Deja Vu

Film Title: Deja Vu
Year: 2006
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 128 minutes
Film Genre: Action / Drama / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Director: Tony Scott
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer, et. al.
Writers: Bill Marsilii and Terry Rossio
Players:
Denzel Washington as Doug Carlin
Paula Patton as Claire Kuchever
Val Kilmer as Agent Pryzwarra
Jim Caviezel as Carroll Oerstadt
Plot: ATF agent Doug Carlin (Washington) investigates a ferry explosion and finds a secret government experiment that allows investigators to see the past. An obsession with one victim propels Carlin to attempt to change it.
Acting: Denzel strikes again as an enforcer of the law. One would think that he had oversaturated the genre (Out of Time, Training Day, Inside Man, etc...), but once again he impresses with his characterization. None of the other actors are particularly outstanding in Deja Vu, but the sum total of acting is superb.
Cinematography: Good.
Visual: One of the movies strong points. The Special FX in Deja Vu are phenomenal. The explosion of the ferry in the beginning is one of the best ever seen in a film. The digital aspects of the movie are mesmerizing at times. In order to not spoil the film, it will be left at that.
Audio: Good.
When I watched it last: One day prior to review.
What to watch for: Denzel, an awesome plotline, edge of your seat action and suspense, the discussion that will inevitably occur after the movie.
What to watch out for: Language, intense drama, very brief nudity, some violence.
IMDB Rating: 6.9 out of 10
Chicago Tribune Rating: 3 out of 4 stars; "It's an almost overwhelmingly professional picture, murderously fast, slick and full of outlandish notions, painstakingly realized...surprisingly satisfying -- thanks to Washington, a good cast, Tony Scott's swift direction and that unyielding professionalism" (Michael Wilmington).
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 8.7 out of 10; A thrilling ride like you've never seen before...or have you?!
--Reviewed by Brady

Movie in a Minute: The Departed

What happens when an undercover cop poses as a Boston mafia member and a Boston mafia member poses as a cop? The Departed happens, that's what. This film marked a cinema milestone as Martin Scorsese bagged his first Oscar. The rumors of a snub are finally put to rest and the statuette made its way into Marty's grip. With that said, The Departed stands as a testament to what a great crew can accomplish. Look for a moment at who worked on this film: 1) Scorsese as director, of course [Casino, Goodfellas, Raging Bull]; 2) William Monahan wrote the screenplay [Kingdom of Heaven]; 3) Brad Pitt as a Producer; 4) Music by Howard Shore [Lord of the Rings trilogy] and 5) actors DiCaprio, Damon, Nicholson, Wahlberg, Sheen and Baldwin. This is, arguably, DiCaprio's best and a great performance by Nicholson and Damon. With four Oscars total (Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Directing and the coup de grace Best Film), The Departed cements a spot in the chronicles of crime drama.
Warning: This film contains crude language, violence and extreme awesomeness.
The Cinema Standard "Movie in a Minute" Rating: 8.8 out of 10; If you're a fan of Scorsese, DiCaprio, Nicholson, Damon or crime drama, please get this movie for your collection.
- - Reviewed by Brady

El Laberinto del Fauno / Pan's Labrynth

Film Title: El Laberinto del Fauno / Pan's Labrynth
Year: 2006
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 112 minutes
Film Genre: Art / Drama / Fantasy / Thriller
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Producer(s): Belen Atienza, Elena Manrique
Writers(s): Guillermo del Toro
Players:
Ivana Baquero as Ofelia
Ariadna Gil as Carmen Vidal
Sergi Lopez as Capitan Vidal
Maribel Verdu as Mercedes
Alex Angulo as Dr. Ferreiro
Doug Jones as Pan / Pale Man
Plot: A young girl in Fascist Spain intertwines the real world with a fantasy world where she is a long-lost princess.
Acting: Baquero steals the show, at least among the human characters. Doug Jones as Pan (the faun) really makes the movie.
Cinematography: Oscar for Cinematography, check!
Visual: Oscar for Art Direction, check! Pan looks awesome!
When I watched it last: Two days prior to review
What to watch for: Awesome visual effects and cinematography; a world just beyond our own.
What to watch out for: Some disturbing violence; language in another language.
IMDB Rating: 8.5 out of 10; #50 on the Top 250 Movies of All Time as voted by users.
Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times) Rating: 4 out of 4 stars; "Pan's Labyrinth is one of the cinema's great fantasies, rich with darkness and wonder."
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 8.6 out of 10; Dark and mesmerizing! A fairy tale not intended for kids.
--Reviewed by Brady

Batoru rowaiaru (Battle Royale)

Film Title: Battle Royale
Year: 2000
MPAA Rating: N/A
Length: 114 min / Japan:122 min (director's cut)
Film Genre: Action / Drama / Thriller
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Producer: Kenta Fukasaku
Writers:
Koushun Takami (novel)
Kenta Fukasaku (screenplay)
Players:
Tatsuya Fujiwara as Shuya Nanahara - Boy #15
Aki Maeda as Noriko Nakagawa - Girl #15
Taro Yamamoto as Shougo Kawada - Boy #5
Chiaki Kuriyama as Takako Chigusa - Girl #13
Sousuke Takaoka as Hiroki Sugimura - Boy #11
Plot: At the dawn of the new millennium the Japanese government is near collapse. Unemployment is at an all time high and the violence amongst the nations youth is running rampant. In an effort to combat this problem the government introduces the Battle Royale Act. Each year a class of high school students are selected at random for a "field trip". They are kidnapped and taken to a deserted island where they are forced to participate in a fight to the death, the last one left alive is allowed to return home. The "game" is used as the ultimate sign of what the government will do to punish disobedient youth.
Acting: A bunch of teenage kids. Nothing really top notch. One thing is worth mentioning Chiaki Kuriyama plays Go-Go Yubari in Kill Bill Vol. 1
Cinematography Great overhead shots and great close-ups
Visual: The island is gorgeous with very elaborate sets pieces.
Audio: Standard. Nothing spectacular
When I watched it last: An hour ago
What to watch for: Crazy Story, Social Commentary
What to watch out for: Subtitles, Language, Gory Violence (At times), Sexual overtones
IMDB Rating: 8.0 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: N/A
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 8.4 out of 10. I have wanted to see this film for a long time, it is interesting to say the very least. Japanese films tend to be over the top when it comes to violence and this one is no exception. This story accurately depicts the reality of sin and the violent nature of man. Kill or be killed is the law and friend quickly becomes foe in the world of the Battle Royale.
--Reviewed by Jason

Movie in a Minute: Babel

Babel comes from the director/producer of Amores Perros, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. The 2006 entry by Inarritu was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, two Suporting Actress nods and other nominations, plus a win for Best Original Score. Babel is an obvious social commentary on the language barrier: the problems it creates, the triumph over it. The film follows four interwoven stories of families in Morroco, America, Mexico and Japan. After the first five minutes, this story quickly becomes tense and never lets up until the credits roll. Relative newcomer roles by Rinko Kikuchi and Adriana Barraza (Best Supporting Actress nominees) in addition to star performances from Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett make Babel a movie definitely worth seeing. Warning: Moments of nudity; language; tense drama.
The Cinema Standard "Movie in a Minute" Rating: 8.0 out of 10...look for Dakota fannings little sister, Elle, as Pitt and Blanchett's daughter Debbie.
- - Reviewed by Brady

Children of Men

Film Title: Children of Men
Year: 2006
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 109 minutes
Film Genre: Action / Drama / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Producer(s): Armyan Bernstein, Thomas A. Bliss
Writers(s): Alfonso Cuaron, et. al.
Players:
Clive Owen as Theodore Faron
Claire-Hope Ashitey as Kee
Julianne Moore as Julian Taylor
and Michael Caine as Jasper Palmer
Plot: For reasons unknown, humans have become sterile and to make things worse the youngest person in the world - an eighteen year old - has just died. In the chaotic world of not-too-distant-future England, a refugee girl has turned up pregnant and a few brave people must attempt to get her to scientists who can figure out the "cure" to infertility.
Acting: Children of Men is a good movie and better thespian efforts (along with some plot adjustments) could have made this a great movie. Clive Owen is a great actor, but he cannot hold this one up on his own. Julianne Moore proves, yet again, why she should not be allowed to have any serious roles: uninspired and unconvincing come to mind.
Cinematography: Some blurry camera work makes for headaches, almost literally at points, escpecially during close-ups and zooming shots. Otherwise, the cinematography is good. Minus a few easliy recognisable set-up shots, the filming draws you into the story in a very "real" way.
Visual: Settings were often reminiscent of Orwell's descriptions in 1984 and Equilibrium's Libria: the wealthy in their beautiful Greek and Roman inspired neo-cathedrals and the poor or middle class, as it were, in chaotic slums. Scenes of confrontation with police and government authorities are brutal and graphic, many victims with missing limbs and bloody wounds.
Audio: Sometimes the sound seems to come from places it should not, like in a conversation including several persons. The voices come from every direction, but often from the wrong side. A tad bit confusing (and frustrating) for audiophiles, like the author of this article.
When I watched it last: A few hours ago
What to watch for: A good story (maybe poorly executed at times, but still a very good story), a sometimes-exciting thriller
What to watch out for: Language, Strong Violence, Momentary Nudity, Some Drug Use, Julianne Moore
IMDB Rating: 8.0 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: NA
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 7.1 out of 10; Some may find it entertaining, but not a great movie by most any means, but a decent film nonetheless.
--Reviewed by Brady

Casino Royale (2006)

Film Title: Casino Royale
Year: 2006
MPAA Rating: P-13
Length: 144 minutes
Film Genre: Action / Adventure / Thriller
Director: Martin Campbell
Producer: Barbara Brocolli
Writers: Neil Purvis, Robert Wade and Ian Flemming
Players:
Daniel Craig as James Bond/007
Ava Green as Vesper Lynn
Mads Mikkelson as Le Chiffre
Judi Dench as M
Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter
Plot: The very first assignment for MI6 agent James Bond. Bond's mission: To stop international banker/terrorist Le Chiffre from winning a high stakes poker tournament at the Casino Royale.
Acting: In my humble opinion Daniel Craig is the best Bond since Connery. I stated many months ago that this Bond movie was not going to be anything like the others, and that much like Batman Begins, was going to revitalize the dying Bond movie franchise, I was definately right (I love it when I'm right).
Cinematography This is Campbell's second Bond film (directed Goldeneye) and he does a fantastic job directing this one. This movie is not like Goldeneye or really any other Bond film for that matter. The first 10 minutes of the film are black and white, it really added to the feel that this movie was going to be dark. The movie is definately darker than any of the other movies (which is what I predicted), it has some of the comedic elements of the others films and carries the classic Bond elements but takes it up a notch. The darker feel in my opinion is the way it should be. Bond: "So you're telling me you want me to be half monk, half hitman". James Bond is a series about a spy with a license to kill, this movie is the first time you really see this played out to the extreme and it is awesome.
Visual: Awesome action, camera work is great, gritty, the black and white beginning is awesome.
Audio: Chris Cornell (Audioslave/Soundgarden) does the opening song.
When I watched it last: Last Night
What to watch for: If you like James Bond movies then this one is for you. It is not all gadgets and guns, there is a good deal of hand to hand combat. Watch for the random moments of classic Bond comedy.
What to watch out for: Hmm....torture scene...just wait for it...you'll understand. Pacing is slow at times and it is a little long.
IMDB Rating: 8.1 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: 3 out of 4 stars
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 8.7 out of 10. This movie is just plain great. In high school I was a huge Bond fan, especially of the Connery and Moore ones. Goldeneye was alright, but after that the Bond franchise tanked. This movie is the re-invention of a cinematic icon, kinda cool they are starting at the characters beginning.
--Reviewed by Jason

The Shining

Film Title: The Shining
Year: 1980

For production credits see Jason's post on this movie:
Cinema Standard - The Shining by Jason Williams

Acting: Jack Nicholson is the perfect person in the role of Jack Torrence. Between The Shining and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest we see the remarkable Nicholson at his finest - in the flawless execution of a mental crackpot.
Cinematography: This film is a milestone in camera work. Kubrik is at his best, as usual. The slow pace of the film is exacerbated by the incredibly slow pans and zooms. The camera work causes unease for the viewer and a tense mood of anticipation for some absolution of action, which always comes just after you have told yourself it will not happen.
Visual: The hotel is strikingly grandiose and immensely cavernous. The interposed snapshot scenes of the tenants visions are masterfully interwoven to cause the leap-out-of-your-seat scare and the anxiety for what is to come.
Audio: Eerie music and sound effects make your skin crawl. One can see and hear Danny Torrence (Danny Lloyd) riding his trike down the long corridors, the modulation of sound between loud and soft as he traverses the hardwood floors and large carpets. Lack of musical action also increases the tension of the movie.
What to watch for: Jack Nicholson and Danny Lloyd, a great onscreen father/son duo.
What to watch out for: One scene of prolonged nudity which then turns pretty gross; some blood and gore.
When I watched it last: A few days ago.
IMDB User Rating: 8.4 out of 10; #64 on the top 250 movies of all time as rated by users.
Roger Ebert Rating: Included in his list of Great Movies (his top honor); "The movie is not about ghosts but about madness..." (rogerebert.suntimes.com)
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 9.2 out of 10; This is the hallmark of psychological horror.
- - Reveiwed by JB

The Shining

Film Title: The Shining
Year: 1980
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 2 hours and 22 minutes
Film Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Producer: Robert Fryer
Writers: Stephen King
Players:
Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrence
Shelley Duvall as Wendy Torrence
Danny Lloyd as Danny Torrence
Scatman Crothers as Dick Hallorann
Plot: Jack Torrence is a ex school teacher working on a book deal. He agrees to take on the responsibility of winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel high in the Colorado mountains. Isolated with his wife Wendy and their son Danny, the winter begins to draw long and the isolation begins to take its toll. Not to mention the mysterious history and activity that is going on in the hotel.
Acting: Jack Nicholson will freak you out! Nicholson is one crazy actor and in this movie his crazyness really shines. Danny Lloyd plays well against Nicholson as his slightly unhinged son. This movie consists of 5 major characters, Jack, Wendy, Danny, Dick and the Overlook Hotel/the Shining. The acting in this movie is top shelf considering there are only 5 major players, they all give performances that will stun you.
Cinematography Visual: Kubrick is brilliant with the camera, it is unfortunate most of his movies are for the most part completely strange. The camera angles and use of what i'll call the chase view are amazing. In this film the camera follows the actors several paces behind them, giving us the feeling that we are walking right behind them. The angles he uses to shoot close ups and the action really allows for the raw-ness of what is going on to come through. Also the use of colors adds alot to connect characters and set the tone of certain scenes.
Audio: When I watched it last: 2 days ago
What to watch for: Acting is great. The set is amazing (Overlook Hotel and surrounding grounds). The story is crazy and twisted which holds your attention. Watch out for little hints in the dialogue and other little details that make this movie stand out.
What to watch out for: Language, Nudity (really gross nudity, it is in the chapter called Room 237 for those wanting to avoid it altogether) slight gore and violence.
IMDB Rating: 8.4 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: Great movie (probably 4 stars)
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: I am in no way a fan of the modern Horror genre for its love of senseless violence and gore. However, with that said this movie is the measuring stick by which all Horror/Thriller movies should be measured. It will mess with your mind, your emotions and your view of reality and it does it all with limited gore and limited violence. 9.0 out of 10. Watch this movie!
--Reviewed by Jason

Cinema Standard - The Shining reviewed by Brady

The Night Listener

Film Title: The Night Listener
Year: 2006
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 82 minutes (91 minutes at Sundance)
Film Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Director(s): Patrick Stettner
Producer(s): Terry Anderson, Michael Hogan, Armistead Maupin, et. al.
Writer(s): Armistead Maupin, Terry Anderson, Patrick Stettner
Players:
Robin Williams as Gabriel Noone
Toni Collette as Donna Logand
Rory Culkin as Pete Logand
Plot: Gabriel Noone's talk show, "Noone at Night", is plagued by his writer's block when he comes in contact with a boy dying of AIDS. A relationship is built over the phone between Gabriel, the boy and the boy's mother until suspicions build concerning Noone's elusive friends.
Acting: Williams character is one of his better portrayals, but would be better suited in another movie. "The Night Listener is mostly about Gabe, but it's not mostly about Robin Williams playing Gabe, and that's a welcome relief" (rogerebert.suntimes.com). Rory Culkin is the real star of this movie, walking tall from under the dark shadow and mottled past of his brother, Macaulay.
Cinematography: The camera work fits that of the generic mystery drama which this movie is.
Visual: Nothing special.
Audio: This film has one of the most freakish and otherworldly sounds ever recorded. What should have been left to the horror genre is included in a latter scene which takes place in a hospital. Noone is searching through the pediatric ward for the sick boy, Pete, when he walks into what he thinks is the boy's room, and instead, he is faced with another child whose vocal chords have been destroyed by cancer. The resulting scream from the child is a hollow, airy wail which gives the viewer chills and haunts the dreams of most people for days to come.
What to watch for: Tense scenes in the middle of the film.
What to watch out for: A no-surprise conclusion.
When I watched it last: A couple nights before review.
IMDB User Rating: 5.7 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: 3 out of 4 stars; "[T]he movie makes this twisted tale believable, moment by moment."
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 5.2 out of 10; A poor movie which is almost saved by the quality of the cast...almost.
- - Reveiwed by JB

Heat

Film Title: Heat
Year: 1995
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 171/188 (edited and unedited)
Film Genre: Action/Crime/Drama/Thriller
Director: Michael Mann
Producer: Pieter Jan Brugge
Writers: Michael Mann
Players:
Al Pacino as Lt. Vincent Hanna
Robert De Niro as Neil McCauley
Val Kilmer as Chris Shiherlis
Jon Voight as Nate
Tom Sizemore as Michael Cheritto
Amy Brenneman as Eady
Ashley Judd as Charlene Shiherlis
Natalie Portman as Lauren Gustafson
Dennis Haysbert as Donald Breedan
Plot: Neil McCauley heads a gang of heavily armed and highly determined theives/bank robbers who square off against Lt. Hanna in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Acting: The acting in this film was top self. Pacino and De Niro give some mind numbing performances, makes you wonder why this is their only film together. Kilmer and Sizemore give amazing support to De Niro as members of his gang. Something to note, most of the support characters in this movie have gone on to big name success themselves (Judd, Portman, Brenneman and Haysbert.)
Cinematography Dante Spinotti does an amazing job as Cinematographer (Director of Photography), no wonder Mann has used him on three of his films (The Insider, Heat and Last of the Mohicans). Mann is an amazing director and you can truly see his unique style in this movie.
Visual: Mann shoots scenes a certain way. If you have seen the trailer for Miami Vice and his movies Collateral and Heat you will note his style. He loves night scenes intertwined with landscape shots, He loves night driving scenes with city lights reflecting on windshields and rear window, running scenes are close up and tight on the characters and a trade mark, he puts you right in the middle of the action. He puts you in the faces of the actors or over their shoulders, this adds so much to the intensity of the action. The movie is a visual masterpiece.
Audio: The sound for the movie is good for an action movie. Subtle volume changes between scenes of action and dialogue. The gun battles are amazing, a must for surround sound owners
When I watched it last: 1 hour ago
What to watch for: Amazing Performances by Pacino and De Niro as well as the supporting cast. Classic diner table scene as Cop and Criminal share a cup of coffee. Classic Michael Mann directing (vehicle tracking shots and down in the action gun battles)
What to watch out for: Excessive Language and Violence. 3 Hours Long!
IMDB Rating: 8.0 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: 3 1/2 out of 4 stars
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 9.0 out of 10. Beautiful movie, Amazing Cast, Incredible directing and Gripping story. This movie is the top of what the crime/action/drama genre should be, a must own.
--Reviewed by Jason

Lady in the Water

Film Title: Lady in the Water
Year: 2006
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 110 minutes
Film Genre(s): Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller, Bedtime Story
Director(s): M. Night Shyamalan
Producer(s): Sam Mercer, M. Night Shyamalan
Writer(s): M. Night Shyamalan
Players:
Paul Giamatti as Cleveland Heep
Bryce Dallas Howard as Story
Bob Balaban as Mr. Farber
Jeffrey Wright as Mr. Dury
Sarita Choudhury as Anna Ran
Cindy Cheung as Young Soon
M. Night Shyamalan as Vick
Freddy Rodriguez as Reggie
Plot: A water nymph comes to The Cove to find a special person that will warn man of his impending future, but there are creatures out to get her. A bedtime story through and through.
Acting: Most of the acting is standard Hollywood - nothing's fancy or stand-out about the actors in the film. The comedy of the film is good, a steady crescendo of funny due to the running gags (e.g. Young Soon and Cleveland's relationship with her mother, Reggie's arm, the stoners' conversations).
Cinematography: Shyamalan's camera direction is one-of-a-kind. It's easy to recognize his films (not a bad thing).
Visual: The special effects were very Shyamalan...things in the shadows, rarely seen.
Audio: A fanciful score
What to watch for: Rodriguez's Reggie = hilarity!
What to watch out for: Too much story-telling and not enough story-happening
When I watched it last: Several days before review
IMDB User Rating: 6.3 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: 1.5 out of 4 stars; "[I]mprovised and protracted, nonsensically and unnecessarily, just for the sake of stringing us along. And, maybe, putting us to sleep."
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 6.0 out of 10; A decent film worth renting, but it probably doesn't belong in an aficianado's collection. Don't forget...it's a bedtime story. Try not to take it too seriously.
- - Reveiwed by JB

Rashomon

Film Title: Rashomon
Year: 1950
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 88 minutes
Film Genre(s): Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Foreign
Director(s): Akira Kurosawa
Producer(s): Minoru Jingo, Masaichi Nagata
Writer(s): Ryunosuke Akutagawa (story, from "Rashomon" and "In a Grove"); Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto (screenplay)
Players:
Toshiro Mifune as Tajomaru
Machiko Kyo as Masako
Masayuki Mori as Takehiro
Takashi Shimura as the Woodcutter
Minoru Chiaki as the Priest
Kichijiro Ueda as the Commoner
Plot: The account of a murder from four different perspectives.
Acting: There is a lot of overacting in the movie, but it seems to be there for a reason. The characters in the story are each telling a version of a story. These stories are not perfect reality, so in the telling many things are embellished and many things are added and deleted. Shimura shines in this movie as he does in many other films.
Cinematography: A classic, pure and simple. Several of the shots from this movie have been copied ever since. Kazuo Miyagawa was a master of the camera. An early scene with the woodcutter walking through the woods is an example of his skill. Miyagawa constructed a long rail and caught a lengthy stroll with one shot. A moment later the camera stands still as Shimura walks into view and back out on a 180 degree pan. Geometry is an easily recognized aspect. People standing in triangular formation reveals tension between characters and causes tension for the viewer.
Visual: Several of the film's visual aspects were painstankingly created by Kurosawa and Miyagawa. Shadows and lighting were particularly difficult. The shadows of leaves on faces were created by reflecting light off a mirror through tree branches.
Audio: 1950...what can you say.
What to watch for: Shimura and Mifune; a unusual story that you'll probably need to watch twice.
What to watch out for: Allusion to rape; some offscreen violence.
When I watched it last: A few nights prior to review
IMDB User Rating: 8.5 out of 10; #64 on the top 250 movies of all time as voted by users
Roger Ebert Rating: Included in his list of "Great Movies" (his top honor); "The real gift of Rashomon is in its emotions and visuals."
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 8.0 out of 10; See what inspired so many directors, producers and writers.
- - Reveiwed by JB

Event Horizon

Film Title: Event Horizon
Year: 1997
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 96 minutes
Film Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Horror/Thriller
Director(s): Paul W.S. Anderson
Producer(s): Nick Gillott, Jeremy Bolt
Writer(s): Philip Eisner
Players:
Laurence Fishburne as Captain Miller
Sam Neill as Dr. William Weir
Kathleen Quinlan as Peters
Joely Richardson as Lt. Starck
Richard T. Jones as Cooper
Jack Noseworthy as Justin
Jason Isaacs as D.J.
Sean Pertwee as Smith
Plot: A state-of-the-art ship, built to travel faster than the speed of light, disappeared seven years earlier and has just reappeared in the orbit of Neptune sending out a distress beacon. A rescue mission is sent out to recover the ship and crew but is met with a terror unlike anything anyone has seen before.
Acting: For the most part, the acting in the movie was good. Laurence Fishburne was already a seasoned actor and was well on his way to his best performance in the upcoming Sci-Fi mega movie The Matrix. Richard T. Jones is the necessary comic relief in the movie. His self-confidence and unearned machismo are the only alleviation from the absolute tension of the film. With a full cast of 15 people, a lot of stagecraft is demanded of only a few people. I’m not convinced that Sam Neill is a worthy portrayer of the antagonist/absolute evil. It’s hard to watch Jurassic Park’s hero become a carved-up Devil personification.
Cinematography: This movie demanded much of the camera crew. Uneven floor plans for the sets meant a lot of rigging and movement. In one scene, the camera rotates around the crew as they talk about what should be done. The camera goes back and forth several times making for a nice alternative to several camera switches.
Visual: Visual effects in the movie were both stunning and haunting. The vividly lit green tunnels near the core have been copied to an extent in many movies. Spacecraft design and settings were expansively and visually awesome. Roger Ebert points out a design goof. The Event Horizon is floating in the turbulent atmosphere of Neptune, yet after the initial approach by the rescue vessel, all the scenes seem to take place in calm space.
Audio: Orbital was called in by Paul Anderson to work with Michael Kamen on the film’s music. Dark beats are layered on top of Kamen’s symphonic melodies, which gives many of the scenes an edgy heart-pounding effect.
What to watch for: Awesome visual effects…and that’s about it.
What to watch out for: “Orgiastic” (as quoted by the Paul Anderson and Jeremy Bolt) scenes of sado-masochistic mutilation, torture, blood (lots and lots of blood) and intense gore; language.
When I watched it last: Two nights before review
IMDB User Rating: 5.8 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: 2 out of 4 stars; “It's all style, climax and special effects.”
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 5.0 out of 10 stars; Sorry, but I’m not a horror movie fan.
- - Reveiwed by JB