A few reviews

[Vultural]

Cave Of Forgotten Dreams - 2011 - 8/10

[Image: 03.jpg]

Outstanding Werner Herzog documentary filmed inside the Chauvet caves of southern France.
Cave interiors have the oldest paintings known to exist, 30,000 years old.
The cliff face fell tens of thousands of years ago, sealing the original entrance, and protecting the art from us, the rabble.
Access was sealed immediately by French authorities after its discovery in 1994, so Herzog's film will likely be the only view any of us ever see.
Docked a point for intrusive music.

[ThrowgnCpr]

One sorry aspect about the film was hearing Lars, Slash, Lemmy ... talk how great Anvil was. Not one of them stepped up and offered a tour gig.

That's because these guys are douchebags, particularly Lars, whom I have absolutely no respect for.

It's amazing what some highly respected and influential musicians have to do to scrape by. Reminds me of this (not as pathetic) article about Mudhoney's frontman Mark Arm: http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/touch...d=14595912

[Vultural]

No One Lives - 2012 - 4/10

[Image: e0mvrm.jpg]

Another variation on the dead teenager fugue.
Yuppie couple driving cross country runs afoul of small town family gangsters.
Thugs have already shown themselves capable of murder.
That time, however, they chose a psychopath as victim.
Reference title. Predictable track - whack - splat.
Nothing imaginative or creative about meals.

[Vultural]

A Town Called Panic - 2009 - 7/10

[Image: 2ik7imo.jpg]

Man, I rolled my eyes when someone chose this kiddie film.
Slap me wrong, this was entertaining fun.
Monty Python-esque animations, subtitled Belgium cursing, adventures ranging from under the sea, to the center of the earth, and music class romance.

How Horse puts up with Indian and Cowboy is beyond me.

[Vultural]

Beware Of Mr Baker - 2010 - 7/10

[Image: 2i9jrx1.jpg]

Absorbing biography of Ginger Baker, the devil of the drums.
Interviews with Bruce & Clapton from Cream, Winwood from Blind Faith, and lots of modern era drummers, who were all influenced by him. Tons of clips. Animated sequences.
Baker was a troubled child and a reckless force of nature. Three of his four wives speak on camera (though wife #4 seemed less than comfortable). Drug addictions, zero financial sense, and rootless ways keep him skirting near the edge of poverty. What saves him is his drum kit. At any age, he can still pound harder, and with more soul and understanding than almost any.
Even in his 70s, Baker is a right piece of work, opening the film by giving his interviewer a bloody nose by smacking him with his cane. Great moment, I’m so glad it was left in.

[Gaith]

A Town Called Panic - 2009 - 7/10

[Image: 2ik7imo.jpg]

Just watched the trailer for this. Surely this is what being an insane child must be like... :-P

[ssj]

That's because these guys are douchebags, particularly Lars, whom I have absolutely no respect for.

It's amazing what some highly respected and influential musicians have to do to scrape by. Reminds me of this (not as pathetic) article about Mudhoney's frontman Mark Arm: http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/touch...d=14595912

mudhoney was so large in my universe back in the day. played their vinyl on my radio show, blasted their tunes in my car, and thrashed around in the mosh pit before them. never knew what happened to them, so thanks for the follow up, throw.

so as not to highjack the thread. . . if i find that vultural rates a movie 8 or above, it goes onto my "to see" list. and thanks for reminding me about natural city. . . i just might fanedit that into a short film. senkyu!

[skyled]

Beware Of Mr Baker - 2010 - 7/10

[Image: 2i9jrx1.jpg]

Absorbing biography of Ginger Baker, the devil of the drums.
Interviews with Bruce & Clapton from Cream, Winwood from Blind Faith, and lots of modern era drummers, who were all influenced by him. Tons of clips. Animated sequences.
Baker was a troubled child and a reckless force of nature. Three of his four wives speak on camera (though wife #4 seemed less than comfortable). Drug addictions, zero financial sense, and rootless ways keep him skirting near the edge of poverty. What saves him is his drum kit. At any age, he can still pound harder, and with more soul and understanding than almost any.
Even in his 70s, Baker is a right piece of work, opening the film by giving his interviewer a bloody nose by smacking him with his cane. Great moment, I’m so glad it was left in.

Does it talk much about his time in Africa? He played with Fela Kuti and I believe helped set up some recording studios which led to afrobeat flourishing soon afterwords.

[Vultural]

^
Yes, it did cover his time in Africa. Work with Fela, the studio he set up.
The documentary he made about crossing the Sahara. Wife #4.
Then ... his involvement with polo which led to a falling out with Fela
as polo was equated with colonialism.

[Image: 20kccx1.jpg]

[Vultural]

Shadow Dancer - 2012 - 6/10

[Image: 25zt8o9.jpg]

Tense drama / thriller set in 1993, during negotiations between Sinn Féin and the British government.
Clive Owen plays MI-5 handler of “flipped” IRA informant.
Plot meanders between the maneuverings of MI-5 compartments, and the internal investigations of the Republican Army.
The political background is not brought to the fore, and unless you were aware of the disputes many in the IRA had with Sinn Féin, you were in the dark.
Likewise, there were many gaping plot holes: A possible romantic angle. Why the group suspected they had a mole. Why MI-5 locked data from Owen’s character. The ending.
Film felt rush released, and would have benefitted from a more coherent edit.