Number Ten - Bumper pack reviews

Oh my goodness it has been so long, I am the worst blogger in the world. My life these past few months has been on a constant up and down and kept me from partaking in my hobbies that give me my happiness when everything else in my life is not going so well. But now I have time to get back to my little escapisms and I can now give you more reviews, three in fact, as it's been so long I have made a big return effort...so here goes.

Wow, I almost forgot where I got to on my list, but I have remembered. Believe it or not, there is still no chance (so far) of me getting my hands, or megabytes, on number 98 on the list (Yankee Doodle Dandy), but I'm not giving up on it! (if anyone happens to know how I can get a copy I would really appreciate it). So I have no choice but to move on to number 97, Blade Runner.

The specific version I viewed was the 2007 Final Cut Special Edition, as I know there are various versions, but as the introduction from director Ridley Scott states, this is the best version (well as far as he's concerned, but that's good enough for me). I was quite looking forward to watching this film as I, for a film fan, was quite a late comer as far as seing this film for the first time was concerned, and it is a film with quite an infamous context surrounding it.

The film starts off fantastically, the opening shots of the futuristic cityscape, the flying vehichles, the lights and eerie dark colours of the sky, the slow, smooth camera movements...amazing. And what was even more amazing was when I realised that this film was made in 1982, holy cow! It still looks amazing, and, incredibly, not dated.
Most sci-fi films made in the 1980's, today, really look like they were made in the 1980's, Back to the Future Part II, for example ( I know it's partially set in the 80's but the part of the film in the future still looks like it has a lot of 80's influence). The sets, art direction and cinematography and so impressive, and some of the best I have ever seen in film. Throughout the whole film I was stunned at the urban, dystopian beauty that was presented to me, very impressive. The story is kind of , well, basic?, maybe, Harrison Ford, must try to track down illegal robots posing as humans on Earth, that's it in a nutshell, but the way the film is executed, there is a feeling of tension throughout the whole film, the acting is incredible, and kudos goes to Rutger Hauer, playing the main villain of the piece. His cool, slightly psychotic and creepy playfulness in his role sent shivers down my spine. This man was born to play the part, it fit him so well. His movements, his sinister smile and just his very presence were so powerful, he commands your attention. The other actors in the film are brilliant in their roles, of course Mr Harrison Ford is well suited to the role of reluctant hero, and Daryl Hannah gives off a great eerie naivety.

I really was impressed by this film, and in my opinion Ridley Scott is at his best when he is tackling the sci-fi/fantasy film genres, for example Alien (1979) and Legend (1985). I don't think that Gladiator (2000) counts in these particular genres, but it is probably the only other Ridley Scott film that I have really taken note off, as it shares the same characteristics as his earleir sci-fi/fantasy films, thay are visaully innovative and stunning, and I long for the day that Mr Scott returns to these genres and blows me away again.

As for Blade Runner, I'm sure most other film fans have already seen it, but if you haven't you must because it is definately a benchamrks as far as sci-fi films are concerned and should be on everyones 'must watch before I die' lists.

Next up is number 96 on the list, Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing (1989). This film is set on a street in Brooklyn on the hottest day of the year. It's inhabitants are mainly African American, except for a pizzeria which is owned by Italians. Mookie, played by Spike Lee himself, plays the pizza boy, and as he goes about his day, events start to unfold around him, tensions start to rise and race is increasing the centre of many burning issues. Soon enough these tensions start to boil over and things get way out of hand.

I ahve to admit this, about half an hour in I was getting bored, I was interested in this depiction of life in Brooklyn which was so incredibly different to mine, but that was also part of the reason I found it so hard to get into at first, I found it hard to connect, but of course I stuck with it. After watching it  I realise that it was right for the story to be a bit slow at first, it shows how everyone in the film conncects to one another and how the ending comes about in the way that it does, and what an ending it is! I won't spoil it for any who have not seen it, but I was shocked, it was scary to see how quickly the racial tension escalated to such a catastrophic ending, but the scary part is that the drama is very believable.

This film really has you thinking about how judgemental people of all colours and creeds can be, and how much harm these perceptions of people different than you can be. I like the fact that day unfolds during the hottest time of year, a reflection on the situation that the people of the street are experiencing, rising tensions. This is almost counteracted by the radio DJ Señor Love Daddy, played by Samuel L. Jackson, who has regular intervals in the film, sending out messages of love, and messages related to (peaceful) black equality.
This film really makes you think, the people who are victims are also the catalysts of violence, and vice versa, your notions of who is good and who is bad are left challenged. I think this is film that everyone needs to see, as it still has a relevant message today, and can be relevant to a lot of people and situations.

"Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys a community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends by defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers."

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The last review that I am doing for this post is at number 95. It's 1971's The Last Picture Show. When I heard the film was set in the 1950s and about teenagers graduating from high school in a small, middle-of-nowhere town in Texas, I thought, whoopee! Ok, actually, I was not really looking forward to it. I was sitting on my sofa waiting for the film to start and dreading this drama I was about to witness.

I have seen the film now...
It was not what I was expecting.
It starts off fairly standard for a drama, not a lot happening, but then all of a sudden all this weird...ness starts unfolding. Little did I know that this film is really about teenagers going through their sexual experiences in this claustrophically small town. I'm guessing these teens adventures happen because, as the title suggests, the last hope of entertainment for the town, the local cinema is closing down, reflecting the end of an area our main characters are having to face, graduating from high school and moving on.

I was a bit taken aback by how much nudity was in the film, and what some characters get up to, for example, one boy's friends pay for a prostitute for the boy to loose his virginity, bt, he can't "Get it in" so she puches him on the nose! Was not expecting that. However, though there are many late night car shenanigans, and nudity clubs happening, the whole thing is tastefully done, and doesn't feel too sleazy. The acting is good (supporting male and female won oscars), a young Jeff Bridges has an impressive turn in the film, as well as a suprisingly good start for Cybill Shephard, who had only modelled up until this film. The story is engaging if a little odd for what it first presents itself to be, so overall, it is worth a watch. Having said that it was a little bit too strange for what I was expecting so I'm glad I watched it but I probably won't be buying the DVD.