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marsjones
Reviews
Métamorphoses (2014)
Ovid's poetry remains relevant
Metamorphosis has a lot of nice earthy action in nature. Greenery is the same to any era, as is sex and human interaction between people young enough to deserve their carnal behavior. The stories of Ovid lend a legitimacy. But Honore adds a very homey French familiarity with the human body and it's activities missing from modern synthetic US cinema. I don't know if the film is really that good or I liked it so much because it has been too many years since my last roll in the hay.
The Whole World at Our Feet (2015)
ran out of time/money
They had a lot of material to work with. It looks like an OK movie ended up on the cutting room floor. The production value was there, the acting and dialogue wasn't great but who cares? It needed at least a few scenes in civilization so the low budget wilderness wouldn't be so obvious. Too many twenty foot high doors being opened by tiny people.
Chance (2016)
A matter of taste
There is only a certain type of person who would squeeze into the tight situation shown in "Chance". And Laurie doesn't show quite the DNA (or brain damage) to really go for it. He seems out of breath from dotage rather than passion. But the situation itself-(to those who WITH the requisite brain damage) -is as exhilarating is it gets in this world. And the "situation" itself is delivered here on a silver platter by a lot of intelligent people. So enjoy.
Spectre (2015)
The devil is in the details
But remember, I'm saying 5 out of 10 compared to other James Bond flicks. Sam Mendes just couldn't wrap his head around the whole Bond thing. It's nice that the themes were contemporary.--A black Moneypenny. But there were just so many false notes, even for these changing times e.g. Bond shoots from an aeroplane at a speeding SUV containing the maiden in distress that he is trying to save! I know we are all equality for women but.. Really? The I.T. villain picks up and aims an automatic pistol at M without noticing its light weight due to no bullets. The whole color of the film never departed from brown and grey. James makes some several consecutive kills with a submachine gun from what looks like 500 yards. They should have used a different lens.
The Mistress of Spices (2005)
The devil is in the details
Saw all the reviews. This movie is a great exposition of Indian culture. Like the complaints about lack of chemistry. No way was Rai going to smooch with that mellecha. It was actually rich, full and deep for those with an interest and understanding of things Indian. And seeing Rai was great. McDermott always seemed like he needed a bath and knew it. You just couldn't grade it the same way as a Hollywood production. It was earthy and sloppy and colorful and confused, complicated, beautiful and revolting just like India. Where else can you get a lot of spice knowledge, see Aishwarya Rai close up and a nice eggplant recipe all in the same movie.