Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Tags

2000's, Ang Lee, Chow Yun-Fat, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Foreign Language Film, Martial Arts, Michelle Yeoh, Romance, Wuxia, Zhang Ziyi

Film Title

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Director

Ang Lee

Cast

• Chow Yun-Fat as Li Mu Bai
• Michelle Yeoh as Yu Shu Lien
• Zhang Ziyi as Jen Yu
• Chang Chen as Lo
• Cheng Pei-Pei as Jade Fox

Beautifully realised and full of stunning fight scenes, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is Ang Lee’s outstanding wuxia film, that perfectly balances a thrilling, dramatic story and action. Taking cues from various genres such as period drama and romance, the film is a must watch for cinema lovers.

During the rule of the Qing Dynasty of China, wise and well-known swordsman Li Mu Bai is passing on his famous sword, the Green Destiny, to an old friend. He is friends with Yu Shu Lien, a female warrior. Even though they have developed deep feelings for each other, because of honour and tradition they have suppressed these desires and their love remains unrequited. Not long after the sword has been delivered, it is stolen by a masked thief. Li Mu Bai and Shu Lien then attempt to retrieve it. It is then revealed that the thief is Jen, a general’s daughter who is soon to be married and growing restless with the trappings of women in society. What follows is a stunning film about honour, love and the desire to break from the rules imposed on people, especially women in society.

As I mentioned earlier, the many scenes of fighting are amazing to behold. The spectacle is outstanding as we watch characters jump across buildings whilst grappling with each other and float almost supernaturally with a balletic grace. The rooftop chase between Shu Lien and Jen is a highlight as well as Mu Bai’s duel with Jen through a forest of bamboo trees. Perfectly balanced between the fights is a reflective story of tradition and the old ways pitted against newer ones.

The acting is excellent, Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh create convincing portraits of skilled warriors who have repressed deep emotions in order to survive. The biggest revelation however is Zhang Ziyi as the adventurous, conflicted and beautiful Jen. She has an intensity far beyond her young years, as she both captures the youthful, naive side of her character and the serious and skillful other side.

A deep feminist undercurrent runs through the film. Each of the women in the film fight for a specific reason, yet most of the time it is for respect and acceptance in a male-dominated world. This is most apparent in terms of Jen, who does not want to be caged in marriage and effectively ending her chances of experiencing life to the full. The film is made interesting by this undercurrent, as it usually men who dominate the genre of martial arts films.

A finely constructed piece of poetic cinema that isn’t afraid to reference other genres, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is a stunning and staggering achievement of filmmaking. If you haven’t seen this film, please do as you won’t regret it.

Kill List

Tags

2010's, Ben Wheatley, Horror, Kill List, Michael Smiley, MyAnna Buring, Neil Maskell, Thriller

Film Title

Kill List

Director

Ben Wheatley

Cast

• Neil Maskell as Jay
• Michael Smiley as Gal
• MyAnna Buring as Shel
• Emma Fryer as Fiona

A brutal, bleak and unexpected British thriller, Kill List is a film that makes you think that you have figured everything out, and then completely turns this idea on its head. The overall film  makes for uncomfortable, unflinching and thought-provoking viewing, that will leave you pondering when the credits have finished.

Jay is a recovering soldier turned contract killer, who is haunted after an unspecified  job in Kiev. With money running low and his waspish wife Shel nagging him to take on another job in order to provide for his family, Jay reluctantly does so with his best friend and former soldier Gal. They are assigned a job of killing three men, in what at first appears to be a simple enough job. As the duo descents deeper into the task, an ominous shadow hangs over them as horror surrounding various events is revealed to them.  What follows on is a mix of hitman thriller and shocking horror as Jay attempts to discover the strange enigmas surrounding the hits they are supposed to commit.

As I’ve mentioned before the film veers into horror territory but not in the traditional sense. Rather than jump scares, the film examines the horror of one man’s daily life and the dire consequences arising from doing his normal job. His descent into confusion is amplified by sinister music, the sound of an eerie whistled tune sending shivers down the spine. Also thrown into the mix of genres is family drama, as we witness Jay’s strained and capricious relationship with his wife and the effects it has. This is what makes the film so interesting, the mixing of genres and turning what we think might happen into something completely unexpected. Viewers be warned that once the film goes into thriller territory the events become very brutal and sometimes hard to watch. When it moves into horror, you won’t know what has hit you as it is that shocking and unforeseeable.

The three central performances add immediate impact to the story. Neil Maskell embodies the confused and unpredictable character of Jay, as an audience we never know what his character may be capable of as he plays the part so well.  Smiley adds darkly comedic action to the narrative as his best friend who becomes concerned for him as they delve deeper into the case. MyAnna Buring is equally effective as Shel, who is both capricious and curious towards the case and Jay himself.

Aided by an almost documentary style of shooting and sinister use of sound, Kill List will chill you and leave you shocked at its many turns before a shocking climax emerges. Believe me, it is a film that will stay in your head for a long time after viewing it.

The Breakfast Club

Tags

1980's, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Michael Hall, Comedy, Drama, Emilio Estevez, John Hughes, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, The Breakfast Club

Film Title

The Breakfast Club

Director

John Hughes

Cast

• Emilio Estevez as Andrew
• Molly Ringwald as Claire
• Judd Nelson as John Bender
• Anthony Michael Hall as Brian
• Ally Sheedy as Allison
• Paul Gleason as Richard Vernon

Helmed by John Hughes, The Breakfast Club is for many the quintessential teen movie. It is warm, funny and touching filmmaking that captures the essence of what it is like to be a teenager. The film takes an interesting premise and creates a film that has had its share of imitators, but has never been bettered in terms of its originality.

Five high school students report to their high school’s library for a Saturday detention. Each of the students adheres to a stereotypical social group; there is Andy the jock, Brian the brain, Allison the outsider, Claire the princess and Bender the rebel. Detention according to the assistant principal is to last for eight hours, forty-five minutes and they are forced to write an essay on who they are as a person. At first the group appears to have nothing in common and argue with each other, mainly as a result of Bender’s negative attitude that annoys the others. But as the hours wear on, they begin to realise how much they actually have in common, despite their rigid social situations. This calls for baring their souls, airing frustrations and finally getting along with each other.

When watching the film, I noticed how relatable the characters were. Everyone can sympathise with at least one of the issues faced by the group as well as seeing themselves in one of them. John Hughes directs with a deep understanding of teenagers and social situations that arise from being part of  a certain group. The humour in the film is unbeatable, especially the many times that the club causes disturbance to assistant principal Vernon. The scene of them all dancing together is hysterically funny to watch as well. Underscoring the comedy is a poignant drama that surfaces when the characters reveals their inner turmoil and problems to each other. The Breakfast Club is so effective in the way it intertwines the two and allows for each to unravel with success.

Each of the cast is given a chance to shine in roles that are well suited to them. Returning to the John Hughes universe is Anthony Michael Hall and Molly Ringwald, who would become staples of his teen movies.I can’t think of one sour note on the performances, as each cast member embodies a certain social clique whilst revealing deeper emotions underneath. The film is further boosted by an amazing and very catching soundtrack. The use of  “Don’t you forget about me” performed by Simple Minds is a stroke of genius that opens the film whilst the camera shows the various places that will probably be frequented by the group.

In a matter of words, The Breakfast Club is the teen film to treasure. Both witty and relatable, the film breaks down the barriers held by people about groups and examines the underlying personality underneath. If you have not seen this classic teen movie, then I advise you to.

A Little Princess

Tags

1990's, A Little Princess, Alfonso Cuarón, Eleanor Bron, Fantasy, Liesel Matthews, Period Drama

Film Title

A Little Princess

Director

Alfonso Cuaron

Cast

• Liesel Matthews as Sara Crewe
• Eleanor Bron as Miss Minchin
• Liam Cunningham as Captain Crewe
• Vanessa Lee Chester as Becky
• Arthur Malet as Charles Randolph
• Errol Sitahal as Ram Dass

Based on the classic children’s book, A Little Princess is a joy for both children and adults to watch. Visually stunning, evocatively scored and well performed, it shows how the imagination of one person can help them brave an unforgiving world and brighten the lives of others.

Sara Crewe is a young rich girl living in India with her captain father. She is an imaginative girl who enjoys nothing better than telling stories to others. When World War I breaks out, her father enlists for service and sends her to an exclusive American Boarding school for girls. At first she is a popular new edition to the school, but over time clashes with the viciously cruel headteacher Miss Minchin. The woman presides over the girls with a scolding eye and punishes for them make believing stories. When news is heard that Sara’s father has been killed in the trenches, she suddenly is stripped of her rich finery and banished to the attic. She is then made a slave by Minchin, who tries to break the young girls free-spirited demeanor. Along the way Sara maintains her believe in magic and makes friends with the mistreated African-American slave Becky. Throughout her ordeal, the expressive Sara brings joy to others and takes on the evil Minchin, whose cruelty still does not deter the spirited Sara.

Alfonso Cuarón displays loving talent and imagination in his rendering of this timeless story. Working with the maestro of cinematography that is Emmanuel Lubezki, the glorious triumph of the spirit soars with bold colours and a sense of beauty in even the most dire of situations. The music, courtesy of Patrick Doyle, bristles with an exotic, far-reaching aura that is lovely to listen to.

The performances in the film are top-notch, especially Matthews who imbues Sara with an expressive streak and strength. Her many tales of Indian folklore are visually outstanding, in dazzling colours that contrast with the drab existence of Minchin’s school. In the villain role, Eleanor Bron is suitably chilly and beastly as the antagonistic Miss Minchin. Many moments linger long in the memory; Sara silently crying whilst writing a letter to her father and it turning to rain as he reads it in the trenches, the drab attic transformed into an exotic living room and Sara’s escape attempt in the pouring rain. As an audience we root for her and it is always good to see her taking on Minchin, whose seethes with anger as Sara defends herself and others against her wrath. The one moment that epitomizes her love of life and unwavering belief in hope is when she dances in the snow with abandon. Sara is a heroine we can relate to and it does bring a smile from the audience as she overcomes the challenges thrown her way.

Alfonso Cuarón‘s film is a beautiful testament to the human spirit and imagination, to be enjoyed by everyone. I’m sure everyone will find something to praise when watching A Little Princess, because it is simply a marvellous film.

Which actress do you prefer as Lisbeth Salander?

Tags

Lisbeth Salander, Millenium Trilogy, Noomi Rapace, Rooney Mara, Stieg Larsson, The girl who kicked the hornet's nest, The girl who played with fire, The girl with the dragon tattoo

The character of Lisbeth Salander is one I’m sure many will have heard of. After all, she is the computer hacking, gothic heroine of the million selling Millenium book trilogy, a trilogy of Swedish films and an American version. The question today is, which actress do you prefer as the intelligent and kick ass Lisbeth? Noomi Rapce of the original trilogy or Rooney Mara’s incarnation of Stieg Larsson’s famous character?

Which actress caprtures the many sides of her character? Whatever your view or opinion, please give it as I would interested to hear people’s thoughts.