David M. Brown's Blog, page 57

Film Review: La Strada

About La Strada (1954)[image error]One of Federico Fellini’s greatest films, some critics say his masterpiece, made in 1954 in Black & White and presented in this release with an enclosed 16 page booklet which includes interviews with both Fellini and his wife and the film’s co-star; Giulietta Masina (Juliet of the Spirits; Ginger & Fred). The story is very simple; a carefree urchin-like young girl, Gelsomina (Masina) is sold to a brutish travelling strongman, Zampano (Anthony Quinn – Requiem for a Heavyweight; Guns of Navarone; Zorba the Greek; The Greek Tycoon) who entertains the village crowds by breaking a chain around his chest. They travel from place to place, she playing a drum roll as part of the show, he abusing her both physically and emotionally, until the fateful day when they join up with a travelling circus and become acaquainted with Il Matto (Richard Basehart – Decision before Dawn; Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea; Chato’s Land).

Starring: Anthony Quinn, Giulietta Masina, Richard Basehart, Aldo Silvani, Marcella Rovere

Directed by: Federico Fellini

Runtime: 108 minutes

Studio: Criterion

 

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB
Review: La Strada 

My second experience of Fellini’s work tells the story of Gelsomina (Giulietta Masina) who is sold to a travelling entertainer Zampano (Anthony Quinn) at the outset and endures life on the road. Gelsomina’s sister, Rosa, has died while travelling with Zampano and he needs an assistant to continue his act. Traveling from town to town, Zampano performs an act where he ties a chain around his chest and breaks it with his muscle power alone. Gelsomina plays drums, dances and paints herself like a clown to the delight of the crowd.

Though Gelsomina earns a living with Zampano, he is a brute and frequently cruel, lashing her in the early stages until she has perfected her drumming. Zampano also seeks out local women between acts with no care or consideration for Gelsomina who clearly comes to care for him. After running away from Zampano, Gelsomina meets another entertainer known as the Fool (Richard Basehart) and there seems to be mutual affection between them. However, Zampano soon returns and it turns out the two entertainers have a difficult history and fierce rivalry. What will become of Gelsomina?

La Strada is beautifully filmed from start to finish. Quinn is excellent as the tough Zampano but it is Masina who is the most striking on screen as the fragile Gelsomina. The innocent girl at the start of the film is gradually wilted away by the demands of life on the road and the relentlessness of Zampano who gives no quarter. Tragedy is inevitable and when it comes the film takes a dark turn with no happy resolutions for any of the characters involved.

I enjoyed this more than 8½ and am not surprised it bagged an Oscar for Best Foreign Film. Fellini’s La Strada is a case of a simple story that is beautifully executed with a great cast and choice of locations. Life on the road is depicted as hard and uncompromising and very aptly La Strada has no happy endings.

Verdict: 5/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

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

Game Review: Shadow of the Beast II

Shadow of the Beast II (Amiga)

This one takes me back. It’s one of my earliest gaming memories. I can still picture the ridiculously huge box Shadow of the Beast II came in along with a T-shirt. This side-scrolling platform game is one of the most difficult I have ever encountered. So much so that there was a famous cheat I am certain the majority of gamers used. The game begins with a pretty cool opening sequence where the evil Mage, Zelek, turns into a dragon and steals a baby from a cottage. Our hero, Aarbron, who is half-man half-beast sets out to recover the baby. Wandering through the land of Karamoon he must solve puzzles, befriend different races, fight others but ultimately defeat Zelek and rescue the baby.

Ludicrously difficult, Shadow of the Beast II has a very simple solution in the form of a woodland tribe a few feet from your starting point. They don’t want you in their woods but if you chat with them by typing key words, in this case “Ten pints,” you become invincible which is very handy. Not that that guarantees you success as I shall reveal. There are a variety of enemies to fight including the woodland folk, goblins, and even the odd dragon thrown in for good measure. Your path is a perilous one with platforms divided and prompting you to leap between them to avoid an acid bath. Very nice. Puzzles though straightforward in some cases are annoying in the respect that getting some of them wrong means you are done for. You can still wander Karamoon to your heart’s content but it is now impossible to finish the game!

Aarbron is armed with a trusty mace/flail type weapon but to defeat Zelek you’re going to need something with a bit more punch and so our hero must befriend a group of characters who offer guidance on locating the magic power you need to face your adversary. Just be careful with that mace. Many is the time I met with an old man in the forest who gives you magic and rather than hand him the items he needs I hit him with the mace which was bad news for him and especially me as it is impossible to win the game without him. Another scenario involves grabbing some wine from an inn and giving it to a goblin guard when you wind up imprisoned which allows you to escape. Again, you had to be careful here. It’s possible to offer your weapon by accident which the goblin is very happy to accept leaving you permanently trapped!

Dragons, winged creatures, a giant snail, goblins, large fish and a huge sea creature providing a ferry service, Shadow of the Beast II is great fun though the graphics are not the best. It is too difficult though and without that “Ten pints” cheat many gamers would have missed out which is a shame. One of the highlights for adolescents like me is the conversations you have with characters. Because you had to type these in using the keyboard you only needed one word suggestions such as “Zelek” or “Karamoon” and characters would respond. Of course, being able to type anything in I used to amuse myself for hours by typing swear words to which the characters always responded, “I don’t understand that!” Immature, I know, but it made me laugh at the time.

Shadow of the Beast II shows its age in many ways. It isn’t graphically outstanding but it’s still good fun, albeit brief, if you know what you’re doing. Without a cheat it’s so difficult to complete and with the unforgiving nature of the puzzles it’s an experience that will infuriate many gamers rather than leave them satisfied. This still brings back great memories for me of the early days of my gaming life. They don’t make them like this anymore.

Verdict: 3/5

Game Review: Shadow of the Beast II | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Film Review: The Evil Dead

About The Evil Dead (1981)[image error]Five friends go up to a cabin in the woods where they find unspeakable evil lurking in the forest. They find the Necronomicon and the taped translation of the text. Once the tape is played, the evil is released. One by one, the teens become deadly zombies. With only one remaining, it is up to him to survive the night and battle the evil dead. Classic 1981 horror written and directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man).

Starring: Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly

Directed by: Sam Raimi

Runtime: 85 minutes

Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay

 

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB
Review: The Evil Dead 

It’s not often I get a good scare from a horror film these days, not from Hollywood anyway. Japanese horrors manage to be eerie and unnerving but something has been lost in the west. It’s no coincidence as lot of the classic horror films are being remade, not that they need to be. Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead is considered one of the classics but ashamed as I am to say I had never seen it before until now.

This low budget film follows the progress of five friends – Ash (Bruce Campbell), Scotty (Hal Delrich), Linda (Betsy Barker), Cheryl (Ellen Sandweiss) and Shelly who decide to spend a weekend at a remote cabin. During their stay the group discover The Book of the Dead as well as some tape recordings of incantations which give rise to demons that take advantage of the group’s isolation by proceeding to take them over one by one. Will anyone survive the encounter with the demons? Can evil really be stopped?

Being made on such a small budget The Evil Dead is going to look raw in places but the effects are surprisingly  good and there is an uncomfortable atmosphere throughout the film. Yes, an isolated cabin isn’t the most original setting for a horror film but Raimi films things in such a way that you’ll seldom feel comfortable. The fast-paced movement of the camera through the surrounding woodland is one of the deftest touches while the infamous scene involving one of the girls and some very hands on branches is a hard one to forget.

The five friends are made to suffer for their weekend away. First Cheryl is possessed by demons and is locked in the basement while the other friends begin to be whittled away one by one. The make-up is very effective and you get the impression that every dollar spent on this film was painstakingly considered. The Evil Dead manages to achieve what many horror films don’t with a tiny budget while it’s less than illustrious rivals draw on many millions when they’re being produced. There’s plenty of atmosphere, blood and gore here to satisfy the majority of horror fans but the film isn’t perfect.

Watching The Evil Dead for the first time I found myself wishing I had seen it when I was growing up in the eighties. I think the films we experience at a young age often retain a special place in our hearts even if as adults we see many of the undoubted weaknesses. The Evil Dead isn’t the best horror film I’ve ever seen even though the effects are pretty good and the acting is effective for what is demanded of a horror film. While I was impressed by what Raimi achieved in the early eighties I wouldn’t say I was left astounded by the film either.

The Evil Dead is rightfully a cult classic today, being made on a tight budget but managing to have more heart and chills than many horror films I could name. It’s not the best horror film I’ve seen, it does have flaws but it’s definitely one that all horror fans should experience at some point. It’s certainly a vast improvement on the majority of horror films released today.

Verdict: 3/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

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

Book Review: The Patient Ecstasy of Fraulein Braun – Lavonne Mueller

About The Patient Ecstasy of Fraulein Braun (2013)[image error]Eva understands Hitler is married to Germany and must herself stand back unacknowledged as he enclasps the world in a passionate, python-like thrall. Until the last days in the final chapter of the Third Reich (and the first chapter of the novel) when Adolf and Eva move into their first home together, the Fuhrerbunker. There, deep underground, hidden from the light of day and the light of history, but laid fully bare to the author’s unblinking eye, Eva Braun’s unquestioning patriotism and patience finally pay off in a private wedding ceremony and a cyanide capsule. Mueller imagines the claustrophobic and morally twisted underground world of the Third Reich’s last gasp. All the Fuhrer’s men and women, like rats in a trap, grow more and more desperate, more and more perverse, as they compete for the final crumbs of attention from their doomed leader. Only one soul remains calm amid the chaos, the ever-patient, ever pliant paramour of the vilest man who ever lived. As the world around them goes astoundingly mad, their devotion to each other remains unsullied. Trusting. Even innocent.

 

Amazon USAmazon UKGoodreads
Review: The Patient Ecstasy of Fraulein Braun

Believe me when I say I really have thought long and hard before writing this review. An erotic book where Hitler and Eva Braun are the characters? What could you possibly write? Well, firstly, that is a pretty simplistic explanation of this title, which came across to me as less of an erotic romance and more a historical fiction novel where erotica is not used to titilate or excite but to highlight the power and control issues, Eva’s insecurities, her unwavering devotion.

This was never going to be an easy title to release. The very subject matter leaves it open to criticism before the book has even been opened. However, despite the fact that Hitler is made out to be charismatic, charming, attractive to her, it remains very clear throughout the novel that this is Eva’s viewpoint only. This book in no way offers condonement of Hitler’s thoughts and actions from Mueller’s point of view. It is entirely fictional in that respect.

There has long been speculation about Hitler’s sexual preferences, some of which has arisen from propaganda campaigns during WWII, some from other rumours, particularly regarding the death of his niece. Little conclusive proof or evidence seems to exist but I can see why Mueller has used sex within this book in the way she has. Eva is infatuated. It thwarts her reason and logic, affects her morality. Hitler’s charisma has been much researched, remarked upon, documented. Though this alone can never explain why people supported him to such lengths, Mueller has used Eva’s idolatry and obsession with him to highlight this aspect of his character.

I don’t believe this is a book that can ever be read as an erotic romance and that – for me – is entirely why this book is acceptable. It is dark and tormented. The ‘patient ecstasy’ that Eva feels is actually a torment she feels she must endure. This is not a love story. This is a story of two obsessions, neither of which could ever end anything but terribly. Eva’s obsession sadly led to her own demise, while Hitler’s led to the terrible, tragic and unforgivable demise of millions of innocents.

I’m rating this a three (closer to 3.5 but we don’t use halves) because while I appreciated the research, attention to detail and fact that this was constructed as sensitively as the subject matter would allow, it was a good book but – in my mind – not an amazing one. At times it felt a little confused and jumped a little. Some things within the book seem a little reach too far, such as a request Frau Goebbels makes of Hitler towards the end.

The topic and characters are controversial and I applaud Mueller for a very brave undertaking, one which I’m very sure was neither intended to cause offense or indicate disrespect. Is there a reason this book needed to be written? Perhaps not, except for the fact that Eva Braun was someone equally taken in by Hitler’s promises. A warning to us all, perhaps, that charm and charisma can hide a true evil.

Verdict: 3/5

(Book Source: Netgalley)

Book Review: The Patient Ecstasy of Fraulein Braun – Lavonne Mueller | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Film Review: The Children

About The Children (2008)[image error]British horror film directed by Tom Shankland, based on a story by Paul Andrew Williams. A relaxing Christmas break turns into a terrifying fight for survival as the children begin to turn on their parents and embark on a gruesome killing spree.

Starring: Eva Birthistle, Stephen Campbell Moore, Jeremy Sheffield, Rachel Shelley, Hannah Tointon

Directed by: Tom Shankland

Runtime: 84 minutes

Studio: Lions Gate

 

 

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB
Review: The Children 

Mrs B and I are both in agreement when it comes to children. We don’t want any. We never have and we never will. I’ve always said of children that I’d like to bypass the first twenty years of their lives and starting a parental relationship from there, but that’s just me. Millions of us have children and do an amazing job bringing them up but it’s never appealed to me. Tom Shankland’s The Children did nothing to dissuade me from my viewpoint but it promised to be a gruesome horror film with youngsters being the instruments of death but is it any good?

The film focuses on two families getting away for a Christmas vacation in a remote house surrounded by wintry woodland. The first family comprises of Jonah (Stephen Campbell) and Elaine (Eva Birthistle), their teenage daughter Casey (Hannah Tointon), and two other children Miranda (Eva Sayer) and Paulie (William Howes). The family meet Elaine’s sister Chloe (Rachel Shelley), her husband Robbie (Jeremy Sheffield), and two more children Leah (Raffiella Brooks) and Nicky (Jake Hathaway). What should be a pleasant Christmas get together turns very violent when all the children began to behave very strangely and turn on the adults!

The initial problem with The Children begins very early on. We have no indication why the children go from being noisy and annoying to noisy, annoying and violent. Paulie is ill at the outset and Leah later coughs something black onto a pillow but we don’t know what it is or where it’s come from. The family structure is a pretty standard one. Casey is the sullen teenager at odds with her parents because she wanted to be with her friends at a party. She gets on best with Robbie who probably should know better getting too friendly with a girl who spends the film in s short skirt despite the surrounding snow and causes tension when Chloe finds her with Robbie showing off a tattoo. Uncomfortable, eh?

The children behave very strangely to begin with, blank stares, erratic behaviour and they’re also involved in the sudden disappearance of the family cat too. What begins as obvious violent tendencies are dismissed as a series of accidents even when Robbie is sledging downhill and the children do a bit of moving around so his progress is halted by some very sharp points in his head! Despite the early demise of Robbie, Chloe and Jonah seem to orchestrate ways to blame Casey for everything. Chloe won’t hear a word against her children while Jonah is obsessed with protecting his clear favourite – Miranda. As is as often the case with these films, the sweet and innocent children go about their murdering business with minimal fuss until the last few adults remaining suddenly realise all is not well.

The film builds up quite well and the children do a pretty good job with those faraway glances which left me slightly spooked but even more convinced I want none of my own. The acting is average at best but probably adequate enough for a film like this though Tointon has to work hard with the emotions as she emerges as the unexpected heroine towards the end. The conclusion to the film is open ended and will leave you speculating what happens when those final credits are rolling. This isn’t a bad horror film, for sure, but the lack of any real explanation as to the sinister disease that afflicts the children and turns them violent is a weakness.

If you’ve ever asked yourself if you want children then steer clear of The Children because it will likely put you off. This is an average horror effort with some gory moments but it begins with many questions which remain unanswered though the ambiguity about the ending will ensure that you’re probably still talking about after the last of the credits are over.

Verdict: 3/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

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

Film Review: The Hustler

About The Hustler (1961)[image error]Low-life pool player Fast Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) begins a downhill slide after losing to Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason). However, gambler Bert Gordon (George C. Scott) sees the potential in the boy, takes him in, teaches him the art of the hustle, and sets him on the road to another thrilling pool hall confrontation with the unbeatable Fats. Robert Rossen’s acclaimed classic won an Oscar for Best Cinematography and was nominated for a further six. Martin Scorsese’s film ‘The Color of Money’ (1986) is a sequel of sorts, with Newman playing Fast Eddie once again.

Starring: Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, Myron McCormick

Directed by: Robert Rossen

Runtime: 134 minutes

Studio: 20th Century Fox

 

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB
Review: The Hustler 

“Fast” Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) is a young and arrogant pool player who challenges legend Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason) to a game. Initially losing to Fats, Eddie hits back and gains the upper hand, winning a substantial amount of money in the process. Despite his partner Charlie (Myron McCormick) telling Eddie to walk away, he refuses, insisting he wants Fats to concede defeat, which Fats doesn’t. The two men continue to compete and after 25 hours Eddie loses everything in one game and is left broken and lost.

Eddie’s fortunes change somewhat when he meets Sarah (Piper Laurie), an alcoholic, and the two begin to fall in love. Eddie remains low key, hustling in small clubs, but he comes to the attention of Bert Gordon (George C. Scott) who takes Eddie under his wing and the two men begin working together. Bert is greedy and ruthless though and the more time Eddie spends with him the more he has to sacrifice of himself and his relationship with Sarah. The question is can he break from Bert’s influence?

I’ve been looking forward to seeing this one for a long time and it didn’t disappoint. Newman is fantastic in the lead, beginning as the cocky Fast Eddie but by the end he has changed dramatically, gained a lot of perspective and suffered so much ruin along the way. The epic battle between Eddie and Fats is an undoubted high point and inevitably the two men face one another again in a dramatic conclusion. There are no joyful celebrations and ecstatic crowds to round this one off though. The ending is surprisingly bleak leaving us to reflect on Eddie’s painful journey rather than rejoicing in anything he has achieved.

The Hustler is a fantastic film built around the high stakes gambling on games of pool. Newman and Gleason are both brilliant and the supporting turns from Laurie, Scott and McCormick are most welcome too. Seeing a young Murray Hamilton made me smile, this being 14 years before he was insisting people go into the water despite a shark being on the loose. Great film.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

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

Film Review: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest

About The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2009)[image error]The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest is the third and final film adaptation of the best-selling Millennium trilogy written by the late Swedish author, Stieg Larsson (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played With Fire). In this last installment, Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) lies in critical condition, a bullet wound to her head, in the intensive care unit of a Swedish city hospital. She’s fighting for her life in more ways than one: if and when she recovers, she’ll be taken back to Stockholm to stand trial for three murders. With the help of her friend, journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist), she will not only have to prove her innocence, but also identify and denounce those in authority who have allowed the vulnerable, like herself, to suffer abuse and violence. And, on her own, she will plot revenge – against the man who tried to kill her, and the corrupt government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life. The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest brings back Noomi Rapace in the starring role of the pierced and tattooed genius computer hacker Lisbeth Salander, Michael Nyqvist as Mikael Blomkvist, the crusading journalist and publisher of the magazine Millennium, and Lena Endre (Erika Berger) the editor of the magazine and Blomkvist’s occasional lover.

Starring: Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace, Lena Endre, Annika Hallin, Jacob Ericksson

Directed by: Daniel Alfredson

Runtime: 148 minutes

Studio: Music Box Films Home Entertainment

 

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB
Review: The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest 

I’m still to read Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy but I’ve certainly been enjoying the film adaptations, the Swedish ones of course! The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was superb, The Girl Who Played With Fire was good but not up to the standards of its predecessor. That leaves The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest. With a tear of regret in one eye and sat down the third and final instalment of what I hoped would be a wonderful trilogy.

The film picks up where the second one ended with Lisbeth (Noomi Rapace) being taken to hospital with gunshot wounds as his father, Alexander Zalachenko (Georgi Staykov), who is feeling worse for wear after being hit with an axe! Lisbeth’s half-brother, Niedermann (Micke Spreitz), is at large. Lisbeth soon finds herself on trial for the murders that she was accused of in the previous film but that’s just the start of her problems. While in hospital, Lisbeth and her father are targeted for assassination and although Lisbeth evades the slaughter her father isn’t so lucky! On trial she comes up against the fearsome Dr. Peter Teleborian (Anders Ahlbom) who is charged with ensuring Lisbeth is committed to prevent any secrets about the clandestine organisation – Section – getting out. Once again, Lisbeth has to put her faith in journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) and his sister Annika (Annika Hallin) but will Lisbeth escape being committed or imprisoned for murder?

Following straight on from the second film we’re quickly up and running with The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest. Lisbeth finds a guardian angel in the hospital in the form of  Dr. Jonasson (Aksel Morisse) who prevents anyone seeing Lisbeth save her lawyer and even sneaks luxuries like pizza in for her. He clearly has a soft spot for our hacker heroine. All is now well for Lisbeth outside the hospital though. Ageing members of the Section – Evert Gullberg (Hans Alfredson) and Frederik Clinton (Lennart Hjulstrom) – unite and agree to silence Lisbeth and her father. Gullberg infiltrates the hospital and kills Lisbeth’s father but is prevented from completing his mission and thus kills himself. With Clinton remaining to stop Lisbeth he turns to the psychiatrist Teleborian to assess Lisbeth and have her committed to an institution. It is down to Blomkvist to dig deep and compile evidence Lisbeth needs for her case while his sister Annika (dead ringer for Daisy from Spaced) chooses to represent Lisbeth in court.

This manages to be a thrilling conclusion to the Millennium trilogy. While Lisbeth does her best to evade assassination in hospital and later in prison, both Blomkvist and Annika are also put in the firing line by trying to protect her. Somehow we make it to the trial and what a spectacle it is. Lisbeth arrives for her court appearance dressed in black, with dark makeup, piercings and a very funky Mohawk hairstyle. She has compiled an autobiography to be presented in court of her turbulent life both as a girl and later as an adult, especially the horrific rape she suffered at the hands of her so-called guardian Bjurman, one of the people she is on trial for murdering. Lisbeth and Annika have to face off against Dr Teleborian who dismisses Lisbeth’s autobiography as the workings of an insane mind and pleads with the court for her to institutionalised. How it all turns out is somewhat predictable but you’ll be cheering by the end.

The performances are very good once again. Rapace makes Lisbeth her own character while Nyqvist looks completely at ease in his role while Hallin slots in nicely as his sister and Lisbeth’s lawyer. Spreitz manages to be just as imposing as the seemingly unstoppable Niedermann and an ill-fated reunion between him and Lisbeth is more than worth the wait. The film sadly frustrates with an open-ended conclusion which I won’t mark it down for but it is annoying. This is a terrific way to bring the curtain down on the Millennium trilogy. It’s not as good as The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo but fans of the first two films should certainly find little to complain about here.

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest is a tense and exciting thriller, and apt way to conclude a trilogy that has been a pleasure to watch from start to finish. The series peaks with the first instalment, dips slightly with the second but finishes strongly with this third and final film. These are must-see films, especially ahead of the American ones.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week: Girl You’ll Be a Woman Soon

Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film, Pulp Fiction, has many memorable moments but the scene when Uma Thurman’s Mia returns from a date with Vincent Vega and plays Girl You’ll Be a Woman Soon is one of the classic ones as is everything that follows. This great song by Urge Overkill is actually a cover of the original written and performed by Neil Diamond but the group more than made it their own.

Certain songs evoke certain images and memories whenever I hear them. This one from Urge Overkill will always make me think of Pulp Fiction, beginning with Mia dancing at home and getting high, while Vincent is in the bathroom convincing himself not to sleep with his boss’ wife. From there I recall all the film’s many great moments but while Tarantino gave us an undoubted classic, Urge Overkill played their part with their wonderful rendition of a quality song.

Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week: Girl You’ll Be a Woman Soon | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Film Review: Anacondas: The Hunt for the Red Orchid

About Anacondas: The Hunt for the Red Orchid (2004)[image error]Sequel to the 1997 actioner ‘Anaconda’. A pharmaceutical company sends a group of horticulturalists on a scientific expedition to Borneo in search of a rare flower – the Blood Orchid – that can reputedly bestow immortality. But the group are alarmed to discover that the precious plant is being guarded by a terrifying population of bloodthirsty anacondas, who have been imbibing the orchid’s restorative properties for years – making them faster and stronger than ever.

Starring: Morris Chestnut, KaDee Strickland, Eugene Byrd, Johnny Messner, Matthew Marsden

Directed by: Dwight H. Little

Runtime: 97 minutes

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

 

Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB
Review: Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid 

I’m not drawn to bad horror films but they tend to be drawn to me. I seem to have avoided chronology with the anaconda series having seen the first one years ago and last year the third one came along, the only notable thing about that one being it had the Hoff in it but nothing else. So, here we are with the second in this appalling series. The question was would Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid distance itself from its poor cousins and actually be good?

The premise to the film is pretty straightforward. A group of researchers set off for a jungle in Borneo, Indonesia to look for the blood orchid, a rare flower said to be have medicinal benefits such as longevity which does sound handy. Of course, the jungle is filled with bloodthirsty anacondas which I don’t believe are native to Indonesia but we’ll just have to overlook that in this case! Can the researchers carefully sidestep the anacondas and recover the blood orchid or does an unpleasant death await them all?

Our group of researchers come across as intelligent people but really that’s a clever mask. They find a local guide Bill Johnson (Johnny Messner) who is reluctant to take them into the jungle arguing it is dangerous. A generous bribe from Jack Byron (Matthew Madsen) is enough to change Bill’s mind but things don’t turn out well. Their boat goes over a waterfall and is lost and soon enough our first anaconda strikes and kills one of the doctors, Ben Douglas (Nicholas Gonzalez). Bill responds that he’s never seen such a big snake and now it’s eaten it won’t want anything for a good few weeks. Well, that’s handy then! Stranded in the jungle, Bill tries to get the gang to his friend John Livingston (Any Anderson) who comes a cropper thanks to the anacondas and carelessly gets himself killed and blows up his boat in the process! You couldn’t write it could you!

The group are forced to make their escape from the jungle without a boat but Jack is reluctant to leave without finding the blood orchids first and becomes a little bit threatening as the film progresses. Bill is our macho hero of sorts and soon pairs up with Sam (KaDee Strickland). It soon becomes apparent that not only have the group wandered into the clutches of anacondas, it’s also the mating season and the males are out in force. I would have said the researchers should have researched the best time to get this orchid i.e. not during anaconda mating season but in fairness they can’t have expected to bump into anacondas in Indonesia! The rest of the film is pretty predictable. There are blood orchids in the jungle but where do you think they are? Yep, surrounded by anacondas. What are these researchers to do?

There isn’t really anything to this film. It’s what it says on the tin. A group of snake fodder trying to find a flower in the jungle. The acting isn’t great once again and the snakes, though made up of bad effects, have more personality than their meals. As usual there is someone in the group who has slightly unhinged and willing to risk everyone’s life in the process. So much for everyone getting along nicely and being friends at work! This is no better or worse than the third instalment, in fact it’s probably worse because at least with Anaconda III I could see just how many hoops the Hoff would jump through for his next pay cheque. In case you were wondering, it’s many!

Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid is a woeful follow-up to the silly original with J-Lo and Jon Voight. A bunch of uninteresting characters looking for a flower and getting eaten by some snakes that are somewhat maladjusted on the wrong side of the world. It’s not an idea for a book I’ll be pursuing any time soon.

Verdict: 1/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: Anacondas: The Hunt for the Red Orchid | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Book Excerpt: Storm Warning – E.A. O’Neal

Today E.A. O’Neal stops by to share an excerpt from her book, Storm Warning. 

Excerpt from the story Collision, featured in Storm Warning

The white and blue pick-up bore the initials NCF on the side.  It sped up to the curb in front of the station.  The two officers in the back jumped out. Jean had expected them to have machine guns slung over their shoulders but they were unarmed. Two others emerged from the station, also empty-handed, as the driver got out and began issuing orders.  Jean remembered that a month ago there had been a story on the news about a lack of guns for officers working at small stations. The government could barely afford to arm the police in the big cities like Port-au-Prince and Jacmel, much less in the smaller towns.

The mass in the shadows quivered with impatience.

“Wait,” Henri hissed.  “Wait.  Wait.”  What they were about to do was his idea.  He was the one who’d given them the information.  They listened to him and waited.  Another officer came out.  Six!  Jean frowned at Guy.  Guy sensed his fury and eased away from him.

“In silence,” Henri murmured.  “Remember, in silence until we are upon them.”

As if his excitement had made him deaf, Josef, a fisherman, made to break for it but the baker caught him by the back of his shirt.  “Not yet,” he whispered, furiously.  “When Henri says, imbecile.”

The fisherman pushed him away but subsided when Guy pulled his right arm back.  “Stop, you will mess everything up.”

“Now,” Henri hissed.  “Now.  Go, go.”

The mass detached itself from the darkness of the marketplace and surged forward, their sticks and knives clutched in their hands.  Jean’s jute bag bounced uncomfortably against his stomach.

“Bondye.” An officer saw them, dropped his end of the bale and sprinted inside the station.  The others whirled.  One lunged for the handle of the pick-up truck’s cab door but the baker smashed the flat of his machete against his hand and the man cried out in pain.  Two more tried to dash into the station but the door was shut.  They pounded on it then, giving up, took to their heels. An officer, the one who drove the truck, was the only one with a gun. He pulled it from his holster and fired a round of shots like mini-explosions.  The man in front of Jean groaned and fell.  The fisherman swung his machete and the officer screamed as the blade sliced through blood and bone.  The officer clutched his arm and screamed and screamed, his mouth open wide.

Another officer shouted at them to stop, his voice high and frightened.  “You will bring big trouble,” he screamed.  Jean craned his head to see who it was because he thought he knew the voice but the stocky man stood with his back to the light and Jean couldn’t make out his features.

“Stop, go home, turn around.  Big tr….”  Somebody shoved him aside.  “Please,” the man screamed.  Jean’s eyes widened as he saw the flash of a blade behind the man.  The officer was unarmed, there was no need to kill him but the blade disappeared and the officer fell.  Jean squinted as he tried to make out who had done it.  “Guy!”  People shoved past him.  The man turned. Guy!  His face was in deep shadow but Jean would know his brother anywhere.  He tried to push through the others to get to him but they wouldn’t let him pass, intent as they were on getting to the truck.

“Quick now,” Henri said.  He pushed one of the bales off the truck and leapt up to reach the others.  Jean saw now that Henri wore a blonde wig, not a hat as he’d thought.  The crazy wig was the kind of thing somebody might wear during carnival when you wanted to pretend you were somebody else, somebody with a better life.

Jean sliced into one of the bales and pulled apart the plastic wrapping, exposing the bricks of cocaine.  People grabbed them up and stuffed them into the bags they’d brought.  Jean sawed another bale open, and another.  There were six bales in all which meant more than enough bricks to go around.  He pushed as many as he thought he could carry into his bag, eight or nine in all, and looked around for Guy.  Villagers crouched over the bales.  One woman had brought a basket and was stacking the bricks in it in a neat and orderly way.  “No time,” Jean snapped at her.

Storm Warning (2013)[image error]If you like the happy thought that the Caribbean is just sun, sand and smiling natives bearing coconuts full of fruity drinks, beware! Set on the fictional island of St. Crescens, the five stories in this collection will take you deep into the heart of an island society where poverty, corruption, greed and sex form a potent and explosive brew.

In ‘The Dead Bishop’ appearances are both deceptive and dangerous. Meanwhile, one woman’s desire to transform her life has deadly consequences in the title story and, when greed meets desperation in ‘Collision,’ the body count rises. These and the other two stories will keep you guessing and leave you thinking!

 

Amazon USAmazon UKGoodreads About E.A. O'Neal[image error]Eugenia O’Neal is a Virgin Islander whose first book, From the Fields to the Legislature, was based on her master’s thesis for the University of the Virgin Islands. She has lived and worked in Barbados, Philadelphia and London and presently resides on Tortola.

 

 

BlogTwitter

Book Excerpt: Storm Warning – E.A. O’Neal | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave