Reviews
Superuomini, superdonne, superbotte (1974)
The funniest movie I ever seen !
Of course, it looks like a very bad film. But I can't believe people who made this film didn't know what they were doing. And dialogues are so ridiculous, we laugh at each word. Look at this film with friends, you're sure to spend a good time !
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
After 16 years of waiting : a big disappointment.
some SPOILERS .........................................
....
I'm really a very big Star Wars fan from 1977, and I was waiting a new episode since 1983. SO SORRY. I saw the 3 first hundred times, but only 2 times for the last one. (I'd got to see it a second time, just to be sure).
It's just a Disney Cartoon ! Almost everything is synthetic pictures (the background, the robots, the monsters, the ships, the explosions) ! It's like if in the first Star Wars, Chewbaka, Jabba, the jawas and the Stormtroopers were synthetic, it would be a loss of magic ! Maybe in the next one, actors will be synthetic too !
And the story ! The same line than in "Revenge of the Jedi" (A ground battle, during a space battle, during a laser sabers fight). And the space battle ? Just 5 minutes at the end. The Vilain ? A very nice looking but he doesn't talk, we don't know nothing about him. In "Empire strikes back" we remember all the famous "The Force is with you, young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet !" from Vador. What are we going to remember from this film ?
I think G. Lucas forgets the success of the first 3 was not only the consequence of special effects. I hope the next one will be better !
Mars Attacks! (1996)
Not only a comedy but the true vision of a cultural clash.
SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS -
I know everybody considered this movie as a big joke, a satire of "Independance Day". Someone comments : "IT IS NOT A SERIOUS LOOK AT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF MARTIANS ATTACKED EARTH!!!". From my point of view, I THINK IT IS (even if I laugh during all the movie).
Just think about it : What else example of cultural clash have we ? In 1492, when Columbus met Indians, the "MARTIANS" were the western people. And what did they do ? They claimed they come in peace (in the name of Jesus Christ) and killed or slaved everybody !!! Isn't it the same non-sense purpose that in the Burton's movie ?
It's not the first time a SF-movie talks about this subject, but it's the first time aliens are not evil, but just CRAZY ! In fact, we don't understand nothing in their behaviour (Why do they hate birds ? Why are they crying during the incredible speech of Nicholson, and kill him one second after ? It's very clear the first problem is a communication problem.). And the funny look of these aliens brings us another question : try to imagine seriously, extra-terrestrials contact us. How can we handle the situation if they're green with big heads and use flying saucers ? Can we keep serious ?
The only silly thing in the movie is the end. Burton could not (with a such super-production) make a sad ending. Too bad ! I'm waiting for a USA-SF-movie, where Space Invaders win the game and kill everybody. So, maybe people will understand what Indians felt in 1492.
Tommy (1975)
A FILM MADE TO LOVE ROCK MUSIC
"See the film, please don't buy the LP". Yes I know, I take the contrary of most of comments about this film. In fact I think all depends on what people see or hear in first.
In 1975, I hated Rock Music. For me, this music was just an horrible din made by hairy yelling junkies. A friend pushed me very hardly to watch "Tommy". AND THIS FILM MADE ME LOVE ROCK MUSIC.. Not only the musical movie score, but all the Rock Music (Clapton, Turner, Who, Stones, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, even the Sex Pistols because they looked like Cousin Kevin). And all that because Ken Russell succeeded to melt the old music (the Symphonic Opera) and the new one (Rock) together. He used a very clever crescendo to not hurt those who don't like Rock Music :
1 : the beginning is like a normal movie music with no voices, but a hard tempo.
2 : the first voice (which announce the bad new) is off, and the electric guitars start, but briefly.
3 : the first singing scene "it's a boy" looks like an old musical show (Like "the sound of music", very reassuring for a guy who hate Rock Music).
4 : "Bernie's Holiday Camp" and "1951" look like songs for TV commercials. (Silly and fun, but not shocking)
5 : "What about the boy" looks like a classical opera with a great voice work made by Ann Margret. In fact, from the beginning, I was waiting for the return of the "normal speaking" like every musical movie does. I suddenly understood that "Tommy" was a true opera. I thought : "Wow ! They had guts to try such a thing !".
6 : After this raging scene Ken Russel knew he has pushed the dramatic climax far enough to launch a big Rock missile : "Amazing Journey". For the first time of my life (I was 13) my legs jumped and twisted on a Rock Music. Russel trapped me ! He pushed the pressure with a classical way and to liberate all this energy he gave me .. ROCK ! I was totally upset ! I realized I was facing a great film with a great music. And this slow musical progression brought me to accept and to love hysterical scenes like "Acid Queen" or "Pinball Wizard". Without Ken Russel, I'd probably still hate Rock Music. Thanks Ken !
Because I was crazy about this film (I saw it about 400 times since 75) I bought the original album, but I don't like it. The orchestration is poor, the overture is just a mixed of the main themes, some songs don't exist (Champagne, Mother and Son, Welcome, TV Studio), and my favorite songs (Acid Queen, Pinball Wizard, I'm Free) are really too slow and too short. Of course, I realize if I have such an opinion, it's because I saw the film in first, and I understand those who have listen to the original in first will be disappointed by the film. I still think the bonus brought by Ronnie Wood (The Rolling Stones) for "Acid Queen", Elton John for "Pinball Wizard" and of course the genius work of Pete Townshend have made a real opera from what I call a "good rough". And that's a real creation ! If we compare with "QUADREPHONIA" or "PINK FLOYD - THE WALL", in these films, directors just put the original recording on pictures. Where is the creation ? If the composers were dead, these films could be made exactly as they are ! But "TOMMY" no ! "TOMMY - THE MOVIE" is really a new creation made by the original composer, the greatest musicians of the decade and a very experienced director. For me, THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER : 10/10.