crimsonrose71 Reviews

The Loves of Carmen (1948)

Gorgeous romantic melodrama

[9/10 · 14 August 2011]

Ah, too bad they don't make like these anymore! Beautiful, much-missed (by me!) old Technicolor helps to create both romantic, pristine 19th century Spain which never was and romantic, enchanting beauty of Carmen. She is gorgeous, entertaining and artificial with red hair (shouldn't it be dark?), red flowers and black mantilla. There is also sometimes delicious 1940's dialogue (by Helen Deutsch who also wrote great 1955 Cinderella movie Glass slipper). Carmen is a gypsy version of Scarlett O'Hara, rotten apple with no compassion to anyone - and she really likes to spit! - although it is easy to sympathize her desire not to give her heart to any of the supposedly innocent but actually brain-between-legs admirers around her. They offer shallow, "pure" love while being sex-obsessed, abusive boors: general hits his servant, Carmen's charms make every man to follow her like dog in heat, Carmen tells that wife-beating is rampant in village... Don't get me me wrong, Carmen needed good tongue-lashing, but good and evil are really blurring in this extremely well-made (thanks to virtues of old studio system!) melodrama.

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

Visually ugly, sadism-is-cooler-than-thou trash with dialogue to match - hey, it's Tarantino's fantasies again!

[1/10 · 7 August 2011]

This is a movie what Christians mean when they complain about depravity in modern Hollywood: Tarantino oozes sleazy sadism and there is not any entertainment value whatsoever. Now, I love vampire movies. Hammer films or Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) are classy Gothic fantasias where everything - colour photography, plot, dialogue, sets, costumes - are enchantingly beautiful and atmospheric. Then there are more trashier but still fun movies like Fright night flicks or even Lifeforce, made watchable by fascinating succubus Mathilda May (and I'm a woman!). Everything here is just sleazy, trashy, ugly and nasty. I don't say anything about acting: this is hee-haw garbage, Ophelias are not needed. Yes, there is Salma Hayek in pretty red velvet bikinis but movie around her STINKS!

Horror of Dracula (1958)

Lovely blood-red rose and the best version of Bram Stoker's novel

[13 July 2011]

Because equally wonderful (or perhaps better!) "sequel" Brides of Dracula is not Stoker adaptation! Hammer's first Dracula (or Horror of Dracula for yanks) has rich Technicolor and cozily opulent sets, a perfect dream-like tapestry for Gothic adventure with blood-drinking monsters. Like in Stoker's novel, Christopher Lee's Dracula is almost cameo, and this approach works: we see how human characters - including Peter Cushing's excellent Van Helsing, Carol Marsh's Lucy (who looks like Judy Garland in Wizard of Oz)or Melissa Stribling's more mature Mina - react to the vampires. I love visually splendid and detailed this-is-how-you-rape-a-classic-tale-enjoyably version from Francis Ford Coppola and writer James V Hart, but Hammer's Dracula is even better - and lacks morally offensive nonsense of Hart's script. Here is no depravity of Vlad the Impaler as romanticized hero or Lucy as the "dirty whore" who "deserves" to die. Here is no taint of anti-femininity: like in Stoker's novel, vampire-Lucy is killed because she attacks people to drink their blood, not because of her sexuality (even though she incestuously asks her brother to kiss her). To some critics this have been too much - after all, these women are young and beautiful! Too bad they don't make films like this anymore - both script by Jimmy Sangster and photography by Jack Asher are superior to modern vampire movies.

Lifeforce (1985)

Energy vampires create havoc in Earth! '

[12 July 2011]

And although it's kinda trashy mix of Alien and zombies, it is not without entertainment value. Male reviews rhapsody about nude vampire succubus par excellence, space girl with lethal kiss, and she is indeed impressive mix of seductiveness and danger, when she vamps her way through the adoring male population. Like her look-a-like, enchanting vampire succubus Clarimonde in eponymous episode from TV series Hunger, and unlike plastic Natasha Henstridge from terrible Species, she is actually great fun to watch. There is nice nods to the vampire movie lore - bats, staking, hypnosis - and good Henry Mancini score. It's basically just trashy scifi/horror mix - after all, it is directed by Tobe "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" Hooper, produced by Cannon Films and written by Dan "Alien" O'Bannon - but sometimes kinda fun.

Dracula (1979)

Underrated

[8/10 · 9 July 2011]

Despite cheap-looking, desaturated DVD colours, this film has lot to work for it. There is Edwardian setting, vampires, garlic, Gothic ruins and film struts it's stuff with style and fun. Langella is sleepy-eyed Count who murmurs his lines but he is also depraved monster who destroys weak ailing Mina (Lucy of the book) and mad Renfield. However, Lucy (Mina) is feminine, attractive and spirited career woman, who sees him more interesting than boring men around her, including boyfriend Jonathan, and goes with him willingly. Yes, it's far cry from the novel, where both Mina and Lucy were idealized as keepers of feminine purity in home and hearth. (Victorians often saw feminism in the mould of Valerie Solanas in her potty-mouthed, aggressive, femininity-hating prostitute worst a'la I shot Andy Warhol.) Anyway, it's enjoyable ride. Now give the colours back!

The Phantom of the Opera (1998)

Twisted, lushly Gothic dream of Dario and Gerard...

[7/10 · 3 July 2011]

Dull it ain't! Costumes and sets (Christine's dressing-room!), red roses and colour photography create GORGEOUS period Gothic look, very lush and elegant. Script by Gerard Brach and director Dario Argento, however... well, that's totally different matter: characters are sleazy and unsympathetic. Phantom is not deformed, just a serial killer who likes bestiality and gore, hates fat people, describes himself a rat and lives (how apt!) in the sewer. Hm, he only needs sadistic potty-fetish and you have typical net scum! Christine prefers his sleazy company to gorgeous red roses - "I like simple flowers"- and Raoul - compared some to artist formerly known as Prince - hangs in the brothel. Christine has also beautiful but foul-tempered maid who is clearly jealous of Christine. Acting is very weird, and those who dislike lip-synching in 2004 movie should see THIS!

Last Train from Gun Hill (1959)

Well-made, gorgeously old-school-Technicolored western which doesn't sanitize filthy scum like young criminals nor it wallows in the sewer of exploitation

[8/10 · 26 May 2011]

I like classic Hollywood, time of Hays code, unlike most new films. "All good films are already done!" said Peter Bogdanovich in late sixties movie Targets, and although there is SOME modern films which I love I understand his point. This is well-made, gorgeously old-school-Technicolored western which strikes perfect balance: it doesn't sanitize filthy scum like violent young criminals nor does 1950's Hays code, although sometimes hypocritical, allow wallowing in the sewer of exploitation. Although the stars are Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn, Carolyn Jones has interesting part as a beautiful woman who helps the hero.

Countess Dracula (1971)

Gorgeous, silly and enjoyable

[9/10 · 6 May 2011]

Countess Dracula may not be Vampire lovers, but again it has cult favorite Ingrid Pitt (both as herself and in old-age make-up and grey wig), sumptuous costumes, lighting and scenery, lovely score and young Lesley-Anne Downs as angelically pretty heroine. "Old women are gross evil monsters" morality stinks like a compost it is; in real life, Countess Bathory's crime career (if real) had nothing to do with becoming old and envying young girls. Anyway, it is yet another Hammer classic, and novelization by Michael Parry seems also very interesting. By the way, Grimm brothers is another sumptuously dressed, silly and enjoyable fairytale about Bathory legend.

The Plague of the Zombies (1966)

Surprisingly well-made zombie film

[7/10 · 27 April 2011]

Quality zombie movie? Yep, this is such surprise, beautiful-looking and well-made costume Gothic instead of repulsive gory garbage and trashy production values. Group of spoiled young rotters, led by over-aged but well-acting John Carson, cause outbreak of zombie plague (and exploitative capitalism!) in 19th century Cornwall. Storyline and characters remind - maybe intentionally - about Dracula. For example, André Morell as the old Professor who is trying to solve what is behind these strange wounds and mysterious blood disease turning Victorian Brits as monsters, is like elegantly heroic, Very English version of Van Helsing.

Twilight (I) (2008)

Hollywood should REALLY rise their standards

[3/10 · 17 April 2011]

And I don't mean this film should have been sullied with gore, language, excretions etc, missed by some who hated the film. I also happen to know that vampires-burning-in-the-sun part of lore was added in 1922 by movie Nosferatu. My problem is that this film had bad script and terrible, ugly photography. Characters were tedious, only colours were ugly grey and sickly blue, and there's basically no plot. Where was richly romantic, elegant imagery? Where was... well, anything? Even hero's "diamond-like" sparkling didn't look especially diamond-like. Story is supposedly set in real place called Forks, but this high-school is unrealistically clean place with friendly kids only and not any bullying or nastiness. Why use name of real place? I suppose this is from alternative universe Forks or Stephenie Meyer is home-schooled. If you want movie about vampire romance, look Bram Stoker's Dracula. Imagery is fabulous and cast is perfect.