I was a fan of the original and a fan of science fiction, but more so I am a fan of great cinematic television. This show went beyond my wildest dreams. Some people have a hard time with certain dramatic and artistic choices made by the producers, but to me those choices only make the show stronger and gutsier. The new Battlestar Galactica concentrates on characters, drama, and the human condition and shies away from the fantasy, serial elements of the original and others of the genre. A first rate cast with real acting chops help ground the story and characters in a universe where the audience cares what happens to them. This is the antithesis of the original that relied on caricature villains and cartoon story lines. The new show tackles real life issues about human rights, religion, and the moral ambiguity of war. It's no wonder Battlestar Galactica has garnered glowing reviews from Time Magazine, Rolling Stone, TV Guide, and the American Film Institute.
Reviews
3 Reviews
Land of the Dead
(2005)
Disappointing
2 December 2005
Let me start by saying I'm a big fan of George Romero's previous films, especially the dead series. I thought he really hit his stride with Day of the Dead making a slick, structurally sophisticated continuation of his original idea. Not many people can pull off a sequel and I thought he did it twice with Dawn and Day. I also think he had something quite interesting to say with each of those films, layering thematic commentary under the story without distracting from main story elements or themes. His films were always about the shortcomings of man and the inability to work together in the face of danger. His films were always about the people, not the zombies.
But now he has tried so hard to make a political statement that he has hammered into his own genre at the expense of the film. It was interesting in Day when the scientist discovers that a zombie can regain some latent memory and begin to function in a more human way. I was very powerful when that zombie musters up just enough motor skill and latent memory to shoot the villain. It feels like a stretch to say that the zombies, or even the one zombie, in Land could make a conversion of understanding that leads an all out revolt. On an intellectual level, I understand it, but it just didn't work for me. This seems to me like a bigger deviation from the Romero concept then some of the things complained about in the many Romero inspired films recently.
The world described in the previews and press material doesn't seem fully realized. There is a huge divide between the rich and the poor. Why? How did it get that way. It doesn't seem like that would function well under the circumstances of the world as it is, especially in a small society. Why don't we find out anything about how this place works? How does Denis Hopper maintain his power? It is presented as a concept without any real thought. In the original film "The Island of Lost Souls" Doctor Moreau controls his population of beasts with fear. He cracks the whip, recites the law, and talks about the house of pain, which the audience knows to be the doctor's laboratory, but the beasts know it as a building where screams are heard. This is a stunningly well designed political metaphor. In Land of the Dead, I couldn't help thinking that the underlying political message was driving the story and that questionable things were written into the story for the wrong reasons. Money is a major plot device. Denis Hopper tries to escape the city with two large bags of money. What good is money outside the city? I was wondering, what good is money inside the city? Money only works if people believe in the underlying value of it. Most countries in the real world can't keep a stable currency. There is an aerial shot of the city during the day showing the streets deserted. Why are the streets deserted? Where are all the people? Later we see the same shot only the streets are now filled with Zombies. The characters keep talking about going to Canada as a safe haven. Why? Why is Canada safer than the United States. I was left to believe that this was more political commentary. Why are the Zombies trying to get to the city? They seem to be driven by some underlying, dare I say it, political motivation.
The film as a whole seemed less like a story of characters in a horrific world established in the earlier films, and more like a series of one dimensional vignettes based on thin political ideology Rich verses poor, violence in America, mismanagement of government in post 9-11 society, negotiating with terrorists, yeah we get it. Not so subtle.
But now he has tried so hard to make a political statement that he has hammered into his own genre at the expense of the film. It was interesting in Day when the scientist discovers that a zombie can regain some latent memory and begin to function in a more human way. I was very powerful when that zombie musters up just enough motor skill and latent memory to shoot the villain. It feels like a stretch to say that the zombies, or even the one zombie, in Land could make a conversion of understanding that leads an all out revolt. On an intellectual level, I understand it, but it just didn't work for me. This seems to me like a bigger deviation from the Romero concept then some of the things complained about in the many Romero inspired films recently.
The world described in the previews and press material doesn't seem fully realized. There is a huge divide between the rich and the poor. Why? How did it get that way. It doesn't seem like that would function well under the circumstances of the world as it is, especially in a small society. Why don't we find out anything about how this place works? How does Denis Hopper maintain his power? It is presented as a concept without any real thought. In the original film "The Island of Lost Souls" Doctor Moreau controls his population of beasts with fear. He cracks the whip, recites the law, and talks about the house of pain, which the audience knows to be the doctor's laboratory, but the beasts know it as a building where screams are heard. This is a stunningly well designed political metaphor. In Land of the Dead, I couldn't help thinking that the underlying political message was driving the story and that questionable things were written into the story for the wrong reasons. Money is a major plot device. Denis Hopper tries to escape the city with two large bags of money. What good is money outside the city? I was wondering, what good is money inside the city? Money only works if people believe in the underlying value of it. Most countries in the real world can't keep a stable currency. There is an aerial shot of the city during the day showing the streets deserted. Why are the streets deserted? Where are all the people? Later we see the same shot only the streets are now filled with Zombies. The characters keep talking about going to Canada as a safe haven. Why? Why is Canada safer than the United States. I was left to believe that this was more political commentary. Why are the Zombies trying to get to the city? They seem to be driven by some underlying, dare I say it, political motivation.
The film as a whole seemed less like a story of characters in a horrific world established in the earlier films, and more like a series of one dimensional vignettes based on thin political ideology Rich verses poor, violence in America, mismanagement of government in post 9-11 society, negotiating with terrorists, yeah we get it. Not so subtle.
Dracula 3000
(2004)
They just don't get worse than this
14 February 2005
Warning: Spoilers
It's difficult to put into words how horrible this film really is. This was obviously put together on a shoestring budget very quickly to sell as a cable-filler, direct-to-video hit and run sale to make quick buck off a concept that some idiots (like me) would rent based on the title.
Does this sound familiar? A rag-tag group of misfits dressed in mercenary commando outfits run around a factory that's supposed to be the interior of a spaceship fighting an alien intruder. Alien much? Oh, wait. Lets make it Dracula instead of an alien. How do we know it's Dracula? He wears a white shirt and a black cape with a clownishly big collar. Also he is painted in white face with bright red lipstick and goofy over-sized fangs. If they had cast anyone else, maybe someone who didn't have the fright value of a yuppie accountant, there may have been something to this. I mean, I laughed out loud at his first appearance. I've seen better vampires at the local Haunted House on Holloween. Much better.
Think porno film without sex and you get the idea. Non talent on parade. The "Filmmakers" are unable to make this attempt at camp even the slightest bit entertaining. Here's a spoiler - You will be bored out of your skull. Nothing original. It rips off other movie dialog and situations, but doesn't even do that well. This is the worst piece of tripe I've ever seen. Horrible directing, cinematography, acting, production design, and execution. The people who made this should be ashamed.
Don't waste your time. This movie really sucks.
Does this sound familiar? A rag-tag group of misfits dressed in mercenary commando outfits run around a factory that's supposed to be the interior of a spaceship fighting an alien intruder. Alien much? Oh, wait. Lets make it Dracula instead of an alien. How do we know it's Dracula? He wears a white shirt and a black cape with a clownishly big collar. Also he is painted in white face with bright red lipstick and goofy over-sized fangs. If they had cast anyone else, maybe someone who didn't have the fright value of a yuppie accountant, there may have been something to this. I mean, I laughed out loud at his first appearance. I've seen better vampires at the local Haunted House on Holloween. Much better.
Think porno film without sex and you get the idea. Non talent on parade. The "Filmmakers" are unable to make this attempt at camp even the slightest bit entertaining. Here's a spoiler - You will be bored out of your skull. Nothing original. It rips off other movie dialog and situations, but doesn't even do that well. This is the worst piece of tripe I've ever seen. Horrible directing, cinematography, acting, production design, and execution. The people who made this should be ashamed.
Don't waste your time. This movie really sucks.
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