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Ai nu (1972)
She doesn't want a confession, she wants their lives.
'Intimate Confessions Of A Chinese Courtesan (1972)' isn't a typical Shaw Brothers picture. Although its wider narrative arc and colourful period aesthetic fit neatly within the studio's oeuvre, its content is far more unsettling. Focusing on a young woman who is kidnapped and forced into prostitution, the film has no hesitation about unsettling its audience. Our hero is imprisoned, beaten, raped and generally forced to do things she doesn't want to do. It's genuinely hard to stomach at times, and even the freeze frames that accompany the most graphic moments of abuse do little to dilute their distressing nature. The piece really does act as a damnation of its central situation, displaying the unfortunate reality of the world's oldest profession. Crucially, though, it isn't against sex work itself, at least not explicitly. Instead, its issues are solely with non-consensual sex work, as evidenced by the fact that it doesn't judge the protagonist for eventually reclaiming her sexuality and using it as a weapon against those who have wronged her. It's a fairly refreshing take, especially for something this old, that goes hand-in-hand with the film's relatively open-minded depiction of same-sex attraction. While the only lesbian in the movie is the evil brothel overseer who becomes infatuated with the lead, she isn't the bad guy because she's gay, she's a bad guy who just so happens to be gay; a significant distinction that honestly may not even be intentional on the part of the filmmakers.
Eventually, it becomes clear that our hero has a plan in place to get the sweet, sweet vengeance she so deserves. To execute this plan, she plays into her predicament and uses the lust of those she seeks to destroy against them. She doesn't wait for someone to save her, she saves herself - or, rather, enables herself to get her hands bloody enough that she can find some sort of internal peace. It's here where the film starts to get a little more conventional, but even the most tried-and-tested of its genre beats hit just a little differently due to the context in which they're used. What starts out as a fairly slow, one-by-one kind of thing soon escalates into all-out carnage, and the jaw-dropping final act is a cathartic cacophony of chaos soaked in so much blood you'd be forgiven for thinking you were watching a pulpy Kung fu flick from much later in the genre's cycle. The choreography is as impressive as you'd expect from a Shaw Brothers production, but it's slightly more blunt and even scrappy so that it better meshes with the generally brutal nature of the overall film. The camerawork takes a similarly gritty approach, often favouring tighter compositions and even making use of some handheld shots. It makes use of elegant wirework to give its protagonist a somewhat otherworldly feel, almost like she's a ghost who has returned to haunt - or, rather, claim the souls of - those who killed her (perhaps, and this is purposefully reaching, this implies that her spirit, her true self, died when she was sold into sexual slavery and robbed of the life she could have lived). Somehow, these stylised fight scenes don't clash with the affair's dark tone and heavy subject matter, and they're honestly really satisfying in their own gruesome way because we don't have an ounce of sympathy for the baddies our hero is so effectively slicing up. The picture's ultimate conclusions about the indiscriminately destructive nature of revenge feel like something out of a late-stage martial arts movie, which tended to be more nihilistic than their predecessors. The picture is utterly devoid of hope, because even if the lead achieves her goal of killing those who harmed her, she's been irrevocably damaged and entirely consumed by a drive for vengeance. Love and hate have become tangled together, both used solely for murderous purposes, and there's a sense that even the hero has no real concept of coming out of this... well, I would say "unscathed" but perhaps "at all" is better.
I haven't even mentioned yet that the fact that the flick has a female protagonist, let alone one who is never saved by a man, is extremely commendable (especially for the era). While she is placed in sexual situations and treated as an object by those in the film, none of those scenes are even accidentally titillating (there's no on-screen nudity from the main actor) and it's clear that the movie itself does not condone the behavior it's depicting. The lead is a fully fledged character with her own arc and no need to take the moral high ground, every bit as complex and capable as any of her male counterparts in other Kung fu flicks from the time.
Overall, this is a distinct and affecting feature that doesn't feel overly distasteful despite its odd, potentially discordant mixture of genre and subject matter. It makes you uncomfortable, but it doesn't do it for the wrong reasons. It feels ahead of its time in most ways that matter. Blending beautiful on-set scenery and costuming with vicious violence of the most despicable nature, it sheds light on the realities of an industry often glossed over by films of its kind while also delivering on the cathartic Kung fu excellence you'd expect from those same films, all while somehow feeling cohesive.
It isn't perfect, though. The middle portion of the picture is a lot slower than it could have been, but it also speeds through an important transitional period in its protagonist's journey. There is a somewhat unrefined repetition that occurs when its in media res opening is finally caught up to, and some of the background performers who appear nude or semi-nude look uncomfortably young (especially three courtesans who appear in a four-way sex scene later on in the story and genuinely don't seem to have been eighteen at the time of filming based on what little information I can gleam from IMDb). There is also the occasional bit of clumsy choreography that feels like it could have been nailed if just one more take were to have been done.
Still, this is an unconventional and engaging effort that really does have one heck of a climactic massacre. If you can stomach its brutality, it's worth watching.
Ren zhe wu di (1982)
I think I'm seeing quintuple here...
'Five Element Ninjas (1982)' is a Kung fu flick about a martial arts school whose best fighters win a tournament and, in the process, cause a Japanese opponent to commit Seppuku. The man's fellow fighters send a letter to one of his allies back in Japan, an ally who just so happens to be a master ninja and leader of the eponymous five element ninja clans. Naturally, the ninjas make their way to China to avenge their fallen friend, and their mysterious martial arts skills prove to be very challenging to overcome. That's the basic set-up, even if the synopsis spoils a lot more of the narrative, and what follows is a nuts-and-bolts - but no less effective for it - revenge thriller with sequences of sometimes startlingly brutal combat and an unexpectedly nihilistic vibe. The five element ninja factions all use different methods to defeat their foes. For example, the gold ninjas use copper (?) hats to blind their opponents, the wood ninjas disguise themselves as trees, the water ninjas hide (you guessed it) underwater, the fire ninjas cloud the battlefield with smoke before striking with flaming swords, and the earth ninjas attack from beneath the ground. Each clan has several more tricks up its sleeve, but their common theme is to surprise and disorient their opponents before they viciously carve them to pieces. There are also regular ninjas who can silently infiltrate even the most heavily guarded of places, and they strike with ruthless efficiency using claws and iron fists and daggers and all manner of deadly instruments. They aren't interested in fighting fair and it's this that gives them their greatest advantage over the more traditional Chinese martial artists comprising the film's heroic side. Even though it is essentially a China vs Japan affair and there is an undercurrent of Ninjutsu being less honorable than Kung fu, the flick doesn't really feel interested in the kind of jingoism so often present in its peers (some martial arts movies are literally anti-Japanese propaganda pieces). It isn't really interested in the political implications of its premise, more so in pitting two different styles of combat against each other and making a broad but indicting statement about vengeance - and even violence - in general (one of the characters, after murdering someone who has recently wronged them, says to himself: "I didn't do anything wrong... did I?"). It's arguably uninterested in making any kind of statement at all, but its unwillingness to compromise on its focal violence speaks volumes in itself. This is sometimes downright nasty and it has no semblance of mercy to it. It also has a fairly unusual pacing that puts a lot of emphasis on the things building up to the hero's desire for revenge, rather than on the training process required to achieve it (which still appears but is much shorter so that the following segment can surprise us with the techniques the lead has learned in order to counter the various strategies of the five element ninjas). After a pretty full-on opening movement, the picture slows down significantly to introduce and focus on a kind of femme fatale character, and this somewhat humdrum segment is clearly the weakest. It's narratively important, but ever-so-slightly dull. It doesn't help that the soundtrack features an incredibly repetitive motif that builds and reaches its crescendo literally on a loop as if it's emphasising several major reveals that all occur within minutes of one another. In reality it's used to highlight things like opening a window or delivering a note, and its overused so much that it's genuinely annoying. Despite these issues, though, the film is a lot of fun when it gets out of its own way and does what it's best at: highly choreographed ultraviolence. With a colourful, almost cartoony aesthetic and a willful shunning of reality (it makes excellent use of reversed footage), the movie depicts its impressive combat as frantic, urgent and splattered with blood. Although it still tends to seem more like a painful dance than a duel (not a complaint), the film is considerably more vicious than a lot of its peers and is unafraid to showcase its brutality in shades of gleefully saturated red. People are stabbed, slashed, disemboweled and literally pulled apart, and it's all glorious. It's all in good fun (for us) and makes for some really memorable set-pieces soaked in bodily fluids and punctuated by out-of-place smiles of victory. Overall, this is a highly enjoyable and suitably silly martial arts movie that features some notable moments of gore and a strangely bleak atmosphere that's actually slightly haunting in retrospect. It's good stuff.
The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story (2023)
Slight but stylish.
'The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story (2023)' is a short film focusing on Miles' anxiety and the importance to talk about such things with those close to you. It's essentially one long panic attack as our hero comes home, locks himself in his bedroom and comes face to face with a stylish manifestation of his fears. With some fairly scary imagery and an effectively unsettling tone, the short visually depicts the vibe of a panic attack rather effectively. As expected, its aesthetic is gorgeous. Its narrative, however, is harder to judge primarily because it's so simple. There really isn't much of a story, and it kind of plays out like a bit of a PSA. The cynical read would be that Sony has only produced this in a bid to be 'trendy' and catch up with the anxiety representation that has been (rightly) celebrated elsewhere. However, it doesn't matter why Sony produced this, only that they did; their intentions have to impact on the piece's importance. Perhaps someone will see this and realise that it's okay to ask for help, that you don't need to shut people out and carry your burdens on your own. After all, if even Spider-Man gets scared (and can admit it), why should we be ashamed to accept that sometimes we get scared too? It's difficult to rate the experience because it isn't conventionally entertaining and it's all very muted, a short yet sharp piece with a clear intention but not much outside of it. It's well-made and has a good message, though. It's worth a watch if you like either of the movies it follows.
Perfect Days (2023)
Clean (for a) living.
'Perfect Days (2023)' is a narratively loose picture centred around a public toilet cleaner who spends his days meticulously following a well-established routine and appreciating the little moments of beauty he finds within it. Wim Wenders' latest is anchored by an absolutely phenomenal, mostly non-verbal performance from Koji Yakusho that finds truth in its subtlety. The film is essentially about the often overlooked joy that can be found in everyday mundanity, making a point to show the parts of life that usually don't make it to the big screen. It can be important to see a 'normal' life represented in film because it reminds you that your own, likely similar existence is no less important simply because it doesn't have the makings of a traditional motion picture. It doesn't just romantasise the simple, seemingly quite lonely existence of its lead, as it also showcases the hardships that come with such a life and has a focus on how even the smallest of interruptions to one's day-to-day pattern can have longer lasting, sometimes negative effects. However, it also acts as a celebrations of all things real, perhaps positing that most of what happens to you can be positive - or, at least, not overtly negative - with the right mindset. The protagonist often has a little smile on his face at even the dullest of moments, signifying that he finds contentment in the life he has built for himself. However, he also has moments of sadness, and these are presented as being entirely natural. The picture is unwilling to spoon feed his backstory - or inner thoughts - to you, providing enough hints for you to generate your own ideas without setting anything in stone. Yet, it's somehow able to feel incredibly poignant, and includes scenes that we lack the full context for but feel deeply nevertheless. It's a surprisingly emotional experience at times. The flick isn't willing to paint its events with a broad, idyllic brush. Instead, it finds a balance between the good and the bad, showing that one cannot exist without the other and that both happiness and sadness are vital emotions that aren't mutually exclusive. It hints towards the fairly existential idea that no matter how satisfied you are with your life, there's always something deep down that keeps you wondering what might have been. After all, for every life lived, there are a million lives not lived. Although it's arguably a little too long and its lack of narrative drive could turn some people off, it's surprisingly compelling throughout and just feels... peaceful. It's sweet without being saccharine, which is rarer than you might think. Once again I have to mention just how good its naturalistic central performance truly is. So much of this is carried by gesture and expression, and it's all the better for it. It's hard to imagine it working as well as it does with any other actor in the lead role. Ultimately, although it isn't perfect, this is a really solid effort that cuts to the heart of an experience many of us identify with and has the courage to present it with hope and love. Who'd have thought I'd be able to say that about a movie focused on cleaning toilets?
Anatomie d'une chute (2023)
If a man falls out of a window and nobody is around to hear it...?
'Anatomy Of A Fall (2023)' is all about the ambiguities of life... and, by extension, death. Refusing to conform to expectation, this courtroom drama plays out in a delightfully unencumbered way that makes it feel decidedly more realistic than others of its ilk. Although the trial scenes aren't actually all that believable in terms of how'd they play out in real life, they have a naturalistic feel and somehow manage to keep you glued to the screen despite their comparative subtlety. The direction is masterfully restrained, only delving into flashbacks on occasion and framing them as entirely subjective visualisations of often pure speculation (as so much of the case is). There's an argument scene in this that perfectly encapsulates what it's like to be involved in a spat with someone close to you, with both parties struggling to communicate their feelings as they take it in turns being unreasonable and often following one thing with the total opposite thing as if it's part of a single cohesive thought. It's loud and it's heated but it isn't excessive or, worse, silly as these scenes so often are, and it encapsulates what's so excellent about the overall film. It's a really well-made and compelling experience that plays with time-tested tropes in a way that makes them feel fresh. Its acting is also absolutely sublime across the board, with Sandra Hüller and Milo Machado-Graner giving awards-worthy performances and very good boy Messi giving us a heart attack with his standout scene. It's a really effort that makes you feel like one of the spectators so often featured in the background of its courtroom scenes, voyeuristically watching a small part of a full life be dissected in the desperate hope that it'll all make sense in the end. Even though it gives us and its jurors the same information at the same time, it doesn't feel concerned with having us come to a conclusion regarding its central mystery. It's about the process, not the result. Some questions simply don't have a definitive answer. If a man falls out of a window and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
Abigail (2024)
Fangs a lot.
'Abigail (2024)' sucks... the blood of her enemies in this enjoyable horror flick from the yet-to-miss Radio Silence filmmaking team. While this might be their weakest effort to date, it's still a fun and delightfully gooey slice of B-movie goodness that may suffer from an occasionally stilted screenplay but makes up for it with its willingness to embrace its inherent absurdity. It's not scary, but it doesn't need to be; it's wholly concerned with keeping you entertained, and is all the better for it. The strength of its opening act is dramatically lessened by the unfortunate fact that the marketing not only spoils a fairly major twist but also makes sure it's the one thing you definitely know about the movie before you watch it. The first segment is wholly concerned with building suspense, so there's the inevitable sense that we're three steps ahead of it simply because we've seen the trailer. In turn, this makes the already leisurely build-up feel even longer than it is. It's not the film's fault, though, and it's difficult to even hold a grudge against the marketing department considering the USP of the piece is meant to be a reveal. The flick finds its footing almost as soon as its eponymous villain drops her little act and starts tearing people to shreds with glee. Even the somewhat lacklustre finale - which is based around a fairly unbelievable heel turn - is still really enjoyable and as blood-soaked as you could hope. It's perhaps a little unconfident, seeming as though it feels like it needs to finish up a certain way just because that's the done thing, but it's not a major step down from the more consistently compelling middle portion. Ultimately, this is as entertaining as it is unrefined. With a strong cast (Dan Stevens and Alisha Weir are the highlights), a simple yet effective premise and a confidently pulpy aesthetic, the flick hits the right tone and emerges as a bloody good time that will have you baring your fangs throughout.
Chelovek s kino-apparatom (1929)
Man, with a movie camera you really can do anything.
'Man With A Movie Camera (1929)' is a revolutionary silent film that pioneered so many cinematic techniques - including (but not limited to) extreme close-ups, shaky cam, tracking shots, slow motion, fast motion, stop motion, split framing, double exposure, canted angles, fourth-wall breaks, and so much more - that it's impossible to overstate its influence in the almost hundred years of cinema that followed it. It was so unprecedented that it drew criticism from even the most forward-thinking of its director's contemporaries, not to mention from the Soviet Union itself; Dziga Vertov was sadly forced into obscurity not long after its release, relegated to anonymously editing news reels. The picture is presented as a day in the life of a Russian city - even though it was actually filmed in several cities, most of which are in modern-day Ukraine, over a period of a few years - and it's split into six parts which explore different aspects of daily life and occasionally delve into deeper topics such as mortality itself. The majority of the movie works on the concept of contrast, as it juxtaposes images of people and places and nature and machinery and marriage and divorce and birth and death to craft its central thesis that we're all connected and that cinema has the power to widen that connection across space and time itself. After all, here we are discussing a movie that's almost a hundred years old, one that allows us an insight into the lives of people we've never met in a place we'll never be able to visit (a location, while usually permanent, is intrinsically tied to time, so in some ways it changes irrevocably as life carries on in and around it). With a pacing that ebbs and flows perfectly, the experimental picture's 68-minute runtime flies by even though it has no traditional narrative (and no intertitles to guide you through it). It's often an arresting, impressively vital experience that's utterly compelling. It's occasionally moving, and even sometimes frightening, in a totally unexpected way. Frankly, it's brilliant even today; I can't imagine what it would have been like to see it in 1929. It's a gripping effort that often makes you smile simply because of how bold and inventive it is. It's genuinely great.
Priscilla (2023)
Pristine/ Prisoner/ Priscilla.
A pristine prison. A gilded cage. A king and his queen. The antithesis of 'Elvis (2022)': quiet, subdued, grotesque in its content rather than its execution. An exercise in restraint. The lonely moments in-between the glamour. The grooming. The controlling. The waiting. A series of moments. Like its focal relationship, it's pretty on the surface but (at least a little) hollow at its core. For a movie supposedly about Priscilla, it doesn't really tell us anything about her. Who is she other than the living doll Elvis decides to bring home one day? Of course, that's the point. 'Priscilla (2023)' highlights the abuse inherent in a relationship built upon this many different power imbalances. It's a sickly movie, one that constantly sends shivers up your spine with its mundane horrors. "Ninth grade? Jesus, you're just a baby" is followed shortly by "shall we go somewhere quiet?"; "She's much more mature than her age" comes just before "I'll find her a good Catholic school"; a dependency on pills, a necessity to stay by the phone, and a requirement to look a certain way all arrive before a high school graduation. A stolen childhood is marked by red flags ignored by a little girl in love with a legend. For this purpose, it makes sense to exclusively show Priscilla trapped by her relationship with everyone's favourite died-on-the-toilet joke. Despite always being in her perspective, we're never really let inside her head. However, surely the point is that the relationship doesn't actually define her as a whole, and if the intention is to show Priscilla's unconventional coming of age, to show her growing into a woman capable of understanding - and changing - her situation, surely the bad must be offset by the good? Surely we must be given an insight into who she can become once she's out from under Elvis' thumb? The film feels like the first half of the story it's trying to tell, which makes its speeding through the latter stages of its central couple's marriage all the more strange. These later sequences would be the perfect opportunity to show Priscilla evolving into the woman she's going to become after the credits have rolled. They're glossed over, though. They're not given the same attention as the grooming and the gaslighting and the generally gross behaviour. While it presents all those things in a low-key yet impactful fashion, it just feels like it's missing something thematically. It's well-performed, well-directed and visually gorgeous, but there's the sense that it's only half of what it needs to be. It's not a bad film, by any means. It's affecting and uncomfortable and mostly engaging from start to finish. It's self-assured and unwilling to dip into caricature. There's something strangely alluring about its beautiful emptiness, too. It feels real, far more real than the other film featuring Elvis I mentioned earlier. It's good, but it's not great. Whether it's vapid is debatable, but whether it's as deep as it could have been isn't.
The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin (2024)
You don't know Dick...
'The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin (2024)' is a British comedy series exclusive to AppleTV+. It focuses, unsurprisingly, on the completely made-up adventures of Dick Turpin, a legendary highwayman from the 1700s. The title role is filled by Noel Fielding, who portrays the eponymous criminal as a gentle, forward-thinking and charming ex-Butcher who stumbles into his newfound gang by accident but enjoys applying his own unique approach to robbing people. The show features a litany of appearances from some of Britain's best comedic actors - including (but not limited to) Mark Heap, Asim Chaudhry, Tamsin Grieg, Joe Wilkinson, Guz Khan, Hugh Bonneville, Greg Davies and Connor Swindells - but it actually isn't all that funny. To be honest, it doesn't get more than mildly amusing. At the same time, though, it's fairly consistent in the amusement department. Fielding makes for a strong, fairly unconventional lead, and the supporting cast (including those I haven't mentioned) all do a good job with the material they're given (Swindells steals the entire show, and Davies comes in close second during his singular episode). It almost feels like a CBBC show, in a way, albeit ever-so-slightly more mature (there are some swear words here and there). It's all just very... slight. That's not to say it's bad, of course, but it certainly isn't as strong as you may like. It's a fluffy, inconsequential slice of good-humoured television that would be far more at home on something like BBC One than on a 'premium' streaming service like AppleTV+. It's a decent time, but not much more.
Argylle (2024)
Should have kept the cat in the bag.
Horrible. Just horrible. The worst thing about 'Argylle (2024)' is that it goes on forever. Seriously, it just keeps going. It's so much longer than it has any right to be. The second worst thing about it is that it's profoundly stupid. How stupid? Well, let's just say that Henry Cavill's haircut doesn't even make the top twenty stupidest things in this mess of a movie. Of course, stupidity by itself isn't necessarily an issue... so long as it's fun. This isn't fun. It isn't boring, but it isn't fun. The feature throws twist after twist at an audience it clearly doesn't respect, taking far too long explaining things we've just seen and even flashing back to them just to make sure we get it. None of the reveals are particularly complicated either, even if the tapestry they weave is definitely dense, so it's entirely unnecessary to call this much retrospective attention to moments which are often obviously obfuscated in the first place simply so they can be the subject of a flashback that occurs later on (sometimes literally in the next scene). Not all the twists are obvious - or even particularly bad - but there are only one or two that have any real merit (and not much merit at that). Furthermore, some of them are entirely contradictory to one another, meaning that the overall narrative isn't cohesive in the slightest. When looking back on the story, it isn't even clear why any of it kicks off in the first place. It feels like its screenplay was created in a stream of consciousness, with no rereading or - god forbid - rewriting. That's likely not very fair, as I'm sure Jason Fuchs tried his best, but it's the impression the final film gives. For all its energetic excess and undeniable on-screen and behind-the-scenes talent, it just seems lazy. It moves so fast and loose that it's never boring, but it's also never inspiring or, even, entertaining. It's as dull as it is hyperactive. It just washes over you, at best provoking an eye roll and at worst provoking absolutely nothing. The action, which ought to be its clear highlight, is so obviously fake that it's hard to take seriously. Even an early(ish) fight on a train, easily the most practical set-piece in the entire picture, is marred by the overuse of a visually interesting effect that would be really cool if it was given time to breathe and not treated like a bludgeon to hit the audience over the head with until they're no longer certain of what they can and can't see on screen. Some later sequences are so over the top that they're theoretically a riot, but they come long after we've stopped caring about anything we see unfold and aren't good enough to jolt us out of the malaise we've inevitably fallen into. The cast is, thankfully, consistently good. The actors sometimes manage to elevate the scenarios they're placed in, and emerge mostly innocent even when they can't. Bryce Dallas Howard is a strong fish-out-of-water lead and Sam Rockwell is as effortlessly charming as ever. Samuel L. Jackson looks like he's having fun with the very little he has to do (and the large paycheck it's probably getting him) and Bryan Cranston crafts a compellingly generic baddie. It's also nice to see Catherine O'Hara chew the scenery when she gets chance to. It's a shame that Henry Cavill and John Cena don't kiss given where the plot takes them, but they do what they need to and they're perfectly fine doing it. I'm a little sad that Ariana DeBose and Richard E. Grant don't get more to do, but Dua Lipa - as much as I love her - is clearly given all she can manage at this point. If this had a less talented cast, it definitely wouldn't be as good as it is (i.e. Not very). I'm not sure what Matthew Vaughn's doing here, to be honest. This clearly wants to be a somewhat meta variation of the irreverent spy satire he's essentially made a career of, but it doesn't say anything about either the genre itself or his entries within it. It doesn't say anything at all, really. That would be perfectly fine if it was entertaining, but it just isn't. It's entirely inconsequential, which might be why I can't quite bring myself to rate it any harsher than I have. Perhaps its baffling narrative and uncanny aesthetic make it somewhat of a curio, an artefact of modern blockbuster filmmaking that does almost everything wrong. I don't recommend it, but maybe it's worth watching to see what not to do if you ever want to make a movie. I don't know. It's bad.
Civil War (2024)
Divided states.
'Civil War (2024)' follows a group of journalists who decide that they're going to be the first members of the press to photograph and interview the president since war broke out in the US, something that's more dangerous than it may seem considering journalists are being shot on sight in DC. It's essentially a road trip movie in which the heroes encounter various vignettes of new American life, ranging from negotiating for fuel to surviving off-the-chain racist soldiers. The feature is trying desperately to be apolitical, not so much interested in the specifics of the war it has created as in the ramifications of war as a concept. Specifically, it's about the impartiality of war-time journalism (or, perhaps, journalism in general) and the objectivity of the profession. The argument could be made that the film is attempting to mirror this supposed objectivity, portraying its events without making a clear statement about them in the same way its characters attempt to do. Alex Garland himself has alluded to this in various interviews. Of course, this is an inherently flawed concept as the line between observing and being involved becomes increasingly blurred the longer you purposefully place yourself in any given situation. Even by portraying the events in an apparently apolitical way, showing but not assigning specific meaning to them, you're still conveying a message - whether that's intentional or not (one of the characters even says that the reason they're a war photographer is to "warn" people). This is perhaps the point the picture is trying to land on, but it can't really claim to be both doing this in its narrative and in a more meta way because it has specifically crafted this story. It isn't observing events that would be happening with or without it, it is those events. Curating a story like this inherently makes you involved with it and removes any desired objectivity: it's simply not possible to create something without putting at least part of yourself into it. Obviously, it's fine for a film to be subjective. In fact, it's usually preferred. A movie with a message, or at least theme, isn't uncommon and there's a reason for that. It's just frustrating that this claims - or, at least, strives - to be apolitical, yet in the same breath claims - or, at least, strives - to be anti-war. That in itself is kind of a political stance, and the feature's refusal to acknowledge this means that it may be anti-war as concept but it isn't anti-war as reality. It sort of just vaguely says "everyone should stop fighting" without actually knuckling down into why everyone's fighting or what the reality of stopping fighting could look like. How can you be interested in how a war ends when you aren't interested in how it starts? There is, of course, the argument that the movie doesn't really care about making any sort of statement about war itself, but instead aims to make its statement solely about the ineffectuality of 'objective' - or, perhaps, passive - journalism. It purposefully makes the specifics of its central war as vague and, even, implausible as possible so as to remove all chances that someone will accuse it of being political, possibly in an attempt to reach wider audiences with its actual intention of calling out the kind of reporting that goes on regarding wars that aren't being fought on western soil. It uses home-grown imagery to make the reality of war hit home harder for an audience who isn't used to seeing it take place in their backyards, to people who hold a concept of war as something that happens in far-off countries which aren't depicted in the media outside of that context. The characters often say they're objective observers, but just because they don't usually intervene in the events they witness doesn't mean they aren't a part of them. Inaction, after all, is an action. On top of that, it's unclear why they'd even be recording this war if they didn't intend to show it to people, which again comes back to one of their stated intentions of using their experiences to warn others - something which carries an inherent message with it. In the end, you'll be left wondering what it was all for considering where things leave off. That's likely the intended effect, but it feels as though the picture doesn't quite say the things it wants to say. It may reflect the attitudes of its characters, but it also reflects their failings. When all is said and done, it doesn't seem to fully understand what it's trying to achieve.
It does, however, get caught up in the excitement of its events, much like the characters it follows (one of them literally gets hard at the sound of gunfire). It is a well-made movie that has a much larger sense of scale than most (if not all) of A24's other efforts. Alex Garland knows how to craft a compelling set-piece, and even the sequences which simply depict military vehicles moving from one place to another have an appropriate heft to them. The action has a gritty, grounded feel to it, making use of punchy sound design (the gunshots are almost upsetting) and abrupt moments that make it clear a single second can be the difference between life and death. Most of the film is much more slow-paced than its finale, which escalates into a large-scale battle that really gives you a sense of being immersed in a disastrously dangerous situation, and there's an almost lonely vibe to its across-America odyssey. Its ragtag team of journalists all feel isolated in their own individual ways, and there's an increasing sense that some of them are becoming irrevocably lost in the thrill of their work. The cinematography is vibrant, the camerawork mostly clean and the soundscape all-encompassing. The picture also makes a lot of use of shallow focus and chromatic aberration, which gives it a distinct aesthetic that's a bit heavy-handed at times but is mostly successful. There's a real sense that most of this stuff was captured in camera, even though a lot of it surely has to be visual effects, and that really enhances the believability of its premise. Some of its scenes are also quite distressing, with one in particular being really suspenseful (you'll know it as soon as it happens), and a lot of it has a palpable yet nonchalant bleakness that certainly has an effect. The acting is also (usually) subtle yet powerful; the four leads work wonders even when the script short-changes them a little. Ultimately, it's a formalistically accomplished piece that's typically compelling and sometimes uncomfortable.
It's easy to see why this is such a polarising picture. For me, its technical execution is a lot stronger than its narrative. I think it's worth watching as an in-the-moment experience, but I'm not convinced its intended messages come across all that strongly. It's certainly less impactful due to its thematic weakness. However, it's still an engaging and (in its own, downbeat way) entertaining effort that's well-made and immersive. It escalates into all-out chaos in the best possible way, and it sometimes brings you to the edge of your seat. It's a solid effort, despite its problems.
Hong Wending san po bai lian jiao (1980)
One man's weakness is another man's vice.
'Clan Of The White Lotus (1980)' is actually a sequel to 'Executioners From Shaolin (1977)' (which I haven't seen), but it provides a nice recap at the start that means you shouldn't be lost if you decide to watch this without first watching that prior picture. After defeating Pei Mei (or Priest White Eyebrows), two warriors brothers (or maybe just brothers-in-arms) return home to their significant others as a declaration is signed to begin rebuilding the Shaolin temple that was recently destroyed by the recently departed villain. Pei Mei's brother (or maybe just brother-in-arms) Priest White Lotus, head of the White Lotus clan, doesn't take too kindly to the warriors' actions, and decides to showcase his superior Kung fu by attacking them while they eat. This battle costs the life of one of the brothers and the partner of the other, leaving Hung Wen-Ting and his pregnant sort of sister-in-law Mei-Hsaio defeated and in hiding. Naturally, more revenge is in order. It's interesting that the movie is basically about the hero getting revenge for the villain getting revenge, with the death of a brother(-in-arms) being what prompts both men to take action, but this grey morality isn't explored because the antagonist is a proper baddie who also happens to be involved with the slaughter of anyone involved with the Shaolin temple and its rebuilding. The film isn't interested in the ethics of getting even, just the process of doing so against a more advanced opponent. Still, it's an intriguing concept and goes to show the cyclical nature of vengeance in a way that isn't specifically spoken but is certainly felt. The movie is very classic in its structure, with the majority of its midsection dedicated to the training required for its protagonist to emerge triumphant, but it's actually really satisfying. It reminds me of a video-game, more so than a lot of its peers, as the lead refines a new technique and then tries it against his foe, only to suffer a defeat which necessitates the learning of a new technique and prompts the cycle to start over again. It's genuinely engaging stuff, and even the slower segments are entertaining in their own methodical way. The other somewhat distinct aspect of the piece is its approach to crafting a singular villain - kind of like a final boss - who is so overpowered it's borderline silly. With a big personality and even bigger eyebrows, Priest White Lotus (lovingly portrayed by director Lieh Lo) spends most of the runtime smugly dodging every single blow that comes his way, callously laughing in the face of his enemies and striking with fictional pressure point attacks that cause people to die after a certain number of steps (yet another thing Quentin Tarantino stole, alongside the character of Pei Mei, for his own attempt at the genre). He also, like his brother(-in-arms) before him, has the ability to trap people's hands in-between his testicles in a vice-like grip, which he uses to counter the alarming number of below-the-belt shots that come his way throughout the story. He's a scene-chewing baddie with almost mythical levels of strength, agility and power, which gives the feature a fantastical feeling even though it's relatively grounded for its majority. Although he's a bit pantomime, he totally works in this context and is an entertaining on-screen persona, arguably the perfect foil for Gordon Liu's determined yet straight-laced hero. Their bouts are as exciting as you'd expect, and it really does feel like the lead is going up against almost impossible odds despite being a really accomplished martial artist. Their clashes are also quite funny in their own way, as increasingly unconventional fighting styles become necessary and the baddie isn't impressed by any of them. It's a simple, to-the-point experience but it's well-paced, superbly choreographed (by the inimitable Lau Kar-leung, who also pops up as a double for one of the villain's sword-wielding guards a couple of times) and confidently directed. It's a really entertaining affair from start to finish, despite a couple of wobbly moments here and there, and its fight scenes are often absolutely spectacular. It's not the best in its genre, but it's definitely a lot of fun.
The Bourne Legacy (2012)
I'm not cross, just disappointed.
'The Bourne Legacy (2012)' isn't bad, but it doesn't amount to much. After its abrupt ending, all you'll be left thinking is: "that's it?". Naturally, that isn't a good thing. This forgettable sequel takes place during and after the events of 'The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)', aiming to explore the consequences of Bourne's actions as various government officials scramble to burn all evidence of Blackbriar, Treadstone and a variety of adjacent secret agent/ assassin programs. One of those programs is home to Aaron Cross, an ex-military man with an attitude and an apparent dislike of authority. After surviving an assassination attempt, Cross gets cross. He doesn't look for revenge, though. Instead, he looks for drugs. That's because his particular branch of secret CIA makes use of behaviour-modifying pills that its agents are dependent on, so most of the movie really is about its hero trying to get high. Without his medicine, he'll degrade and probably die, so he has little choice but to go to his boss' backyard and scramble to get his fix. The pill aspect is relatively minor in the previous movies, and it's an interesting angle to explore further. Sadly, there's not that much to the subplot besides a little bit of pseudo science and a distinct angle to approach the 'man on the run' narrative from. The same is true of the new programs the picture introduces, which could be a way to explore unique types of agent and showcase the different ways that the CIA meddles in global affairs. However, all of the spokes of the umbrella merge into a single homogeneous blob of people who all pretty much act the exact same. The new suits introduced also lack a strong sense of personality, even if Edward Norton plays his headstrong role with bureaucratic gusto. Thankfully, there are some genuinely successful elements. After a slow opening, the feature eventually becomes relatively compelling as an in-the-moment experience. Even if it doesn't hold much weight in retrospect, it's intriguing to watch unfold and is suitably enjoyable for its majority. Jeremy Renner also makes for a strong protagonist. He's different to Matt Damon in all the right ways, and I appreciate the decision not to write his character as a carbon copy of the stoic amnesiac we all know and love. Renner is also physically convincing in the action, and it seems as though he did a lot of his own stunts. The set-pieces are infrequent yet entertaining, suitably brutal and kinetic with a 'realistic' edge. Director Tony Gilroy doesn't just ape Paul Greengrass, even though he's obviously inspired by him and more or less sticks to the series' well-established style guide. He shoots things in a slightly cleaner way, which I actually may prefer to Greengrass' more intense shaky style in some cases. It's just a shame that none of it holds any real weight. It's diverting enough to keep you engaged, but it pales in comparison to its predecessors. At least it's so forgettable that each time you watch it, it's like watching it for the first time. That's a double-edged sword, though: every time it ends, you'll feel the sting of disappointment all over again.
Young Adult (2011)
wh(Y A)re you like this?
'Young Adult (2011)' is a fairly dark (in its own way) comedy that focuses on an alcoholic YA writer who travels back to her hometown in a bid to win back her now-married ex-boyfriend after she finds out he's recently become a father. Charlize Theron wholly inhabits the role, and it's refreshing to see a woman essentially be a jerk for ninety-something minutes and still be the one the audience roots for (a dichotomy usually reserved for male characters). You don't necessarily want the lead to succeed in her goal, but you do want her to realise that her goal isn't healthy and won't help her overcome her issues. The real heft of the piece is in how subtly it builds to its emotional punches, as it takes time to examine the ramifications of comedic tropes often not given a second thought (alcoholism, immaturity, unhinged romantic behaviour, etc.). It doesn't delve into its subjects in a heavy-handed way, rather it allows them to play out on screen and asks the audience to engage with their consequences (and potential causes) in a way that ought to make them think about how flippantly they've been used elsewhere and how damaging they would be in reality. The same is true of the climax, which is kind of a non-ending in its own way and cements the flick's aspirations to be a sort of anti-comedy. It follows the genre's typical formula fairly rigidly until it subverts every expectation regarding how something like this should come to a close, allowing its character to drive into the sunset without having undergone the arc you'd expect her to. It's the sort of thing that's played so straight it's difficult to determine if it actually believes some of the things its characters say towards the end or if it's trying to present those things in a negative light without playing its full hand. I think it's trying to do the latter, and I'd be genuinely disappointed if it turns out it isn't, but I can see how some people could confuse its caginess for outright sincerity (which isn't really a good thing in this case). Ultimately, this is a solid film that's surprisingly challenging. It's sometimes amusing and often painfully awkward, but its purposeful pseudo pointlessness - or, perhaps, its unwillingness to be either fully devastating or fully life-affirming - does mean it perhaps lacks the impact of something more straightforward in its ambitions. Still, it's a strong effort overall.
Can que (1978)
He's not as armless as you might expect.
'Crippled Avengers (1978)' starts with a woman and child being mutilated by a rival gang, and you'd think the rest of the film would follow the now-armless boy as he grows up and learns Kung fu to get revenge on his attackers. You'd be wrong, though. Instead, the boy's father turns up and kills all three of his opponents with a single punch each, then promises to build his son a new set of iron arms and allow him to train in martial arts. Cut to many years later, and the now-adult son has joined his father in ruling over a nearby village with utter contempt and ruthlessness. Driven by bitterness, the pair - and their equally as despicable friend/ coworker - take it upon themselves to disable anyone who so much as thinks about inconveniencing them in even the most minor way. It really is unexpected that these would become the villains, but it makes for a more interesting movie by twisting the format slightly and allowing the true heroes to emerge. Those heroes are the eponymous avengers, and I don't think it's a spoiler to say that each of them crosses paths with the baddies early on. One is blinded because he expressed happiness that mercy was shown to someone, one is deafened (and made mute) because he verbally challenged the antagonist's ruthless rule, one has his legs removed because he accidentally bumps into the man with the iron firsts, and the last - an already skilled martial artist - is given brain damage because he attempts to defeat the evildoers after seeing what they've done to the other three. Needless to say, the punishment does not equal the supposed crime. The four victims find their way to a martial arts master and spend the next three years learning not just how to overcome their disabilities, but how to use them to their advantage. When their Kung fu is strong enough, they set out for vengeance. Although it's a classic revenge story at its core, the flick never really feels like its heroes are in it just for themselves. Instead, it feels like they're fighting for a somewhat 'noble' cause, taking down the villains because it will end their reign of tyranny over the nearby town. There are also brief moments of humour sprinkled throughout the narrative, both intentional and otherwise. Therefore, it feels surprisingly light despite its relatively heavy events. When everything comes together, it's a blast. Just when you think you've seen all the different types of choreography possible in a movie like this, the piece goes and throws in some metal hoops to redefine your definition of 'humanly possible'. Some of the set-pieces are just genius. The feature places more focus on sheer acrobatics than a lot of its peers, which is a refreshing angle to take and allows for some stunning scenes in which the players twist and flip and tumble through the air like they're competing for gold at the Olympics. The different styles of the four heroes also come together nicely, as a lot of a attention is placed on their teamwork and the ways in which they help each other out with their various weaknesses (two bros kick butt and hold hands for a lot of this and it's great). The final third, in particular, is a ton of fun. Some of the stuff before that is a little strained, and the training sequences don't quite convey the sense of progression I'd like them to. The writing is generally quite clunky, and a lot of the dialogue is stilted both in itself and in its delivery (a few of the performers are notably better at fighting than talking). It's unclear how much of this is due to the translation (MUBI's subtitles are clearly incorrect on a number of occasions), but several of the more obviously iffy segments must have been as such from the moment they were filmed. The final fight is also marred somewhat by an obvious and ungainly wirework stunt that serves to do nothing other than pull you out of the experience right when it ought to be at its most satisfying. It's made all the more frustrating by the fact that the actors don't need wires to impress, as evidenced by... well, literally everything we've seen them do prior to this moment. Still, despite some legitimate issues, the overall experience is exciting, well-paced and chock-full of astonishing set-pieces. It's really entertaining.
Shi ba ban wu yi (1982)
Magic vs metal.
'Legendary Weapons Of China (1982)' is a little bit confusing at first, with a variety of gang factions all searching for a supposed traitor without actually knowing what he looks like. Because we also don't know who he is, it can be a bit difficult to discern who's who and who's lying about who they really are. It doesn't help that the true intentions of the various searchers aren't made clear until later on in the picture. After a while, though, everything sort of coalesces when the flick gives us some much-needed exposition as to what it's actually about. From then on, it's much easier to follow. Besides, the story itself isn't the main reason that anyone's watching this. That would be the immense fight sequences, of course, and none of them disappoint. The flick puts a lot of focus on three types of supernatural martial arts: magic, spiritual boxing and Maoshan. The first allows the user to conjure up a variety of secret weapons, teleport in balls of smoke and create decoys of themselves at a moment's notice; at its highest levels, it can be used to command others to do one's bidding. The second allows the user to withstand blows from bladed weaponry without so much as a scratch. The third makes use of voodoo-esque techniques to control other people, binding them to dolls which can be manipulated with twisting motions and pressure point manipulations. It's these three techniques that really marks the picture as something distinct from a lot of its peers, and it allows for some distinct choreography that constantly keeps the audience as on their toes as those involved in the battles themselves. Furthermore, the flick makes use of some confined spaces that necessitate further invention in terms of designing the bouts that take place within them. It's really fun to see people fighting in a cramped attic or tight alleyway, making use of their environment to avoid attacks both physical and otherworldly. It's a nice change from the genre's tendency to have its bouts take place in wide open arenas. Having said that, there are plenty of action scenes that take place in said spaces. They aren't any worse off for this, even if they are more traditional, mostly because their choreography is consistently phenomenal and their formal execution is consistently accomplished. That's what you'd expect from director Chia-Liang Liu, of course, but he cements his position as one of the greatest action directors of all time with each new film of his I see. Plus, he gets to really shine in front of the camera this time. Although he has cameos in a lot of his films, he's arguably the protagonist of this one and a lot of the set-pieces are focused almost entirely on him. The final duel is jaw-droppingly good, an intense one-on-one that makes use of 13 of the 18 eponymous legendary weapons (5 are used in an earlier sequence) and is reinvigorated each time the characters adopt a new fighting tool. It's fast-paced, exciting and unbelievably impressive. The same can be said of another stand-out set-piece, a hand-to-hand bout that features Gordon Liu in a rare villainous role and features some choreography I've never seen before (Liu makes use of his shoulder blades to fight facing backwards!). The third notable conflict occurs just after a hugely entertaining sequence of a charlatan conspiring with his gang to convince an entire town he's a famous Kung fu fighter, which sees the same conman unwittingly take on an opponent while he's under the influence of Maoshan folk magic. It's a genuinely funny scene that makes excellent use of slapstick comedy in combination with impressive athleticism, with Alexander Fu Sheng being tossed around like a ragdoll so convincingly you forget it's actually him doing all the flipping. The humour is present in a number of other scenes, too, which keeps things feeling suitably lighthearted even when people are fighting for their lives. Ultimately, although the plot is a little confusing to start with (and takes a while to properly get going), movie is a ton of fun when it's fully underway. The experience is a bit uneven, but - more often than not - it fires on all cylinders and its Kung fu is absolutely spectacular. It's a blast.
Zhong hua zhang fu (1978)
You may now kick the bride (and she may kick back).
'Heroes Of The East (1978)' (also known as 'Shaolin Challenges Ninja') tells the tale of a patriotic martial artist who undergoes an arranged marriage with his Japanese childhood friend and finds himself constantly clashing with her as to which form of martial arts are superior. Rather than accepting that both styles have their own merits, the couple fight (literally) so much that the wife eventually goes back to Japan. In a drunken and ill-advised effort to win her back, the husband writes a challenge letter which states he will admit defeat if any Japanese martial artist can beat him. When the letter is intercepted by a prideful Ninjutsu master, the man soon finds himself face to face with several Japanese fighters all itching to prove their technique superior to his own. The set-up is simple but effective, and it allows the feature to feel somewhat unconventional within its genre because it isn't about revenge (a staple of Kung Fu flicks) and nobody is killed. The first segment is basically a culture clash romcom that sees the stubborn newlyweds explain their countries' individual techniques and weapons while insisting that they're inherently better than their counterparts. It provides a bit of a history lesson surrounding these elements, while also being fairly good lighthearted fun. When the challenge is issued and swiftly answered, the feature becomes a series of fairly intense fight scenes that each revolve around different weapons and fighting styles. This keeps things feeling fresh, as every action scene brings something new to the table. The fast-paced choreography is consistently phenomenal, every bit as exciting and enjoyable as you'd hope. The fact that the sequences are essentially sparring matches doesn't dilute their intensity; they're all absolutely jaw-dropping. Some of the techniques used aren't often seen in Kung fu cinema, either, so that makes the set-pieces even more refreshing. Furthermore, although the feature initially seems to be (and arguably partially is) unashamedly pro-China, it ultimately lands on a note of humility and respect (many movies of the era are actively anti-Japanese, so it's nice to see something that doesn't fall into that category). It celebrates martial arts in all their forms, while giving us plenty of absolutely spectacular examples of them being used at the highest level. It's pure kinetic entertainment and it's a total blast.
The First Omen (2024)
Not quite immaculate, but really solid NUNtheless
'The First Omen (2024)' is surprisingly good for a prequel to a horror classic. It's also remarkably similar to 'Immaculate (2024)', to the point that one would seem to have ripped off the other if it had been released significantly later (the tiny gap between the two films' release dates indicates a case of parallel thinking, rather than plagiarism). Its most valuable asset is its direction, which makes use of assured cinematography and measured pacing to deliver some really well-achieved sequences that are typically as unsettling as they are atmospheric. The picture is often dripping with dread, evoking this intangible sense that what you're seeing is actually evil. With an unrelentingly ominous soundtrack, some really confronting imagery and the overall texture - both aesthetic and narrative - of something straight out of the seventies, the film carves its own unholy mark on the genre and is often really compelling (even during its more obviously silly moments). Its pacing does wane slightly in its second act, and its central mystery - or, at least, where it's heading - is unfortunately really obvious if you've seen 'The Omen (1976)' (or even read the tagline). I guessed the movie's major twist within the first few moments, for instance, and being ahead of the narrative doesn't do the experience any favours considering its enigma is pretty much its main driving force. Even if you aren't able to see the reveal coming, the film's main problem still has a strong impact. The issue is that it has to tie in to the original, which severely diminishes the potential - and power - of its third act. The finale just feels incredibly boxed in, and it doesn't help that the flick isn't content to just strongly imply. Instead, it feels the need to spell out, with a rushed epilogue that ends on a namedrop that's intended to carry weight but actually just feels weird. It's not as if the rest of the movie is exactly subtle, but the climax feels like a total sledgehammer in the worst possible way (not in terms of its in-universe implications, but its meta ones). It's bending to the studio's idea of what it needs to be, rather than what it it's been naturally building towards. However, this obviously top-level interference isn't enough to significantly reduce the overall effectiveness of the affair. It's still a really accomplished in-the-moment experience, despite its legitimate narrative issues. The direction really is rock-solid, as are most of the performances, and there's a palpable sense of foreboding throughout. A lot of the set-pieces are rather unsettling, too. It's ultimately a strong effort that suffers most from being part of a wider franchise, yet is also far better than you may expect an entry in said franchise to be. If its third act was a little better, it could have been great. As it is, it's still really good.
Monkey Man (2024)
He's not monkeying around; this is bananas.
That bittersweet feeling you get when you've just seen what's very likely going to be the best film of the entire year and it's only April.
'Monkey Man (2024)' is monumental. It's passionate, vital, vicious filmmaking that feels like it's almost entirely reinventing itself with each and every scene. It's a brutal, full-blooded action flick that feels like a primal scream, a vibrant and invigorating shock to the system that puts a smile on your face simply because of how damn good it is. Dev Patel is firing on all cylinders, pulling out all the stops to bring his dream to the screen, fighting against every adversity imaginable and emerging all the better for it. As a lead, he's perfect. As a director, he's arguably even better. Setting his relatively by-the-numbers revenge story against a backdrop of spiritual and political unrest ensures that it never feels generic, as does its consistently excellent execution. It's actually about something, too. The theming and character work is done so well that I found myself actively distracted by it during the final act, reflecting on the protagonist's development during the high octane action I desperately didn't want to miss. The third act goes so hard that it instantly sits alongside the very best of its peers. It's seriously bananas, a phenomenal and unrelenting ballet of bloody vengeance that acts as a perfect culmination of everything it follows. It helps that the narrative gets you so hyped for its conclusion you're practically leaping out of your seat before it even begins. The whole thing is just an absolute blast. Every frame is as energetic and exciting as it could possibly be. It's essential viewing for anyone who likes good action, and it should be the first of many movies directed by Dev Patel. He's not monkeying around: this is one of the most impressive debuts in recent memory.
The Killer (2023)
Kill or be killed.
Although 'The Killer (2023)' eventually morphs into a fairly generic revenge thriller, it maintains the unconventional meticulousness of its narration-heavy opening act and showcases its protagonist's skillset in a much more meditative way than we're accustomed to. It's about an assassin, but it isn't really an action film (despite featuring some accomplished action scenes). In many ways, it's almost the perfect 'Hitman' adaptation; fans of those games have been begging for a movie version that doesn't flush the series' core mechanics down the toilet in favour of brazenly lowest-common-denominator shoot-'em-ups. At any rate, this is an engrossing and seemingly simple (yet undeniably scrutinised) affair that lives and dies by its execution. Putting you squarely in the headspace of the methodical yet viciously ruthless murderer at its core, the feature presents its protagonist's actions without judgement. It isn't interested in making him likeable, or having him do the right thing (the only small kindness he displays is killing someone in a specific way so that their children won't think they've simply gone missing). It doesn't suffer from that, though. While we can understand his desire for vengeance (primarily because the catalyst for it is a relationship), we don't actually need a reason to root for him. We just sort of watch his actions with morbid curiosity. It helps that he does some genuinely clever, albeit chilling, things to reach his targets and take them out. Plus, the flick has a palpable variety to its set-pieces that constantly keeps you on your toes. Furthermore, the killer isn't infallible. In a classic case of do as I say, not as I do, he constantly breaks his own rules (despite repeating them often; a seemingly desperate attempt to regain control of himself) whether by accident or design. He makes mistakes, he miscalculates, he readjusts. He's constantly hanging by a thread, despite remaining distressingly calm and collected throughout. Michael Fassbender is really good in the role, especially since the majority of his scenes contain absolutely no dialogue (narration excluded). He really carries the film, as utterly convincing in the quiet moments as in the loud ones. There's a Patrick Bateman vibe to his character, although his unhinged nature never breaks out in paranoia-fueled frenzy, with his musings on the word and his philosophy being purposefully self-important and absurd. He does undergo a subtle arc that might pass you by, but don't expect any sort of remorse from - or redemption for - him. He's a bad guy, through and through. That's fairly interesting, and the moral complexity of much of the narrative is honestly quite refreshing. I say complexity, but it's really rather obvious that nobody here is doing the right thing. Perhaps it's more apt to say that the lack of interest in morality is the intriguing element here. Ultimately, this is fairly nuts-and-bolts stuff that you'd think would suffer from its lack of ambition and generally rote plot. However, the fact that it just sort of gets on with things is surprisingly invigorating. It's very well-made and is constantly compelling, even if its opening moments give the impression the overall affair may leave you feeling cold. It's actually really entertaining, and is also somewhat frightening in its own way.
Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)
Not quite THE big fat panda, but certainly A big fat panda.
'Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)' is the semi-belated fourth instalment in its franchise, one which hopes to reignite interest and kick off a new trilogy of butt-kicking bear shenanigans. Swapping out Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, David Cross, Lucy Lui and (mostly) Seth Rogan for Awkwafina, the film teams Po up with an in-the-know thief and sends him on a quest to defeat the mysterious shape-shifting Chameleon who holds an iron grip on one of China's most dense cities. It arguably makes up for its lack of furious five with its inclusion of Po's two dads - who, incidentally, could easily be mistaken for a gay couple if you haven't seen the previous picture (or maybe their co-parenting really has blossomed into romance, who knows?) - because they're really fun and it's nice to hear James Hong and Bryan Cranston do exactly what they need to. Jack Black continues to impress as the eponymous panda, while Dustin Hoffman is still surprisingly engaged with his small yet important role and Ian McShane has fun chewing up the CGI scenery once more. Viola Davis does decent work, but her villain is easily the weakest in the series and just isn't all that threatening overall (despite everyone saying she's Po's most dangerous foe to date). Awkwafina isn't bad, by the way, but her character isn't particularly interesting - primarily because her arc is extremely predictable (at least to me). The narrative in general is a little bit weak, and the themes certainly aren't as potent as those of the first two films. Thankfully, the animation is still excellent and, while not as stylised as that of the previous picture, brings genuine vibrancy to even the stalest of plot beats. There are several really enjoyable set-pieces that perfectly toe the line between being silly and awesome, making sure the protagonist remains as goofy as ever while still being able to do some serious damage when he needs to. It is interesting to see him take a more measured approach to most of his encounters, and his actions - both micro and macro - reflect where he is in his overarching development. The experience is entertaining pretty much from start to finish, even though it does have a few rough patches. In particular, it doesn't get off to the best start, and initially seems like it's maybe only going to be one or two steps above one of those spin-off shows that just doesn't have the charm of the movies. However, it soon settles into itself and is considerably better than that, cementing itself as a proper cinematic entry in a film series that's never had a bad entry. Though this is certainly the weakest of the four, it's still an enjoyable and well-crafted 'Kung-Fu Panda' picture that keeps you engaged for its duration. It's a solid effort, despite its flaws.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)
Slimer? I hardly know her...
'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)' is definitely a bit of a mess. It just takes ages before its antagonist actually gets out and about, and it kind of just feels like it's spinning its wheels for a long time before that. Plus, it doesn't really give any of its many characters anything to do. It clearly isn't sure who's actually its protagonist, but it doesn't feel like a proper ensemble piece either (not a cohesive one, at least). McKenna Grace's Phoebe Spengler is probably the closest thing the flick has to a main character, but her storyline is so rushed and haphazard (and annoyingly queerbaited; just let her kiss her ghost girlfriend, for god's sake) that it doesn't feel satisfying overall. Having said all that, the film is a fair bit of fluffy fun during its second act, and there aren't any real weak links within the extensive cast (Bill Murray does the bare minimum of the bare minimum, though). The third act sadly devolves into the ghostbusters simply standing next to each other and blasting the baddie with their proton packs, but prior to that there are some suitably spooky sequences (including a surprisingly atmospheric opening) and there are also a handful of genuinely rather amusing moments (although it isn't massively funny on the whole). Ultimately, this is a forgettable but fairly diverting franchise extension that may mostly just dangle IP in front of its audience like a set of keys, but has a beaming and seemingly honest smile on its face while it does. It often feels like it's little more than scene after scene of nonsense jargon about ghost particles and stuff, but it has several enjoyable sequences and typically keeps you engaged. It is too long, though.
Gerald's Game (2017)
That's why you always set a safe word.
'Gerald's Game (2018)' has a total hoover of an ending: it's unsubtle and it sucks. The overworked and overwritten finale seems to outright miss the point of the rest of the picture - or, at the very least, what makes it scary - and it totally takes the wind out of the flick's otherwise well-sewn sails. Plus, it relies on and reinforces tired 'disabilities are scary' stereotypes. Prior to that, this is a mostly taut and effective chamber piece horror that delves into the psyche of its protagonist as she struggles to escape her unfortunate situation. The central premise ought to be really restrictive - and, in all the appropriate ways, it is - but the flick never feels caught up in the claustrophobia it so effectively conjures and is mostly able to sidestep the issues that could easily come with such a stagnant situation (repetition, complacency, etc.). Having said that, Mike Flanagan's typical monologue problem tends to rear its head every now and again, which does make some sequences slightly exhausting. The writing is also a little clunky at times, and I'm not entirely sure the feature is quite accomplished enough to be tackling the very serious themes it aims to explore. More specifically, it's not clear if its ultimate handling of said themes makes its decision to include such (relatively) graphic depictions of child abuse worthwhile (I'm not sure if said scenes are ever worth showing on screen). Generally, though, the film has its heart in the right place. It also maintains a strong sense of tension throughout, and - even at its slowest - never comes close to being boring. Furthermore, there's a specific sequence that's easily one of the most viscerally uncomfortable things I've seen in a long time (it's no easy feat to get me genuinely squirming in my seat, I assure you). Ultimately, this is an uneven but mostly effective horror movie that suffers from a bad ending and, to a lesser degree, some overlong monologues. It's still an engaging and unsettling experience despite its issues, and some of its gore is so well-achieved that it's almost unbearable.
Damsel (2024)
Call me a damsel, because this movie had me in distress. Nah, it wasn't that bad.
After a very rough - and very long - first act, 'Damsel (2024)' pulls itself together just enough to keep you watching until its credits roll. Although it's all incredibly basic and feels similarly cheap in that specifically 'Netflix original' way, it does feature a number of effective moments (the highlight is a brief but notable claustrophobic crawling sequence) that keep it from being an overall bad experience. These moments don't elevate it beyond general mediocrity, but they do just enough to spark your interest every now and again. They also somewhat counteract the clunky dialogue, predictable plotting, unconvincing acting and flimsy special effects. Therefore, the flick sits firmly in the 'fine' category. There's not much else to say about it, really. It's the sort of thing that you'll forget about as soon as it's over, but is mildly diverting while it's unfolding onscreen.
Tian xia di yi quan (1972)
Palms of fury.
'King Boxer (1972)' (also known as 'Five Fingers of Death' in the U. S.) is a Kung fu flick about a man who gets embroiled in a feud between martial arts schools when he travels across the country to train with a new master and learns a deadly palm technique that he's warned must only be used righteously. The schools operate kind of like gangs, with the antagonists doing everything they can to dismantle their competition (including murder) before a big tournament arrives that will decide who gets to teach martial arts in the north of the country. It's almost like a war for territory, in a way, as the baddies will supposedly have free rein over the country if they win the tournament and it's this that prompts the heroes to do everything they can to beat them. It's a classic martial arts movie in many ways, especially when it comes to the broad beats of its narrative. There are betrayals, unbeatable techniques, fighting competitions, training montages, unrequited loves, tragedies and a whole lot of deaths. The action is mostly in the form of extended fist fights, although there are some weapons-based encounters as well, and they're sometimes punctuated by surprising moments of full-on gore. A lot of people are killed in the film, and it's almost like it makes a point of not rolling its credits until every even one-time villain has seen some sort of comeuppance. There isn't a lot in the way of philosophy or theming, just old fashioned vengeance and mastery of combat. It's a blunt, down-the-barrel experience that features plenty of exciting set-pieces and has some satisfying moments of stylisation (listen out for the music Tarantino stole, which this also stole). It is a little bit slow overall, though, and some of its second act is less compelling than you'd like. There are some slightly repetitive elements, too. However, it's a solid effort overall that should please fans of the genre - especially if they're feeling particularly bloodthirsty.