Hythlodaeus Reviews

The Dinner (I) (2017)

Movie blew me away!

[7/10 · 1 October 2017]

I would love to discuss this on the message boards (as I have for almost 15 years before they were removed - are you listening IMDb?)

I don't want to give too much away but the ending will blow you away and at the same time make you say, "Yeah, I figured as much."

Anyone who cares about justice and is a student of human nature and society should see this film. All four of the lead actors are phenomenal which is why I watched and they didn't disappoint.

The movie is much about the nature of dysfunctional families but even more about the nature of how women and men are often fundamentally different in how they approach and deal with problems. Women often take an approach to preserve relationships and men go directly to a solution, no matter how stark - often both approaches having disastrous and unjust consequences.

This is not your typical Woody Allen humorous pointless urban angst film, or even a falsely deep gut wrenching trope. It is a film that many of us have faced in our lives (though less extreme most likely) with facing the fact that our children are bearing the consequences of our own inhumanity, that we have inadvertently taught them through modeling or neglect.

I can't believe this film isn't rated more highly. See it.

Cruel & Unusual (2014)

Encouragment from a dark place

[7/10 · 9 November 2015]

There are a few unimportant details that prevent me from being able to vote this higher but in many ways this movie was a 10.

This film blew me away. I was expecting it to be typical nihilistic garbage but I was surprised by the almost John Steinbeck way that at the beginning you have no sympathy, or even have hatred for the main characters, only to love them in the end as you realize that they are just like you. Also, they have a sort of nobility that you never expected.

The film doesn't have much character development but the development it does have is absolutely amazing. Somehow the movie is absurdly dramatic in some ways, but the overall tenor is that it is beautifully understated and as such many people will not appreciate it.

For those of you who have never struggled with an addiction or committed a crime, you will not understand the power of the group 12-step program scenes, the realization of who you are and what you have done that slowly dawns on a person. Also, if you have never been tempted to suicide or gotten into the heart and mind of a friend who is tempted to suicide, in order to help him or her, then you won't appreciate a lot of this movie.

The scenes with the adopted son and mother as well as with the mother and her daughters, and even the one with the man next to the river, and the man and his parents, were some of the most memorable I've ever seen, memorable because they made me do the work as the viewer.

Again, the power of the movie was what it didn't say, leaving the most important statements to the mind of the viewer, so that they can be said more powerfully than a filmmaker ever could. And in that way, my hat is off to those who made this film, they didn't pander to the audience, the movie held back so that it could be more than it would have been, giving the viewer space to learn about themselves as they watched.

I came across this movie by accident on Netflix and almost didn't watch it. It is a great little gem.

Departures (2008)

From someone who isn't a fan of foreign films

[10/10 · 15 January 2015]

I'm not a fan of foreign films and especially not Asian ones (speaking as a westerner). Recently I watched several Indian films which were enjoyable but they felt American and also unrefined.

This movie was different, it wasn't non-Western really, but it certainly wasn't non-Japanese. I felt like I was meaningfully connected with a culture I knew very little about and I was very honored to have seen this film.

The film tells the story of an emotionally stunted young man who is a cellist and suddenly finds that he is unemployed and must give up his love of music and quite despite himself finds something else he loves, sending the recently deceased on their way to the afterlife. But like the love of music, this is something many people cannot understand or tolerate in the young man. In many ways, his young wife doesn't understand him either and we are left to wonder if she ever will.

Yet this is not really an art film, not one of those films where everything is left unresolved, but it isn't all neatly tied up either. It's a deeply satisfying and encouraging film.

It reinforced something I have noticed about Asians in other contexts that there is a depth of beauty and emotion in Asian culture that as a westerner, I'm often tempted to dismiss or ignore because I can't easily understand it. Asians are "weird" to many Americans - but one has to ask why America should be the norm to the world? This movie was deeply encouraging, dealing with timely issues of fatherhood and marriage, and also subtly, the destruction of fatherhood in the world (which many of the newer Indian films are dealing with in another way).

Asians seem to have very deep connections to their families and traditions that are falling apart as the world becomes more "global" - but those undercurrents are still strong and offer hope to a world that is weary with competition, cynicism and disconnection from family, from our traditions, from others and from ourselves.

Inherit the Wind (1988 TV Movie)

Worth seeing Jason Robards as Clarence Darrow

[7/10 · 1 September 2014]

I'm a little unusual as far as movies and books go. I will love a horrible story or movie for one good idea, one good scene or one good actor.

This was that film. I saw it when it was first aired when I was 14 and it made an impression on me. We had read the play a year earlier in 7th grade but it was Jason Robard's portrayal of the playfully witty grumpy grandpa who made the movie.

If you like Robards this movie cannot be missed. His portrayal of an ideal Atheist is good, even if it the reality of Clarence Darrow's personality. The way he gives sage advise to Cates about "Golden Dancer" - "Bert, whenever you see something bright, shining, perfect-seeming—all gold, with purple spots—look behind the paint! And if it's a lie—show it up for what it really is!" - cannot be beat. Robard's perfect rendition of this epic metaphor for a young man to follow in his hard and often lonely search for truth is what makes this film.

As an adult now, I have seen the classic version of this but there are benefits to this old made for TV movie - if you can find it, see it - and also drop me a line about where I can find it - I had my old VHS for years but can't find it!

Splice (2009)

Don't waste your time.

[2/10 · 5 June 2010]

I rated the movie 2, I basically never vote lower than 5.

This movie had a lot of potential in that it explored a lot of ideas - I'm going to stretch and say they are, abortion, bio-ethics, sex/gender roles, child abuse, insanity, incest, rape, bestiality, pornography etc.

However, it was so predictable, the characters were so foolish and silly that my wife and I just started laughing at various scenes.

I'm a big fan of sci-fi and horror so I forgive a lot but this was unforgivable. From early on you can guess the ending (though you don't know how they're going to get there). Many elements of the movie seem to be taken almost directly from "The Fly" movies.

The movie tried for deep in various ways and did touch on some very powerful issues but their treatment of them was so poorly done that it just felt like some hodgepodge of a million things in some hope that if they threw enough crap at the wall some would stick and this film would become the next celebrated zeitgeist movie.

No dice.

It fell flat. It wasn't deep, it wasn't thoughtful and it wasn't even a wild ride. It was just silly.

Orphan (2009)

Something's wrong with ... This movie!

[2/10 · 28 July 2009]

Okay, for a little background. I love horror movies, even really bad ones. In fact, I love most movies no matter how bad. My wife gets scared by anything and I just like cheesy spooks and am happy to suspend disbelief.

Orphan tested all my limits, I just couldn't get into this movie. I felt bad because other people in the movie (there were only about three other couples) didn't laugh once but my wife and I couldn't stop.

The movie was predictable but then again, aren't all horror movies? I didn't figure out the twist ending but I wasn't trying to but I wasn't surprised either. But this movie was just silly. The adoptive parents were just so foolish even after they began to suspect that there was something wrong with Esther.

No granted, maybe this seems silly to me because I was a foster parent and am looking to adopt a child. I also know people who have adopted several kids who have come at their foster parents with knives etc. - kids who were horribly abused yet their adoptive parents helped them become healthy and happy (my wife and I have overnight babysat these boys countless times) - also, we have known one family where the adoptive child had severe Reactive Attachment Disorder etc. and just could never be reached - this child never physically hurt the family but terrorized their biological children for years causing a lot of psychological damage.

The only part of the movie that was scary was the first scene and the one with the nun, after she drives off the road by the bridge.

This movie should have been scary to me but it just wasn't - it was just too absurd! Save your money watch it from one of those DVD vending machines for a buck instead.

Raising Jeffrey Dahmer (2006)

Horrendous!

[1/10 · 17 July 2008]

This movie was horrible. Not in a good way. It was like some bad home video. The was very slow going, the acting was horrible, I can't believe they could take such an interesting topic and make it so dull.

You really need to see a good dramatization of a serial killer. See Citizen X.

If you want to watch something good about Dahmer, see the Justice Files or FBI files - I can't remember which show but several of the true crime shows did great documentaries on him. This movie sucks! I hate to be so down on it but don't bother seeing this. I usually love any movie - I find something good but this really stunk. I paid $1 for it and that was too much.

The Strangers (2008)

Excellent Subtle Horror

[8/10 · 13 June 2008]

In some ways this movie was predictable and boring. In other ways it was truly just subtle but well done. Yeah, scenes like a guy smashing through a door aren't subtle but the movie used a lot of simple yet very effective tricks to keep the audience on their toes for the entire movie. I'm a horror veteran but me and everyone else in the theater jumped and laughed nervously throughout the whole film and virtually all the women screamed loudly and often. I don't think this movie is destined to be a horror classic but it might be. it was fun - just the same way a roller coaster is - quick fun then it's over. However, my wife disagreed - she said she wasn't gonna sleep a wink tonight!

Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)

Dawn of the Dead meet Escape from New York!

[8/10 · 16 November 2006]

I'm a huge fan of horror movies, sci-fi and Zombie flicks. I'm not a huge fan of action or gun movies and I hate movies based on games - but you know what - I LOVED THIS MOVIE!! This movie starts where the previous one left off, a plague has infected a city causing the dead to rise and seek to devour the living. Along with that is the understory is the "end of the world" aspect of how one could contain an outbreak like this how society would break down and it would seem that the end of the world is imminent. We have also the intrigue of a powerful company conducting dangerous experiments with almost complete impunity and dangering the rest of us. The viewer is left asking the question, could something almost this bad really happen, perpetrated by our government, a large corporation, a foreign power, terrorists? To what lengths will powerful people go in the quest for power or money? The movie is a great roller coaster ride of trills but also action characters that you care about, who are not just zombie fodder. The movie has some great action/fight sequences without being tedious like many of the karate or Tarrantino movies are these days. Well worth your time if you enjoy any of the types of movies I've described. A must see for zombie or apocalypse movie fans.

Matilda (1996)

If you liked Willy Wonka you should love this!

[9/10 · 15 November 2004]

If you liked Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory then you should love this movie which is also based on a book by Rold Dahl.

The movie is filled with little cynical jokes and moral lessons for children and adults (just like Willy Wonka) with you wanting to see everyone get what they deserve and of course you are not let down.

Matilda is a young girl who is extremely intelligent despite her foolish parents and brother. She desperately wants to go to school but her father who is involved with buying stolen car parts won't let her because she must, "Sign for the packages." Eventually he gives in sending her to the school where he has schwindled the Principal who is a terror to all children but then reserves a special wrath for the sweet Matilda. However, Matilda quickly develops a great friendship with her teacher that makes up for everything else and in the end they see that everything is put to rights.

Millennium (1989)

An underrated movie.

[7/10 · 11 November 2004]

This movie is about an FAA plane crash investigator who finds discrepancies in a plane crash leading him a mysterious woman from the future who is rescuing people from airplanes that are about to crash. I hope I haven't given away too much but since so few people have seen this movie - maybe this will help. The interesting aspect of time travel paradoxes and an apocalyptic future in the movie is worth wading through the boring love scenes between the main characters.

If you're a die-hard sci-fi fan then you'll enjoy this movie. Otherwise, don't bother. I personally enjoyed the movie quite a bit and it's at least as good as many movies that are much more widely accepted.

The Village (2004)

A movie people love to hate!?

[8/10 · 2 August 2004]

People complain about bad acting unrealistic plot and predictable ending. If you are one of those people who are driven crazy about these things do not watch this movie.

If however, you can overlook these things in a movie (and I think the actings was fine considering the movie's ending) then you may enjoy what the movie was attempting to do and I believe does just fine if you have any imagination.

In short, if you have no imagination don't watch this film. If you do have imagination and a desire to flee from some of the garbage of our modern society, see it, you will love it!

The Secret Garden (1993)

A Classic Novel And A Classic Movie!

[9/10 · 7 May 2004]

Of all the version of this classic novel adapted to cinema. This is my favorite. My mother grew up with the 1952 version of the movie (I believe) which I saw as a child. I later saw the 1987 TV version which I really enjoyed also but when the 1993 version came out with a Mary that played a believable spoiled rich British girl I came to love that version best.

This is the story of an orphaned girl who has never known much love from her selfish parents. When they die, she is moved from India to live with her rich uncle in a great and mysterious great house in Yorkshire. There she learns of a great mystery surrounding the death of her mother's twin sister and the grief of her uncle that seems to have some connection to an abandoned and shut-up garden and her all but ignored cousin. As the mystery is revealed the cousins stand to have their deepest wishes answered.

The story is a bit Pollyanna-ish but still a true classic for children and adults - even if you loved the classic novel.

Mystery Men (1999)

A Great Movie (if you've got goofy humor)

[9/10 · 27 April 2004]

This movie is silly and childish, but if that's one of the things you like about yourself and your friends, watch this with them. You'll have a grand time! The movie is about wanna-be comic book superheroes and this groups pathetic exploits and discovery of their true heroism is the making of the most absurd humor. The movie is a commentary about what real-life would be like for a superhero, he'd have to get corporate sponsors and keep business going if he was to continue to be famous. The problem for Captain Amazing is that he's "too good" at his job and his agent tells him that he's got to drum up business to keep his sponsors - that's where the fun begins.

My favorite lines, when auditioning "superheroes" to join their group "I'm the PMS Avenger. I only work three days a month - YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT!?" and "I'm waffle man - the waffler, I use my grittle of justice to stop crime - and my truth syrup" and "Blowing up the asylum, I knew you could never change - I knew you'd know that - oh, I knew that, and I also knew you'd know I knew - but I didn't know, I only knew that you'd know that I knew, did you know that? Uh, YEAH!"

Day of the Dead (1985)

Slow going but great for fans of the genre.

[7/10 · 14 April 2004]

George Romero calls this his favorite of his trillogy. I can see why since it attempts to comment on society and human nature and not just to scare as the new Dawn of the Dead (2004) does. However, most people will say that this was too slow paced and even the gore which was it's cornerstone back in 1985 is not really a great selling point anymore. The character development and the Zombie named Bub are really the strong points and if you loved the Zombie movies for more than just violence and gore you'll enjoy this one as I did. To me about the only drawback were the soldiers who, other than the CO, were so stupid that they seemed unbelievalbe - akin to the mall security guards at the beginning of Dawn of the Dead (2004). Romero has talked about doing a 4th movie which he joked would be called Twilight of the Dead. I'd love to see that - in case you're reading Mr. Romero ;-)

The Murder of Mary Phagan (1988)

A hidden treasure of non-fiction historial drama!

[10/10 · 7 April 2004]

This was a spectacular movie. I don't know where to start. I saw this on TV back in 1988 and taped it and watched it over and over. It is a facinating true story about a Brooklyn born jewish man Leo Frank, who is accused of raping and murdering a young southern girl working in the pencil factory he manages in Atlanta.

The true case takes on epic proportions as a firery battle ensuses as political power, prejudice and fallout from the civil war, seek to destroy a man who is almost certainly innocent - and destroy anyone who tries to help him.

Even more intersting than the trial is the second half of the story. The Governor (Jack Lemon) tries to give Leo Frank a fair chance at justice and is forced to fight his lifelong friends who have political ambitions of their own - and may destroy his entire life in the attempt.

It's an excellent movie to show to children to teach them about character and doing what is right in the face of impossible odds - to show to history class and just for anyone who has any interst in history or drama!