Film Review: THE TOURIST (2010)

Co-Writer/Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Running time: 99 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Crime/Thriller/Romance
UK Release date: 10^th December 2010

Watched on Sky+ Monday 14^th November 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Although this was never going to be a film that would win any great praise from the great and the good (professional film critics to you and me), I found it still had some good points. I remember it getting a pretty luke-warm reception when it came out and so I was never tempted to part with my cash at the box-office. So it was a TV viewing for me, which was adequate enough for a film that suffers slightly from ‘style over substance’. More of my thoughts after this brief summary.

Interpol are watching the beautiful Elise Clifton-Ward in Paris. She is being watched because of her association with one Alexander Pearce who is wanted in several countries. Elise receives a note from Alexander telling her to board a train to Venice and find a man of his height and build so the police would follow him when they got off. She chooses an American tourist, a mathematics teacher called Frank Tupelo. They get talking and have dinner together and when it comes time to leave the police already have his picture… Also hot on Alexander’s tail is a gangster he stole money from, Reginald Shaw, and he’s not one to be trifled with… I’ll leave it there or the Spoiler Police will be distributing my picture across Europe.

It’s all beautifully shot, but with locations in both Paris and Venice you can hardly fail to get some great shots though. The performances were all pretty good without anyone particularly standing out; Johnny Depp was pretty good as Frank Tupelo, as was Angelina Jolie as Elsie Clifton-Ward. Paul Bettany as Inspector John Acheson and Timothy Dalton as Chief Inspector Jones also did a decent job. Finally, Steven Berkoff was suitably intimidating as Reginald Shaw.

There was a bit more humour than I was expecting with the best one-liner being given to Timothy Dalton at the end (sorry I can’t put it in the review it might give too much away). Of course there also has to be a little slapstick from Johnny Depp; a chase sequence that wouldn’t have been out of place had he been wearing a pirate uniform springs to mind. I guess where the film falls down though is a rather weak plot that doesn’t really tax the little grey cells too much. I must admit I expected more from a stylish thriller of this type. As far as the music goes, well there’s not really much to talk about until the closing credits where they use a song by, the rather excellent, Muse. Over all though, a little too much style over substance… Ok for a TV viewing but I wouldn’t spend any cash on the DVD or Blu-Ray.

My score: 6.6/10

IMDb Score: 5.9/10 (based on 57,046 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1243957/

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

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Frank Tupelo: My name's Frank.
Elise: That's a terrible name.
Frank Tupelo: [shrugs] It's the only one I've got.
Elise: Perhaps we can find you a new one.

Frank Tupelo: Why is everyone trying to kill me?

Hotel Waiter Guido: Bongiorno!
Frank Tupelo: Bon Jovi!

LINKS:
Official Site: http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/thetourist/
Trailer:

Film Review: FLASH GORDON (1980)

Director: Mike Hodges
Running time: 111 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): PG

USA release date: 5th December 1980

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 4th September 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I have seen this film many times over the years, but not recently. So when I saw it come up on the TV schedules I made it a priority to record it and give it yet another viewing. There are many things wrong with this film, but to me, they are outweighed by the things that are so right! Yes, its kitch and camp, yes the acting and the special effects aren’t great, but, to me, it’s so much fun! Here’s a bit about the plot and then I’ll tell you why.

American footballer Flash Gordon is returning home after a vacation when his plane is involved in a crash. The only other survivor is travel agent, Dale Arden. They crash in the grounds of scientist Dr. Hans Zarkov, who has been in the news because he thinks that recent natural disasters are the work of extra terrestrials and the Earth is under attack. He has pinpointed where he thinks the attacks are coming from and kidnaps Flash and Dale because he cannot operate his spaceship alone. They take off and eventually make it to the planet Mongo, ruled by the evil dictator, The Emperor Ming. All the moons of Mongo are ruled by different princes who are permanently at war with each other, among them are Prince Barin of Arboria and Prince Vultan, leader of the Hawk-Men. Ming is very interested in Dale and decides to take her as his bride. Flash is to be executed, but Ming’s daughter, Princess Aura intervenes and he is rescued and taken to Arboria. Zarkov is to be conditioned and enrolled into the network of spies run by Ming’s advisor, Klytus. Can Flash unite the oppressed people against Ming, can Zarkov save the Earth, and can Dale escape the evil clutches of The Emperor? Well, in the tradition of the 1930’s shorts, I’ll leave you on that cliff-hanger.

OK, I’ll admit the first thing that turned me onto this film was the soundtrack by Queen; I’m a fan of their work. But once I got past the great soundtrack I found a film that is actually pretty good in its own way, and an awful lot of fun! As I said at the beginning, not the greatest acting I’ve ever seen, but some really over-the-top stuff from Brian Blessed as Prince Vultan is a performance not to be missed. I also liked Max von Sydow as The Emperor Ming, Topol as Dr. Hans Zarkov and Timothy Dalton as Prince Barin. And of course it would be amiss of me to not give honourable mentions to Sam J. Jones as Flash Gordon, Melody Anderson as Dale Arden, Ornella Muti as Princess Aura and Peter Wyngarde as Klytus.

So why do I think this film is so much fun? Well, as soon as Flash, Dale and Zarkov land on Mongo you know none of this is to be taken too seriously. Its pure fantasy and you can just sit back and enjoy the ride. Yes, there is some violence there, but when a guy gets stabbed and his blood is blue, you know you’re not in Kansas any more. The visual style reminded me very much of the 1968 Roger Vadim film Barbarella starring Jane Fonda, although I felt the special effects weren’t quite so good in this one. Over all, kitch, camp, not great acting, not the best special effects, but a great soundtrack and an awful lot of fun! Recommended.

My score: 7.4/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0080745/
Official Site: http://www.universalstudiosentertainment.com/flash-gordon/