The Grudge

What really attracted me to The Grudge? Was it the idea of a Japanese horror flick being given the Hollywood treatment by the same director as the original? Was it Gellar as the lead? Was it the seriously creepy teaser trailer floating about? Was it my newfound love of horror films?

Well, whatever the reason, I decided to see the kind of movie I would usually stay a thousand miles away from. I saw The Grudge. And oddly enough, I don't regret it. Sure, its been done a thousand times before, but The Grudge is a perfect example of how much fun you can have in the cinema by scaring yourself witless.

Gellar stars (although it's more of an ensemble thing) as Karen, a young exchange student in Japan volunteering for the local care centre, who is sent to look after a crazy old woman when her usual carer doesn't show up for work (ooo, I wonder?). Things soon take a turn for the worse when Karen discovers the house she entered holds a curse, that is intent on killing everyone that enters it. The killing ensues, of course, but it never feels like you're just going from one death to the next, and the lack of blood and gore makes the killings all that more tense.

Gellar leads the cast well, and Pullman lights up his scenes with his mysterious presence. Director Shimizu cleverely relies on an ensmeble cast rather than one lead holding the whole movie, and I loved how every character encounters the little kiddy. He is scary.

Of course, I'm sounding a little too positive here - this is a Hollywood horror movie, after all - how good could it be? But for the genre and considering its slightly pathetic plotline, The Grudge is very creepy, very atmospheric and sometimes very impressive. The picture above alone should be ample proof of that. And even if there are some laughable moments (such as the first scene, and the bed 'attack' - is it me, or does she simply dissapear under the sheets?) they only lend to how fun The Grudge is. My advice? Don't take it seriously, just let yourself be scared! ***1/2 out of 5.

2004: The Year So Far

Ok, I know November is a little late for this, but remember that here in the UK, loads of films are still waiting for release that are already doing the rounds in the US.

The Best

The Incredibles

Just beats out Tarantino's latest masterpiece Kill Bill Vol. 2 for the title of Best Film of the Year (so far, although I think it will retain its title forever). Brad Bird, the first outside director to make a Pixar film, strays slightly from the usual Pixar formula but is all the better for it. The Incredibles is slightly darker than your average animated movie (hell its even got a body count, unheard of in a Pixar production before now) but it is also the most fun you will have in the cinema this year, without a doubt. It's exciting, it's hilarious, and it's visually stunning - in short, it's everything you've come to expect from Pixar, and then some. ***** / *****.

The Worst

Catwoman

Simply embarrassing for all involved. The idea of a Catwoman spin-off had no doubt been knocking around Hollywood for some time, but it definitely would have been better off gathering dust in some L.A. film dungeon, so no member of the public would have been subjected to the torture of watching this faintly hilarious but at most points simply boring film. Director Pitof, previously of some shit starring Chow Yun Fat, somehow managed to get control of a promising idea and turned it into some kind of puberty-mangled teenager’s wet dream, with Berry dressed in a ridiculous skimpy outfit and Sharon Stone playing villain by turning into an invincible rock - which pretty much sums up her performance.

The list of problems, mistakes and plain stupidity could go on for days. By placing the story in an imaginary, futuristic cityscape that is entirely visual effects reliant, and apparently rejecting the idea of choreography or wirework in fight scenes (instead relying on fast cutting and ridiculous camera techniques that force the cameraman into circling, turning upside down and doing a summersault while recording the scene) the filmmakers relied on the effects department rounding off the rough edges. So either the effects department accidentally sent off the final version when they were only half finished, or the film’s budget was so meagre it didn’t allow for the visual effects to go anywhere beyond blurs that are supposed to show Halle jumping around buildings and dodging bullets, but in reality just hurt your eyes. Bratt’s suspicious cop and love interest is the only likeable character in the film, which is far from praise, but at least he can leave the film far behind him with his credibility still intact. Halle and Sharon have not been so lucky. * / *****.

Biggest Surprise

Touching the Void

While on my way to a small college cinema in Utica to see Touching the Void, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I’d heard good things about the documentary on its release in Britain, but wasn’t really sure what it was about, or what kind of documentary it was. It turned out to be a most stunning dramatization and talking-heads docudrama, produced to perfection.

Of course, I knew from the beginning that these characters were going to survive their horrifying ordeals, but that didn't ruin any of the suspense. No horror film has gotten my heart beating so fast as Touching the Void. And the effortless alterations of settings, from visually stunning cliff-faces to dark, claustrophobic caves, are perfect examples of how polished to perfection all the technical aspects of the film are. A true gem, though not for the light-hearted. ****1/2 / *****.

Biggest Disappointment

Troy

First, lets get the good bits out of the way - Sean Bean, Eric Bana, Peter O'Toole and Brian Cox prove how talented they are as the only standout performers in the massive all-star cast. And the art direction is nice.

Okay, now that's done, lets get on to why this film is an abomination against its source text, against its cast, and against its audience. Up to the day I saw it, I was excited about Troy at a level I can barely understand now. The trailers, and the fact that I was studying the story in school as they hype builded up, got me really big on it. On the first day of special screenings, I was first in the (figurative) line to see it. I had no reason to assume it to be any less than brilliant. That is what made the crushing disappointment even worse.

Brad Pitt hits all the wrong notes as Achilles, turning him into some kind of spoilt, irritating teenager, who mostly whines except when he has something especially wise to say. Bloom, usually barely acceptable, is a walking travesty, ruining every scene he rears his head in. As his 'lover', Kruger looks nice but couldn't possibly be any more dull. Brendan Gleeson is a case of same old, same old if I ever saw one, trying to 'do' menacing with his hammy performance. He is so detestable, no-one in their right mind would complain when he ends up dead in a duel with Bloom, who also deserves to be killed off.

The action picks up at the end with the Trojan horse and the final seige of Troy, but it's all so ridiculously filtered for mainstream audiences...I just hated it. Loathed it. ** / *****.