De Palma (2015)

De Palma (2015)

Dirs. Noah Baumbach + Jake Paltrow

A documentary about director Brian De Palma. It's a no-frills venture, with the titular subject sat in front of a fireplace for almost two hours sharing his views on both filmmaking, in general, and his own output within that once vibrant medium.

Relevant footage is intercut at opportune times, illustrating what's being discussed or to highlight a specific point. It probably goes without saying that it's aimed squarely at existing fans of his work, but be aware that a large portion of that footage will be spoilery in a very major way for anyone who hasn't seen the film(s) in advance.

It covers his entire career, up to that point in time, from early student works to Passion (2013).

But like De Palma himself acknowledges with a level of insightful acceptance, it's the period that spans the mid-70s to the mid-90s, from Sisters (1972) to Mission: Impossible (1996), that'll likely be of most interest to most people.

V/A: Presumed Guilty (1998)

Presumed Guilty (1998)

A compilation album presented as a protest against censorship in the music industry, particularly within the extreme metal genres. I believe the sentiment was genuine, but it's essentially a label sampler for the now defunct Misanthropy Records and its less well-known sub-labels Elfenblut and Heroine.

It's notable for containing half a dozen previously unreleased tracks from bands/artist who were on their roster at the time, namely Solstice; Burzum; Amber Asylum; Madder Mortem; Beyond Dawn; Endvra; and Monumentum. I'll add a full list of what's included at the post's end.

Ju-On: Films (2000-15)

Ju-On: Films (2000-15)

Dirs. Various

Ju-On's debut on screen was in 1998 as two short films created, written, and directed by Takashi Shimizu. Together they made up one half of a TV Movie named Gakkō no kaidan G (1998), but I'll be skipping those and going direct to the feature-length movies that followed. (The shorts are titled Katasumi and 4444444444, if you wish to research further.)

It might seem like the wrong approach to take, but it's not necessary to have seen them to enjoy what came after. Furthermore, the order below isn't even the one that I experienced them on first viewing, thanks to how they were released in the UK at the time. [1]

01. Ju-On: The Curse (2000 / Dir. Takashi Shimizu) was the first feature-length entry in the series. A straight-to-video (V-Cinema) release that came out two years before the more successful cinema-released film (#3 below). In general, the setting is a haunted house that makes 112 Ocean Avenue (Amityville) seem about as scary as a Wendy house. [2]

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Manga (2010-14)

Episode 001: Section 9 (2010)

Author + Illustrator: Yu Kinutani | Page Count: 248

"[W]e've determined the contents of the brain are fake. So where's the real one?"

A number of cyborg Geishas have taken clients hostage, among them a high-ranking government official who at the time of his capture was engaging in some odd activities with the pretend ladies.

The Prime Minister summons the country's best counter-terrorist unit: Public Security Section 9. Led by the cybernetically enhanced Major Kusanagi, the team are called upon to not only resolve the situation, but to find out who's behind it, and why.

It's a manga adaptation of an anime TV series that was inspired by a film adaptation of a manga. If you're familiar with all of those things, then the book might be of interest to you, but know that it's the entire first episode of the GitS SAC anime in manga form - it's almost verbatim, except for some minor changes in the action scenes that don't alter the main storyline one bit. It's arguably less fun than watching the anime, so is probably best recommended for super-fans or folks who prefer manga, only.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Dir. Brian Henson

It's a suitable for all-ages adaptation of Dickens' classic novella but with Muppets. I could end the review there because it's technically correct, but the film deserves so much more than that.

There's humans, too, most notably Michael Caine, who plays the misrely Ebenezer Scrooge, a man who hates kindness and the charitable feelings that traditionally go/went hand in hand with the season. Despite being surrounded by furry puppets, Caine plays it straight, which was absolutely the correct approach. Doing it that way kept the tragedy of the character intact, which in turn helped ensure that the dramatic power of change is given its full dues.

The puppets have all the joy and exuberance they're known for, but with a masterful layer of pathos added to those that need it. If you want kids to experience the famous story but fear that other filmed adaptations may be too difficult or dreary for them, then I know of no better alternative than the Muppet version; it hits all the important notes and has heart to spare.

Transporter: The Series: Season 2 (2014)

Transporter: The Series: Season 2 (2014)

12 episodes, approx 45 minutes each.

Much changed between Season One and Two and not all of it's good change. Frank's (Chris Vance) attitude toward his job is the same — he's still a practical, matter-of-fact guy with a plan that tends to go tits-up before the halfway point — but now he's more like James Bond in how he goes about things.

I suspect that behind the scenes someone actually said 'Let’s make him more James Bond,' and they did, sadly. The B-Movie charm that existed previously is compromised, replaced by a TV production with aspirations of being a secret agent movie.

There are personnel changes, too. Carla (Andrea Osvárt), the woman that functioned as a mysterious liaison between the transporter and the often shady customer, is replaced by Catarina Boldieu.

Catarina (Violante Placido) does a similar job, but she's more active than Carla was. Her multilingual skills are an asset to Frank, so he occasionally has a need for her to accompany him on jobs.

Daimajin: Film Trilogy (1966)

Daimajin (aka Majin): Film Trilogy (1966)

Dirs. Various (see below)

A kaijū trilogy produced by Daiei, which is the studio that gave us the original Gamera franchise. The 'Majin' features in all three films, but their stories are otherwise unconnected.

01. The first entry, Daimajin (1966); aka Majin / Majin, the Monster of Terror / Majin, the Hideous Idol [Dir. Kimiyoshi Yasuda], is an altogether more sophisticated breed of film than the big turtle got. It's a quality jidaigeki about clans, control, and a merciless militaristic coup. It's a male dominated tale, but the few women that do feature wield the kind of power that matters.

The creature is like a crushing force of nature or an angry god's retribution personified, punishing the evils of mankind. It takes a long time for its 'kaijū' aspect to appear onscreen, but in all probability you won't miss it because the drama that occupies the remainder of the running time is excellent and holds its own. It keeps colours naturalistic but still manages to look beautiful.