I just finished watching this film, and I feel like I just stepped off a rollercoaster. The film slowly built up - you always knew something was wrong, and when it steps off the deep end it just doesn't stop. This is one of the few films I can honestly say is disturbing. I usually don't get this affected by a film. I suppose that while I was in my twenties, I never would have put up with the slow build-up to the insanity at the end, however nowadays I'm much more tolerant of films that use mood and atmosphere to pull you in. Highly recommended.
Reviews
4 Reviews
Mr. Vampire
(1985)
Classic Hong Kong Cinema
22 February 2002
I first read about this film in "Mondo Macabro" by Pete Tombs (which incidentally is a great reference book if you're into offbeat films), and was intrigued by the idea of hopping vampires.
Needless to say this movie did not let me down. Not only is Mr. Vampire fun to watch, but it's very nicely filmed. The filmmakers clearly cared about what they were doing. The comedy in the film is laugh out loud funny, and I'm always a sucker for good fight scenes. It's a very classy piece of work. Western comedies about vampires don't even come close to this one. Watch this movie - you'll be glad you did!
Needless to say this movie did not let me down. Not only is Mr. Vampire fun to watch, but it's very nicely filmed. The filmmakers clearly cared about what they were doing. The comedy in the film is laugh out loud funny, and I'm always a sucker for good fight scenes. It's a very classy piece of work. Western comedies about vampires don't even come close to this one. Watch this movie - you'll be glad you did!
Battle Royale
(2000)
This movie ROCKED!
13 February 2002
For the most part, the film made me feel like I was watching all the best parts of Clockwork Orange, Robocop and Lord of the Flies at once with Dawn of the Dead kicked in to spice things up. It starts to drag a bit at the end, but I highly recommend this as long as you aren't overtly sensitive to violence. I don't know that it was all that thoughtful as others seem to think, but man oh man was it entertaining! Plenty of other reviewers have covered the plot details. Suffice to say, I don't see any standard American distributors picking this one up for quite some time. I tracked down a Region 3 print of this, and was really glad I did!
Haathi Mere Saathi
(1971)
After 30 years, I still loved this movie!
7 February 2002
I first saw this film in India when I was 5 years old. I remembered that I really liked it then, and was quite pleased to find it 30 years later via the Internet.
I'm glad to say that it has lost none of its magic. The story of Raju and his elephant buddy Ramoo makes for a truly unique film. The best way I can sum it up, without giving too much away, is that it is reminiscent of older Disney films, but with a uniquely Indian feel. Suffice to say, there are not many countries in the world where a story of a man growing up with elephants could be told in such an effective manner. The trained animal sequences alone are worthy of films such as "The Bear".
With regards to the inevitable singing and dancing in a Bollywood production, the songs are wonderful and there are far fewer of them than in standard Bollywood fare. Additionally, as opposed to the more modern Indian films, the dancing is refreshingly non-professional and consists mostly of the hero and heroine scampering about and waving their arms - which only adds to the overall charm of this film.
I'm glad to say that it has lost none of its magic. The story of Raju and his elephant buddy Ramoo makes for a truly unique film. The best way I can sum it up, without giving too much away, is that it is reminiscent of older Disney films, but with a uniquely Indian feel. Suffice to say, there are not many countries in the world where a story of a man growing up with elephants could be told in such an effective manner. The trained animal sequences alone are worthy of films such as "The Bear".
With regards to the inevitable singing and dancing in a Bollywood production, the songs are wonderful and there are far fewer of them than in standard Bollywood fare. Additionally, as opposed to the more modern Indian films, the dancing is refreshingly non-professional and consists mostly of the hero and heroine scampering about and waving their arms - which only adds to the overall charm of this film.
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