Time to get used to the new fórum, let’s go stop complaining life is made of change
Alatriste - 2006 - Agustin Diaz Yanes
Based in a well known novel in Spain that is, Alatriste is one of those films that I usually categorize as interesting films, not that can be considered a good film, but interesting at least in historical terms-
Mortensen is actor with a strong screen presence, and he’s perfect playing the “tired hero” (as he’s called in the books). Captain Diego Alatriste a veteran of the Spanish Flemish wars who returns home to become a gun for hire, that for the right price could even killed your enemies, not a nice character but still there’s something of quixotesc even that unique Iberian fatality, that in the end will appeal to the viewer.
Ok turning a novel with five chapters (until now), into a film or a mini series (almost three hours), not an easy task, the film sometimes is a bit confusing with too many characters, but if you want to know something of 17th century Spain, as a change at least not a bad choice.
One or maybe the most expensive Spanish cinema production of all time
It was interesting to watch Brosnan being a bad guy in this but still, this was really awful, even for an action flix. It was like watching a long episode of NCIS or something similar, totally predictable and at the same time completely unrealistic.Pffft!
La casa de las mujeres perdidas (1983)
-Weird perverted sex film. An ex-actor lives on isolated island with his wife and 2 daughters,one retarded, other sexually frustrated (Lina, masturbating constantly of course). Lina who was around 30 at the time of filming (and gained a bit weight from her blooming days of early 70’s) is supposed to be 18 years or so which doesn’t look credible at all. Tediously boring film which is a pity because film also has a certain dark and should i say deviant mood at times.
Exorcism (1975)
-Jess plays the lead role himself for change in this nasty piece of sleaze as a insane religious serial killer who thinks he can exorcise the evil out of people who are attending (false) black masses and orgies. Title scene has naked Lina tied to a cross while other girl whips and tortures her in front of the audience. Amazing footage!
It was quite good. Stephen Thrower describes it in his book as a pivotal film in Franco’s career and writes he wanted Vincent Price to play the lead role. That would have been something. But Jess is actually really good here.
The Punch Bowl (1944) - A German cult movie very popular before X-Mas
“Hans Pfeiffer and some of his friends are drinking “Feuerzangenbowle”.
Talking about their school-time they discover that Hans never was at a
regular school and so, as they think, missed an important part of his
youth. They decide to send him back to school to do all the things he
never could do before”
One of the many recent action vehicles starring Liam Neeson, a bit (but only a bit) different from the others. He’s not a CIA veteran this time, but a professor with partial memory loss after a car accident in Berlin (where he was supposed to visit a biotechnology meeting), and instead of a straightforward action flick, Unknown plays more like a paranoia thriller. When trying to piece things together, Neeson discovers that another person has taken his identity (and his wife). What is going on?
The credibility factor is low from the start but director Collet-Serra handles the paranoia theme rather well and Neeson adds a necessary emotional note to theme of a man who is robbed from the only certainty we all seem to have: that we’re we. But a good a premise and a good start don’t make a good movie. As the whole thing progresses, it becomes more and more preposterous, a string of implausible plot twists. And yes, Liam eventually becomes an invincible action hero once again. Nice cameos by Bruno Ganz and Frank Langella can’t save it, but indiscriminating fans of action and mystery might still like it.
I’ve got this on my Amazon wish list. I haven’t seen it since it was a newly rentable VHS tape in, what, 1984-ish? I still remember it through my 12-year-old-boy eyes, so I can only recall it as being bloody excellent, but I’ve got a feeling that’s probably not the cold truth of the matter.
Yeah a Halloween too late. Anyway I had to check the title twice, didn’t had Michael Myers in it, after a few research I understood why it didn’t, Myers was “dead” so it was time to move on.
Well the film isn’t that bad, better than some of the Halloween sequels, got that 80’s taste with an usual but specially good Carpenter soundtrack, vevry melodic with creepy freezing feeling.
The plot is weird but interesting seems more like science fiction mixed with terror, and the ending is strange, quite strange.
I’m really not a great fan of Tom Atkins, but he’s not bad as the unsual hero, the villain played by TV habitue actor Dan O’Herling really steals the show, great villain form the nasty kind
