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saharadeaton
Reviews
Hostage (2005)
Bruce runs the gamut of emotion from A to Z
I knew nothing about this film before seeing it, the opening titles which reminded me of'Cape Fear' immediately make you realise this is no run-of-the-mill actioner. I have deliberated whether it deserves a ten and, you know, I think it does. Although Jeff(Bruce) starts the film self assured and cocky it's soon knocked out of him. It's nice to see an action film where the main character isn't a wisecracking maverick cop who turns to drink after tragedy (shame he's on the brink of family breakdown, the other troubled cop cliché). The plot is superb, and Bruce brilliantly plays Jeff with fear and urgency, he's really winging it and knows his decisions could kill at any moment. A lot has been said on the comments pages about Bruce's run of bad films but leaving behind the die hard persona is the best thing he's ever done. I think Terry Gilliam can be thanked for first telling Bruce to tone down his stock mannerisms and just act!(Dear boy). Now for the spoiler... The fact that the mysterious group who've arranged to kidnap his family and the kidnappers themselves are never unmasked and revealed to be...! is a huge relief. To see peripheral characters come back and be the 'Mastermind' is one of the worst plot tricks EVER! and should be banned (Bone Collector etc.) The plot is never over burdened by irrelevant sub plots and the characters are given background and substance without the story ever getting muddied. Jeff's explosion of emotion at the end is as tense and uncomfortable to watch as the rest of the film. Mars is the scariest type of psycho; quiet, unpredictable, lonely and bitter, the type of kid who slips under the radar until it's too late. This film made the hair on the back of my neck stand up it was so good. Think I might even get the book now.
Alien³ (1992)
the peaceful heavenly white cloth of her sleep chamber is smudged by red and we see our heroine fall into the pit of hell below.
It's interesting to see that this film has had so many comments posted about it, behind the scenes it's still the most interesting of the Alien films. I have to admit to not wanting to watch this film again after seeing it at the cinema. I read the novelisation by Dean Foster (I think?) It was apparent that the studio had really messed about with the story. I was most angry that they had cut the whole plot stream of poor Golic thinking this creature was the messiah and freeing it from it's containment chamber. It just made a mess of the whole middle section of the film. It's a shame they had so little faith in Fincher, but now that this film has been re-edited it's my favourite of the sequels, in that it's much closer in tone to Alien. I love that it's so bleak, none of the Arnie-esquire witty one liners of the fourth. In this film we see that she has really lost everything from her past, present and future, even down to her clothes and hair!. I still think the acting is a bit wobbly, "they think we're crud", oh dear, but on the whole a fitting end to the franchise (if only that were so).
Les Maîtres du temps (1982)
a very young child is stranded on a dangerous and sinister planet after his parents are killed.
I saw this film when I was about 15 when it was shown on British television. I was already a big fan of Alien and Bladerunner but didn't realise then that Jean Giraud (moebius), the concept artist behind some of the costumes on those films was the artist behind this film. The film made a big impression on me and I spent years trying to find out what it was. Finally I described it to an anime-fan friend of mine and he knew it. Although animation has moved on I still think the look of the film is really good, and the story is quite unsettling especially when you're on the planet with the boy, there is a real sense of menace. There's a body count! okay so it's a little bit dated, there are two pretty cheesy songs in it and a cute moppet kid but that's part of it's charm. Don't forget it was made in the early eighties (in fact it looks more seventies). I'll give it an 9/10, i'm afraid it loses one because of the songs.