Chop cup (2010)

Excellent and imaginative work from WeAreOm creative team. A game of luck becomes a fantastic trip into another dimension. I really liked this 80s style decoration and creative environment.

CHOP CUP from WeAreOm on Vimeo.

Killing them softly (2012)

America is not a country, it's just a business. That's what Jack thinks about his country. He works as an enforcer seeking for three guys who robbed a Mob protected card game. Johnny Amato was the brain behind all this and he convinced two young junkies, Frankie and Russell to do the job for him. The mission is completed fine but bigger problems appear when the expert killer Jack is looking for them. It's not the typical action film as well including big men conversations and a touch of drama. Brad Pitt is good playing a cold face killer avoiding the human feelings and looking forward finishing the business. Scoot McNairy also acts in a good way. Ray Liotta is just classic. The plot works, there is a little suspense and some stylized murders that complete an interesting crime movie.

Out of a forest (2010)

This is a really good production from Danish animator Tobias Gundorff Boesen. The storyline is excellent especially at the end. It's about a lovely little rabbit enjoying the company of its elders somewhere in the middle of a forest. But the bad wolf wonders around and seeks for his next victims.

Out Of A Forest from Tobias Gundorff Boesen on Vimeo.

Blancanieves (2012)

Spain is always for me on the list of countries that give us quality cinema. This gem is no exception. Pablo Berger shows his artistic taste on the classic Snow White fairy tale. Antonio Villalta is a famous bull fighter giving another routine show while his pregnant wife adores him on the stadium stage. But everything goes wrong as he gets seriously injured and his wife dies while giving birth to their daughter. He can't move anymore and a vicious nurse, Encarna, takes care about him and finally marries him. The little girl, Carmen, lives with her granny until the last one pass away. So then, she moves to her dad's mansion and faces the evil stepmother who makes her life difficult and refuse to leave Carmen see her father. When this happen, Encarna, tries to kill her sending her away and have her secret lover finish the job. But Carmen escapes and finds the seven midgets who are working on a wandering theater company. Soon she finds back her memory and her talent to be a new impressive bull fighter. But Encarna hasn't finish with her though. If you seek for another astonishing silent film directed with passion, mesmerizing photography and dark atmosphere, here is your choice.

 

Seraphim Falls (2006)

I really enjoyed this mixture of classic western and fantasy film. Because it really started with the old classic way of a typical action film and it almost ended at such a surrealistic topic. Carver and his team of headhunters are tracking Gideon at the minimalistic fields of Nevada over the cold mountains and the empty deserts. They want him alive as Carver commanded. But Gideon is a tough guy, ready to kill for survive and escape through the paths. His only weapon is a sharp knife but he is so expert to that, he doesn't finally need for something else. Seraphim Falls is the place that everything started and we will find the reason of this ruthless hunting though several flashbacks. The end is spectacular and gives another dimension to this film as the last characters the two heroes meet, an old Indian and a woman selling drugs in the middle of nowhere, lead to a result probably more philosophical than you think. Liam Neeson is good as always and Pierce Brosnan is apocalyptic as also the rest of the cast work properly.

Journey to the unknown - Kerry Laitala (2002)

Kerry Laitala is an experimental film director living and working at the States. Laitala hand-builds her films, manipulating the surface of the celluloid and exposing each frame individually to create works that stand at the edge of both film and art. This is a gem you can find at the Experiments in Terror dvd compilation. I can describe it as an experimental film including herky-jerky shock-editing & startling noises, rather than definite event, to achieve an audience reaction of tension or horror.

Red Dawn (1984)

This is another beautiful memory from the 80s. A classic war post film telling about a team of youngsters trying to survive from the attack of the Russian invaders. The third World War has been declared and the Russians with the help of Nicaragua and Cuba occupy a big territory of the States. Two brothers, Jed and Matt, alongside with some pals find shelter on the hills and attack back the invaders with hunting rifles, pistols, and bows and arrows. They are few but they have guts and plans to free their land again and they name themselves 'Wolverines' . The casualties from the enemy are lots but soon both sides will loose their best fighters. It is actually a dramatic story, giving another dimension to ordinary heroes. Patrick Swayze acted with realization as also Charlie Seen. There are some problems though at the script as for the Russian roles and the depth of the story as well. But it is still a good movie.

 

Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (2011)

So here we have one of the most expensive and epic Taiwanese productions. A historical part based on the Wushe Incident that is split into two segments, the first being entitled The Sun Flag (tai-yang qi) and the second, The Rainbow Bridge (cai-hong qiao). The attempt of Japanese empire to rule over the Seediq tribes who were living in Taiwan at the end of the nineteenth century lasts for about thirty years after the defeat of the last. The Taiwanese people tolerate Japanese government but their culture is going to disappear through the technological development and social transformation. Mona Rudao is the leader of the mehe bu clan, one of the most violent on the island and the last stand for defensing their land to the conquerors. Now after thirty years of repression and a series of incidents that push his people to their limits, he still dreams of a free nation and believes that the time has come to take back their hunting fields. A real story about gaining freedom with amazing landscapes, great action scenes and historical notes of a proud nation. Plus the extraordinary folk soundtrack that will haunt your ears.

Blackaria (2010)

Welcome to the twisted world of François Gaillard and Christophe Robin. They are also directed the incredible 'Last Caress' back in 2010. This is the second film of a package dedicated to neo giallo. Full of bloody murders and naked beautiful women, it is an ode to neo noir and a trip into horror fantasy. A young woman, Angela tries to understand her nightmares asking for advice from her friend Marco, a psychologist. Her neighbor Anna Maria, organizes orgies at her apartment and drives Angela into the abyss of a weird atmosphere. As Angela finds her dead one day, she discovers that a strange thing happens as she looks through the broken glasses of a magic sphere. What happens to the time and who is the freaky killer wearing the red coat? Angela has to find the solution and escape from this situation as the murders lead to her as for the next victim. It was another interesting attempt from the French directors duo, but I think 'Last Caress' was working better as a plot. There are some cool scenes as the eye sliced by the razor, probably influenced by Bunuel. Maybe with a bigger budget and a better scenario we could have a miraculous result as well.