Film
Reviews
COLLECTION
THE HITCHCOCK COMPLETE BOX SET
(Various) 1599mm
iMediaComiii DVD retaili 0....
This collection of 14 films contains the last seven films Hitchcock made: Family Plot, Frenzy, Topaz, Torn Curtain, Marnie, The Birds and Psycho, plus five classics from the 19505: The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Trouble With Harry, Rear Window and Rope, and if that were not enough Saboteur and Hitchcock’s personal favourite Shadow of a Doubt are thrown in for good measure. With so many treats, this is a must have for all film fans, but what makes this collection particularly impressive is that each film is accompanied by an informative making-of documentary that gives a great overview of Hitchcock the man. Highlights include the story behind the famous Frenzy trailer in which Hitchcock was seen floating on the River Thames, 8 Peter Bogdanovich interview with Hitchcock about Rear Window and the American Film Institute salute to Hitchcock that can be found on the special double disk edition of Psycho. Many of the films have been digitally transferred from newly restored prints and a couple of documentaries wallow in the process. The films themselves are nearly all fantastic, and it says much about the selection when Topaz and Family Plot are the weakest of the bunch. It’s even great that classics like North by Northwest, Rebecca and The 39 Steps are not in this collection because, after 14 viewings, it leaves you wanting more, and knowing there are still more Hitchcock classics is a comforting thought indeed. (Kaleem Aftab)
EOEXEEAND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS/WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM (18) 208mm lUniversal DVD retaili 000 Less obs 2ssed .'.’|°.ll plot thar‘ presei‘ting extended henders and freak-oats. Terry Gilliaiit's llll‘i adaptation o‘ Fear and Loathing .‘l‘ [as Vegas; has Hunter S THOVlil/X)” iJonniiy Depp. ad "is attorney Acosta Benie'o Del Toroi y'sit Szi‘. City "or a week of (lOIXtth’ttl-Fy and gonzo journalism. As s ‘Eltiil)()li(L as the original novel. although the leads capture the barely-checked ‘.’|()|(}lt(I(}
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of the relationship hef'.'.'een Tl‘ir)ii‘-psoii and Acosta perfectly. the that ‘il'n feels ES().".‘i(3l‘;()‘.'.’ soulless.
Easier o"- the eyes. and psyche. '.'-/.’iere .‘l‘e Bui‘x‘a’o Roam follows l’iionipso'i iB'il Marian and La/lo Acosta :Pefer Boylei through varioiis assignments. 'lltjltltlllft] a
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a hatl‘rooii‘. :riter‘.':e.'.r ‘.'.':th NlXOl‘. Un‘ortunatelfi. (liliXliU' Ar‘. Li'tson presents Thr lY‘it)f§(‘/l"f§ '.'.'ork as pure czrnedy’. neutering any "eal critgue {il‘(l turning his legend z'ito Fast Ride" \.'./=thout the zeitge:st.
Dedicaterl to the llitEl'v‘Ol", of Tlt(;"‘l)53()l‘. this is an "it 2resf=ng package. " ()"l‘. to see hour it ‘ie’en‘. actor's essay the saiire character
De )l} a hug eyes and ri‘iaiiic ei‘ei'g,. Murray seoate and sarcastic. Sadr; l‘(}|lli(1'." film does Justice to i'lfoiiii)son's :iiipact cn itxirnaiisi'i. this set also contains some interesting extras. lDane Martini
DRAMA
SPARE PARTS (15) 84min
iSoda Pictures DVD retail,- 0..
Slovenia is described with some Justification in tourist guides as one of Europe's overlooked gems. but recent Slovenian Cinema has set out to paint an altogether darker portrait of a country emerging from war. Like Blind Spot and Bread and Honey. Spare Parts turns a grimy, iaundiced eye on the country. Here an ex- national speedway champion makes a tidy ncoine from trafficking huge numbers of iiiiiiiigraitts over the Italian border. In one horrible moment he explains how making a
few bucks from iiv‘iiiigrants is child's play next to =.-.'hat ‘.'/ll| happen to them further west. Many ‘.'.’|ll end up in prostitution. or drugged. '.'./|lll ll‘Cll’ bodies sold as spare parts. where a decent organ can fetch around 15.000 Euros. This is socialiy aware. efficier‘tly made filmmaking. writtei‘ and directed by Damian Ko/o'e. but its iiifages don't really stick in the iiiznd. Minimal extras. 'TO'U,’ McKihhini
ACT'ION
YUEN WOO PING: THE EPIC ACTION COLLECTION
(15) 270min
iContender DVD retaili 0...
Although best known in the Vilest as tight choreographer of The i"/latrix. this anthology proves Yuen \i‘i/oo-ping is an accomplished director in his own right.
Iron i"./lcn/<ey features Wong KOI Ying «Donnie Yeni, father of Chinese
folk hero Wong Fei-hung. who teams up with the Zorro-like Iron Monkey (Yu Ron-kwong) in this pitch perfect balance of action and farce that's vastly superior to the also included Tai Chi Boxer. a dull yarn let down by its irritating lead character. overt xenophobia and repetitive battles. Still. the hero's use of his long. platted ponytail in his kung tu hints at an inventiveness sadly lacking from the rest of the production.
Finally, Wing Chun. a iveryi loose riff on Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors. complete with sub-Carry On humour. boasts. by deft inclusion of props. the most intricate action of the three. perfectly showcasing the talents of Michelle Yeoh as the titular herOine. Extras include commentary on Iron Monkey and cast and crew interViews for all three films.
«Dave Martini
SUPERNATURAL DRAMA MEMENTO MORI (15) 94min
lTartan Video DVD retail) 0...
A ghost story which directors Kim Tae-yong and Min Kyu-dong ambitiously try to tell Without the aid of any frights or scenes of horror. It is clear. however. that some kind of dictat from producers on high forced their hands into adding some. Despite
that. this is a capable and engaging drama.
Set in a South Korean girls' school. the film is propelled by both an overwhelming sense of the ordinary and a subtle but beautifully shot air of sinister institutionalised austerity. Detailing the spooky goings on that occur in the aftermath of one of the girls' suicides. it's as much a musing on the fear of puberty as Brian De Palma's Carrie. except with a more sophisticated. rather than lurid. style. Extras include trailer and behind the scenes featurette.
(David Pollock)
FANTASY
THE TIT AND THE MOON
(18) 85min
(Metro Tartan/DVD retail) .0.
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Like Fellini's films. Bigas Luna's movies are finally memorable for their absurd imagistic provocation: in Jamon, Jamon. two people fight it out with a leg of ham; in The Ages of Lulu. the titular character shaves her nether regions. Here Mathilda May‘s dancer. Estrellita. offers her very lovely breast to the nine- year-old central character. and out pours milk aplenty.
This is Tete's (Biel Duran) dream come true. as he searches for the perfect breast after his baby brother demands full sustenance from their mum's mammaries. Set on the Catalan coast. the film creates a very nice atmosphere. telling Tete's story as it overlaps with Estrellita's. and her affection for her cabaret partner. and also for a beefy teen Flamenco Singer. Rooted in Catalan culture. yet with a vision almost all his own, this is typical Bigas Luna. Minimal extras.
(Tony McKibbin)
ALL DVDS WERE REVIEWED ON A SYSTEM SUPPLIED AND INSTALLED BY LOUD 8: CLEAR
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40 THE LIST
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