BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE. It's a strange title for a movie if you ask me, particularly if it's a horror flick. I can understand the blood part, but chocolate?! And not seeing the trailer, the title was actually what put me off from seeing the movie right away. In fact, I almost didn't go watch it. I thought that it was some cheapo B-movie. I had to check for reviews about Blood, to make sure that it was at least worth my hundred and fifty pesos. Aiden (Hugh Dancy) is an artist doing research on Bucharest's ancient arts and relics for his next graphic novel based on the mythology of the Loup Garoux -- shapeshifters whose ability to effortlessly change into both human and wolf was once considered to be holy among men. He runs into and falls for Vivian (Agnes Bruckner), who, unbeknownst to him, is one of the Loup Garoux. One of the last of her kind in fact, and is under the control and protection of Gabriel (Olivier Martinez), the leader of the last packs of Loup Garoux who is to be her predestined husband. The movie may prove to be a disappointment for hard-core horror flick fans, as Blood doesn't really have a lot of... well, blood. It's actually more of a romantic thriller (well, more romantic than thriller ), minus the blood and gore that would normally accompany these kinds of movies. Heck, even the transformation of the Loup Garoux from human to wolf was done in an elegant or romantic kind of way, as opposed to how most of us have seen it done in other movies (An American Werewolf In London, The Howling, Wolf, etc). But what can I say? I'm a sucker for these kinds of stories, and I actually liked this one. It's not the best of this genre, but it's still pretty good nonetheless.
HANNIBAL RISING. Silence of The Lambs was one of the best movies ever made. With stellar performances from the two leads, Jodie Foster and (especially) Sir Anthony Hopkins. For me, it's one of those films that should be left alone. Meaning, no sequels, and no remakes. That's why I was a bit concerned when Hannibal came out ten years later, and Red Dragon in 2002. Fortunately, both movies weren't as bad as I feared it would be. The most important reason being the fact that Hopkins still played the deliciously frightening Dr.Lecter. So imagine my surprise and dismay when I found out another movie about the infamous doctor was made. Pardon my ignorance, but I'm not very knowledgeable with Thomas Harris' work -- and, apparently, Harris did write a novel about the origin of Lecter, so I guess it was but inevitable that a movie was going to be made based on said book. The thing is, in my opinion, Hopkins is Hannibal Lecter, and it would be difficult to see anyone else play the role other than him. Okay, so it's not like Hopkins could play a very young Hannibal (the movie's about his origin after all), but it's also difficult (for me anyway) not comparing the guy who plays Lecter in this one (Gaspard Ulliel) to Anthony Hopkins. And it's pretty much what ruins Hannibal Rising for me. Ulliel's portrayal of Lecter reminded me more of Crispin Glover's The Thin Man in the Charlie's Angels movie(s). As I said, Hollywood should have left Silence of The Lambs alone and not made any more Hannibal movies. Especially with this latest. Anthony Hopkins saved Hannibal and Red Dragon, but a Hannibal movie without Hopkins is just inconceivable.Useless knowledge : There was actually another actor that played Hannibal The Cannibal before Sir Anthony Hopkins, and that was Brian Cox (who has appeared in movies like Troy, The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy, to name a few) in a Michael Mann-directed film called Manhunter (an excellent movie), starring CSI's William Peterson. Info courtesy of the dvd lent to me by Ld.
CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER. Forget about the story because this will just leave you dazed and confused, especially the ending (which will also irritate the heck out of you). But if you really wanna know, Hero and House of Flying Daggers director Zhang Yimou, gives us his latest offering -- a martial arts "epic" starring Chow Yun-Fat, as an emperor in 10th century Tang Dynasty that's got some family drama going on in his life : he's married to Gong Li, who's having an affair with her husband's eldest son (that sounds icky but, don't worry, she's not related to him) - and the emperor also wants to turn her insane by slowly poisoning her; his middle son is clearly having designs on the throne; and his youngest son spends his time brown-nosing and skulking around the palace. But that's not all... someone's also raising an army to strike at the heart of the empire during the annual chrysanthemum festival, someone else is searching for a long-lost relative, and so on. Curse has beautiful costumes, superb cinematography, but, other than that, this movie is best left alone. Well... unless you can't help yourself and you just want to see a crappy movie. To prove my point, there's a scene where a huge battle happens -- a lot of people get killed -- but the moment the fight is over, palace servants appear out of nowhere and clean and clear out the thousands of dead bodies lying around and voila!, it was as if nothing happened. That scene was just so damn funny! (it wasn't meant to be funny)
THE HOLIDAY. After having problems with the men in their lives, Amanda (Cameron Diaz) - a Hollywood movie trailer producer - meets British writer Iris (Kate Winslet) on-line and decide to do a home-swap in each other's countries (I didn't even know some people do this kind of thing -- I thought to myself wouldn't it be great to swap my home for some huge abode, with complete amenities like a pool, superb sound system, a ginormous tv, etc? - then again, nobody's gonna want my place - haha), only to meet a local guy and fall in love. The trailer would suggest that this is a Cameron Diaz-Kate Winslet vehicle, but I felt that it was more of a Cameron Diaz show, as the movie seemed to focus more on her story and her scenes seemed to be longer than that of Kate's. Writer-director Nancy Meyers did much better with her last outing, Something's Gotta Give, but The Holiday is still a decent romantic comedy, if a bit lengthy. It's a beautiful movie to look at all around, particularly because of and with the leads that Meyers has in the film. Well, maybe except Jack Black who, perhaps, some will find a bit odd as a romantic leading man. He doesn't do bad -- it's just that people who've seen his movies are probably more used to seeing Black as a hyperactive, physical comedian -- and in this flick, he's more low-key. Absolutely wonderful film score by Hans Zimmer.'Nuff said.
No comments:
Post a Comment