise of a riot (even if some of the participants are children!), this will be a hell of an experience for certain film fans.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
The Big House
The Big House (1930)
Runtime: 87 minutes
Directed by: George W. Hill
Starring: Chester Morris, Robert Montgomery, Wallace Beery, Lewis Stone, Leila Hyams
From: MGM
Here is an obscure prison movie that I say is well worth seeing for those in the genre... if you can catch it on TV or order the Warner Archive DVD, that is. I'll talk about it below:
As I sometimes do, I watch a random movie on Turner Classic Movies that is otherwise difficult to track down. This one is part of the deal they are doing this month (January, 2017) where each Tuesday they'll show some prison movies. This one sounded interesting as it was one of the earliest examples of its type and I recognized a few of its stars from other films I had seen, such as Wallace Beery, Robert Montgomery and Lewis Stone. I am not sure how many prison movies I'll see this month, but at least I will have seen one.
The plot: Robert Montgomery is sent to prison; he not only got arrested for DUI, he killed someone. That'll typically result in a conviction... unless you're a celebrity... anyhow, even back then overcrowded jails was a thing and Montgomery discovers that the slammer is a very rough place to be, especially for a “nice guy” like him. Various compelling things happen and as this is a Pre-Code movie, it means that things are hard-hitting and the rough edges aren't muted for the censors.
While it's not the most realistic look at prison and how things are done (in 1930, were prison meals so neat and orderly?), the general themes are still understandable and relevant to today. Cigarettes are a big thing, prisoners wish to leave and ask their lawyers to try and get an early release, the convicts hate the food, and yeah, to try and get time shaved off their sentence, they'll drop the dime on their “pals” and give information to the prison wardens.
The movie's always entertaining, it's shot quite well on expansive sets with plenty of extras and the main characters are memorable because the actors do a swell job bringing them to live. The final act, it ends up being explosive and quite exciting, with a lot going on; I'll just say that action fans should enjoy it. Everyone that enjoys the prison genre of cinema, this should not be ignored because of obscurity.
Runtime: 87 minutes
Directed by: George W. Hill
Starring: Chester Morris, Robert Montgomery, Wallace Beery, Lewis Stone, Leila Hyams
From: MGM
Here is an obscure prison movie that I say is well worth seeing for those in the genre... if you can catch it on TV or order the Warner Archive DVD, that is. I'll talk about it below:
As I sometimes do, I watch a random movie on Turner Classic Movies that is otherwise difficult to track down. This one is part of the deal they are doing this month (January, 2017) where each Tuesday they'll show some prison movies. This one sounded interesting as it was one of the earliest examples of its type and I recognized a few of its stars from other films I had seen, such as Wallace Beery, Robert Montgomery and Lewis Stone. I am not sure how many prison movies I'll see this month, but at least I will have seen one.
The plot: Robert Montgomery is sent to prison; he not only got arrested for DUI, he killed someone. That'll typically result in a conviction... unless you're a celebrity... anyhow, even back then overcrowded jails was a thing and Montgomery discovers that the slammer is a very rough place to be, especially for a “nice guy” like him. Various compelling things happen and as this is a Pre-Code movie, it means that things are hard-hitting and the rough edges aren't muted for the censors.
While it's not the most realistic look at prison and how things are done (in 1930, were prison meals so neat and orderly?), the general themes are still understandable and relevant to today. Cigarettes are a big thing, prisoners wish to leave and ask their lawyers to try and get an early release, the convicts hate the food, and yeah, to try and get time shaved off their sentence, they'll drop the dime on their “pals” and give information to the prison wardens.
The movie's always entertaining, it's shot quite well on expansive sets with plenty of extras and the main characters are memorable because the actors do a swell job bringing them to live. The final act, it ends up being explosive and quite exciting, with a lot going on; I'll just say that action fans should enjoy it. Everyone that enjoys the prison genre of cinema, this should not be ignored because of obscurity.
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Blade Runner
Blade Runner (1982)
Runtime: 117 minutes
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, Daryl Hannah
From: Warner Bros... and The Ladd Company and even Sir Run Run Shaw
Yes, I have seen this a few times before but the last viewing was from even before I started this blog, meaning "years ago". I am glad I finally saw this again. I explain why it's a classic below:
It needs to be said right away but the version of the movie I saw last night was 2007's The Final Cut, which Ridley Scott said is the definitive version of the film. Back even before I was a teenager I had seen the Director's Cut and I was too young and not well-versed in film to fully appreciate it. Even seeing the International Theatrical Release as a young adult was not enough for me; it was not until I saw The Final Cut on the big screen that I realized the movie's greatness. Yet I hadn't seen it since then. As the sequel is coming out in October (who knows for certain if it is worthy of being connected with this movie; while the talent involved is of high quality, I have a sinking feeling that like with the original, the studio will interfere somehow and foul things up), I figured it was about time I gave this a spin and reviewed it for the site.
As everyone should know the plot about hardboiled cop Deckard going after some androids known as Replicants who are raising hell in 2019 Los Angeles, so I won't dwell on that. I will instead message that even know it's a smog-choked world where it rains all the time, I'd love to live in that world. It's colorful, has an awesome aesthetic, the Japanese control everything (not too far a stretch from how things are now) and it'd mean that Atari, RCA and Pan Am Airlines are around and still big deals...
I am surprised that the movie was not loved at first. It's a moody and introspective piece which is not a slam-bang action film but rather is a neo-noir science fiction piece that takes its time telling its story about what it means to be human. Since viewings I became more familiar with the film noir genre so I now better appreciate that aspect of the movie. Also last night I was able to skim through the International Theatrical Release and I heard the Deckard narration. While that's a definite noir nod, the narration was not only not good, but it overly explained things and really dumbed down the movie for “the rubes”.
The story is compelling (although it's mood and atmosphere that is stressed the most) and the entire cast does a swell job. It certainly is the finest hour of Sean Young and also Brion James. The ambiguity of it all has to be noted; ever since it came out it has been hotly debated: is Deckard a Replicant? There's evidence which suggests either and when the star and filmmakers don't have a definitive answer, it's up to the viewer to decide. Considering that Harrison Ford is in Blade Runner 2049... but there are a number of possible explanations for that. I just hope that the sequel isn't overly explanatory or simplified for “modern audiences”.
The movie still looks great today, it's hauntingly beautiful, the villains are chilling (especially Rutger Hauer as Roy Batty) and Rachael is a different type of love interest. But to me a key aspect of the movie is the amazing score from Vangelis. It's the appropriate type of futuristic ethereal and considering that for the past few years the synthwave movement has been going strong as a cult thing and it not only cops the look of this movie but Vangelis's score is like the grandfather to the entire movement... it was appropriate for the movie.
It was a movie that almost did not happen (the original financial backers left at the last minute, so several different groups and Sir Run Run Shaw had to provide the dough) and people did not get it at first; through the passage of time, it has shown that even today it's incredibly influential and is filled with unforgettable moments, including Batty's “Tears in the Rain” speech) so even if it takes a few viewings for you, this is a must-see film. Even if the sequel does not live up to its promise, that won't diminish this picture.
Runtime: 117 minutes
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, Daryl Hannah
From: Warner Bros... and The Ladd Company and even Sir Run Run Shaw
Yes, I have seen this a few times before but the last viewing was from even before I started this blog, meaning "years ago". I am glad I finally saw this again. I explain why it's a classic below:
It needs to be said right away but the version of the movie I saw last night was 2007's The Final Cut, which Ridley Scott said is the definitive version of the film. Back even before I was a teenager I had seen the Director's Cut and I was too young and not well-versed in film to fully appreciate it. Even seeing the International Theatrical Release as a young adult was not enough for me; it was not until I saw The Final Cut on the big screen that I realized the movie's greatness. Yet I hadn't seen it since then. As the sequel is coming out in October (who knows for certain if it is worthy of being connected with this movie; while the talent involved is of high quality, I have a sinking feeling that like with the original, the studio will interfere somehow and foul things up), I figured it was about time I gave this a spin and reviewed it for the site.
As everyone should know the plot about hardboiled cop Deckard going after some androids known as Replicants who are raising hell in 2019 Los Angeles, so I won't dwell on that. I will instead message that even know it's a smog-choked world where it rains all the time, I'd love to live in that world. It's colorful, has an awesome aesthetic, the Japanese control everything (not too far a stretch from how things are now) and it'd mean that Atari, RCA and Pan Am Airlines are around and still big deals...
I am surprised that the movie was not loved at first. It's a moody and introspective piece which is not a slam-bang action film but rather is a neo-noir science fiction piece that takes its time telling its story about what it means to be human. Since viewings I became more familiar with the film noir genre so I now better appreciate that aspect of the movie. Also last night I was able to skim through the International Theatrical Release and I heard the Deckard narration. While that's a definite noir nod, the narration was not only not good, but it overly explained things and really dumbed down the movie for “the rubes”.
The story is compelling (although it's mood and atmosphere that is stressed the most) and the entire cast does a swell job. It certainly is the finest hour of Sean Young and also Brion James. The ambiguity of it all has to be noted; ever since it came out it has been hotly debated: is Deckard a Replicant? There's evidence which suggests either and when the star and filmmakers don't have a definitive answer, it's up to the viewer to decide. Considering that Harrison Ford is in Blade Runner 2049... but there are a number of possible explanations for that. I just hope that the sequel isn't overly explanatory or simplified for “modern audiences”.
The movie still looks great today, it's hauntingly beautiful, the villains are chilling (especially Rutger Hauer as Roy Batty) and Rachael is a different type of love interest. But to me a key aspect of the movie is the amazing score from Vangelis. It's the appropriate type of futuristic ethereal and considering that for the past few years the synthwave movement has been going strong as a cult thing and it not only cops the look of this movie but Vangelis's score is like the grandfather to the entire movement... it was appropriate for the movie.
It was a movie that almost did not happen (the original financial backers left at the last minute, so several different groups and Sir Run Run Shaw had to provide the dough) and people did not get it at first; through the passage of time, it has shown that even today it's incredibly influential and is filled with unforgettable moments, including Batty's “Tears in the Rain” speech) so even if it takes a few viewings for you, this is a must-see film. Even if the sequel does not live up to its promise, that won't diminish this picture.
Monday, January 2, 2017
Manos: The Hand Of Fate
Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)
Runtime: A long agonizing 70 minutes
Directed by: Harold P. Warren
Starring: Harold P. Warren, Tom Neyman (RIP), John Reynolds, Diane Adelson, Jacky Neyman Jones
From: Sun City Films
This is in fact something I've seen before, both MST3K and in its original form; what a horrible movie this is. I talk all about it below:
Lord, what a “the first movie of 2017” this is for me.
Of course I have seen the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode which lifted this from the pits of hell that rest all the low-fi movies from the past that are probably comparable in quality to this and made it one of the worst movies ever made that has some renown and has been seen by enough people. Hell, this is not the first time I had seen the original movie without Joel and the Bots. But I imagine it will be the last time.
I imagine many are familiar with how the movie came about: Harold P. Warren was an insurance salesman in El Paso, Texas and also sold fertilizer. He was a bit player on the TV show Route 66, where he met famed screenwriter Sterling Silliphant. Warren thought that movie-making was easy and he could do it himself. He made a bet with Sterling and while he technically won because he made something that got released, he discovered how difficult is is to make any sort of motion picture.
The plot revolves around a couple, a little girl and their small dog who are on vacation and they end up stuck at a weird lodge which is populated by some very weird people; turns out, it's a cult led by The Master (Tom Neyman, who just passed away less than 2 months ago) who has multiple wives... I imagine many have seen the MST3K episode-which is the ideal way to see this, really-and know how putrid it is between the performances, the editing, and overall filmmaking; all the sound was done in post-production and “continuity” is a foreign term. I know all these people tried their hardest with what little they had but that said, this is still horrendously bad and a long 70 minutes filled with random non sequitur moments, long scenes of driving, and overall ineptitude.
In recent years various people have tried to make sequels and even a prequel to this but it hasn't happened. I wouldn't mind a remake myself; maybe if done competently the general story could make for an alright watch. It may be nice for the Warren family as well. As is, at least this isn't the most excruciating movie I have ever seen or one that inspired the most anger; yet, because of sheer incompetency I still have to give it the lowest possible rating.
Runtime: A long agonizing 70 minutes
Directed by: Harold P. Warren
Starring: Harold P. Warren, Tom Neyman (RIP), John Reynolds, Diane Adelson, Jacky Neyman Jones
From: Sun City Films
This is in fact something I've seen before, both MST3K and in its original form; what a horrible movie this is. I talk all about it below:
Lord, what a “the first movie of 2017” this is for me.
Of course I have seen the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode which lifted this from the pits of hell that rest all the low-fi movies from the past that are probably comparable in quality to this and made it one of the worst movies ever made that has some renown and has been seen by enough people. Hell, this is not the first time I had seen the original movie without Joel and the Bots. But I imagine it will be the last time.
I imagine many are familiar with how the movie came about: Harold P. Warren was an insurance salesman in El Paso, Texas and also sold fertilizer. He was a bit player on the TV show Route 66, where he met famed screenwriter Sterling Silliphant. Warren thought that movie-making was easy and he could do it himself. He made a bet with Sterling and while he technically won because he made something that got released, he discovered how difficult is is to make any sort of motion picture.
The plot revolves around a couple, a little girl and their small dog who are on vacation and they end up stuck at a weird lodge which is populated by some very weird people; turns out, it's a cult led by The Master (Tom Neyman, who just passed away less than 2 months ago) who has multiple wives... I imagine many have seen the MST3K episode-which is the ideal way to see this, really-and know how putrid it is between the performances, the editing, and overall filmmaking; all the sound was done in post-production and “continuity” is a foreign term. I know all these people tried their hardest with what little they had but that said, this is still horrendously bad and a long 70 minutes filled with random non sequitur moments, long scenes of driving, and overall ineptitude.
In recent years various people have tried to make sequels and even a prequel to this but it hasn't happened. I wouldn't mind a remake myself; maybe if done competently the general story could make for an alright watch. It may be nice for the Warren family as well. As is, at least this isn't the most excruciating movie I have ever seen or one that inspired the most anger; yet, because of sheer incompetency I still have to give it the lowest possible rating.
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Sholay
Sholay (1975)
Runtime: 204 minutes; no kidding.
Directed by: Ramesh Sippy
Starring: Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, Amjad Khan
From: United Producers
This is a classic movie from India that I finally was able to track down and see last night. Thankfully, it was worth the big hype I had heard about it the past several years. A nice way to end 2016, as I don't plan on watching anything tonight. 2016 was not a great year (which is an opinion all of us can agree with) but at least I saw some quality films and hopefully 2017 will be better all around. Why this movie deserves its reputation is explained below:
In the past I have remarked how the country of India has made an incredible number of movies throughout the decades and yet to the Western world, they typically look at the country's output as being wacky Bollywood musical numbers and/or insane over the top action beats. A prolific film scene with films in several different languages shouldn't be judged like that, so more often I should check out what the country has to offer, as I unfortunately have only seen a small handful of films in my life.
For awhile now I've known of Sholay and it was just recently that I tracked it down so throughout last night I saw all 204 minutes of the Director's Cut. I know that this is not only one of the highest rated movies ever to come out of India (topping various polls throughout the years) but it's beloved to the point that it is part of Indian culture, various characters, phrases and scenes becoming a part of daily life. Something which has such a monumental impact sounds like a piece of work that I should check out. Well, while the reviews of some added important context to how certain moments and motifs relate to Indians, on its own the film is pretty great.
The tale sounds simple on paper: two anti-hero criminals (Veeru and Jai) are hired by ex-policeman Thakur to not only protect the small rural village he lives in, but capture the loathsome bandit known as Gabbar Singh as means of revenge for a past deed. Yep, Seven Samurai was a definite inspiration, along with The Magnificent Seven, various Spaghetti Westerns and Peckinpah films like The Wild Bunch. The setting will remind you of a Western (it's set in modern times, yet you rarely see modern trappings, so it might as well be set decades earlier), and from that aspect alone I was digging this. Veeru and Jai of course find love interests and the expected happens there, although those female characters-Basanti and Radha-are pretty cool in their own right.
Our heroes aren't always honorable people but several events cause them to do the right thing and help out those who need assistance the most. Lord knows that Gabbar Singh is a horrible human being who either orders some awful acts to be done or he does the terrible deeds himself. It's a compelling story with very exciting/thrilling action scenes so those that dig Seven Samurai/Magnificent Seven for its action beats should enjoy this for the same reason. There are some “only in India” moments, such as a few things being rather over the top, some rather dramatic acting, the romantic angle including some rather odd comedy, and yes, there are a few musical numbers. I have no idea what the songs are about but at least they were catchy. The most memorable dance number showed that among the main languages you get in Indian film (Tamil, Hindi, Bengali and Telugu) this is Hindi... the dance number in question takes place during the Hindu festival known as Holi. Some may have seen it before and not known it's name... it's where colored powder or colored water is thrown all around.
This movie has universal themes which translate to every language but has unique things which make it a product from India. Certainly, the moment where on a motorcycle w/ sidecar one of the heroes sits on the shoulders of the other while playing the harmonica is not the sort of thing you see often. The few minutes spent with a prison ward who was basically Adenoid Hynkel from The Great Dictator... sure, why not? It seems odd with the rest of the movie but that is what makes Bollywood, Bollywood. It is nicely directed by Ramesh Sippy and has a distinctive score from Rahul Dev Burman. I say this should be watched and enjoyed by film fans all across the world.
Runtime: 204 minutes; no kidding.
Directed by: Ramesh Sippy
Starring: Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, Amjad Khan
From: United Producers
This is a classic movie from India that I finally was able to track down and see last night. Thankfully, it was worth the big hype I had heard about it the past several years. A nice way to end 2016, as I don't plan on watching anything tonight. 2016 was not a great year (which is an opinion all of us can agree with) but at least I saw some quality films and hopefully 2017 will be better all around. Why this movie deserves its reputation is explained below:
In the past I have remarked how the country of India has made an incredible number of movies throughout the decades and yet to the Western world, they typically look at the country's output as being wacky Bollywood musical numbers and/or insane over the top action beats. A prolific film scene with films in several different languages shouldn't be judged like that, so more often I should check out what the country has to offer, as I unfortunately have only seen a small handful of films in my life.
For awhile now I've known of Sholay and it was just recently that I tracked it down so throughout last night I saw all 204 minutes of the Director's Cut. I know that this is not only one of the highest rated movies ever to come out of India (topping various polls throughout the years) but it's beloved to the point that it is part of Indian culture, various characters, phrases and scenes becoming a part of daily life. Something which has such a monumental impact sounds like a piece of work that I should check out. Well, while the reviews of some added important context to how certain moments and motifs relate to Indians, on its own the film is pretty great.
The tale sounds simple on paper: two anti-hero criminals (Veeru and Jai) are hired by ex-policeman Thakur to not only protect the small rural village he lives in, but capture the loathsome bandit known as Gabbar Singh as means of revenge for a past deed. Yep, Seven Samurai was a definite inspiration, along with The Magnificent Seven, various Spaghetti Westerns and Peckinpah films like The Wild Bunch. The setting will remind you of a Western (it's set in modern times, yet you rarely see modern trappings, so it might as well be set decades earlier), and from that aspect alone I was digging this. Veeru and Jai of course find love interests and the expected happens there, although those female characters-Basanti and Radha-are pretty cool in their own right.
Our heroes aren't always honorable people but several events cause them to do the right thing and help out those who need assistance the most. Lord knows that Gabbar Singh is a horrible human being who either orders some awful acts to be done or he does the terrible deeds himself. It's a compelling story with very exciting/thrilling action scenes so those that dig Seven Samurai/Magnificent Seven for its action beats should enjoy this for the same reason. There are some “only in India” moments, such as a few things being rather over the top, some rather dramatic acting, the romantic angle including some rather odd comedy, and yes, there are a few musical numbers. I have no idea what the songs are about but at least they were catchy. The most memorable dance number showed that among the main languages you get in Indian film (Tamil, Hindi, Bengali and Telugu) this is Hindi... the dance number in question takes place during the Hindu festival known as Holi. Some may have seen it before and not known it's name... it's where colored powder or colored water is thrown all around.
This movie has universal themes which translate to every language but has unique things which make it a product from India. Certainly, the moment where on a motorcycle w/ sidecar one of the heroes sits on the shoulders of the other while playing the harmonica is not the sort of thing you see often. The few minutes spent with a prison ward who was basically Adenoid Hynkel from The Great Dictator... sure, why not? It seems odd with the rest of the movie but that is what makes Bollywood, Bollywood. It is nicely directed by Ramesh Sippy and has a distinctive score from Rahul Dev Burman. I say this should be watched and enjoyed by film fans all across the world.
Friday, December 30, 2016
Rewatching Old Movies...
is what I did yesterday. For entirey different reasons, both Orphan and Black Belt Jones are greatly enjoyable. Tonight, I'll watch something completely different; it's a beloved movie in a heavily populated country that is nonetheless little known in the Western world. You can read the review for that the night of New Years Eve.
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