Fieracha Reviews

Gladiator (2000)

An amazing journey

[10/10 · 12 May 2000]

I have seen near-perfection, and it is "Gladiator".

Others have said more eloquently what I could here, so I will not go into any detail. In summary:

Russel Crowe: The 'rising star' who deserved a little gold statue for "The Insider" had better nab one for this role. Maximus is a typical soldier - powerful presence, quiet confidence, emotional yet controlled (especially when Commodus tells him his son "squealed like a girl") and ultimately, dignified in victory.

Oliver Reed: A classic as always. We will miss his screen presence. The CGI used to recreate his face for some scenes is faultless.

Joaquin Pheonix: Develops a character we can really learn to hate. Others have said there was not enough screen time for Commodus, but I thought there was nearly too much!

Connie Neilson: Suitably whimsical as a princess in the beginning, we see her develop into a strong mother figure, discarding all for her son's safety

Fight scenes: Not the best I've seen, but they would have to come close. The first battle against the Germanian horde contrasts sharply with the gladiatorial arena. The skip frame effect serves to enhance the confusion of real battle, while the slower, more elegant shots of the arena display the game of death fought between essentially large men wearing silly hats. :)

Costume, Sets, Design: Faultless - there are more gold statues up for grabs here.

CGI for scenery: At points it was just a tiny bit fake (especially when they put birds into the frame), but overall the effect was superb.

Some people have criticised the film for not being historically accurate, but what is it you people want? Truly there is no way to satisfy some of you, and you've lost the ability to just enjoy a movie for what it is. If you want to see history, watch a documentary.

Personally, I shall be very interested to watch the Oscars next year and see if, once again, a movie gets snubbed because one of Hollywood's darlings isn't at the helm. We know Australian actors can grab the gold (Geoffrey Rush for "Shine"), but how long before we get another?

10 out of 10, but it was worth at least 12...

Dogma (1999)

A film for the subtle...

[9/10 · 6 February 2000]

Once again, Kevin Smith has delivered a fine piece of work. In my personal opinion I think Clerks was slightly better, but Dogma is on par with Mallrats and Chasing Amy, the better known works of Smith.

The subtle humour and the Jay/Silent Bob interaction wouldn't have meant too much to first-time Smith fans, whereas the old hacks among us would have been fully wound up for it. Smith is great as Silent Bob, saying more with silence than most actors do with whole pages of dialogue.

Although I did enjoy the film immensely, I gave it 9/10 because I felt it lacked just a little something that I can't really define. When I left the cinema I was smiling, but probably not as wide as I did for Clerks...

Still a great flick, and recommended for those who don't take themselves too seriously....

Two Hands (1999)

Genuine, excellent Aussie film.

[10/10 · 2 September 1999]

Let me first say that if you're Australian (especially a Sydneysider) you need to go see this film. Hard and gritty, but with moments that will make you laugh, this is a great piece of film making.

Heath Ledger is great as Jimmy - the slightly naive and mostly trusting lad living in what is probably one of the most corrupt areas of Sydney and Australia - King's Cross.

Rose Byrne, besides being a hot, Hot, HOT new actress (both talent and looks) is a great 'girl from the sticks'. The chemistry between Alex and Jimmy is evident, and gives a realistic boy meets girl. Two young actors ready to go a long way.

Bryan Brown - well, what can you say? Seeing him play Pando is about as genuinely Australian as you can get, without slipping into the rigid overseas perceptions ("That's not a knife!" etc.) of the Aussie male. On one hand, he's a reasonably vicious gangster operating a reasonably vicious operation in Eastern Sydney. On the other hand, he's a responsible father who likes to help his son out with origami.

The contradictions in character for Pando and his boys is great - at one point, they're holding guns to people's heads and in the next scene Pando and Acko will be playing Chess!

The links between events reminded me somewhat of "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels", but was perhaps more subtle in some places, and less in others.

The great thing about this film is that unlike the plethora of action clones we get from Hollywood, this is all genuine people in believable situations. When someone gets shot, they stay shot, and usually don't have the energy to take out a building full of terrorists etc. etc. Its great, REAL drama (I know most of the scenes where it was shot) and could happen to anyone - a slight contradiction to this is the mystic element presented by Jimmy's dead brother, Michael, although it helps introduce audiences to the situation - more for the non-Australian viewers I'd suppose.

I give 'Two Hands' 10 out of 10.

The Matrix (1999)

Part of what promises to be an amazing story...

[10/10 · 18 April 1999]

For pure entertainment value and a film that left me wanting more, this is it! Be warned that I'm not going to examine The Matrix on a metaphysical level, or compare it directly to anything as some people have done. I went in with no preconceptions or expectations, and obviously walked out more satisfied than many who did.

I'll discuss the plot line of the Matrix down further, but for now I will say the only problem I had with any character was Reeves' "whoa". This, combined with his accent, can't help but remind you a little of two guys in bright clothing having excellent adventures in a phone booth.

Reeves plays very well the hacker suddenly exposed to the truth, adapting to his environment with the ease of those enamored of information technology. He hungers for knowledge, seeks the truth, and wants answers to his questions. He doesn't receive all the answers, but he knows his battle with the AI society of the Matrix will bring him closer.

Fishburne is great as the enigmatic Morpheus. At first complex, his simple belief that Neo is The One pushes him on in his quest, and we see his simple dedication to humanity evident in the pains he goes through to protect Zion.

Carrie Anne Moss is excellent as Trinity. (I have to say that "Dodge this" was one of the cooler moments for me in the film - yeah shallow I know). She does the kick a** female with a confident, yet fragile femininity that she only exposes in humanity's hour of need.

Hugo Weaving. What can you say? As a proud Aussie, I am completely satisfied with his performance as the spine-chilling Agent Smith. A lot of people I talked to were really annoyed by his accent, but I felt that it suited an AI program attempting to fit into a human society and develop human traits. His icy, blank faced portrayal of Agent Smith (with Agent Jones and Agent Brown), really carried the uncaring authority figure of the Matrix into the human world.

Weaving, along with other Australian/New Zealand actors (Matt Doran as "Mouse", Belinda McClory as "Switch", and Julian Arahanga as "Apo", along with the agents and a host of extras) gave good background to the other characters, even though their roles were short lived. Hopefully we will see a lot more local talent in upcoming features (Star Wars Episode II, Mission Impossible II).

Joe Pantoliano makes a great Cypher - the disillusioned follower of Morpheus.

The parts of Tank and Dozer were ably played by Marcus Chong and Ray Anthony Parker, as the only two "real humans" we saw in the whole film. You see in Tank and Dozer a happier, more positive attitude, having been born in the human outpost of Zion, and believing implicitly with Morpheus that Neo is The One.

The special effects strength were nothing short of unique, with the combination of Hong Kong wire cradles combined with unreal, "computer generated" settings and wardrobe, and slow-mo "moment in time" multi-camera techniques. That is all I have to say on the matter, because they have to be seen to be believed.

I have a problem with people who knocked the film. Most of their reasoning probably stems from the fact that they are addicted to their own flavour of sci-fi (and there is NOTHING wrong with that), or expect high philosophy every time they walk into a cinema. I accept that there were parts that they didn't like, but I feel that rather than trying an all-encompassing tale told from start to finish, the Wachowski Brothers were showing us a small, but important part of the world of the Matrix.

Everyone who has watched a sci-fi feature film knows that in no real way can the director(s) give us the entire history of their unique world in 3 hours or less. The Star Trek movies, for instance, have whole series' to back them up before they hit the big screen. Conversely, "Dark City" stood alone, and people who didn't like it often said that "not enough was explained" (as they did with the Matrix), or compared it to other, better established series/films. Was everyone disappointed with "Star Wars" when it was first released? NO! They went in, saw a good film with simple plot ideas and characters, got their money's worth and walked out. I think somewhere along the line we just got too fussy, and we forget that it's a movie - entertainment for a couple of hours.

I had no preconceptions that this movie would give me the history or end of the world. I say honestly went in to the cinema looking for a story on "lotsa guns and kicking heads", not to mention the unique special effects. I was pleasantly surprised.

The concept of the Matrix running our lives was an important part of the film. I accepted this, but did NOT wait for some quasi-religious justification to develop from this. It was simply a fact taken into account by Morpheus and his disciples when combating the Matrix in their search for "The One". It was no character's task to analyse this on a metaphysical level - their task was to begin destruction of the Matrix, and this was all that the Directing and Editing crew could fit into this movie time frame.

There is room for sequels here, (like others, I want to see Zion) and I hope that it will again be the Wachowski brothers at the helm, to continue their vision in the style to which we have become accustomed. The Matrix gets 10/10.

Desperate Measures (1998)

Not too shabby....

[7/10 · 14 February 1999]

I found the first 40 minutes or so of this movie a little dull... They set the plot up, but some of it I found a little too obvious, especially the Narcain ampule etc. etc.

However, the rest of the movie was excellent, and quite worth the $6 I rented it for. I'd be a bit hesitant to pay $12.50 to see it at the movies, however.

I had to suspend my disbelief at several points throughout the movie. Why didn't McCabe wait until after the operation before making his getaway, when his captors thought him weak and harmless? (Much as he did at movie's end). Why didn't the police in the op room draw their guns as soon as McCabe didn't go under the anaesthetic.

But enough negativity. It is a good film, and I gave it 7 out of 10.

Rush Hour (1998)

Very good

[8/10 · 31 January 1999]

I liked this movie. It was a good viewing experience, with a blend of action, comedy and story that we have come to expect from Chan.

Its not an Oscar winning piece on the morality of man or some other, hoity-toity load of garbage that Hollywood usually inserts into a gorefest or 'art' movie. Its nice and simple - girl kidnapped, must be rescued.

Jackie Chan is primarily an entertainer. His consummate skills in martial arts are evident throughout the film, but unlike his early movies relies on more than just his physical prowess (which has slipped only slightly since his youth).

Chris Tucker is funny, but slightly annoying as the black cop trying to fit into Eddie Murphy's "Beverly Hills Cop" skin. I found his performance irritating at the start of the film, but managed to ease myself into it, with his wise-cracking and typical afro-american charisma. However I would warn directors off continuing this style of typecasting for these characters, it is becoming a little tedious.

I gave it 8 out of 10, for sheer stunt, kick and action work.

Happy Gilmore (1996)

Funnier than a gerbil on speed!

[10/10 · 21 January 1999]

I would have to say that I have never laughed so hard at golf. Just thinking about this movie sends me into giggling fits, so I'll make this quick.

If you want a lighthearted, funny hour-and-a-half's entertainment, go rent this and watch it as many times as you can. It is one of the few movies that will make you laugh every time you see it.

10 out of 10

Bargearse (1993 Video)

Moving, thrilling, emotional, but most of all......

[13 January 1999]

WHERE'S ME BLOODY CHIPS?

Great production by the D-Gen team, over and above "The Olden Days" (although I felt the Captain and Tenille could have made a cameo).

Oh for the halcyon days of the Late Show.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

SUPERB! I would have given it 11 out of 10 if possible....

[12 January 1999]

Easily the best-scripted movie I've seen! I won't say too much, because that would give it away.

As we've come to expect from English films, a great plot that doesn't rely on big names or expensive special effects to entertain. With its continual plot twists and turns, well defined characters and a healthy dose of black comedy, this is one movie you can see in the cinema, at home, or pretty much anywhere! Loved it, going to pre-order the video asap. It'll get a healthy workout, I can tell you....

WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING HERE??? GO SEE IT NOW!!!!!!!

Nick

The Siege (1998)

A deep, political action thriller - I liked it!

[21 December 1998]

I have read other user comments, and when I'm not hearing "good film" I'm hearing "racist garbage!!!!!".

Get over it people.

I liked the film, and found it gave unique perspective to the plight of the Palestinians and other minority groups in the MidEast (although it could have used more detail on these), and the machinations of various service operatives within the onion that is the US undercover world.

It had everything - people dying for what they believed, US cover-ups that we've all become accustomed to, and things blowing up!!! As someone said in the movie "What if it was black people? Or any other people?". This film is NOT AIMED AT MIDDLE EASTERN CULTURE!!! There were references to the Oklahoma bombing, and was THAT race-based crime?

This film merely uses these people as an example of what ANYONE, no matter the colour of their skin or place in the world, is capable of. It is telling one chapter of a story about terrorism, and it could be anyone from Muslim seperatists through to the cults that seem to spring up and burn down overnight.

Highlights for me were the character development. Denzel Washington is always a pleasure to watch, and his portrayal of the guy who just wants to keep his city safe is great, and similar in some ways as "Crimson Tide" - the ExO reluctant to bomb the world into oblivion. However, I feel he is becoming a little typecast in this "upstanding hero" role. Try something else Denzel!!!

Bruce Willis played very well the man set to do his duty. His ulterior motives remained pure, but his methods went a bit astray at the end. Refreshing to see Bruce Willis playing a 'bad' guy for a change. Not so much 'bad' as 'human'.

Benings' first few scenes were a little wooden, and her swearing isn't convincing (she can't say f*$k and sound like she means it). But her character came along nicely at the end.

Disappointments: the gung-ho, testosterone flag-waving that we have come to expect from the USA. But being a cynical Aussie, that's only natural. Some of the lines were a bit corny.

I give it 7.5 out of 10.

Starship Troopers (1997)

LOVED IT!!!!!

[10/10 · 21 December 1998]

While some of the characters and lines in the movie were a little underdeveloped, the overriding story of the evolution of our society into an aggressive, militarist regime cannot be ignored. The action scenes were great, with flawless computer animation (how Titanic beat it for SFX I will never know) and enhancement supported by what can only be described as gore-laden prosthetics. I thought they could have left the love story out, but that's Hollywood.

Very watchable, and a nice change from the Alien movies - this is WAR, not some isolated pit-fight! I love the Alien movies, but Startship troopers just has a lot o' lead, heads, and bodies flying left, right and centre! I thought the Mobile Infantry could have used better weaponry (apparently in the novel that it's based on, the MI has powered armour with assault cannon and missile launchers etc.) to battle such a foe, but I'm just being technical.

If you want a nice beer & pretzels movie to yell and scream at, then this is it.

10 out of 10