Extra reviews

Hey everyone!

Just to make things easier, and I'll try to mention it in every blog... but for extra reviews, I always refer to imdb.com or rottentomatoes.com.  I prefer to give you the sites, instead of specific reviews, so that you can read the good and the bad and decide for yourselves!

Also, it's hard for me to post direct links.  I'm on a Mac, and the links don't always insert correctly... and rottentomatos.com never wants to completely load on my dead-beat Internet connection.  But whenever I give specific information from one of these sites, or a different one, I'll include a link as best I can to give credit where credit's due.

As always, you can also look up the pro's reviews.  I just think viewer ones are better because no one's getting paid for which direction their thumb goes.  Siskel&Ebert are online, and usually the go-to for reviews.  Or, just Google it!

El Orfanato (The Orphanage)

Blurb: "Visionary Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth) and acclaimed director J.A. Bayona present The Orphanage, a 'positively terrifying' (John Anderson, Newsday) new vision of the classic ghost story.  Returning to her childhood home--a mysterious, seaside orphanage--Laura and her family unknowingly unleash a long-forgotten, evil spirit.  Now, thrust into a chilling nightmare that involves the disappearance of her young son, Laura must confront the memories of her past before the ghosts of the orphanage destroy her... and everyone she has ever loved." (newline.com/properties/orphanagethe.html)

Notables: Spain's official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008) (imdb.com)

My thoughts: 5/5  This movie blew me away.  You will scream, and you will love it.  The main character, Laura (Belen Rueda) grabs your attention and your heart, and doesn't let go.  This film is as much mystery as it is horror, and believe me you won't be able to solve this one!  If you like old fashioned ghost stories, compelling characters, and edge-of-your-seat heart-pounding breath-stopping suspense... don't pass this one up.  Even if you scare easy, and horror is hard for you to swallow, watch this one through the end!  You won't be disappointed.  It's available at every Blockbuster, and probably a few other rental places in town.  Or, if you're like me and have to own these pieces of amazing film, used copies are available at Entertainmart for between $10-$13.  The primary language is Spanish, but I do believe it is available dubbed in English on the DVD (my recommendation is, always, to watch it with subtitles ^_^).

For some more reviews, if you don't want to take my word for it, go here: imdb.com or rottentomatos.com (simply type The Orphanage into the search bar).

2046

Blurb: "A Hong Kong writer finds inspiration from the women he's encountered is his past in this futuristic story of love and memory from Wong Kar Wai, who continues the story he began in his acclaimed masterpiece In the Mood for Love. Remembering back to the early 1960's, when he lived in the Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong, Chow writes an erotic story that begins with a mysterious woman who lived in room 2046. Chow moves into room 2047 and begins an affair with a beautiful prostitute who now rents the mysterious woman's room. As he writes his story, which he sets in the future in the year 2046, Chow tells of a place where people travel to recapture lost memories; he is the first one to return."

Notables: Winner of 6 Hong Kong film awards, nominee in the Golden Palm Cannes Film Festival, starring Tony Leung (Hero) and Ziyi Zhang (Memoirs of a Geisha)

My thoughts: 4/5 This film is great if you enjoy beautiful imagery, scenery, and art direction in general. Several of the screenshots are equivalent to oil paintings. But if you're looking for something fast-paced, this is not for you. 2046 deals with the complexities of human love and the fears of being alone, as well as learning to let go of the past in order to embrace the future. Tony Leung and Ziyi Zhang, as well as their fellow actresses and actors (Gong Li and Faye Wong, to name a couple) provide superb acting in portraying multi-faceted characters that you grow to love, loathe, and relate to.
Overall, I give 2046 a 4/5, mostly because in a few places it lacks a bit of clarity--as well as being almost draggy in places. But really, it all depends on what you're looking for. It's worth the watch, and can be located at Blockbuster on Glenstone in the foreign section. Be forewarned it is one of the few foreign films in America that has not been dubbed over! The languages are Cantonese and Japanese, with English or Spanish subtitles. However, the subtitles are very well done.

Ladies and jellyspoons...

Wilkommen, bienvenue, welcome! The aim of my blog is to provide film-lovers with some artistic and unusual alternatives to the average American film. I'll be reviewing personally or providing reviews from other sources (such as rottentomatoes.com) of movies you can rent from video stores right here in Springfield! Or, if I happen to see something amazing that I have to tell you about that isn't available in town, I'll let you know where you can get it.

With any luck, you'll find a new favorite amongst my suggestions. Happy viewing!