Category Archives: Film reviews

Capsule Reviews, Film reviews, Revisited classics

Oldboy 20-year Anniversary Restoration Review

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In 2003, director Park Chan-wook brought the world Oldboy, an in-depth film full of psychological suspense and mayhem. Its presentation is rapid which is the result of a grandeur of revolutionary directing. With Oldboy restored and back in cinemas for its 20-year anniversary, audiences are in for a treatwhether they’ve seen the movie before or are experiencing it for the first time. The setting of South Korea is dark as is thestoryline in this thriller. Park Chan-wook’s faithful direction of every fragment of the film is excellent. The film focuses on a man named Dae-Su Oh (played by Choi Min-sik), who has been kidnapped and spends fifteen years being imprisoned by captors. He made a mistake which led him to be locked up for many years with no windows and fed only dumplings. Once he finds a way out, he must find the pieces to explain why he has been locked up for so long. The audience can feel the tension of Oldboy through the vast narration during Min-sik’s performance.It is said that the motto of his character, Dae-Su Oh, is, “Just get by the day quietly.” However, there comes a storm of unexpected vengeance.

The poetic art of portraying frustration is mesmerizing because of surreal directing. The storyline is spellbinding throughout Oldboy. Once Dae-Su escapes, the film is a montage of monumental revenge. It is like an orchesis of building climaxes with technological and cinematic effects. In the film it is said, “Vengeance is healthy,” but how healthy is it for Dae-Su to put together the pieces of himself which were locked up for many years? Oldboy is a masterpiece two decades later and its restoration is one that deserves appreciation. Four stars.

Film reviews

The Last Voyage of the Demeter Review

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The Last Voyage of the Demeter is based on a chapter from “Dracula”, the 1897 novel from Irish author Bram Stoker. The chapter of the book that it is taken from is called “The Captain’s Log”, about a journey at sea. I have always been fascinated by stories or movies taking place at sea. In fact, the sea excels as a form of terror, because it’s just naturally a scary place, especially at night. Unfortunately, The Last Voyage of the Demeter’s faithfulness to Bram Stoker’s novel is mediocre, as is the film in general.

The ship on which The Last Voyage of the Demeter is set is a merchant ship called the Demeter. The people on board the ship include Clemens (played by Corey Hawkins), Anna (played by Aisling Franciosi), Captain Elliot (played by Liam Cunningham), Wojchek (played by David Dastmalchian), Abrams (played by Chris Walley), Joseph (played by Jon Jon Brione), and more. The ship’s mission is to deliver wooden crates from Carpathia to London. But the crates have a demonic-looking symbol that represents Dracula. Daytime on the ship is safe, but at night danger erupts for everyone on board. Nothing can protect the passengers from the demons that may arise from the crates they have on their ship.

There are hints to explain why there are monsters jumping into the film, but there is no clear background or indications as to why the terror is evolving. The film gives a brief introduction, cuts to the voyage, and the haunting begins. With this being based Stoker’s “Dracula”, I wish there was more background on Dracula to add to the excitement. There is no explanation his creation, his evolvements, his relationships, or his terrors. Dracula just shows up to eat those he craves—the people who are trying to kill him. It’s a fight to the finish for the passengers on the voyage, but are they equipped for the task?

The symbolism in The Last Voyage of the Demeter is one invigorating component of the film. The evil symbols on the boxes initiates a terror response from viewers. And this terror becomes increasingly enticing at night, bringing a certain level of cinematic joy, although the shock value decreases as the same sorts of terrors occur and the film becomes repetitive.

The amazing lighting and cinematography was also a plus for The Last Voyage of the Demeter. The film truly had great technical components throughout its spooky adventure. This gave the film the look of a brilliant horror film, but that doesn’t make up for what it lacked in depth. The writing and directing just failed to find the originality of Stoker’s Dracula, and failed to create an enticing experience for fans of Stoker. Instead, it relied on violence and monsters going crazy for viewing pleasure. I’m not a fan of that approach. I think that background and motive increases the shock values in a horror film, especially with a character as interesting as Dracula.

Is Dracula scary? It was in brief elements, but then it just goes awry and heads down a mediocre rabbit hole. My view is that it just wasn’t adventurous enough in its writing or directing. So I’m very much neutral and was just not very impressed with the film. I regret having to say that, but I just did not find the film as pleasing as I was hoping. Two and a half out of four stars for The Last Voyage of the Demeter.

Film reviews

Passages Review

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There are films in which relationships involve tension, confusion, and dishonesty. Then there are films where one’s desire may have irreparable effects. Director Ira Sachs delivers a brilliant and well-crafted drama that is surreal in its humanity.  In Passages, a man’s relationship is tested by sleeping with someone else. Passages was originally rated NC-17, but then was changed to Unrated. This was probably the best rating it could have received, because otherwise the film would not receive the recognition it truly deserves. The movie is a stylized ride of boundaries, which is seductively invigorating.

The film takes place in France and focuses on a gay married couple, Tomas and Martin (played by Franz Rogowski and Ben Whishaw). Tomas is a film director always striving for a successful project. When Tomas experiences mixed expectations of his own progress along with being bored by Martin’s enthusiasm, his attractions begin to shift. He meets Agathe (played by Adele Exarchopoulos), who is a schoolteacher and a colleague of Tomas. Tomas and Agathe begin having a relationship which consists mostly of meeting up to socialize and hook-up. Tomas is open with Martin about the fact that he is seeing a woman, but that causes the tension between the two men to boil. Is Tomas truly in love with Agathe? Does Tomas still have feelings for Martin? Is Martin feeling different about who he truly loves as well? The film is a sexy ride that mirrors reality.  Passages adds fuel to the emotional fire that thrives on the film’s conflict which is caused by lust, confusion, and jealousy.

The concept of separation speaks strongly in the film. The film’s writing is strong in exploring that it appears there is no easy door of departure for Tomas, Martin, or Agathe. However, there is still some strange connection between the three characters.  Martin’s personality helps the film to find calm in spite of the harsh situation that Tomas has created. Ben Whishaw who plays Martin does a fine job portraying an introverted, artistic nerd.  His role as the one dealing with frustrations fits the dismissive side of his character. Also, the part of Franz Rogowski as Tomas effectively displays his character’s boredom. The layers of solitude and quiet help the film’s tensions slowly boil, and then there are moments where tensions explode in upsetting scenes. There are no easy roads in Passages. There are only paths in which problems must be dealt with for the sake of Tomas and Martin, and for the sake of Tomas and Agathe. Who is the happy couple? In the end, happiness depends upon the truth and Passages will make its viewers want the truth.

This film is a unique, artistic revelation. Passages is faithful in portraying how humans want to go with their gut and how humans take risks which impact everyone in their lives. The risks Tomas takes impact the feelings of Martin. Is there a place where their hearts truly lie? Find out in Passages. Four out of four stars.