Film Reviews and Cult Cinema Art-House European World DVD

SDCC 2015 Top 5 Cosplay Day 3

2015-11-23T19:51:00.001+00:00

Interesting view on the SDCC 2015 event from a dedicated fan!

Have you seen my Photo Image Portfolio?

2015-07-02T07:13:00.002+01:00

Well time for a new direction - and that is art photography.

Please feel free to visit my new website Image Library here at ZenFolio:

Photograph Art Gallery and Prints for Sale

Thanks once again and I hope you find something you would want to buy amongst the any hundreds of striking unique prints

If you prefer I also have another site that offers all types of prints, from sheet metal, acrylic, canvas as well as iPhone and Samsung phone cases...

Fine Art America - Johnnie D Williams Unique Prints for Sale

Always feel free to contact me either through this blog or through my Image Library websites. If you're looking for a particular image or style then let me know.

Thanks

Top 5 Foreign Films you Must See on Blu Ray including Monseuir Hulot!

2014-12-21T03:01:00.001+00:00

Below you'll find my 5 recommended Foreign Films that you must simply watch. All of these are currently on Blu-Ray. You'll definitely want these in your Film collection!

Summer Wars

From the visionary directory of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2007 Japanese Academy Award winner, Best Animated Feature) comes the story of an ordinary family going to extraordinary lengths to avert the impending cyber apocalypse!

Kenji is your typical teenage misfit. He's good at math, bad with girls, and spends most of his time hanging out in the all-powerful, online community known as OZ. His second life is the only life he has until the girl of his dreams, Natsuki, hijacks him for a starring role as a fake fiancé at her family reunion. Things only get stranger from there. A late-night email containing a cryptic mathematic riddle leads to the unleashing of a rogue AI intent on using the virtual word of OZ to destroy the real world, literally.

Buy Summer Wars (Blu-ray + DVD) NOW

As Armageddon looms on the horizon, Kenji and his new family set aside their differences and band together to save the worlds they inhabit in this near-perfect blend of social satire and science fiction. (AnimeNewsNetwork.com) First Press includes collectible art cards.

The Raid 2

Following immediately after the events of THE RAID, Rama (Iko Uwais) is forced to reinvent himself as an undercover cop in order to provide protection for his wife and child. Working for the anti-corruption taskforce led by the one person he can trust, Bunawar, he is given a mission to engage himself as an enforcer for a local mob boss, Bangun.

Finding a way in through Bangun's son Uco, Rama must hunt for information linking Bangun with police force corruption. All the while, he harbors a dangerous and personal vendetta for revenge and justice that threatens to consume him - and bring both this mission and the organized crime syndicates crashing down.

Buy The Raid 2 [Blu-ray] Now

The Complete Jacques Tati

BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION COLLECTOR’S SET FEATURES

The Complete Jacques Tati [Blu-ray]

New digital restorations of all six feature films, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks on Jour de fête, Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday, Mon oncle, Trafic, and Parade and uncompressed stereo soundtrack on PlayTime

New digital restorations of all seven short films

Two alternate versions of Jour de fête, a partly colorized 1964 version and the full-color 1994 rerelease version

Original 1953 theatrical release version of Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday

My Uncle, the version of Mon oncle that director Jacques Tati created for English-language audiences

Introductions by actor and comedian Terry Jones to Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday, Mon oncle, and PlayTime

Archival interviews with Tati

In the Footsteps of Monsieur Hulot, a 1989 documentary about Tati’s beloved alter ego

Five visual essays by Tati expert Stéphane Goudet

New interview with film scholar Michel Chion on the sound design of Tati’s films

“Jour de fête”: In Search of the Lost Color, a 1988 documentary on the process of realizing Tati’s original color vision for that film

Once Upon a Time . . . “Mon oncle,” a 2008 documentary about the making of that film

Everything Is Beautiful, a 2005 piece on the fashion, furniture, and architecture of Mon oncle

Selected-scene commentaries on PlayTime by Goudet, theater director Jérôme Deschamps, and critic Philip Kemp

Tativille, a documentary shot on the set of PlayTime

Beyond “PlayTime,” a short 2002 documentary featuring on-set footage

An Homage to Jacques Tati, a 1982 French TV program featuring Tati friend and set designer Jacques Lagrange

Audio interview with Tati from the U.S. premiere of PlayTime at the 1972 San Francisco International Film Festival

Interview with PlayTime script supervisor Sylvette Baudrot from 2006

Tati Story, a short biographical film from 2002

Professor Goudet’s Lessons, a 2013 classroom lecture by Goudet on Tati’s films

Alternate English-language soundtracks for Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday and PlayTime

New English subtitle translations

PLUS: A booklet featuring essays by critics David Cairns, James Quandt, Jonathan Rosenbaum, and Kristin Ross.

Buy The Complete Jacques Tati [Blu-ray] Now

The Raid Redemption

Deep in the heart of Jakarta's worst to survive their mission.

Buy The Raid: Redemption [Blu-ray] Now

The Grave of the Fireflies

As the Empire of the Sun crumbles upon itself and a rain of firebombs falls upon Japan, the final death march of a nation is echoed in millions of smaller tragedies.

This is the story of Seita and his younger sister Setsuko, two children born at the wrong time, in the wrong place, and now cast adrift in a world that lacks not the care to shelter them, but simply the resources.

Forced to fend for themselves in the aftermath of fires that swept entire cities from the face of the earth, their doomed struggle is both a tribute to the human spirit and the stuff of nightmares.

Beautiful, yet at times brutal and horrifying.

Buy Grave of the Fireflies [Blu-ray] Now

Summer Wars - Japanese Anime Mike McFarland Director

2014-12-21T02:33:00.000+00:00

Summer Wars (Blu-ray + DVD)

You'll love this fantastic Japanese Anime style movie!

From the visionary directory of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2007 Japanese Academy Award winner, Best Animated Feature) comes the story of an ordinary family going to extraordinary lengths to avert the impending cyber apocalypse!

Kenji is your typical teenage misfit. He's good at math, bad with girls, and spends most of his time hanging out in the all-powerful, online community known as OZ. His second life is the only life he has until the girl of his dreams, Natsuki, hijacks him for a starring role as a fake fiance at her family reunion.

Things only get stranger from there. A late-night email containing a cryptic mathematic riddle leads to the unleashing of a rogue AI intent on using the virtual word of OZ to destroy the real world, literarily. As Armageddon looms on the horizon, Kenji and his new family set aside their differences and band together to save the worlds they inhabit in this near-perfect blend of social satire and science fiction . (AnimeNewsNetwork.com) First Press includes collectible art cards.

BUY Summer Wars (Blu-ray + DVD) NOW

Seven Samurai Blu-ray Director Akira Kurosawa

2014-12-21T02:14:00.000+00:00

Incorrectly referred to as 7 Samurai (Seven Samurai (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]) this legendary piece of Japanese cinema remains a firm favorite for any true film fan. Wonderfully shot with both humor and absolute seriousness, the images of samurais are striking. Humbleness as well as pride shines in this illustrious Japanese film. Legendary director Akira Kurosawa adds so much flair to the editing on shot composition.

The final battle scenes, shot in pouring rain are pure film genius. Each samurai has his own character that grows as the film develops. Wonderful music and comedy also make this a Blu-ray to own and treasure the seven samurai for all it’s worth.

Buy Seven Samurai (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] NOW

Gone Girl Pre-Order is Open 13/01/2015 Director David Fincher

2014-12-15T06:15:00.001+00:00

Looking forward to this great David Fincher movie - Gone Girl

The reviews have been extremely positive, and whilst I'm not a big fan of Affleck, I'm sure Fincher would mould him. An interesting thought though that as we're watching a supposedly normal guy change or at least keep us guessing Affleck would be a perfect actor for this type of role.

I'm also looking forward to the Rosmund Pike performance, as she has qualities and charms that liken her to a Hitchcock starlet.

Release Date 13th of January 2015.

Buy the Pre-Order for Gone Girl on DVD or Gone Girl on Blu-ray Now!

Game of Thrones: Season 4 is up for Pre-Order!

2014-12-15T05:30:00.001+00:00

Game of Thrones: Season 4 is now up for pre-order!

This incredible popular TV show now has a new treat for fans – Season 5 on Blu-ray!

I’ve jumped into television, purely as a way of tapping into trends amongst the audiences as it will undoubtedly lead to film ideas and concepts.

We can expect to relive the bloody scenes and glorious betrayal in full detail with the Blu-ray version of perhaps what is considered the greatest TV show on Earth. I kid you not!

Title release 17^th of February 2015

Buy the pre-order Today

Why some People Hate Horror Films

2014-12-06T10:26:00.000+00:00

Horror by its very nature is designed to shock and illicit a response from the audience. Session 9 is a perfect example of an intense Psychological Horror film. Chemical changes in the body as a person adapts to fear are part of the attraction for many horror fans. For those uncomfortable with these feelings, horror comes to symbolise an unattractive experience and something to avoid.

Most people have inbuilt fears, whether it is through conditioning as children or the fact that within the unconsciousness the fear exists. However this fear is often silent and undisturbed. Darkness, certain creatures like spiders, and loneliness figure strongly in the genetic make-up of every individual. Horror works by tapping into this fear.

When watching horror films the ideas of pure terror is explored. Film works by creating identification between the audience and the characters on the screen. This main protagonist is then subject to the actions of the violent or fearful antagonist within the narrative. It is the protagonist the audience is led to identify with. They are a filmic representation of the audience. In horror the antagonist is the monster that the main character must survive an encounter with. The idea that this horror is being carried out on the audience through the protagonist is the main attraction of horror.

The horror experience heightens emotional intensity. Many people experience fear and then project this onto other individuals. Every individual is unique, but the emotions are often inter-linked within a group experience and psychology. The effect this has is that a horror audience often acts as an amplifier for these emotions. Many people are in an anticipated state when watching horror and this feeling projects onto other members of the audience.

Buy Session 9 Today!

Feelings associated with the horror genre are fear, anxiety, revulsion, and repulsion. These are strong emotions to feel and may not be comforting or enjoyable to all viewers. People may not enjoy being put into this emotional rollercoaster in the name of entertainment.

Many people fear operations and the sight of blood. With fantastic gore on display in many films the imagery evokes this fear. Advances in technology and special-effects have allowed a full creative flow to emerge into contemporary horror films.

Cinematic convention in the horror film creates suspense to promote emotional impact. It is how horror works. Suspense, attack, and death remain as solid generic conventions of the horror genre. However some people may find the formulaic convention uninspiring and not at all suspenseful. It is with this understanding that a greater reliance pushes many viewers towards Psychological Horror as this genre explores in greater detail the “feeling” of horror rather than focusing on visceral scenes.

It is understandable that some people may hate horror films. Personal preference has always been applicable in how individuals seek pleasure and entertainment. There are many elements of horror that people may find unsettling such as blood or fear and the connected emotional responses. This is not to say horror is a poor genre. It is often very dynamic and original. Horror simply may not suit everybody at the same time.

Check out the reviews and Buy Session 9 - it's just as interesting as Jacob's Ladder!

Do Todays Films go too far with their Content

2014-12-06T10:21:00.002+00:00

Today’s film and cinema are highly restricted medium (think of A Serbian Film and you may disagree!) Cinema itself falls into its own unique regulatory body (MPAA or the BBFC being classic examples) that ensure every film released for consumption for the general public has a viewing rating according to its content. This rating system or classification revolves around the age of the viewer and if they are accompanied by an adult, or if they are a teenager, or an adult in their own right. Without the granting of a classification a film can’t be released.

It is important to remember this fact.

Film today, in technological terms, has not really evolved any further in content than from its original conception as was thought. However the meaning and narrative of film can be argued reflects the views of its contemporary society, the place that spawns its creation.

When considering the statement of “too far” it is essential to understand what the definition is. It is automatic to think in terms of visual horror, but what about content other than the visual image, be it either suggested or implied. It is not possible to say what the definition of “too far” is, remembering that censors and film regulatory bodies control the film that is being presented to the film viewer.

As the Hollywood studio system is designed to compete within an economical framework it is understandable why each competing studio would try and better its opponent. However this can only be done through appeasement of the censoring body.

Society as it functions today faces so much information, a colossal overload of facts, figures, images, sounds, social networks, relevant content, and irrelevant content too. Films merely express the view of the world as it fits into the social norms of contemporary society.

Buy A Serbian FilmToday!

Visceral terror has always been an issue in cinema, but to move beyond the purely visual it is necessary to explore further the deeper narrative and structure of cinema.

Perhaps the experience is a free-for-all in terms of cinema representing themes that were impossible 10 years ago. Throughout cinemas history conflicting problems with censorship and controversial themes have always been present and today’s filmic representation is the same as it always has been, facing a continual struggle with the regulatory body.

Anti-heroes have always been and will always be just that, heroes beyond the norms of society. Film works from this point of view in that it has to evoke an emotional response from its audience, without emotional connection, film and more importantly cinema, fails to entertain.

It is questionable whether society looks at cinema and indeed Photography too deeply and considers it to be a reflection of humanity, failing to recognise it as pure entertainment, escapism at its most sincere. Often people in everyday life will try to draw comparisons between real-life catastrophic events and relate the action to movies. This is impossible as one is true the other fiction.

Films visual and narrative content is an objective viewpoint undertaken by the participant, and this is why reactions to films vary from person to person, and culture to culture. The regulators are in place to protect the viewer.

Fury Film Review with Brad Pitt - an Epic War Film that is very dirty and gritty!

2014-12-06T09:37:00.002+00:00

The Film Fury is an impressive WW2 romp through the heartland of Germany!

"As far as World War 2 Films go Fury holds onto many filmic legacies as the film narrative thunders along. Perhaps there has been a demise of the genre as a whole as more conventional Hollywood film styles move into the Mainstream. This is not to say though that Fury is unrewarding."

Read more of Fury the 2014 Film Review here....

Buy the Blu-ray version here Fury

Hurt Locker Film Review

2014-12-04T19:21:00.001+00:00

The Tagline - “War is a drug.”

Moving away from the controversy surrounding the film The Hurt Locker and whether it is considered propaganda or pro-US, I would like to focus on the film as an individual entity and not draw or shift attention to the debate surrounding US involvement in Iraq. The focus of this review is to uncover the film within its own narrative and film representation. It is important to remember that Hollywood cinema projects a view of the world that is both ideological and confined by the restrictions of the Hollywood production system.

Perhaps the only indicator of the controversy surrounding a film is its box office success and Hurt Locker certainly did not break any box-office records in consideration of its estimated budget versus the box-office. This is a key indicator that the film is an artistic, although perhaps misguided, vision of the director rather than a formulaic film with a conventional narrative and character development.

Drawing attention to the tag line “war is a drug,” it is worth noting that the realisation of the driving forces, the essence behind why the soldiers do what they do, is that are looking for their next fix. They are addicted to combat and the adrenaline rush of action. There is no need to become frustrated at the lack of in-depth Iraqi characters, or how scenes do not reflect actual battle reality. All film is pure creation, even the Neo-realist cinema from Italian during the 1930s-1940s ceased to become reality once the image passed through the lens of the camera.

BUY the Hurt Locker from Amazon.com here

Hurt Locker [Blu-ray]

A relationship within the film that needs attention drawn to it is that between Sergeant First Class William James and the small Iraqi child called Beckham. The relationship is interesting because at first the interaction is both light-hearted and then turns darker, with overtones of violence – even if only spoken through words.

In essence the job of the IED bomb disposal team is to be surrounded by potential hazards from mysterious bombers, every friendly face could be the culprit, they are strangers in a strange land – and yet here a bomb disposal wild-card jokes with a young child about adult DVDs. The issue is not the conflict between the people of Iraq or Americans, but rather about the fact that the IED experts need the next fix. The relationship merges between joking and searching for the missing boy and the discovery of a bomb-laden child. The effects of this addiction impacts William James inability to stay on a constant emotional level with his newfound friend, moving between withdrawal symptoms and real human concern and anxiety as noted by his search for the missing Beckham.

A war film directed by a woman?

Briefly mentioning the director Kathryn Bigelow, it is worthy to note that as a director her previous notable films Blue Steel (1989) Near Dark (1987) Point Break (1991) and Strange Days (1995) – all deal with characters who live beyond the normalities of society, on the fringe of conventional acceptance by their peers.

The film has to remain isolated from the people of Iraq, because this is the condition in which the soldiers are placed. The alienation of the Iraqi people present in the film is a statement about the real alienation faced by the soldiers. This is not a propagandist view by any means but an observation.

“The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug.” As American War Correspondent and Journalist Chris Hedges quoted and we see this during the final moments of the film. William James is back in action and the days left until his rotation finishes is 365 days, 365 days to revel in his addiction.

BUY and Watch the Hurt Locker from Amazon.com here

Hurt Locker [Blu-ray]

Tom Cruise Edge of Tomorrow - New Poster Announced

2013-07-16T22:12:00.004+01:00

The Edge of Tomorrow looks like a kickass film (in a Groundhog Day sort of way) with Tom Cruise once again exploring the Sci-Fi potential of 21st Century Cinema. Think Oblivion and you'll see his strength as a 50 year old actor is to promote a Universal view of space and time.

Buy Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow (Blu-ray + DVD)

Science Fiction Movies

2012-03-12T18:54:00.001+00:00

Discovering the best Science Ficiton Moveies offers the viewer a unique world or indeed Universe where almost everything is possible. As we get used to technological advances the Sicence Fiction world offers something both new and familiar, we can associate through Science Fiction movies and films as well as being amazed at how far things have developed.

Common in mainstream film at present is the idea of cloning through the exploration of the human genome and DNA.

So mush more remians of how far Science Fiction can encompass the differing aspects of humanity as we creep towards the 22nd Century.

The Hurt Locker Film Review Kathryn Bigelow 2008

2011-03-02T10:10:00.004+00:00

The Hurt Locker

Moving away from the distracting controversy surrounding this film and whether it is considered to be propagandist or pro-US, the essence of this review will focus on the addiction to war as a drug...

Buy the Hurt Locker here from Amazon.com

Hurt Locker [Blu-ray]

Read the full review of the Hurt Locker on my Blog

Baraka Movie

2011-02-28T15:50:00.001+00:00

Baraka knows this. This movie for me was a real visual discovery and a pleasure to watch, of course these kinds of films usually are. They sit and wait to be discovered like a long lost forgotten Aladdin's lamp, collecting dust and forgotten for all time.

Watch this breathtaking movie today! Baraka [Blu-ray]

What makes Baraka so poignant is its visual power, no words no script no plot - this is a film that works on a minimal documentary structure, or more accurately a collective view of the world within a montage framework. The cinematography is pure magic, and the idea that this film breaks the 4th Dimension between Audience and Film is truly mesmerising. When we see people stare at us from the other side of the screen/world how do we feel? What do we look at within ourselves?

Do you feel uncomfortable when a lonely girl from the slums of India surrounded by the detritus of consumerism, a living land-fill site, looks into our eyes with childlike curiosity and beauty, combine this with the whirling dervishes of Turkey, or the Nepalese monks it is truly breathtaking imagery. And the soundtrack enhances the visual element superbly.

Of course this film has been likened to Koyaanisqatsi - and indeed the similarities are very acute, however for me Baraka still remained slightly more positive then the negative sliding of Koyaanisqatsi, especially towards the end.

There is not often that a film breaks traditional filmic values, yet Baraka is relentless to do so. It reminded me in a way of Restrepo a National Geographic film about Afghanistan - yet whilst Restrepo's focus was war inevitably, Baraka offers us a montage of purity for things which should make us go wow!

The use of time-lapse and slow-motion within Baraka is an interesting concept as it offers both to speed up and slow down time, therefore representing the idea that all of our lives and time are subject to periods of inactivity and extreme acceleration.

My review for this marvellous film is 9/10

Buy this amazing movie Baraka [Blu-ray]

Tron Legacy - the lacking sequel DVD

2011-02-25T19:19:00.001+00:00

Tron Legacy - why?

I am becoming concerned with Hollywood remakes - the use of CGI and an attraction back to the legends of the past make me wonder if Hollywood is purely re-raking the past for profit or if this style of film-making serves an insipid vision of new ideas.

Now the original Tron arrived at a time when it was necessary to examine the relationship between new game media, in the format of games, and the players. This was not World-of-Warcraft time of course but it was based on the old legacy of Pin-Ball!

The latest film Tron Legacy to me was very dull, a rehash of the Tron from 1982, just of course spiced up for the 2011 audience.

YES it has CGI

YES a love interest

YES usual antogonists

YES usual ending - the good guys win

YES it has 3D releases

What it is missing of course is newness, a fresh horizon to understand the positon gamers take within their own media. This is why The Last Starfighter (1984) is a stronger film than Tron Legacy - because it explores the same themes as Tron the orignal and confirmed the new-media wave of payers that existed at that time. Tron Legacy does not in anyway address the new clan/MMORPG generation of 2011.

Dark Tower and the rumours continue.... who has news?

2011-02-20T20:21:00.001+00:00

Been reading about this.... could be amazing this awesome 7 book series will be a film?

I have always been a fan of Stephen King - his work is mainstream. His work always strikes a chord into the subconcious, I remember reading Cujo all the way through in one sitting, it was Impossible to put down. Moving on though, his work never really adapts so well to TV or Cinema - save The Shining (Jack Nicholson, Shelly Duvall with Stanley Kubrick directing)

IMDB The Shining

Normally King's work never reall seems to cross into Television or cinema well - an examplebeing the The Stand, a totally engrossing 1100 page book but the TV series with Rob Lowe seemed weak and never really worked well

Now I hear of 2 rumours

1) The Cell becomes a movie

2) The Dark Tower becomes a movie

Blade Runner

2011-02-19T23:55:00.001+00:00

Well to look deeper at better films may well be an option Blade Runner It's a very deep film with stunning cinematography and a film-noir feel, one of the best Sci-Fi investigation films
around..

With the release of the 30th Anniversary edition the real fan base has something to celebrate!

Buy it Now - Blade Runner 30th Anniversary Edition

Salo or 120 Days of Sodom

2011-02-19T16:57:00.001+00:00

Well after hearing about the Salò film for several years I finally got a chance to watch it and was surprised not only by the content but the underlying themse about the Director's stance against facism.

Of course the film does strike a morally disturbing balance between scenes that are physicall and emotionally shocking, and why we as viewers must take as tance against this barbarism.

The film has often been cited as by the BFi as a key film, and I would say that I agree - of course for most people it will appear very slow. The cinematography is nothing special to be honest, rather flat in comparison to some of the wonders of the Italian Neo-Realism masters...

Acting is superb... and the script works wihin the confines of Film.

Music is also effective but nothing to really amaze.

Overall a dark film but worthy to watch if you want to really scare people who talk about crass movies.

Buy Today!