Snow White and the Huntsman

Tags

2010's, Bob Hoskins, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Fantasy, Ian McShane, Kristen Stewart, Ray Winstone, Rupert Sanders, Sam Claflin, Sam Spruell, Snow White and the Huntsman, Toby Jones

Film Title

Snow White and the Huntsman

Director

Rupert Sanders

Starring

• Kristen Stewart as Snow White
• Chris Hemsworth as the Huntsman
• Charlize Theron as Queen Ravenna
• Sam Claflin as William
• Sam Spruell as Finn
• Ian McShane as Beith
• Bob Hoskins as Muir
• Toby Jones as Coll
• Ray Winstone as Gort

A dark and stormy twist on the Snow White tale, Snow White and the Huntsman brings the tale to life with style. Yet for all that, a sometimes dragging narrative and questionable casting stop it from becoming a complete success.

Once upon a time, a King and Queen live in a prosperous kingdom. The Queen gives birth to a princess who is named Snow White. Sadly, the Queen dies and the King is left in a web of grief. Invading forces attack and the King goes to battle, eventually destroying the mysterious army. Among the dead, he discovers a beautiful woman by the name of Ravenna. Besotted with her beauty, the King hastily marries her. But he doesn’t realise that Ravenna is in fact a twisted and vengeful sorceress. Ravenna murders the King and brings her dark forces to the kingdom, which causes everything to wither into darkness and hopelessness. Ravenna is obsessed with remaining young and beautiful and as a result locks Snow White away in a tower. She retains her youth by draining the life force of young girls and then consulting with her magic mirror. When the mirror tells her that Snow White is the fairest, Ravenna descends into rage and plots her death. Meanwhile, Snow White sees an opportunity to escape and manages to. The young princess finds herself in the Dark Forest, which is feared by everyone. Enraged, Ravenna summons a drunken Huntsman to track her down. The Huntsman has no interest in helping the evil queen at first, but when she promises to bring his deceased wife back to him, he agrees. Venturing into the woods, he tracks Snow White and when it is revealed that Ravenna has tricked him, joins forces with the princess. They find themselves tracked by the Queen’s forces and journey deeper into the ravaged land. There they come across a band of dwarfs who were loyal to her father and William, a young nobleman with whom Snow White was friends with as a child. As she is the King’s daughter, she must be the one to lead the rebellion against Ravenna and take back the kingdom for good once and for all.

Debuting director Rupert Sanders bring a whole lot of style and panache to this film. Instead of a quaint fairy tale that has been done a thousand times, he delves into the dark heart of the story and brings the Gothic nature of it into view. The set design is absolutely sublime, with The Dark Forest being the highlight of an impressive array of visual splendour with moody colour scheme and creepy effects. The costumes are fantastic, especially in the case of Ravenna, who dresses to kill both metaphorically and literally. It’s great to see a different take on Snow White as a character. Here she is an innocent girl who transforms into a Joan of Arc style warrior leading men into battle. This is a far cry from the winsome and fawning portrayals of the eponymous princess we have seen. And yet there lies part of the problem with Snow White and the Huntsman, it can’t quite makes its mind up of what it wants to be. On one hand we have the effective dark fantasy with a few tweaks here and there. But by altering some of the classic story, the passion is lost. There is supposed to be passion between Snow White and the Huntsman, and even something of a love triangle with William, yet it curiously falls flat. And a middle section that drags at a snail’s pace does the movie no favours. Thankfully, the thundering musical score conjures up some striking moments of drama and magic.

Kristen Stewart portrays Snow White and I must say, is not really that memorable or good in the part. She nails the gloomy stance in the beginning quite well, but seems incapable of escaping this open-mouthed stare and emotionless drudge. Stewart doesn’t convince either when it comes to the growth of the character throughout the narrative. I can’t help but feel that if someone else where in the part, I would have enjoyed it a lot more. Chris Hemsworth fares much better as the Huntsman, by carefully bringing a worn-out persona and lonely existence to this brutish man. Yet the real fireworks come from a superb Charlize Theron. Portraying Ravenna as a woman consumed by fear, hatred and no mercy, she is marvellous when she takes the floor and vents her fury. Possessing that imperial gaze and glint of eye, Theron makes what could have been a stock character very interesting and arresting by showing us her back story and why she is the way she is. Sam Claflin doesn’t register that well as Snow White’s friend from childhood, but Sam Spruell sends shivers down the spine as Ravenna’s too close for comfort brother. The acting talents of Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins, Toby Jones and Ray Winstone add dashes of humour to the proceedings as the dwarfs.

Snow White and The Huntsman may be stylish and a visual marvel, there’s just something missing because of the unevenness in tone and lack of passion to balance things out. Saying that, I enjoyed it a hell of a lot more than Mirror, Mirror.

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My Second Dragon’s Loyalty Award

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Dragon's Loyalty Award

I think I’m going through awards season at the minute, because they keep flooding my way. This time it is courtesy of the wonderful Reut, who runs a witty, charming and all round fabulous blog. She has awarded me my second Dragon’s Loyalty Award. And I am super grateful to her for this as she is such a lovely blogger whose work always delights me.

So more facts about me:

1. I dig most things that are supernatural in tone or theme.
2. Apples are my favourite fruit.
3. I always seem to research pieces of music that I hear in trailers.
4. Loyalty is a quality I admire in people.
5. I usually don’t care about the running time of a movie, just as long as it keeps me entertained.
6. I believe that everyone has something beautiful or special about them.
7. I was never the biggest fan of chemistry in school, out of the science subjects, biology was the one that interested me the most.
8. I have recently begun to discover the wonders of Blu-Ray.

Here are the five nominees:

1. Khalid
2. Laura
3. MIB
4. Mikey
5. Grog’s Movie Blog

Mirror, Mirror

Tags

2010's, Armie Hammer, Comedy, Fantasy, Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Mirror Mirror, Nathan Lane, Sean Bean, Tarsem Singh

Film Title

Mirror, Mirror

Director

Tarsem Singh

Starring

• Lily Collins as Snow White
• Julia Roberts as The Queen
• Armie Hammer as Prince Alcott
• Nathan Lane as Brighton
• Sean Bean as The King

A visually splendid but somewhat lacking retelling of the Snow White fairy tale, Mirror, Mirror is opulent to look at but not a wholly successful update. It is a movie of both positives and negatives, yet this comedy/fantasy still leaves you somewhat deflated after watching.

Once upon a time, we see that a young princess by the name of Snow White was born, though her mother died in childbirth. Her grieving father the King married a most beautiful woman, before he mysteriously vanished in the dark forest and was presumed dead. The beautiful yet insecure Queen takes guardianship over Snow White and began to show her true colours by locking her away from the outside world out of fear that her beauty will outshine hers. Her reasoning for this is her magic mirror, which informs her that her beauty will be surpassed by Snow White. The envious Queen has also left the kingdom destitute as a result of her increasing vanity. She is advised to seek out a rich husband and she finds an ideal candidate in the form of the hapless but dashing Prince Alcott. The problem is that he is besotted with the beautiful and innocent Snow White. Enraged, she sends her servant Brighton out into the forest to kill her. Brighton can’t go through with it and lets the young girl escape deep into the forest. There she is taken in by a group of dwarf bandits, who steal what they can from people crossing through the woods. Exiled by the Queen, the seven bandits begin to teach Snow White the tricks of their trade, helping her to grow stronger in order for her to take back the throne that is rightfully hers by birth before the evil Queen can bewitch Prince Alcott into marrying her.

Director Tarsem Singh brings his usual control over splendid visuals and wonderous imagery to the table in Mirror, Mirror. It must be said that the sets are spectacular to look at and the costume design is simply breathtaking in its extravagance. Yet visuals and style are not enough to make Mirror, Mirror a film of originality or power. The jaunty tone of the film is something of a double-edged sword; in certain instances the anachronistic approach works excellently and allows for a lot of laughs. But other times it spills over into the realms of juvenile ridiculousness that is just too unbelievable to take seriously. Just like Into the Woods, I didn’t mind the occasional bending of classic stories. As a matter of fact, many of these switch ups where quite enjoyable, particularly making the seven dwarfs bandits. But at times, Mirror, Mirror just strayed too far over the line of keeping it classic but with added twists that are needless. There’s just something missing here that I can’t put my finger on. The same can’t be said about the score which contributes lively glee and carefree spirit to the uneven film.

Thankfully most of the acting can rise above the flaws of the movie and be very enjoyable. Lily Collins possesses the porcelain beauty and winsome charm for Snow White, but manages to give her a plucky attitude later on and show that she is no mere damsel in distress. The character could have easily been the fawning and helpless princess we are used to seeing, but Collins radiates something different with her version of Snow White. Julia Roberts sinks her teeth into her role as the evil Queen, displaying her insecurity and catty remarks to others with the aplomb of a supreme bitch. Roberts is having a great time here and makes the most of the part, at least managing to give the audience something to laugh about during the course of the movie. The standout performance in Mirror, Mirror comes from Armie Hammer. I liked how he didn’t take himself to seriously here and how he gave Prince Alcott a goofball charm, a penchant for walking into trouble and a certain silliness. He is the prince of the narrative, but the fact that he isn’t the main hero and is often quite hapless in a fight was really funny to view. Nathan Lane is suitably hilarious as Brighton, the Queen’s lap dog who often finds himself in over his head but Sean Bean is wasted in the small role as Snow White’s father. I must give compliments to the actors playing the dwarfs as they really do have a great repertoire with each other and help give Mirror, Mirror some charm that it desperately needs.

So all in all, Mirror, Mirror is a visually dazzling and handsomely designed take on a fairy tale. But that’s all it really is, save for some impressive performances and tweaks to the traditional Snow White narrative.

 

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

Tags

1980's, Action, Adventure, Angelo Rossitto, Bruce Spence, George Miller, George Ogilvie, Helen Buday, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Mel Gibson, Robert Grubb, Tina Turner

Film Title

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

Directors

George Miller and George Ogilvie

Starring

• Mel Gibson as Max Rockatansky
• Tina Turner as Aunty Entity
• Bruce Spence as Jedediah
• Angelo Rossitto as Master
• Helen Buday as Savannah Nix
• Robert Grubb as Pig Killer

The final part of the original trilogy, before the excellent Fury Road exploded onto cinema screens, Beyond Thunderdome always seems to be the film in the Mad Max canon that gets a mixed reception. While it doesn’t have the ferocity of The Road Warrior or the grim ambiance of Mad Max, it has an outlandish, outrageous and thrilling adventure that is a fun ride throughout. Seriously, Beyond Thunderdome is not as bad as I heard people say it was, people really need to go back and watch this entry in the series to reevaluate their opinion of it.

It is fifteen years since we last saw lone drifter Max. We pick up with him in the Australian desert of the post apocalypse, making his way to nowhere. His ride of camels is hijacked by Jedediah and his young son, a pair of aviator bandits who commandeer his belongings. Max continues to push on until he comes upon Bartertown. The place is a sleazy pace in which anything, including one’s life can be traded if the price is right. The town’s energy comes from the rearing of pigs and their feces which in turn makes methane. Max is brought to the attention of the town’s ruler, the flamboyant Aunty Entity. While this Amazonian runs the place, she does have an uneasy truce with Master Blaster, an amalgam of a clever dwarf connected to a mountain of brute strength. In exchange for Max’s fighting ability and a duel with Blaster in the arena known as Thunderdome so that she can tighten her hold on the town, Aunty will give Max the supplies his needs to be on his way. Agreeing to this, Max takes on Blaster in the weapon covered arena but stops from killing his opponent when he has a change of heart upon seeing who he really is. Enraged, Aunty banishes Max for betraying her and sends him deep into the deserts. After almost dying from exhaustion and dehydration, he is rescued by a tribe of children who bring him to their camp. The tribe, who crash landed on a plane years before, believes that Max is the captain of the plane brought back so that he can lead them to hope. Although he tries to deny this fact and originally has no intention of helping them out, Max soon sees that he must and leads them through the deserts. The only hitch in the plan is that they must cross through Bartertown along the way, where there is sure to be a battle on Max’s hands.

While others may say that Beyond Thunderdome is the most commercial of the three, it doesn’t stop it being enjoyable. George Miller and co-director George Ogilvie do a sterling job of bringing another dimension to the series. Yes there is still the darkness lurking around in the apocalyptic settings, but there is also humour and crazy ideas at play which make it fresh. Miller still brings plenty of action to this film, including a cart chase which ranks as spectacular in my book and the unforgettable duel inside Thunderdome, where Max must utilise his strength while being suspended on wires. Yet the focus here is adventure of mythical properties with Max becoming the unlikely saviour of the tribe and being considered the deity that will bring them hope in this time of danger. Stunning visuals and spectacular set pieces are the order of the day here and they don’t disappoint at all; the biggest highlight being Thunderdome itself which is just a master work of glorious set design. The unusual but highly effective music score works wonders to highlight this idiosyncratic world that Max has found himself in and the sense of danger that always follows him wherever he goes. And not forgetting the two songs provided by Tina Turner, the best being the classic ‘We Don’t Need Another Hero’.

Essaying the role of Max once again, Mel Gibson has clearly grown into the part effectively. Max here is gruff, impatient yet deep down damaged from the pain of the past which seems to drive him in to violence. He may have more dialogue this time around, but Gibson still retains that emotional reticence that made the character of Max so iconic in the first place. Music superstar Tina Turner makes an impression, slinking across the screen like a cunning vixen in chain mail as Aunty Entity. She clearly relishes the flamboyant part and contributes a diva like aura of delicious ruthlessness and fabulous sexuality. Bruce Spence returns to the Mad Max fold only this time as another character, though he is still as deliriously crazy as he was in his other role. Angelo Rossitto is funny as Master, the diminutive leader of Bartertown caught in a power struggle with Aunty. Helen Buday is fearless and strong as Savannah, one of the older members of the tribe that Max comes to the aid of. And then we have Robert Grubb, who is suitably crazed as Pig Killer.

Outlandish and highly enjoyable, Beyond Thunderdome is an underrated third entry to the Mad Max series.

 

 

Charmed Season 1

Tags

1990's, Alyssa Milano, Brian Krause, Charmed, Charmed Season 1, Dorian Gregory, Holly Marie Combs, Shannen Doherty, T. W. King

I decided it was about time I got back to my TV reviews. This time for all you lovely followers its Charmed, otherwise known as one of my favourite TV shows ever. Yet again this is a supernatural show, I don’t know what it is I’m just drawn to it so much because of the fantasy elements and the presence of magic, plus three strong female characters which is always a plus in my book. Running for a successful eight seasons, here is my review of the debut season which bristles with promising charm, thrills and magic. Be warned people, spoilers will follow in my overview of this debut season.

The three Halliwell sisters; strong-willed Prue(Shannen Doherty), sensitive Piper(Holly Marie Combs) and rebellious Phoebe(Alyssa Milano) have all inherited their Grandmother’s Manor in San Francisco. Prue and Piper first move in, later followed by Phoebe who isn’t on the best terms with Prue. Upon moving into the old Manor in which they grew up, a set of mysterious and unusual events leads Phoebe to the attic of the Manor. In it she finds a Book of Shadows, a bound volume for witchcraft. Curious she reads the first incantation in the book, that speaks of the Power of Three. Prue and Piper are skeptical about Phoebe’s claims that the sisters are in fact powerful witches, known as The Charmed Ones and that they descend from a long powerful line of witches. That is until they discover that they each have inherited a power from the spell Phoebe cast; Prue can move objects with her mind, Piper can freeze time and Phoebe receives premonitions of the future and the past. The book says that they must face a world of demons and evil beings in order to protect innocent people and stop the spread of demonic power on Earth. While trying to adjust to life as witches with incredible power, the sisters must also deal with not getting their powers exposed to the outside world( such as Prue’s inspector boyfriend Andy Trudeau( T. W. King) and his superior Darryl Morris(Dorian Gregory) while taking down the evils that they must rid the world of in order to protect many innocent people. As the season goes on, their powers continue to grow and we watch how the sisters must learn to control them and use them for the greater good, and not for their own personal gain. Throughout Season 1 we follow the Halliwell sisters as they navigate their way through battling demons as The Power of Three, personal lives and a whole load of other things, whilst being bound together as the most powerful witches in the world.

The main focus of this season is Prue’s tragic relationship with Andy, Piper adjusting to her powers and falling for Leo(Brian Krause) a seemingly normal handyman who is actually a magical being called a Whitelighter sent to watch over the sisters and Phoebe’s rebellious attitude to magic which often lands her in supernatural trouble. Humour is provided throughout Charmed in the many attempts that the sisters make to ensure that their Wiccan secret is not exposed to anyone. The romantic entanglements of the girls often brings about unexpected consequences, especially Piper falling in love with Leo, despite the powers that be forbidding such a union. Leo may leave for a while to contemplate the relationship and what his magical superiors will say, but the seed has already been sown for his return and what will become one of the romantic touchstones of the show as we later see in the future the love that they share for one another. Prue’s relationship with Andy also gives this season a certain emotional resonance, especially the outcome of the relationship and its effects. After finally revealing that she is a witch and Andy coming around to the idea, he is tragically killed by a demon, which devastates Prue. Prue gets even by vanquishing the demon in question, but the loss of Andy deeply affects her as he was her true love who she will never forget.

People may say that the show is predictable and goofy at times, but it’s extremely entertaining watching the sisters take down the powers of evil on a daily basis. And I mean just look at some of the demons these girls take down; psychopathic hell bitches, sight stealing Grimlocks and a mystical beast called a Wendigo that temporarily transforms Piper into a beast just like it after attacking her. To say it isn’t a blast seeing them kick evil’s ass is a blatant lie. It’s also great when the sisters delve into their past; literally at one point travelling back to when they were children and realizing why their powerful Grams bound their powers. Plus, there’s an excellent opening credits sequence of explosive action and magical paraphernalia of candles, spells and demons . The most prominent enemies in this first season are Rex and Hannah, two demons masquerading as Prue’s smarmy bosses at an auction house and Rodriguez, a vicious demon who will stop at nothing to kill the sisters and ends up providing Season 1 with a tragic ending as he is the one who kills Andy.

The series is given an emotional undercurrent as we witness that bond that the sisters share and how above it all, they are sisters who happen to be witches rather than the other way around. This is further helped by the chemistry between the three main actresses who really gel together to make this a believable trio. Shannen Doherty successfully exhibits tough strength, hard determination and an inner vulnerability as the eldest sister Prue, who aside from battling literal demons has other personal ones to deal with. The main things are the relationship with Andy and how she tries to hide her secret from him and the wounded memories of her father leaving her when she was younger, plus her sense of loneliness that arises from her mother’s mysterious death. Holly Marie Combs embodies the caring and sensitive personality of the middle sister Piper, who is often mediator between her two other sisters when they are engaged in a disagreement or skirmish. Out of the three, Piper is the one who we are shown to feel sympathy for as she does crave a normal life once again. Although this could have made the character become whiny, because of Holly Marie Combs performance it becomes sympathetic and very human. Rounding out the trio is Alyssa Milano, who provides humour, playfulness and charm as the youngest sister Phoebe. Many of the hi jinks that the sisters find themselves in this season somehow relate to Phoebe as she learns about not abusing magic. Being the youngest, Phoebe’s free-spirited attitude is often a cause for magical concern because of the way she attempts to use it trying to help others, but the result backfiring. Out of the sisters, Phoebe is the one who embraces their destiny the most, even if it puts her at odds with her other sisters.

T. W. King plays Andy very well and provides an outsiders suspicion of the sisters, especially Prue who he deeply cares about but is not sure what to make of her as she keeps popping up in many unexplained cases. I must say that his death really is tragic and is the first major one we see committed by a demon on someone the girls care for. Andy is character whose death really hits the viewer hard as he’s basically a nice guy trying to do his job, who happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time trying to protect the woman he cares about. Dorian Gregory is wryly humorous and curious as Andy’s partner Darryl Morris, while Brian Krause gives warmth and tender strength to the role of Leo, the girl’s guardian angel for lack of a better word who falls deeply in love with Piper.

And now starting with this review for TV, I will feature a rating for each of the episodes in the season, from A to F.

1. Something Wicca This Way Comes – A+
2. I’ve Got You Under My Skin – B
3. Thank You For Not Morphing – C-
4. Dead Man Dating – B+
5. Dream Sorcerer – A
6. The Wedding from Hell – F
7. The Fourth Sister – C-
8. The Truth is Out There and It Hurts – B+
9. The Witch is Back – A-
10. Wicca Envy – A
11. Feats of Clay – D
12. The Wendigo – A
13. From Fear to Eternity – A
14. Secrets and Guys – B
15. Is There a Woogy in the House? – B+
16. Which Prue is It, Anyway? – B-
17. That ’70s Episode – A
18. When Bad Warlocks Turn Good – B
19. Out of Sight – A+
20. The Power of Two – C
21. Love Hurts – B+
22. Déjà Vu All Over Again – A+

Watching the first season of Charmed once again and it bringing so many great memories back to me, I really look forward to what Season 2 has to offer.

 

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior

Tags

1980's, Action, Bruce Spence, Emil Minty, George Miller, Kjell Nilsson, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, Mel Gibson, Michael Preston, Vernon Wells, Virginia Hey

Film Title

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior

Director

George Miller

Starring

• Mel Gibson as Max Rockatansky
• Bruce Spence as The Gyro Captain
• Vernon Wells as Wez
• Michael Preston as Pappagallo
• Emil Minty as The Feral Kid
• Kjell Nilsson as Lord Humungus
• Virginia Hey as The Warrior Woman

After the grimness of the first Mad Max, George Miller stepped it up a gear with this sequel, armed with a bigger budget and a better grip on the story. Surpassing its predecessor in terms of spectacle and action, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior is a lightning paced film of futuristic battles and apocalyptic carnage that is not to be missed by anyone.

Supplies of gasoline are dwindling fast in the future and has caused violence and destruction in the wake of its near absence. After the death of his wife and son in the first film, former cop Max wanders the desert wasteland an alienated man in search of gasoline and food. Max has become withdrawn and reticent with only the need to survive keeping him going in the chaos. Max soon encounters a psychopathic gang of punk motorbike riders in his search for survival, coming face to face with the utterly crazed right hand man Wez. It transpires that the gang are led by the muscled man mountain Lord Humungus. His followers regularly pillage what they can from an oil refinery run by the reasonable Pappagallo and his good settlers who are desperate to escape the constant threat of violence and death that hangs over them on a precarious basis. Max is aided by the crazed but very helpful Gyro Captain who helps him into the camp. At first, Max just wants his car which was taken and some fuel so he can continue journeying on in the never-ending desert and has no interest in helping anyone else out. Yet somehow his emotionally scarred barriers are broken down and he begins to help the settlers in their attempts to thwart Humungus and his cronies which leads to one hell of a showdown.

George Miller really shifts gears here and delivers a high-octane thrill ride of pumping action and turbo-sized thrills. Miller really gets a grip on the story and crafts one of great excitement and danger. I admire how he used sparse dialogue in this film, it really adds to the impact of the visuals which in turn do a lot of the storytelling. The Road Warrior is a visual marvel, with the dusty landscape of the deserts and scant resources playing a key part to the post-apocalyptic doom that Max finds himself in. The Road Warrior thankfully doesn’t suffer from the lulls in narrative of the first movie and emerges as a more polished and confident action movie which barely pauses for breath once the glorious action is set into pulse-pounding motion. Fast-paced chases and attacks form the action-packed backbone to The Road Warrior and create a dazzling array of stunts, inventive weapons and fierce battles. I also appreciated the nods to the western genre within The Road Warrior. We have the lone drifter searching what could be seen as a frontier, the battle for supremacy over something precious and the breaking down of the drifter’s emotionally devoid shield. The costume design is simply outstanding, with the leathers of Max’s costume and the punk rock attire, consisting of red Mohawks, shiny chains and chaps setting the standard for cinematic and apocalyptic chic that would be copied in a multitude of futuristic movies. A grand and majestic score provides ample excitement and intense atmosphere as Max joins the villagers in their quest to escape almost certain death. The Road Warrior just captures your interest from the start and doesn’t let go as you join Max on this journey through the wasteland.

Mel Gibson once again stars as Max and cements him as a cinematic hero. Combining the laconic qualities of a man who has lost faith in everything with the capabilities of violence and buried humanity that are awakened, Gibson is nothing short of iconic in this film. It’s safe to say this was the role and film that catapulted Gibson to super stardom and beyond. Bruce Spence exudes mad as hell craziness and strange antics as the Gyro Captain, who goes from being Max’s prisoner briefly to very helpful aid. Vernon Wells gets the crazy costume and psychopathic traits just right as Wez, one of the more vicious members of Lord Humungus’ cronies. Michael Preston brings wise leadership and calm assurance to the role as Pappagallo, who is probably the most sane person in the movie. Emil Minty, though he doesn’t utter a word and communicates in grunts and cries, is suitably helpful as The Feral Kid who is more than adept with survival and comes to look up to Max. Out of all the characters who Max comes into contact with, I believe it is The Feral Kid who brings out his hidden humanity that he has shut away from the world. Bodybuilder Kjell Nilsson uses his considerably muscly and intimidating physical stature to excellent effect as the violent and deep-voiced Lord Humungus. Rounding out the main cast is Virginia Hey, who displays a burning ferocity as The Warrior Woman.

The Road Warrior is just one of those movies were all the elements flow together to create a hell of a ride.

Mad Max

Tags

1970's, Action, George Miller, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Joanne Samuel, Mad Max, Mel Gibson, Steve Bisley, Tim Burns

Film Title

Mad Max

Director

George Miller

Starring

• Mel Gibson as Max Rockatansky
• Joanne Samuel as Jessie Rockatansky
• Hugh Keays-Byrne as Toecutter
• Steve Bisley as Goose
• Tim Burns as Johnny the Boy

A highly influential movie on futuristic action flicks, Mad Max made a name for George Miller and its young star Mel Gibson. Although made on a shoestring budget, it’s a film that reverberates with apocalyptic madness and hell for leather action. It may not have the non-stop craziness and the big budget scope of later films in the series, but Mad Max still retains an electrifying and intense impact to this day.

In the future, the Australian highways and surrounding areas are bleak and violent shadows of their former selves. There is no order in this world as psychopathic motorbike gangs terrorise innocent people, heroes seem to be no more and civilisation is almost non-existent. From what is left of the police force now called MFP, we have Max; a good cop just wanting to retire with his wife Jessie and young son, but who is constantly having to deal with the madness around him in the form of marauding crazed bikers. Max is disillusioned with the barren wasteland and the police force and just wants out of it as soon as he can so he can live what is left of a civilised life. In the rip-roaring opening scenes, Max is involved in a high-speed chase with a deranged biker knows as Nightrider. The pedal to the metal chase ends with Nightrider’s fiery and explosive death. Because of this, many of his psychopathic cohorts, led by the vicious Toecutter, descend upon the surrounding areas, plaguing the innocent people they pass on the way. Angered by the death of one of their own, the gang decide to get even by brutally injuring Max’s best friend and fellow cop Goose. They then take things one step further by killing Jessie and her son. Broken inside by this, Max straps on his leathers and jumps in his high-powered car with revenge and uncontrollable rage the only things driving him on as he hunts down the gang responsible for shattering his life.

Considering the low budget, George Miller in his directorial debut contributes elements of great style and action. He paints a hauntingly grim picture of the future, capturing a dust bowl atmosphere of no hope and insanity breeding everywhere. Mad Max stands as an influential film because of that picture, but also for the stunts and camerawork. The camera glides at a truly unnatural speed around these brutal events, giving them extra moments of shock and awe. Miller certainly has an assured hand when directing the action sequences and gives them a very frenetic quality. Where Mad Max falters is the pacing, which at times can’t balance the seriousness and action. After the high-octane opening, events slow down to focus on exposition. As the first film in the franchise it is understandable to do this, but it does make the narrative lull. Yet when the violence and carnage hits, it becomes a hell of a revenge-riddled ride in the last hour for both Max and the audience. Burning like a turbo booster, the action on display is explosive and brutal. Standout scenes are the opening chase which ends in an inferno and Max giving a crazed biker two choices of escape before the car he is tied to explodes. So even though the pace lulls very much in the middle, it certainly builds up to the unleashing of madness and violence. A perfectly building score helps aid the flat parts of the narrative and chart Max’s descent into revenge from which no one is safe.

A young Mel Gibson is excellent in the role of the eponymous cop; showing us with skill the broken soul of a good man being replaced with intense anger and deep fury as he sets out to destroy those who have torn his life into pieces. It is truly a star-making role for Gibson which would lead him all the way to the top of the crop of actors. Joanne Samuel radiates innocence in the secondary role of Max’s tragic wife. As the leader of the vicious biker gang, Hugh Keays-Byrne is unpredictable and crazy as hell. Steve Bisley makes his mark as the rather unfortunate Goose, while Tim Burns is wildly convincing and deliriously creepy as the warped Johnny the Boy. All the characters are played well, but it’s Gibson’s turn as the good cop who goes vigilante which is the most memorable.

Bristling with innovative ideas and well-mounted foundations, Mad Max is an excellent introduction to the character and the eventual series of films he would populate.

 

My Sixth Versatile Blogger Award

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Versatile Blogger Award

Wow, another award. Seriously this blog is turning out to be like one Oscar hungry beast. This time, I have been nominated for my sixth Versatile Blogger Award, courtesy of Ashley over at Box Office Buzz. Please check her site out as it rocks beyond all comprehension.

Now for facts about me. Seriously I need to brush up on my self-evaluation to make sure I can come up with interesting facts about me for all of you.

1. I’ve been known to be very cynical at times.
2. I believe that everyone has a dark side to them.
3. My three favourite actresses of the moment are Cate Blanchett, Julianne Moore and Marion Cotillard.
4. My eyes are a strange mix of blue and green.
5. I do believe that weather can affect a person.
6. I’m a fan of using alliteration when writing.
7. As of this minute, I am watching England vs New Zealand in cricket.

Now for my five lucky nominees.

1. Impossible Girl
2. Table 9 Mutant
3. Things I Like And Then Run
4. Jenny In Neverland 
5. Transforming Life Now

I must say I feel so overwhelmed receiving all of these awards, you guys are the best.

Guilty Pleasures

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Charlie's Angels, DOA: Dead or Alive, Guilty Pleasures, Honey, Resident Evil, The Reaping

A few months back, I uploaded a suggestions page so that all you amazing followers could contribute ideas for future posts. An interesting one came from the fabulous Melissa, she suggested I do a post on my movie guilty pleasures. Movies that are just rot and are so bad, but I can’t help but love.

So here’s five of my shameful guilty pleasures:

Charlie’s Angels

Thin plot? Check. Cheesy lines? Check. Babes in hot outfits? Definite Check. The motion picture reboot of the sassy trio of females fighting crime has a story about as interesting as watching a snail cross the room. But somehow, the hot chicks kicking ass, barely there outfits and pop soundtrack always makes this flick a soft spot for me.

The Reaping

This derivative horror movie attempts to blend spooky horror with religious prophecies. Yet it turns out completely illogical in the end and the actors here are slumming it big time. Despite this, there is something I found compelling about the bayou atmosphere and strange music.

Resident Evil

I’ve written about Resident Evil before on this blog and I remember describing it as a popcorn movie. It isn’t a film that engages the head or mind, it just delivers full-on action and horror. It’s not going to be remembered as a seminal work of cinema, but it works as a popcorn movie.

D.O.A: Dead or Alive

Yet another flick of scantily clad honeys kicking ass and showing off their moves, D.O.A : Dead or Alive is the definition of guilty pleasure in my book.

Honey

This urban dance movie has a story that is just saccharine rubbish. Yet I can’t deny the dancing is good and Jessica Alba is stunning throughout.

I hope you’ve all enjoyed reading this list of guilty pleasures.

My Fifth Liebster Award

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Liebster Award

And yet another award. Wow my shelf is piling up with these gongs, I’m going to need a bigger set of shelves. The fabulous Sherise has passed onto me my fifth Liebster Award. I just so feel so honored receiving all of these awards from the community. Sherise runs an outstanding blog that is amazing to read.

Now I must answer the questions she has asked me in order to complete this award. So here goes:

1. Rocket or Groot? That would have to be Groot.
2. What is your most unique quality? What can you do or what do you have that no one else does? (Does that make sense?) I can remember almost word for word every official song for a James Bond.
3. Choose one of these actors to marry, one to fuck, one to kill and one to just ignore: Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, Chris Evans, and Chris Pine. This is going to be a hard question to answer. If I had to answer I would say Chris Pine to marry, Chris Hemsworth to fuck, Chris Pratt to kill and Chris Evans to ignore.
4. What was the last television show you binge watched? I actually currently binge watching Charmed.
5. Where would you like to travel to the most? Rome, such a beautiful and cultural city of history.
6. Goodfellas or The Godfather? The Godfather as it is my all-time favourite movie.
7. Robert Deniro or Al Pacino? Tough decision, I really couldn’t decide as they are both amazing actors who I respect.
8. What is the one movie that makes you feel great every time you watch it? Probably The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as it shows how you can survive despite prejudice just by the kindness of one person seeing past your differences.

Now for my five nominations.

1. Movie Blort
2. Away From The Noise
3. Nuwan Sen
4. Killing Time
5. Callum McLaughlin

And now here are the eight questions for my nominees:

1. What made you decide to start writing a blog?
2. A night out with friends or a movie night in?
3. Buffy or Charmed?
4. What is favourite item of clothing?
5. Who is your favourite actress if you had to choose just one?
6. How do you follow news around the world?
7. What is the most disturbing film you have ever seen?
8. Are you get up and go person or someone who needs to be motivated?