Category Archives: World Cinema
Many years ago I got myself coerced into watching a number of Bollywood films by some Asian work friends who, as far as I could tell, thought it was funny that I’d actually watch them. To them Bollywood films was entirely a product of their culture and, by proxy, should make no sense to a silly Englishman such as myself. Over some time I sat and watched Baazigar, Daag: The Fire and Gharwali Baharwali. All of which are damn enjoyable films and quite a good crash course in modern Bollywood movies. None of those movie hold a candle to the film I’m reviewing today though. Sholay goes beyond being a big deal in India. It played solidly in cinemas for 5 years and it still wouldn’t be too hard to find a cinema showing it today some 38 years later. When adjusted for inflation it is the highest grossing Indian film of all time. It also proves that Bollywood films aren’t just for the people of their homeland. I say this because Sholay is one of the greatest Westerns of all time. Click the link for my review.
One who is scared is dead!
Leave a comment | tags: amitabh bachchan, Bollywood, Comedy, Drama, Film Dump, Films, Movies, Musicals, Reviews, Sholay, World Cinema | posted in Action, Bollywood, Comedy, Drama, Genres, Movie reviews, Musicals, S, Western, World Cinema
You know what I love? Other than inappropriate humour, that is. Discovering a new artist that I enjoy. Last year I watched Mark Cousin’s excellent documentary The Story Of Film. Early on in the film… well about 6 hours in, it is a 15 hour long film… he covers the work of Yasujrio Ozu, a director I was aware of but had never seen any of the works of. A little after that I rented myself a copy of Ozu’s masterpiece Tokyo Story from Lovefilm. Not long after that I had brought a copy after being taken back by it’s beauty (this copy also came with Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family which I will get too before too long) and about a week ago I purchased another film of his in the form of Floating Weeds. Tokyo Story hooked me into Ozu’s work and directorial style. Floating Weeds has convinced me that he is easily one of the greatest directors that has ever lived. This is true classical style film making. Click the link for me saying pretty much the same thing but with more detail.
I wrote a review, but…
Leave a comment | tags: Drama, Film Dump, Films, Floating Weeds, Movies, Reviews, World Cinema, Yasujiro Ozu | posted in Drama, F, Genres, Movie reviews, World Cinema
I wanted to search for a less challenging film to review the last two I covered. Something that would actually have flaws I could get my teeth into. Something that wouldn’t carry with it the weight of years of academic praise and deconstructions. I believe I found that film. The live action adaptation of the Osamu Tezuka Manga, that wasn’t called Astro Boy or Black Jack, Dororo. Here’s a story with an incredibly silly/convoluted premise that has so much promise for great visuals and something of a unique style. Did I get all of those things with this film? Click the link to find out.
Dorororororororororororororor-oh!
Leave a comment | tags: Dororo, Film Dump, Films, Movies, Osamu Tezuka, Reviews, World Cinema | posted in Action, D, Fantasy, Genres, Movie reviews, World Cinema
In my last review, for Mulholland Drive, I remarked that I don’t enjoy writing reviews of unquestionably great films. I find writing those reviews a taxing experience due to the fact that whatever I write will have been written a million times before. Plus I generally assume that if you’re reading these reviews you’re already fairly knowledgeable in the world of film and are likely familiar with the work already. But I made a decision nearly 2 years ago to review every film I see and, after watching Mark Cousins’ superb The Story Of Film, I have found myself building a collection of classic films I have never seen. And so here I am, with a BFI restoration of Battleship Potemkin, one of the most important films ever made. Often placed at the top of greatest film ever lists and possibly the origin on montage film and the use of editing to manipulate the audiences emotional links to the character. Also, the most praised propaganda film of all time without question. Yes, more so the The Hurt Locker. Well then, click the link for my review. I promise to review something simpler next time.
Borscht!!!
Leave a comment | tags: Battleship Potemkin, Drama, Film Dump, Films, Movies, Reviews, World Cinema | posted in Action, B, Drama, Genres, Movie reviews, Silent, World Cinema
During 2012 a number of films were released that could almost be seen as love letters to the history of cinema. We had Hugo which featured the early career of George Melies and many silent cinema nods. Cabin In The Woods played out as one huge love up/damnation of the horror genre which simultaneously paid tribute to classic horror whilst showing you how horror worked and, by proxy, how simple horror has recently become. Mark Cousins released a beautiful 15 hour long film about the Story Of Film which is a must watch for any film fans. Today’s film is another of these tributes to classic cinema in the form of The Artist. At The Oscars last year it was The Artist and Hugo that swept up a lot of the awards, which kinda says a lot about how nostalgic the Oscar committee are. Does The Artist manage to be more than just a tribute to the early days of cinema? Well, click the link for my irrelevant views.
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2 comments | tags: bernice bejo, Comedy, Drama, Film Dump, Films, Movies, oscars, Reviews, Silent films, The Artist, World Cinema | posted in A, Comedy, Drama, Genres, Movie reviews, Silent, World Cinema
Back when I watched and reviewed Mark Cousin’s Story Of Film (Review No.126) one directors work featured in that documentary struck me strongest. It was the work of a director I only had a passing knowledge of having never seen his work and only knowing him by name. I was unaware of his techniques and what it was that made his films great. I decided to research his methods and work and find a film that would be a good starting point. That director was Yasujiro Ozu and now I know just what is so great about the man and his work. Last night I watched Tokyo Story and I’m pretty sure I just added a new film to my top ten favourite films of all time.
The film does ignore the obvious dangers of Tokyo based Godzilla attacks.
2 comments | tags: Film Dump, Films, Movies, Noriko Trilogy, Reviews, Tokyo Story, World Cinema, Yasujiro Ozu | posted in Drama, Genres, Movie reviews, T, World Cinema
Bit of a mouthful of a title that ain’t it? Not as bad as The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill But Came Down A Mountain but it’s close. Also this film doesn’t have Hugh Grant in it so that’s good. Sorry for the gap between this and my last review. I had Uncle Boonmee rented from Lovefilm and the copy I had started freaking out like Nicholas Cage in… any Nicholas Cage film… for the last 20 minutes. I got the jist of what was happening but didn’t want to commit to a review until I could watch the final scenes minus the frozen frames and skipped shots. So anyway, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives eh? Click the link for my views.
Art films are tough to write reviews for sometimes.
Leave a comment | tags: Film Dump, Films, Movies, Reviews, World Cinema | posted in Drama, Genres, Movie reviews, U, World Cinema
So after watching The Skin I Live In a couple of weeks back I thought I’d chuck another Almodovar on my Lovefilm rental list. I chose Volver because I’d never seen the whole film and would you look at what they’ve sent me already. Don’t worry Lovefilm, those games and older film picks are just there for show. Anyway, been wanting to sit and watch this properly for some time, and now I have. As a bonus this film has Penelope Cruz in it. How is that a bonus you say? Well it’s a bonus for me.
It’s hard to pronounce Volver without it sounding a little rude. It means return by the way, or coming back.
Leave a comment | tags: Film Dump, Films, Movies, Reviews, World Cinema | posted in Drama, Genres, Movie reviews, V, World Cinema
Well that was handy wasn’t it? I reviewed the first Death Note film last week and here’s the sequel. If you’ve read my previous review you’ll probably be able to guess how much I was looking forward to seeing this one. If you haven’t then that amount is approximately not a lot. The first film had a cool concept but failed on most other levels to excel in any way. Shoddy characterisation, some bizarre shooting techniques and editing and to top it all off the story was all over the place structure wise. So here’s Death Note: The Last Name. Click the link for the review.
Moshi moshi, Kira desu.
Leave a comment | tags: anime, Film Dump, Movies, Reviews | posted in D, Drama, Genres, Movie reviews, World Cinema
I am not kidding you, that’s actually the Japanese for Death Note. Sometimes I wonder what’s the point of different languages. Then I remember how hot French girls can sound. Really helps take the edge off the armpit hair… and the being French. Anyway, Death Note is a real life film based on a popular Manga comic and Anime series of the same name. It features Japanese actors that are gonna mess with my spell checker and premise that was likely thought up after drinking too much Sake. Click the link for my review!
Desu?
2 comments | tags: anime, Film Dump, Movies, Reviews | posted in D, Drama, Genres, Movie reviews, World Cinema
