Repulsion

I was really looking forward to this movie. I think the only other Polanski film I've seen until now was Rosemary's Baby, and that is one of my favorite films of all time. I was thinking another psychological horror film from the same director made around the same time would be just as good, but I was wrong.

Repulsion (1965) is supposed to be a movie about sexual repression and how it can affect the mind. It's drawn a comparison to David Lynch's Eraserhead, another one of my favorite movies. I see the similarities, but the difference is the execution. Repulsion lumbers along from one scene to the next, every scene lasting too long and some not needed at all. I can appreciate the film and some of the visuals are quite startling, but in the end I don't think it was made all that well from any aspect.

For a movie titled Repulsion, I was expecting a bit more than what I found. (6.1/10)

12 Angry Men

A few years ago I watched the original version of this movie in a college English class and loved every minute of it. When it was going to be shown on a movie channel, I recorded it so I could watch it later. As it turns out, the version on TV was actually this wonderful remake.

The newer version of 12 Angry Men (1997) was a made-for-TV movie that deservedly won plenty of awards. I was skeptical of a remake and questioned some of the casting, but everything came together perfectly; proving that the original play still stands the test of time. Jack Lemmon is perfect for recreating Henry Fonda's original role, but the star of the show is really George C. Scott as Juror #3. He really did just as well, if not better than Lee J. Cobb in the original role. The story moves along at a perfect pace and I could not have asked for anything better.

I still do, however, prefer the older version. I think the supporting actors were a bit better, the setting of the story was more appropriate, and I loved the use of black and white. Despite all of that, this is still a very good show. (7.8/10)

Now & Then

There was a free preview weekend for Starz this past week and I took the opportunity to record some movies I knew I'd want to watch later. This movie was one of them.

Now & Then (1995) was one of my favorite movies when I was younger. I can't imagine now what compelled me to sit through it then, but it still sticks with me as a good movie. The story follows four girls as they experience a life-changing summer back in the 1970's. They go through everything together and even when they grow up and grow apart, they still return to each other when one of them is in trouble. It's kind of a storyline for the ultimate chick flick, but I love it nonetheless.

A definite favorite for lazy Sunday afternoon viewing. (6.8/10)

Inception

I had been looking forward to Inception since the first posters and trailers made their way into theaters. Everything about it seemed like it would turn out as nothing but perfection, and I was not disappointed.

Inception (2010) starts out with a jumble of images and ideas that are only explained later in the film. The audience finds themselves thrown into an uncomfortable and new world that does not quite make sense. Though there is much plot to describe in the first hour or so of the movie, I found myself so engrossed in everything that was going on. I was trying to figure out how characters fit together, what was going to happen next, and what things were symbolic to cracking the code of the movie. As the film progresses we fall into a complicated bank robbery-type film that moves you to the edge of your seat; all the while you're forced to keep track of every second of the film to keep with it. I don't think I've ever had more fun at a movie.

I can't wait to view the movie a second time to see if I've gotten everything out of it that I can. I used to think that the 1970's were the peak of cinema. Now I'm looking forward to this next decade to prove me wrong.

As close to perfection as I've ever seen in a movie. (9.8/10)

Circus of Horrors

I stumbled upon this movie on TCM after watching the terrific final sequence of Tod Browning's Freaks. They were having a circus night and I knew I couldn't watch the whole movie, so I recorded it and watched it later. It was definitely an interesting experience.

Circus of Horrors (1960) looks like it was made on a micro-budget. The only part that's really impressive is the circus set-up itself, which was apparently an already existing circus. The film centers around a plastic surgeon who uses a circus as a front to "fix" deformed female criminals and keep them bound to his circus by blackmailing them with their past crimes. Anytime one of them tries to leave the circus, he finds a way to "accidently" kill them during the show.

The acting was on par with most smaller movies from the time period; a bit of overacting, but generally not too bad. I have to say my biggest dissatisfaction comes from a bear mauling that happens at the beginning of the film. The bear is clearly a large stuffed animal, if not a person in a bear suit, and it gives the scene a hokeyness that doesn't sit well with the rest of the film.

Overall, a good effort and a decently entertaining film. (6.3/10)