The Film Genie's Universe

A hilarious and witty horror comedy pulls the old switch-a-roo on the old College Kids vs Hillbillies cliche.

I only watched this because I am a massive fan of Alan Tudyk (Dodgeball's Steve the Pirate and Firefly's Wash) and of horror-comedies. Another film I thought would just be a simple time-passer turns out to be my favourite comedy of the year. With the horror-comedy genre expanding exponentially over the last decade, thanks the to likes of 'Shaun Of The Dead', the 'Scream' franchise and so many others, the old conventions are starting to run dry and new ideas are becoming scarce. 'Zombieland' proved an original story could still be found employing an enemy reinvented more times than Katie Price's bosom. 'Piranha 3D' added new technology to it's mindless carnage in an effort to boost ratings. So what new and exciting concept can be offered to horrorphiles around the world? Or will the classic themes just be reproduced over and over?

 PREFACE TO THE REVIEW:

You may be wondering why a film made in the '60s has suddenly appeared amongst the Silent Epics from the early twentieth century in a systematically chronological review blog. The main reason is that I have just finished reading Arthur C. Clarke's 'Space Oddessy' quadrilogy and wanted to refresh my memory of a film I can only partly remember from childhood. I am a huge fan of novel-to-film adaptations ranging from Minority Report & Jurassic Park to Salem's Lot & The Lord Of The Rings and I love to see how selections are made in what is required on screen and what cannot be portrayed, often with characters changed and entire narratives being rewritten. This particular case is unique in that Clarke and Kubrick co-wrote their own version of the same story simultaneously, often passing ideas between each other; Clarke would watch the daily rushes and notice a completely new take on a character or vise-versa. Of course the books hold infinitely more detail and explain every aspect of the ambiguities that make Kubrick's film so special: What exactly are the monoliths? Why does HAL go homicidal? What the hell is going on for the last 20 minutes? Perhaps someday I will look into both stories and discuss the pros and cons of being presented with too little or too much information but for now I will review Kubrick's film as it's own entity

IMDB Top 250 Review - 2001: A Space Oddessy (1968)

Creating questions that he does not answer, Kubrick's vision of the future combines elegance, camera trickery and a whole lot of nothing.

The only thing I could remember from this film from my only previous viewing (as a preteen I may add) was that there was a computer with a red light, the spaceship spun around and some monkeys bashed some bones to the tune of what I only knew as "that music from '2001'". That and the numerous parodies from such places as 'The Simpsons', 'Family Guy' and Ben Stiller's 'Zoolander'. I was also a little daunted when I saw the 141 minute running time but felt great anticipation in watching a film that I enjoyed so much as a novel. I am also as inept on Kubrick as any Silent director so this is a new awakening for me. OK, so I've seen it before and read the book, but as far as I know, this is my first time watching a Kubrick movie with the passion for film that I now have.

Artistically spectacular yet morally unsettling, 'Sunrise' is a fairytale full of matrimonial hardships and reconciliation.

For the first time since starting this challenge, I was definitely out of my comfort zone with 'Sunrise,' given that I hadn't heard of the film, director or any cast members before the start of opening credits. It does, however, give me the most unbiased and non-preferential perspective from which to write this review. Unfortunately for Murnau, 'Sunrise' holds another first - I wasn't completely bowled over. Don't get me wrong, the use of visual trickery is as beautiful and innovative as anything up to George Lucas' 1977 movie about forces, robots and an asthmatic Batman, but my main issue is that storyline holds very little realism when the plot deals with such sensitive subjects as domestic violence and adultery and is therefore open to all kinds of interpretation.

OK, so I know the main reason for this blog is to post my reviews of the IMDB Top 250 list and expand my knowledge of film but I watched a movie yesterday and simply had to give my opinion.

Why on Earth did these two versatile and respectable actors sign up for this piece of crap?!? OK, so there's the money but they could at least think of the dent in their reputations too. And maybe they'd always wanted to work with each other but they could have held out for something that won't go straight into the bargain bin at Blockbuster. I only bothered with movie this because my girlfriend, Sophie, had been visiting Venice at the time of production and she happened upon Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie filming 20 meters across a canal from her and wanted to spot the scene when we watched it. Wow, were we disappointed.

A masterpiece of cinematography and adventure storytelling - "The General" is the definition of how action should have been done.

It shows my complete ignorance of silent film (and American history) to say that I went into this picture thinking Keaton was playing a famous general, or at least, that a general of some kind was part of the story, perhaps somewhere along the lines of Chaplin's Dictator (this was also, I'd like to note, before I'd seen the cover to your left). I was right in some measure. There certainly was a general or two on screen, given the context of the American Civil War, however, the 'General' of the title is a locomotive engine, captured by Union troops and used to destroy communications and railroads in an attempt to win the war for the North. Luckily for the Confederates, Keaton's Johnnie Gray was the General's conductor at the time and chased tirelessly, not only to liberate his beloved train from the Union but to give warning to the Confederacy and bring the advancing troops to a standstill. And whilst there may be a change of names and a little dramatisation, OK more than a little, the story doesn't waver too far from the events of the 'Great Locomotive Chase' of 1862, a hijack that resulted in the first medal of honor recipient.

***Warning - May Contain Spoilers***

A tale of hardship, friendship and love in turn of the century Alaska - Chaplin continues to win over.

This is the film Chaplin most wanted to be remembered for and it certainly contains some of his most memorable moments: The Tramp eating his own shoe for Thanksgiving dinner, the elegant 'Oceana Roll' dance (perhaps more recognisable to a younger audience from Johnny Depp's rendition in "Benny and Joon" (1993)), the balancing-act on the edge of a cliff that Michael Caine would be proud of.... the list goes on.

You may have noticed that the last remark on my review of "The Kid" is a rating out of ten for 'movie' and 'film.' This is something I devised back in my radio days when I had a half hour slot on Radio Hampshire reviewing new releases, posing trivia quesions and giving various top tens in my 'movie trailer' voice. I am by no means the first person to differentiate between a movie and a film but I can almost certainly lay claim to be the creator of the movie/film rating system.

Michael Bay's "Transformers" - Movie 10, Film 3

But first, for those lost by this point, let me explain what I mean by movie/film. Of course I am working in generalisations, but a 'movie' is something that you go to watch at the cinema with a group of mates, lots of popcorn and with the expectation of being entertained, be that through Ryan Reynold's new comedy, The Rock's current blow-everything-up-but-has-no-plot movie or Meryl Streep singing with three actors attemping to do the same on a Greek Island. It can be fun, silly and is usually directed by Michael Bay or produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Afterwards you'll be chatting about how hot Megan Fox was, how awesome the fight scenes were or how you can't wait to see the sequal, prequal or remake (Hollywood does enjoy milikng a cashcow). It rarely wins any OSCARs outside of the Sound Design or Visual Effects categories.

Chaplin's hilarious and heart-wrenching dramedy still resonates 90 years on..... beautiful storytelling.


The Kid's opening credits advise that this is "A picture with a smile, and perhaps a tear..." and it certainly does not disappoint. I find it fantastic that a film made in the adolescence of Hollywood, even before the advent of sound, can still induce laughter in a reviewer who has been desensitized by the innumerable comedies of Stiller, Carrey and Sandler. Or perhaps that is the reason why it was so refreshing. It needs no profanity, no Farrelly-Brothers vulgarity; only some clever slapstick, witty characters and wonderfully timed set-pieces. It's second claim also does not fall short as the fear eminating from Coogan, Chaplin's fledgling co-star, when he is being dragged off to the orphanage is hard to watch. Consdering the age of Coogan, his repertoire of emotions, comic timing and cheeky-faced charm is exceptional. Actually, ignoring his limited experience he is Chaplin's equal.

Welcome to the new blog by The Film Genie, previously just 'Genie', created partly to encourage my film consumption and partly to share my opinions with those who want to hear, chat about, agree with, contradict and demolish them. If all goes well, I'm starting a Masters in Film this October so I thought I'd brush up on my film experience and knowledge, as well as my critical and analytical skills by watching the current (Jan 2011) IMDB Top 250.

Seems like a big challenge, well thanks to a new website I discovered (http://www.listsofbests.com/person/Jon_Hunter) I can keep track easily - I didn't realise I was already on 40% so there's a time-saving bonus straight away. I'll be reviewing each film as I watch it too so look out for the 150 or so reviews arriving, optimistically, by the start of my first term. I'm also working through them chronologically as my current expertise spends way too much time in the Bay/Rodriguez sector, skims through Spielburg, Tarantino and Burton and falls particulary short around Ford/Hitchcock/Eisenstein and most other names relevant to a true understanding of the film industry.

Anyway, Charlie Chaplin's "The Kid" (1921) coming soon.....

The Film Genie