Cool News
Hannibal Reports On Fantastic Selection Of Films @ Brussels Int'l Fest Of Fantasy, Horror, and SF!!!
Hi Harry,
Hannibal here. I promised you last year that I?d return from my permanent state of hibernation to bring you the news on the 20th Brussels International Festival of Fantasy, Horror and S-F Film. And this is just what I?ll do.
As usual, the festival takes place between the 15th and 30th of March and this year more than ever, the films are very diverse with a lot of films from Asia and Europe. The weird thing is, that I?ve liked all the films I?ve seen so far, so forgive me for being overly positive. The festival has been very kind to me so far ?
Let?s get down to it:
the opening film of the festival was Mark Pellington?s The Mothman Prophecies, but since it has already been released in the States I won?t go into it any further. I really enjoyed it and I thought it was a well-directed and exciting horror-thriller which unfortunately was let down a bit by a so-so ending. Still: 7/10
Mamoru Oshii's AVALON
The first ?big? film of the festival was Mamoru Oshii?s much-hyped Avalon. Oshii himself was present at the screening and introduced the film to the audience. He even played a clip from his fantastic Ghost In The Shell and even though we didn?t understand one word of his introduction we cheered on his every sentence. Great guy!
Onto the film then. Avalon takes place in a similar apocalyptic future as Blade Runner or Judge Dredd. The cities are drab and depressing and the only thing that keeps the people happy is a new virtual reality war-game called Avalon. There even are some professional players, who make a lot of money playing the game. Ash is one of those players. Her life is really crappy and the only thing besides playing Avalon that makes her happy is cooking elaborate meals for her dog. One day, Ash hears something about a secret level hidden in Avalon, and she decides to form a posse in order to finish the game and enter the hidden level, but first she has to do some big battle with many different virtual enemies. And who?s that cute little ghost?
This film really amazed me. The story reminded me somewhat of The Matrix, but with a twist. There is a lot of cool gunplay and the battle-scenes are very exciting. Virtual enemies, when killer, dissolve into 2d images, which looks really cool. The overall visual style is awesome, Oshii uses a lot of greys, blacks and browns, and near the end of the movie there is a change of style that can only be called a stroke of genius. The story, acting, and special effects are all very well done, and the fact that this film is in Polish (!) only adds to its overall strangeness. Watch this film, it?s absolutely fantastic. 8/10
After the screening, Oshii did a Q&A with the audience, which was pretty neat (and kudos to the translator), but he didn?t reveal anything shockingly new. When asked what his next project will be, he said that he is working on something right now, but he can?t tell us what it is because his producer had sworn him to secrecy. Bummer.
The second film of the night was Argento?s new film Sleepless, but I missed it so I could attend the Q&A with Oshii. Maybe someone else can fill us in on that film.
SERIES 7: THE CONTENDERS
The last film of the night was the stunningly original Series 7: The Contenders, a fantastic film that really blurs the line between fiction and reality. The film felt so real that halfway through it I felt dirty and wanted to change the channel. It?s like watching America?s Greatest Police Chases and realising you actually like it. Great film 8.5/10
PULSE
The next film I caught was Kiyoshi Kurosawa?s Kaïro (aka. Pulse). It?s an absolutely terrifying and very entertaining ghost-story that takes place in modern-day Tokio. It all starts with a mysterious suicide of a young boy. His friends are desperate to find out why he killed himself but they don?t have to search very hard, the answers start presenting themselves. It appears that ghosts are roaming through the city. They are everywhere and manifest themselves in dark places and on computer screens, which altogether makes for the most terrifying movie experience I had since The Blair Witch Project. Especially the first half of the movie scared me half to death. The tension was unbearable even though there were no shocks or boo!-moments. I can?t really explain what it was that scared me so much, but I guess it was the movie?s unpredictability. The ghosts could appear at any given moment, and even in broad daylight you?re not safe. Besides, any film in which ghosts can be contained rooms secured with red tape, is bound to be original. Kurosawa really outdid himself with this film, it?s merely a shame the movie becomes somewhat ridiculous near the end, when he tries to explain what it is that causes the ghosts to appear. Still, a very well-made film with a lot of tension and some (un)intentional humour (it?s really funny to watch a kid trying to install a Japanese version of Windows) and the audience seemed to enjoy it. So did I. Check it out: 7/10
FRAILTY
Next up was Bill Paxton?s first directorial effort Frailty. Along with the film, he sent a lengthy video in which he introduced the film and discussed its themes. It looked as if he was really proud, and he should be, since it was a very well-made, but slightly predictable thriller, in the same vein as A Simple Plan, The Gift or Night Of The Hunter. Matthew McConaughey plays Fenton Meeks, a man who claims to know the identity of the notorious serial-killer the ?God?s Hand Killer?. Local policeman Powers Boothe sits down with him so he can tell the story. Fenton tells him of his youth, and how one day his dad (Bill Paxton himself) had a vision in which God told him to ?find demons and kill them?. Fenton and his younger brother Adam have to help their dad with his terrible mission. Adam is soon won over by Paxton?s vision but Fenton believes his dad had gone nuts.
The story is told in flashbacks and had a lot going for it. The characterisation of the father and his two sons is very well done, and even though McConaughey is credited first, it?s actually Paxton who has the biggest part. But?s it?s the two young kids (Matthew O?Leary and Jeremy Sumpter) that really shine. Halfway through the movie there is one terrifying scene in which the father orders his boy to kill an alleged demon with an axe. The way this scene is acted and shot is really awesome, just watch the horror on the young boy?s face. Great stuff. Obviously, as we near the end, the plot thickens, and there is a twist-ending, that unfortunately we see coming. Still, kudos to Paxton for and I?m looking forward to his next film. 7/10
FULLTIME KILLER
Onto the last two films in part 1 of my report. First up, there was the Hong-Kong actioner Fulltime Killer. The film tells the unoriginal story of two rivalling hitmen (a newbie and a seasoned professional) who battle it out for the love of a woman. So far so blabla, but the story wasn?t really the point. It was about ACTION, and in that area, the film really delivers. There are couple of highly stylised shootouts (in a train station, the on a parking lot, ?) a lot of posing and running around with guns, and a couple of very beautiful women, in short: your typical Hong-Kong action film. Great fun, but not very original. 6/10
THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE
The last film was Guillermo Del Toro?s perfectly wonderfully stunningly fantastic El Espinanzo Del Diablo (aka. The Devil?s Backbone). I liked this film so much, I can?t describe it in words. The story, the mood, the photography and the acting were perfect and even though I couldn?t understand it all (the film was subtitled only in French), it was one of the best films I?ve seen in a long time. It reminded me a bit of The Sixth Sense and The Others, since it was more of a classic ghost story. There were a few good shocks, but to me it were the beautiful dialogues that stood out. Spanish was the perfect language for the film, since it added to the mood, much like Polish did to Avalon. I can?t wait to see this film again with English or Dutch subtitles. People, check this out!! 10/10
This concludes part 1 of my festival report, I?ll be back in a week or so with a write-up on the rest of the film I?m planning to see. They?ll be showing Itchi the Killer and Versus next week, so that may be of some interest.
Until next time, take care of yourself,
Best regards,
Hannibal
(currently residing in Brussels, Belgium)
Readers Talkback
comments powered by Disqus-
+ Expand All
-
Why isn't this movie on DVD yet? Damn, it's one of the best films of 2001, so why isn't it out?
-
...or did this review confess to not understanding any of the subtitles in "Devil's Backbone," before saying that the highlight of the film is the dialogue? Eh?
-
The guy can read French because he is currently residing in Brussels, who's current primary language is French, does that mean anything to you?
-
Series 7 is out on video and DVD and should DEFIFINITELY be checked out if only for the gimmick/premise. I like reality T.V. (hides head in shame) BUT really the brilliance of this film is in the actors pulling off these quirky (can't believe I just used that word) characters who feel like real people. PLUS this film fulfills a twisted fantasy of mine of putting guns in the hands of folks on these reality shows...This is TEN TIMES better than Survivor...Okay, that ain't saying much. I saw on the DVD that it was initially going to be a TV show on Fox...Fox shoulda' jumped on that!!
-
Is an incredible incredible film. I wish there were someone here in the states releasing it into theaters. Only seen it on code 2 DVD.
-
While I'll reserve judgment on Series 7, which I haven't seen yet, I have to agree that Avalon is quite a film. It's soooo damn smart (considering that it's the same writing/directing team that did the two Patlabor films and Ghost in the Shell, Kazunori Ito and Mamoru Oshii, I'm not surprised at all) that I've seen it twice in two days and still get pulled in by its style and the story. I just wish more people could see Avalon so I could start talking it out with people. So many things to discuss! Battle Royale is truly amazing: disturbing, heartfelt, yet, at times, feeling like a violent shoujo manga, with guys and girls asking each other things like "Nobu, who do you have a crush on?". It walks such a thin line so successfully that I think Series 7 might have a lot to overcome for me to like it, since the idea that it's presenting the show as it broadcasts inserts an irony that Battle Royale just doesn't have. Battle Royale succeeds because of its absolutely sincere belief that adults and authority figures hate the younger generation and would rather not deal with us rather than take responsibility for their actions and failures. Anyway, I sincerely hope neither of these films get too mangled when they make their way to the States.
-
Ive seen Series 7 and I quite liked it, but Im tired of hearing how original it is. It was obviosly inspired by Battle Royale. They just change the kids to adults and made it more like our TV shows to apeal the the american public. I am still currently waiting for it to be delivered so I can FINALLY see it, after hearing about it and seeing previews for it, for like forever!!
-
Actually Series 7 was made before Battle Royale was ever released. It was also made before reality shows like Survivor, Temptation Island, The Great Race, Etc even existed. What a wonderful movies it was... Battle Royale couldn't be any different in terms of content, direction, style, or purpose. But it was bad ass also.
-
But, before I begin that tirade, in response to Slate - the reviewer himself admitted to not speaking French, and I quote: "...even though I couldn
-
March 21, 2002, 9:08 p.m. CST
PULSE -another great Japenese horror film soon to become a crap
by Elgyn6655321
-
That's all it takes if you have FF firmly depressed on your remote while it's playing. You won't miss anything and your brain will be protected from inane drek.
-
Us being hardcore Argento fans, we approached Non Ho Sonno with a certain ammount of trepidation, seeing as it has been over a decade since he last produced a great movie - Phantom of the Opera was abominable, The Stendhal Syndrome was not exactly a classic & Trauma was a bore - but we were more than pleasantly surprised. It is certainly a return to form for Argento, delivering a thoroughly entertaining giallo than thrills & delivers one of Argento's most ingenious plot twists. It is great to hear Goblin finally back together, keeping their vintage sound, but combing it with a modern style. The opening 10-15 minutes are among Argento's best set pieces - the tension that is generated is truly exhilarating, even impressing a couple of jaded old hacks like us. See it in Italian if you have the chance - the English-dubbed version detracts from the experience considerably.
-
The guy above who said sleepless contained one of dario's best set pieces is dreaming, did you see a different film? Sleepless was very poor, not as poor as that stoopid phantom film dario did, but still ribbish in most ways. And he had a good actor for once...what a missed opportunity. Avoid if you've never seen a Argento film, see suspiria, deep red etc...their the real deal. Series seven is so overrated, its dull pretty dull I thought, a interesting concept badly implimented and any potential was left completely unforfilled, battle royale is so much better. oh and avalon's got a pretty crap ending, in a typically cryptic anime way...the 2d exlosions were a really nice idea though.
-
March 22, 2002, 4:36 p.m. CST
about "Sleepless"........Part 2 (confounded ENTER key!!)
by Elgyn6655321
The first 15-or-so minutes were really good, with the girl running away on the train, etc. It was great to hear Goblin again, and for a little bit I thought, "YES! Argento is finally back!". But alas....after awhile it became very very dull, and I ended up not caring at all what was gonna happen.
Top Talkbacks
- Harry dives into STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS' spoilers to reveal the truth behind the blockbuster we're seeing! -- 1099 total posts 326 posts
- Has STAR WARS EPISODE VII Landed Its First Non-OT Cast Member? -- 296 total posts 296 posts
- John Ary's Video Review Of The New CAPTAIN AMERICA (1990) Blu-ray!! -- 172 total posts 172 posts
- STAR WARS REBELS Coming To Disney XD Fall 2014!! Chock Full-O-McQuarrie!?!? -- 167 total posts 167 posts
- Nordling Reviews STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS! Spoilers Abound! You Are Warned! -- 1306 total posts 165 posts
- Steven Seagal might be joining THE EXPENDABLES 3!! -- 153 total posts 153 posts
- Kurt Russell and Timothy Olyphant sign up to throw a BONE TOMAHAWK!!! -- 94 total posts 94 posts
- ‘Darkness Will Devour Them All!!’ Sunday Brings Antepenultimate GAME OF THRONES For HBO!! -- 301 total posts 83 posts
- Capone gets Extremis talking to actor James Badge Dale about IRON MAN 3, THE LONE RANGER and WORLD WAR Z!!! -- 50 total posts 50 posts
- Capone reviews STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS and considers the art of messing with canon and why it doesn't bother him!!! -- 588 total posts 49 posts