Film Review: TIME BANDITS (1981)

Director: Terry Gilliam
Writers: Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam
Running time: 116 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): PG

Genre: Adventure/Comedy/Fantasy
UK Release date: 13^th July 1981

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 18^th May 2013.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE UNINTENTIONAL SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is a film I’ve seen several times over the years but this is the first time I’ve watched it with my ‘critical eye’. There are many things to like, particularly if you were brought up on a good dose of ‘Python’ in your comedy diet. Outrageously over the top in places but also quite calm and even tender in others, it certainly has a huge scope. Here’s a very brief summary before I give you my thoughts.

When young Kevin (Craig Warnock) goes to bed one evening, he’s awoken in the middle of the night by a mounted knight in full armour crashing through his wardrobe. The next night, taking provisions (a camera, a flashlight etc…) he goes to bed early, hoping to catch the knight again. This time though, it’s a band of dwarves that come through his wardrobe. They are; Randall (David Rappaport), Fidgit (Kenny Baker), Strutter (Malcolm Dixon), Og (Mike Edmonds), Wally (Jack Purvis) and Vermin (Tiny Ross). They have stolen a map from The Supreme Being and are out for adventure. They take Kevin with them on a daring raid on Napoleon (Ian Holm), and then it’s off to the middle ages where they meet Robin Hood (John Cleese). Escaping from there/then, Kevin finds himself separated from the group and in ancient Greece where he befriends King Agamemnon (Sean Connery). It’s not long though before the gang catch up with him and they’re off again. All the while, Evil (David Warner) is watching and planning a way to get them to the land of legends. You see, he wants their map and he’ll stop at nothing to get it…

I know it’s not a perfect film by any stretch of the imagination; but it is fun and entertaining. A film with enormous scope and with some really great set pieces from the crazy mind of Terry Gilliam. You can see the Python influence all over it, although there are bits where it calms down and we see a more tender side of things. The performances were all excellent with Craig Warnock and David Rappaport taking star billing (for me). Oh and look out for a recurring gag featuring Michael Palin and Shelley Duvall, very funny. If there is a down side, it’s that it’s a little too long and the bickering between the dwarves does get a little tedious after a while. Over all though, well worth a watch; it may look a little dated, but it’s still worth your time (get it?).

SteelMonster’s verdict: RECOMMENDED

My score: 8.2/10.

IMDb Score: 6.9/10 (based on 32,380 votes when this review was written).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081633/

MetaScore: No data: (Based on 0 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 95/100 (based on 38 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 60/100 (based on 47,816 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/time_bandits/

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FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Randall: We made trees and shrubs. We helped make all this.
Kevin: Whew! That's not bad.
Randall: Yeah. But did we get a thimble full of credit for it? No! All we got was the sack. Just for creating the Pink Bunkadoo.
Kevin: Pink Bunkadoo?
Randall: Yeah. Beautiful trees that was. Og designed it. 600 feet high, bright red, and smelled terrible.

Strutter: [slaps Kevin] Get down, you nearly got us caught!
Randall: You silly fool, you could've ruined everything.
Kevin: Do you know where we are?
Randall: Shut up. Of course I do. 1796, Battle of Castiglione, see?
Strutter: [taps him] You sure we're not in somebody's bedroom?
Randall: Look,
[grabs Strutter]
Randall: do you want to be leader of this gang?
Strutter: No, we agreed: No leader!
Randall: Right. So shut up and do as I say.
[Strutter nods]

Wally: Vermin, that is not meant to be eaten!
Vermin: You never know until you've eaten it!

Kevin: It's some kind of invisible barrier.
Fidgit: Oh, so that's what an invisible barrier looks like.

Supreme Being: Dead? No excuse for laying off work.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer: (VERY FUNNY!)

Film Review: ALIEN (1979) – (Theatrical Release)

Director: Ridley Scott
Writers: Dan O'Bannon (story/screenplay), Ronald Shusett (story)
Running time: 117 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror
UK Release date: 1^st November 1979

Watched on DVD Sunday 3^rd June 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

The tag line on the poster says ‘In Space No One Can Hear You Scream’ which promises the viewer a terrifying experience. Well, having seen it many times over the years, it’s no longer terrifying, but it still has a relentless aura about it that still gives me goose bumps. Needless to say I am a bit of a fan of Ridley Scott’s first foray into sci-fi/horror. There is probably no need for a plot summary, but there may still be a few waifs and strays out there who haven’t seen it yet, so I’ll make it brief and as spoiler-free as I can.

When towing vessel Nostromo brings its crew out of stasis it is not because they are home, as expected. It turns out an alien signal has been detected and they’ve been diverted to investigate. When they land on the planet they sustain some damage and while it’s being fixed by Brett and Parker; Dallas, the skipper, goes with Lambert and Kane to investigate the signal. The planet is very inhospitable and so the team is monitored by Science Officer, Ash. Meanwhile Ripley does some analysis on the signal and discovers it may not be a distress call, as first thought; she believes it’s a warning! The away team discover a crashed alien ship and go in to investigate. When they return Kane has something attached to his face… Something that could be very dangerous indeed… I had better leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Alien Division) will have me investigating crashed alien craft (again).

From the very first scene to the very last this film both looks and sounds quite menacing. The design and the music are all superb and the performances, although a little chaotic at times are all excellent. Of course the stand-out performance comes from, the quite young at the time, Sigourney Weaver as Ripley. In a role she was to make her own she was a little raw, but you could see the quality there. Next up (for me) was Ian Holm as Ash; he played what must have been a difficult part very well. Yaphet Kotto as Parker and Harry Dean Stanton as Brett played the blue collar grunts very well, and also provided some much needed comic relief here and there. Tom Skerritt did ok as Dallas, although I felt it wasn’t a particularly demanding role. Veronica Cartwright did a decent job as Lambert and John Hurt, who has one of the most iconic scenes in sci-fi film history, played it with great aplomb. Finally a word for Jones the ship’s cat (uncredited)… Some great cat acting from that kitty.

The film has quite a slow pace that slowly builds to an almost frenetic conclusion. I must admit that having seen the follow-up ‘Aliens’ (1986), directed by James Cameron, I lost a little of the love I had for this one. You’ll be pleased to know I’ve grown up a bit since then and can now see the merits of both films. There is a certain quality to every scene in this film, whether it’s the sound design, the music or just the sets themselves, it looks and sounds quite brilliant. It’s creepy as hell and I believe Ridley Scott has learned the art of allowing the audience enough of a glimpse for them to make up the rest of the monster in their own minds. This is (of course) where all the best monsters lurk… It’s not perfect though, there are a few rough edges here and there, but even so well worth a look!... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

My score: 8.9/10

IMDb Score: 8.5/10 (based on 285,345 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0078748/

MetaScore: 83/100: (Based on 22 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 97/100 (based on 86 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 90/100 ‘Liked it’ (based on 406,570 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/alien/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
[first lines]
Brett: This is the worst shit I've ever seen, man.
Parker: What you say? You got any biscuits over there?
Ripley: Here's some cornbread.
Parker: Cornbread. Yeah.
Lambert: I am cold.
Parker: Still with us, Brett?
Brett: Right.
Kane: Oh, I feel dead.
Parker: Anybody ever tell you you look dead, man?

Kane: The pit is completely enclosed. And it's full of leathery objects, like eggs or something.

Dallas: Something has attached itself to him. We have to get him to the infirmary right away.
Ripley: What kind of thing? I need a clear definition.
Dallas: An organism. Open the hatch.
Ripley: Wait a minute. If we let it in, the ship could be infected. You know the quarantine procedure. Twenty-four hours for decontamination.
Dallas: He could die in twenty-four hours. Open the hatch.
Ripley: Listen to me, if we break quarantine, we could all die.
Lambert: Look, could you open the god-damned hatch? We have to get him inside.
Ripley: No. I can't do that and if you were in my position, you'd do the same.
Dallas: Ripley, this is an order. Open that hatch right now, do you hear me?
Ripley: Yes.
Dallas: Ripley. This is an order. Do you hear me?
Ripley: Yes. I read you. The answer is negative.

Brett: Here kitty, kitty, kitty. Meaow. Here Jonesy.

Ash: Ripley, for God's sake, this is the first time that we've encountered a species like this. It has to go back. All sorts of tests have to be made.
Ripley: Ash, are you kidding? This thing bled acid. Who knows what it's gonna do when it's dead?
Ash: I think it's safe to assume it isn't a zombie.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer:

Film Review: GARDEN STATE (2004)

Writer/Director: Zach Braff
Running time: 102 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance
UK Release date: 10^th December 2004

Watched on Sky+ Monday 12^th September 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I really did not no much about this film before seeing it, well, I probably did know that Zach Braff (of TV’s ‘Scrubs’ fame) both wrote and directed it. I watched it on a recommendation from someone on Rotten Tomatoes, sorry, I can’t remember who, but rest assured, it’s another one crossed off ‘The List’. I found it very interesting, a little surreal in places, quite enjoyable, but in the end, not as fulfilling as I had expected. I’ll explain more after this brief summary.

Andrew Largeman, a failed actor has had to return to the small town he grew up after the sudden death of his mother. He has anxiety problems and usually takes quite a lot of medication, but he has left all that behind in L.A. He runs into quite a few of his old friends from school, primarily Mark, Dave and Kenny, and they all hang out together, go to parties and the like. During a visit to a doctor, Andrew meets Sam and they immediately hit it off. He gives her a lift home and they end up spending the next few days together. This seems to bring Andrew back to life, but it’s nearing the time he has to leave… I’ll stop there or the Spoiler Police will have me bang to rights! And I don’t want that.

I must first say the film has a cracking soundtrack, there are some great tunes throughout. All the performances were very good; Zach Braff as Andrew Largeman, Natalie Portman, who I thought was excellent, as Sam, Peter Sarsgaard as Mark, Alex Burns as Dave, Michael Weston as Kenny, Ian Holm as Andrew’s father, Gideon Largeman. Finally a mention for a brief appearance from Jim Parsons (‘The Big Bang Theory’) as Tim.

The film has a very muted feel to it which was fine at first, it allowed for small pieces of comic genius to flower, but after a while I began to find it a little depressing. Braff plays Largeman so downbeat from the beginning that by the end when you’re supposed to be uplifted, you’re still down somewhere near the floor. Don’t get me wrong, there are many things to admire about this film and I did enjoy several aspects of it. I think I’ll have to see it again sometime to appreciate it properly but for now… Recommended (but only just).

My Score: 6.6/10.

IMDb Score: 7.8/10 (based on 104,531 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0333766/

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86/100 (based on 185 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/garden_state/

 

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

 FAVOURITE QUOTES:

Sam: Hey, I recognize you.
Andrew Largeman: Oh, did you go to Columbia High?
Sam: No, not from high school, from TV. Didn't you play the retarded quarterback?
Andrew Largeman: Yeah.
Sam: Are you really retarded?
Andrew Largeman: No.
Sam: Ooh, great job man! I really thought you were retarded. I mean, you're better than that Corky kid and he's actually retarded. If there was a retarded Oscar you would win, hands down, kick his ass!

Titembay: Someone has been pissing on my Gamecube and I'm about to close the case.

LINKS:
Trailer: