11/04/07 : Throw Away Your Books, Rally in the Streets (1971)

Throw Away Your Books, Rally in the Streets (1971)

'TAYBRITS' can best be described as a 70s Japanese 'Counterculture' movie from cult director Shuji Terayama. As such, you can expect an exploration of 'youth' themes such as social alienation, sexual liberation, inter-generational conflict and political disengagement, set to a rock soundtrack and with the requisite psychedelic visuals and cinematographic experimentation.

I'm finding it difficult to write this review as I'm afraid the film largely left me indifferent. I struggled to give a damn about any of the characters (especially the female ones who just seemed to be one-dimensional whores) and found the plot weak. I lost interest pretty quickly once the impact of the visual experimentation wore off (and started to give us all a headache!)

The film is also very lengthy, arguably sending it into the realms of extreme self-indulgence. It could well have benefited from a further trip to the cutting room. The more aggravating the scene (remember that 5 minute 'screaming' scene?) the longer they seemed to be able to stretch it out!

Again, opinions are probably divided on this one and I welcome comments from my fellow film-clubbers!

Oh and one last thing - can I propose a film club embargo on scenes of an 'Oriental gang rape' nature? I've kinda hit my limit for this year.

Corporal Tench

04/04/07 : Casino Royal

Casino Royal

A change of venue this week for the club as our hosts were off camping in the woods. One of the circle stepped into the breach and provided his flat as a fine venue to convene for our weekly gathering of mindszzz

OK - Let's start with the positive. Daniel Craig gives the character a much needed dose of attitude and I liked this new mean, maverick style bond who is generally a fairly unlike able character. In the opening scenes you were left in no doubt that the old bond is dead, make way for the new.

Whilst I appreciated the toughness that he brought to the role (which bond purists tell me is much more true to the character created by Ian Fleming), I did feel at points that it was a shame that he had lost some of the class and 'Englishness'. Although I am not a big bond buff I found myself at moments feeling nostalgic for the cheesy lines and stupid gadgets.

The new bond is undoubtedly more realistic, gone are the days of stepping unscathed from a huge explosion with a slightly skew whiff dicky bow. I suppose in a silly way it felt like a part of my child hood had died (sniff) and the kitsch ness that defined this genre had been lost.

To end on a positive - the opening chase scene is incredible and features the free running champion Sebastien Foucan

28/03/07 : Pans Labyrinth

Pans Labyrinth is set around the tail end of the Spanish civil war and revolves around the fantasy world created by an 11 year old girl as an escape to the grim reality of her ‘real life’ living with her step father – a captain in Francos army and undeniably ‘nasty bastard’.

I enjoyed this film although it was not what I was expecting at all. The ‘fantasy’ certainly did not dominate the plot, and an equal amount of focus was given to the relationships within the camp and generally what was going on in the ‘real world’.

At first I slightly wished that there had been more of the fantasy stuff – as the characters and effects were spot on and left me wanting more, but in retrospect I think that the phrase ‘quality rather than quantity’ certainly applies. I felt glad that the director was not tempted to include the rather predictable ‘talking tree‘ and managed to keep it generally quite ‘darkside’.

My favourite character was the dude with the eyes in the palms of his hands (pictured). Difficult to find sunglasses that would fit - but useful when checking if you’ve got enough change for the bus.

That would be a thumbs up from me ….