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Din of Celestial Birds (2006)
A Mesmerizingly Surreal Glimpse into One of the Many Theories of Our Beginning
E. Elias Merhige has always been a fascinating filmmaker to watch. Not only do his films refuse to adhere to genre formula, but they also force the viewer to look deep within themselves to ask who we really are. The sadly unfinished unfinished trilogy consisting of 'Begotten' and 'Din of Celestial Birds' refuse to be grounded into a specific genre, they are mesmerizing and fascinating works of art that delve deep into the human consciousness and into our possible origins and into what makes us human. 'Din of Celestial Birds' offers a different and more palpable approach to the mysticism and philosophical essence of its predecessor.
Viewing the film, my first impression was that it resembled a diluted and significantly shortened version of 'Begotten'. However, upon further examination, I found it to be a lot more in depth that I had previously assumed. Opening with a runish text, and done in a similar style to its predecessor, 'Din' tackles a completely different story, the theory of evolution. As a small ball of light appears and disappears on the screen of film grain, it suddenly explodes in a flash of blinding light representing the Big Bang. The montage of matter and molecules forming and evolving is nothing short of astonishing, and shows a high point in film artistry that has rarely been equaled by mainstream cinema. The closest I can describe it as would be something akin to Salvador Dali, and Jackson Pollock.
'Din' might not delve into the deep abyss of human nature as its predecessor did, its philosophical nature only barely touching the surface. Instead, the film decides to forgo the latter's cutthroat approach to deliver a more contemplative "sequel" that reflects upon one of the countless theories of our origins. As this montage of evolution and creations plays before our eyes, we cannot help but wonder what we are seeing. It is only at the end when man is shown formed from the primordial ooze that an understanding of what we have witnessed begins to form. The whole experience is remarkable and displays an impressive testament of using film as both an art and a delving into the regions of the metaphysical and philosophical. Highly recommended!
Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
A DEEPLY Disappointing Sequel: One Devoid of Magic, and Devoid of Fun
As I write this review, I am still trying to ascertain what went wrong here. The film has everything that should have made it work, from the people involved to the general concept, it's all the right ingredients to make a great film. Sadly, and quite surprisingly, the film seems to drop the ball almost at the very start. Now don't get me wrong, everything here is quite expertly done, and the performances (especially Blunt's) are quite good.It's all done reasonably and with expert craftsmanship, but that itself is the underlying problem of the whole endeavor. It has all the skill and style, but none of the original's charm and soul.
Major plot points and character types have been recycled from the original classic, but none of them seem to work. We have our Cockney speaking tramp, a visit into a magically animated land, a father who has forgotten the magic of his youth, eccentric characters, and the list goes on. Instead of having that "spoonful of sugar" feeling, it all feels strangely hollow. The songs never really catch on, nor do they give off the feeling that they should. The characters themselves never really feel real, as if more time was devoted with replicating the original rather than taking time to flesh out the characters. Even the titular character seems different. Now I don't mean that it's due to Emily Blunt, who does very well with the part, it almost feels that her character and personality has been altered in a way that feels empty.
Now you might be thinking that this reviewer has not given this film a chance and they are foolishly comparing it to the original. Not so! As a reviewer, I always try to find some way of enjoying a film, even if it pains me to do so. The problem with this film is that everytime I felt I might enjoy the film, another sequence begins and ends on a hollow note, undermining everything.
It's all a DEEPLY disappointing experience, and one devoid of charm, cheer, and any sense of magic. One of the most disappointing films since LAST JEDI.
Daddy's Home 2 (2017)
A Yuletide Cheer Free Comedy
As a fan of many of the actors starring in this film, I was looking forward to a good comedy that I could enjoy. Unfortunately this turned out to not be the case. It is rather sad to see a top notch comedy actor like Farrell reduced to making poor quality films, and while this marks a (VERY slight) improvement from his recent efforts, it's still a mess. Considering that the film is supposed to be set during the holiday season, there is no yul tide feelings present here, which is a major problem. The laughs are sporadic at best and, in some cases, fall completely flat. As a comedy this is a death sentence. The characters and their actions in the film are mostly dull and annoying, with master actors such as Gibson and Lithgow reduced to mugging and hamming it up towards the camera. Tried as I may to find SOMETHING to enjoy about this movie, but for every moment where the usual gags work, there are moments that completely undermine and overshadow those good moments.
So if you want to sit down and enjoy a nice comedy or even a good holiday movie, your better off watching Farrell's ELF rather than this mess.
Scarecrows (1988)
An Unsettling, Atmosphere Rich Horror Gem
As a soon-to-be filmmaker and film nerd, I love searching for those obscure, little known gems. Some times the films are trash but sometimes, as in the case of William Wesley's Scarecrows, I find films that that can be viewed multiple times and still gather new pieces of information from them. At the surface, Scarecrows may seem generic, but upon closer examination one discovers that all is not what it appears to be. In spite of their generic mold, one somehow becomes involved with the characters in spite of this. True the dialogue is sometimes spotty but, its strengths easily overcome these occasional faults.
The standard "robbery gone wrong" is used as a starting point here, with cliched characters that deviate very little from their roles. But as in the case is with many films in the horror genre, the focus is not primarily on these characters, but rather the antagonists or the atmosphere. Such is the case here, but in addition to this is a surprising development of the location as a character. When the traitorous member of the group is murdered by the title antagonists, the place which had once been unnervingly still comes to life. It's as though the blood of the traitor that was spilled on the ground somehow revived the place and is now set against the intruders. This is implied through shots of a windmill beginning to spin, empty pipes suddenly flowing with water, and an old generator starting up on its own. The short montage is nothing short of eerie and unnerving. After the deaths of the intruders and the survivors leaving the area, the location returns to the utter stillness that it once was. Further establishing the location as a character.
The design of the title antagonists are well done and convincing, with their faces a mixture of the standard burlap sack head, and a human skull. It's as creepy as it is well executed. There is a hinted supernatural cause to both the location and its antagonists, with implications being that a group of brothers, who once owned the property, practiced satanic rituals and are, in fact, the very scarecrows that stalk the group. These scarecrows are not only silent as they roam the place, but they have the ability to telepathically mimic the voices of those familiar to each individual. They also have the ability to turn their victims into human scarecrows. There are several effective moments where the group is surprised by their undead comrades, which I will not go into detail for fear of spoiling anything.
The film also hints at a bigger more sinister idea at work. One of the robbers implies that they are all dead (like the classic Carnival of Souls) and they are in a sort of limbo. Although this is later proven false, it is still an unnerving idea that makes one question everything they've witnessed up to this point.
Good camerawork, and direction coupled with eerie soundtrack enhance the film's overall effectiveness. If any one of these aspects had faltered it would have made for some troubled viewing. As it stands, Scarecrows transcends its cliched story, with an eeriness, rich atmosphere, and disturbing implications.
Ghostkeeper (1981)
A Chilling, Underrated Horror Masterpiece
Simply put, Jim Makichuk's Ghostkeeper is one of the most underrated, and undeservedly little seen horror films ever made. Set in the snow-covered Canadian Rockies, it's as chilling as the location it's set in. Some reviewers have complained about the film being "dull", having unlikable characters, mediocre acting, and a disappointing monster. As a fellow film nerd/maker, one must understand the point of each scene and performance in a film. For better or worse. That being said, I find it hard to understand the criticisms that have been given to this film. It's slow moving to be sure, but like everything in the film, it's all done with a purpose. Compared to the fast-paced horror films now-a-days, I found it a welcome relief that this film didn't rush it's proceedings. Because of that more time is spent developing its atmosphere, and characters into something that is both believable and real. The story itself is rather interesting, with echoes to both The Shining, and Psycho. Hving the main characters being forced to stay in an abandoned building is nothing new. However, the writers take this done-to-death premise and made it their own, fashioning it into something that is both mesmerizing, and hunting.
The cinematography is nothing short of mesmerizing, and extremely well done, with shots of darkened corridors to ones on the cloudy, snow-covered landscape quietly building its atmosphere and mood. These shots are also helped by composer Zaza's low-key, and unsettling score, which manages to get under your skin and stay there in spite yourself. Personally, it's one of my favorite movie soundtracks, with it's low vocals, and minimalist tunes recalling John Carpenter's legendary score for Halloween.
The performances are also a highlight of the film, with each character slowly fleshed out into someone that is both believable, and realistic. As in real life the film's character's are far from perfect, with very distinct flaws that give each one distinction and relatability. As the film progresses at its slow and deliberate pace, we gradually learn more about each character which enhances ones involvement in them and the story.
One of the other criticisms that some people have is that on the title monster, that of the purported Wendigo. Although the film's low budget limited what the film's makers originally wanted their title monster to look like, their decision actually works for the better. According to folklore, a person who consumes human flesh or is possessed by the the Wendigo's spirit will turn into a "Human Wendigo". By having their monster being represented as a deformed man not only fits with folklore, but also (maybe unintentionally) lends it a allegorical/symbolic nature. The fact that madness, one of the major themes in the film, can twist a person into something horrible is actually quite an unnerving statement. The monster can also represent another theme that it prevalent on the film, and relocatable to its monster... That of hunger.
There are several instances where one character's hunger, either sexual or the need for sustinance, results in consequences that come back to haunt them. This is also and unnerving point that can be embodies within the film's title monster. No film is perfect, and this one is no exception. Flaws such as the rare occurance of overacting at one point, are outweighted by the film's strengths.
Ghostkeeper might not be for everyone. But for those who like their horror films slow and deliberately paced with a fair amount of chills along the way then this is an essential viewing.
Eyes of Fire (1983)
An Eerie, and Disturbingly Atmospheric Western/Horror Hybrid
As both a filmmaker and an avid film fanatic, I'm fascinated with films that are both unique and manage to fulfill their potential on a limited budget. Avery Crounse's little known and unfairly hidden gem "Eyes of Fire" is such a picture. Combining Western and Supernatural Horror genres, then setting it in an eerie, and sinister forest is something that I was immediately drawn to. Working with the film's cinematographer, director Crounse manages something that, unfortunately, very few horror films manage to accomplish... Generating an eerie, and foreboding atmosphere on a relatively small budget through use of lighting, fog (of course!), disturbingly surreal imagery, and overlaid shots. We are shown shots of naked, mud-covered phantoms that appear out of nowhere silently staring at or chasing those who wander too close. We are also shown shots of faces that sprout from the trunks of trees, a figure being formed from the very ground, and other nightmarish imagery. The effect is quite unsettling, and manages to get under your skin and stay there for an uncomfortable amount of time. The story, set in the Mid-1700s, is fairly simple. A man who claims that he is a preacher is chased from town after being (rightfully) accused of adultery, and later become stranded in a part of the woods that the Shawnee Indians claim is where evil lurks. However familiar the story may be, the film manages to surprise the viewer with good performances (Crockett's being especially potent), strong direction and camerawork, and an undeniably creepy soundtrack. True, the film may have its faults (NO film is perfect), but the strengths outshine its imperfections to make the experience all the more enjoyable. The fact that the film has yet to be released in a remastered DVD/Blue-ray form borders on the criminally negligent, which hopefully doesn't last that much longer. Although some might dispute this reviewer's opinion of the film, one must go into it with an open mind in order to fully enjoy the experience as this reviewer did.
Highly Recommended!