Colin Parton's Blog, page 8

Snorri: The Gathering Part 2 – Sneak Peak

Sneak Peak Has Finished. If you would like to buy this novel you have find it here:

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The Battle Of Algiers

The Battle Of Algiers - Gillo Pontecorvo Unedited Thoughts - This is part of my unedited thoughts series.

Some old films don’t date well because they try to show too much and we know it is fake. This is not one of those. This film only shows us what it can make real and it is terrifying.

This film starts at the end. We see them about to capture the last leader of the insurgency. Then we flashback and are told the story of Ali’s life and how he ended up as one of the key leaders of the insurgency against French rule in Algiers.

We are inculcated with him. We see the brutality of the French and are onside. This is really hard to do because they are terrorists. What is key here is that as the insurgents do something it has been preceded by something much worse by the French.

The situation and story is nuanced and really well told. Not everyone on either side agrees with what is going on. The head of the French police predicts the outcome of the blockades and tries to have them stopped. This in turn leads to more killings and then the French retaliate with bombings.

It continues tit-for-tat until the French army arrives. Jean Martin is a standout as Col. Mathieu. He warns about what will need to be done to put an end to the situation. He is given the green light and the war amps up.

Then the torture of civilians begins so that all the leaders end up getting caught. Then we flash back to where the film started and our lead gets blown up.

 Atrocities are committed on both sides and the French push the Algerians to the edge so they have no choice. All of this has echo’s of The Siege for me. But in truth The Siege echo’s this film. 

I really liked this film. All the characters are real and believable. There are no heroes in war only monsters. These monsters all know they are monsters. The truth of these positions to themselves and us is fantastic. The fact that neither the French nor the Algerian leaders want to take the actions they are taking but the politicians have forced them into these untenable positions is brilliant.

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The Bride Of Frankenstein

The Bride Of Frankenstein - James Whale Unedited Thoughts - This is part of my unedited thoughts series.

This story is framed as a tale within a tale – Byron is visiting the Shelleys and Mary says that the story was going to continue – then we go into the film as if the story did indeed continue. I really don’t understand why they felt the need to do this because the Shelleys and Byron do not return at the end to bookend the film.

The acting is so very bad and over the top. What is key for this story to continue is for both the Monster and Henry not to have died at the end of Frankenstein. So they just bring them back to life.

Then we meet another monster creator – Dr Pretorius who grows his monsters now he wants to create a mate for the monster. The creatures that he has created are ridiculous.

When the townsfolk realise that the Monster has survived it becomes their goal to capture him and they all work together towards this end. When they do capture him they are securing him in jail and the Burgomaster says “We can’t spend all day – come on – more important things to do.” And they leave the monster only partially secured and he obviously escapes. This is the tenor of the film

There is a pretty well played section where the monster is befriended by a blind man. But this is the entire point of Frankenstein so the re-hashing of the message from the original just films like the weak imitation that it is.

Then when they finally make the mate for the monster and it hates the Monster. So the Monster kills her and himself and Dr. Pretorius. Which kind of feels super anti-climatic.

Overall I think we should be happy that Shelley never penned this terrible sequel. This is a B grade film with terrible over acting and a half thought-out plot to go along with it. They just copy the best bits of the original and attempt to re-create them. And they fail.

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All About Eve

All About Eve - Joseph L. Mankiewicz Unedited Thoughts - This is part of my unedited thoughts series.

The tone is set brilliantly with the introduction of the award that Eve, Anne Baxter,  is about to win. The voiceover makes fun of the garish media coverage that muddies ‘other’ awards like the Pulitzer. This is a comedic drama.

Then we jump back in time to when Eve is a nobody and we watch her meteoric rise. The introduction to all the characters is well handled and everyone is interesting and important.

At it’s heart this is a tale of the newcomer challenging the veteran actress at the top of her game. What makes this great is the way in which this old tale is told.

On it’s face Eve is a sweet unknown who is befriended by those close to Margo, Bette Davis, the actress at the top. Eve ingratiates herself with them all. She woes them all.

What is fantastic is that Margo becomes close with Eve but then begins to think that she is trying to usurp her. And we think that she is crazy – Eve has been nothing but lovely. As the story continues we are given small hints that perhaps Margo is right but then these hints can all be explained.

Then Margo is setup by her friends to miss a performance and Eve has to go on for her – she is brilliant and somehow the press were all there. This is the moment that Eve has been waiting for. She ratchets her manipulation up a notch and you think that she has won.

But Margo changes the objective she has had her moment in the spotlight and leaves it to Eve – who is going to be unhappily married to a horrid theatre critic that she tried to use. Margo wins in the end – leaving with her career finished and marrying the man of her dreams. Eve gets what she wanted but all too late realises that she didn’t want to pay the cost.

Then as the curtains are about to close Eve meets herself – Phoebe – the next up and comer.

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The Shape Of Water

The Shape Of Water - Guillermo del Toro Unedited Thoughts - This is part of my unedited thoughts series.

From the moment this film opens it is magical. We are underwater – but not. Everything is moving like it is under water but it is the real world. Then bam it’s a dream – fantastic stuff.

All of the visuals in this film feel like bio-shock. It’s retro 1940s but with something off. There is a strong sci-fi element in the base but it doesn’t loose any of the awesome retro feel. They nail this visual and feel throughout.

I love it when film makers do something different. The lead character is dumb. She signs on occasion so you hear her through others. She speaks through her actions and man can she act.

The overarching story is Americans have captured a powerful species and they underestimate its power. The Russians are also interested – the spy is interested in the creature itself rather than just what it can do for them but he is vetoed and ordered to kill it to stop the Americans.

Elisa, Sally Hawkins, is the only one who cares about the creature. They form an instant connection and their differences to the others around them are what unite them. There are some really touching moments as they befriend each other.

Elisa and Giles rescue the creature but there is an issue – they have to wait for the rains to be able to take it to the dock and for it to escape. So they hole it up in their apartment while the American government closes in. This causes heaps of issues – because it is a wild creature.

There are some spectacular special effects as the creature heals people. The visuals fit really well with this retro world that del Toro has created for us.

I really enjoyed this film. The connection and value that Elisa and the creature feel for each other is real and more powerful than any of the other ‘validated’ relationships. Through this realness they overcome all obstacles. This visuals are great – it is a fantastic film to watch.

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The Adventures Of Robin Hood

The Adventures of Robin Hood - Michael Curtiz & William Keighley Unedited Thoughts - This is part of my unedited thoughts series.

In my review of The Matrix I talk about the production houses logo’s been modified and we know we are in for something special. Well turns out this wasn’t anything new. The Warner Brothers logo is presented as heraldry here – neat stuff.

A huge focus of this telling of the tale is Saxons vs Normans. I had never seen this reading before and it was not nuanced at all. Ten to fifteen mentions in the first ten minutes – just in case we forgot.

All the characters are well handled and everyone has agency – there are no bit parts. Maid Marion is a stand out here – she is no damsel in distress. Errol Flynn is great as Robin.

It has dated pretty well apart from a few action scenes. The large fight at the end is almost comical because of the ‘clink clink’ of fake swords. There is another scene where you see a halberd bend – presumably because it is foam or plastic or something.

All of our favourite supporting characters are here from Little John to Friar Tuck. All well played and distinct from each other – a great supporting cast in all.

The story is pretty well done but there are some big problems as well. A key plot point is that Prince John learns of Kind Richard’s return shortly after his return. This is handled rather poorly. The Bishop, who is on Prince John’s side just happens to be in the inn that the King is staying at. 

The plot surrounding Main Marion toward the end is questionable. Guy of Gisborn accuses her of aiding Robin escape hanging. Which apparently she did – but because we didn’t see how or what she did the whole threat and her ordered execution just feels hollow.

There isn’t anything that indicates that it is an inside job apart from her saying that she has a plan. What actually occurs could easily have been done without her involvement so how Guy comes to this conclusion is anyone’s guess. Without seeing her involvement OR how guy decides that she is involved is just bad storytelling.

If you thought that was bad her rescue is much worse. Her servant tells her lover to get word to Robin. The lover attacks an assassin who is going to kill the king – fine up until this point. The lover is left knocked unconscious in the forest somewhere.

Will Scarlet just happens to find him and takes word to Robin – all in time to save Marion. The contrivance and coincidence is completely ridiculous and unnecessary.

Overall the film is good. Great performances and a good story around well known characters. The interwoven plot falls to pieces at the end and the whole film suffers greatly for it.

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A Streetcar Named Desire

A Streetcar Named Desire - Elia Kazan Unedited Thoughts - This is part of my unedited thoughts series.

Blanche, Vivien Leigh, is all kinds of crazy – almost from the word go. The first real glimpse we get is the hysterical reaction to the loss of the family home. Her sister Stella, Kim Hunter, doesn’t really care but her husband, Stan, Marlon Brando, does. This is the background conflict of the plot and the instigating action of the story that occurs well before the film starts.

She is self destructive and undermines herself. She says she doesn’t want to be alone – and acts this way throughout as she tries to get Mitch to marry her. But she kisses the newspaper boy as she is waiting for Mitch to arrive – anyone could have seen and this is a prime example of the steps she takes to destroy herself.

She is also essentially homeless – she relies on her sister and Stan to put her up after she flees the situation she was in before the film starts. Yet as soon as she arrives she is confrontational – she tries to come between Stella and Stan – despite how obvious their love for each is.

Her antics are entertaining to watch until you realise that she is probably mentally unwell – then it just becomes sad. It is at this point that all the people cease to become adversaries and they coddle her in preparation of her trip to the asylum.

There is an interesting juxtaposition of the ‘acceptable’ or desirable with reality. This starts with Blanche’s high past ideals – which we have never seen. She is a complete snob about the conditions that Stella and Stan live in. But this isn’t just about the physical condition. 

Blanche gets up in Stella’s face about how she shouldn’t be with a man like Stan – he is below her. He is more an animal than a man. As her past catches up with her we begin to see that Stan and Blanche are very similar in their anamalistic tendancies. Stan’s as just overt – Blanche’s occured before the film starts.

It’s almost as if she sees the truth of herself in Stan and is disgusted by what she sees. This explains the actions she takes to try and break up Stella and Stan. She is trying to save her sister from herself – Blanche.

Stan is terrible. The violence is unacceptable. He beats Stella. Worse he beats pregnant Stella. He takes the violence out on the apartment and his friends. He isn’t ever fooled by Blanche’s tales – though to be honest I don’t think that Stella is either.

Stella plays along because she doesn’t care. She sees that it cannot hurt her. She has made a new life with Stan. While the money from the old family home would be nice – it doesn’t really matter.

For Stan it feels more like a matter of pride and principle. Blanche arrives and attacks him and how he is by pretending to be superior. He finds out the truth and throws it back in her face bringing her down to his level.

I didn’t really enjoy this very much. It is a story of people being horrible to each other. No-one is good or blameless. No-one is the hero. We don’t want anyone to win.

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Attack The Block

Attack The Block - Joe Cornish Unedited Thoughts - This is part of my unedited thoughts series.

I’d say this film fits nicely alongside Shaun of the Dead. It’s a sci-fi comedy. But like Shaun of the Dead I think that this is only for a particular audience. It’s fine but not great. It does some interesting things but as a whole it isn’t great.

Poor setup of our heroes as villains. We are introduced to our heroes as they rob our heroine. The idea here been that they are an anti-hero – but also they are only bad until something worse turns up and it does. But this doesn’t excuse our dislike for them as petty criminals – muggers. The tone for the scene is all wrong – we are scared for Sam (Jodie Whittaker).

Aliens invade and the lads are here to protect the block. It’s just as ridiculous as it sounds. Normal heirachy is turned on its head – the cops get turned to mince meat. The head drug dealers get what is going on but are still focused on the perceived slight by Moses (John Boyega). This just doesn’t ring true.

The police and military response is non-existant – which makes zero sense. Fine just don’t engage with the world outside the block. But they do – the cops take the kids into custody at the end. Shaun of the Dead gets away with this because: Zombie Apocalypse. There is no excuse for this here.

The aliens are super cool. They have awesome glowing blue teeth. This visual is terrifying and mesmerising.

One of the kids gets stuck in a bin and it looks like it is going to be a good setup for a rescue mission – but then nope. Just comic hilarity. It sort of sums up the movie for – good setups for missed opportunities.

There are some truly hilarious parts in this film. The boisterous kiddy-gansta talk takes the cake for me. The language is atrocious though. Not one to take your nan to see.

The biggest let down for me is that the film-makers try to tie this ridiculous story into the real world. The kids are arrested for the deaths – and they are going away for a long time. This is a huge let down for our heroes – they achieved victory only to end up loosing everything.

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Moon

Moon - Duncan Jones Unedited Thoughts - This is part of my unedited thoughts series.

This is such an impressive film. This has been on my watch list for way way too long. My little brother has been trying to get me to watch this since he saw it – probably on release.

The entire cast is probably around eight people and Sam (Sam Rockwell) is the only one in it for any length of time (read the entire film). We are introduced to the world through an advertisement for the product (Helium) that Sam is mining on the moon.

From the moment we arrive everything feels a bit off. Strange things keep happening – but not strange enough for us to put our finger on. And none of this is helped by and extremely creepy AI – Gerty (voiced in magnificent mono-tone by Kevin Spacey). HAL eat your heart out.

You spend the first third of the movie expecting something terrible to happen – trying to guess at what is really going on. None of this is helped by ominous messages such as ‘No Communication Link could be found’ when Sam leaves the base on one of the rovers.

Then weird stuff really starts happening when Sam meets himself. The film does a really great job putting us in the headspace of both Sams as they try to figure out what on earth is going on.

While Sam is brilliant Gerty steals the show for me. The dis-embodied arm trying to provide comfort to the grieving Sam as his world come crashing down around him is next level good. And while we are devastated by the lengths that this corporation would go for profit – spare a moment to think of minder of the Sams.

This film is a much watch for sci-fi aficionados but be prepared for a very uncomfortable ride and make sure you have finished the popcorn before the final act because its a bit gross. 

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Rosewater

Rosewater - Jon Stewart Unedited Thoughts - This is part of my unedited thoughts series.

We are thrown in the deep end of this film having no idea of time or place. We don’t even have any idea who the characters are. We know who we should care about though as the lead is arrested on ridiculous charges. Possessing porno – The Sopranos.

There are some great time jumps back as we wind our way towards the opening scene. The film continues long after this. The absurdity would be funny if it wasn’t so deadly serious.

The film makers play with our pre-conceived expectations. There is a great scene at the start where one of the producers is indignant at the manipulation of the young poor kids because they know nothing better – until our hero points out that the man he is talking about is a UK citizen and educated in England – the film focuses on these things that we think we all know.

The interrogation scenes are not the terrible brutal ones that you would expect but they are traumatic none-the-less. This is psychological torture. But it turns around and while it is terrible for our lead you end up feeling sorry for the fate of the torturers as well because they are just cogs in a machine and they have no escape either.

There are some interesting scenes in the jail where Maziar talks to the imagined characters of his father and older sister who were taken and died in the same jail. This is an interesting take on the sanity (or lack there of) of Maziar – but it also lets us meet his memories of his relatives – cool stuff.

In the end this film doesn’t real hit home. It does some interesting things and makes you think of some issues in a different light – but torturers are still torturers. I’d say it is a thought provoking film with an interesting premise but no great plot beats.

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