In 1981, Conan The Barbarian starring Arnold Schwarzenegger was unleashed on the world. It was one hell of a movie, telling the story of one man who would eventually become king by his own hand. It was and still is a fantastic film, which launched Arnold Schwarzenegger's film career. A sequel, The Destroyer followed in 1984, but was a critical failure, as it failed to capture the essence of Conan. Still, it was fun to see Arnie swinging a sword. A third film was in the works, but didn't get made because Arnold was committed to Predator.
Now in 2011, A new Conan movie has been unleashed. Starring Jason Momoa as Conan, this new film tells the story of a boy who was born in the heat of battle, raised by his father, Corin(Ron Perlman), only to see his father and people slaughtered by the ruthless warlord, Khalar Zym(Stephen Lang). Khalar Zym sought the final piece to an ancient mask that would give him unlimited power to rule the world. Years later, Conan travels the ancient world of Hyboria, freeing slaves, and causing trouble. Eventually he runs into a woman, Tamara(Rachel Nichols) who escaped the wrath of Zym, and his daughter, Marique(Rose McGowan). Turns out, she is a descendant of a "pureblood" people, and her blood is needed to activate the mask. Conan accompanies her, if only to avenge his people.
First things first, the only relation this film has to the original, is the name of the movie, and the character. Other than that, it's a completely different film with it's own story. It's more of a reboot than a remake. Two: The casting of Jason Momoa as Conan: It really wasn't a bad idea, as Momoa has the physicality and the body to make it work. As for the acting? He's not bad, but all he's really required to do in this film, is to look like a bad-ass and swing a sword, and he does that extremely well. Almost even more than Arnold Schwarzenegger. But again, it's still comparing apples to oranges, as Momoa's Conan is very different than Arnold's version. In the original film, and its sequel, Conan came off as a bit of a buffoon. Momoa's Conan really isn't a buffoon, he's actually fairly intelligent as Conan should be. In the books, Conan spoke several languages and was a brilliant military tactician, and that still isn't shown in this film, but he's not the gullible bonehead that was portrayed in Conan: The Destroyer.
I'm posting this on a Horror website, because there are many elements in this film, which would make it qualify. It's very bloody, particularly the beginning of the film, with young Conan bringing the heads of six savages back from the wilds. It's also a very dark film, because you're dealing with demons, human sacrifice, brutal torture, and basically, the end of the world. But it's still a fantasy film at heart, because it takes place in a fictional age which was supposed to have happened over 13,000 years ago. Getting back to the acting, Stephen Lang is fantastic as Zym, as he's very menacing and has a seriously bad attitude all around. Rose McGowan is virtually unrecognizable as Marique, who is as beautiful as she is psychotic. Rachel Nichols, on the other hand, is strictly eye candy, however. She's got a great body, though. The action was fast, hard hitting and very well choreographed. The way Momoa handles a sword, makes Schwarzenegger look like a school kid. Some of the special effects could've been handled better, though.
All in all, it's not as bad as I was expecting. In fact, I really liked it a lot. Does it hold a candle to the original film? Not even close. But it's sure as hell is better than The Destroyer in every which way. So, I don't think people should have to worry about the new Conan film overshadowing the original. Schwarzenegger's film is probably the best sword-and-sandal movie of the past thirty-two years. Jason Momoa isn't changing that. But he's not the horrible mis-cast that people seem to think he is. Truth be told, there really is no-one in this world that has Conan's physique, not even Arnie. But Momoa's big enough, and has the physicality to really make it stick. This is a solid fantasy/horror flick. 8.5/10.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
127 Hours
In 2003, a hiker, Aron Ralston, went on a hiking trip in Moab, Utah. He found an isolated canyon to explore, and he ends up getting pinned to a boulder at the bottom of the canyon. Anyone who's read the story of Aron Ralston's story, or even heard of him, will know how it ends. This is probably the shortest plot synopsis I've ever written. But for a film and a story like this, it isn't necessarily just about the destination, it is the journey that matters, and in 127 Hours, we are with Aron Ralston every step of the way, through his 6 day ordeal. Directed by Danny Boyle(Sunshine, 28 Days Later, Slumdog Millionare), the film takes us on a journey with one man and his struggle to survive in one of the most isolated environments in the United States, with no hope of rescue.
127 Hours was based on a book written by Aron Ralston himself, so yes he survived his ordeal, but as I said earlier, it's more about how he survived that really matters. In many films based on "true stories," little respect is paid to the actual events. Here, the event IS the movie, and the one thing that makes this movie all the more powerful, is the performance of James Franco as Ralston. This is essentially a one-man movie, and James Franco delivers in every aspect. He's funny when he needs to be, and extremely intense when the situation calls for it. For example, the moment his character gets stuck, he stares at his hand and the boulder in complete disbelief. It's the small details that really help sell his performance. When he starts making his recordings, he's well aware that he never told anyone where he was going, which makes his predicament all the more harrowing. There are a few flashbacks here and there, but for the most part, it's all James Franco.
This film really isn't all that easy to sit through, as it's fairly claustrophobic. But it never drags, even though the film is centered on just the one guy stuck in the same spot for an hour and a half, it never goes by slowly. Especially when you start seeing Ralston begin to crack due to the lack of food and water. The way the film is edited makes it even more realistic, and when the moment of truth comes when Ralston has to lose his arm, you're so invested in his character that when you see it happen, you really feel bad for Ralston. That amputation scene gets pretty graphic, so beware.
Overall, this is a very solid and uplifting story of survival in the harshest of conditions. Danny Boyle has made an incredibly intense film and that intensity is amplified by James Franco in a performance that will be remembered for years to come. Most films based on true stories fall flat on their face, but 127 Hours shows complete respect for Aron Ralston and his story, and it simply is one of the best movies I've seen years. I give this one a perfect 10/10.
127 Hours was based on a book written by Aron Ralston himself, so yes he survived his ordeal, but as I said earlier, it's more about how he survived that really matters. In many films based on "true stories," little respect is paid to the actual events. Here, the event IS the movie, and the one thing that makes this movie all the more powerful, is the performance of James Franco as Ralston. This is essentially a one-man movie, and James Franco delivers in every aspect. He's funny when he needs to be, and extremely intense when the situation calls for it. For example, the moment his character gets stuck, he stares at his hand and the boulder in complete disbelief. It's the small details that really help sell his performance. When he starts making his recordings, he's well aware that he never told anyone where he was going, which makes his predicament all the more harrowing. There are a few flashbacks here and there, but for the most part, it's all James Franco.
This film really isn't all that easy to sit through, as it's fairly claustrophobic. But it never drags, even though the film is centered on just the one guy stuck in the same spot for an hour and a half, it never goes by slowly. Especially when you start seeing Ralston begin to crack due to the lack of food and water. The way the film is edited makes it even more realistic, and when the moment of truth comes when Ralston has to lose his arm, you're so invested in his character that when you see it happen, you really feel bad for Ralston. That amputation scene gets pretty graphic, so beware.
Overall, this is a very solid and uplifting story of survival in the harshest of conditions. Danny Boyle has made an incredibly intense film and that intensity is amplified by James Franco in a performance that will be remembered for years to come. Most films based on true stories fall flat on their face, but 127 Hours shows complete respect for Aron Ralston and his story, and it simply is one of the best movies I've seen years. I give this one a perfect 10/10.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Highlander 2
*Spoiler Warning*: For those that haven't seen the original Highlander, stop reading and go watch it now! I'm going to be writing details that spoil some of the plot of the first film.
In 1986, a little fantasy-adventure film was released. Highlander. It told the story of Connor McLeod(Christopher Lambert), a 500 year immortal who struggled to survive against other immortals from which only could survive. And the only way an immortal could die was to remove his head from his body. The power and knowledge of the vanquished warrior would then flow into the victor making him stronger. The film was critically panned in the United States, while it was more popular in Europe. Later, Highlander developed a cult following when it was released on video. Because of the following, Highlander got 4 live-action sequels, an Anime film, three series, a series of novels, and a canceled video game. The follow-up to Highlander, originally titled Highlander II: The Quickening, took place in the future, in the year 2024, when the world was encased in an energy shield designed to protect Earth from solar radiation. After winning the Prize at the end of the first Highlander, Connor MacLeod helps develop an energy shield in the year 1999 to protect the earth from solar radiation. In the original theatrical release Connor came from the Planet Zeist over 500 years ago. All immortals came from this planet. On the Planet Zeist, MacLeod, along with Ramirez(Sean Connery) helped lead a failed rebellion against the evil General Katana(Michael Ironside). Once captured they are exiled into the future. After a failed assassination attempt, Katana launches himself into the future to finish the job.
I mentioned in the previous paragraph that in the original theatrical release, immortals came from the planet Zeist. A subsequent home video release, dubbed the Renegade Version, excised all mention of Zeist, instead just informing the audience that immortals were exiled from the distant past. First of all, the whole Zeist thing was ridiculous portraying immortals as aliens, basically, and even in the Renegade Version of the film, the idea that immortals came from the past where there was advanced technology is really hard to swallow. Secondly, the overall plot of the film was very heavy-handed in terms of delivering an environmental message. It really slapped you in the face with it. The problems with Highlander 2 began long before they started filming. There were issues with the studio, financing, locations, it was a complete mess, I'm amazed the film ever got made. Russell Mulcahy is once again at the helm, and honestly does what he can with a piss-poor screenplay. A lot of the problems were seen on screen when the film was released. The Renegade Version did away with the whole Zeist idea, which was a good thing, but some of visual effects were really an eyesore, specifically regarding the energy shield. They had planned for it to be blue, but due to technological and financial restraints, they had to make it red. It was horrendous.
There was a second release of Highlander 2 on DVD and that was back in 2004. They re did a lot of the visual effects, and gave the shield it's blue color as originally intended. The new release also did away with unnecessary plot points and scenes, and as a result, made it a better film. Unfortunately, the problems that plagued the film early on simply couldn't be erased. Now, bearing all these problems in mind, I found the film to still be enjoyable because of the performances. The ones who steal the show are newcomers Michael Ironside and John C. McGinley, as Katana and corporate sleaze-bag extraordinaire, respectively. Christopher Lambert returns as Connor MacLeod with an inspired performance as a much older version of his character. Sean Connery also returns as Ramirez. Unfortunately Connery's character is reduced to buffoon status as a fish out of water-type, as his character ends up in the future with MacLeod, who summoned him(another ridiculous plot-point. There's a lot.) Michael Ironside's been one of my favorite actors for a long time and his performance in Highlander 2 is one of those reasons, he plays it over-the-top, but he is so much fun to watch. He chews the scenery like nothing else. One of the things that I should mention, is that Christopher Lambert did all of his own stunts in this film, which really makes things better as you can have close-ups.
Highlander 2 has issues. Big-time. There are plot holes so big you can drive the Death Star through. The story is ridiculously horrid, and in the original release of the film, some of the special effects were so bad that they could give you a head-ache. But, the 2004 re-release of the film fixes the problems with the special effects and the pacing of the film, but it still doesn't fix the other problems that I've mentioned. The real saving graces of the movie, are, as I've said, the performances. Michael Ironside steals the show completely. Some of the action scenes are fun, but sword-fights are far and few in-between which were the trademark of the previous film. As a direct follow-up to the original Highlander, this one falls flat on its face. As a generic sci-fi movie, it's not bad. The next two films in the series are better, but as to what degree, I won't say until I review them, which should be soon. But the worst film in the series is the fifth one, The Source. But I will be reviewing that one later, as well. For now, Highlander 2 gets a 7/10, and that's only because of Michael Ironside. Did I mention how much I like Michael Ironside? He's really awesome.
In 1986, a little fantasy-adventure film was released. Highlander. It told the story of Connor McLeod(Christopher Lambert), a 500 year immortal who struggled to survive against other immortals from which only could survive. And the only way an immortal could die was to remove his head from his body. The power and knowledge of the vanquished warrior would then flow into the victor making him stronger. The film was critically panned in the United States, while it was more popular in Europe. Later, Highlander developed a cult following when it was released on video. Because of the following, Highlander got 4 live-action sequels, an Anime film, three series, a series of novels, and a canceled video game. The follow-up to Highlander, originally titled Highlander II: The Quickening, took place in the future, in the year 2024, when the world was encased in an energy shield designed to protect Earth from solar radiation. After winning the Prize at the end of the first Highlander, Connor MacLeod helps develop an energy shield in the year 1999 to protect the earth from solar radiation. In the original theatrical release Connor came from the Planet Zeist over 500 years ago. All immortals came from this planet. On the Planet Zeist, MacLeod, along with Ramirez(Sean Connery) helped lead a failed rebellion against the evil General Katana(Michael Ironside). Once captured they are exiled into the future. After a failed assassination attempt, Katana launches himself into the future to finish the job.
I mentioned in the previous paragraph that in the original theatrical release, immortals came from the planet Zeist. A subsequent home video release, dubbed the Renegade Version, excised all mention of Zeist, instead just informing the audience that immortals were exiled from the distant past. First of all, the whole Zeist thing was ridiculous portraying immortals as aliens, basically, and even in the Renegade Version of the film, the idea that immortals came from the past where there was advanced technology is really hard to swallow. Secondly, the overall plot of the film was very heavy-handed in terms of delivering an environmental message. It really slapped you in the face with it. The problems with Highlander 2 began long before they started filming. There were issues with the studio, financing, locations, it was a complete mess, I'm amazed the film ever got made. Russell Mulcahy is once again at the helm, and honestly does what he can with a piss-poor screenplay. A lot of the problems were seen on screen when the film was released. The Renegade Version did away with the whole Zeist idea, which was a good thing, but some of visual effects were really an eyesore, specifically regarding the energy shield. They had planned for it to be blue, but due to technological and financial restraints, they had to make it red. It was horrendous.
There was a second release of Highlander 2 on DVD and that was back in 2004. They re did a lot of the visual effects, and gave the shield it's blue color as originally intended. The new release also did away with unnecessary plot points and scenes, and as a result, made it a better film. Unfortunately, the problems that plagued the film early on simply couldn't be erased. Now, bearing all these problems in mind, I found the film to still be enjoyable because of the performances. The ones who steal the show are newcomers Michael Ironside and John C. McGinley, as Katana and corporate sleaze-bag extraordinaire, respectively. Christopher Lambert returns as Connor MacLeod with an inspired performance as a much older version of his character. Sean Connery also returns as Ramirez. Unfortunately Connery's character is reduced to buffoon status as a fish out of water-type, as his character ends up in the future with MacLeod, who summoned him(another ridiculous plot-point. There's a lot.) Michael Ironside's been one of my favorite actors for a long time and his performance in Highlander 2 is one of those reasons, he plays it over-the-top, but he is so much fun to watch. He chews the scenery like nothing else. One of the things that I should mention, is that Christopher Lambert did all of his own stunts in this film, which really makes things better as you can have close-ups.
Highlander 2 has issues. Big-time. There are plot holes so big you can drive the Death Star through. The story is ridiculously horrid, and in the original release of the film, some of the special effects were so bad that they could give you a head-ache. But, the 2004 re-release of the film fixes the problems with the special effects and the pacing of the film, but it still doesn't fix the other problems that I've mentioned. The real saving graces of the movie, are, as I've said, the performances. Michael Ironside steals the show completely. Some of the action scenes are fun, but sword-fights are far and few in-between which were the trademark of the previous film. As a direct follow-up to the original Highlander, this one falls flat on its face. As a generic sci-fi movie, it's not bad. The next two films in the series are better, but as to what degree, I won't say until I review them, which should be soon. But the worst film in the series is the fifth one, The Source. But I will be reviewing that one later, as well. For now, Highlander 2 gets a 7/10, and that's only because of Michael Ironside. Did I mention how much I like Michael Ironside? He's really awesome.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Red Sonja
Sword and Sorcery films have been popular since Sinbad in the late 50s and early 60s, but it wasn't until the 80s that the sub-genre really exploded. In 1982, Conan The Barbarian was released and launched Arnold Schwarzenegger's film career. It also opened the floodgates for other movies in the genre, which included Krull, Conan The Destroyer, Red Sonja and Dragonslayer. None of those films had the same impact as Conan The Barbarian however. Conan The Destroyer wasn't as well received because it was held back by it's PG rating, and nonsensical story. Red Sonja was a flat out failure, as it didn't make HALF of what it cost to make. But Red Sonja is the film that I will be reviewing today.
The film opens in the aftermath of the murder of Red Sonja's(Brigitte Nielson) family and her being brutalized by the soldiers of the evil queen Gedren(Sandahl Bergman). Sonja is visited by a spirit, giving her the strength to finally seek revenge. Elsewhere, in a temple, priestesses guarding a mystical talisman are preparing to destroy it, when they are attacked by Gedren's forces, led by Ikol(the late Ronald Lacey). One of the priestesses escapes and is shot by one of Gedren's guards, who happen to be dispatched by Lord Kalidor(Arnold Schwarzenegger). Kalidor finds Sonja training at a nearby temple and is brought back to her sister, who later dies. Sonja then embarks on a quest to destroy the Talisman and Gedren. On the way, she meets a spoiled prince, Tarn(Ernie Reyes, Jr.) and his servant, the noble Falkon(Paul Smith). First thing's first, the story isn't original, and nor is it very good. The talisman is nothing more than a MacGuffin to get Sonja and her friends moving. We don't even get a taste of the talisman's full power, just some of the aftermath. Not only that, only women can touch it. Why is that? When a man touches it, he turns neon-green and then disappears. That's just one of the major plotholes that you'll discover throughout the film. The acting is flat out terrible. Nielson and Bergman are particularly awful. Which is strange, because I really liked Bergman in Conan The Barbarian. Schwarzenegger is just being himself basically, but it looks like he's having lots of fun. Ernie Reyes, Jr., who would later go to became a master of the martial arts as well as an actor/stunt man, ended up being pretty annoying in this film. Not really his fault, as that's the way the character was written. Reyes does get to showcase some of his martial arts abilities, which are actually fairly impressive for his age. The fight scenes that he's involved with are actually not to bad, it's just that there aren't really enough of them.
Speaking of the fight scenes, aside from Ernie Reyes, Jr., the fight scenes are fairly generic. Not bad, but nothing to really scream about either. Schwarzenegger's just doing his Conan stuff, and the fight between Gedren and Sonja runs a little too long. Paul Smith is really fun to watch though, he has a huge club made out of bone that he uses, which adds humor to his fight scenes. Truth be told, this is a bad movie, it's an even worse genre film, and yet, there's something strangely charming about the whole thing. It was made with the best intentions, which you can tell from some of the acting and other scenes, but it was just poorly executed. Some of the actors went on to have solid careers, Schwarzenegger was already a superstar because of The Terminator, and Ernie Reyes went on to star in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II and Surf Ninjas. The others? Not so much. Sandahl Bergman and Brigitte Nielson, both of whom were very beautiful at the time, especially in this film, just didn't really make it big.
As much as Red Sonja deserves the criticism that it got for it's silliness, I still found it to be an entertaining movie. Swords, sorcery, beautiful women, Arnold Schwarzenegger swinging a sword. It's still a great combination. Even in a bad movie. I still love it though. I give it a solid 8/10.
The film opens in the aftermath of the murder of Red Sonja's(Brigitte Nielson) family and her being brutalized by the soldiers of the evil queen Gedren(Sandahl Bergman). Sonja is visited by a spirit, giving her the strength to finally seek revenge. Elsewhere, in a temple, priestesses guarding a mystical talisman are preparing to destroy it, when they are attacked by Gedren's forces, led by Ikol(the late Ronald Lacey). One of the priestesses escapes and is shot by one of Gedren's guards, who happen to be dispatched by Lord Kalidor(Arnold Schwarzenegger). Kalidor finds Sonja training at a nearby temple and is brought back to her sister, who later dies. Sonja then embarks on a quest to destroy the Talisman and Gedren. On the way, she meets a spoiled prince, Tarn(Ernie Reyes, Jr.) and his servant, the noble Falkon(Paul Smith). First thing's first, the story isn't original, and nor is it very good. The talisman is nothing more than a MacGuffin to get Sonja and her friends moving. We don't even get a taste of the talisman's full power, just some of the aftermath. Not only that, only women can touch it. Why is that? When a man touches it, he turns neon-green and then disappears. That's just one of the major plotholes that you'll discover throughout the film. The acting is flat out terrible. Nielson and Bergman are particularly awful. Which is strange, because I really liked Bergman in Conan The Barbarian. Schwarzenegger is just being himself basically, but it looks like he's having lots of fun. Ernie Reyes, Jr., who would later go to became a master of the martial arts as well as an actor/stunt man, ended up being pretty annoying in this film. Not really his fault, as that's the way the character was written. Reyes does get to showcase some of his martial arts abilities, which are actually fairly impressive for his age. The fight scenes that he's involved with are actually not to bad, it's just that there aren't really enough of them.
Speaking of the fight scenes, aside from Ernie Reyes, Jr., the fight scenes are fairly generic. Not bad, but nothing to really scream about either. Schwarzenegger's just doing his Conan stuff, and the fight between Gedren and Sonja runs a little too long. Paul Smith is really fun to watch though, he has a huge club made out of bone that he uses, which adds humor to his fight scenes. Truth be told, this is a bad movie, it's an even worse genre film, and yet, there's something strangely charming about the whole thing. It was made with the best intentions, which you can tell from some of the acting and other scenes, but it was just poorly executed. Some of the actors went on to have solid careers, Schwarzenegger was already a superstar because of The Terminator, and Ernie Reyes went on to star in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II and Surf Ninjas. The others? Not so much. Sandahl Bergman and Brigitte Nielson, both of whom were very beautiful at the time, especially in this film, just didn't really make it big.
As much as Red Sonja deserves the criticism that it got for it's silliness, I still found it to be an entertaining movie. Swords, sorcery, beautiful women, Arnold Schwarzenegger swinging a sword. It's still a great combination. Even in a bad movie. I still love it though. I give it a solid 8/10.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Highlander
In 1986, a young unknown director named Russell Mulcahy released Highlander, to really poor fanfare in the United States, but widely accepted and praised in Europe and other territories. Theatrically, it's performance in the States was a disaster, but it quickly developed a cult following on home video that would launch it's main star, Christopher Lambert to superstar status. Highlander eventually spawned three spin-off series, including one that starred Adrian Paul who would go on to star in two Highlander film sequels, as a member of the Clan MacLeod. It also spawned four sequels, one of them was straight-to-video, and one Anime film.
Connor MacLeod(Christopher Lambert) was born in 1518 in the village of Glen Finnen on the shores of Loch Shiel. Mortally wounded in battle against a rival clan, by the Kurgan(Clancy Brown), Connor returns to life only to be driven away by those he loved. In exile, he is discovered and trained by Jaun-Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez(Sean Connery), a 3,000 year old immortal. Turns out that Connor MacLeod is also an immortal. Fast-forward to 1986 in modern-day New York City, Connor is living under a different name, Russell Nash. He is being hunted by The Kurgan, also immortal. Turns out that through time immortals have been fighting each other to be the last one standing. The only way an immortal can die is by decapitation. As an immortal dies, his power and his knowledge flow into the victor and makes them stronger, and blowing shit up in the process. In the end, only one immortal is supposed to survive. Should that last immortal be someone like the Kurgan, mankind will suffer eternal damnation.
For a modern-day fantasy film, Highlander has a fairly complex story. There's a bunch of subplots that are integral to the main plot. It's actually very well written and intelligent. This movie got ripped to shreds when it was released in the States in 1986. I guess people that it was very strange to have sword-fights in New York city, coupled with the fact that you have immortals that can only die by decapitation, which made it a fairly violent movie. Not only that, there were flashbacks to Connor's earlier life as a member of the Clan MacLeod, which seemed to confuse people, but I thought it made sense, and worked in context with the overall story. It helped to explain where Connor came from and how he ended up where he is. The acting in this film is really good, especially from the three main leads. Christopher Lambert shines as Connor MacLeod, a man who can't seem to escape his past. Sean Connery is splendid as Ramirez, the immortal who takes Connor under his and teaches him to survive. Connery, best known as James Bond, brings and elegant and commanding presence as the 3,000 year old Egyptian metallurgist to King Charles V of Spain. His introduction is awesome. But the one actor who really steals the show in Highlander is Clancy Brown as the Kurgan. This guy knows how to really amp up the villain factor, he plays it very over-the-top, and it works, as the Kurgan is frightening AND funny at the same time. He also wields a broadsword that would make Conan the Barbarian jealous. It's very clear that Brown is having a lot of fun with his character, and it really helps sell the character as one of the most memorable villains in movie history.
The fight scenes, for the time back in '86, were fairly well done, from the opening sword fight beneath Madison Square Garden to the climactic battle between the Kurgan and Connor MacLeod. It doesn't stand up as well today, as today's sword fights are faster, better choreographed, and sometimes far more brutal, but there's a fun time to be had watching those sword fights. The other thing that really stands out about this film is the soundtrack. It's not just the fantastic score by the late Michael Kamen, but also the fact that the legendary rock band, Queen had a direct hand in the making of the music of the film. The opening song, Princes of the Universe, is incredible powerful and helps set the tone for the film. Some of the other songs are more somber and really amp up the moods in those scenes.
As I said before, this film was a disaster, critically in the United States, when it was released, but over time when it hit home video, it took on a life of its own, and became really popular and accepted. So much so, that four sequels were spawned: Highlander II, The Final Dimension, Endgame, and The Source. An anime film was also released several years back, The Search for Vengeance. There were three series, that spun off on the mythology of the film. One series starred Adrian Paul, and lasted for six seasons, that series had it's own spin-off, The Raven, which didn't even last a full season, and a cartoon, The Animated Series, which was pretty horrendous. There was actually supposed to be a game released a few years back, and it never did, and most likely never will. The series with Adrian Paul, as well as the anime film, were close to achieving the magic that the original Highlander had. The rest of them didn't even come close. Highlander: Endgame I felt was the only live action film, that was worthy of being a true sequel to Highlander, but even then it had it's problems. But that's another film for another day.
Coming back to the original film, I have to give it a solid 9/10. Some of it doesn't stand up nearly as well after such a long period of time, but the performances of Clancy Brown, Sean Connery and Christopher Lambert, as well as a complex story with unique characters, more than makes up for it. If you must own a Highlander film, it has to be the original, because in the end, there can be only one.
Connor MacLeod(Christopher Lambert) was born in 1518 in the village of Glen Finnen on the shores of Loch Shiel. Mortally wounded in battle against a rival clan, by the Kurgan(Clancy Brown), Connor returns to life only to be driven away by those he loved. In exile, he is discovered and trained by Jaun-Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez(Sean Connery), a 3,000 year old immortal. Turns out that Connor MacLeod is also an immortal. Fast-forward to 1986 in modern-day New York City, Connor is living under a different name, Russell Nash. He is being hunted by The Kurgan, also immortal. Turns out that through time immortals have been fighting each other to be the last one standing. The only way an immortal can die is by decapitation. As an immortal dies, his power and his knowledge flow into the victor and makes them stronger, and blowing shit up in the process. In the end, only one immortal is supposed to survive. Should that last immortal be someone like the Kurgan, mankind will suffer eternal damnation.
For a modern-day fantasy film, Highlander has a fairly complex story. There's a bunch of subplots that are integral to the main plot. It's actually very well written and intelligent. This movie got ripped to shreds when it was released in the States in 1986. I guess people that it was very strange to have sword-fights in New York city, coupled with the fact that you have immortals that can only die by decapitation, which made it a fairly violent movie. Not only that, there were flashbacks to Connor's earlier life as a member of the Clan MacLeod, which seemed to confuse people, but I thought it made sense, and worked in context with the overall story. It helped to explain where Connor came from and how he ended up where he is. The acting in this film is really good, especially from the three main leads. Christopher Lambert shines as Connor MacLeod, a man who can't seem to escape his past. Sean Connery is splendid as Ramirez, the immortal who takes Connor under his and teaches him to survive. Connery, best known as James Bond, brings and elegant and commanding presence as the 3,000 year old Egyptian metallurgist to King Charles V of Spain. His introduction is awesome. But the one actor who really steals the show in Highlander is Clancy Brown as the Kurgan. This guy knows how to really amp up the villain factor, he plays it very over-the-top, and it works, as the Kurgan is frightening AND funny at the same time. He also wields a broadsword that would make Conan the Barbarian jealous. It's very clear that Brown is having a lot of fun with his character, and it really helps sell the character as one of the most memorable villains in movie history.
The fight scenes, for the time back in '86, were fairly well done, from the opening sword fight beneath Madison Square Garden to the climactic battle between the Kurgan and Connor MacLeod. It doesn't stand up as well today, as today's sword fights are faster, better choreographed, and sometimes far more brutal, but there's a fun time to be had watching those sword fights. The other thing that really stands out about this film is the soundtrack. It's not just the fantastic score by the late Michael Kamen, but also the fact that the legendary rock band, Queen had a direct hand in the making of the music of the film. The opening song, Princes of the Universe, is incredible powerful and helps set the tone for the film. Some of the other songs are more somber and really amp up the moods in those scenes.
As I said before, this film was a disaster, critically in the United States, when it was released, but over time when it hit home video, it took on a life of its own, and became really popular and accepted. So much so, that four sequels were spawned: Highlander II, The Final Dimension, Endgame, and The Source. An anime film was also released several years back, The Search for Vengeance. There were three series, that spun off on the mythology of the film. One series starred Adrian Paul, and lasted for six seasons, that series had it's own spin-off, The Raven, which didn't even last a full season, and a cartoon, The Animated Series, which was pretty horrendous. There was actually supposed to be a game released a few years back, and it never did, and most likely never will. The series with Adrian Paul, as well as the anime film, were close to achieving the magic that the original Highlander had. The rest of them didn't even come close. Highlander: Endgame I felt was the only live action film, that was worthy of being a true sequel to Highlander, but even then it had it's problems. But that's another film for another day.
Coming back to the original film, I have to give it a solid 9/10. Some of it doesn't stand up nearly as well after such a long period of time, but the performances of Clancy Brown, Sean Connery and Christopher Lambert, as well as a complex story with unique characters, more than makes up for it. If you must own a Highlander film, it has to be the original, because in the end, there can be only one.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
DeepStar Six
"There's something in the airlock!" 1989 was the year of the underwater monster movie. That year we saw the release of George P. Cosmatos's Leviathan, DeepStar Six, and last not but least, James Cameron's The Abyss. Out of all those films released that year, the only one that really garnered attention and did extremely well was The Abyss. And why not? It was helmed by legendary James Cameron who had directed Aliens and The Terminator before it. It also had the benefit of big-name actors such as Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. The other movies? Leviathan and DeepStar Six. DeepStar Six ended up flopping big time, and didn't reach cult status like Leviathan did. I'm going to review DeepStar Six for this post.
In the near future, the United States has established a top-secret base at the bottom of the ocean. The purpose is two-fold. One: To see if a permanent colony can be established in the deep. Two: Securing nuclear missiles. The scientists discover a gigantic cavern beneath the missile site, and opt to collapse it to place the missiles. However, something has been unleashed from the cavern and threatens the crew of DeepStar Six. It's a simple setup. Nothing too fancy, right? It's nothing original, we've seen it before. The film opens as a shift change happens and scientists swap positions from the main DeepStar complex and the SeaTrack laboratory. Eventually the scientists in the lab discover immense caverns beneath the missile site, and yet the scientist in charge, orders them to be collapsed. This is among the first of stupid decisions made in this film, and there are a lot of them. That can be attributed to the fact that the script is half-baked. Basically, the caverns are blown up and some kind of sea monster is released and terrorizes everyone, and because of dumb decisions, people die. If you have to abandon nuclear missiles at the bottom of the ocean, you DON'T NEED TO DETONATE THEM! One of the people in the base, Snyder(Miguel Ferrer), when asked to secure the missile sled, says, "It's not like people are going to swim down and steal them." Afterwards, chaos ensues and they have to find a way to get out of the base before it explodes too, because it's also a nuclear bomb, in a manner of speaking. Chaos ensues and people die.
As for the creature itself? Not very original. It looks like an over-sized lobster. And only two people are actually directly killed by it. Truth be told, when the creature actually shows itself, it's not too bad, as you don't see the whole thing. But then again, it's pretty static, as in it really doesn't move anywhere when it shows itself. It seems I'm really down on this movie doesn't it? Fact is, I had a lot of fun with it. And I'll tell you why. One, it's directed by Sean S. Cunningham of Friday the 13th, and it's well-acted. The three standouts are Taurean Blacque(Laidlaw), Miguel Ferrer(Snyder), and Matt McCoy(Richardson). Despite the crappy dialogue and script, these people give their best, particularly Ferrer, who's got playing a weasel down pat. He does it extremely well. Don't believe me? Check out RoboCop. Three, it moves at a decent clip. Granted, the shit doesn't hit the fan until about thirty minutes in, but it's still fun to watch the interactions between the characters.
Some of the problems I've mentioned are also attributed to the fact that there is another movie with almost the same setup, Leviathan. And I will admit that Leviathan is the better film in every aspect. But DeepStar Six is good old-fashioned movie monster fun, that may not be the best, but it certainly isn't the worst, and I find it's very fun. I give it a solid 8/10.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Lord of the Rings Trilogy: The Fellowship of the Ring
In my first review of the Lord of the Rings on Blu-Ray, I discussed the merits of the Blu-Ray copies of the films. In this post, I will review the films themselves, and these will be the theatrical releases, not the Extended Versions. Not yet anyway. But anyway...here we go:
The Fellowship of the Ring
"One ring to rule them all. One ring to find them. One ring to bring them all, and in the darkness, bind them." In 2001, New Line Cinema in association with Wing Nut Films released the first film in the epic Lord of the Rings Trilogy, created by J.R.R Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring. The film opens as men, dwarves and elves were given rings of power, by the Dark Lord Sauron. In secret, he forges a master ring, the One Ring, through which he gains control over all others. The world of Middle Earth is plunged into darkness as the lands fall to the power of the dark lord. But there was resistance; a Last Alliance of men and elves challenged Sauron at the foot of Mount Doom, in the land of Mordor. The king of Gondor was killed in battle, but his son, Isildur, took up his father's sword, and cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand. Isildur took the One Ring as his own. Eventually, the ring betrayed Isildur and he was killed in an ambush by orcs. The ring was lost for 2,500 years, until it was picked up by a creature named Gollum. The ring kept Gollum alive for 500 years, biding its time. It eventually abandoned Gollum only to end up in the hands of a Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins(Sir Ian Holm). Rumors of Sauron's fortress of Barad Dur being rebuilt in the land of Mordor persisted. As it turns out, when Sauron created the One Ring, he bound his life force to the ring, and it survived because of Isildur. Sauron has returned and seeks the One Ring to destroy the world. Enter Frodo Baggins(Elijah Wood), Samwise Gamgee(Sean Astin), and Gandalf The Grey(Sir Ian McKellen). They set out to find a safe place where the One Ring can be hidden from Sauron.
There's a lot that's going on the first 40 minutes when The Fellowship of the Rings opens. The story gets complicated as the characters themselves are complex and fallible, which makes them easier to relate to, particularly the Hobbits played by Elijah Wood(Frodo), Sean Astin(Samwise Gamgee), Dominic Monaghan(Merry), and Billy Boyd(Pippin). They get thrown into situations that's way above and beyond what they are used to dealing with, and we see them afraid and eventually find their courage. This is helped in part by Ian McKellan's character of Gandalf, a wizard who takes a liking to the Hobbits of the Shire(as well as their leaves, which they love to smoke), and Aragorn(Viggo Mortensen), a ranger that is truly more than he appears. They eventually find their way to Rivendell, home of the Elven Lord Elrond(Hugo Weaving) and his daughter, Arwen(Liv Tyler). It is eventually decided that the One Ring must be destroyed, and the only way to do that is to take it back to Mount Doom, and throw it into the fire that created it. A Fellowship of nine is created, which includes four hobbits, Gandalf, Aragorn, Boromir of Gondor(Sean Bean), the elf Legolas(Orlando Bloom), and the Dwarf, Gimli(John-Rhys Davies). Not only do they have to avoid Sauron's forces, but also Saruman(Sir Christopher Lee)as well.
As I said, the story gets more complicated as the film and trilogy continue, but The Fellowship establishes the world of Middle Earth and the principle characters, both good and evil. It also shows how easily men are corrupted as the One Ring slowly drives Boromir insane, and threatens to destroy the group from within. The film is very well acted on all sides, especially Elijah Wood, whom I never would of suspected of playing a Hobbit. But he was the right person for that role. Sir Ian McKellen was a revelation as Gandalf. As soon as you first see him, you don't see Ian McKellen, you see Gandalf, that's how much he embodies the role. Same goes for Viggo Mortensen, who plays Aragorn. On the villain side, you've got Christopher Lee, who is known for playing villains, specifically Dracula. But he brings a gravitas to the role that is menacing. And he does it very well. He starts out as a good guy, but eventually betrays Gandalf and basically everybody else for his own selfish desires. The themes of betrayal, love, courage and loss are well-represented here, especially in the third act of the film.
What I love about The Lord of the Rings is the complexity of the stories and the fact that Tolkien invented two separate languages specifically for his stories that take place in Middle Earth. THAT is dedication, but it works beautifully on screen. The action sequences are amazing, from the opening epic battle sequence at the foot of Mount Doom to the final fight with the Uruk Hai, on the river of Argonath. The CGI effects were fantastic back in 2001, and they still are. But one of the biggest things I love about the Lord of the Rings is the landscape of Middle Earth. The Lord of the Rings films were shot in New Zealand, and it's simply stunning. Watching the films, it's as though you're looking AT Middle Earth, aside from some matte paintings and such, it was all filmed on location. At nearly three hours*, it still doesn't feel too long as it's paced perfectly. Peter Jackson has done an incredible job with these films. I'll review The Two Towers and The Return of the King in separate posts. But I will get to them. I give The Fellowship of the Ring a perfect 10/10.
*This is the theatrical cut of the film, the extended version runs a half-hour longer. I will review the extended films at a later date.
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