tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28014417554239844962024-03-13T05:52:47.997-07:00Roman's Movie Reviews and MusingsIn depth and mini reviews of movies with a sprinkling of nostalgia and film music musings.Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.comBlogger721125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-1563143082352805102020-08-18T08:12:00.000-07:002020-08-18T08:12:02.887-07:00Blog hiatus <p> Well it's been a while since I've updated this blog. To be honest things have been so crazy since the pandemic started that I haven't been watching films with a critical eye as much. I've mostly been watching them for pure entertainment and to unwind. The thought of writing about them just doesn't appeal to me at this time. </p><p>That said, I do intend on returning to this blog at some point. I enjoy writing about movies too much to think that I'll just stop. But I think a break is needed. </p><p>I have been enjoying playing D&D quite a bit lately, and that has taken up the majority of my free time. If you are interested, I do have a campaign diary posted at my sister blog <a href="http://roman-martel.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-dragon-of-icespire-peak-campaign.html">Storytelling in all its Forms</a>.</p><p>When I do come back to movies and movie writing, I'll start posting here again. But until that time, please stay safe and enjoy the silver (or whatever color you prefer) screen.</p>Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-39339729670946286662020-02-29T07:34:00.001-08:002020-02-29T07:34:04.546-08:00Score Sample: John Carter (2012)Probably been too long since I mentioned Michael Giacchino on this blog, right? Right! So let's his score from the 2012 sci-fi adventure film <b>John Carter</b> another look. Through most of the 2010s Giacchino has been attached to Disney related film scores. Could be Pixar, <b>Star Wars</b> or even one off films like this one. Of course Disney wasn't hoping for a one off with <b>John Carter</b>, there were looking for their own <b>Star Wars</b> saga (before they bought Lucasfilm).<br />
<br />
Unfortunately the film did poorly in theaters and with a budget that could almost fund mission to Mars itself, <b>John Carter</b> is considered one of the biggest financial failures in film history. Ouch. All that said, the movie is actually solid entertainment, with plenty of eye candy to keep a viewer engaged. Helping along with that is Michael Giacchino's score. Giacchino goes full adventure epic with his style. You'll hear all kinds of golden age influences in the score including a little <b>Lawrence of Arabia</b> in there. But you also have those kinetic Giacchino action tracks.<br />
<br />
One of my favorites is <i>Sad Than Pursues the Princess</i> which just blasts along with action. But I also love the end titles which gives you a nice sampling of all the theme Giacchino crafted for the film. So enjoy both in this entry!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qmQGQjvE-wE/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qmQGQjvE-wE?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/butMdidqqCs/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/butMdidqqCs?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-78957584583021861412020-01-27T06:00:00.000-08:002020-01-27T06:00:04.951-08:00Score Sample - 80s Forgotten Gems - Lionheart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-olmOItRVOxA/Xixr9i9_plI/AAAAAAAAIdI/2lXFq7zKkKkvx01RbR5JyQ0FKG6feMtuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Score%2BSample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="264" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-olmOItRVOxA/Xixr9i9_plI/AAAAAAAAIdI/2lXFq7zKkKkvx01RbR5JyQ0FKG6feMtuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Score%2BSample.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
Jerry Goldsmith worked with director Franklin Schaffner several times over the years, providing him with some of the most memorable scores of his career. <b>Planet of the Apes</b>, <b>Patton</b> and <b>Papillion</b> are are well regarded films and scores. But the two men worked on a couple films that aren't quite as well remembered these days. One of those is the film <b>Lionheart</b>, a medieval adventure that takes place during the Children's Crusade of 1212. It starred Eric Stolz and Gabriel Byrne. The movie ended up getting a very limited theatrical release and was shuffled off to VHS and cable viewing.<br />
<br />
These days the only folks that seem to mention the film are the Jerry Goldsmith fans, because DAMN is this an awesome score. Goldsmith goes full medieval adventure mode with this, and while I think he would perfect the sound in <b>First Knight</b>, what you get in <b>Lionheart</b> is top notch material. It has a rousing theme, heroic action, and because it was written in 1987, just a few synthesizer touches that Goldsmith was so fond of during this era. For all that, the score is certainly one of his best during the 1980s, and a double CD edition presents all the music from the film (sadly out of film order). Here is the massive finale piece, <i>King Richard</i><b> </b>from the score to <b>Lionheart</b> by Jerry Goldsmith.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/43fKTXB6-L4/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/43fKTXB6-L4?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-5159292510460692552020-01-20T06:47:00.000-08:002020-01-20T06:47:10.832-08:00Score Sample - 80s Forgotten Gems - Young Sherlock Holmes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KZx9Ox6QT_U/XiRrpQT0QeI/AAAAAAAAIcc/MJgNcAtyhv0MjeBaeC2WIu8f0ygqXe31wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Score%2BSample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="264" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KZx9Ox6QT_U/XiRrpQT0QeI/AAAAAAAAIcc/MJgNcAtyhv0MjeBaeC2WIu8f0ygqXe31wCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Score%2BSample.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
Taking another look at scores from 80s films that have been forgotten over the years. Today's entry comes from the film <b>Young Sherlock Holmes</b>. The score was composed by Bruce Broughton and is one of the very best adventure scores of the decade. Broughton crafts some wonderful themes for Watson and Holmes, a beautiful love theme, and one of the most diabolical evil chants for the Egyptian death ritual in the film. It is a powerhouse of a score, and in many ways may remind you of a John Williams score.<br />
<br />
That said, has anyone else noticed that the schoolyard villain in this film is named Dudley and looks like Draco Malfoy from the <b>Harry Potter</b> franchise. I would be willing to bet J.K. had this movie in mind when writing the first Potter books... but I digress.<br />
<br />
Here is the end title piece to <b>Young Sherlock Holmes</b> composed by Bruce Broughton.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vV37FrM8SA4/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vV37FrM8SA4?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-12562259045614724022020-01-13T06:00:00.000-08:002020-01-13T06:00:00.280-08:00Score Sample - 80s Forgotten Gems - The Last Starfighter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-exI4zSw6g8c/Xhsv3kVepNI/AAAAAAAAIbs/vU7aTwNcQHoS45kS63l6ZmKfW7uWRfCeACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Score%2BSample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="264" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-exI4zSw6g8c/Xhsv3kVepNI/AAAAAAAAIbs/vU7aTwNcQHoS45kS63l6ZmKfW7uWRfCeACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Score%2BSample.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
I continue my look back at wonderful scores from the 1980s attached to movies that have been lost in the mists of time. Now <b>The Last Starfighter</b> did a lot of things right, and it is a very entertaining film all the way around. It also was one of the very first movies to use computer generated visual effects for the starships on screen. For that alone will be logged in history books.<br />
<br />
But these days folks don't seem to talk too much about it. That is a shame because the wonderful score by Craig Safan has a very memorable main title. In fact, I've heard this main title played in amusement parks when they are trying to get a heroic vibe going. Safan's score could be at home in space or in a film with knights and dragons. He does some great stuff with it, and also gives us a couple of other themes to play with over the course of the film (along with some minimal electronics as a nod to the role of video games in the plot).<br />
<br />
But in all honesty the end credits piece <i>Into the Starscape</i> is what you need to hear. So here you go, from the film <b>The Last Starfighter</b> composed by Craig Safan.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yNhdDcLjkc0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yNhdDcLjkc0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-65388564743615538652020-01-06T06:00:00.000-08:002020-01-06T06:00:05.832-08:00Score Sample - 80s Forgotten Gems - Return to Oz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F_D4P6oRcJQ/XhH2r35nNZI/AAAAAAAAIbg/l9gwp7h5cPkAEZM-DTtN_TixrUbf7IYdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Score%2BSample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="264" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F_D4P6oRcJQ/XhH2r35nNZI/AAAAAAAAIbg/l9gwp7h5cPkAEZM-DTtN_TixrUbf7IYdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Score%2BSample.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
Here is a little mini series of posts about movie music. Because I love it, and I love sharing it. The 1980s were a great time for fantasy and adventure film scores. The decade was dominated by some of the biggest names in film scores with John Williams giving us the amazing Indiana Jones trilogy as well was two <b>Star Wars</b> films. You had James Horner cranking out both <b>Krull</b> and <b>Willow</b> not to mention two <b>Star Trek </b>scores. And speaking of <b>Star Trek</b> Jerry Goldsmith knocked it out of the park with <b>Star Trek V</b> as well as his immense and amazing score to <b>Legend</b>. At the end of the decade you had Danny Elfman really coming into his own with fantastic scores to <b>Scrooged</b> and <b>Batman</b>.<br />
<br />
But I'm not going to talk about any of those, I'm going to focus on the forgotten ones. Scores to movies that most people don't talk about any more, but had amazing scores. First up is David Shire's wonderful work with <b>Return to Oz</b>. Shire did some amazing work with various themes for nearly all the characters and weaving them into one powerful score. Listening to the full album is a treat with a new memorable theme popping up in each track. It is nearly impossible to pick one to sample here. But I think his most charming music is the rag time triumphal march that plays near the end of the film. Using the rag time style fits perfectly with the setting of the film, and gives the score a unique identity among the very much orchestral bombast scores (nothing wrong with that) we got in the decade.<br />
<br />
So here is <i>Rag March</i> from <b>Return to Oz</b> by David Shire.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/b_cWg4XA8rc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b_cWg4XA8rc?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-22811831361400017142019-12-17T06:00:00.000-08:002019-12-17T06:43:59.019-08:00Let's Have a Patrick Swayze Christmas!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I saw this posted by the folks at <a href="http://www.mst3kinfo.com/">Satellite News</a> a few years back, and I just make sure it makes the rounds again this year. Remember the little ditty that Joel and the Bots sing during the <b><a href="http://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2010/12/santa-claus-conquers-martians-1964.html">Santa Claus Conquers the Martians</a> </b>episode? Well someone decided to take that, arrange it for a choir and then record it. Check out the serious faces as they sing these wonderful festive lyrics. And keep an eye peeled for a nod to <a href="http://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2010/06/pod-people-1983-mst3k-review.html">Pod People</a> as well.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lq8WhYTRbC8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just figured I'd spread some MST3K inspired holiday cheer! Hope you all have a great end of the year.</span>Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-1594825262665095312019-11-08T06:42:00.002-08:002019-11-08T06:42:57.674-08:00Score Sample: The Dark Crystal (1982)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FhYYD5ot0QI/XcV-6D2jr-I/AAAAAAAAIUQ/FaQFj4J0udwRiGV6JsNB1TaSaSP39bVxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Score%2BSample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="264" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FhYYD5ot0QI/XcV-6D2jr-I/AAAAAAAAIUQ/FaQFj4J0udwRiGV6JsNB1TaSaSP39bVxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Score%2BSample.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
2019 brought us a new television series based around the 1982 fantasy adventure <b>The Dark Crystal</b>. The television series outlines the events that lead up to the situation Jen and Kira find themselves during the earlier film. So yeah it is a prequel of sorts, but I'm just happy to see the amazing puppetry and sets brought to life. As a kid, I adored <b>The Dark Crystal</b>, as well as it's younger sister <b>Labyrinth</b>. So I've been enjoying the series quite a bit (still working my way through it at this point).<br />
<br />
One thing that I don't think has been improved on is the amazing score from the 1982 film by Trevor Jones. In a lot of ways this is one of those forgotten fantasy scores that really deserves more attention, kind of like the work on <b>Young Sherlock Holmes</b>. Jones created a myriad of themes for <b>The Dark Crystal</b> and nearly every one of them is memorable in some way. He interweaves the themes all through the film and gives the world its own unique flavor.<br />
<br />
He wrote a wonderful <i>Overture</i><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>piece that I'll share today, but really the whole score is worth seeking out for fans of big colorful fantasy adventure scores. It might even be my favorite work by Jones. So here is <i>Overture</i> from <b>The Dark Crystal</b> by Trevor Jones.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/69mrj3TJ_lY/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/69mrj3TJ_lY?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-74996073211414813982019-10-31T06:00:00.000-07:002019-10-31T06:00:06.795-07:00Subspecies IV - Bloodstorm (1998)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LBL05pd06hc/XbnwAsZ5XoI/AAAAAAAAISE/YmaAwtPIpukOgJBTDgs3hDI_t8X_j1yMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sub%2B4a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="415" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LBL05pd06hc/XbnwAsZ5XoI/AAAAAAAAISE/YmaAwtPIpukOgJBTDgs3hDI_t8X_j1yMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Sub%2B4a.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Director Ted Nicolaou and Full Moon entertainment felt the need to continue the story of Radu the master vampire of Romania. Maybe the goth/romance inspired</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><b style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2019/10/vampire-journals-1997.html">Vampire Journals</a></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">from the previous year wasn’t the hit they hoped. Or maybe they figured m”Might as well film another movie since we are here in Romania and we have Anders Hove around.” In any case, even though it looked pretty damn definitive that Radu didn’t survive the</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><b style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2018/10/bloodlust-subspecies-iii-1994.html">Bloodlust</a></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">of the previous film, hold on to your hats, because the bloodsucker with the long fingers is back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Summary</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">You can’t keep a good vampire down. Especially when you leave the Bloodstone (a mystical vampire artifact) laying around. So when Radu’s (Anders Hove) melting hand falls from the tree he was impaled on (see the previous film), it somehow restores him to undeath! He manages to shamble back into his castle and wait for night – because dammit he still wants Michelle (Denice Duff).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yeah even though Michelle was rescued by her sister and an American diplomat, they got into a car wreck. Only Michelle “survived” and was rescued by local doctor Ana Lazar (Ioana Abur). Ana takes Michelle to a mysterious clinic run by the eccentric Dr. Ion Niculescu (Mihai Dinvale). He is excited to have an actual vampire to work on, and claims to have a cure in mind to reverse the effects of vampiric affliction. He just needs… the <a href="https://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2017/10/bloodstone-subspecies-ii-1993.html">Bloodstone</a>! Soon enough Radu arrives at the clinic demanding Michelle and he has minions of his own, including the diabolical Ash (Jonathon Morris). Will Michelle have any hope of escaping this brewing <b>Bloodstorm</b>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Good Points</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Anders is back as Radu and his performance is just what you want</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">The location shooting in Romania continues to provide a unique look and feel</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Adding the mad scientist subplot provides some interest</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bad Points:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">The script is a mess</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Why is Lt. Marin back, WHY?</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Vampire Journals</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> connection provides nothing to the story</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Overall</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Well, I’m not sure anyone was really asking for this movie, and while I appreciate that Nicolaou tried to give us some new points of interest with the mad doctor and the vampires from the previous film, it just never comes together. Of the four official movies this one meanders the most, and feels the least thought out. It has fun moments, with both Hove and Dinvale chewing the scenery. But in the end we are left with a limp finale for Radu and Michelle. Worth watching if you want to be a completionist, but most viewers should just stick to the original trilogy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Scores</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> (out of 5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Visuals: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sound: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Acting: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Script: 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Music: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Direction: 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Entertainment: 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Total</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">: 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">In Depth Review<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So the ride comes to an end with </span><b style="font-family: Arial;">Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm</b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> (Also called </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Subspecies: Awakening </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">or just Bloodstorm as I’ll refer to it from now on). Director/writer Ted Nicolaou and Full Moon pictures gave us a </span><a href="http://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2016/10/subspecies-1991.html" style="font-family: Arial;">vampire</a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> saga spanning five films through the bulk of the 1990s. At times they are a snapshot of the era in which they were made, and other times they are their own beast. It has been quite a ride watching and reviewing the flicks over the years, but now we come to the end. Was the journey worth it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">There are some really good points in <b>Bloodstorm</b>. First off we have the return of our two main characters Radu and Michelle one last time and both actors seem fairly committed to parts. Hove seems a bit slower in this film, but his menace is still impressive, even if the new Radu make up gives him serious chin-butt. He looks more like Jim Carey in <b>The Mask</b> than he really should. That said, when Hove is creeping into the scenes and ranting over his minions it really works. Hove has been a bright spot in all four of the main films, and really is a main reason the series succeeds when it does. As a swansong, I wish Hove had a bit more to do in this film, but some of his interactions with Morris and Dinvale are very fun to watch.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-so3WiWT73jU/XbnzUc00ZSI/AAAAAAAAISQ/StRnRyTVWrwrvQ9VYNNHaWHF8tsi9-tXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sub%2B4c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1019" height="210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-so3WiWT73jU/XbnzUc00ZSI/AAAAAAAAISQ/StRnRyTVWrwrvQ9VYNNHaWHF8tsi9-tXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Sub%2B4c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I haven't chewed nearly enough scenery!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Denice Duff has portrayed Michelle in the second, third and now fourth installment of the series. She has had the tough job of giving us a Michelle that is slowing turning into a vampire and fighting with those urges. Duff always gives us a passionate performance. She can be seductive when she needs to be, and deeply disturbed at others. The sequels really click because of the interactions between Duff and Hove (especially the second and third films). Sadly the scripts never really give Duff a complete arc over the course of the films. It is sooooo frustrating at times. We have an actress giving it her all, and in the end the movie just isn’t built to support it.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><b style="font-family: Arial;">Bloodstorm</b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">is no different, with Duff getting less screen time because of all the new characters and subplots. She does what she can, but in the end, she feels like a supporting character in a series that had focused on her trials. It’s a bit of a shame.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Also worth mentioning are two of the “new” characters. First up is Jonathon Morris who returns as Ash from the </span><b style="font-family: Arial;">Vampire Journals</b><span style="font-family: Arial;">. The new look for Ash is pretty silly looking, but in a different way this time. Morris doesn’t let that stop him, as he continues to ooze smarm and confidence. Sadly his new wig is absolutely atrocious. It makes him so hard to take seriously but adds to the cheese factor. His interactions with Hove as a fledging meeting his “dead” master again are pretty darn good. It’s a shame this subplot is so uninteresting, Morris makes the scenes more tolerable, but they are just so pointless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gZK9FdSpFN0/Xbnzd_L6XNI/AAAAAAAAISU/7D4H9Uvz5C0LLyYFEt2no5ssnBmZNhoUACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sub%2B4f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="429" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gZK9FdSpFN0/Xbnzd_L6XNI/AAAAAAAAISU/7D4H9Uvz5C0LLyYFEt2no5ssnBmZNhoUACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Sub%2B4f.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No one can explain what happened to his hair.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then there is Dinvale as Dr. Ion Niculescu. Dinvale gave us a very foppish performance in </span><b style="font-family: Arial;">Vampire Journals</b><span style="font-family: Arial;">, but in </span><b style="font-family: Arial;">Bloodstorm</b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> he embraces the eccentricities of the mad scientist. He really goes for it in many scenes being very unsettling and creepy. We know right from the start that this guy is hiding something, and it isn’t too surprising to learn he’s a vampire too, Dinvale is able to keep us engaged with the story when he is on screen. It’s a fun performance and although the character gets tossed away near the end, he was an enjoyable addition to the series.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ioana Abur as Dr. Lazar and Floriela Grappini as Serena are both solid in their parts. Lazar becomes our new Final Girl for this film. She does an admirable job interacting with the vampiric forces of Michelle and Dr. Niculescu. But the character lacks the connection of Michelle’s sister Rebecca from the previous two films. It’s just not all that interesting, despite a solid performance. Serena is a vampire hanging around with Ash. She is supposed to be in <b>The Vampire Journals</b> but I honestly don’t remember her. In this film she is OK, chewing the scenery when she needs to. But the character is tied to an uninteresting subplot so she just suffers in the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TO_gLHm224Q/Xbnz36up_4I/AAAAAAAAISg/rDxc9Mo50zYVQ_lfvZdv1Vdi7bxXOavGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sub%2B4b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="533" height="241" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TO_gLHm224Q/Xbnz36up_4I/AAAAAAAAISg/rDxc9Mo50zYVQ_lfvZdv1Vdi7bxXOavGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Sub%2B4b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only one person in this pic is <b>not </b>a vampire. Take a guess.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Speaking of suffering, Lt. Marin (Ion Haiduc) is back, even though we clearly saw him die in the previous film. But that hasn’t stopped the </span><b style="font-family: Arial;">Subspecies </b><span style="font-family: Arial;">movies in the past, why should it stop </span><b style="font-family: Arial;">Bloodstorm</b><span style="font-family: Arial;">? Once again, we spend way too much time with this bumbling character. He’s not funny. He’s annoying and the subplot goes NO WHERE. Literally, he comes back as a vampire, flounders around for way too many scenes and is killed by Serena in a graveyard. This padding is unforgivable. Because it is done with such an annoying character, it just leaves a bad taste in your mouth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Do you see the theme of <b>Bloodstorm </b>yet? No, it isn’t about fate. No, it isn’t about desire. No, it isn’t about delusion. Is it about Radu's Finger Demons? NO! Those little stop motion guys don't even appear in the film. So you have a <b>Subspecies </b>film without the subspecies. Anyway, the main theme of this film is messy screenwriting. None of the <b>Subspecies</b> films are plotted well. But most of them have a charm to them, usually because of performances and the successful location shooting. But all the goodwill from those elements is squandered on a really poor script for the fourth film in the series. Granted this is the FOURTH film, and I really shouldn’t expect all that much, but still, I do expect something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zlm6ReqmpdM/Xbn0MSgAWwI/AAAAAAAAISo/dZAylOb3Os8lPmEVcFQlOA0z6GGqzXXjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sub%2B4d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="622" height="243" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zlm6ReqmpdM/Xbn0MSgAWwI/AAAAAAAAISo/dZAylOb3Os8lPmEVcFQlOA0z6GGqzXXjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Sub%2B4d.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Michelle is totally my girlfriend now, so don't even<br />think about asking her to prom!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As I mentioned the element that I did like was adding the mad scientist trope to the series. I think the idea of having a vampire attempting to find a cure for vampirism and being excited to use Michelle as a test subject is a great one. You really could have the whole movie hum along on that plot with Radu closing in on them over the course of the film. But the plot point never gets the screen time it should, because of the other subplots. It also suffers from an element that has plagued the series from the very beginning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I ask this simple question: what are the properties of the Bloodstone? If your response is, “How the hell should I know? You watched all five of these movies.” That’s correct. I did watch all five films and I still don’t know what the Bloodstone is capable of. I know it contains the blood of the saints, but I don’t know what the means for vampires. Still every vampire character in the <b>Subspecies </b>series is obsessed with the Bloodstone. I would think by the time we reached <b>Bloodstorm</b>, we would get a definitive answer. We have a scientist character just waiting there to explain it all. But it never happens. Once again the Bloodstone is just something to keep the plot moving. Because we never define it, the whole crux of Dr. Niculescu’s plot is vague. It all leads to his death, but why? I’m not sure even the writer knows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Xrg9RI0POk/Xbn0YhO8uoI/AAAAAAAAISs/wJ2KhA5_Bw0Bs9Xibjxix9KzNS5p8RIngCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/sub%2B4e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="706" height="215" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Xrg9RI0POk/Xbn0YhO8uoI/AAAAAAAAISs/wJ2KhA5_Bw0Bs9Xibjxix9KzNS5p8RIngCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/sub%2B4e.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I offer you... another pointless subplot. How can you<br />resist?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Additional pain comes from the subplots. I already mentioned the tedious and pointless “comedy” of Lt. Marin. There is also the whole “Radu meets Ash” subplot. It seems like a good idea, and maybe given enough time, the power struggle between these two could have been engaging at some level. But there really isn’t much going on here. Radu is evil and a jerk. Ash is evil and a jerk. Radu has more power so he shows dominance by taking Serena for himself. Ash mopes. Serena gets mad for being treated like a toy (as well she should). So she gets Ash to team up with anyone they can (Dr. Lazar in the end) to kill Radu. So while this subplot leads to the demise of our main character, it is just so dull and predictable that you don’t care while it is happening. It’s a shame because you have some good acting here, but the script feels aimless in these scenes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">One of the most problematic issues is the loss of Rebecca: Michelle’s sister from the previous two films. It’s possible that Melanie Shatner didn’t want to come back for the fourth film (can’t say I blame her too much). She was really good at making me believe her sisterly relationship with Duff and the two made a good team over second and third films. By killing her off at the very start of <b>Bloodstorm</b>, we lose one of the last binding elements for Michelle in the story. Now this could lead to some really great story elements for Michelle to explore, but once again the script refuses to dive too deep into Michelle’s reactions to tragic events. She is a bit distraught about the death of Rebecca, but I would think it would have a bigger impact on her, and force her to finally embrace her vampire powers or utterly reject them. But still, she is waffling between the two. So, so frustrating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUjjsZxV8W0/Xbn0qeKgazI/AAAAAAAAIS4/_sBQa-8mgSwOoniuJ8rqAUdORGDr3dKfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sub%2B4g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="588" height="216" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUjjsZxV8W0/Xbn0qeKgazI/AAAAAAAAIS4/_sBQa-8mgSwOoniuJ8rqAUdORGDr3dKfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Sub%2B4g.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Ready to be come the new 'Michelle', Dr. Lazar?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">That was my main experience watching </span><b style="font-family: Arial;">Bloodstorm</b><span style="font-family: Arial;">. This could have and should have been the conclusion to Michelle and Radu’s story in a satisfying way. Instead all the subplots dilute us away from that core storyline. Honestly the previous film gave us a pretty definitive conclusion. That may be the real issue here – there was no reason to have a fourth film. I can see how this script was probably hard to write and with little time to flesh things out it ended up being a mess. But it’s unfortunate that the series fumbles its way to the finale.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Was it worth it to watch and review the <b>Subspecies </b>series? I had plenty of fun with these films. I think the first and second films are probably the best of the bunch. I wouldn’t say they are mandatory viewing for horror fans. They are more like fun weekend flicks to enjoy with some popcorn during the Halloween season. If anything, this series seems like a great candidate for a remake or reboot of some kind. With better writing, these movies could be turned into a fun and creepy series. I imagine that coming up with rules for the Bloodstone and casting Radu and Michelle just right would be key. But that is all in dreamland. For the here and now, the <b>Subspecies</b> series can be an entertaining ride, as long as you know what you are in for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-61h-jz5SJ3U/Xbn1gt5W0uI/AAAAAAAAITE/pfxahRVtfBkZvD-xdFFcXfWtgPQXmXWuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sub%2B4h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="538" height="175" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-61h-jz5SJ3U/Xbn1gt5W0uI/AAAAAAAAITE/pfxahRVtfBkZvD-xdFFcXfWtgPQXmXWuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Sub%2B4h.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Nope, I'm good. Just give me a couple minutes.<br />I'll be back for Subspecies 5."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Enjoy this review? Click an ad and support this blog.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-82618032747514282482019-10-28T06:00:00.000-07:002019-10-28T10:42:37.214-07:00Vampire Journals (1997)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zzjLJFYR2ls/XbXSLwn4NKI/AAAAAAAAIRE/MukoSrmt-4swy954TUlmSHW5FCavPyBLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/vampire%2Bjournal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="306" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zzjLJFYR2ls/XbXSLwn4NKI/AAAAAAAAIRE/MukoSrmt-4swy954TUlmSHW5FCavPyBLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/vampire%2Bjournal.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Oh Ann Rice, what have you wrought? Vampires went from one of the most feared creatures of the horror world into the misunderstood bad boys of goth fans everywhere. Her novel <i>Interview with a Vampire</i> got things off to a start back in 1976. Young adult books like <i>The Vampire Diaries</i> first started in 1991 were all the rage. When a film version of <b>Interview with a Vampire </b>in 1994 changed the landscape of the vampire world vampires had to evolve. Full Moon wanted to make further vampiric adventures in the <b><a href="https://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2016/10/subspecies-1991.html">Subspecies</a> </b>universe, but Radu’s pure evil nature wasn’t cool. Time to get cool. Time for some <b>Vampire Journals</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Summary</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial";">So technically this movie was made before <b>Subspecies IV</b>, chronologically the events occur after that amazing film.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Alas for poor Zachary (David Gunn), his mortal life was destroyed back in the 1890s when he was turned into a vampire and his lover was slaughtered. He vowed vengeance and has turned against his vampiric nature. His only goal is to hunt down and kill the evil Ash (Jonathon Morris). This vile bloodsucker seems to be the source of the vampire scourge that Zachary wants to get to the root of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">He better hurry because Ash has his eyes set on a lovely classical piano player named Sofia (Kirsten Cerre). Ash loves her talent and feels that if he makes her immortal, her skill will increase until she is unmatched. And of course he wants to suck her blood and turn her into a willing slave – you know, typical vampire lord goals. Zachary takes a liking to Sofia and does his best to try to save her, but Ash has deadly minions of his own, and it becomes obvious that even with the powerful Sword of Laertes, Zachary may be outmatched. If he fails, can hope be found in his <b>Vampire Journals</b>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Good Points</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Filmed on location in Bucharest, Romania in winter which enhances the mood</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Jonathon Morris is having lots of fun in the antagonist’s role</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Goes all in with the “sexy” and “cool” vampire routine</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Bad Points:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Goes all in with the “sexy” and “cool” vampire routine</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">The tortured voiceover is really annoying</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">None of the characters are all that engaging</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Overall</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">So this movie was surprisingly entertaining. Not because it was good, but because it was so cheesy. Series director Ted Nicoalau rejects the classic gothic horror of the previous <b><a href="https://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2017/10/bloodstone-subspecies-ii-1993.html">Subspecies</a></b> films to attempt a music video style approach to this film. It is “cool” and “sexy” and almost none of it works the way it was intended. If you like your vampires scary and evil, this film will annoy you. But if you can enjoy the hilarious dialogue, questionable acting, delightfully evil performance by Morris and the overall 90s silliness of the whole production you will have a good time. Ignore the <b>Subspecies</b> connection, and just put this one on for some popcorn Halloween-time fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Scores</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";"> (out of 5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Visuals: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Sound: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Acting: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Script: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Music: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Direction: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Entertainment: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Total</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">In Depth Review<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Most fans of <b>Subspecies</b> feel this entry in the series is the nadir. To be fair, this isn’t an official entry really. It looks like Full Moon and Nicoalau were trying to spin things in a new direction with <b>Vampire Journals</b>. We had a new protagonist, new antagonist and new lovely lady. Radu is mentioned in one scene as the mentor of Ash the new vampire lord, but that is really all the connections we have here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">But you know what, I was OK with that. <b><a href="https://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2018/10/bloodlust-subspecies-iii-1994.html">Subspecies III</a></b> wasn’t all that good, and it ended on a mostly satisfying way. I was fine for shifting things in a new direction. The opening credits set the tone here. We get dark romantic sounding music over shots of a snow-covered graveyard in Romania. It sets a different mood right away, one that is bit more gothic romance in the Ann Rice style. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2_tu5QaXA_4/XbcndMlny2I/AAAAAAAAIRQ/-2VQmq6PcOo5E2OAlz66chInQnfTuhiWwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/VJ2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="293" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2_tu5QaXA_4/XbcndMlny2I/AAAAAAAAIRQ/-2VQmq6PcOo5E2OAlz66chInQnfTuhiWwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/VJ2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Look, I'm almost Lestat, but you can call me Ash."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: arial;">The first scene is a doozy and is representative of what you are getting into here. A young woman is twirling in a diaphanous gown in a huge house as a hulking man in black watches her. There is a piano nearby surrounded by lit candles and right away, as a rock fan of the 90s I started cracking up. Especially when a close up of the hulking vampire flashed on the screen. Someone watched the Meatloaf video for “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” and was inspired. The music video was directed by Michael Bay (yes, that Michael Bay) back in 1993, and was all the rage. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">This scene looks like an outtake from the music video, except instead of the woman swooning at Meatloaf/monster this one screams and runs. But it is too late! Meatloaf/monster attacks and starts to drain her blood. Our new hero Zachary steps in, and wielding a ridiculous looking sword decapitates Meatloaf/monster. Was that Nicaolau’s commentary on the music video? Or was it just to get things started off with a bang.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u73-JRziJ8E/Xbcnl526jFI/AAAAAAAAIRU/tKVesxHVwYkq2Adah8U5wZXoXCnIBOvJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/VJ5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u73-JRziJ8E/Xbcnl526jFI/AAAAAAAAIRU/tKVesxHVwYkq2Adah8U5wZXoXCnIBOvJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/VJ5.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meatloaf would do anything for strawberry preserves.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: arial;">The rest of </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Vampire Journals</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> really keeps that Michael Bay music video style of lighting and overall style. It is quite a bit different compared to the look Nicaolau was going for in the previous films. It changes the overall tone to one that is less concerned with horror and more concerned with cool and sexy. Sometimes things work out, like the first scene where Ash watches Sophia play from an underground vantage point. Other times it just comes across as trying too hard and leads to chuckles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">There are other influences here. <b>Phantom of the Opera</b> is certainly one. We have the talented musician who is coveted by the monster. <b>Interview with a Vampire</b> inspired other aspects, especially the long hair both Ash and Zachary sport (very influenced by Cruise and Pitt’s look in the film). Zachary’s tortured narration apes the same thing we get in <b>Interview</b> from Pitt, with all the same melodrama, but this time it comes across as overripe and funny. This film also came out the same year as <b>Buffy the Vampire</b> slayer hit television. As much as Zachary feels like he is a low budget version of Angel, I’m not sure the influence actually occurred.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NhilKgjwVUw/Xbcnzpg5zWI/AAAAAAAAIRc/2SM_lUfJJ38F53EDaUX26IK6em1uLd3WwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/VJ6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NhilKgjwVUw/Xbcnzpg5zWI/AAAAAAAAIRc/2SM_lUfJJ38F53EDaUX26IK6em1uLd3WwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/VJ6.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"See like Luke Skywalker.. zzzwoosh, zzzwooosh."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Vampire Journals</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";"> is primarily concerned with Zachary brooding and providing lame voiceover while we observe how “cool” and “sexy” Ash is. The scenes with Ash are a lot of fun. I think Morris knew exactly what kind of movie he was in. So he goes for a devilishly evil take on the vampire as hedonist. He commits to the role and exudes that wicked confidence and suave smoothness with ease. In another movie, he would be a great villain. But here, surrounded by Michael Bay lighting and given a script that meanders around, he ends up feeling like too much of a good thing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">There are a bunch of strange subplots and characters that have potential, but don’t seem to go anywhere. You have Cassandra (Ilinca Gola) who is Ash’s most recent fledgling (still over 100 years old). Ash won’t trust her to go hunting alone, and we have a lot of scenes with the two of them bickering, and finally a hunting scene – but it never really moves past that. Her performance is appropriately over the top and fun, so the scenes between the two are never boring, just feel like padding in the overall scheme of things. Cassandra does get to go toe to toe against Zachary near the end of the film. It is a sword vs. mic stand battle you have to see to believe.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Os5vtLiFtrU/Xbcn_jolHQI/AAAAAAAAIRk/rU4mLdxaWko_DeAvPoOaSUvExjZQYYIZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/VJ8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Os5vtLiFtrU/Xbcn_jolHQI/AAAAAAAAIRk/rU4mLdxaWko_DeAvPoOaSUvExjZQYYIZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/VJ8.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dimitri and Cassandra get in a laugh or two.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: arial;">You also have Iris (Starr Andreeff) who owns </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Club Muse</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> where Ash has his hedonistic vampire abode. Iris is human, and certainly dresses like the femme fatale of the film. It is never really revealed why she is working with Ash, but it is implied that money may have something to do with it. She’s an interesting character that they don’t do too much with. You also have Dimitri (Mihai Dinvale) as the foppish vampire with a taste for male blood. I think he’s supposed to be funny, but mostly he just sashays around the screen and makes wry observations. We don’t feel all that bad when Zachary literally twists his head off like a toothpaste tube cap.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Then there is a less than interesting subplot in <b>Vampire Journals </b>about some vampire gangsters that betray Ash or something along those lines. Most of these actors have very thick Romanian accents, so I was having trouble following them. Also they were some of the weakest actors of the bunch. In the end I didn’t care about the subplot, and while it showed that Ash’s power was weakening among his vampire comrades (and Iris), it filled up more screen time than it was worth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-luQY_njzADo/XbcoLa31PJI/AAAAAAAAIRs/CXbnlxHTmso4X8dyW5_Caqxuy6UrVoqlACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/VJ4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="293" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-luQY_njzADo/XbcoLa31PJI/AAAAAAAAIRs/CXbnlxHTmso4X8dyW5_Caqxuy6UrVoqlACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/VJ4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Wow this looks so cheesy, where's my wine?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: arial;">The sound effects are up to the same quality that you’ve heard from </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Subspecies</b><span style="font-family: arial;">. The music is also on par. However there is a very distinct sting using strings each and every time a vampire bites a victim. And since we are watching a vampire movie it happens quite a bit. You could create a drinking game for that little musical motif and end up very inebriated by the end.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">While the script to <b>Vampire Journals</b> is overly familiar, that is part of what makes it fun to watch. You can spot all the references to <b>Phantom of the Opera</b>, and <b>Interview with a Vampire</b>. You can chuckle at how Sophia flops around like a spastic doll whenever Ash drinks from her. You can snicker at the ripe dialogue, and silly long hair all the male vampires sport. You can shake your head at the cartoonish design for the SUPER vampire slaying sword that Zachary wields, and then loses and then wields again. The movie manages to hit all the tropes, and include plenty of gore, over the top kils and naked chests to suit your vampiric lusts. There is a just a lot to enjoy here, because of all its cheesy faults, it does manage to entertain. While I do tend to like my vampires more on the scary than the sexy side, I will say that this makes for a fine evening for Halloween themed popcorn viewing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71VZoJMEsC4/XbcoateLfvI/AAAAAAAAIR0/6UkvDs922O88CPbWubIXNCfFj_oNWX3oQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/VJ3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="138" data-original-width="296" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71VZoJMEsC4/XbcoateLfvI/AAAAAAAAIR0/6UkvDs922O88CPbWubIXNCfFj_oNWX3oQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/VJ3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Um, are you awake? Can I have a drink of blood... I mean , water?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Enjoy this review? Click an ad and support this blog.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-89907779835881045692019-10-24T06:46:00.001-07:002019-10-24T06:46:12.838-07:00Creepy (2016)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kiKC_Rm6rwU/XbGrGbyq7pI/AAAAAAAAIQ4/KovY1B5uDngeMeobTqKyFI9sGtk-eC7TQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Creepy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="484" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kiKC_Rm6rwU/XbGrGbyq7pI/AAAAAAAAIQ4/KovY1B5uDngeMeobTqKyFI9sGtk-eC7TQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Creepy.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Detective Koichi Takakura (Hidetoshi Nishimjima) feels he has a good grasp of criminal psychology. He attempts to talk down a dangerous killer during a hostage negotiation – and it all goes to hell, Koichi barely survives. He retires from the force and takes up a teaching position, moving to a new home with his wife Yasuko (Yuko Takeuchi). Yasuko wants to be a good neighbor and brings home made sweets to the other two families on the little street. One gives her a cold reception, the other… well he’s just creepy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Meanwhile Koichi’s old detective buddy asks him to help out on a strange case of a missing family. Koichi goes behind his wife’s back to help (she doesn’t want him in danger any more). And Yasuko starts to see the creepy Mr. Nishino (Teruyuki Kagawa) doing off putting and bizarre things. Is he just an awkward man with no social skills, or is there something sinister behind his simpering smile? Things start to spiral out of control as they meet Mr. Nishino’s daughter Mio (Ryoko Fujino) who whispers that she isn’t his actual daughter. Koichi’s investigations start to point to serial killer who uses drugs and manipulation to ensnare his victims. He begins to suspect that Mr. Nishino is much more than just <b>Creepy</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Good Points</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kagawa’s performance is the perfect mix of creepy, cowardly and sinister</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Very unnerving as the scenes build in a methodical but horrifying way</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Some moments of unexpected comedy help break up the tension</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bad Points:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">The slow pacing moves a little too slow at times</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">You are either going to buy into the premise of the killer or find it stupid</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">The ending is going to annoy/disturb some viewers</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Overall</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I really like director Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s take on horror. His film <b><a href="http://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2014/10/cure-1997.html">Cure</a></b> is still one of the most unnerving films I’ve ever seen. While this film isn’t as good, it has a lot to recommend. Kagawa is amazing. He’s the most passive aggressive villain I’ve ever seen in a film. He is despicable, funny, and sinister all at once, a difficult combination to pull off, but he does it. His performance makes the film work as well as it does. The rest of the cast does a fine job, especially our lead detective and his wife. We watch as the tension between them slowly tears the relationship apart and drives either one to more and more desperate acts. Like Kurosawa’s other films there are lots of thematic elements you can pull out of the movie and talk about, which is always welcome. It isn’t nearly as obtuse as <b>Cure</b>, but <b>Creepy</b> does have the same slow pacing and measured filming technique. It works well, but isn’t for everyone. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and recommend it as a bit easier to digest over the more abstract (but also more fascinating) <b>Cure</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Scores</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> (out of 5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Visuals: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sound: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Acting: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Script: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Music: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Direction: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Entertainment: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Total</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Enjoying the content? Click and ad before you go and support this blog.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-29660792147028943232019-10-18T17:16:00.001-07:002019-10-19T07:51:14.192-07:00Humanoids from the Deep (1980)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JlHwq4K8krA/XapV23OLoqI/AAAAAAAAIQs/tEwDiNLoSUAlhJ30yOFGl6aLZ1w3lDp1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/humanoids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="342" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JlHwq4K8krA/XapV23OLoqI/AAAAAAAAIQs/tEwDiNLoSUAlhJ30yOFGl6aLZ1w3lDp1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/humanoids.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">In the little fishing town of Noyo things aren’t going so well. Not only do all the boats and cars seem to be filled with oily rags (because they explode all the time), but there are a bunch racist jerks lead by Hank Slattery (Vic Morrow) doing everything in their power to bring a new cannery into town against the wishes of the local native American Johnny Eagle (Anthony Pena). Meanwhile another local fisherman Jim (Doug McClure) and his wife Carol (Cindy Weintraub) try to keep things from going overboard (pun totally on purpose).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">But enough of the late 70s environmental message – bring on the MONSTERS. This movie has them rising up from the waters, all fishy and slimy. They attack half naked teenagers and take the females back to their lair to mate with them (ewwww). Seems like Dr. Susan Drake (Ann Turkel) has a theory about what is going on. But what can these helpless fishermen do against the <b>Humanoids from the Deep</b>?<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Good Points</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Hey, James Horner with one of his first movie scores! Cool!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">When it goes full grindhouse it is stupidly fun</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Creature effects aren’t too bad</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Bad Points:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Half the movie feels mired in the late 70s eco-horror style</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Pacing is all over the place with the movie dragging way too often</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Some suspect acting (but you knew that was coming)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Overall</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I heard of this movie for two reasons. First was that it is thinly inspired by the H.P. Lovecraft classic <i>Shadow Over Innsmouth</i>. But more likely it can be considered a remake of <b>Horror at Party Beach</b>. The other reason I knew about it was because of James Horner’s involvement early in his career (around the same time he did <b><a href="http://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2014/03/battle-beyond-stars-1980.html">Battle Beyond the Stars</a></b>). In any case, the movie is a mess. Director Barbara Peeters was making a serious horror flick with a message. Producer Roger Corman wanted more boobs and blood, and so the movie was reedited and reshot. This resulted in a movie that can be dumb fun when it wants to be, but the strange pacing keeps it from ever taking off. I’d say check out the creepier and gorier <b>Dagon</b> for a similar take but with a better grasp on the Lovecraftian roots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Scores</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";"> (out of 5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Visuals: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Sound: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Acting: 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Script: 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Music: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Direction: 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Entertainment: 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Total</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: 2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Enjoying the content? Click and ad before you go and support this blog.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-48827362179827012532019-10-07T06:00:00.000-07:002019-10-07T06:42:25.804-07:00Suspiria (2018)<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yRgXLwh3Sis/XZoFEQOt7ZI/AAAAAAAAIPw/bDu5DifA6K4uTPaBdWyC8ZapUkHCVN1YACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Suspiria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="602" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yRgXLwh3Sis/XZoFEQOt7ZI/AAAAAAAAIPw/bDu5DifA6K4uTPaBdWyC8ZapUkHCVN1YACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Suspiria.jpg" width="205" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Susie Bannion (Dakota Johnson) is accepted to a prestigious dance academy in Berlin. Since the film takes place in 1977, it is in West Berlin. She is excited to work with the famous Madame Blanc (Tilda Swinton) who sees something special in the girl. Unfortunately for Susie, that isn’t the only thing special about the academy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">A girl named Patricia (Chloe Grace Moretz) was the favored dancer before, but now she’s gone missing. The last one to see her was Dr. Josef Klemperer (Swinton again!), and he is obsessed with finding out what Patricia’s ranting about “witches” really meant. He enlists the help of another dancer Sara (Mia Goth) to do some digging. Will Sara and Susie discover the supernatural truth hidden in the academy, and does it all tie back to the ancient name Mator Suspieriorium?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Good Points</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Impressive acting by Johnson and Swinton</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Some eerie and disturbing sequences</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Attempts to retell the story in a new an interesting way</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Bad Points:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Is never able to sustain its dread, or horror for every long</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">The attempt to fuse the historical events of 1977 Berlin with witches doesn’t come together</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Never reaches a good flow, and ends up slogging quite a bit</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Overall</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The original <b>Suspiria</b> is a film I admire, but don’t really like all that much. So I was excited to see it getting a remake treatment. I think there was a lot of interesting material to explore in the original. While Guadagnino takes everything in a new direction, the whole conceit never really gels into an engaging film. He attempts to draw many thematic ideas into the film using the setting of 1977 Berlin, but it feels at odds with the personal horror at play. There are some excellent performances, and some disturbing visual sequences for sure. In the end it didn’t quite work. I’d dare say I actually like the original film a bit more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Scores</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";"> (out of 5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Visuals: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Sound: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Acting: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Script: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Music: 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Direction: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Entertainment: 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Total</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Enjoying the content? Click and ad before you go and support this blog.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-11092609265576414542019-09-30T06:00:00.000-07:002019-09-30T06:00:01.158-07:00Coherence (2013)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dRthLpKrpEo/XZDZiFFiGVI/AAAAAAAAIOw/eb1mSe1gCLsm-xrLzZP8Tm56J_0U-a-SQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Coherence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="926" data-original-width="628" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dRthLpKrpEo/XZDZiFFiGVI/AAAAAAAAIOw/eb1mSe1gCLsm-xrLzZP8Tm56J_0U-a-SQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Coherence.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Emily (Emily Baldoni) is heading off to a dinner party on the night a strange comet swoops very close to earth. On her way to the party her phone’s screen shatters. Upon arriving at the party she finds that several other guests had a similar experience. They start talking about other events that occurred when comets got too close to earth, including a strange instance where a woman insisted that the man in her house was not her husband… because she killed her husband the night before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Suddenly the power goes out, and while the group is gathering candles and glow sticks, they notice another house down the street has power. They send a couple of guests to head down to that house to see if their phone works. That is when things get really strange. They find a bizarre note on their door. Other people seem to be moving around outside the house. And eventually a box full of cryptic clues is discovered. As the night progresses people start to behave strangely and Emily wonders if she is losing her mind or reality is losing <b>Coherence</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Good Points</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Presents an intriguing mystery that does not give its secrets easily</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Some excellent performances by the cast keep you guessing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Creates an eerie and uncanny feeling</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Bad Points:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Some of the characters are annoying (on purpose)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">It takes some time to really get rolling</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">The camera work and editing are often distracting</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Overall</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">What a neat surprise this turned out to be. The film was a bit slow to start off, and some of the party guests were a bit on the insufferable side. But once the mystery kicked in, I was invested. Baldoni gives a great performance as she tries to navigate the oddities around her. Also kudos to Nicholas Brendon for poking fun at himself and providing an intense performance. The film would be a hidden gem if it weren’t for the camera work and editing. Because the movie is dialogue heavy, the camera work is constantly shifting focus, moving and cutting in strange ways to keep things interesting. Instead I was annoyed and distracted by it. I really wished they stopped trying to spice things up. But if you can look past that, you’ll find an engaging low budget thriller with a neat sci-fi angle… or is it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Scores</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";"> (out of 5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Visuals: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Sound: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Acting: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Script: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Music: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Direction: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Entertainment: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Total</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Enjoying the content? Click and ad before you go and support this blog.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-65076787566201051562019-09-23T06:00:00.000-07:002019-09-23T06:00:15.905-07:00Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PsesaTYZIKM/XYZPwNZYQ-I/AAAAAAAAINQ/BXLb1cZcbEYjC5XYlcbxWP9vWbuvQE3tACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/MIF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="466" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PsesaTYZIKM/XYZPwNZYQ-I/AAAAAAAAINQ/BXLb1cZcbEYjC5XYlcbxWP9vWbuvQE3tACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/MIF.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) should be feeling pretty good about capturing criminal mastermind Solomon Lane (Sean Harris) back in <b><a href="https://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2016/12/mission-impossible-rogue-nation-2015.html">Rogue Nation</a></b>. Alas a whole new set of rogues is taking up Lane’s cause and are threatening to unleash some serious destruction using nuclear devices. Hunt teams up with his crew of Stickell (Ving Rhames) and Dunn (Simon Pegg), but the plan falls apart and now there is a bomb to recover. As usual the head of the CIA , Erica Sloane (played with intensity by Angela Bassett) doesn’t think the IMF is up to the challenge. So she sends her watchdog, August Walker (Henry Cavill) to keep an eye on things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And boy is there a bunch to keep an eye on. Turns out Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) has an impossible mission of her own – is she working with or against Hunt and his team? There is also a black market dealer known as the White Widow (Vanessa Kirby) who wants a piece of the action. And that action ramps up with a battle royale in a bathroom, an insane car/motorcycle chase in Paris and one of craziest helicopter pursuit put to film. As the mission gets more and more impossible even Hunt has to wonder – have they actually bit off more than they can chew?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Good Points</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Top-notch action scenes and thrills</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Some excellent performances</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Keeps the plot moving with intensity and intrigue</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bad Points:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Goes for the full serious approach to the franchise</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Goes for a more grim visual style</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">The score’s more modern approach may not work for everyone</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Overall</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This series just keeps delivering solid thrills and action. This film makes for a fine follow-up to the last film. It also manages to work in elements from <a href="http://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2013/05/mission-impossible-1996.html">all</a> <a href="http://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2013/05/mission-impossible-ii-2000.html">the</a> <a href="http://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2013/05/mission-impossible-iii-2006.html">previous</a> <a href="http://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2013/05/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-2011.html">films</a>. It was great to so many familiar faces returning (Baldwin is back and he’s a blast). But the overall tone is so serious and grim, that the fun nature of the previous installments is missed. Still, had a great time with this one, and while I think I enjoyed the previous installment a bit more, <b>Fallout</b> is well worth seeking out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Scores</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> (out of 5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Visuals: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sound: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Acting: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Script: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Music: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Direction: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Entertainment: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Total</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Enjoying the content? Click and ad before you go and support this blog.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-35809354935960590722019-09-16T06:00:00.000-07:002019-09-16T06:00:01.427-07:00Jupiter Ascending (2015)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oSJeEn0kRWE/XX0Yl3rtmhI/AAAAAAAAINE/96BQdWHd75QvM3HR0B2z85Y0p65xsEhXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Jupiter%2Ba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="405" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oSJeEn0kRWE/XX0Yl3rtmhI/AAAAAAAAINE/96BQdWHd75QvM3HR0B2z85Y0p65xsEhXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Jupiter%2Ba.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) hates her life. Her family is obnoxious. She spends her days cleaning toilets for rich people who don’t appreciate her. And she can’t manage to get enough money to buy a lovely antique telescope she really wants. But don’t worry Jupiter, Caine Wise (Channing Tatum) is on the way to throw you into an intergalactic war between power-mad siblings. No seriously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Turns out Balem Abrasax (Eddie Redmayne) is obsessed with controlling earth, because it is a rich source for the most valuable substance in the universe. Of course he may have to enslave humanity to get it, but them’s the breaks. Turns out Jupiter is the key to complete control. Now intergalactic forces are trying to nab her and convince (or coerce) her to their side. Some insane combat explodes across the screen, Mila Kunis falls from great heights several times and hey is that Sean Bean? He is always great. In the end, Jupiter will have to decide how she can best help save the earth, even if she is just a normal girl who hates her life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Good Points</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Full of amazing visuals and exciting action sequences</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Creates a unique and engaging world beyond our solar system</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Goes over the top in an entertaining way (including Redmayne’s performance)</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bad Points:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Feels like it is a bit overstuffed at times</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Jones isn’t a very pro-active character (but you could argue that is her story arc)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">The over the top feeling may turn off some viewers.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Overall</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ok I had a good time with this one. I know it bombed in theaters, but I think it got a bit of a harsh treatment. Lots of new stuff on display here and the story is a unique one in modern space opera. I love Michael Giacchino’s score (one of his best). And I think Kunis does a good job in the role. But the movie moves at a breakneck pace and is so packed with craziness it does end up distancing you from the characters. I wanted to like them more than I did. That said, it was worth an evening’s viewing and I’m actually kicking myself for not seeing the flick in theaters – because… damn, those visuals are really something else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Scores</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">(out of 5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Visuals: 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sound: 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Acting: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Script: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Music: 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Direction: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Entertainment: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Total</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Enjoying the content? Click and ad before you go and support this blog.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-754251037085527232019-08-10T08:56:00.000-07:002019-08-10T08:56:55.183-07:00Anime Juke Box - Princess Nine - Princess Nine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k6JDUk95ZhU/XU7o_xIyhZI/AAAAAAAAIJQ/GbPTUzUBTjQXDWJ7pV3ullL0F7BoSZR6QCLcBGAs/s1600/Anime%2BJuke%2BBox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="553" height="123" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k6JDUk95ZhU/XU7o_xIyhZI/AAAAAAAAIJQ/GbPTUzUBTjQXDWJ7pV3ullL0F7BoSZR6QCLcBGAs/s320/Anime%2BJuke%2BBox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Been a while since we popped in a quarter into the anime jukebox, so I figured it was time. We are in the middle of summer and that means - baseball! And what does baseball mean to me? ANIME of course. One specific anime, <b>Princess Nine</b>. Oddly this little show actually helped me appreciate baseball as a sport. I didn't know until watching this how much strategy and tactics are used in the game and how much talent you actually need to have. Being the bookish nerd, I just figured sports are sports are sports.<br />
<br />
<b>Princess Nine</b> tells the story of a girl's prep school creating an actual baseball (not softball) team and all the trials the players, coaches and school administrators go through to make the dream a reality. Of course it has the usual high school drama mixed in, and the team is composed of an unusual group of misfits. It is very entertaining and something we will pull out every few summers to enjoy. The ADV dub is solid (if a little squeaky) and while you can predict how some of the sports story tropes are going to play out, we always have a good time with it.<br />
<br />
The music was composed by Masamichi Amano who managed to secure the Warsaw Philharmonic for the score! <b>Princess Nine</b> has a lush score with some wonderfully bombastic moments and drama. Very entertaining stuff. He also was able to work the opening theme song as a theme in the score to the series. That means you've got the full power of the philharmonic playing during the opening credits. I couldn't find the full version of the song, but here is the opening credits version of <i>Princess Nine</i><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>from <b>Princess Nine</b>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hMTWgtCVvjI/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hMTWgtCVvjI?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-23907907660583236442019-07-27T08:12:00.001-07:002019-07-27T08:23:42.324-07:00Score Sample: Spiderman: Far From Home (2019)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eicScKxh9Kc/XTxo_fkWnyI/AAAAAAAAIIw/6Yxb6CduYPYFbzFqwmOK9wkfB_B80VxxQCLcBGAs/s1600/Score%2BSample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="264" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eicScKxh9Kc/XTxo_fkWnyI/AAAAAAAAIIw/6Yxb6CduYPYFbzFqwmOK9wkfB_B80VxxQCLcBGAs/s200/Score%2BSample.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
Back in 2013, I wrote about how <a href="https://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2013/02/movie-music-musings-favorite-composers.html">Michael Giacchino</a> is one of my favorite composers working today. He still hasn't lost that place on my list. I try to pick up each of his scores almost as soon as they come out, and his work tends to entertain and engage me each time. The exceptions may be his scores for the two <b>Jurassic World</b> films. Still haven't warmed up to those.<br />
<br />
Giacchino was pulled into the world of superheroes early on with his amazing score to <b>The Incredibles</b>. That is still one of my favorite scores by the man, and the sequel score is a blast. It is little wonder that he was asked to score some of the Marvel films, including <b>Doctor Strange</b> and <b>Spiderman: Homecoming</b>.<br />
<br />
For the later, Giacchino was stepping into some big shoes. Previous Spiderman films were scored by the likes of Danny Elfman, Christopher Young, James Horner and Hans Zimmer. Each creating memorable takes on the character. Giacchino didn't shrink back, but went for it, crafting a new theme for Spidey and really giving it a workout in the score. His music for the villainous Vulture was also pretty darn cool.<br />
<br />
I think Giacchino pushed himself a little harder when it comes to <b>Far From Home</b>. The Spidey theme is back, and gets plenty of time to shine in this score. He also brings back the love theme from the previous score (which I'll admit isn't one of his strongest). But the new material for Mysterio is top notch. He works in some excellent electronics, gives Mysterio an almost heroic but intense theme. We get some great tracks on the score where the Spidey and Mysterio theme work together and then later in counterpoint - something you rarely hear these days, but was something classic composers like Goldsmith and Williams would do all the time. Best of all, the score is a lot of fun, full of action, thrills and excitement. I am actually hoping we get another Spiderman movie, just so I can hear Giacchino round out a trilogy of scores. Yeah that is a total film nerd thing to write.<br />
<br />
So here is Giacchino's end credit suite from <b>Spiderman: Far From Home</b> given the humorous title <i>Far From Home Suite Home</i>. It kicks off with Spidey's heroic theme, moves into the love theme, and shifts into a new theme for Nick Fury (and possibly the SWORD organization).Then those synths kick in and you know Mysterio's theme comes out to play. It builds and builds until Spidey's theme puts a stop to it and that hurtles into the conclusion of the track. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eoSDzpU5XVE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eoSDzpU5XVE?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-9621020899872851012019-07-08T06:56:00.000-07:002019-07-08T06:56:29.377-07:00Neon Genesis Evangelion on Netflix<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xQhDJYT91FY/XSNLgDWNQSI/AAAAAAAAIIg/ByD7XxxCyWUCW3ic2Nn1pUe3uXISQEM_QCLcBGAs/s1600/EVA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="904" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xQhDJYT91FY/XSNLgDWNQSI/AAAAAAAAIIg/ByD7XxxCyWUCW3ic2Nn1pUe3uXISQEM_QCLcBGAs/s400/EVA.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Looking for something interesting to watch this summer? Well you could check out <b>Neon Genesis Evangelion </b>on Netflix. This is one of my f<a href="http://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2014/06/top-ten-favorite-anime.html">avorite anime series</a>, and has been cleaned up a bit for the release over to Netflix. Sure you've probably seen people complaining about the new dub, but you can watch the subtitled version just as easily.<br />
<br />
Now, it has been nearly a decade since I revisited the series. But I pulled out my old Platinum edition DVDs and started watching the show again. Some things have held up pretty well, other times I'm seeing some of the seams where the limited budget was peaking through. The show was unique for its time, and these days so many shows have been inspired by it, that many of the fresh elements are tropes.<br />
<br />
Still, the characters are handled well, the robot and monster design is unique as hell, and all the philosophical, psychological and religious explorations are still worth delving into. The show doesn't really dive into those elements until we reach the second half, but man does it get nuts. Netflix has also gotten the rights to the <b>End of Evangelion </b>which was the feature film that provided an alternate ending (or the correct ending if you listen to some folks) to the series.<br />
<br />
All told, this show is worth watching, and after I finish my revisit I'll delve into a bit more on this blog.Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-4024099695035335622019-03-06T06:43:00.002-08:002019-03-06T06:43:32.322-08:00A Little BreakWanted to post a quick update here. I'm taking a little break from this blog. I've actually got another project brewing right now and it is taking up a bit of my time. I'm also watching fewer films because of it, so that just means less stuff to review.<br />
<br />
I will be able to post more about my new project over at my sister blog all about <a href="http://roman-martel.blogspot.com/">storytelling</a>. So check that out if you are interested.<br />
<br />
That said, I'm sure I'll come back to this blog at some point in the future. I enjoy writing about movies, MST3K and movie music too much to let that go.<br />
<br />
Thanks for stopping by!Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-58163870756371062542019-02-07T06:00:00.000-08:002019-02-07T06:00:11.334-08:00Score Sample: The Incredibles 2 (2018)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy5tvna3R7A/XFpdg1k2FcI/AAAAAAAAIGc/RH9BSzkFjTICohZiY4V7m4rOmHJsWJQewCLcBGAs/s1600/Score%2BSample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="264" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy5tvna3R7A/XFpdg1k2FcI/AAAAAAAAIGc/RH9BSzkFjTICohZiY4V7m4rOmHJsWJQewCLcBGAs/s200/Score%2BSample.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
I've got to say that I really love <b>The Incredibles</b>. The animation, the story, the characters are all some of my favorite from the Pixar animation studios. That said, it also is the first time I heard the music of <a href="http://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2013/02/movie-music-musings-favorite-composers.html">Michael Giacchino</a>. This composer would go on to be one of my favorites of the current crop of movie composers, and <b>The Incredibles</b> is where he really captured my ear. That first score is an homage to the big brassy spy scores of the 1960s, with a healthy dose of John Barry and Henry Mancini all wrapped around some top notch theme work.<br />
<br />
So when they announced that there was sequel in the works, there was no doubt in my mind that they had to bring Giacchino back. He has a great working relationship with the studio and it just made sense. <b>The Incredibles 2</b> sports Giacchino bringing that sassy brassy feel back, and then cranking it up a notch (or two). It's got more saxophone, more blaring trumpets and is having fun. The old themes return, a new theme for the villain is introduced, and even a theme for Elastigirl as she takes one some solo adventures. Great stuff all the way around. Giacchino wraps it all up with a wonderful end credits suite (always a highlight in his scores) giving you a taste of everything. So here are <i>The Incredits 2</i> from <b>The Incredibles 2</b> composed by Michael Giacchino.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EmHyj99UXpk/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EmHyj99UXpk?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-9935298336317480702019-01-31T06:00:00.000-08:002019-01-31T06:00:16.557-08:00Before I Wake (2016)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CrNCGb0YVtU/XE_QdiJXhII/AAAAAAAAIGQ/YpJYaDos5OQaqMTw-hTRQhw_8rR_iabdgCLcBGAs/s1600/Before%2BI%2BWake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="392" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CrNCGb0YVtU/XE_QdiJXhII/AAAAAAAAIGQ/YpJYaDos5OQaqMTw-hTRQhw_8rR_iabdgCLcBGAs/s320/Before%2BI%2BWake.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We decided to watch a horror double feature over the weekend. One film,</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><b style="font-family: Arial;">The Open House </b><span style="font-family: Arial;">was… well it was not very good. So we were hoping that this film would be a bit better. We had reason to hope, because we have enjoyed the work of director Mike Flanagan in the past (check out</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><b style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2016/07/hush-2016.html">Hush</a> </b><span style="font-family: Arial;">or his version of</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><b style="font-family: Arial;">The Haunting of Hill House</b><span style="font-family: Arial;">).</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Summary</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Jessie (Kate Bosworth) and Mark (Thomas Jane) are finally able to become foster parents. It was a tough road for them after the death of their son Sean (Antonio Romero). But Cody (Jacob Tremblay) is a sweet boy who seems eager to fit in. He also has had some rough events in his life. His previous two foster families met with tragedy, including abandoning him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">At first Cody seems to be adjusting well, but one night Jessie and Mark witness butterflies in their house. Cody is obsessed with the insects, and becomes apparent that when Cody dreams, elements of those dreams manifest. Jessie wonders if she can see her dead child again, if Cody dreams about him. But they have something else to worry about: Cody’s nightmares. Because one vivid horror is going to become very very real.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Good Points</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Creates and sustains an atmosphere of dread and the uncanny</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Very good performances by the whole cast</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Manages to get under your skin with its eerie moments</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bad Points:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">If you can’t buy into the overall premise of the film, you won’t get pulled in</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">The ending will leave some viewers conflicted</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Looking for fast pace or gore, you’ll be disappointed</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Overall</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Flanagan delivers a solid creepy film. He uses the couple’s grief as a jumping off point for how they deal with the powers Cody seems to have. It turns into an interesting character study, while building up some really good dread and scares. The finale may leave some viewers conflicted by the ambiguity, but overall, the film was well worth seeking out. Reminded me a bit of <b><a href="http://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-babadook-2014.html">The Babadook</a></b>, and in a good way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Scores</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">(out of 5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Visuals: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sound: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Acting: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Script: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Music: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Direction: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Entertainment: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Total</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Enjoying the content? Click and ad before you go and support this blog.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-15265183093901946562019-01-29T06:00:00.000-08:002019-01-29T06:00:00.724-08:00The Open House (2018)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tVFEdpo2oGI/XE_O2rv7SAI/AAAAAAAAIGE/zM3fawWwEJYav3KAl5SlaSQ4mre45qGIgCLcBGAs/s1600/Open%2BHouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tVFEdpo2oGI/XE_O2rv7SAI/AAAAAAAAIGE/zM3fawWwEJYav3KAl5SlaSQ4mre45qGIgCLcBGAs/s320/Open%2BHouse.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">So we decided to have a double feature horror film viewing this weekend. We had two flicks in our Netflix cue. One was this movie that sounded like a fun thriller by the description. But in the back of my mind, I remembered seeing that Chris Stuckmann had worked on a riff track for the film. I figured that just means this could be a “so bad its funny” movie, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Summary</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">After Logan’s (Dylan Minnette) father is killed right in front of him in a freak accident, he finds himself struggling with grief. His mother Naomi (Piercey Dalton) decides to move the two of them to her sister’s massive house in the mountains. She hopes that it will help them work through their sadness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Unfortunately the house is up for sale, and the pair has to keep leaving the building because of the numerous open house events. Soon enough, strange things start happening around the place. The water heater is tampered with. Logan’s phone vanishes. Other lost items end up in different rooms. Could it be the odd neighbor Martha (Patricia Bethune) messing with them… or did someone stay inside the giant home after <b>The Open House</b>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Good Points</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Lovely location shooting in and around Big Bear in California</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Solid acting for most of the film</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Martha was an entertaining character</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Bad Points:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Confusing editing drains all tension from the film</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">The score overplays its hand over and over again</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">The ending was very unsatisfying</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Overall</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">This movie is a bit of a mess. There are elements of an entertaining and thrilling film at the heart of this, but the senseless editing, horribly overloud and obvious score and an ending that just leaves you exasperated add up to a bad film. But if you are in the mood for a movie for riffing, there are plenty of laughs to be mined. Want a good thriller from Netflix, check out <b><a href="http://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2016/07/hush-2016.html">Hush</a> </b>instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Scores</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">(out of 5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Visuals: 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Sound: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Acting: 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Script: 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Music: 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Direction: 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Entertainment: 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Total</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Curious about a full review, sent me an email and I’ll make additional thoughts to this review.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Enjoying the content? Click and ad before you go and support this blog.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-83686216074819513902019-01-12T09:03:00.001-08:002019-01-12T09:03:05.371-08:00Score Sample: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1n1zvfP5dRQ/XDoc9vM8WEI/AAAAAAAAIFs/A7jSTmvdnf4f8c_t2uthnA6tPKOVgek-wCLcBGAs/s1600/Score%2BSample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="264" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1n1zvfP5dRQ/XDoc9vM8WEI/AAAAAAAAIFs/A7jSTmvdnf4f8c_t2uthnA6tPKOVgek-wCLcBGAs/s200/Score%2BSample.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
So John Williams has composed music for films since the 1960s. His familiar sound really entered the public mind in the late 70s with <b>Jaws</b>, <b>Close Encounters of a Third Kind</b>, <b>Superman</b> and of course <b>Star Wars</b>. But if you listen to his material from before those milestones you can hear his distinctive voice in those scores too. Over the years Williams has evolved as a composer, adding more and more complexity to his music, but still managing to capture that Williams sound and the knack for crafting memorable themes.<br />
<br />
All this to say that when someone asks me what my favorite John Williams score is, I get overwhelmed for a moment. So much music to pick from, and from so many decades and styles. With Jerry Goldsmith, <a href="http://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2013/06/movie-music-musings-star-trek-motion.html">I don't hesitate</a>. But with Williams... And then I smile and say, <b>Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom</b>.<br />
<br />
Now with it comes to the films, I'm in the "<b>Raiders </b>is the best one, don't even question me on this" camp. But Williams did the remarkable with his followup score. He took his main theme, because you had to have that, and then made sure to use it quite a bit. Compared to<b> Last Crusade</b>, which goes easy on using the main theme, <b>Temple of Doom </b>doesn't shy away. It gives the whole score (and film) a more pulpy feel. I also love all the new themes introduced in the film. Sure Willie and Short Round are obnoxious characters, but they have some really great themes. Willie's theme is full of that old school Hollywood glamor. Williams uses both themes in counterpoint to Indy's theme on a number of occasions and to wonderful effect.<br />
<br />
Then there are is the bold adventure theme used in the final third of the film, as Indy and his pals save the slave children. I love this theme, and it gets some great moments to shine in the score. Not to mention a myriad of minor motifs that pop up and play around in the score to add even more color. They are all distinct, they are all well stated (and restated so you recognize them) and they are all fun.<br />
<br />
<b>Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom</b> is the John Williams score with everything I love about John Williams. It is in the middle of his late 70s to mid 80s style before he really started to add the layers and layers of complexity to his action music. I love it each time I listen to it, and you can't really go wrong with the <i>End Credits</i> which I'll present here. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8h7MQ9UEKpU/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8h7MQ9UEKpU?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801441755423984496.post-60653921106955015472018-12-31T06:00:00.000-08:002018-12-31T06:00:38.309-08:00Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nr4DARhdcrU/XCj67YWz7aI/AAAAAAAAICg/AQsuDPVA6ZsEg00s3z_18C9YLSClVjJDwCLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nr4DARhdcrU/XCj67YWz7aI/AAAAAAAAICg/AQsuDPVA6ZsEg00s3z_18C9YLSClVjJDwCLcBGAs/s320/TLJ1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">So yeah, this movie. I’ve held off on reviewing it for about a year, because so many people have said so many things… and a lot of it has been toxic and nasty. There seems to be very little middle ground with </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Last Jedi </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">and I was hoping that a year down the road it might be safe to have a normal conversation about the film. But man, does this movie seem to trigger the haters. I’m having flashbacks to the post </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Phantom Menace </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">world. Still, I can’t put it off forever. So here are my thoughts on this, the most divisive of </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Star Wars </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">films yet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Summary</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) finds the Resistance on the ropes. The First Order lead by the fearsome Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) has discovered their secret base, destroyed it and now is relentlessly pursuing them. With limited fuel, ships and personnel, the General finds herself between the Rancor and the Sarlacc Pit (see what I did there). Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Ocar Isaac) and newcomer Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) hatch a dangerous plan that may allow the fleet to escape from the First Order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Meanwhile, Rey (Daisy Ridley) journeys with Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) to a distant world to find the legendary Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Turns out that Luke is a bitter and angry old man who blames himself for the rise of Kylo Ren’s dark powers. Rey does her best to convince him that his twin sister and the Resistance need his help. She also reveals her budding powers with The Force. Luke remains convinced that he will only do harm by restoring the Jedi Order. Meanwhile, Rey finds herself in a strange Force fueled communication with Kylo Ren, and she feels she may have a chance to pulling him from the evil Snoke’s (Andy Serkis) sway. Before it is all over, the fate of the galaxy will rest in the hands of <b>The Last Jedi</b>. Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Laura Dern and Benicio Del Toro round out the cast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Good Points</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Impressive, dynamic visuals make this the best looking Star Wars film to date</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Shatters audience expectations</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Creates some truly iconic sequences </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Bad Points:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Tries a little too hard to shatter expectations</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">One of the storylines feels like nothing more than wheel spinning</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">At times feels like it is attacking the previous films and mythology</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Overall</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">To be honest, <b>The Last Jedi </b>was what I wanted this episode to be. It veered away from being a copy of <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>, and at nearly every turn surprised me with the narrative direction. It doesn’t always works, with Finn and Rose feeling like they suffer a frustrating narrative arc. There are some amazing visuals in the film. Kylo Ren and Rey get some excellent sequences together. When all is said and done, the film moves the series in an interesting new direction, and I’m looking forward to see what happens next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Scores</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">(out of 5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Visuals: 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Sound: 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Acting: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Script: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Music: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Direction: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Entertainment: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Total</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">In Depth Review<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">At the end of my review of <b><a href="https://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2016/05/star-wars-episode-vii-force-awakens-2015.html">The Force Awakens</a> </b>I wrote the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial";">But I will also say that I won’t accept that kind of safe story telling for episode eight. The stage is set for some really interesting plot and character development. I want to see new worlds, new paths and new revelations. I don’t want to see <b>Empire Strikes Back </b>in a new coat of paint. If episode eight forges its new path, than I think those that don’t care for <b>The Force Awakens </b>too much will be willing to accepts its role in the series. But if episode eight continues down this path of manufactured familiarity, we’ll see some disgruntled fans that may be wishing that Lucas were back in the drivers seat.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z4pk9Mxl9V8/XCj7hqVEOAI/AAAAAAAAICo/UNMwVpnE-EsXO1UipeUuFpkW9szGtBiOQCLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="897" height="181" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z4pk9Mxl9V8/XCj7hqVEOAI/AAAAAAAAICo/UNMwVpnE-EsXO1UipeUuFpkW9szGtBiOQCLcBGAs/s320/TLJ2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rey is ready to take her next step into the larger world.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Looking at the reaction </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Last Jedi </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">got, it is kind of funny about how wrong I actually was. I think there were a lot of fans who spent way too much time predicting how the movie was going to play out, and how most of that was going to be a rehash of </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Empire Strikes Back. </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">They were let down by </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Last Jedi </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">because it didn’t follow the same beats as the 1980 film. And then because of certain narrative choices, these fans felt the film was actively attacking them… and it kind of was.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">So let’s get this out of the way. The director has said that he wrote the story to deny many of the fan theories out there. It resulted in people feeling like they a) wasted their time and b) are stupid. He was basically trolling a portion of his audience. Never a good idea. The result has been a lot of very toxic and angry commentary directed at a movie that doesn’t really deserve it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0yMdhU41ZVQ/XCj-EZoS0SI/AAAAAAAAIDg/-EsXu-MjWJknkiPh_Ij7PdxzIfxJiZHFwCLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="828" height="145" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0yMdhU41ZVQ/XCj-EZoS0SI/AAAAAAAAIDg/-EsXu-MjWJknkiPh_Ij7PdxzIfxJiZHFwCLcBGAs/s320/TLJ8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke trolls Rey, just as Johnson trolls his audience.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Is </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Last Jedi </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">a great film? No. It’s a good </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Star Wars </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">film that does a lot of things right and takes things in a fascinating new direction. That is fine. In fact, in the grand scheme of things, it is what we should expect. There have been only one truly great </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Star Wars </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">film, and quite a few good ones (and yeah a couple stinkers). So these folks who are acting like </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Last Jedi </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">broke </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Star Wars </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">are just blowing it all out of proportion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Ok, that’s about the last I want to write about the “great debate” surrounding this film. Let’s take a look at the film itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Visually, <b>The Last Jedi </b>is probably the most impressive looking <b>Star Wars </b>film we’ve seen up to this point. Director Rian Johnson combined the visual style that J.J. Abrams created in <b>The Force Awakens </b>and adds a bit more of a stylistic touch to the film. Not too surprising from the director of <b><a href="https://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2013/09/brick-2005.html">Brick</a></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fw_3lgaAqMg/XCj-lcqSbAI/AAAAAAAAIDs/fwDetTZETpgve2a_wOYwrRam5zCMk25mwCLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="897" height="167" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fw_3lgaAqMg/XCj-lcqSbAI/AAAAAAAAIDs/fwDetTZETpgve2a_wOYwrRam5zCMk25mwCLcBGAs/s400/TLJ9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dammit Ackbar, stop playing <i>Yar's Revenge</i>! We are in crisis mode here!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">There are some really impressive sequences brought to life in the film, including the initial bomber assault on the First Order fleet, the visually dynamic vision sequences Rey experiences, the demolition of the casino, the final confrontation with Snoke and the ensuing battle, the last ditch defense by the Resistance, and of course Luke and Kylo Ren’s face to face battle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Johnson uses the color red through out the film, giving the color a vivid garish quality that adds some weight and threat to the film. In fact, burning, fire and red seem to be seeping into all aspects of the film. During flashbacks we see Luke among the burning training grounds where he lost Kylo Ren to the dark side. When Rey and Kylo face down Snoke’s guards the throne room is wreathed in flames and the guards red outfits and Kylo Ren’s saber move all around Rey, dressed in neutrals and wielding her blue saber. The battle on Crait features a world of red ore and minerals covered in a layer of white salt. All this plays into a key element of the finale of <b>The Last Jedi</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Johnson’s use of flames and red reminds me strongly of a similar use in <b><a href="https://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2013/04/akira-1988.html">Akira</a></b>. We have a film where anger and rage are uncontrolled, and being unleashed. We see this in the performances by members of the First Order and even Poe. The universe is literally burning around the characters, seeming to be consumed by the hatred fueled by the dark side of the force (represented by Snoke and then Kylo Ren). This rage is power and all consuming and our heroes seem to be helpless in the face of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lh7EE9IKvKE/XCkAAgzxR7I/AAAAAAAAID4/e8Vr9TI0z2o7wFiDqmAPIGpD6P0j1adCgCLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="904" height="165" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lh7EE9IKvKE/XCkAAgzxR7I/AAAAAAAAID4/e8Vr9TI0z2o7wFiDqmAPIGpD6P0j1adCgCLcBGAs/s400/TLJ10.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lightsaber tag is really really dangerous. Play freeze tag instead.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">To contrast this we have neutrals colors and blue around the Resistance that will become the Rebellion. I’ve already mentioned Rey, but even General Leia is primarily seen in toned down colors, as are all the ships the heroes use. This stays pretty close to what was established in the original trilogy but the direct visual contrast to red fire gives it greater prominence in </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Last Jedi</b><span style="font-family: "arial";">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">In many ways, this film is a little less utilitarian in its presentation and a bit more mythical. Images feel more iconic and powerful because of the framing and use of color. It really seems to embrace the fantasy aspect of <b>Star Wars </b>more than the previous few films (such as <b><a href="https://romansreviews.blogspot.com/2017/12/star-wars-rogue-one-2016.html">Rogue One</a></b>, that went for a much more realistic feel). That works fine in these main storyline films, and I’m happy to see a director really dive into the mythical feel of these movies. Sure there are plenty of space ship battles and melee combat, but the key moments are ones between characters and how they relate to each other. This is not only done with dialogue, but also visually: isolating certain characters in frame, or using angles to create intimidating moments or eerie sequences. Johnson really gives <b>The Last Jedi </b>a unique but completely workable visual aesthetic that is refreshing to see in these films.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wr7QnOL2kEs/XCj8tFK4jeI/AAAAAAAAIDE/e6n-eHiXcBQfPH-eT8ylkrljhAEiwivcQCLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="472" height="178" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wr7QnOL2kEs/XCj8tFK4jeI/AAAAAAAAIDE/e6n-eHiXcBQfPH-eT8ylkrljhAEiwivcQCLcBGAs/s320/TLJ5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kylo watching over Rey. Was he manipulator or manipulated?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">As we expect the visual effects are top notch. All the big sequences look impressive. We get to see some new ships doing things we’ve never had a chance to see before. The bomber sequence is very intense, and something that fans of the series knew existed in the older trilogies (both the Empire and Rebellion had specialized bombing ships, but we only saw the TIE Bombers in action for about 20 seconds in </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Empire Strikes Back</b><span style="font-family: "arial";">). Johnson puts us in the bomber crews place in </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Last Jedi </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">and it is a great sequence. There are lots of new aliens, droids and ships in this film, which is always fun to have. We also get the expected planet hopping with three different locales: the islands on Ahch-To, the casino world on Canto Blight, and the red and white planet of Crait.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">It is obvious that I loved the visuals in <b>The Last Jedi</b>; they are the strongest part of the film. The sound work rises to meet that bar. We get a great combo of the classic sound effects with some new sound work. All of it is nice and immersive. Sound is balanced to provide some nice powerful sequences while allowing us to hear the dialogue clearly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-biFhYEdW-SY/XCkBHZiE4nI/AAAAAAAAIEE/QxL6T-pIa_kGOBMCVYS_8IP1yNOqCrGzgCLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="892" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-biFhYEdW-SY/XCkBHZiE4nI/AAAAAAAAIEE/QxL6T-pIa_kGOBMCVYS_8IP1yNOqCrGzgCLcBGAs/s320/TLJ11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I swear James Bond is about to enter stage right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Following along is the music composed by John Williams. It is a pleasure to hear Williams continue scoring these main storyline films, and his work on </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Last Jedi </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">seemed to take him in a new and yet familiar direction. Williams created a sequel score that essentially takes many of the themes from </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Force Awakens </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">as well as the familiar Force theme from the original trilogy and builds with those blocks. Williams will usually present multiple new themes in these films and blend them with the older ones. But for </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Last Jedi</b><span style="font-family: "arial";">, Williams only gives us one new theme for Rose, and couple minor motifs. The rest of the time he manipulates his older themes in interesting and unexpected ways.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Those looking for a fresh <b>Star Wars </b>experience from a musical point of view may be disappointed. But Williams keeps things interesting by allowing all the older themes to play off each other and shift in interesting ways. I love Rey’s theme from <b>The Force Awakens </b>and we get quite a few new variants of it in <b>The Last Jedi </b>as her character continues her journey. Kylo Ren’s theme gains more power and menace as the film moves forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uqywh8r4_MQ/XCkB0DRFKYI/AAAAAAAAIEM/lW_5b_XmkhAoiARudMIqcSId5boK6ArPwCLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uqywh8r4_MQ/XCkB0DRFKYI/AAAAAAAAIEM/lW_5b_XmkhAoiARudMIqcSId5boK6ArPwCLcBGAs/s320/TLJ12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Admiral Holdo doubts the veracity of your claim.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">But it is the return of old themes that really clicks. We get a taste of Yoda’s theme, as Luke struggles with his role as a mentor. We get a wonderfully touching version of Luke and Leia’s theme as the siblings meet again after so many years apart. In fact all the variants of Leia’s music in the older trilogy (Leia’s Theme, Han and Leia’s Theme, Luke and Leia’s Theme) all make an appearance during the film. Hints of The Emperor’s theme during Snoke’s interview with Kylo Ren (as well as the Imperial March) are played. For fans of Williams work in the previous film, this score almost becomes a game of spot the theme.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">It works well in <b>The Last Jedi </b>supporting the action and emotions. But part of me wishes there was a bit more new musical color in the film. It is part of what gives each <b>Star Wars </b>film a unique personality, and yet tied to the whole. This film score feels like an extension of <b>The Force Awakens</b>, which the film really is. It is a minor issue, but one that did stick out to me a bit. Williams’ work is always top notch and as always works wonderfully in the film. So I can’t fault any of that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sraLT9OZsQM/XCkCYv-sI3I/AAAAAAAAIEY/-Welc1BSn88QtOEzQvucO6Z9t3u5os7BACLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="899" height="160" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sraLT9OZsQM/XCkCYv-sI3I/AAAAAAAAIEY/-Welc1BSn88QtOEzQvucO6Z9t3u5os7BACLcBGAs/s320/TLJ13.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I said... get off my lawn.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The cast was pretty much set in </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Force Awakens</b><span style="font-family: "arial";">. I really enjoyed their performances in that movie and thought they continued their fine work here. Our protagonists are all very likable (even when they are doing foolish and ridiculous things). Of the main cast I think Ridley and Driver have the best scenes in the script and get to play them very well. Ridley does an excellent job with Hamill and Driver, and really holds her own in some intense scenes. Boyega has good chemistry with newcomer Tran, and they have some really fun scenes together.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l4dkgkf6jfI/XCj8SUyWBfI/AAAAAAAAIC4/c8fg8hCbHS0xHolVrURSbWTdWFkHvKPMQCLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="867" height="212" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l4dkgkf6jfI/XCj8SUyWBfI/AAAAAAAAIC4/c8fg8hCbHS0xHolVrURSbWTdWFkHvKPMQCLcBGAs/s320/TLJ4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are space slugs supposed to do that? Gross!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">On the dark side of things Driver dominates the scenes as Kylo Ren. The character has so much going on, that he is really the most interesting and imposing of these villains. Gleeson chews up all the scenery as Hux, and he looks like he is having a good time. Serkis gets a bit more screen time as Snoke, and his arrogance almost physically manifests. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">The Last Jedi </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">was Carrie Fisher’s last performance, and she does a fine job as General Leia Organa. She feels like the heart and soul of the resistance and her interaction with Isaac and Dern are handled well. As I already mentioned the scene between her and Hamill is one of the best in the series. It isn’t very long, but both actors really give you the feeling that they are siblings who care deeply for each other and yet have grown distant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4g9c81uzWCg/XCkCz09LVlI/AAAAAAAAIEg/ipsv-PQUb9cOBhD2aDHLR721WBFH78w1QCLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="904" height="196" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4g9c81uzWCg/XCkCz09LVlI/AAAAAAAAIEg/ipsv-PQUb9cOBhD2aDHLR721WBFH78w1QCLcBGAs/s400/TLJ14.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I must know... do you still keep in touch with Wicket?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The only weak point, from an acting point of view, is Laura Dern. I’m still not sure what it is about her performance as Admiral Holdo but it just doesn’t’ click for me. This is so strange; normally Dern is excellent in just about anything she is in. But here, I never really felt that she was that character. The movies doesn’t give us a lot of screen time with her. It just doesn’t ever seem to gel, until we see her interacting with Fisher late in the film. But it is so brief, it just kind of goes by.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">So now we come to the main issue with <b>The Last Jedi</b>, the script. We have a story that feels like it is focused on two things, building tension and shattering expectations. I think the script handles the tension elements pretty well, and goes above and beyond when it comes to shattering expectations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M2y8gP7Y2IU/XCkEASSbrnI/AAAAAAAAIEs/dQvm6pFX2XMkW41UEqM0M-GyJ4LLpnlwwCLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="869" height="212" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M2y8gP7Y2IU/XCkEASSbrnI/AAAAAAAAIEs/dQvm6pFX2XMkW41UEqM0M-GyJ4LLpnlwwCLcBGAs/s320/TLJ15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finn is the RAD RACER!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I think we are missing a clear idea of where the characters were going to end up. As the middle section of a trilogy, you need to really put the main characters through the ringer, so they can rise to the challenge in the final episode. </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Star Wars </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">films are mythology after all. There is a clear set up for how these things build and release. In the original trilogy, we had the classic hero’s journey. In the prequels we had the classic tragedy. Based on how </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Force Awakens </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">was executed we are heading into classic heroes journey again. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">All that said, the concept of where this episode needs to end must be clear. To me, it feels like this was lost somewhere in the writing process. Then remembered at the last moment and shoehorned back in. Both Rey and Kylo Ren have clear arcs that feel like they build to where they need to go. But the Resistance and the characters locked in that conflict feel like they didn’t accomplish all that much. But you could argue that the main point of that storyline is destroy the resistance and create the rebellion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AN0zUTjy2ig/XCj9RqTmlWI/AAAAAAAAIDQ/RfVBiXbYMqEDgoMGUh84w23Vr-92MKm5wCLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="854" height="209" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AN0zUTjy2ig/XCj9RqTmlWI/AAAAAAAAIDQ/RfVBiXbYMqEDgoMGUh84w23Vr-92MKm5wCLcBGAs/s320/TLJ6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tempest of mystery calls to us and Rey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">But here is the problem; we never have a clear idea of what “the resistance” is. We get an idea of what “The Rebellion” means to people, and that comes across pretty well. But </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Force Awakens </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">never made the political situation very clear. I think this was done because everyone complains about the “boring senate scenes” in the prequels. But part of the issue there is that we have no investment in the politics in the prequels really. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">For old fans of the original trilogy, we are invested in the heroes and the fate of the rebellion and empire. <b>The Force Awakens </b>never clarifies any of it, and <b>The Last Jedi </b>continues on its merry way. We never get the idea that the Resistance is this small rag tag organization – and if it is, what the hell is the big deal of creating The Rebellion. Is it more than a matter of semantics? If that is the main goal of the second storyline in <b>The Last Jedi </b>and all the events tied to it feel hollow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CtygHPfvu_g/XCkFPE4dB4I/AAAAAAAAIE4/4ww1BoqmC3YyVAn-izXiE62RuW-0c_2vgCLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="651" height="206" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CtygHPfvu_g/XCkFPE4dB4I/AAAAAAAAIE4/4ww1BoqmC3YyVAn-izXiE62RuW-0c_2vgCLcBGAs/s400/TLJ16.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To quote a famous scoundrel, "This deal is getting worse all the time."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">That brings me to the whole construction of that storyline, the extended chase scene. The logistics that seems odd on the first watch, and then fall apart during your refrigerator moment. We are essentially going through a storyline that is an exercise in futility. And you can make that kind of story work, and in many ways, it does work in </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Empire Strikes Back</b><span style="font-family: "arial";">. But in </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Last Jedi </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">it feels less like a series of cliffhangers where the enemies keep getting the upper hand, and more like a series of mistakes and bumbling that could have been avoided. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JuK-28mlCRQ/XCj8HkRztkI/AAAAAAAAIC0/p9zOrTM5P2UOY9NNX09gcTqM8v-XEWg3ACLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="813" height="177" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JuK-28mlCRQ/XCj8HkRztkI/AAAAAAAAIC0/p9zOrTM5P2UOY9NNX09gcTqM8v-XEWg3ACLcBGAs/s320/TLJ3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I would trust Poe to blow up a Death Star, or two.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Why does it feel that way? Because Rian Johnson’s script goes out of its way to avoid any predictable plot elements. More than that Johnson’s script actively attacks audience expectations, but not replacing them with anything that furthers the second storyline or builds the desperation in a meaningful way. The whole Poe vs Holdo storyline feels poorly executed, because we are invested in Poe, and his viewpoint seems very clear to us. Holdo comes across (through writing and performance) as very unreliable. If Poe had been a bit more impressed with her war record, and had Holdo actually attempted to engage in productive conversation with one of her best soldiers, it might have worked for more viewers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Then you have the Rose and Finn storyline. I really like Rose as a character and Tran does some great things with her. She has some really good moments with Boyega, but man, does their whole side quest feel forced and uninteresting. It doesn’t stop the story dead like I’ve seen some folks endlessly complain about. It does end up feeling futile from a narrative point of view, or at least have a very tiny pay off (tied to the rebellion vs. resistance issue). And yeah, you could argue that the whole point of that side story is express how some things in life are pointless and futile… but is <b>Star Wars </b>really the place you want to express that theme? And to do it in a side story gives it even less importance. <b>Star Wars </b>is mythic storytelling; heroes in myths rarely do anything that ends up being pointless. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ctrIuFxSdo/XCj9qoXhdHI/AAAAAAAAIDY/opJT9pryvnMZmMZ4kp0rhXSz5s-mVHWgACLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="600" height="181" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ctrIuFxSdo/XCj9qoXhdHI/AAAAAAAAIDY/opJT9pryvnMZmMZ4kp0rhXSz5s-mVHWgACLcBGAs/s400/TLJ7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well at least Phasma has a point in this movie... oh wait... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The other issue I have with separating all the characters up was that part of what made </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Force Awakens </b><span style="font-family: "arial";">so much fun was the great character interplay, especially Rey and Finn. To have them separated for nearly 98% of the movie was a bit of a letdown for me. I like Rose, and think she makes for a good addition to the cast, but there had to be a better way to use this character.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Finally lets take a look at the theme of the film, because boy is it confusing. The imagery of the movie feels very clear – let go of the past, look toward the future. The script seems to support this in the way it destroys so many of the expectations viewers had about how they felt <b>The Last Jedi </b>was going to play out. It didn’t, and I think that is great. It fits the theme of letting go of the past. But here is the problem with the way the theme is executed here<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3pGZnrSVqYw/XCkGKTyimVI/AAAAAAAAIFA/l31HPekK4oc8h4hXkWfU3T2-5eu8BbjzwCLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="829" height="182" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3pGZnrSVqYw/XCkGKTyimVI/AAAAAAAAIFA/l31HPekK4oc8h4hXkWfU3T2-5eu8BbjzwCLcBGAs/s400/TLJ17.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I AM suppressing my rage!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">What is the beacon shimmering in the future? The rebellion. The state of affairs that was established at the end of </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Revenge of the Sith</b><span style="font-family: "arial";">. So, the future state of hope is based in the past? Wait, what? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">It works a little better with The Force and the Jedi order. We saw how ineffectual the Jedi Council was in the prequels. We saw how old thinking nearly destroyed Luke in the original trilogy. It makes perfect sense to move the Jedi into something new and fresh. And <b>THIS</b>is what the new trilogy should have been about. Seeing how powerful and interesting all this material in <b>The Last Jedi </b>is, makes me realize that this is the storyline that should have been explored in greater depth. Drop the First Order and Resistance material that feels all surface and no depth. <b>The Force Awakens </b>feels like a title that never got the movie it deserved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2IEbitCXdHU/XCkGsvp22lI/AAAAAAAAIFM/riFJie6eKIwbgGwJQuQBCFpCkX_U4gBggCLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="797" height="198" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2IEbitCXdHU/XCkGsvp22lI/AAAAAAAAIFM/riFJie6eKIwbgGwJQuQBCFpCkX_U4gBggCLcBGAs/s400/TLJ19.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawing a line in the salt.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I agree with Luke, the Jedi order had its time, before the prequels. Now is the time for something new. Rey could and should be the first of that new direction. We seem to be moving in that direction, and because Johnson already took the great Luke-centric moments from the original trilogy and twisted them around in </span><b style="font-family: arial;">The Last Jedi</b><span style="font-family: "arial";">. He put J.J. Abrams on the spot. He can’t rely on recreating </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Return of the Jedi</b><span style="font-family: "arial";">’s scenes without looking like he is aping to previous films. Hopefully this forces his hand to go in a new direction for Episode IX.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">All in all Johnson’s direction is very good. Even when <b>The Last Jedi </b>feels like it is spinning its narrative wheels, he keeps everything moving and visually interesting. He created a very good <b>Star Wars </b>film, one that does some great stuff. I think he should have given the script a few more passes, tried a bit less hard to troll old time fans and fan sites obsessed with predicting the way the series was going to play out (and I admit, I found all that super annoying too, so I understand his frustration). He should have focused his script on telling a compelling story. Instead we have a good movie with one great storyline and one that feels like if flounders around in a visually exciting way. We almost got another Great <b>Star Wars </b>film.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-blyJgJ1PKrc/XCkHUhaJ1bI/AAAAAAAAIFc/H7aA83Nnhqg8Hskwyjt4PaoccMz2XO8CQCLcBGAs/s1600/TLJ20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="898" height="201" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-blyJgJ1PKrc/XCkHUhaJ1bI/AAAAAAAAIFc/H7aA83Nnhqg8Hskwyjt4PaoccMz2XO8CQCLcBGAs/s400/TLJ20.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Their last battlefield?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Enjoy this review? Click an ad and support this blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Roman J. Martelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.com5