Reviewed: Død Snø [2009]

Død Snø [2009]

18 - 91mins - Comedy/Horror - 9th January 2009

Død Snø is set in mountains of Norway with the movie acted out in Norweigan. It opens with a woman being chased through the snowy countryside by zombies (to a well chosen jingle if I do say so myself) before being caught and well I'll let you guess the rest. Fast forward a short period in time to where we meet six medical students who have gone on a holiday picking a remote cabin as their choice of location which sets the scene for our stereotypical horror movie.

After larking about in the snow and having fun with skidoos during the days and drinking away their evenings, they are visited by a strange man. He gives them a history lesson of the region and why they should therefore tread carefully so as not to disturb the evil that lies in the mountains which the students take with a pinch of salt. Low and behold after a long build up zombies do indeed arrive on the scene and yep you guessed it, they are Nazis to boot.

With a movie tag of Ein! Zwei! Die! attached to a plot about Nazi zombies this movie does not fail to deliver on what it promises with lots of zombie action and basic horror movie 101 lessons not being learnt- they split up, get just that bit too near the window at the worst possible time etc and many other comparisons that can be drawn from its zombie movie predecessors. Where so many of the older and newer zombie movies have failed though Tommy Wirkola strikes up a very good balance between the humour and horror. Yes at some points it seemed like the producers only had enough money for one prop (intestines) and spent most of their time thinking up evermore elaborate ways to use it but there is always a laugh to be had alongside this.

Although being classed as a horror, you will have to have quite a jumpy personality for this movie to get you cowering behind a cushion. The first half of the movie is more about character banter with most of the laughs written into the script and some suspense but during the second half this turns into gore and more of a slapstick comedy feel develops (think Shawn Of The Dead). For this kind of movie overall the second half tends to work better than the first but only just.

The actors and actresses all do their jobs but there are no outstanding performances amongst them to be worthy of a mention. Where this movie succeeds is in the writing of the script and as mentioned just the right amount of comedy. The zombies don't look half bad either dressed up in their Nazi memorabilia and although they lose some of their scare factor with most of the second half shot in the daylight, I wouldn't want them running at me any time soon!

To sum up then, Død Snø is nothing original in its premises borrowing heavily from similar movies (Evil Dead II, Dead Alive etc) around but it does so in a refreshing way that has some genuinely funny moments. As mentioned, think Shawn Of The Dead but with more gore and ominous surroundings. It's one of the best zombie movies about and it covers a couple of genres to boot. If this is your cup of tea then I strongly recommend you add Dog Soldiers to your watch list too.

Rating: B+

Up next I bring you one of my tips for the top movie in April- Source Code [my review]. As always, here is a sneak peak of the action.

Farm
Are you fanatical about film? Then follow this site on Twitter @  FAbFilms

Previewed: April's Releases

I felt that as I'm writing a blog about movies that it wouldn't hurt to look at what the next month has to offer. This is the first of the monthly posts 'Previewed: Next Months Releases' which will be dedicated to pointing you in the right direction for those must sees and steering you away from those must nots.

Alright then we have a real mix of movies trying to make us part with our money this month but which are going to be the blockbusters and which will be the box office flops?

Top movies of April:       1. I Saw The Devil
                           2. Source Code
                           3. Your Highness
                           4. Rio
                           5. Apollo 18

Action/Fantasy/Thrillers
Sucker Punch (1st April) [my review]
Bit of a strange one this as a girl retreats to an alternate reality to cope with the mental facility she has been placed in. Looks like its going to be high on the graphics front but low on acting quality.

Source Code (1st April) [my review]
A soldier who wakes up on a train to relive 8 minutes in someone else's body in order to try and find the bomber of said train. This looks like one to go and see if you have some time to spare and will tick most boxes on the entertainment front.

Fast Five (21st April) [my review]
The next one in The Fast And The Furious franchise with Vin Diesel returning for more of the same. Expect lots of car chases with stunts and not a lot else.

Thor (27st April) [my review]
After being cast out of Asgard, Thor is left to roam the world with mortals and defend them from whatever evil is thrown his way. One to wait to come out on TV I think.

I Saw the Devil (29th April) [my review]
Foriegn one this. After losing his wife to a serial killer a detective goes on the hunt in order to avenge her death. Looks like its going to be strong on the gore and one to go and watch if you can cope with subtitled movies.


Animations/Children
Hop (1st April) [my review]
The son of the Easter bunny does not want to follow in his father's footsteps and would much rather see what the world has to offer. Will go down well with the kids no doubt but just using Easter as a way to sell a movie is a bit weak. Made by the guys and gals behind Despicable Me and looks like there are some similarities with the yellow minions and the chick minions.

Mars Needs Moms (8th April)
Milo has his mom kidnapped by Martians because they need moms too. Graphics look terrible, storyline looks even worse. In for a shot at worst movie of the year.

Rio (8st April) [my review]
Rio a domesticated macaw gets taken to Rio de Janero where he meets another macaw and adventures ensue. Brought to you by the people behind Ice Age I think this will fare the best out of all the animations on show this month.


Comedy
Your Highness (13th April) [my review]
When Prince Fabious's bride is kidnapped, he goes on a quest to rescue her... accompanied by his lazy useless brother Thadeous. Heading down the lude, rude and boisterous humour route this one. Looks like it's going to be a good laugh.

Arthur (22nd April) [my review]
A drunken playboy stands to lose a wealthy inheritance when he falls for a woman his family doesn't like. Remake of the 1981 movie of the same name with Russel Brand taking the lead. Nearest romcom release for this month.

Cedar Rapids (29th April)
Tim Lippe has no idea what he's in for when he's sent to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to represent his company at an annual insurance convention, where he soon finds himself under the "guidance" of three convention veterans. Generic comedy that will get a few laughs but nothing more.
 

Drama/Documentaries
Oranges and Sunshine (1st April)
Based on a true story, Margaret Humphreys a social worker, uncovered one of the most significant social scandals in recent times: the forced migration of 130,000 children from the United Kingdom to Australia and other commonwealth countries. This describes her plight to reunite the families that were torn apart. One to watch if drama is your cup of tea.

Beastly (22nd April)
A modern day Beauty and the Beast where a New York teen is transformed into a hideous monster in order to find true love. Probably not going to amount to much and not really worth a look in.


Horror
The Roommate (8th April)
College student Sara finds that her new roommate Rebecca has an obsession with her, which quickly turns violent. Probably give a couple of scares but looks a bit budget to be honest.

Red Riding Hood (15th April) [my review]
Another modern take on an old tale set in a medieval village haunted by a werewolf, where a young girl falls for an orphaned woodcutter, much to her family's displeasure. Don't think horror movies are heading in the right direction and this is not going break the mold.

Scream 4 (15th April)
Ten years have passed and Sidney Prescott, who has put herself back together thanks in part to her writing, is visited by the Ghostface Killer. Another franchise that won't die off and I can't really understand how this is going to differ from anyother of the Scream movies.

Apollo 18 (22nd April) [Changed TBA]
Set around the real mission to space in the 1970s and why it was cancelled by NASA. Looks like it could lead to a bit of an emotional rollercoaster and this is my pick of the horror movies.

Next time I review Død Snø [2009] [my review] a zombie comedy movie from Norway.

So there we go. I hope I have steered you in the right direction for the month of April. Happy viewing.

Farm
Are you fanatical about film? Then follow this site on Twitter @  FAbFilms

Top 5ive: Pixar Shorts

Something slightly different today from my usual review as I write a top 5 list instead. After watching the excellent Rango it got me thinking about good animation movies, which in turn led me to Pixar and their animated shorts (movies not clothing!). I did some digging and realised that I hadn't even seen them all with 2 somehow eluding me! You sit there now saying to yourself that that's preposterous and you have definitely watched them all but I'll wager that you haven't. Go ahead check on this list here.

Now I thought setting myself the task of choosing of my top 10 favourite films of all time was a challenge but this was a step up indeed. I do like a challenge me! For those a bit rusty on their Pixar, they currently have 19 shorts with the 20th due to coincide with the release of Cars 2. Alright if we are being pernickety the first short- 'The Adventures of Andre and Wally B' is not strictly Pixar but rather the animator John Lasseter working for Lucasfilm Computer Graphics Project which later went on the become a start-up company we now know as Pixar! Without it though animation may not have been what it is today.

After honourable mention to Geri's Game, Lifted and Burn-E who missed out by a cat's whisker I give you the top 5 animated shorts by Pixar...


5. Luxo Jr [1986]
Pixar's 1st/2nd short ever which created the mascot and star that has appeared in all of their movies to date. Who do I talk about you ask? The legendary lamp of course. Despite having no expressions whatsoever Pixar still pull off making that lamp so cool and excitable. Had to get into the top 5.

4. Knick Knack [1989]
Another golden oldie here about a snowman who just longs to be free from his snowglobe prison. Less well known and not quite as funny as the next three but good none the less.

3. Presto [2008]
When watching this in the cinema before Wall-E I laughed so hard that I couldn't breathe and it gave the stomach muscles a good old work out the likes that they had or will never receive again. The music especially the 'TaaDaaaa' fanfare after ever stunt makes this good short great.

(If you want to see a higher quality version but it has a watermark across it go here)

2. For The Birds [2000]
Best use for a dog's squeaky toy ever (remove dog from room before playing this clip!) and sticking with the loveable character theme once more. We feel for the big bird who just wants to fit in and steals the last laugh.

1. Partly Cloudy [2009]
Everytime. Everytime I watch this I shed a tear of laughter and it just keeps getting better and better the more I watch it. Follow the trials and tribulations of a stork as it tries to deliver babies to their new parents. The stork has to be one of the best Pixar characters about. Enjoy!

Hope you liked the selection of the top 5 Pixar shorts on display and that you all got a couple of laughs out of it. I know I sure did when I was choosing them.

When next time rolls around I will be reviewing the movies that are being released in April, both good and bad. [click here]

Farm
Are you fanatical about film? Then follow this site on Twitter @  FAbFilms

Reviewed: Let Me In [2010]

Let Me In [2010]

15 - 116mins - Drama/Fantasy/Horror - 5th November 2010

Let Me In is a remake of the successful Swedish horror Let The Right One In [2008] and despite not having seen this I am led to believe sticks to the storyline extremely closely. This is not what I would call your typical vampire movie with the vampire taking shape in the form of a 12 year old girl Abby (Chloe Moretz) and not a wooden stake to be seen. If anything it is more of an emotional love story.

We start, as is the growing trend these days at some unspecified point in the future with a man being rushed to hospital finding out along the way that he is the prime suspect in several murders occurring around the sleepy backwater town of Los Alamos, New Mexico. Whilst is left alone in his hospital room he jumps from the window to his death.

Rewind two weeks where we are introduced to Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) a boy who is bullied at school by three of his peers and whose parents are currently going through a divorce leaving him somewhat of an introvert and lacking confidence. The director is clever in that the father is never seen and the mother is only in scenes briefly so we do not get to know her which means we really only get to know Owen and hence share his loneliness. With the arrival of Abby and her father though, he finds happiness in her company and the pair create a friendship that Mortez and Smit-McPhee act out excellently.

Alongside this growing friendship is the more sinister hunt for fresh blood which leads to the disappearance of some locals and the police search that ensues. Where many vampire movies head down the vicious mass murdering group who go around killing for fun this paints the picture of a much more calculated sect who kill to survive and are aware that many killings will lead to too many questions being asked and them eventually being found. It is a means to survive nothing else.

There were some well crafted pieces of cinematography with one scene in particular involving a car crash making up for the poor use of CGI and special effects (that were thankfully infrequent) which would be more in line with a lower budget production.

The background and history of Abby and her father is kept vague for most of the movie which invites the viewer to create their own past for them, suffice to say that we are assume they have been around a long time. This leads to an interesting question that wasn't really answered- if Abby had been around a long time trapped in a 12 year old body surely her mind would have grown up? Yes there is a sense of maturity surrounding her but at the same time she never really shakes off that sense of still actually being an innocent kid. Perhaps this was intentional and shows the innocence of youth prevailing over the evil within. Either way Mortez is fantastic at depicting her character showing us that she has a very bright future in the industry.

When I sat down to watch Let Me In I was not expecting what was served up before me. Luckily though it was a pleasant surprise as the movie gets you hooked at the start and thanks to the great on screen chemistry between Mortez and Smit-McPhee keeps you engaged right up until the credits start rolling. Definitely worth a watch.

Rating: B

Next time I'll be giving you a top 5 rundown of the best Pixar shorts around! [click here]

Farm
Are you fanatical about film? Then follow this site on Twitter @  FAbFilms

Reviewed: Twin Town [1997]

Twin Town [1997]

18 - 99mins - Comedy/Drama - 11th April 1997

Welcome back to my blog for those returning and just welcome to those who are new to it. Today I've gone off the beaten track slightly and opted for a Welsh movie (don't worry they are speaking English for those non-natives of the Welsh language). As mentioned in my last post where I reviewed Limitless, this is to celebrate my return to Wales for a short visit to the lovely Cardiff. Now before the review just a quick disclaimer: as far as I am aware no sheep were shagged in the making of this film but one might have been molested!

Twin Town follows the Lewis brothers also known as the the twins (Jeremy and Julian) played by Rhys Ifans and Llyr Ifans- also brothers in real life although only the former has gone on to forge a successful career in the movies (Notting Hill, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, The Amazing Spider-Man [2012]). Put simply they are delinquent layabouts who are renowned locally for their compulsion to steal cars, get into mischief and take as many tokes as they can from all manner of homemade bongs- utilizing everything from shower heads to golf clubs. They live on a caravan site overshadowed by the Swansea industrial works with their parents, sister and dog Cantona (named so after a Welsh football player).

The plot revolves around a series of confrontations that start as frivolous but soon escalate to serious between the twins and the local big crook as the twins feel their father, Fatty, has been wronged. Throw in bent copper Terry with delusions of grandeur played well by Dougray Scott, a karaoke king, some cocaine and a poodle and you've got yourselves the making of an intriguing movie.

The movie unsurprisingly is riddled with Welsh references that some people may be unfamiliar with and understanding the lingo might take a couple of minutes if you have never heard a Welshman before but hang in there as your patience will be rewarded. What I particularly like about this movie is that its rough around the edges and very realistic as you can imagine these types of people existing in the real world.

It's also well known for containing its high usage of the word fuck summed up brilliantly with the first line of the movie- "Fucking dead, fucking dead as fuck". It is to Twin Town what alcohol is to Withnail And I. As you can therefore imagine the script is not elegant and may not be to everyone's liking but there is some good dialogue thrown in to get you laughing and the development of the plot is well thought out occasionally throwing you in the wrong direction and leading to a well concluded climax.

Twin Town is a unique dark comedy that's passed too many people by and this needs to be rectified as it's a very good movie that has just the right amount of comedy, violence and in the Lewis brothers a couple of cracking, if not slightly disturbing, characters that you end up getting behind and really connecting with.

Rating: B+

On a slightly sadder note Elizabeth Taylor (aged 79) passed away yesterday, one of the last Hollywood greats (if you get nominated for the Oscar of best actress in a leading role 4 years running you must be doing something right) with perhaps her best role as the voice of Maggie Simpson amongst others, no I'm not making that up! Hats off to her.

Next time I will be serving up Let Me In [2010] [my review] which is a bit of an alternative vampire movie starring the up and coming Chloe Mortez (of Kick-Ass fame). So until then as the Welsh would say 'nos da'.

Farm
Are you fanatical about film? Then follow this site on Twitter @  FAbFilms