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tor.saether
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Jalla! Jalla! (2000)
Fabulous dramatic comedy!
This movie is so good! In many ways it defies categorization, but first and foremost it is indeed a comedy. Great comedy, too. Still, there's more. Much more.
Sure, there are lots and lots of big laughs all the way through, but this movie also has a very becoming, profoundly serious side to it.
"Jalla! Jalla!" is not dealing with racial issues so much as with human - or perhaps cultural - ones. There are two main dramatic components: First, we have the question of arranged marriages, and second, the question of impotence. Both problems set off an avalanche of almost slapstick-like comic situations, but still, we never forget the seriousness of these matters.
It may be obvious, but if you liked "Fucking Åmål" and "Tilsammans", I'm positive you'll like this one too. 8 out of 10 points.
Tintin et le mystère de la Toison d'Or (1961)
OK adaptation of classic comic book universe
I should know this movie fairly well, since it was a central object of scrutiny for my film major thesis. And I must say, being a Tintin devotee since the late seventies, I enjoyed this film quite a lot.
It's not a direct adaptation as such, since the story did not exist as a comic book prior to the shoot. The script was in fact specially conceived for this particular movie. Nevertheless, apart from a few more or less significant deviations from the Tintin norms - some of them necessary by way of making a film in its own right and not a live action comic book (the latter more true in the case of the sequel) - it's still very much a Tintin story. We have the same ingredients; the exotism, the heroism, the adventure... And the characters are being portrayed wonderfully. So, I give it 7 out of 10 points.
A must-see for all Tintin fans. If you can get your hands on a copy, that is.
Ragnarock (1973)
A celebration of rock & folk music
In the spirit of Woodstock and other large scale music festivals of the period, Norwegian audiences finally got their own festival in June 1973. This was Ragnarock - actually named after Ragnarokk, the Norse version of the Armageddon - sporting a plethora of Norwegian, Scandinavian and also a few international artists.
The movie is a 102 minute representation of this ambitious event, and it does indeed bear several similarities to the Woodstock movie. Although not quite as successful (both artistically and of course commercially, much due to the fact that the average standard of the featured artist may not be as high), this movie is still quite an entertaining piece of Norwegian cultural history.
Worth seeing and hearing. Keep your eyes open for some great looking people, both on and off stage.
Psycho (1998)
Great homage to good old Hitch!
Frankly, I don't quite understand what the problem is. I kind of liked this movie! This being in spite of the two following facts: a) I love the entire Hitchcock body of work, and b) I happen to have a film major. Both of which should qualify me as one who should totally disregard this project. At least according to some of you guys.
Gus Van Sant, knowing it would cause controversy, chose to do a remake of a great film, a remake which in my humble opinion does not lag too far behind Hitchcock's original. Of course, Hitchcock had the advantage of doing it first (note: as based on a novel by Robert Bloch), but why shouldn't it be possible - or even encouraged - to try doing it again? I mean, as an experiment, and naturally, as homage? Those of us who have taken the time to watch the DVD documentary will know that these were the intentions of the entire cast and crew on "Psycho 1998". Not necessarily to do a "better movie", but to "try", to "study", and to "honor".
The problem, as I see it, is that the notion of the original as ever superior is so firmly rooted in us that some of us are unable to see beyond these presumptions and hence, grasp a different view. The rule seems to be that nothing can be improved; one should not even try.
People may like "Psycho 1998" or not, but no one should not use their disapproval as an excuse to throw their politically correct and/or somewhat arty-farty opinions in the face of those who happen to like Van Sant's film. Although yet a scarce few, we have feelings too. Go, Gus!!!