
Leofwine_draca
Joined May 2000
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While I generally find Alex Garland's films hit and miss, I'd say that CIVIL WAR is one of his better efforts. It's another intellectual exploration of the topic, telling the story of another civil war in America in which Texas and California have successfully invaded their estranged neighbouring states; preposterous stuff for sure, but surprisingly realistic thanks to Garland's direction. The main story is a study of photojournalism and the risks taken by the members of that profession. The characters are a little bland and underwritten and the first half slow, but this picks up in the second half, delivering some strong set-pieces, and ends on an explosive high.
An action B-movie that's an international co-production, financied between America and Britain and others, and shot in Hungary. The star is Dave Bautista, making the most of his muscle-man physique shortly before his dramatic weight loss which must have spelled the end for such screen roles. The plot is a shameless copy of ACCIDENT MAN, with Bautista's hitman targeted by his own colleagues, and there's exactly the same combo of crass comedy and semi-decent action sequences. Funnily enough this one has the better cast, with Ben Kingsley, Scott Adkins himself, and Terry Crews all delivering enjoyable supporting roles. A boring romantic sub-plot is the only thing that drags this down and with twenty minutes off the running time it would have been a better film.
MERLIN'S SHOP OF MYSTICAL WONDERS is a strange unknown little two-part anthology based around the character of Merlin from Arthurian legend. I'd never heard of it before watching it on Prime. The wraparound story features Ernest Borgnine as an old grandfather narrating the tale to his wise-beyond-his-years grandson, openly ripping off THE PRINCESS BRIDE in the process. The two stories are pretty lacklustre, involving a guy trying to use magical powers for himself and coming a cropper in the process (one memorable scene has him flame-breathing a demonic cat) and an evil toy monkey. It's a film very much of its era...