Tremors (1990)

Actors: Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward and Finn Carter

Director: Ron Underwood

What can beat an underground blind prehistoric hungry monster that responds to vibration?

Not very much. This is a fun action movie before CGI. The monster is this slimy snake like being that moves fast under the surface and likes to eat people. 

The sleepy village of Perfection gets invaded. The heroes are the two overgrown handy men of the village. They try to get out and into the big world. 

Obviously nothing is explained and in the end a happy ending. All of a sudden people start to get eaten. The scenario is a remote part of USA surrounded by mountains and only one road out. Of course the road gets blocked and the good people of Perfection is stuck. 

There is some wonderful characters in this film. The couple who have built their own fortress with a basement full of all sorts of fire arms. The elephant rifle is proving to be very useful in the end. 

The two main characters are the epitome of how americans like to see themselves. Resourceful and in the end without any external support they save the towns people. Or at least the once that survives. 

One could find so many flaws in the film but that is beside the point. It is sheer good old action. No real thought is required and one can simply rest and just enjoy the film. 

Stable one knows that in the end it will be a happy ending.

This is before CGI so the special effects is a full size monster built up. It is great fun. No trying to even remotely look realistic and one can almost see the seams in the costume. As an added bonus when the monsters get blown up it is sheer orange gunk that is splashed all over.

I hope anyone that watches this good piece of action will enjoy it as much as I do.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Edge of seventeen (1998)

Actors: Chris Stafford, Tina Holmes, Andersen Gabrysh and Stephanine McVay
Director: David Moreton

This near perfect coming out movie is wonderful. It is set in 1984 Ohioo and it gets everything right.
The era, music, props and plot.
It is one of the most realistic and tender films. It does not offer a sweet ending and that is just one of the many strength of the film.
Confusion, sex, love, orientation, pivotal moments and wanting to please all and no-one.

Eric is a high school student who is dreaming to get to New York. He and his best friend Mag take a summer job at a restaurant at the local fair ground. The other guy is there. Amongst confusion and the shake of some whipped cream it is soon official.
Who am I this film oozes and never really answers. Some amazing acting and pivotal moments stays and one only wants to jump in and say; Hold on, do the right thing.
They do not do the right thing.
The confusion that enters everyone is so real and not to be forgotten.
Who am I, who are your, who are we?
Questions that is in all families of teenage kids growing up to fast. The thrill of finding one self is evident and so steeped in a sense of loss.
One of the strength is that it captures the mid 1980's so perfectly. Music, fashion and social attitudes all combined.
Is the main character a hero? Not sure about this. However he breaks a woman's heart so hard it will give him nightmares for a long time. He has just convinced to consummate the so call relationship. No words except him repeating "I am sorry" manifest how she has gulled both of them to think this is it. She is betrayed and he knows he has done this.
Once he has come out to his mother more hardship. He gets a hug however no love from his mother. The movie is wonderful. Full of spot on music and fashion. The storyline is with depth and integrity. A must see.
Rating 4.5 out of 5

The dark knight rises (2012)

SPOILER ALERT


Actors: Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cottilard, Morgan Freeman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Director: Christopher Nolan

Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned or revenge is a dish served painfully slow and cold. That in a nutshell can summarise this cinematic even.
So far the biggest cinematic anticipation of 2012 by all means. The cinema was almost sold out despite being the earliest screening of the day. That is a good sign and this film did not disappoint. Even though it is close to three hours long it flew by and was well presented. A good balance of stunning action scenes, philosophical questions, emotions and parallels to modern day society.
Batman is buried and have disappeared from a peaceful city. Bruce Wayne is the recluse billionaire who is living in an emotional void and have retired from as it seems life itself. He lives in his massive mansion and his only interaction is with his butler who is wonderfully played by Michael Caine.
Dark times are lurking and building up. Soon enough Bruce Wayne is waking up to again protect Gotham City and its inhabitants. A rather good parallel to what a civilised society is. What do we want to protect? What is the rule of law? Do we want complete freedom which as it is showed here equates to anarchy and summary rule of the mob. A pardon is the same as the alternative the death sentence.
Batman takes more than one battering and true to the original he is seriously wounded and again almost killed. Ironically even though he eventually saves Gotham City (The world) he is saved by Selina.
So many philosophical themes is put together and if this was not a shameless action movie it would feel rather preposterous. This is not the kind of film to read to much into these matters and one should simply enjoy its magnificence. Not many good action films are made these days so relish in this one.

The twist is the villain. It is not the muscles this time even if it is the muscles that almost break Batman in an epic fight that will put him into his hell hole. One must suppose that the director have had influence from the classics and inspired by Dante. However since Batman eventually manage to save the day he manages to literally climb his way out of his Inferno. The real villain puts true the saying that one should keep ones enemy closest. Batman is betrayed by what seems to be a supporter. She is seeking revenge from wrongdoings to her mother so you can see how Freudian it is.

One should not pay too much attention to all of this. If one did the film actually do not make sense and would fail miserably. However the film is so well directed despite its flaws in story that it is a joy to watch and enjoy. Even the ending is ok and slightly nauseating. However it is on knifes edge and Batman finally saves Gotham and all is returned to normal. The only worrying aspect is the final ending. Is the Director building up to another sequel? It certainly looks that way. For a moment one wonders have Batman perished in order to save Gotham? Of course not. After a mock funeral all is revealed and even Robin is identified and is brought to the Batcave. Only time will tell if there will be a follow up and if it can pull it all off......

Overall this is a return to very good action with good and bad guys. Despite flaws this cinema experience is fantastic and on so many levels flawless. Please enjoy..

Rating: 4 out of 5

My aim is not to write down movies. I love cinema and have watched a very fair number of films. It makes me distressed that a number of my reviews have been negative. It is just a reflection of the state of cinema at the moment. The last thing I want is to come across as a grumpy cinema hater. I am not.

I have decided that I will mix reviews of new movie together with my DVD collection. Hopefully this will give some balance.
Cinema is an amazing art form and gives us so much. I wish it well and want generations after next to experience the greatness of this medium of versatile and emotional art.

I hope that you will continue to follow me in my quest of giving you reviews of the art of cinema.....

Julie/Julia (2009)
Director: Nora Ephron
Actors: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Chris Messina and Stanley Tucci

What a joy to watch. Here I am feeling that I only review in a grumpy way. That is not true. It is just that films lately have been so bad.
This wonderful film is an exception. A reminder that even in present day good films are being made. That is a revelation, even though it should not have to be.
The film is a parallel story that is finely moved together. It is of course about the great Julia Child and her modern day counterpart who decides to recreate all the cooking during one year.
So far so easy.
Julia Child is of course the master and legend of bringing French cooking to the American audience. Julie has no purpose.
The iconic first scene of the film is a one of joy. Julia Child in a French restaurant in Rouen in 1947 and her first taste of sublime cooking; Sole meuniere.
One of the best scenes describing the joy of tasting something great for the first time. The sensual joy, pleasure and again joy of a taste sensation is marvellous to watch.
The film never reverts to sad melancholy which is a great thing. The story of the lives of Julia and Julie unfolds both as it should and showing the bond Julie has with her non present mentor. The fact that they never meet is a great fact and would have ruined this great film.
Meryl Streep as always show why she is an masterful actress. She is truly wonderful and master both the body language and voice of Julia Child to perfection. It is like one star playing each other.
The film has depth and language and speaks volume.
I feel that I have been seen as a grumpy reviewer and that is no fun. It is just a lack of good films.
This is a great way of entertain yourself and to be inspired. Everything is possible and lets go cooking.
As Julia always said: "Bon appetite"

Rating: 4 out of 5

Prometheus (2012)

Director: Ridley Scott
Actors: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce, Sean Harris

I was very excited when booking this movie. In the cinema they said it was fully booked. I had felt a buzz for a while and perhaps this was it. A great director coming back to his original genre. 3D.
Could it get any better?
They guy in the cinema asked if I needed 3d glasses which I declined. Prudent enough I have saved my original pair of spectacles. The auditorium was close to full and the adverts closing. I was so in for a treat.
How wrong I was.
Fair enough the 3D effect was stunning. The added effect put on post production had really paid off. Stunning. Not to much and just right.
So this is the good part. The rest of the film was mediocre to say the least. Visually stunning, bravo for minimising CGI and some profound questions. It should work but sadly not. It is all about questions and no answers. However the suspense from the original never turns up. Perhaps one should never tamper with an original. It feels greatly that there is no suspense whatsoever and only weird creatures that digest humans and the others alike.
The Freudian undertone is not beneficial and adds nothing. How is it that the crew knows about the founder of the company but not as it turns out about his daughter as it later turns out??
There is no struggle and no element of fear. Just weird creatures and a strange but visually landscape. Is this about biological warfare gone wrong, civilisation or the quest of ageing? No one knows.
This film could have been so much more if Ridley Scott had committed himself. It could pose so many moral, ethical and profound philosophical questions. It fails to answer any of them.
We are left with a stunning visual feast with slimy creature and no substance. I rather would have waited for the DVD.

Rating: 2.5 of 5

Hunger Games (2012)

Director: Gary Ross
Actors: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woddy Harrelson, Donald Sutherland


I must confess that was quite unsure what to expect. I had only very scant knowledge of the story and had not read the novels. I went almost entirely on seeing the trailer and it is refreshing that this film was not too hyped up as for example the newly released massive turkey flop of "John Carter". I was pleasantly surprised and left the cinema very satisfied after watching this accomplished and at points philosophical piece of cinema. It is the kind of film that one can watch on several layers and will appeal to both the target teenage group and adults alike.


The plot revolves around the annual "Hunger Games" staged as a punishment by the Capitol district as a result of a revolt some 78 years ago. This dystopia of a vision of a post collapsed USA shows the now renamed country Panem. This is interesting as it is a reference to the ancient Roman dogma of Panem et circenses, bread and circus, to keep the people happy. The country is divided in 12 districts that all serve the purpose of ensuring that the decadence of the Capitol is made possible. Two tributes, one boy and one girl aged 12 - 20, is selected to fight to the death in the Hunger Games. The games are aired on live television and is of course a satire of modern day reality TV shows. One "Victor" remains and is crowned by the President/Dictator of this fascist state. 
The main character played by the wonderful Jennifer Lawrence volunteers in lieu of her younger sister. The two tributes are taken to the Capitol and is groomed and trained by a team. The games is set in completely controlled forest environment that can induce everything from fires to lethal beasts. The struggle of survival is evident and is in contrast to the excitement of the TV audience. The film feels like a mixture of the sentiment of "Lord of the flies" and modern day thirst for new and ever increasing TV shocks. The ending of the movie is interesting and well worth a closer look. I do not want to spoil the ending but it has both political and emotional implications. I would have welcomed a more expanded ending to make this a truly great film. The end of the film leaves at least me feeling a bit flat as it could have been so much more to expand on.


The juxtaposition between the poverty stricken district and the decadent and colourful decadence of the Capitol is powerful. The districts are illustrated as grey, flat and people without hope or even a will to revolt to such conditions. The Capitol is to great effect shown as the centre of decadence. The inhabitance is dressed in colourful and often outrageously camp outfits, men and women alike. The sleazy TV host is a brilliant character that shows the brashness underneath his whiter than white smile and it is clear it is part of a political game. As the President, masterfully played by Sutherland, describes the only thing more powerful than fear is hope. A small controlled amount of hope keeps the districts under control. That is the reason the hunger games exist and one tribute survives. 
It is interesting when the games start no one seem to have any moral objections that teenagers and children are pitted against each other and in the most brutal way slaughter each other. It only shows in a perfectly executed way how thin the layer of veneer is that we call civilisation and morality really is. It reminds the viewer that it can so easily be removed. 


This is a successful film and well worth watching on the big screen. It flows well and have many interesting aspects. Well done.


Rating 4 out of 5