Mantear Reviews

When the Raven Flies (1984)

Good

[7/10 · 15 July 2006]

Gest goes to Iceland in 894 to avenge the killers of his parents. There are some memorable moments in this film. The opening credits scene revealing the Icelandic coast with the powerful music lets us know we're in for something different. Gest is heavily influenced by The Man with no Name in Leone's westerns and Einarsson does a good job portraying such a figure.The opening scenes are the best, especially the 'Tungur Knivur' scene. The film goes on too long and I didn't like the sanctimonious message in the end especially when the director's commentary on the DVD confirmed that he was trying to show the futility of violence. If somebody walks all over you you gotta stand up for yourself. It was also unrealistic. Gest would really have held on to those knives considering it was ninth century Iceland and how the hell was he going to get home.

First Knight (1995)

Magnificent

[10/10 · 1 January 2006]

This is basically a fantasy story that uses the King Arthur legend. Gere's Lancelot is a wandering mercenary in a medieval land who becomes a Knight at Connery's round table, and ends up clashing with Connery's Arthur over his bride,Julia Ormond, amid the backdrop of a land under threat from a tyrant. Among the things that make this movie great are the cinematography, the sets(especially Camelot and the beautiful Welsh countryside), the superb score, the action sequences and the refreshing aura of innocence and lack of cynicism which is reinforced by some of the minor characters like Peter and Mark. Gere is one of my favorite actors. He's taken a lot of flak from those who are probably jealous of his good looks. This guy can act and he's convincing as the brilliant swordsman. Ben Cross is excellent as Gere's Nemesis, Connery adds his big presence and Ormond looks good as the lovely lady of Lyonesse.

This Sporting Life (1963)

Atmospheric

[7/10 · 30 November 2005]

There's not much of a story going on here. Harris plays an aggressive miner who breaks into a professional rugby league league team in a typical northern English town. Along the way he tries to make a go of it with his widowed landlady. What I liked about the film was it's atmospheric quality. It's a snapshot of urban northern England during a period now long disappeared. - The ancient rugby grounds with their heaving terraces, the autocrat-serf relationship between the club owners and the players, the social clubs, brawls and the sheer grit. Harris in his prime is perfect to play Frank Machin with his broad shoulders and arrogant streak and there's some fine rugby sequences, but I found the relationship between Machin and his landlady a little tedious and drawn out. At least she was a looker.

Alfred the Great (I) (1969)

good stuff

[7/10 · 6 March 2005]

I liked this. Set in England in the 870s it tells the story of one of the great Kings in history. Hemmings does a great job as the complicated cynical Alfred who wants to be a priest but is forced into becoming King because his leadership qualities are badly needed against the marauding Danes. Hemmings Alfred is a formidable character but he's refreshingly no Hollywood hero. The battle scenes are excellent when you consider this was made on a low budget way back in 1969. There's a great aerial shot of a battle focusing on Alfred who's just come from the monastery to answer his country's call, giving off the impression that while he might prefer to be a holy man of letters, he can still effortlessly slide into the battlefield in an I can take or leave this manner. Hence his greatness.

Dark Blue (2002)

Trailer suggested it would be very good but

[6/10 · 19 February 2005]

Kurt Russell saves this picture from being a turkey. He's always watchable and is firing on all cylinders in Dark Blue. He needs to be because nobody else is, especially the scriptwriter. Russell plays a third generation elite SIS LA cop called Eldon Perry who has little respect for due process. He prefers to keep the courts out of his business by shooting hardened criminals in cold blood. In this he's backed up by his bosses, so he doesn't have to worry about getting nailed by the shooting board enquiries every time he uses his piece. But now he's got the straight arrow deputy chief on his back and his rookie partner is starting to flap as things come to a head during the 1992 riots. Russell never lets up as the hard drinking loudmouth but there's not enough action in the story and the rest of the cast are just going through the motions. Perry's character development is hardly realistic but it's good for the film because it gives Russell the opportunity to deliver a very entertaining speech.

Out for Justice (1991)

Seagal takes out the garbage

[8/10 · 16 January 2005]

This is hard core Seagal as opposed to the watered down bigger budget stuff like Under Siege and On Deadly Ground. Classic moments in this film include the opening freeze frame of the pimp's legs sticking out of the car window with Seagal in the background as his name is blasted on to the screen. This sets the tone for the rest of the film. No compromise. Seagal goes through bad guys like a knife through butter. Highlights include cleaning up the butcher's shop, taking out Sticks with the broken pool cues and 'Has anybody seen Ritchie? Does anyone know why Ritchie offed Boby Lupo?' It's the way Seagal delivers this line that makes it great. I laugh at the snobs who thrash talk Seagal. This guy has made plenty of money playing an action hero. If he's so useless an actor then why don't you try it buddy, instead of making peanuts writing newspaper articles.

Alexander (2004)

Disappointing

[4/10 · 15 January 2005]

What the hell was Stone thinking. Here is a guy who made anti war films or should I say anti American films in the past. Now he's glorifying another war monger. What's the difference between Alex and Nixon. I suppose Alex didn't have to watch Patton for some reassuring before gearing up for war. This could have been a good film. All Stone had to do was concentrate on the action. I found his message about Alexander really being a force for good nauseating. The difference between Alexander and the likes of Bush and Nixon in Stone's mind is that Alexander is sexier and stylish. It's not what he does, it's the way he does it. But that counts a lot for Stone so Alex also has to be a good guy. The first battle scene was great. Stone should have packed the movie with action and more focus on Alexander's tactical brilliance which unbelievably is barely touched upon. Anthony Hopkins seems to be there simply because he's one of these sexy elder statesmen actors who get cameo roles in modern films just for the hell of it. All his character did was waffle on and on about God knows what because I wasn't listening too hard. Farrell is a good actor and it's just as well Hollywood knows it. If this had been his first major role he'd be straight back on the set of the second rate soap opera he started out on. In fairness to him, the script did him no favours whatsoever as it required him to babble on and on. Compare this to the tight as a straightjacket script for Russell Crowe in Gladiator that served him so well. A lost opportunity.

Body Heat (1981)

Loved it

[10/10 · 14 January 2005]

I bought the DVD because it was cheap and because Kathleen Turner was in it. Since it's not a very famous film I was surprised how good it was. The camera-work was great. Check out an early scene in the film when the camera starts behind the bar and slides around to follow William Hurt outside where he lights up and strikes a perfect pose leaning against the doorway like Bogart or someone from one of those forties films. Wonder how many takes that took. Hurt puts in a great performance. The fact that his character is called Ned Racine gives him a head start but it's a very challenging role to portray a guy who is at the same time dynamic, lazy, naive, charming and likable. All the performances are top drawer. Kathleen Turner does a great job as the femme fatale. Mickey Rourke is in just two scenes but grabs your attention in both. Ted Danson and JA Preston are good as Ned's friends. Richard Crenna plays the kind of assertive character he played in Rambo,which fits in here as he delivers a pivotal line which sums up the story.('You've got to know the bottom line')