The Love Film Reviews Part I

I recently activated a free trial to Love Film, and have taken advantage of free movie streaming to an unneccessary degree. I thought I could briefly review the films I watch (and any others worth mentioning), so I don't feel so guilty about disregarding every possible other important thing.

The Girl Who Played With Fire

First sequel of the adapted Millenium trilogy. A letdown following on from the first film (a solid and somewhat unconventional thriller), with an implausible plot and villains. Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyquist both perform brilliantly again, but it isn't enough to save the poor plot. 4 out of 10.

The Road

Another book to film adaptation, this bleack little Cormac McCarthy story is brought to life with beards and grey skies. Actually grey everything, the colour pallet is so muted and dull (in a good way) I almost adjusted the contrast on the telly. A nice little father son story and a nice little apocalyptic dystopian future story, but that's as far as I can go with that. The Father/son thing has been done much better (not that it is bad here, Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smitt-McPhee act well together and it isn't badly written) in the likes of Road to Perdition, as has the Apocalypse movie which we all know has been done to death. 7 out of 10.

BLACK DYNAMITE!!!

Full caps neccessary for this one I'm afraid. Finally a spoof Blaxploitation film that is actually funny, plus the Kung Fu is up to scratch, helped by the cool motherfucker and karate expert Michael Jai White in the title role. The ludicrous plot, snappy dialogue and play on the multitude of poorly made films preceding it help create a film that can actually be enjoyed as a straight-up film, as opposed to purely a spoof film (much in the same way as Airplane!, or Hot Shots! could). Very enjoyable indeed. 8.5 out of 10.

Joint Security Area (JSA)

Korean film about the murder of North Korean soldiers by South Korean soldiers in the demilitarised zone at the border. What starts of as a fairly standard (and a slightly hammy paint-by-numbers affair) political thriller about an independent enquiry to get to the bottom of the conflicting statements from both sides soon turns into a touching and moving almost-drama. I expect nothing less from Oldboy's Park Chan Wook (Hopefully I'll get to review the full Venegeance trilogy soon too). I have yet to see a bad film from him, or Korean cinema for that matter. It really knocks your expectations for the film clean out of the window halfway through, and improves greatly for it. 7 out of 10.

Coffee and Cigarettes

11 films for the price of one! Black and white viginettes starring a multitude of indie big hitters from Jim Jarmusch (or however it is spelled-I refuse to check), based around my two least favourite things. Standout segments include Bill Murray and RZA and GZA from Wu-Tang Clan, in "Delirium", Iggy Pop and an incredibly un-nerving Tom Waits in "Somewhere in California", The White Stripes (I know) in "Jack Shows Meg His Tesla Coil", and the brilliantly awkward "Cousins?", with Steve Coogan and Alfred Molina. I liked it, as slow and dull as it tried to be. It was whimsical and cool, and it's trendy to like it and I want to be trendy. 6 out of 10.