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mjgolden
Reviews
Frankenstein Reborn (2005)
Tries hard but fails to compensate for its amateurish roots
The film was made in 9 days and it shows. In particular, the budget obviously wasn't large enough to cover a decent recording system. Through out the film in scenes of dialog (and for a horror film there are a LOT of scenes of dialog), the character in screen is recorded loud and clear and the off screen, second voice is inaudible.
Music video-style fast cuts and scene shifts that move backwards and forwards in time are not so much confusing as meant to try and downplay the lack of much plot or its illogic.
The cast is generally quite good and makes a good attempt to overcome the inadequacies of the script and production.
The Italian Job (2003)
Stylish and entertaining
But am I the only one who felt cheated from an even better experience by having each and every plot turn revealed in the trailers?
I mean, opening heist scene ... we know Norton is going to double cross.
Developing the viewers affection for Donald Sutherland character ... we know Norton is going to plug him any minute.
We're going to make the truck disappear by blowing the street out from under it (a la the italian job in the opening) ... we've seen it happen a million times in the trailer.
Even small comic moments (when Wahlburg and Theron punch Norton) loose their comic effect ... again, we're watching for it, because we've seen it a million times in the previews.
It is a good enough film that it still engages the audience, but even if you never saw the original, the trailers rendered a "first viewing" like a a repeat viewing.
CQ (2001)
Mildly amusing film
Affectionately captures the spirit of the 60's sci-fi film, and gently pokes fun at the pretentiousness of film makers.
That was the sense I was left with after watching the film. Then I watched the special features on the DVD. About a dozen features, a veritable Coppola family reunion of self praise and adulation. The film makers spoofed in the film itself end up much more grounded and unpretentious by comparison.