David M. Brown's Blog, page 43

Film Review: Barbara

About Barbara (2012)
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Berlin Film Festival and German Oscars regular Christian Petzold (Yella, Jerichow), returns with a fresh offering of crisp German filmmaking.

It is the summer of 1980 in the German Democratic Republic and, alone, Barbara is confined to living and working as a doctor in a small provincial town – her punishment for attempting to emigrate to the West. She has only one focus; to escape and for this, she has to wait patiently. Until Andre, her supervisor in the hospital, takes her off course. Are his motives of love or duty to the authorities? The day-to-day pretence, and content supervision slowly take their toll as the tension builds.

Starring: Nina Hoss, Ronald Zehrfeld, Rainer Bock

Directed by: Christian Petzold

Runtime: 105 minutes

Studio: Soda Pictures

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: Barbara

Set in 1980, Christian Petzold’s film focuses on Barbara (Nina Hoss) who has been transferred to a hospital near the Baltic Sea as punishment for requesting to leave East Germany and head for West Germany. At the hospital Barbara works with Dr Andre Reiser (Ronald Zehrfeld) who looks just like Russell Crowe and though she is focused on her work, Barbara has to be on her guard for Stasi officers are watching her. The Stasi have Reiser try and gain information from Barbara but she remains a closed book. Barbara keeps in contact with her lover, Jorg (Mark Waschke), who is in West Germany and manages to come to East Germany to see her. Jorg is plotting Barbara’s escape to West Germany but they have to be careful.

Barbara longs to be free of East Germany but she comes to enjoy working with Dr Reiser though not enough to convince her to stay. In turn, Reiser comes to value Barbara who isn’t afraid to question him and in one instance she refutes his diagnosis of a girl, Stella (Jasna Fritzi Bauer), and is proved correct. Stella becomes key to the storyline as Barbara cares for her and learns she is both pregnant and also longs to be free of East Germany. Can Barbara orchestrate her escape from the country as well or will the Stasi catch up with her and Jorg?

This is a relatively simple story but it is well-directed and delivers some good performances from the leads. Hoss is the star of the show of course, appearing somewhat cold and distant at the outset but by the end she reveals herself to be a woman of warmth, heart and humanity. Zehrfeld does well alongside her but I couldn’t shake the Russell Crowe comparisons even at the end. Perhaps Mr Crowe secretly took time out to film in Germany last year. Though the ending may be somewhat predictable, it is still a memorable conclusion.

Barbara is a very good drama exploring the long-standing division of Germany that would only end with the fall of the Berlin Wall. With a story that isn’t too complicated and some decent performances from the leads this certainly deserves mention as one of the many memorable films to come out of Germany.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: Barbara | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Film Review: The Objective

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About The Objective (2008)
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The New Nightmare from the Co-Creator of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT

Afghanistan, November 2001: Two months after 9/11, a CIA operative leads a hardcore U.S. Special Forces squad on a classified mission deep into harsh and hostile Taliban territory. Their objective is to locate a Muslim cleric with possible ties to a deadly cache of WMDs. But what they instead discover is a phenomenon beyond anything known to man. You cannot fight what isn t there. You cannot kill what doesn t live. And in a land ravaged by war and ruled by superstition, who or what is the ultimate enemy? Jonas Ball, Matt Anderson, Michael C. Williams, Jon Huertas, Jeff Prewett and Sam Hunter star in this new mind-blower of a thriller from director Daniel Myrick, co-creator of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT.

Starring: Jon Huertas, Michael C. Williams, Jonas Ball, Mike C. Williams, Matt Anderson

Directed by: Daniel Myrick

Runtime: 90 minutes

Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: The Objective

Daniel Myrick, one of the directors of The Blair Witch Project, takes the helm for this horror thriller set in Afghanistan after 9/11. A CIA agent, Benjamin Keynes (Jonas Ball), joins with a group of America soldiers led by Hamer (Matthew R. Anderson) and heads on a special mission to locate a cleric named Mohammad Aban. They are helped by a local guide Abdul (Chems-Eddine Zinoune) who leads them through the harsh landscape where they have to contend with the threat of the Taleban, while trying to focus on their mission. As the group make their way deep into Afghanistan and into the mountains they begin to have some very strange encounters.

When Hamer’s men come under fire early on one of the American soldiers is killed but the group manage to take out a handful of the enemy who are on surrounding cliffs firing down at them. When going to check on the bodies of the enemy none can be found. Other bizarre encounters include sand in their water bottles and headlights coming towards the group only to separate and fly off into the night sky. The search of Mohammad Aban continues in the mountains but the further the men venture the more they begin to question their sanity with a series of unusual sightings. What have they found? Is it the work of the Taleban? Are the soldiers delirious from thirst and hunger? Or is there something even more sinister afoot?

I’m one of the critics that didn’t rate The Blair Witch Project and The Objective felt like a similar film just with a different setting. Though there are more characters involved in this one the strange sightings are not difficult to predict the origin of and even though there are many deaths among the soldiers it’s not particularly enthralling at any one time. The motives of at least one character are unmasked near the end but by that point you’ll just be grateful the whole thing is coming to an end. The final conclusion is a little surprising to be honest but it does nothing to rescue the film.

The Objective has an interesting idea but it’s not exactly original and the execution is pretty woeful. Only one moment in the film may cause you to shiver. The rest of the time you’ll be twiddling your thumbs hoping there are some surprises. Unfortunately, the film is too predictable to offer anything worthwhile. I daresay I enjoyed this even less than The Blair Witch Project.

Verdict: 1/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: The Objective | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Book Excerpt: Double Mayhem – Sam Berretti

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Today Sam Berretti stops by to share an excerpt from his book, Double Mayhem. 

Excerpt from Double Mayhem

Chapter 1

A frail shadow of a woman sat huddled and trembling in a worn leather chair in Chicago. Tracked-in snow melted on the dull carpet from the heavy shoes of two intruders. Dressed in dark overcoats they loomed over her like dark mountains. There would be no good ending to this. She knew that. She wasn’t going to tell them what they wanted. She wouldn’t.

“Where is she? Just tell us and we’re outta here,” the shorter mountain lied. “We ain’t gonna hurt nobody. We just want to talk to her, sweetheart.” This loser is not going to cooperate. She’s dead. She just doesn’t know it yet. But she’ll talk before she dies. He liked it when they didn’t cooperate. He was good at getting people to talk. That’s why they’d sent him. He enjoyed his job.

Outside a freezing wind dumped snow on grey buildings and people went about their own lives unaware. But no action goes without consequence, and no consequence goes without causing yet more actions. Some are seen and felt, some are invisible, and some reach thousands of miles and touch the lives of the unsuspecting.

*****

Tick, tock. Doris Watson stared into the mirror on the bathroom wall of her Maryland apartment and smiled ruefully. A blind date. She shook her head. She was twenty-seven years old this week, and going on a blind date. Was there something wrong with this picture? She was a strong willed woman and a successful professional engineer, but her only significant other was Bucky the cat. A woman approaching thirty was expected to be seriously searching for that special someone to spend her life with. So the office chatter said, so her dear pushy aunt said. Time to get on the stick. Clock’s ticking. She leaned forward over the sink and scanned the face before her with critical hazel eyes. She hated all of this. Her philosophy was, if it was meant to be, by God, it would happen. Mr. Right would kick her door down and demand her hand. She smiled at herself. What a joke. She felt ill at ease dating. That was the truth. The rituals, the expectations, the disappointments, all gave her a headache and drove her nuts. She was a person who liked the comfort of her simple life. Go to work, design some amazing device, come home, feed the cat and read a book. Good enough. Simple. Not good enough for co-worker Betty though. She could kill Betty for setting her up with this guy, a professor at the university who was probably a 10 on the nerd scale. Trapped, obligated and coerced into a blind date. Happy birthday Doris! The doorbell rang.

Doris was a complex woman with a distrust of men. Her personal experiences had not always been on the sunny side. In fact, some had been on the “Satan’s got you by the throat” side. She capped her lipstick and slipped it into her purse, right next to her 32 caliber Guardian. Mace just wasn’t good enough for her anymore. She looked in the mirror one last time and tried pasting an expansive smile on her face before answering the door. Tick, tock.

Double Mayhem (2012)[image error]They say for every person in the world there is a twin. For Doris Watson, that simple wisdom becomes a nightmare reality that threatens her and the ones she’s come to love. An ex-military engineer who leads a quiet life as an appliance designer, she is recruited to perform one uncomplicated task: take a handoff of secret plans from a Chinese agent who believes she is someone else. She accepts the assignment and the only person she can blame is herself. She opened the door. She said yes. Her lonely existence is shattered as headstrong men cross her path. Dangerous men with dangerous needs. Suddenly embroiled in mob killings, espionage, and police investigations, she has become a billion-dollar target of sadistic crooks, the FBI, the NSA, and her psychotic look-alike. It is up to her to protect herself and the psychic child who has been thrust into her life. No one is who they appear to be. No one is telling the truth, because the truth can make you dead. Forced to use all her training and wits, she must find a way to survive. Forced to uncover the secrets of her childhood, she must face a new reality. Some days you just shouldn’t answer the door.   

 

Amazon USAmazon UKB&NGoodreads About Sam Berretti[image error]Sam Berretti was born and raised in the High Plains town of Lubbock, Texas. After finishing college at Texas Tech University Sam moved to Florida to attend graduate school at the University of Florida. Sam is an avid naturalist and photographer as well as a writer. Although writing started at an early age and took many forms, the first published book was Double Mayhem in 2012. The most amazing and enjoyable part of creating this work as a writer he says was watching the characters seem to take on a life of their own. As the plot evolved, situations would often be driven by how they would react to one another, the natural and logical flow of dialogue. What would a person like this do in a situation like this? What would a personality like this say to someone or what action would they demand? In this way they became like real people and helped chart the course of their own stories.

 

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Book Excerpt: Double Mayhem – Sam Berretti | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Film Review: Hell

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About Hell (2011)
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Hell is a Roland Emmerich produced post-apocalyptic film. It focuses on a few survivors in Germany, struggling to get on in a world where the sun has scorched the Earth and left it too bright to inhabit.

It was once the source of life, light and warmth. But now the sun has turned the entire world into a baked and barren wasteland. Forests are scorched. Animal carcasses line the roads. Even the nights are dazzlingly bright.

Maria, her little sister Leonie and Phillip are heading for the mountains in a car with tinted glass. Rumour has it that water can still be found there. It is a hazardous trip into the unknown. Along the way, they run into Tom. He turns out to be a first-rate mechanic and becomes indispensible. But can they trust him? The tension grows. As if things weren’t bad enough, they are lured into an ambush and their real battle for survival begins…

Starring: Stipe Erceg, Michael Kranz, Hannah Herzsprung

Directed by: Tim Fehlbaum

Runtime: 84 minutes

Studio: Arc Entertainment

 

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: Hell

Tim Fehlbaum’s Hell is a post-apocalyptic horror with echoes of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Set in 2016, the earth’s atmosphere has been destroyed and global temperatures have increased by 10°C. Survivors wander wastelands and deserts, shielded from the deadly sun and seeking whatever food and water they can find. Our focus is on two sisters, Marie (Hannah Herzsprung) and Leonie (Lisa Vicari), who are travelling with Phillip (Lars Eidinger). With their car protected from the sun, the trio come to an abandoned petrol station in search of fuel and supplies. They have some goods pilfered by Tom (Stipe Erceg) who they catch up with and Phillip reasons that is better to work together than fight so Tom joins them. Though the quartet work well together, there are plenty of dangers out in this scorching world, some of which the group come to face.

Marie and Leonie are clearly close but Leonie is unhappy that they have to travel with Phillip. It’s obvious that Phillip and Marie have become lovers much to Leonie’s discontent but when Tom joins the group the younger sister seems to settle. Continuing on their journey, the group continue to ascend into the hills and mountains in the hope that fresh water will be there. Seeing their path halted by scrap metal, they manage to move the obstacle before investigating a car wreck downhill from them. While Phillip and Tom try to empty the car of its fuel, Marie comes to help leaving Leonie alone on the road. Moments later the trio hear a struggle and realise Leonie has been kidnapped. The group in the mountains are fighting hard for survival and have dark intentions towards the four friends.

Hell has some great set-pieces and the idea of a scorched earth is both a clever and a frighteningly plausible one given the clear impacts of global warming. A good cast keep this gritty and desperate with the early problems for the four friends being nothing compared to what they face when held prisoner in the second half of the film. The conclusion hints at hope for the future but it is realistically only a faint reprieve rather than any magical cures.

Hell is a good little horror that explores the dark depths of humanity when driven by a need for survival. While not up to the standard of The Road this is a different experience in that it doesn’t go as deeply with the characters. This is a realistic prediction of what may one day await future generations and if this film is anything to go by then the title really is an apt description of what to expect.

Verdict: 3/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: Hell | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Film Review: Surviving Evil

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About Surviving Evil (2009)
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A British documentary crew arrive at a remote Philippines island to shoot a jungle survival special. Soon the crew witness violent movement through the trees, accompanied by eerie cries and dark figures whipping through the canopy. The crew are unnerved, but determined to finish the job; they send their Filipino guides Joey (Joel Torre) and Chill (Natalie Mendoza The Descent) into the jungle to seek answers from the native Isarog tribe. However, all they find are dozens of half-eaten corpses. Presenter and survival-skills expert, Seb (Billy Zane – Titanic, Dead Calm) has survived every type of natural threat. But, deep within the primeval jungle and at the mercy of horrifying, shape-changing creatures with a thirst for blood, can he find away to protect the team and escape with his life?

Starring: Billy Zane, Christina Cole, Natalie Mendoza

Directed by: Terence Daw

Runtime: 90 minutes

Studio: Kaleidoscope Entertainment

 

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: Surviving Evil

I’ve seen so many films lately about islands with monsters on them that it’s putting me off going on holiday. Terence Daw’s Surviving Evil sees a film crew head for a remote island in the Philippines to film a documentary but they soon come to realise they have chosen the wrong island. A group of natives at the outset are attacked by a group of bloodthirsty creatures, with their desire for pregnant women being top of their list of priorities. With the natives wiped out the strange creatures known as Aswang turn their focus on the film crew.

Our crew are made up of the leader Seb (Billy Zane), Phoebe (Chrstina Cole), Joey (Joel Torre), Dex (Colin Moss), Rachel (Louise Barnes) and Chill (Natalie Mendoza) who is the guide. There are tensions in the camp. Dex and Rachel are former lovers and though Dex is over it, Rachel clearly isn’t. This makes things difficult when Dex becomes friendly with Chill. If that isn’t enough, Seb and Phoebe have slept together weeks before and on the island she discovers she is pregnant. Not ideal with the resident creatures being drawn to pregnant women. Soon our friends are faced with a struggle for survival and predictably one amongst them is on the island for reasons other than filming a documentary. Who will make it to the end though?

It’s a crying shame to see an actor like Billy Zane in a film like this. The personal tension between the characters tries to keep us interested until the monsters start to attack but once they have appeared this descends into just another mediocre horror flick. It’s not completely clear where the Aswang have come from and how they survive given how swiftly they slaughter their victims. I was amazed anything was alive on the island still! The ending is somewhat open-ended, perhaps hinting at something sinister, but such is the abruptness you’ll be left to speculate over that one.

Surviving Evil is an apt title in many ways. It could be deemed self-referential given how poor the overall experience is. You will survive to the end of the film’s short run-time but you’re unlikely to feel bowled over or liberated after sitting through this. There must be someone out there that can furnish Zane with a better project than this. I think of him in Dead Calm and wonder how did he get here?

Verdict: 1/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: Surviving Evil | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Film Review: Basquiat

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About Basquiat (1996)[image error]Jean-Michel Basquiat (Jeffrey Wright) was just an antisocial street bum writing graffiti on alley walls before he became part of Andy Warhol’s (David Bowie) eccentric art scene. Soon, the talented tagger became a widely praised figure in the New York City art world. As in many cases though, fame came at a high price, and Basquiat’s rapid progression from cardboard boxes to penthouse was also accompanied by the loss of friendship, love and eventually, his life.

Starring: Jeffrey Wright, Michael Wincott, Benicio Del Toro, Claire Forlani, David Bowie

Directed by: Julian Schnabel

Runtime: 106 minutes

Studio: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment

 

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: Basquiat

Julian Schnabel’s biopic tells the story of renowned artist Jean-Michel Basquiat who went from unknown graffiti artist in the 1970s to being a renowned postmodern/neo expressionist artist in the 1980s. Basquiat (Jeffrey Wright) begins very humbly, living in cardboard boxes, spraying graffiti on walls and only seeing an upturn in fortune when he meets and falls in love with Gina (Claire Forlani). When not using graffiti to express himself, Basquiat paints and dreams of fame. A chance encounter with Andy Warhol (David Bowie) proves to be something of a turning point for him.

In the 1980s Basquiat works with Warhol and also begins showing his work, receiving rave reviews in the process. He is the hottest property in New York and with fame comes a strain on his relationship with Gina. Basquiat goes from being monogamous to seeking sex with other women, enjoying all the attention that comes his way. His drug use from his late teens continues into adulthood and an old friendship with Benny (Benicio del Toro) also sours as Basquiat becomes more immersed in his own genius. Through vivid imagery, Basquiat pictures the skyline as a surfer enjoying the waves at the outset but when he is famous only the ocean remains. Basquiat’s true freedom comes in his early days, destitute and able to express himself without being truly known. Once he is world renowned, the many pressures and expectations begin to weigh heavily on him and his drug uses is exacerbated.

I didn’t really know anything about Basquiat prior to watching this film so it was fascinating to gain some insight into the artist. Wright puts in a memorable performance in the lead but is ably supported by Bowie’s Andy Warhol while the likes of Gary Oldman, Dennis Hopper and Michael Wincott also make welcome appearances. As casts go, this one spoils the audience completely. The biopic does feel like more of a summary of Basquiat’s complex life though and the ending is somewhat abrupt. What is there is certainly worth your time though.

Basquiat is an enthralling depiction of the life of a young man who was a born artist but succumbed to the many pressures that fame entails. Any story of a life cut short is always a sad one and Basquiat’s tale is no exception. If, like me, you know little about Jean-Michel Basquiat then this film is a good place to start.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: Basquiat | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Film Review: Prowl

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About Prowl (2010)[image error]Gruesome horror from Patrik Syversen director of Manhunt in which some unlucky teenagers are chosen as fresh meat for a group of bloodthirsty creatures. Amber (Ruta Gedmintas) is a small-town girl who dreams of escaping to the big city. Taking to the road with a group of friends she doesn’t get far before breaking down. However a truck driver agrees to give them a ride. After their initial relief the youngsters have a look at the cargo surrounding them only to find containers of blood. The truck stops and they are unloaded into a pitch-black abandoned warehouse where something awaits..

Starring: Ruta Gedmintas, Joshua Bowman, Perdita Weeks, Jamie Blackley, Courtney Hope

Directed by: Patrik Syversen

Runtime: 84 minutes

Studio: Lionsgate

 

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: Prowl

Patrik Syversen’s film begins with Amber (Courtney Hope) trying to acquire an apartment in Chicago. She seems eager to leave her home town and friends and won’t take no for an answer from anyone. As a result, a group of friends decide to go on a road trip and get her to Chicago before a deadline for an apartment comes along. Unfortunately, the car breaks down just outside the town leaving Amber to resort to a “woe is me” act before her friends flag down a truck driven by Bernard (Bruce Payne). The friends are wary so have one, Eric (Oliver Hawes), ride up front with Bernard and insist on taking photos of the truck before setting off. Bernard agrees, no photos are taken, and away they go.

Predictably, Bernard isn’t as friendly as he initially appears. It soon becomes clear that he isn’t taking them to Chicago at all and after some partying in the trailer the friends become concerned about what is going on. They find dozens of boxes in the back filled with blood and when they ring Eric they have Bernard answer who insists all is well and that Eric is asleep. He wouldn’t convince under police interrogation, would he? The friends are taken to a meat-packing plant and when the trailer is opened they find they are prey to some bloodthirsty creatures. The question is can they survive and what is going at the plant?

After contending with Amber’s endless complaints at the outset, we are greeted by a group of friends who are not all that bright. Insisting on taking photos of Bernard’s truck for safety seems a good idea but to then get in the trailer without taking any pictures at all, well, that is just careless if you ask me. At the meat plant they come under heavy attack and are picked off one by one in gruesome fashion. Amber inevitably is around towards the end though and is made of pretty tough stuff though I won’t explain why this is. Prowl goes down the standard path for a horror film of this nature and the ending proves both unsurprising and uninspiring.

Prowl is a pretty poor horror film despite the build-up being okay. Once the blood flows this becomes fairly straightforward, seen it all before territory, despite the motives of the monsters. The ending is supposed to shock and leave us gasping I imagine but it left me feeling completely let down. While this is nowhere near the worst horror film you will see, it’s not a great one either, I’m afraid.

Verdict: 1/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: Prowl | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Film Review: The Wild Man of the Navidad

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About The Wild Man of the Navidad (2008)[image error]Based on the terrifying true story from the journals of Dale S. Rogers

In 1975, the small town of Sublime, Texas had an encounter with a creature so horrifying that it remains legend today: Deep in the woods along the Navidad River, someone or something has left its lair to rip a trail of ferocious carnage through the local population. Is it man, monster or Lone Star myth? And in a rural community commanded by the Bible, corrupted by moonshine and ruled by rifles, can anything stop the vengeance of a beast unleashed? Pass the popcorn and hook that speaker to the driver s side window, raves Film Threat. THE WILD MAN OF THE NAVIDAD has a lot of heart and captures the essence of 60s and 70s grindhouse/drive-in horror!

Starring: Justin Meeks, Tony Wolford, Charlie Hurtin, Alex Garcia, Stacy Meeks

Directed by: Duane Graves

Runtime: 86 minutes

Studio: MPI Home Video

 

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: The Wild Man of the Navidad

Based on the journals of Dale S. Rogers from the 1970s and going back to an old legend, The Wild Man of the Navidad is set in Sublime, Texas where Dale (Justin Meeks) lives on a ranch by the Navidad River. He lives with his wife Jean (Stacy Meeks) who is confined to a wheelchair and does not speak, and then there is Jean’s carer Mario (Alex Garcia) who is often abusive of his duties when Dale’s back is turned. The locals of Sublime are itching for Dale to open the gates and give them access to the woods around the Navidad River for hunting but Dale knows something is out there and is reluctant to acquiesce.

The wild man of the title is akin to the legends of big foot and wanders the land around the Navidad River killing whatever it can find. Dale’s ranch is under threat but each day he leaves a piece of meat outside for the wild man which seems to placate it and keeps Dale, Jean and Mario from harm. However, Dale finds money is tight and he bows to the demands of the locals who begin to venture out into the surrounding lands to hunt. Very soon the wild man begins attacking the locals and though initial sightings are dismissed, it soon becomes clear that there is a threat to Sublime and it’s time to do something about it.

The legend of big foot has always been a fascinating one I remember from my youth but The Wild Man of the Navidad just doesn’t really tap into that mystery at all. Beneath the declarations that this is fact-based we have just another monster movie with the wild man himself appearing to be just a guy with a coat over his head. Fair enough, the wild man is pretty useful with his claws but taking him down isn’t all that hard and when we reach the film’s conclusion it all feels a bit anti-climactic.

The Wild Man of the Navidad is an interesting idea but the execution here is a let-down. The earliest tales of the wild man sound more interesting than these more recent sightings. A film exploring the earliest origins may have been a better bet in my opinion. As it is, this becomes just another monster in the woods story and beyond the heavy bloodshed there isn’t all that much to it.

Verdict: 1/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: The Wild Man of the Navidad | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Film Review: Komodo vs Cobra

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About Komodo vs Cobra (2005)[image error]A group of special forces arrives on a remote tropical island to investigate a top secret research facility that has recently fallen off the map, with no communication to let outsiders know what happened. Upon arrival the men discover something horrible has occurred, with giant komodo dragons and cobras battling it out while they attempt to regain control of the island.

Starring: Michael Paré, Michelle Borth, Ryan McTavish, Renee Talbert, Jerri Manthey

Directed by: Jim Wynorski

Runtime: 94 minutes

Studio: Lions Gate

 

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: Komodo vs Cobra

The title should say it all really. A team of environmentalists including Jerry (Ryan McTavish), his girlfriend Carrie (Renee Talbert) and a reporter Sandra (Jerri Manthey) charter a boat captained by Mike (Michael Pare) and head for a military island to do some investigating. They find the island deserted until they come upon what they believe to be a military base. Here they meet Dr Susan Richardson (Michelle Borth) who informs them it isn’t safe. A giant cobra and a komodo dragon are on the island and they are killing anything that gets in their way. Now, that is a problem.

Predictably, our humongous cobra and komodo are the result of an experiment gone wrong. Why do these scientists keep doing this? Do they never learn? It seems Susan and her father were pioneering experiments to grow plants with a few to feeding the world population but the military desired weapons so turned to tests on animals. Of course the komodo and cobra have preyed on the islanders and now fresh bait has come their way they are loathe to hold back with such a rich offering on the menu. A straightforward escape for our group proves anything but when the military learns of the chaos that has broken out and they endeavour to blow the island out of the water!

I won’t lie to you. My hopes were not high for Komodo vs Cobra and in that respect it did not disappoint me. The effects for the cobra and the komodo are painful to watch, as are the people who are killed. I expect they must have been pretty embarrassed filming this on occasion. The acting is lacking here with only one or two minor quips sneaking into the dreadful script. Not everyone survives to the end which is no surprise but for me the biggest shock was the most annoying character saw the film through to the end. My disappointment was palpable.

Komodo vs Cobra is yet another monster movie that leaves me struggling to comprehend who would possibly enjoy this. The story is weak and overused, the characters unappealing and the effects are utterly woeful. I’ve found with these films that they have one saving grace: they fall short of the 90-minute mark. Komodo vs Cobra couldn’t even grant me that luxury.

Verdict: 1/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: Komodo vs Cobra | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Film Review: Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

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About Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)[image error]There are 21 days left until the end of the world. Meek salesman Dodge (Steve Carell – The 40 Year Old Virgin) has been suddenly deserted by his wife and now has no idea how to spend his last remaining days. When a riot breaks out around his building, Dodge escapes in the car of his extraverted neighbour Penny (Keira Knightley – Pirates of the Caribbean). Seizing the moment, they embark on a hilarious road trip to reunite with their loved ones – Dodge with his long lost high school sweetheart and Penny with her family. On the road together, the unlikely travelling companions’ respective personal journeys accelerate, and their outlooks – if not the world’s – brighten.

Starring: Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, Adam Brody

Directed by: Lorene Scafaria

Runtime: 101 minutes

Studio: Universal Studios

 

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

What would you do if you had 3 weeks left to live? That is the problem facing the world in Lorene Scafaria’s Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. Dodge (Steve Carell) listens to the news in his car at the outset that efforts to stop an asteroid hitting the earth have failed and that everyone is doomed. Dodge’s wife immediately runs away and leaves her husband behind. He continues life as normal to begin with, going to work but soon thinks of a former girlfriend, Olivia, who he still regards as the love of his life. Dodge ends up in the company of his neighbour Penny (Keira Knightley) who has a letter from Olivia she has failed to pass on. Dodge decides to set out to find Olivia and Penny agrees to let him use her car if he will help her get to her family in England. Penny had hoped to take a plane to find her family but with the world ending all flights have now been grounded. Dodge and Penny begin a road trip, meeting some fascinating characters along the way and striking up an unlikely friendship.

How people respond to the end of the world varies. Some carry on with life as normal, while others overindulge with alcohol, drugs and sex, the barriers are down and everyone seems to want to live fast. Dodge and Penny, who have been neighbours for a long time, but never really interacted begin to grow closer as their journey continues. They are accompanied by a dog that Dodge has inadvertently taken charge of after passing out in a park after one too many drinks and Penny has brought along her favourite LPs, the only keepsakes from home. Both have lived unfulfilling lives with their respective relationships back home giving them more sorrow than happiness. The question is can Dodge get to Olivia in time and rekindle an old romance and will Penny make it to her family?

I’ve been looking forward to this one though did have reservations, especially with Knightley taking a starring one. Though not a bad actress, I haven’t seen many films where I would laud her acting. In this case I felt Knightley and Carrell made a good double act. Carrell gives a quiet and withdrawn side to Dodge, a completely lost soul, while Knightley’s Penny is quirky and fun though tainted by sorrow at the same time. Other notable appearances include William Peterson as a trucker who has hired a hit man to kill him and Martin Sheen pops up at the end as well. I’d heard mixed reviews about the film with some criticism of the ending. I found myself disagreeing to be honest. Carrell and Knightley carry the film well, veering from some fun incidents and exchanges to a more serious turn as the end of the world looms. The conclusion wasn’t what I was expecting and although somewhat abrupt it is also entirely apt.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is a thought-provoking look at how people may spend their final weeks knowing that the end is inevitable. Such a scenario is not out of the question of course and it was interesting watching how different people reacted. Carrell and Knightley made a good team for me, their characters being complete opposites but in the long hours spent alone on the road they somehow find a connection with each other as the clock runs down and the deadly asteroid homes in on the earth. Well worth considering.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: Seeking a Friend for the End of the World | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave