Tuesday, 4 July 2017
Jurassic Park III (2001)
A decidedly odd couple with ulterior motives convince Dr. Alan Grant to go to Isla Sorna (the second InGen dinosaur lab.), resulting in an unexpected landing and unexpected new inhabitants on the island.
Moderately entertaining third part of the series, again the dinosaurs steal the show.
On rewatching: I still agree with my initial opinion about the dinosaurs; the movie is streamlined for straight entertainment and delivers, but offers nothing more.
Halliwell (no star): "Hectic chase movie that, jettisoning the slight intellectual content of the first two movies, concentrates on shocks and thrills, which it delivers effectively."
Maltin***: "Entertaining popcorn movie that takes a formula and plays it for all its worth...Full of scares, and lots of fun: proof that a thrill-ride type of movie doesn't have to be dumb...or overlong."
Sunday, 2 July 2017
Uccellacci e uccellini (1966)
Innocenti Totò and his son Innocenti Ninetto are drifting on a road in Italy, when they meet a Marxist speaking crow, so the trio travels together in a long journey as their hunger increases.
Unusual and entertaining comedy appears like a Christian with Marxist commentary, but shows its love for the poor and simple people with a hearty sense of humour.
Halliwell**: "A comic fable of a search for faith, sometimes reminiscent of Chaplin in its slapstick identification with the poor and dispossessed, of innocents abroad in a cynical world."
Passion Play (2010)
An angel under the thumb of a ruthless gangster is saved by a trumpet player down on his luck.
A silly phantasmagoria with a Noir touch has Rourke and Murray in good form, but you'll need to be in the mood for a slow-paced, brooding fairy tale; the 'twist ending', however, was obvious from the beginning on.
Maltin*1/2: "Jumbled noir-ish fantasy...Murray is game, playing a hood named Happy, but even he can't add much to this barely watchable, instantly forgettable mess. A less than auspicious directorial debut..."
Saturday, 1 July 2017
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
A Brooklyn teenager feels his only chance to succeed is as the king of the disco floor, and his carefree youth and weekend dancing help him to forget the reality of his bleak life.
An odd movie even for its time: at its core a bleak and realistic social drama, but interspersed with pulsating pop music and perfectly choreographed dance sequences.
Halliwell***: "Foul-mouthed, fast-paced slice of life which plays like an updated version of Marty except that all the characters seem to have crawled from under stones. The slick direction, fast editing and exciting dance numbers do something to take away the sour taste."
Maltin***: "Travolta's first starring film is thoughtful study...Film pulses to dynamic Bee Gees music score...Plethora of street language may offend some..."
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