Dead Space: Downfall

Dead Space: Downfall

2008

Directed by Chuck Patton

This will be the last short post. I just had too many films backing up on me and too little time at the moment to catch up! I do want to keep my New Year's resolution and write about every film that I have seen this year, so even though they may be short -- I'm still writing!

I enjoyed the video game quite a bit. It had a great way of building dread and suspense in a very claustrophobic atmosphere. I can't quite say the same for this film. The film is worth watching for a bit of back story leading up to the events in the video game, but this information can be gathered from the game anyway. The film didn't really create any sense of dread or horror, and the characters weren't fleshed out enough to care about.

Rustin Allison

Little Women

Little Women

1994

Directed by Gillian Armstrong

It was hard to watch this film and not compare it to the production of the play that I performed in recently. It was actually nice to see the scenes in the film because they reminded me so much of the play. I did enjoy the film, but I felt there wasn't enough heart in it. The sisters didn't seem as close as they should.

Rustin Allison

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms

1953

Directed by Eugene Lourie

There are some great classic city destruction scenes in this film, and this film is obviously the inspiration for future giant monster films. The monster is animated by Ray Harryhausen. The scenes that feature the monster are where the film really comes to life.

Rustin Allison

Balls of Fury

Balls of Fury

2007

Directed by Robert Ben Garant

I went into this film with low expectations, and it was still worse than I expected. It did have some funny moments, but most of the humor just fell flat. This is surprising since it is created by the writers of Reno 911!, one of my favorite television shows.

Rustin Allison

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

2008

Directed by Andrew Adamson

These next few posts are going to be very short, as I have fallen a bit behind and I need to catch up!

This is a much darker film than The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. It is an enjoyable film, but much like its successor, it has many shortcomings. Some of the lines are pretty horrible and some of the scenes are way too long.

Rustin Allison

Pom Poko

Pom Poko

1994

Directed by Isao Takahata

This is a Studio Ghibli film from the the mid 1990s. The story follows a colony of tanuki that live in a forest that is about to be turned into a suburb and how they try defend their natural habitat.

Tanuki are actually creatures that are similar to raccoons, but there is also mythology that surrounds them. Tanuki have the ability to shape-shift and the tanuki in this film use this ability in their efforts to thwart the deconstruction of the forest.

One of the aspects of this film that I really enjoyed was the amount of references to Japanese mythology... not just the stories surrounding the Tanuki. In the above photo some of the tanuki have turned into dharma. Dharma are little sculptures that have no eyes. An eye is painted on to symbolize a goal or a wish, and when the goal or wish takes place the other eye is painted. The film is full of these little details... some I was able to pick up on and others that I am sure went completely over my head. 

One scene that is really spectacular is when the tanuki join forces to make a parade of the spirit world through the city and scare the humans. I was able to spot some oni and the god of wind and the god of thunder.

Rustin Allison

Oklahoma! Pictures

Oklahoma!

Directed by Helen Dulcamara

Rugby Theatre

5 - 13 June 2009

Rustin Allison

Splinter

Splinter

2008

Directed by Toby Wilkins

This is a great little horror film. It is one that I had heard about when it was released... but again it was missed at the theater. 

The best aspect of this film is that it has such a small cast. The film focuses on four characters and their attempt to overcome a parasite that slowly infects its victims from the inside out. The victim then seeks out other possible hosts for the virus. By just focusing on four characters and having them stranded at a gas station, the film is very successful at creating a suspenseful feel.

Because of the small cast, the characters are a bit more fleshed than in normal horror films. I really enjoyed the fact that the male hero is a bit inept and has to really strive to overcome his shortcomings to survive the horrible situation that he and his girlfriend have to face.

The special effects in this film are very good for a low budget film. The creature effects are especially creepy with disjointed human appendages making it very difficult to look at the infected victims.

Rustin Allison