Movies so far in May

Friday May 2nd 2008
In Search of the Great Beast:666 (2006) ** - This British documentary really should have been better. I mean how can you take a rich subject like the life of Aleister Crowley and make it dull? But these filmmakers managed to do just that. it is not that the material or information imparted isn't interesting; it is. But it is the way the material is explored that sinks this ship. the entire movie is done through either narration or re-enactment with actors that simply sit in character and tell the stories as if remembering them. Interspersed is CGI photographs of Crowley from various stages of his life as well as places he may have lived. There is the occasional dramatic recreation of certain things like his initiation into the Golden Dawn or his fateful final mountain climbing expedition that left several people dead. But even those are clumsily handled at best. A great documentary (or even better docu-drama) about Crowley needs to be made. There is a wealth of interesting stories to be separated from fact and fiction. But this movie's snail's pace and poor presentation keeps it from being that great film. In fact it challenges you to stick with it. First time seeing this.

Saturday May 3rd, 2008
Iron Man (2008) *** - Very successful start off to the 2008 summer blockbuster season is a rare super-hero movie that works. This movie walks the fine line between keeping the edge on the material while still trying to deliver what the audience expects which is huge effects, some laughs, and lots of action. The movie succeeds for the most part. This of course is mostly the origin story dealing with Tony Stark a manufacturer mogul who happens to be an electronics genius. His company mostly sells newly designed weapons to the military. While in Afghanistan showing off a new breed of missiles he is captured by a group of terrorists (that the movie is very careful to give a fictional name to as to not invoke the specter of real life combat). They want him to build proto-types of these new missile's for them. Instead he builds an armored, robotic endo-skeleton and uses it to escape. But while he is there he comes to realize that the very arms he is selling are falling into the hands of the terrorists the US are supposed to be fighting. So once back in the US he goes about re-creating the suit and fighting the world's evil his way. Much of the success of the film lies in the casting of Robert Downy Jr. who is terrific in the lead role. He brings a charm and soul to the character that is endearing, even when he is being a prick (something I'm sure many would have said about Downey in real life for many years when he was an addict). But his change of heart that is at the film's center both figuratively and literally are sold completely with his performance. I've heard some grumbling that there is not enough action in the mid section of the film, and it truthfully could have used maybe one more scene of Iron Man going after the Terrorists to really make it sing, instead we get multiple scenes of Stark testing the suit which are reminiscent of the movie The Rocketeer on a few occasions. The movie hits a snag int he final third as it goes into well worn territory with the reveal of the villain (its who you think it is all along) and the big showdown which is effects heavy but still feels like you've seen it before. Though I give the filmmakers credit for working in the female lead into the climax in such a major way and NOT as just someone to save. The picture is very much a PG-13 with nor blood or gore but still some surprisingly strong war violence for a picture that is clearly being marketed to kids. Oh yeah, the use of music in the movie was pretty solid too. First time seeing this.

Inside (2008) *** - I expected this French horror movie to be something else entirely than what it turned out the be. I was expecting maybe a gorier more intelligent take on something like the old British shocker I Don't want To be Born, or something like that. Instead I got a very intense, extremely gory and violent maternally themed slasher film. That's not a bad thing mind you, just not what I expected. A young pregnant woman survives a car crash in the opening of the film, but her husband does not. the first image we see is a baby in utero that suddenly smashes its face against something hard, with blood smattering out into the amniotic fluid as it is stunned into silence. This is who we experience the car crash, from the baby's point of view. We will return into the womb many times throughout the movie to get the baby's point of view again. As we get into the film we realize that Sarah, the pregnant woman is going to have induced labor on Christmas day. She is at home Christmas even when a woman begins stalking her. the woman finds her way in while she is sleeping and starts to cut open her womb and so begins the fight for survival. Sarah manges to get into the bathroom where she will stay for a large portion of the movie as people wander into the home and meet this mysterious woman and the bodies start to pile up. This movie is brutal as hell. Blood flows in great gouts, spraying the walls, splattering people's faces, dropping out of wound by the gallons. The violence is painful, ugly and messy with no apology. If the site of a pregnant woman being abused is shocking to the you then this movie is not the one to see as Sarah takes a lot of abuse. In fact more than a person probably could take in real life. Especially a nine months pregnant woman. The movie starts to strain credibility in that department. it also has the old horror movie cliche.. of a person should leave, and could leave, but instead goes into a room and waits, which only serves to further the action but tries logic a bit too much. Then there's the business of a character springing back to life to beat the snot out of everyone for no good reason at all only except to supply some shock and violence. This scene effectively derails the movie long enough to make you almost lose track of the following scenes which is effectively the climax. The movie does an effective job of keeping suspenseful, but it is primarily about the violence and action which it delivers abundantly. There must be something going on with France as with this film and Frontier(s) both of which are insanely brutal and touch on French politics. This is a good horror film, but not a great one. First time seeing this.

Sunday May 4th 2008
Jesus camp (2007) *** - Frightening documentary about a Christian fundamentalist camp where kids are sent to learn how to be good little soldiers for Christ. Hey there's nothing wrong with having convictions in your faith and passing it down to your children. But when you start teaching then seperationist beliefs, that they are better than others, because they have been saved, and basically twisting religion and politics into a heady stew. Then brainwashing the children with it to basically be foot soldiers for the new millennium then there is indeed something wrong. This movie doesn't even pretend to be unbiased as it uses an Christian, yet liberal, radio host as a Greek chorus who keeps checking in to remind us of the realities of what the Christian right are really doing to the country. More upsetting is the actual footage of the kids at the camp practically having nervous breakdowns as they are preached at about being hypocrites and liars, about how Harry Potter should be killed, and the various Carrot Top-esque styles of props used to remind them to always fear God because he LOVES YOU. The most horrifying moment comes when the teachers/preachers drag out a human sized cut out of George Bush Jr. and have the kids gather round him and pray for the president to keep adding the right Republicans to congress so things like abortion can be abolished. Most of these kids are not old enough to really even understand what an abortion even is. One little boy comes up to admit his sins and admits he has trouble always believing in God and what the bible says. Throughout the rest of the film you can see him practically tearing himself apart emotionally. He is probably seven years old at best. You can just see personality disorders, drugs and probably suicide in his future. Its horrible and sad and really, really scary. I haven't even mentioned the hag like woman presiding over the camp who clearly is doing this for the glory it gives her. Anyone who ever spent time in a church (and I did for years until my teens) will remember that one lady who talked louder, prayed louder and SANG LOUDER than anyone else to prove she was God's chosen one. Well, put that bitch in charge of brow beating children for Christ and leading the soldier brigade for the second coming and you get this scary ass woman. This is a well made film, but I doubt I could sit through it again. First time seeing this.