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pfdarlington
Reviews
Cypher (2002)
A cult movie in the making
...and one that shows the delightful Lucy Liu in fine form. She was not just deliciously honeyed eyecandy. The camera loved her - so did I. Saw it last night, assuming it to be 'a loser', never having heard anything of it these past ten years. To think I might have died in that time without having seen it. I've only had this mind expanding sensation - that is the main reason for watching any science-fiction after all in my view, with a few stories in my time. I could hardly sleep I was so enervated. A novel experience for my jaded brain. I had originally dismissed it as I'd read it was a spin off from a rather more famous film, which I need not name and which it outperforms smartly. There were lots of embedded references to test your attention. You either picked them up or you did'nt but demonstrates Vincenzo's respect for other masterpieces. I now list him amongst 'directors who have restored my faith in this medium'. I am a fan of Jeremy Northam as he always seems to cut it just right, in this case: as the best, and rather underplayed, comic book style anti-hero. Yes, it was budget, but the most affecting films often are. From the reviews here: it seems you either love it or hate it. Well, this man is safely in the former camp. A cult film often takes some years to mature. This will not date, indeed, I suspect it will be better received in ten or fifteen more years.
Turtle Diary (1985)
Gentle and liberating
Superb film. I have still have it on betamax! Must move it to safer media. I see it as a story of two aquariums, one is the zoo aquarium which contain the turtles, swimming around aimlessly attempting to satisfy their ancient migration, and the only slightly bigger tank with all of us in. Basically, the story is of two people in a humdrum life in 'bedsit land', who get it together to liberate the turtles, and in doing so, themselves. There are lots of quality cameos with superb actors, superbly chosen by Hoban, an Anglophile who knows us better than ourselves. In my experience only 10% of all films are worth making. This is one of them. Why oh why is'nt it on DVD?
Waterloo (1970)
Getting even better as we tire of the CGI'd hordes...
One of the great films, not likely to be equalled, let alone surpassed, purely on the basis of economics. Some flaws, already listed by previous posters, and is the only way we lesser beings, incapable of 'big' creations like this film can feel good about our ignominy.
If you admire the sang-froid (coolness under trying circumstances) which is reflected in the film and certainly in the writings of the time, please try 'The Duellists' a much underrated film, purists may shudder at the American accent of the lead (Keith Carradine) but in my humble view, it captures the feel and respect for honour of the time, absent it seems from our own...
I vote for more films like these 'Master and Commander' etc. perhaps even a film about the American rebellion ( A sensible one please). Especially films about Napoleon, he had a lot about him you know, something we AngloSaxons just do not do get...
Regeneration (1997)
Introspective but not cloyingly so...
One of the very few war movies I'm still willing to watch. Unlike some earlier reviewers here I do not see any real link with 'Saving Private Ryan'. Spielberg (to me) is only really interested in making contemporary political parallels (I suspect re Israel) and of course his bottom line (he is notoriously parsimonious, and nothing wrong with that). Regeneration is a very good crack at an even better book in the Pat Barker series. That is its mission, a study of psychological damage done to young minds at war which is not usually reflected in the casualty figures. I know some of this from the recollections of my grandmother, of her father who survived the war, but for only a few years ''somewhat troubled''. I have his Military Medal here now. He was an 'Old Comtemptible' but not at all happy of having survived. I am not impressed by the artistic integrity of this fine film being so arrantly compromised in the 'Behind the lines' (US)version. Short changing buyers of this version and insulting their intelligences. Especially with such fine performances from all here, especially the incomparable Pryce and the only female reference in the film, the delightful Tanya Allen.