Juyuso seubgyuksageun: Attack the Gas Station

Korean Punk Rock Culture

The film opens with four guys robbing a local gas station: they take all the money and knock some stuff around. A few minutes later they are bored and so they decide to rob the gas station again, "just because". But this time the owner was smart and doesn't have any money...so the guys decide to hold the owner and his three teenage employees hostage while they run the gas station and take all the money.

Leading the group is No Mark (Sung-jae) who has an issue with authority, especially the owner, but treasures his family photo. Mad Dog (Oh-seong) wears a hat, wields a bat and makes the hostages stand on their heads. Rockstar (Seong-jin) has long hair and gets uber violent without music. And Painter (Ji-tae) has bleached blonde hair and enjoys graffiti art.

The four learn how to run the gas station and then charge the customers extra, if you don't pay you get locked in the trunk of your car! But they manage to piss off the following people: the owner (Yeong-gyu), multiple members of a local gang, an attractive woman, the woman's boyfriend, his mafia father, the police, and the local delivery boys.

--: The characters react with violence to just about everything. They beat up people, they subvert authority, they vandalize property, terrorize the police, etc. and don't seem to have a conscience.

RECOMMENDED: Honestly, I liked this film. The use of color and camera techniques are marvelous and the story sucks you in. Watch the film in Korean with subtitles...b/c it's difficult to take the dubbed version seriously...regardless of what they are saying. The flashbacks are insightful and the music is fun!!

Attack the Gas Station [Juyuso seubgyuksageun] (1999) 113 minutes

Rating: R for pervasive language and violent behavior

Director: Kim Sang-Jin

Starring: Lee Sung-jae as No Mark (the leader)

Yu Oh-seong as Mu Dae-po (according to imdb.com his name is Bulldozer, but according to the subtitles of the movie he is Mad Dog)

Kang Seong-jin as Ddan Dda-ra (Rockstar)

Yu Ji-tae as Painter
Park Yeong-gyu as the Gas Station Owner

Jeong Jun as Geon-Bbang
Lee Yu-won as Ggal-chi

Lee Jeong-ho as Meek Man
Kim Su-ro as the Angry Delivery Boy

Goyangileul butaghae: Take Care of my Cat

The Ultimate Korean Chick-flick...and it even has substance!

After graduating from high school friends say they will keep in touch...but that vow grows more difficult over time. The film opens with five girls taking a picture together on their last day of school. They are obviously close and having a wonderful time.

A few years later they are living their own lives. Hae-joo (Yo-won) has moved away and works for a large company. She lives on her own and is overall spoiled. She removed all ties to home and her former life, except for her friends. Tae-hee (Doo-na) still lives at home, and works for the family business (some weird spa thing). She wants a different life...and adventure, but isn't sure what that is. She keeps the group together (organizing things). Ji-young (Ji-young) is unemployed and lives with her grandparents. They live in poverty and she hates her life. She is most aware of the changing dynamics of their friendships. And the twins Bi-ryu and Ohn-jo (Eun-sil and Eun-ju) are the most stable of the group. They live together, and make-and-sell jewelry. They are impossible to tell apart.

The cat in the title, Titi, is physically passed around between the girls but serves more as motif for the film than as the protagonist.

--: At first it is hard to distinguish the differences between the girls (the narrative jumps around between their lives), but the characters do emerge as individuals. The characters are easy to identify with...and this is the type of chick-flick even the guys will be interested in!

RECOMMENDED: This film was incredible. Watch it with friends (and at least one person who studied film or literature) and just enjoy the flowing narrative and excellent cast. There are male characters in the film (about 6) but they never really emerge from the background. And you probably won't see the ending coming.

Take Care of My Cat [Goyangileul butaghae] (2001)

Director: Jeong Jae-eun

Starring: Bae Doo-na as Tae-hee

Lee Yo-won as Hae-joo

Ok Ji-young as Ji-young

Lee Eun-sil as Bi-ryu

Lee Eun-ju as Ohn-jo

Oh! Soo-jung: The Virgin Stripped Bare by her Bachelors

Honestly, I can't say anything positive about this film...except I was so happy when it was over!

This is the story of a relationship...but what is really happening? Based on the notion that no one remembers a story in the same way, this relationship is first shown through the eyes of the man waiting, Jae-hoon, and the second part is a combined view of the "innocent" gal, Soo-jung, and her boss, Young-soo.

Young-soo (Seong-kun) is an independent filmmaker. He is interested in Soo-jung (Eun-ju) who is his writer. Then there is Jae-hoon (Bo-seok) who is interested in financing Young-soo's film. Eventually Jae-hoon and Soo-jung date. But what really happens? Who started the relationship? What happened? Who cheated on whom? Did either of them cheat? What kind of personalities do ANY of the characters have?

--: Overall this film is about sex. All the characters talk about it....frequently. You get to the point where you just want Jae-hoon and Soo-jung to just have sex and get it over with...but predictably this is the film scene of the film. There is lots of nudity or partial nudity. An extremely graphic (and long) sex scene. One character gets raped (or almost gets raped)...and there are a few other scenes that are sexual in nature...

NOT RECOMMENDED: In my opinion there is no redeemable qualities in this film. I have no idea what happened...I didn't like any of the characters...and after the first few minutes I didn't care, I just wanted it to end. I didn't want to review this film...I didn't want to think about it again, but I couldn't find any reviews of this film online so I decided to write one so no one else would have to suffer through this film (and I had to watch it for a class...gross)

The Virgin Stripped Bare by her Bachelors [Oh! Soo-jung] (2000) 126 minutes

Director: Hong Sang-soo

Starring: Lee Eun-ju as Soo-jung

Mun Seong-kun as Young-soo

Jeong Bo-seok as Jae-hoon

Bakha satang: Peppermint Candy

If "Memento" and "Forrest Gump" were set in Korea...

I say "Memento" because it is told out of order...and "Forrest Gump" because Yong-ho, our flawed protagonist, is interacting with Korean history which (like Forrest Gump) would be recognizable to Koreans.

The film opens in a secluded picnic grounds, agroup of old friends are reuniting after many years. Their seclusion is broken by the entrance of Yong-ho (Kyeong-gu) who they haven't seen for years, but he has changed: he is drunk and miserable. Finding no solance from his old friends he climbs onto a rail road bridge waiting for a train to come and end his misery. As the train gets closer he yells: I want to go back! And thats what the film does...

Told in reverse this is the story of Yong-ho and why he is so miserable. The passage of time is marked by the train traveling in reverse in between scenes (7 in all), ending twenty years before the opening scene when the same group of people met for the first time...

--: While this film is well-made, it is hard to watch. There is at least one graphic sex scene along with several scenes of nudity...they swear a lot...and there is quite a bit of violence (he is in the military and he tortures prisoners)...don't eat directly before, during, or after watching this film

RECOMMENDED: This is the BEST Korean film I have seen. The story is incredibly powerful; if you you don't feel anything after you watch this film...you are dead!

Peppermint Candy [Bakha satang] (2000) 130 minutes
Director: Lee Chang-dong
Starring: Seol Kyeong-gu as Yong-ho
Moon So-ri as Sunim
Kim Yeo-jin as Hongja

Shrek 3

"The only thing you're ever gonna be king of, is king of the stupids!"

I admit it...I love the first two Shrek films and despite the so-so reviews I had read I was excited about the 3rd as well......and I was disappointed.

Shrek (Myers) and Fiona (Diaz) are still at the palace, due to her fathers failing health. When the king (Cleese) dies he names Shrek as his heir. But there is another: Artie (Timberlake), so Shrek, Donkey (Murphy), and Puss (Banderas) set off to find him. Meanwhile, Fiona is pregnant...and hanging out with other princesses: her mother Queen Lillian (Andrews), Sleeping Beauty (Oteri) who keeps falling asleep, Snow White (Poehler) the diva, Rapunzel (Rudolph) who is rumored to have extensions, and Cinderella (Sedaris) who has a cleaning obsession; Dragon and Doris (King) the ugly stepsister.

After being publicly humiliated in the last Shrek, Prince Charming (Everett) wants revenge, and asks all the evil characters (like the Queen from Snow White, Rumplestilskin, ther evil trees, Captain Hook, etc) and Doris' sister Mabel (Philbin) to join him in taking over the castle. Will Artie assume the throne? Will Fiona have little ogres? Will Shrek accept fatherhood? Will Charming win?

What were the writers thinking? Where is the classic opening used by the last two...where is the opening song to establish the style and such of the film? The opening, in a dinner theater, was funny...but it went downhill from there. The beauty of the previous Shrek installments was the subtle hits at Disney and pop culture...but this film openly uses the fairytale princesses and it just doesn't work. I like the actresses they chose, and yes some parts were funny or passable, but it didn't work. Even the charm of Puss & Donkey wasn't enough to save this film. Yes, they were excellent as usual, and so was Mike Myers as Shrek...but how was this a kids film? It seemed like a coming of age story...something for adults...and that took away from the film. And the baby idea....NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Not funny...didn't work.

Yes, I will still probably buy it...but overall I was disappointed

--: there aren't as many one-liners or classic songs...but there are still some classic lines

Rent it once: I wouldn't suggest paying $7 or more to see the film (i went to a matinee b/c they are cheaper), but wait till it hits the stores and rent it (or borrow it for free from public libraries)

Shrek the Third (2007) 92 minutes

Director: Chris Miller and Raman Hui

Starring: Mike Myers as Shrek

Eddie Murphy as Donkey

Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona

Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots

Julie Andrews as Queen Lillian

John Cleese as King Harold

Rupert Everett as Prince Charming

Eric Idle as Merlin

Justin Timberlake as Artie
Larry King as Doris

John Krasinski as Lancelot

Cheri Oteri as Sleeping Beauty

Regis Philbin as Mabel
Amy Poehler as Snow White

Maya Rudolph as Rapunzel
Amy Sedaris as Cinderella

The Sound of Music

"Oh, there's nothing wrong with the children. Only the governesses."

Austria prior to WWII. Maria (Andrews) lives in a convent, but the Mother Abbess (Wood) and the other Sister Superiors feel that she is not ready to be a nun, so they send her to the von Trapp household as their governess. Capt. von Trapp (Plummer) has seven children who have gone through multiple governesses, even though he has them trained to report like Navy soldiers. Liesl (Carr) is the oldest and not interested in a governess, she is more interested in Rolfe (Truhitte) the paperboy she flirts with. The children enjoy tormenting their governesses until they quit, leaving little gifts such as live animals in their clothing and pine cones on their chairs.

Despite the odds Maria manages to win over the children and shares her love of music and life with them in preparation for the surprise their father is bringing home: his girlfriend. With friend Max (Haydn) and Elsa (Parker) in tow, the Capt. learns what family truly means.

Ok, so it's not the best summary of the film...but really, are their people who have never seen this film? I grew up watching it because my mom loves Julie Andrews...and I love R&H musicals. The Sound of Music, while not my favorite R&H or even my favorite musical, holds a special place in my heart and has proven time and again it's lasting power since it is still regularly shown on television. The story is based (loosely) on the real von Trapp family, and if you buy the 40th Anniversary DVD they talk about the family (and there are also books written about them). Regardless we will always sing about our "Favorite Things", wish we could play with a huge puppet theater, try to learn the dances, and feel the power of the final scene (despite the "wind" from the helicopter the camera was in)...and will we still "Climb Every Mountain" until we find our dreams!!

The Sound of Music (1965) 174 minutes

Director: Robert Wise

based on the stage musical by Rogers & Hammerstein

Starring: Julie Andrews as Maria

Christopher Plummer as Capt. Georg von Trapp

Richard Haydn as Max Detweiler

Peggy Wood as Mother Abbess
Ben Wright as Herr Zeller
Daniel Truhitte as Rolfe
Charmian Carr as Liesl von Trapp

Nicholas Hammond as Friedrich von Trapp

Heather Menzies as Louisa von Trapp

Duane Chas as Kurt von Trapp

Angela Cartwright as Brigitta von Trapp

Debbie Turner as Marta von Trapp

Kym Karath as Gretl von Trapp

Eleanor Parker as Baroness Elsa Schraeder

South Pacific

"When all you care about is here, this is a good place to be."

It is WWII in the South Pacific, on a little island with the Navy, French planters, and the natives. On the island there is constant competition between local Bloody Mary (Hall) and everyone else: she hires other locals so the French planters can't make them work in the fields and charges the Navy extra just for the fun of it. Her major competition is Navy shyster Luter (Walston) who is always looking for a scam...and women. When the army sends Joe (Kerr) to the island for a special mission, Luther sees his chance to see the island where all the women (and the boar's tooth ceremony) are kept. Paralleling Joe's story is Nellie (Gaynor) one of the nurses, who falls in love with French planter Emile de Becque (Brazzi). But racism stands in the way of love for both Joe & Nellie, along with a dangerous mission.

This film is beautiful. Mostly shot on location the film luxuriates in its tropical surroundings. Overall the film is well acted, well sung, and well-done. My major problem is the filters. Throughout the film colored filters were applied to emphasize certain aspects of scenes...and while this was a good idea, the colors are overpowering and distract the audience from the scene (I usually start laughing at that point in time). It is a powerful story and makes me cry every time...but the filters hurt the story. But watch it anyway...and maybe you will accept the filters the way the filmmakers wanted them to be viewed! (I still love it...and own it!!)

South Pacific (1958) 157-171 minutes

Director: Joshua Logan

based on the stage musical by Rogers & Hammerstein

Starring: Rossano Brazzi as Emile de Becque

Mitzi Gaynor as Nellie Forbush

John Kerr as Lt. Joseph Cable

Ray Walston as Luther Billis

Juanita Hall as Bloody Mary

France Nuyen as Liat

Russ Brown as Capt. George Brackett
Floyd Simmons as Cmdr. Bill Harbison

Flower Drum Song

"So where are you folks from?"

"The East."

"Oh, New York, huh?"

"Further east."

The only Rogers & Hammerstein musical to have an all Asian cast, Flower Drum Song is not as well-known or oft performed as other R&H musicals.

The story opens with Mei Li (Umeki) & her father Doctor Li (Kam Tong) illegally coming to America. Mei Li is supposed to marry Sammy Fong (Soo), but he was born and raised in the states and does not care for old customs. He works at an Asian night club and is in love with the head-liner Linda (Kwan), but he can't marry her. To get rid of Mei Li, he has them live with the uber-traditional Wang family. Chi-Yang (Fong) the father does not understand his Americanized sons, or sister Madame Liang (Hall), and welcomes the Li's into his home. He hopes Mei Li will attract the attention of his oldest son Ta (Shigeta), who happens to be interested in Linda as well.

I just bought this film and was overall impressed. The settings and costumes are beautiful and while the songs aren't as well-known as others in the R&H collection, they are just as good. Its hard to find, BUT definitely worthwhile!! Also look for The King & I Prince (hes the youngest member of the Wang family) and Bloody Mary from South Pacific is Madame Liang.

Flower Drum Song (1961) 133 minute

Director: Henry Koster

based on the stage musical by Rogers & Hammerstein

Starring: Nancy Kwan as Linda Low

James Shigeta as Wang Ta

Benson Fong as Wang Chi-Yang

Jack Soo as Sammy Fong

Juanita Hall as Madame "Auntie" Liang

Reiko Sato as Helen Chao

Patrick Adiarte as Wang San
Kam Tong as Doctor Li

Miyoshi Umeki as Mei Li

The King & I

"When I sit, you sit. When I kneel, you kneel. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera! "

Who doesn't love this film? Anna (Kerr) an English school teacher moves to Siam to teach the children of the King (Brynner). The King wants to appear scientific and cultured while retaining most of the local customs. Shortly after Anna arrives the King receives Tuptim (Moreno) as a gift from another nation, but she is in love with the man who brought her Lun Tha (Rivas). The King's assistant the Kralahome (Benson) and Lady Thiang (Saunders), the head wife of the King, try to explain the King and help Anna with life in Siam.

Anna learns to love the children, and grows especially fond of the King and his oldest son Prince Chulalongkorn (Adiarte) who wants to become like his father...while Anna tries to raise her own son Louis (Thompson).

The King & I is a wonderful film. The scenery is beautiful, the costumes are extravagant, the acting superb (I love Yul Brynner), and it is a wonderful film. Brynner originated the role of the Kin on Broadway and it is hard to see any production of the King & I without picturing him as the King. Although it may not be historically accurate, or true to Anna's story, this is a beloved classic...and it swept the nominations for the Academy Awards. The dance scene is memorable...and the quotes are phenomenal. What else is there to say?

The King & I (1956) 133 minutes

Director: Walter Lang

Starring: Deborah Kerr as Anna Leonowens

Yul Brynner as King Mongkut of Siam

Rita Moreno as Tuptim

Martin Benson as Kralahome

Terry Saunders as Lady Thiang

Rex Thompson as Louis Leonowens

Carlos Rivas as Lun Tha

Patrick Adiarte as Prince Chulalongkorn

Carousel

"You'd think a woman with nine children would have more sense."

"If I had more sense I wouldn't have had nine children. "

A musical adaptation of Liliom, this is the darkest Rogers & Hammerstein musical. In a fishing town in Maine, Billy (MacRae) is a Carousel Barker where he meets the young and naive Julie (Jones). She gets him fired (his boss, Mrs. Mullin (Christie) is jealous), and then he returns the favor (and keeps her out past curfew, so she gets fired)...and they realize their in love. They marry, although none of their friends understand the marriage. They are supported (morally and financially) by Julie's cousin Nettie (Turner) who feeds the local fishermen and tries to keep the chaos (of young love) at bay. Helping Nettie is Julie's best friend Carrie (Ruick) who is naive and ditzy. Carrie is engaged to herring boat captain Mr. Snow (Rounseville), and is chased by Jigger (Mitchell) the local holligan/criminal.

Julie's pregnant...money is tight...and temptation is all around...

Carousel is my favorite Rogers & Hammerstein musical, even though it is the darkest. Dealing with difficult topics like spousal abuse and the "hereafter", it is the most profound R&H show. The score is hauntingly beautiful with the romantic ballad "If I Loved You" and the most beautiful song "You'll Never Walk Alone" along with other beautiful songs. While this is the only R&H film to not be nominated for an Academy Award, you will not soon forget this film. Yes its dark. Yes you will cry...but you won't forget the score (and you shouldn't...I also own this soundtrack and dvd).

Carousel (1956) 128 minutes
Director: Henry King

Based on the stageplay by Rogers & Hammerstein

Starring: Gordon MacRae as Billy Bigelow

Shirley Jones as Julie Jordan

Cameron Mitchell as Jigger Craigin

Barbara Ruick as Carrie Pipperidge

Claramae Turner as Cousin Nettie

Robert Rounseville as Enoch Snow

Gene Lockhart as the Starkeeper/Dr. Selden

Audrey Christie as Mrs. Mullin

State Fair

"Abel Frake, I am not putting liquor in my cooking!"

The Frake family is headed for the Iowa State Fair. Both children, Margy (Crain) & Wayne (Haymes) are having relationship problems. Margy's fiance Harry (Phil Brown) doesn't understand her...and she dreams a new man will come into her life. And Wayne's girlfriend Eleanor (Jane Nigh) can't come to the fair, leaving him depressed. Their father, Abel (Winninger) bets his pig Blue Boy will win a prize, while mom Melissa (Bainter) wants her mincemeat to win, without the aid of liquor (which her husband wants her to add).

At the fair Margy & Wayne find new flames. Margy meets ace reporter Pat (Andrews) who helps her tame her fear of roller coasters, and Wayne finds Emily (Blaine) the singer for the Fair's Band who helps him find justice. Have they found true love? Will Blue Boy triumph? Will the mincemeat win? Will their dad silence their snooty neighbor?

This was the FIRST Rogers & Hammerstein musical to hit the big screen, and while I like it, I don't think it's the same caliber as the others. The plot is too simple, I mean the characters don't have a depth that later films achieved. Also, this film was made because of the Broadway success of Oklahoma and people wanted to see Rogers & Hammerstein in cinemas...R&H weren't willing to make Oklahoma yet (since it is the story about the land, they wanted to be able to show the beauty of the land...and cameras weren't up to the challenge), so they produced this film. I love the score (and own the soundtrack), but the story just doesn't cut it. It's cute and fluffy...but I prefer the others.

State Fair (1945) 100 minutes

Director: Walter Lang

Starring: Jeanne Crain as Margy Frake

Dana Andrews as Pat Gilbert

Dick Haymes as Wayne Frake

Vivian Blaine as Emily Edwards

Charles Winninger as Abel Frake
Fay Bainter as Melissa Frake

Oklahoma!

"Shut your face or I’ll fill your behind so full of buckshot you’ll be walking around like a duck the rest of your life."

It's the early 1900s, in the Oklahoma Territory...where folks are either farmers or cowboys (who don't tend to get along). At the heart of the narrative are two love stories. First is Curly (MacRae) and Laurey (Jones). Curly is a free-spirited cowboy and Laurey is a poised/prim & proper farm gal, and although they love each other (and everyone else knows it) they are too stubborn to admit it. Meanwhile Laurey's best friend, Ado Annie (Grahame) is also in a pickle: she loves getting attention from guys but now she has 2. First is Will Parker (Nelson) the "love of her life" who went to the rodeo to win $50 so he can marry her, and then their's Ali Hakim (Albert) the traveling salesman from Persia who just wants a little loving.

The fit hits the shan (as my father says) in both situations when 1.) Jud (Steiger) the dirty farmhand at Laurey's asks her to go to the dance with him (and makes it clear that Curly needs to get out of his way), 2.) Will wins the money, but spends it all, 3.) Annie's dad, Andrew (Whitmore), hears about Ali's advances (and comments about his daughter) and forces Ali to propose to Annie.

Honestly, I love this film...this was the first musical I ever saw, I've seen it live many times (more than any other musical), I own the dvd and the soundtrack...so hopefully this won't be too biased! Overall the film is fun and the characters seem to enjoy their lives, but this isn't a high-art film. The camera angles, scenery, etc. are pretty average (even though the country-side is fabulous)...and the acting isn't anything to write home about. The songs are catchy...and the best part is the Dream Sequence. It is a homage to the stage production: no dialogue or singing, just dancing, and was choreographed by Agnes DeMille. Both Curly & Laurey are replaced by professional dancers, but the rest of the cast does their own dancing. So maybe it won't be the best film you've ever seen...but for two hours you can laugh-out-loud (Will & Ali have some classic one-liners), sing-along, and wish you could have as much fun as the characters. Yee-haw!!

Oklahoma (1955) 145 minutes

Director: Fred Zinnemann (based on the stage show by Rogers & Hammerstein)

Starring: Gordon MacRae as Curly McLain

Shirley Jones as Laurey WIlliams

Gloria Grahame as Ado Annie Carnes

Gene Nelson as Will Parker

Charlotte Greenwood as Aunt Eller

Eddie Albert as Ali Hakim

Rod Steiger as Jud Fry

James Whitmore as Andrew Carnes

Dreamgirls

"Isn't music supposed to express what people are feeling?"

"Music is supposed to sell."

Wow! First of all I LOVE musicals, so I'm probably biased...but this was excellent. It is the story of 3 childhood friends who sing together: Effie (Hudson), Deena (Knowles) and Lorelle (Rose). The girls are discovered by Curtis (Foxx) who becomes their manager and gets them to sing back-up for local legend James "Thunder" Early (Murphy). With the help of his manager Marty (Glover) and Effie's talented brother C.C. (Robinson) who writes their songs, they begin their rise to the top.

But its a bumpy road...they can't their music heard on white radio stations and a white group rerecords one of their songs and makes it a hit. Also there is relationship trouble and friction within the group, and one of the girls is replaced by Michelle (Leal) as they continue to become big stars.

The narrative flawless combines dialogue with musical numbers. The music is powerful, especially the songs Hudson sings...wow, what a voice. She definitely deserved all the awards she received...and a part of me is pissed that Eddie Murphy didn't win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor (even though I loved Alan Arkin in "Little Miss Sunshine"). If you love musicals...and 50's-60's music you will LOVE this film!!

Buy it!: once you see it you'll fall in love with it...so don't waste the time and money renting it...just buy it

Dude, its quotable: well, singable anyways. I had heard a few of the songs before (like at the Oscars), but you can't fully appreciate them until you see the film (or the stage show) and understand the full emotions behind the songs! What an excellent musical!!

Dreamgirls (2006) 131 minutes

Rating: PG-13 for language, some sexuality and drug content

Director: Bill Condon

Starring: Jamie Foxx as Curtis Taylor Jr.

Beyonce Knowles as Deena Jones

Eddie Murphy as James "Thunder" Early

Danny Glover as Marty Madison

Jennifer Hudson as Effie White

Anika Noni Rose as Lorrell Robinson

Keith Robinson as C.C. White

Sharon Leal as Michelle Morris

The Illusionist

"Life and death. Space and time. Fate and chance. Theses are the forces of the universe. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you a man who has unlocked these mysteries. From the furthest corners of the world where the dark arts still hold sway he returns to us to demonstrate how nature’s laws may be bent. I give you Eisenheim."

When I watched this film I couldn't help but think of the Prestige, not only because both films are about magic or that they were released at the same time...but because they are not what they appear. While "The Prestige" is mostly about the rivalry between two magicians, "The Illusionist" has the magician subtly challenging the heir to the throne (risque). While I enjoyed both films, I would have to say I liked "The Prestige" better not only because I like Christian Bale but because the script seemed a little more refined. BUT what I liked about "The Illusionist" was its raw nature.

Eisenheim (Norton) is a well-known magician. He has traveled the world and returns to his home country as a well-established name. Audiences are amazed by his illusions and mesmerized by his persona. When the Crown Prince, Leopold (Sewell), comes to a performance he brings his lovely fiance Sophie (Biel) who was Eisenheims childhood sweetheart. Eisenheim's love for Sophie leads to his battle with Leopold, putting Sophie and the local Police Inspector, Uhl (Giamatti) in the middle.

Inspector Uhl is the heart of the story, the narrator. It is from his perspective that we follow the story...which is not what it appears (like Eisenheim's illusions). Leopold, the Crown Prince, the type of character you love to hate...while Norton's Eisenheim is mesmerizing. The weakest character, in my opinion, is Sophie. I'm not sure Jessica Biel was the best choice for this part...yes, she's pretty but that isn't enough, and I found myself wishing for less of her and more of Edward Norton or Paul Giamatti.

Overall this film delivers. Every shot has a sepia/yellowish hue reminiscent of old photographs...mostly void of shocking colors (making the reds and greens all the more provacative). And remember...things, and people, are never what they seem!

Rent it once: It is suspenseful...and while you may think you know the outcome, you'll probably be fooled (unless you read the short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist" and then you'll know everything).

--: If nothing else this film is appealing to the eye...I wouldn't call the movie quotable, but is definitely worthwhile. (And I would suggest watching it with "The Prestige" to compare)

The Illusionist (2006) 110 minutes

Rating: PG-13 for some sexuality and violence

Director: Neil Burger

Starring: Edward Norton as Eisenheim

Paul Giamatti as Inspector Uhl

Jessica Biel as Sophie

Rufus Sewell as Crown Prince Leopold

Eddie Marsan as Josef Fischer

Everything is Illuminated

"My grandfather informs me that is not possible."

This is the story of a young man, Jonathan Safran Foer (Wood) also known as "The Collector" because thats what he does. He collects random objects that remind him of his loved ones: for example, at the beginning of the film as his grandmother is dying he keeps looking at her false teeth. After she dies he places the teeth in a plastic bag, writes her name on the bag (and the datd) and hangs the bag on the wall with the other random objects that remind him of her (and other relatives). In her final moments she gives Jonathan a picture of his grandfather with a woman named Augustine, and a Star of David necklace. Augustine is a family heroine: she helped Jonathan's grandfather escape the Ukraine and get to America, so Jonathan goes to the Ukraine to find this woman (or her descendants).

Meanwhile we are introduced to the Alexs' (there are 3 of them). They are Ukrainian and run a tour business for Jews looking to find their past. The youngest Alex (Hutz) is the narrator of the film. His English is fascinating and he loves to dance. His father is Alexander (Choroshko) a difficult man who handles the family income. And the most colorful member of the family is Grandfather (Leskin) who thinks he is blind. Grandfather has a "seeing eye bitch" (thats what they call the dog the entire film) named Sammy Davis Jr. Junior who is "deranged" and not a real seeing eye dog. Grandfather, Alex and Sammy Davis Jr. Junior are going to take Jonathan to find Augustine (he has a map and knows the name of the town).

This film is quite the roller coaster of emotions...it starts weird (a guy who wears HUGE glasses and collects random stuff?) and then laugh-out-loud funny (when we meet the Alexs') and then solemn and reverent (when they find what they are looking for). When the film ends you know you witnessed something....I'm not really sure what, but something! And even when the film is solemn there are still bits of humor thrown in, and it works. Not many films can do that and still make the emotions real!

Rent it multiple times: I've only seen it once, but I eagerly anticipate seeing it again. It is the kind of film that really makes sense after you've seen it a few times (I watched it with my uncle who had explained the basic plot...and together we discovered new facets of the film that even he didn't notice before)

Dude, it's quotable: Alex has a lot of interesting phrases...but the really funny things happen when he is translating...his grandfather swears and isn't overly fond of Jonathan, so Alex changes some of the words (such as the quote at the top when his grandfather was swearing up and down and said some other negative things...Alex glossed it over by saying "Grandfather informs me that is not possible")

Everything is Illuminated (2005) 106 minutes

Rating: PG-13 for disturbing images/violence, sexual content and language.

Director: Liev Schrieber

Starring: Eugene Hutz as Alex

Elijah Wood as Jonathan Safran Foer
Oleksandr Choroshko as Alexander Perchov (Father)
Boris Leskin as Grandfather
Tereza Veselkova as Augustine
Laryssa Lauret as Lista