Tralfaz

Category: Movie Review

  • Movie Review – Alien

    I remember when I first saw Alien. It was 1979, I was a freshman in high school, and our biology teacher (Fred Granger) took us on a field trip to see “Alien”. I recall his words: “This is far more likely what an extra-terrestrial encounter will be like…”

    The creature that bursts out of John Hurt's chest
    The creature that bursts out of John Hurt’s chest

    From the first suspense-filled moment when the Egg exploded on John Hurt’s character, to the chest burster scene, to the final scene where Sigourney Weaver finally finishes it off before heading for home, it is a roller coaster ride of epic proportions.

    I recall tossing my popcorn when the first encounter of the alien, and never stopped being on the edge of my seat.

    The cinematography is typical Ridley Scott, gritty, realistic, and engaging. Mr. Scott has an eye for detail and this movie is no exception. Unlike the contemporary “Star Wars”, where the characters were pristine, the ships were spotless, and the characters somewhat stiff and wooden, Scott brings a realism that makes the movie “pop”

    Part of the brilliance is the design of the stages of the alien, and the set of the alien ship where it all began were done by H. R. Giger. Mr Giger’s work is legendary, gracing the cover of the ELP album “Brain Salad Surgery”, his surrealistic style really fits the film.

    There were three sequels, all decent, but none of them matched the brilliance of the original for visceral reaction, suspense, and raw terror factor.

    Ironically, one of the contemporary critical reviews complained that Ridley Scott didn’t do enough character development of the cast. FFS, how much character development do you need? 7 people, one monster on a spaceship.

    A true tour de force, and a spectacular film, nearly 35 years on. I am glad I have a copy and I still get a thrill watching it.

  • Movie review: Brazil

    I remember seeing Brazil when it first came out in 1986. It was one of those relatively rare times when I actually went to a theatre to see a first run movie. Being a long time Monty Python fan, I was entertained on many levels by Brazil, from intellectual stimulation, to marveling at the cinematography, to the comical story line. There is something for everyone in the movie Brazil, and every time I re-watch it, I get a few new bits from the film.

    I have had a DVD rip for a while, but I wanted to get a good copy. On a lark I splurged on Amazon and got the “Criterion” collection. The print is luscious, and the restoration that they did to remove the film to digital noticeably improves the experience of the film.

    Set in the future, the world has become entrenched in bureaucracy, and novelty computers (tiny CRT’s behind large fresnel lenses). The story is one of love, deception, and bucking authority. Notable are the dream sequences, that add to the mystique of the film.

    Jonathan Pryce, playing the lead character of Sam, does a phenomenal job as the dream weaver. Also notable is an appearance by Robert De Niro as Archibald Tuttle, a freelance heating and cooling engineer who is operating outside the auspices of the dreaded “Central Services”. A clerical error puts Sam on a collision course with the girl of his dreams, Jill Layton (played by Kim Griest).

    Michael Palin in a mask
    Michael Palin in a mask

    2 hours and 24 minutes long, it is a film that will certainly entertain those who “get” Monty Python humor, and who have read Orwell and Huxley.

    The second disc of the Criterion edition has the “Happy Ending” version with the edits that director Terry Gillian refused to make.  94 minutes long, I thought that they couldn’t possible destroy the story line. How wrong I was. I am watching it now, and they completely destroyed the story line, and the whole essence of the film. This version was only shown on syndicated TV, and it is a pale comparison to the original print.

    I bought the discs from Amazon, and as is my custom, I read some of the reviews. I didn’t expect to be swayed one way or the other, but reading the 1 star reviews was entertaining. Clearly, some people don’t get Python humor, and didn’t appreciate the film. But I was astounded by the number (29 total out of hundreds of reviews) who felt the need to do an in depth dissertation of how they didn’t get the film, and how they thought that all the positive reviews were off the mark. They probably aren’t going to like 12 Monkeys either.

    Please, it is a movie that was release more than a quarter century ago, and if you don’t appreciate it, don’t watch it.

    If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend getting it on your Netflix list.

  • Favorite Movies: Blade Runner

    Whilst I was working on the preparations for the grilling feast tonight, I popped in one of my all time favorite films, Blade Runner. Released on June 25, 1982, it was a epic piece of cinematography, and a fabulous translation of the Phillip K. Dick short story: “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”

    Some phenomenal performances by the cast, including one of my favorite villains, Rutger Hauer who is masterful as the replicant leader Roy Batty. No knock on the other characters, particularly Sean Young who was a stunning “Rachel”, as they all played their parts well, and moved the story along.

    Phillip K. Dick stories have often been translated to the big screen, including Blade Runner, Minority Report, and Total Recall, mostly with good results. A gifted SciFi author, his commentary on the human condition, and how that is unfolding is engaging as well as captivating.

    It is hard to believe that this was release 31 years ago, long before the era of computer generated animation. It is fun to see brands and logos of long deceased companies portrayed in the film (Pan-Am, Atari, and many more)

    I never get tired of watching this film, another Ridley Scott masterpiece.

  • Movie Review: Barbarella

    Jane Fonda as Barbarella
    Jane Fonda as Barbarella

    A couple weeks ago, on a whim, I tossed Barbarella on the Netflix queue. I had seen it when I was 17 or so, and I recalled it being racy and titillating. But that was almost 30 years ago.

    I wasn’t sure what I expected, but it turned out to be a high – “cheese” factor, late 1960’s movie. It starts with Jane Fonda getting out of a “space suit” in zero grav, and devolves into a slapstick series of comedic episodes. Ironically, the “cheese” and the ridiculousness of the situations, combine to make a much more enjoyable film than I expected.

    Also, at 31, Jane Fonda had a really nice body.