Change Your Image
DrMiguel-DeLeon
Mick has taught college-level psychology and seminary-based theology; he earned his way through university and grad school working as a church musician, and his sole claim to celluloid fame is the brief glimpse of him as a youngster in the music video for The Beach Boys' "Rock & Roll To The Rescue" (1986). He makes his home in his native Mexico after living for many years in the US.
Reviews
D'Artanyan i tri mushketyora (1979)
Interesting costume musical from the USSR
I'm fairly certain I've seen all the iterations of the Dumas classic up to 2022. All the others combine action and comedy, as did the novel. Props to the Soviets for attempting this story, told in more detail than Hollywood's versions. It's colourful and eye-catching, but slight on action and corny of the comedy. The poor acting is surpassed in badness only by the wooden cinematography. Costume and set design are good, as is the singing -- and I would guess the director comes (like probably all the cast) from the theater, since that's the feel of it.
It's a must for fans of the story, and fans of Soviet cinema, and a pass for everyone else.
Sourdough (1981)
How the west was one.
One man's journey through his wilderness home to find peace and integrity. Actually released in 1975, according to the end credits. Not exactly a feature, not exactly a documentary. Great cinema verite with narration.
Kingdom Hospital (2004)
Stephen King oversees remake of popular Danish hospital black comedy
Kingdom Hospital is a very good black comedy series, presented by and adapted for US audiences by Stephen King. That name should, shall we say, ring a bell for everyone. Briefly, a community hospital is built on the smoldering sites of a civil war-era clothing factory and a depression-era private hospital. Its neurology department is the focus of the show, complete with wacky characters reminiscent of M*A*S*H and some otherworldly shenanigans. The series spans 13 episodes, with good special effects and acting. Andrew McCarthy (80s Brat Pack member), Diane Ladd (Chinatown), Bruce Davison (Dead Man's Curve), and Ed Begley Jr. (This Is Spinal Tap) lead the cast. It's a serial series, meaning that the episodes build toward and refer back to one another. 12 of the 13 episodes are wonderful: funny, suspenseful, and quite enjoyable. The single exception is in the middle -- "The Passion Of Rev. Jimmy". Strongly recommended for Stephen King fans, M*A*S*H fans, E.R. fans.
Pet Sematary II (1992)
Taken as a black comedy, PS2 is kindova hoot
The sequel to Stephen King's "Pet Sematary" needed to be pretty good, given it's a spin-off from a book/movie by America's most prolific novelist/movie writer. We learn in the first scenes that this B-movie actress is separated from her husband, and very close to her young teen son. A little more exposition on why would've helped. After her death, father and son move back to their home town in -- you guessed it -- Maine. Good move making the dad a vet. His new friend has an abusive stepfather who used to date the late mom, and scene- stealer Clancy Brown does very well as Gus.
School bullies, an undead dog, crazy cop, and that sour ground from the first movie add up to a comedic splatterfest, in spite of Edward Furlong's shortcomings in the funny department. Less than a decade earlier Anthony Edwards was the comedic foil to Tom Cruise in the macho classic "Top Gun", but here he plays it too straight.
The major drawback to the film is, as I've written before, the Ramis Effect (making a wonderful movie and running out of ideas for the third act). Although he had nothing to do with this film/screenplay, Stephen King has suffered the Ramis Effect before:
Okay, we know why Gus dug up the kid's mom, but it's just creepy and wrong that the kid helped things along, made up the attic, and seemed to have gone to the Dark Side with no explanation. Then the undead mom isn't played as a zombie cannibal as with Gus and the first movie people, but as a calculating vampiress type. Finally, it's almost never a good idea to kill a nice kid. The mother and son under the spuds could've been comatose....
Pet Sematary (1989)
Great story, and some good acting
It's usually unfair to compare a film to the original book, so that will not be attempted. Rather, taking Pet Sematary at face value, it's a good story: young doctor and family move to Maine, meet a wizened neighbour, but then get into trouble because the ground is sour. Like a number of King stories, the area/town itself contains evil forces, or supernatural forces that end up evil. In a late career role, Fred Gwynne does an excellent job with the New England accent, not always done well by others. Good use of an unspoken tension between husband and wife, but not a lot of exposition on why it's there. She should've been frigid, but they have two children....
Stephen King stories, like the films of Harold Ramis, often suffer from the same debilitating problem: unraveling, cheesy plot and/or effects at the end. A toddler of about three years wielding a scalpel without nicking himself? An unidentifiable malaise coming over the doctor, causing very serious lapses in judgment? A giant Munster of a man unable to withstand fatal attack by said toddler? The old man's house inexplicably turning mouldy and rotten within hours?
However, it's pretty good. The cheese factor makes it a good time, and not terribly deep. But then again, who really makes "deep" horror?
The Fall (2006)
The most extravagant art film in many years
I came across this film through an online list of greatest films for cinematography. I don't recall where The Fall is on that list, but I assure you it is the most beautifully photographed film I've ever seen. The plot is clever, with a curious, creative little girl meeting a young silent film stuntman while both are laid up in hospital, a century ago. He spins a yarn that enthralls the girl (and us), and we see her visualisation of his story. Music is excellent, acting is quite capable. As a period film, the "real" scenes in the movie re- envision an early 20th century Los Angeles hospital quite well, and the "fantasy" scenes will leave you speechless. But the stars of the film are the photography and locations. It's one of those films that hooks you just from the breathtaking quality of the opening credits. The lengthy site credits at the end seem to span every continent on earth.