So, I got tickets to a preview screening of this movie, and on the face of it, I reckon it would be something I’d like; it features London from yesteryear, reserved Japanese characters, a minimalist approach to story-telling… Kinda like a live action Studio Ghibli period piece.
Haha! If only! I felt it was just too slow, and honestly, too boring. The situation and characters lacked the emotional heft to hit the notes to make you feel something for them. Also, it’s kinda silly that the characters (spoiler) waited so long to reconnect. I dunno man; I wasn’t feeling it.
0 Comments
Having seen the original Alien movie the night before was a big help, because this film is set after that one, and has a million call-backs to that film, as well as the sequel, Aliens, to the point that all this film really is, is a greatest hits compilation!
Which is fine; I don’t think anyone expects franchise movies to give the audience anything original any more (sadly). It’s not great, but it is probably the third best Alien movie, which is a relief, and MUCH better than I expected! Worth a watch for all the usual summer-blockbuster stuff, set in the Alien universe. The CG on one character, however, was atrocious! Like seriously, not every movie has to have nostalgia-bate, especially when it looks that bad! Sigh. Anyway, roll on the inevitable sequel/prequel, etc. I know Alien is a classic, and a film beloved by many, but it never really did it for me.
This is because the first Alien film I saw, was Aliens (the sequel), and so, when I watched the less bombastic original, I was definitely underwhelmed. It had been a few decades since I last watched it, and as I was watching the new one the next day, I decided to revisit the film that launched the franchise… It’s good! Much better than I remembered; I still prefer Aliens, but I can totally appreciate the perspective of those that prefer Alien: It is indeed a stone cold classic. Not much more to say really. I remember when this film came out, and also how it flopped! It tried to capitalise on the success of its stars from other teen movies, and combined with writer/director Amy Heckerling (of Clueless fame), it had all the ingredients for a genre classic. As we all know, however, making movies ain’t an exact science!
So is it any good? I liked the period. That whole late 90’s / early 2000s period hit me in the feels, but the film was shiiiiiit! Film's about losers have to show them having a heroic trait, a backbone. They can't be a doormat for 90% of the film, and have us rooting for their success! And that’s the mistake this film makes; the loser is a fcuking loser! Being a victim doesn’t make you likeable, not unless it crafts you into a better person. Similarly, “the girl” isn’t likeable either. There’s no real arc; you just watch these two characters in various situations until they finally (spoiler) end up together. Shame really. A good teen film, set in the early 2000s is something I’d really like to see, but this film definitely ain’t it, despite the nostalgia hit. I think I watched this to get me in the mood for the 2024 Paris Olympics, as the film is set during the build up to the Paris Olympics a hundred years earlier, in 1924. Anyone who grew up in the 80s will be familiar with the infamous theme music by Vangelis, and the sense of wanting to run a race that it evoked. Such was the power of movies back in the day, that even if you hadn’t seen the film, you still knew about it, because it permeated through the culture.
Anyway, fast-forward forty-odd years, and I finally see the film. It wasn’t what I expected, to be honest. I imagined it to be a Rocky-esque film about individual triumphalism, when actually, it’s an understated period drama about particular men at very particular time in history. I mean, it was alright. Dry and understated is pretty much a hallmark of most British films, and this was no different. Did it get me excited about running, or the Paris Olympics? Not even slightly! Still, it’s a decent film, and if you fancy a period drama about British runners from a hundred years ago, this is the film for you! Watching this in the cinema on opening weekend was a rare treat, like stepping back in time to the good old days, when a packed out cinema and an audience full of enthusiasm were the norm! (Brings a tear to the eye)
I REALLY enjoyed watching this film! Being a comic book fan and collector from the 80s and throughout the 90s, this film felt like a love letter to fans of that era, which was exactly what the doctor ordered, especially considering how Marvel has treated their loyal fans since Endgame. I mean the plot, McGuffin and Villain are as weak as a reused tea bag, but that’s not why we’re here. We’re here to see Wolverine (and to a lesser extent, Deadpool) back on the big screen and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe! The action, the humour, the in-jokes and plethora of comic book Easter Eggs is probably more than any comic book movie yet, and it works! A film made for comic book geeks crosses over into being an all round crowd pleaser! What I loved most was that I didn’t see any of it coming! There were so many surprises in this movie, so many A-List cameos, that were completely kept under wraps, and the pay-off of seeing them play out to an unsuspecting audience was a real thrill! Maximum respect to the filmmakers and stars of this film! They literally pulled-off a feat of time travel, in making us feel like we were back in the good ol’ days, before the internet, with its non-stop scrutiny, leaks and spoiling of movies. Is it a perfect movie? Of course not. Was it a perfect cinematic experience? In 2024? I don’t think any other film came closer! Writing this in February 2025, I’m struggling to remember what this film was actually about?! I remember being slightly disappointed. I was hoping for an experience similar to ‘A Heart in Winter’, and got nothing of the sort from this film.
Is it bad? Not at all. It’s just a very French experience, in that you’re observing characters who go about their lives not doing very much (I say this is a French experience because, if you got to Paris, you’ll notice that all the cafés have their outdoor seats facing outwards, so customers can look at passers-by and the public in general. Watching people do nothing seems very French to me). That said, if you were to watch one person go about their life not doing very much, you’d probably choose Emmanuelle Béart. She’s just exquisite to look at, and that’s part of the trick of the filmmaker; Monsieur Arnaud is basically a proxy for the audience, finding any excuse to have Nelly hang around. Still, beautiful women a good film do not make, otherwise plenty of X-rated websites on the internet would be famed for other reasons! I enjoyed it, but I did find it lacking; the comparison to A Heart in Winter is inevitable and perhaps does this film a disservice. However, I know which of the two I will be returning to! I had actually never heard of this film, but saw it mentioned on a forum somewhere and so looked it up on IMDB., and saw a bunch of positive reviews. It’s pretty good, if not all that original, especially in Science Fiction terms, but as most people know, it’s not the idea that matters, but the execution of that idea, and in this instance, it’s done well.
That said, the film would have really benefited from a more charismatic lead; someone you could sympathise with more. From a fimmaking perspective, it’s definitely worth listening to the director’s commentary on the blu-ray, as this is an example of a relatively low-budget film that maximises its budget so you see every penny on-screen. That said, the director has form in that arena, having written the first Saw movie, as well as many others. I wouldn’t call it a Science Fiction classic; it’s not up there with the likes of Robocop or Terminator (no films are), but it’s worth a watch for sure! Disclaimer: I’m not a Terence Malick fanboy, but he’s one of those filmmakers that film enthusiasts rave about, and to be fair, the films I’ve seen of his are never sh!t, so with that in mind, I watched Days of Heaven. The film is most famous for its cinematography, and it does not disappoint. I imagine seeing it at the cinema must have been something. The imagery really is mesmerising; kind of dreamy and so pleasurable to look at. The film also has a documentary feel, as though you’re actually witnessing something that was captured at the time, with the people behaving the way they naturally would. A real testament to authenticity in film.
It’s also a study of relationships, and how certain men live forever in the hearts of women, whereas certain other men are seen only for their resources. Basically, bad boys versus simps, with the only real winner being the girl! She has to be beautiful though, otherwise neither the bad boy nor the simp would show her any interest. Sigh. Tale as old as time. The film is quite lyrical, and definitely plays like an art house film. I quite liked it, although Tree of Life is still my favourite Terence Malick film. This.
This is why I love the French, French movies and French culture! What other country can distil the conflicting emotions of the human heart, the fickle, self-punishing nature of desire, attraction and love, into pure cinema? The film is a character study, not only of the characters it depicts, but of the subtle line between desire and something deeper. This was the first time I’d seen this film, and I’m glad I came to it as a more experienced person. You can’t really appreciate the gamut of human emotion until you’ve gone through it, and if you have, you find yourself sympathising with both the male and female characters. It’s a lovely film, that will stir your emotions in a very subtle way, but not necessarily romantically. The restraint shown by the director, Claude Sautet, mirrors that of Daniel Auteuil’s character. This is not a showy, garish exploration of human desire. It’s not about the flesh, but the mind, and how the mind for some of us, will always rule the heart, to our own detriment. Emmanuelle Béart is stunning to look at, and to be honest, all she’d have to do is stand there and you’d fall in love with her, but she adds a tenderness to the role that belies the physical appearance. I really enjoyed this film, and maybe someday I’ll watch it again. Whether or not you enjoy it probably depends on your own personal circumstances when it comes to the affairs of the heart. Hopefully, when I do watch it again, it won’t resonate with me as much... |
This page is...
A chronicle of films, shows, and theatre I've seen, as well as books I've read, and talks I may have attended. ArchivesCategories |