Reviews
Strange Aeons: The Thing on the Doorstep (2005)
Recommendation
I attended the screening of this in Atlanta (Sept 4, 2006) at an H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival. It was in the wee hours of the morning when this film ran, which is a shame because many of us were tired and would have preferred to see the film when we were more awake, but you do what you can and take your opportunities when they are presented.
The Criticisms: 1. The showing time of the movie aside, my only real complaint about the film is that it was unpolished. There were a number of issues with sound and a few moments of rough editing. I believe the movie as a whole would improve with another pass through an edit booth. The movie is a little slow at times. I don't list this issue higher simply because many of us in attendance were influenced by the late hour. I'd really like to see this again at a more normal time to see if the pacing truly is slow, or if it was just me. So I'm giving the film the benefit of the doubt here. 2. The acting was not bad, but it also was not impressive. 3. A die-hard Lovecraft fan might not like that this story was brought into the modern era, though I believe the script writer did a good job of leaping this normal fan complaint. Due to standard film-making constraints (time & money), the script was edited down to the standard 'adaptation' role, meaning it isn't 100% true to the original story. But that is common and I think Mr. Young did a good job with the limits imposed upon him. I don't know that some of the adaptations were necessary (the intimate/nude scenes were brought up at the screening), but in this regard until I stand in the screenwriter's shoes, I don't know what challenges he faced. The scenes I take issue with did not detract from the film as a whole, but they did not seem to add anything, either. That's where I'll leave that.
The Congratulations: 1. The overall Lovecraft story (The Thing at the Doorstep) is intact. This is a key element often removed from Lovecraft adaptation films. Most scenes throughout the film are recognizable to anyone who has read the story. While anything but 100% devotion is always going to bring up some degree of questions from purists, Strange Aeons does a better job in terms of 'loyalty to the story' than many Lovecraft-based movies. 2. The modern adaptation worked. Very little was lost in transitioning this to a modern story. 3. This is independent film-making at its finest. The film has progressed from a snippet to a short and now to a feature length film.
I recommend this film. It remains loyal to Lovecraft's story, even considering some of the adaptation that occurred. It isn't often that I can say that about a film. It isn't perfect - it could still use a little clean up - but it is certainly worth watching.
Mac and Me (1988)
A very bad film.
I love kids movies. I have two children and have always enjoyed watching their movies along with them. I worked in an elementary school for several years and have seen a plethora of fantastic children movies.
But this movie was terrible. In fact, I rate it as the worst movie I have ever seen. Why? Several reasons...
1. It is a blatant attempt to ride the coattails of ET and similar alien-friend movies from this era. Unfortunately, I think it sat on the wrong coat.
2. The film used pity tactics to attempt to draw in your emotions rather than effective writing or visuals, and those tactics failed miserably.
3. The special effects were horrible even for the time. I can relate to chronological limitations in relation to special effects and can respect a film that meets or exceeds the effects available for it's time. But there were plenty of good sfx films out by the time this film was released and this one simply didn't bother with any sfx budget.
4. The dialog was awful. This is an example where no amount of good acting could compensate for the dialog.
5. In relation to reason #4, there was no good acting to attempt to overcome the bad dialog. That might not even be the blame of the actors themselves, as there are simply times when you can't rise above your surroundings.
6. The cheesy marketing and glaring promotions within the film take an already terrible movie and turn it into a true mockery.
7. I have seen B-Movies that were more enjoyable to watch. However, out of morbid curiosity, I watched this film from opening to closing credits.
From start to finish, from effects to acting, from dialog to directing - Mac and Me is a very bad movie. Just because a film is made for children does not mean it's OK to be terrible. Children's films, just like any genre, have a majority of moderately enjoyable films, a number of gems, and their share of stinkers. This is a true stinker.
And yes - my children thought this movie was horrible, too.