Reviews
Snake Eyes (1998)
A good thriller (to a point)
I had a choice when I got this video out: "Snake Eyes" or "What Dreams May Come". Snake Eyes was Blockbuster's Movie Of The Month so I chose it. And here's what I have to say about it: This movie could have been a great conspiracy thriller. One of the opening shots (which goes for about ten/fifteen minutes) is very well timed and placed. At this point, it's pretty good. Nicolas Cage brings real energy into his role and you get caught up in the flow of his life as a sleazy cop at a high profile boxing match. The frequent flashbacks to where people are at what time during the opening sequence is clever and helpful (especially when it goes into split screen). Unfortunately, what ruins the effect of this movie is a revelation which is placed too early in, so from then on, it loses its momentum. It isn't a bad movie but it could have been better. Good for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
The Day of the Roses (1998)
The Australian version of Titanic.
"The Day Of The Roses", the story about the 1972 Granville Train Crash which killed eighty-three people and its effects on the people around it, is an epic Australian mini-series which I thought was like the Australian version of Titanic. Time is always running out for the victims and their rescuers and sometimes, there is nothing they can do. It was filmed in my home of Brisbane and I could recognise some of the places filmed, which made it seem more real. The interwoven subplots each character is dealing with become even more serious when loved ones are lost and there is pain surrounding them. This is a brilliant mini-series and if you loved the epic of Titanic, The Day Of The Roses will touch your heart as well.
Rupan sansei: Kariosutoro no shiro (1979)
One of the best adventures ever made!
The Castle Of Cagliostro was the first Japanese animated film I ever saw, and I was hooked onto the craze immediately. But now, I'm finding trouble looking for more movies to match up to it! The movie is full of adventure, hair raising stunts and a twisting plot which keeps the audience interested. I cannot recommend enough that you see this movie, and if any Hollywood producers are reading this (unlikely), PLEASE MAKE THIS INTO A LIVE ACTION MOVIE!!!
The Castle (1997)
The best movie I've ever seen, funny and heart warming.
This is the best movie I have ever seen! I saw it at the Brisbane premiere in March '97 and I ended up seeing it four more times before I won a copy of it on video. This is the funniest, most heartwarming film ever to come out of Australia and it only took twelve and half days to film on a really low budget. It was shown in the US at this year's Sundance Film Festival and the audience was apparently rolling in the aisles. It is a movie that makes you feel happy for the little people who just stick to their own things and when the big guys come to get 'em, they fight to the bitter end. Here's a transcript of my favourite scene involving Dale talking to his brother Wayne in jail.
Wayne: How's Mum? Dale: Good. Wayne: How's Dad? Dale: Good. Wayne: How's Trace? Dale: Good. Wayne: How are you? Dale: Good. Wayne: How's Steve? Dale: He's alright. Wayne: Good. Dale (v.o.): We could just chat for hours.
See it and I hope it wins a stack of Oscars!