Touching The Void

Here's an incredible story of survival!

Touching the Void is a 2003 docudrama that will make you go "WOW!" out loud at least a few times while watching.

This is the amazing true story of Joe Simpson and Simon Yates trying to summit a very remote, very tall peak in the Andes by themselves. Oh yeah, and they're attempting this by a route that had never previously been successful.

On their descent (where most climbing incidents occur) is where they run into trouble. Joe falls and breaks his leg badly. Without the personnel of a large expedition, this is a death sentence. But Simon, risks his own life and tries to lower Joe off of the mountain. More complications ensue!

You don't need to be a climber, a survivalist, or a voyeur of viciousness to appreciate (or love, I dare say) this movie. This is captivating to anyone who's still breathing.

This movie's best feature is that it keeps the suspense. You know both climbers live - they narrated the movie. You know it's an incredible feat of survival. You just don't know how damaged the climbers become. To pull this off they use a simple and effective technique: every shot of the narrators is a head shot.

This is one of the most captivating movies, let alone docudramas, I've seen!

Chocolate

If you enjoy a good, stupid Kung Fu movie from time to time as much as I do you need to see Chocolate!

This movie defines the term "obscure". Released in Thailand (where it's from) in 2008, it only opened on SEVEN screens in the USA a year later, obviously to no advertising or fanfare.

Chocolate was directed by Prachya Pinkaew, who also did The Protector (which has, I think, the best long, uncut martial arts scene ever!) It introduces and stars, and I do mean STARS, JeeJa Yanin as Zen, an autistic young lady who can copy complicated martial arts moves just by seeing them. She uses her remarkable skill to collect money to help her sick mother - money owed to the mother from her shady past.

Yes. The plot is silly and unrealistic. But in this case, I say who cares! This is a great, stoopid martial arts film! There are plenty of other problems and plot holes, all equally overlookable.

I'm no expert, but I don't think autistics have the physical dexterity to have this skill. But, as stated at the beginning, the film was made to celebrate people with special needs. The film, indeed, does very well not to treat Zen as a freak but as an actual person. This movie is actually touching at times too!

The biggest problem with this is getting through the first 20 minutes. Slow, boring, not well written, if you can get through the back story, a real treat awaits. Stick it out!

Chocolate has some of the best, most intense martial arts scenes. Quite brutal at times (a sure sign of a good Kung Fu movie) they are amazingly choreographed. The filming of the fight scenes is great - no jump cuts, so you can see exactly what happens and how hard the blows land. They also mix up the martial arts styles nicely- Muay Tai and Kung Fu are the most used there are others too.

I'm adding this to my soon-to-come list of Best Martial Arts Flicks!

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

Time to change things up again! I'm actually blogging about a TV mini-series. A very clever, delightful comedy/musical: 2008's Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.

No one knows this. But, yes, it was on TV. It even won a prime time Emmy (Outstanding Special Class - Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Programs).

Everyone who's already seen this thinks it went straight to the Internet. Where it gained so much fame (Joss Whedon fans are devoted!) that you can no longer view it at its website. It is, however, available on Netflix (streaming!) or to buy via Amazon.com and other places, I'm sure.

As eluded to, Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy, Angel, Firefly) and his brothers Jeb and Zack wrote this... I'll just call it a Short (42 min total). It stars Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser, MD.) as Billy who is trying to cement his role as Dr. Horrible, evil genius/super villain, and impress his wanna-be girlfriend, Penny. Standing in his way is Captain Hammer, played by Nathan Fillian (Firefly, Castle).

The Whedon brothers are very crafty mixing live action with Dr. Horrible's blog (actually a podcast), and the musical numbers fit in perfectly. Most of the songs are really good, too. Maybe not Roger's & Hammerstein, but they are surprisingly complex (in places), catchy, witty, drive the story...you know, good. But the biggest surprise: Doogie Howser can sing!!

The writing is spectacular. Very few could execute so well the idea of someone trying to become a member of the "Evil League of Evil", and still make the character sympathetic and real.

I found this an absolute joy to watch. But I should point out that this is not all flowers and wine - after all the main character is an anti-hero.

Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight

This review falls under the category of "I can't believe some of my friends have never seen this movie".

In 1995 HBO brought their award-winning series to the big screen with Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight. A Classic was born.

Like the TV series, it's an homage to B movies: kinda campy, and a bit adult (gore, nudity & language). But, also like the series, it's totally engrosing, not too scary or long (92 min), funny, well written and acted.

I'm not going to tell you the plot. Don't look it up. It's not very complicated. Just watch it!

I'll just say I love this movie for what it is: a perfect distraction. Not Academy Award material but just plain fun. Its witty writing, decent story and awesome acting (esp. Billy Zane!) keep me watching it to this day.

GasLand

Here's a MUST-SEE: 2010's GasLand!

Josh Fox kinda does a Michael Moore - rising from obscurity by finding a huge problem close to home and he makes a really good documentary about it.

Josh takes on the unregulated, insidious practice of "fracking" - natural gas mining by Big-Oil in rural America. Unfortunately, fracking is so demonstrative I'm not even going to attempt a description of the method or to spell out the many, many serious effects. See the movie!

Big-Oil gets away with this because in 2005 the George W. Bush's administration (and more specifically their "Environmental Board" which contained all Big-Oil reps and zero actual environmentalists) passed a law stating Big-Oil is no longer subject to the clean water and clean air acts enabled in the 1970s. The EPA no longer regulates drilling inside the USA.

Josh Fox doesn't include the humor of a Michael Moore, nor does he really "take on" Big-Oil. But there are a few humorous bits and a few attempts at getting interviews with the companies. And it does start a bit slow, but that ends abruptly. I was engaged and outraged soon enough.

This is as upsetting and thought-provoking documentary as I've ever seen!

House on Telegraph Hill

Here's an old movie (1951) but definitely worth your time.

House on Telegraph Hill is billed as a Film-Noir. But I think that's a misnomer - it is much more of a Hitchcockian thriller.

The story is about a WWII concentration camp survivor who, after the war, assumes the identity of her dear friend so she may come to San Fransisco to look after her friend's son. Things soon unravel when she gets to the states and odd "accidents" consume her imagination, paranoia, and/or guilt.

I really liked this movie because it's an edge-of-your-seat thriller...FOR THE TIME. Aside from the first 20 minutes or so, this is paced like a good Hitchcock mystery - slow, deliberate, and very suspenseful!

Some (not most!) of the acting, dialogue and direction/editing you could easily point fingers at - criticizing for not being up to today's standards.

This is missing the point. This is a 1951 movie. Take this for what it's worth: a great story, told well!

...and those of you who "cannot watch black & white films"... Grow up.