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MrBuzz
Reviews
Phantom (2013)
In world of Phantoms...Hope is the answer.
Half way through Phantom there is scene similar to the opening of American Beauty where we see a plastic bag 'dancing' in the wind. If you have never seen American Beauty take a listen to the first sentence in Katy Perry's hit single Fireworks, as the opening lyrics go... Do you ever feel like a plastic bag drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Phantom is a deep reflective movie told in voice over about everyday problems human beings face. Humans are sometimes like phantoms drifting and wanting to start all over again... Whilst watching this very interesting movie I felt that I was on a small personal retreat thinking of the questions and ideas being talked about throughout the movie. Although the whole movie is voice over I was never bored as the topics brought up are immensely interesting and thoughtful. The direction is superb and the electronic soundtrack which reminded me of Lost in Translation plays beautifully along to relax your senses and think of what has just been said.
The title Phantom suits perfectly for this movie, everyone one day or another has experienced problems of family, money or work. We sometimes find our inner self talking to what we should do to face these problems. what will our next step be? what is our main purpose in this world? These are questions that everybody has asked himself. The solution to a lot of these problems that sometimes make us want to give up is one single word...hope.. as nobody knows what tomorrow might bring.
I highly recommend this movie either as a movie to experience alone or as a movie to watch and discuss in a group. It's an honest movie that looks at life and makes you feel that your personal problems are not your's only or that you are maybe living in a much better world, that you take for granted everyday! I would rate this movie a good 8/10.
Gagga (1971)
A Maltese Masterpiece
I have just returned from a screening of the Maltese language movie IL-GAGGA. I had heard about this movie in 2002 when Mr. Azzopardi was in Malta promoting his movie Savage Messiah.
Those five years I waited to see IL-GAGGA have been well worth it. I wish to make it clear that I am in no way related to Mr.Azzopardi and I am writing this review because I strongly support Maltese talent.
If it's good material I have no hesitation whatsoever in writing a good review for it. Il Gagga does not fall under good material. It falls in the category of an excellent masterpiece. You think I'm exaggerating?Read on.
Imagine yourself as a student in the 1970's, with hardly any money in your pocket, but with a sincere and pure dedication in your heart to make a movie that criticizes the ignorance of the society you live in, and the influence the church has on the people.
36 years later now in the year 2007 these two topics still play a strong part in the Maltese society one way or another. Yes it's true that we Maltese today are more open-minded about a lot of things than we were 36 years ago, but being a small island where everyone knows everybody, our society still seems to be trapped in a cage on certain issues!
Il-Gagga manages to raise a lot of good points for discussion, and that's were the movie still holds its strength today. Shot on super 8 and now restored to make it look and sound better, the movie places you in the heart of the Maltese society as it was in the early 60's just before Malta became Independent.
Fredu is a trapped soul and an individual that refuses to stick to the saying if you can't beat them join them! Throughout the whole movie Fredu is traumatized in a society where his parents will not let him have the girl he loves because she is of another political belief, leaving the village to be with the girl will have the priest yelling scandal. All these thoughts and guilt drive him in a world of isolation that tears his soul apart.
If you are reading this review and asking yourself, what in the world is so scandalous about loving someone who does not have the same political belief as you? Please keep in mind that Malta was fanatical about politics and church much more than it is today. Although some people will disagree with me and say that we still are! Anything that was not of the norm in those days was considered to be a scandal to your family and to the village.
The direction is simply amazing two particular scenes will stick with you long after the credits roll,I refer to the the shot were Fredu is at home in the kitchen and has a hallucination. This particular shot is truly impressive along with the scene when Fredu is seeing many characters wearing carnival masks all ready to capture him and carry him to what looks like to be hell.
This is truly incredible cinema, to come out from a student. Back in the 70's I don't think the local cinemas showed any surreal movies or experimental works, so I truly think that Il- Gagga is a masterpiece in Maltese cinema.
Actors and actresses will act good or bad on the basis what the director tells them to do. I sincerely applaud Mr.Azzopardi for having a strong direction on the set of this movie, since Il-Gagga boasts some incredible acting from well known actors and actresses as well as other extras who give a realistic and rewarding acting performance. I am very much looking forward to seeing this masterpiece on DVD along with a commentary by Mr.Azzopardi and his views on this movie today. Let's hope we also get some interviews with the actors and actresses and people who worked on this movie included on the DVD. Well done Mr.Azzopardi you have truly made a movie that has stood the test of time and it deserves to be seen by everyone. 10/10
The Business (2005)
Welcome To The Pleasure Dome!
I don't consider myself a big fan of British Crime Thrillers, but when I heard that The Business had an incredible 80's soundtrack to it, I thought I just might give this movie a shot. This movie totally took me by surprise and I am very glad I sat down to watch it. It's not a slick movie by Hollywood standards, with big stars but that's what really makes this movie work. It's useless to compare with works like Goodfellas or Scarface. This movie is a fraction to what was spent on those two huge hits. What really manages to lift this movie from being a bore to watch is the killer soundtrack to it. In just about the first 15 minutes into the movie there is at least 4 massive 80's hits, cut to action and dialogue. A movie which kicks off with Planet Earth by Duran Duran,and continues the credits with a hit by Frankie goes to Hollywood tells you clearly that this movie is going to be very enjoyable. I have no idea what other works the actors did, but they sure delivered fantastic performances and were very professional in their leads. Like I said this is small movie but it sure is an enjoyable movie. I predict this to be a cult favorite in years to come. I am giving this movie an 8/10 and a 10/10 for the incredible soundtrack.
Oldeuboi (2003)
South Korean Masterpiece.
South Korea has been making some outstanding movies these last couple of years, but unfortunately not many people have given enough credit to these remarkable movies.
The director Chan-wook Park showed what he was capable of doing in South Korea with his first smash hit movie Joint Security Area.
After that he went into a complete different territory with the very dark, but excellent thriller Sympathy for Mr Vengeance.
Due to it's dark theme Sympathy failed to attract the repeated success of Joint Security Area.
Did that stop Chan-wook Park from making more movies?
Absolutely not!
Chan-Wook Park is back with a Vengeance himself giving us an incredible revenge masterpiece!
I wish I can comment more on this movie, but doing that could be a threat in spoiling this amazing experience in cinematic history!
Instead I will focus my review on the acting and direction of the movie. As many are aware now, the movie revolves around a man imprisoned in an apartment for 15 years. The motive of the movie is revenge. But the most important answer to all this revenge is WHY????
This movie will litterly have you nailed to your seat. Yes, it's very violent, I would say graphic as in the likes of Last house on the left, though NEVER exploited in that sense. This movie is all brains!
The direction is the first thing that will have you in awe. From the first 15mins of the movie, you will see how masterfully this movie is shot. In a split screen scene you will actually feel what this man has missed in those 15 years imprisoned in this apartment. His anger for his imprisonment, the complete mess in his look and clothes are all truly convincing by Choi Min-shik who has appeared in two other big Korean movies which are Failan and the award winning movie at Cannes last year Chihwaseon.
As I have already mentioned the violence is very graphic and will probably be rated in the USA NC17. Which is understandable. But do not be put off by the extreme violence. This movie is bound to have you talking and discussing for days if not for months. Just be very well prepared for the final shocking twist!I could not sleep at night after watching this movie!
Well done to Chan-wook Park you who has showed the world what a truly excellent film director he is. Oldboy gets a well deserved 10/10
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Samaria (2004)
An Arthouse Masterpiece
KINDLY NOTE SOME MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD.
Samaria is probably the first arthouse movie to emerge from South Korea.
Upon viewing the cover of the Dvd, many will get the wrong impression that this is some exploitation Movie. This is definitely not the case. Actually this has got to be one of the most honest movies to tackle such a delicate subject without ever once being explicit.
The director could have easily spoilt the movie with graphic sex or nudity, but instead this very brave director (who actually won the award for Best Director at the Berlin Film Festival) has managed to cross a message that is very important in our times without ever once embarrassing his audience. The movie is divided into 3 chapters, it opens with two girls chatting on the Internet with a complete stranger to meet for a date. Next we see a title on the screen which reads Vasumitra.
Vasumitra was a prostitute in India where legend has it that any man who slept with her turned into a devoted Buddhist! The director will further in the movie also mention other religious references. The name Vasumitra is the name that one of the girls will actually use as to disguise her identity. So begins the adventures of two teenage girls in the world of prostitution all for the sake to earn some easy money. An important shot at the very beginning of the movie after one of the girls has her first encounter with her client shows them eating a roasted pig's feet. Could this be a clear indication where these poor two girls are heading too, since the pig is considered by many, a filthy animal.
To further prove my point both the girls enter a bathhouse to wash. Describing what one of them just did was filthy. Next the girls run around in a park where they sit next to a line of statues of a complete family consisting of the mother father and children, which clearly shows they're longing to be part of a family.
Meanwhile one the girls is taking notes in her diary of every man she encounters. She sleeps in her tiny room soon, to be awakened by her father who is a detective!
He takes his daughter to school, and here again we hear another religious story this time about Jesus told by the father to his daughter.
Tragedy soon strikes and while one of the girls is busy with a client, the police raid the apartment. In a state of panic the girl has no idea what to do, and jumps out of the apartment window and falls to the ground, she is carried to the hospital by the detective's daughter but she is in a very serious condition and about to lose her life. Her friend persuades her to give her the diary and contact one of her clients, to visit her one last time before she dies. This is actually were the story takes a dramatic turn!
After her friend dies in hospital the detective's daughter starts visiting each client to return back the money her friend made from these men.
It is important to note that her friend was just there to look after her and take care of the money and had never encountered any clients up until now! Meanwhile here father is investigating a murder case and this is where he sees his own daughter in an opposite apartment with a client! Thus begins a story of revenge on each client, without the daughter ever knowing her father is actually one step behind her.
Revealing more would spoil this unique movie experience. The direction is superb and the haunting score literally pulls you in the mood of the story. I have no hesitation in highly recommending this movie to serious moviegoers. I would like to applaud Ki-duk Kim for making such an honest movie about a very serious subject.
Ki-duk Kim has truly made an amazing arthouse Masterpiece.
La corsa dell'innocente (1992)
Fantastic Italian Thriller
If you are looking for a movie that has a great story, well done acting,fantastic direction and a score that will give you goosebumps when you hear it, look no further Flight of the Innocent is a Masterpiece of pure action and excitement.
I have just finished viewing this movie for the fifth time and I am still not bored with it. I am writing this review now since I have just found out that it has finally been released on DVD, which now is probably the best chance to view this movie better at home.
I have this movie on video bought years ago when it came out and the movie although now 10 years old has not aged a bit. One reviewer asked where the boy got hold of the address, without give any details away about the plot,I would like to point out that the address was written on the boy's bag.
Like I stated before, I have seen this movie more than once and the movie has no plot holes at all. The movie is quite violent especially the shootings, but also a very intelligent one that grabs the viewer from the very start and never lets go.Take note of this movie and if you see it at your local DVD store give it a rent. You will not be disappointed. 10/10
Gin gwai (2002)
Scarier than the Sixth Sense!
There are two styles of horror in horror movies the gore style with countless and sometimes very useless blood scenes, and the non gore style like The Others and The Sixth Sense. Both movies are fantastic with each having an excellent twist, that had people talking for days. As I was browsing the internet checking out some new horror movies out on DVD, I noticed a particular DVD by the name of The Eye. I started looking for some information about this movie but could not find anything since the original name of this movie is Jian Gui. So I tracked down the directors name on IMDb Oxide Pang Chun and Danny Pang. I had never heard of these two brothers before and i started searching about Jian Gui. When I finally had enough information to convince myself to purchase this DVD I told my video dealer to get me this movie.
This is without a doubt the scariest movie i have ever seen on my own. Even the opening credits on the DVD are impressive.Many have compared this movie with the Sixth Sense. True, it does borrow something from it but The Eye literally stands as a movie on its own. You cannot try to compare Chicago with Moulin Rouge which are both musicals but so much different from one another.
The Eye is about a blind girl who gets a cornea transplant to see the beauty of this world like other people see, but she gets to see much much more than beauty! I will not go into the plot detail of the movie, i wish to leave that for the viewer to experience on his own. There were moments where I was scared stiff. The Pang Bros have directed a Masterpiece in horror with an amazing technique that has never been seen before. Beautiful angle shots and imagery that must be seen again and again. The visual effects are very good but the most memorable thing about this movie is the environment effect it has through out the whole movie.
I must also mention that there are some nice touching moments too that will have you jerking a tear apart from jumping on your sofa.
I have recently read that Mr Tom Cruise has bought the rights to remake this movie again. I urge you to see this movie now before Hollywood gets their hands on this Masterpiece. I am sure that the story will be totally changed like they changed Insomnia, The Ring and Open Your Eyes(Vanilla Sky). I Just hope that at least Mr Cruise has the dignity to leave all the tension Jian Gui has!
One last thing to end this review. If this movie is really based on a true story than without a doubt this is truly one of the the scariest movies ever. You have been warned.