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Death
Proof
Cert: 18
Starring: Kurt
Russell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Rose
McGowan
Director: Quentin
Tarantino
Running Time: 114
minutes |
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Tarentino’s
latest offering revolves around psychopathic stuntman Mike
(played by Kurt Russell), who has a more unusual approach to
dispatching his victims.
With his vintage Doge Charger modified not just for speed but
also to withstand an extreme collision, the maniacal driver himself
always emerges relatively unscathed. But the same cannot be said
for his passengers or anyone unfortunate enough to be on the
road at the same time.
As an up and coming DJ Jungle Julia (played by Sydney Tamiia
Poitier) and her friends hit town many heads and hearts are turned.
But not all the attention can be said to be good, as Mike begins
to see his next set of victims. The problem for him is that these
girls may put up more of a fight than he expects.
Fans of Quentin Tarentino will probably already recognise this
film as one part of the two movie shorts from the film titled ‘Grindhouse’ (which
he made in collaboration with Robert Rodriguez.) Part of the
idea behind that movie was to turn both the shorts that the two
directors made into independent movies, the first of which is
Death Proof.
The way in which the film has been put together tends to lead
to one problem, and that is you feel as if you’re watching
two separate shorts. Although the story line does flow it tends
to drag a little making the film a little long both for the plot
and the dialogue. The over all effect though is what Tarentino
set out to do, which was to produce a tribute to the 70’s
low budget movies.
The bottom line is if you go to see this expecting to see a sharply
filmed modern thriller you will be disappointed, but if you love
those old ‘B’ movies (or are just a Tarentino fan)
you will probably find it entertaining. |
The
Brave One
Cert: 18
Starring: Jodie
Foster, Terrence Howard, Naveen Andrews, Mary
Steenburgen, Jane Adams
Director: Neil
Jordan
Running
Time: 122
minutes
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Erica
Bain (played by Jodie Foster) is a Manhattan radio host
living her ideal life.
But that is soon changed when she and her boyfriend are victims
of horrific assault. When she awakes from her coma she finds
that her boyfriend has died, and Erica has to now find a
way to overcome the fear
and grief.
In a frightened attempt to protect herself, our heroine buys
an illegal gun and ammunition, but the first time she uses
the weapon Erica becomes a changed woman. No longer so afraid
she considers perhaps the best way to confront her fears
is to no longer be the victim!
It is after all a very familiar story line and does share
some similarities with the well known Charles Bronson movie ‘Death
Wish’, but with that aside the movie is well cast and
Neil Jordan’s direction gives it a smooth flow.
Jodie Foster and Terrance Howard (playing Sean Mercer a homicide
detective who Erica befriends) both manage to give extra
depth to the characters they play, helping the storyline
and aiding you understand how Erica is uncomfortable with
whom she is becoming. It is the ending that may leave some
people a little frustrated, as it does seem a little to loose,
but overall it is well presented and is entertaining. If
you’re in the mood for an older style action thriller
it could well be worth a watch. |
Halloween
Cert: 18
Starring: Malcolm
McDowell, Sheri Moon Zombie, Tyler Mane, Scout
Taylor-Compton, Brad Dourif_Danielle Harris,
William Forsythe, Daeg Faerch, Hanna Hall,
Danny Trejo, Udo Kier
Director: Rob
Zombie
Running
Time: 109
minutes
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With
Rob Zombie’s eagerness to prove himself as a horror
director, he has turned to remaking the 1978 John Carpenter
classic ‘Halloween‘.
Opening with a young Michael (played by Daegh Faerch) we
see home life is far from pleasant, and when also picked
on at school the young boy decides to seek his own revenge
at Halloween. For his actions he is placed in an asylum under
the care of noted child behaviourist Dr Samuel Loomis (played
by Malcolm McDowell). But seventeen years later with no improvement
Michael escapes, and the good doctor needs the help of the
local town police chief to stop his new rain of terror.
Its is always a difficult task to remake a well know film,
and the director has tried to add something new by telling
us more of Michael’s past as a young boy (and Faerch
does give some good performances here).
It is certainly grittier and more gory than the original,
but not as scary as it lacks in building the tension. In
all it is an improvement on many of the other ‘Halloween’ follow
ups we have had. As long horror fans watch it with an open
mind (as many will already know the story line), and not
expect too much from the movie they will probably enjoy it. |
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