La cité des enfants perdus (1995)

 

A scientist in a surrealist society kidnaps children to steal their dreams, hoping that they slow his aging process.

Exuberantly imaginative fantasy (more horror than just a surreal fairy tale) is mesmerizing throughout due to its fascinating settings and visuals, some of them disturbing, too; the plot itself is a bit perplexing in its twists.

Halliwell*: "A bizarre hyper-active fantasy that yields many incidental pleasures, although coherence is not among them."

Maltin***: "Provocative fantasy...Although dramatically uneven, this mix of Oliver Twist and BRAZIL is a marvel of production design, with sumptuous visuals and painstaking invention." 

Alien: Resurrection (1997)

 

200 years after her death, Ellen Ripley is revived as a powerful human/Alien hybrid clone who must continue her war against the Aliens.

Too ambitious for its own good this installment of the Aliens series is quite messy, but has some moments, especially concerning the visuals.

On renewed viewing I need to correct my initial rating: this is actually an imaginative and at times quite disturbing new take on the Alien saga and, compared to the last installment, the plot is quite coherent.

On re-watching: meanwhile I do quite enjoy this version; it does have some intense moments.

Halliwell*: "Stylish, occasionally impressive movie that all too soon settles into familiar routine."

Maltin**: "Clumsy sequel with crummy logic, far too many wisecracks; a few good action scenes, but scrictly for series fans."

 

The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)

 

 

After being rescued and brought to an island, a man discovers that its inhabitants are experimental animals being turned into strange-looking humans, all of it the work of a visionary doctor.

Big-budget and star-cast adaptation of H:G. Wells' classic sci-fi novel lands a fascinatingly wild and hilarious fail on almost every level, among which Marlon Brando's ridiculous performance is only one of the many facets you need to see to believe.
 

Halliwell (no star): "Incoherent horror, notable for one of Brando's more eccentric performances, mercifully brief."

Maltin*1/2: "Heavy-handed retelling of H.G. Wells' novel...Grotesque in the extreme, obvious, and ultimately pointless, but Brando devotees will want to check out his flamboyantly silly performance, and makeup buffs should admire Stan Winston's remarkable creations." 

 

 

La guerre du feu (1981)

In prehistoric time three tribesmen search for a new fire source.

From memory: Interesting attempt to make a realistic portrayal of prehistoric man's life is carefully produced with beautiful landscape, but the story told is silly and ridiculous.

Halliwell (no star): "Scientifically cosseted but sometimes unintentionally funny attempt to make us care about the problems of primitive man. Lively sequences are separated by longueurs."

Maltin***1/2: "Not the epic intended, but still funny, tense, touching - and fascinating. "

Local Color (2006)

A talented but troubled 18-year-old aspiring artist befriends a brilliant elderly alcoholic painter who has turned his back on not only art but life.

Nicely told autobiographical tale of an artist and his pupil has good cinematography and  an excellent cats, but showcases a rather reactionary concept of Art.

Maltin***: "Meuller-Stahl is wonderful, and the youthful Morgan keeps up with him at every turn. Deeply felt autobiographical drama..."

Drive (2011)

A mysterious Hollywood stuntman, mechanic and getaway driver lands himself in trouble when he helps out his neighbor.

What would have been another (violent) action flic is successfully given an artsy treatment and the feel of an existentialist drama with a tight-lipped, hard-boiled anti-hero.

Maltin**: "What some see as a prime example of postmodern cool strikes us as a pretentious hogwash from the word go. The bursts of gruesome violence are equally hard to swallow. By the way, Gosling seems fully articulate when he sets up his first gig, but spends the rest of the film nearly silent (and striking poses). Only bright spot is a juicy supporting role for Brooks as a savvy gangster."