Lifer Movies

Title: Plan 9 From Outer Space Rating: 4/5 Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, (Comedy) Starring: Gregory Walcott, Tom Keene, Mona McKinnon Director: Ed Wood “There's no doubt about it, he's been murdered. And SOMEBODY is responsible for it” [dun-dun-duuuun] For those that are unfamiliar with the name of Ed Wood, it is a name that was re-discovered in the 80s for being quite possibly the worst director to have ever lived. His name often gets compared to Uwe Boll but there are some fundamental differences between their work; whilst Boll exploits German legislation to continually fund his films, Ed Wood, well he didn't fund his films, and even Boll isn't delusional enough to think them masterpieces. They are budget enough to use hubcaps with wires attached to them as the special effects for the flying saucers in this film. The tombstones are usually cardboard someone's written on. The plots are, well perhaps I better just explain the plot here; aliens invade and initiate “...

Title: The Disappearance of Alice Creed Rating: 3/5 Genre: Crime, Thriller Starring: Gemma Arterton, Eddie Marsan, Martin Compston Director: J Blakeson When trying to compete on Hollywood's level with the budget, you need to build your film from the ground up. It's no use coming up with an elaborate script only to discover you haven't the funds to do it properly, so in these cases, less can most definitely be more. This tale is perfect for such ambitions, involving just three cast members, no extra's, no props that can't be bought from a shopping centre, and only three locations, only one of which really felt like it was used extensively. Sadly, short of telling you that this film involves one wealthy millionaires daughter, Alice Creed, being kidnapped and held for ransom by two men, Vic and Danny, who have meticulously plotted and planned this, elaborating on the plot would be giving away far too much. It constantly twists and turns and yields another point...

Title: The Seventh Seal Rating: 3.5/5 Genre: Philosophical Drama Starring: Max von Sydow, Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot Director: Ingmar Bergman Language: Swedish So you can mock me all you want, but this is my first Bergman film. I know, a self-confessed music fanatic who hasn't seen one of his works, well you can laugh it up but- wait, you haven't heard of him? That wasn't a snort of derision but at the fact he's too 'old' for you? That this '57 classic is somehow not worthy of you? Or that because he's Swedish he's somehow inferior to the Hollywood budgets of today? This is a man that didn't use tricks or effects to make his films, he used ideas, and this one in particular is one that really makes you stand up and pay attention. Hollywood bigwigs, pay attention, this one is ripe for a re-make. Actually, on second thoughts sit back down. You'd only screw it up. When a noble knight, Blok, freshly back from the holy crusades arri...

Title: Mushi-shi Rating: 4/5 Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Supernatural, Anime Starring: Kôjun Itô, Yûto Nakano, Travis Willingham Director: Hiroshi Nagahama Language: Japanese Duration: (25mins, 26 Episodes) Describing what the mushi are – the entities that our protagonist is an expert in – is fairly difficult, just because of the other things that you'll end up associating it with. I call them ghosts, you'll think of horror films. I add a 'friendly' to that, Casper. I mention spirits and you start to think of the souls of the dead, or to the sudden realisation you want another drink, but that's only for the alcoholics amongst us. Colourful creatures that exist in tandem to our world but most don't believe exist? Pandora. Even if I go on to call them the very essence of life itself, naked to the average humans eye and misunderstood almost unanimously; perhaps the most detailed and accurate description I can muster, what does that bring to mind? Scientolog...

Title: The Raid Rating: 4.5/5 Genre: Action Starring: Iko Uwais, Ananda George, Ray Sahetapy Director: Gareth Evans Language: Indonesian There seems to be a trend that is occurring in modern action films, the last decade or so seeing a steady rise in 'intelligent action' where plots have their twists, characters are portrayed as gritty and realistic with emotional problems to face and villains, too, have their own twisted desires on display, their long and elaborate speeches preparing you for what's to follow. This is not such a film, taking us back in time to the 90s where the genre didn't always make a lot of sense, where characters were ridiculous in their ability to do what no human should be capable of doing; fighting with injuries that should have long since killed them and a never ending barrage of enemies springing out at every moment. Barely a minute goes by without some sort of weapon flying, gun firing or martial arts stunt is pulled off with precisio...

Title: Himizu Rating: 4.5/5 Genre: Dark Drama Starring: Shôta Sometani, Fumi Nikaidô Director: Sion Sono Language: Japanese I've said it before but it bears repeating, I don't read what this directors films are about, I just go watch them knowing that what he emerges with will be – for better or worse – unique in his style, and once again he's proven that this faith isn't misguided. But before I go on let me just point out that this film is bleak beyond comprehension. A man who made his name lightly mocking suicide circles and showing murderers gleefully hacking victims into bite size chunks has lightened up on the bloodshed but not on the dark atmospheres he seems to relish, and despite the comparative conventionality, this must be the most despair-filled and hopeless piece he's ever emerged with. There are funerals happier than this, and it's no surprise given the material he had to work with. Set in post-tsunami Japan, the scene is set with rolling ...

Title: Coriolanus Rating: 4/5 Genre: Drama, Thriller Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Cox Director: Ralph Fiennes Renowned stage actor Fiennes making a splash with his directorial debut, a tale I regret not managing to see when it first hit the big screen earlier this year for it's limited and short-lived run. It's perhaps not all that surprising given the subject matter, even the title “Coriolanus” giving way to fears from some that some of the language might not be as simple as other contemporary films, and the second you hear it's less action and more talk; political displays of power and manipulation of the masses into doing their bidding, well I expect that's already caused most to tune out. With the current trend of instant gratification from films; of never finding yourself pondering the choice of words or their meaning, or a story where the real strength lies in the use of language and the action is merely there to give it a...