Assault on Precinct 13

I watched Assault on Precinct 13 and it was quite enjoyable. I know that sounds a bit strange considering it is a film that is a standoff film (what I consider, at any rate) but it is really cool. Directed by John Carpenter, in 1976 and stars Austin Stoker, Darwin Joston, Laurie Zimmer, and Nancy Kyes as part of the main cast. It deals with how a precinct is closing and the crazy night that ensues because of gang violence. That is what it is in a nutshell. There is more to it than that though because it is a study in characters, who are heroes and who are villains and how lines blur in certain heated situations. Knowing that Carpenter has an adoration of Howard Hawks (Thing from Another World, Rio Bravo) and there are elements that I noticed that mirrored Rio Bravo, especially the violent standoff aspect to the main plot (though in Rio Bravo the circumstances were slightly different). That is what surprised me most about this film as it was very violent. Lots of gunfire. I must admit that added to the tension that was built up through the entire film as whole, which made it all the more intense as the film goes through the action and drama.

This was Carpenter’s second film (from the research I have seen and read) and though it is low budget that is what gives its charm and grit. The score is a synthesizer score with a repeating set of chords that frame the entire film. The set piece of the precinct and being trapped is almost claustrophobic and really works on the viewer.

I know there was a remake in 2005 and I haven’t seen it so I cannot comment on the differences in tone or any of that. I stand by this version as being definitive if only because, it may be inspired by Rio Bravo (and Night of the Living Dead), it stands alone as an achievement in action –drama that really tests the audience as to how they would or wouldn’t react in this situation, as extreme as it is (though I contend that in this modern age, that is a normalcy compared to when this was released in 1976). 

Haxan

I saw the film Haxan (Danish title: Heksen; English title: The Witches or Witchcraft Through The Ages), released in 1922, that is a Danish/Swedish production that rides the line between genres, directed Benjamin Christensen. On one hand the film is like a documentary, in other ways it is a horror film. It is a treatise of the witch-hunts of the Middle Ages and how witchcraft has influenced the world. Parts of it were taken from an older book called the Malleus Maleficarum which in itself is a book about witchcraft through history.

It has little vignette scenes of people interacting with witches and the devil as well as scenes of being forced into confession. The film also features imagery through the ages depicting witch craft interpretations. One of the most interesting things is a little section of the film dedicated to the torture devices used for the confessions.
I must admit, I was hesitant about seeing this film because I had seen a visual review of it on a website and though the film is old, the imagery that this review had was a bit scary to me initially. Scary like an old film can be. I wasn’t sure about it though I wanted to see it, as I am fascinated by the subject of evil and how it is interpreted this way, in the period of time. A friend gave me incentive to see it and endorsed it, giving me the courage to see it. I found that there are two versions of this film (another case of American import cuts as mentioned in my review for Amuck!). The original version which has subtitles and narrative slides explaining some of the images and is an hour and 45 minutes. The American version that has a lame narrator through the whole thing, cutting out all the narrative slides as in the original, thus cutting the run time. I found the original version, with subtitles and watched that one. I’m thinking I should watch both and I may but not right now.
It is separated into chapters and focuses on each aspect of witch craft. I found the production values to be quite high. Sets and costumes were seemingly genuine and the actors, especially the old women, were particularly striking. They conveyed the sense of horror that comes with being falsely accused and their faces, some contorted and some beautiful. And that is what I felt after watching it, which is funny because that is ultimately what was most scary about it; that abuse of power and hypocrisy by the church and trying to do the “right thing” and how many people suffered and died for that scares me.
Overall, it was a great film. Some would probably find it hokey and silly but if you can find the original, I think it will be worth your time.

Wreck-It Ralph

I watched Wreck-It Ralph, a Disney computer animated film, released in 2012, directed by Rich Moore, starring John C. Reilly as Ralph, Jack McBrayer as Fix-it Felix Jr., Sarah Silverman as Vanellope von Schweetz, and Jane Lynch as Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun. All of them are from video games. The story is that Ralph is sick of being a bad guy and wants to change that but inadvertently puts the whole arcade in danger by doing so.
I was wanting to see this film when it came out because I loved the idea of the game characters congregating, much in the same way TRON did years before. I didn’t get a chance to see it in theaters like I had hoped and everyone seemed to like it.
I watched it and was entertained throughout. It was cool seeing all those familiar characters, and spotting ones in the backgrounds or group scenes. The voice acting was quite superb and I was SHOCKED to see that Alan Tudyk had done the voice of King Candy, with a channeling of Ed Wynn, to boot. It was an interesting treatise of how we each have a job to do and though we may not like it, it is not just us that feel the effects if we decide to leave said job. That is quite a blatant oversimplification of the intricacies of the plot but initially, that is the take away I get from it. Basically, don’t be a self-centered douche. I was surprised at how much it moved me in the end and how everything works itself out. There were a few hiccups in the story here and there but overall, it was a fun little movie. I appreciate that it captures the video game culture across the board and though it would’ve been interesting to see them keep an 8-bit Ralph and other characters (they didn’t deeming that he would not be “relatable enough to audiences”, whatever that means), it comes off flashy but not saccharine like a lot of the animated fair coming out lately that is computer generated. Clearly, this film was not rushed out and I'm not sure if they will have sequel but if it does, I will certainly give it a chance.
I think it is worth it to see because it actually has heart and a pretty good message that isnt preachy and is really at the heart of the issue of being a friend.

Amuck!

Amuck Review

This is a review for the Giallo film Amuck (Italian title:Alla ricerca del piacere, also known as Maniac Mansion, Leather and Whips and Hot Bed of Sex), released 1971. It stars Barbara Bouchet, Farley Granger and Rosalba Neri. This film was directed by Silvio Amadio, who’s filmography is sparse, mostly obscure films. The story is about a woman who comes to work for a researcher as a secretary, transcribing his notes from a reel to reel tape recorder. There is an ulterior motive with her however as we soon learn that the previous secretary went missing and also happens to be the friend of Barbara Bouchet’s character. She is there to solve her disappearance. The whole film plays out like a usual Giallo film. Giallo, meaning yellow in Italian, is used in this case for the suspenseful/slasher/thriller genre of films from Italy made famous by the likes of Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci. To be totally honest, the reason I saw this film was because of Barbara Bouchet. I have seen her in a number of her other films and this one does not disappoint (though it ended quite abruptly) since she is the focus of this film, rather than just the eye candy. Though, I must say there were some very adult scenes as the couple that she is staying with is very sexually permissive/open, which can be slightly jarring in a few scenes, typical of the Giallo genre however. There is a bit of nudity, some of it gratuitous while other scenes are to move the plot along.

The film actually feels very suspenseful, and like Barbara Bouchet’s character, you get the feeling there is more here than meets the eye.
The cinematography is done very well though the version I saw was a poor transfer copy, likely VHS, but to be able to see it at all is pretty impressive in my book. Mostly because a number of these films suffer egregious cuts, both to the gore or the time, making them almost unwatchable because a fair number of key scenes maybe cut out or it is badly dubbed, any number of things to make the watcher feel like it’s not worth the time to watch. This film, however is worth the watch, if not for Barbara Bouchet alone.

New Blog Introductions

Hello.
My name is Cory.
I love films.
I love talking about films.
I love watching films.
I love just about everything about learning about films.
I began this blog as part of a suggestion to me by one of my classmates when we were discussing my recent watching of Inferno, Dir: Dario Argento and Susperia, Dir: Dario Argento.
I was quite animated about it all and he said that I should start a blog to talk about it. I know there are MANY MANY other blogs such as mine, much more in tune with film for one reason or another.
I am not a critic or anything special credentials, other than I love films and do tons of research.
I just want to convey my thoughts on some films that I see.
Simple.

These posts will be random as I am a 2nd Year Doctoral Student in Organizational Leadership. I will post when I see a film or a little after. Just letting you know. No real formatting other than that.

Hope you enjoy.

Sincerely,

Cory