arranx Reviews

Electroma (2006)

Your patience will be rewarded

[9/10 · 23 December 2010]

First off, let me say that this film is 74 minutes of long scenes that go on with atmospheric non-daft punk music played to them, the narrative is there and it is a simple yet effective story but their is no dialogue. In other words you will have to be patient and have to want to watch this film in order to properly experience it.

Story: 9/10 The story is a very simple tale of wanting be be something else and society not being ready to except new things. It is simply about two robots who want to be human. Their is no dialogue in the film and no "face acting" as the bots wear helmets, but the story is easy to follow.

Acting: 8/10 For what the acting is worth it is very good, as mentioned before there is no speech or human activity in the film, but that is the point. The robots feel robotic and even though there is no verbal communication emotions are put across very effectively through simple touches that actors add to their characters, for example the movement off the characters arms when they walk is slightly robotic, yet when one of the robots stares at a mirror we feel sadness through the portrayal. To understand what I mean you need to experience the film.

Visuals:10/10 The visuals in this film are fantastic for first time directors. Think Stanley Kubrick mixed with Ridley Scott sprinkled with David Lynch. The camera work is superb and the images in the film are striking. Sun drenched deserts, Children is steel helmets, robots marrying and slow motion burning to mention a few.

Audio: 9/10 The music in this film is not by Daft Punk but features music from Brian Eno and Jackson C. Frank as well as others. The music is amazing in some places (the last scenes music fits perfectly and has a haunting effect. Even though the music is not Daft Punk it is a brilliant score.

Overall: 9/10 A brilliantly slow film, excellently crafted and remenicent of Lynch and Kubrick, this is a film that requires patience, but those who are willing will be very pleased with the results.

Silent Running (1972)

An adult environmental film in the vein of Moon

[9/10 · 26 June 2010]

Silent running is an achievement in story, character and visuals. If you like adult sci - fi films such as 2001, alien, sunshine and moon then you'll love this.

The plot is that Earth has become barren and the last of earths forests are stored in huge ships and will be returned to earth when the planet is ready for them. Meanwhile these forests are maintained by four men and three Wall-E style drones. The forests are aboard frigates and are in huge glass domes (which look incredible by the way) and only one of the four men really cares for the forests and sees it as more than just a job. As the plot progresses only Derns character is left alone with the forests and the drones and a story of loneliness and courage unfolds.

Bruce dern plays his character fantastically and has many sides to him, he has a very dedicated side to him which comes out when he is working. He has an aggressive side to him which emerges in various points through the film, and the most prevalent side to his character is the raw human side which his loneliness is channeled through. The other human characters are played as well as they can for the short time that they are in the film for and the sympathetic character is portrayed very well and in the climaxes of these three characters parts the acting and emotion is rather good. the three drones even manage to gain somewhat of a personality all of their own and become a lovable element to the film.

The film is directed by Douglass Trumball, a wizard when it comes to models, and as expected this film looks brilliant, far better than most modern cgi. The frigate look clunky and metallic, like the nostromo from alien, on the outside yet on the inside is like the interior of Icarus from sunshine or the base in Moon. The forest may look a little "sparse" and there isn't much wildlife but that is not a major plot problem as it still looks good. The drones are very similar to Wall E but without the childish Disney element and they always look to a high standard.

If you are a fan of serious sci - fi then if you have not seen silent running then you absolutely must as it is a very well made film.

Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

A misunderstood epic masterpiece from an outstanding director.

[10/10 · 26 June 2010]

Kingdom Of Heaven is an amazing film indeed and like a lot of great things it was not fully understood at it's release so let me say this I AM REVIEWING THE DIRECTORS CUT NOT THE THEATRICAL. The directors cut is a marvel in epic film, raw characterisation is built at the start of the film when Balian, a blacksmith, tries to recover from the loss of his child and wife. Many factors are revealed in this opening act in France we learn of Balians life, his home, his family and we find out why he is such a good fighter as he states he went to war before. The film then progresses as Blians crusading father returns to see if his son will forgive him and go to the holy land. The film brings up questions of morals and religion as Balian enters the middle east and becomes an important baron with strong friends and dangerously unstable enemies.

Now this is the ONLY film I have seen in my life that truly deserves 10 out of 10. The set pieces of late 1100s France, Italy and the middle East are breathtaking, as with any Ridley Scott film you feel as though you are with the characters every step of the way. Although the leads acting is not the best it is the be Bloom has done and it is above mediocre to a certain degree, but the gems of this film are Eva Green, Edward Norton, Marton Csokas and Ghassan Massoud. Green plays Sibylla a character forced to marry a bloodthirsty man whom he was forced upon, it is revealed that she has a son and it is in these vastly important scenes (which were sinfully cut from the theatrical) that Green shines. Norton plays the lepar king Baldwin who wants peace in the middle east for all religions, his performance is haunting yet gripping. Marton Csokas plays a viscous templar knight who cares more about land and power than god and is a character you love to hate. Saladin is played by Ghassan Massoud and he is executed perfectly as a civil yet ruthless character. The real strength in this film is the writing, directing, costume design and music. The writing, as expected from Monahan, is first class and makes a film about war have a heart with living characters. Scotts direction is flawless as usual and every scene looks fantastic. The costumes are astounding they all look incredibly realistic and look as though you could wage war in them. Harry Gregson Williams score is probably the best score I have ever heard it combines music from Europe and the middle east and captures the emotions of the film perfectly I could write an entire review on the music alone that is how good it is.

Without an Oscar or bafta nomination for Kingdom Of Heaven it is not only one of the best films in recent history but one of the least understood. Kingdom of Heaven is a thrilling historical epic that has a beating heart of live characters don not miss it.