I really like Korean action films and this is a classic. If somewhat baffling at times... because two of the main characters change their appearance dramatically and that makes things a bit confusing for them and the audience.
One of the refreshing things about Korean action is that it is far less predictable than the western equivalents. There are similar elements, but they always mix it up and you can never be sure that some main character isn't actually going to die... just because we aren't near the end yet.
The main (anti) heroine is quite like Hannah (from the movie Hannah) in some ways... but then completely opposite in others (she has a child that she cares for so she isn't emotionally blank).
Lots of things happen. There is a mystery agency doing terrible things that may or may not be for the greater good (we never find out). There are gangsters. There are whole sequences that feel more like watching someone playing a video game...
It is very violent. And yet it is also thought provoking ... and sad ... and entertaining.
A real achievement to pack so much into one film.
Saturday 24 February 2018
Wednesday 14 February 2018
The Ghoul
This is a fascinating movie.
The first time I attempted to watch The Ghoul I had had a few glasses of wine and completely lost track of what was happening after 30 minutes; so I bailed out.
A few days later I tried again, sober, and really enjoyed it. I still can't say that I understand it. I will probably have to watch it again... was Chris an undercover cop investigating a shooting, or a mental patient imagining an alternative life as an undercover cop?
Or are we not supposed to be able to tell the difference?
Mystery.
The first time I attempted to watch The Ghoul I had had a few glasses of wine and completely lost track of what was happening after 30 minutes; so I bailed out.
A few days later I tried again, sober, and really enjoyed it. I still can't say that I understand it. I will probably have to watch it again... was Chris an undercover cop investigating a shooting, or a mental patient imagining an alternative life as an undercover cop?
Or are we not supposed to be able to tell the difference?
Mystery.
Altered Carbon
I thought that Altered Carbon was barrelling along nicely until about the 3/4 mark and then, for me, it hit the buffers.
All the cyberpunk aspects are something that you either buy into or not. The idea of everyone having a device implanted into their spine at birth seems horrific... but in 350 years, why not - only 35 years ago it would have seemed ridiculous that everyone would willingly carry round a device that allowed them to be contacted and tracked 24/7.
I didn't quite get where all the normal bodies come from. The rich have clones, I got that. But if the poor only get to reuse the bodies of dead people, then aren't those bodies pretty useless? They just died. Were they reconditioned or something? And if so why not fix them before death? Or is medicine just too expensive for most people? (i.e. the US healthcare approach, not the UK one)
Anyway, that was all OK. But then we find out who is really behind all the chaos surrounding Kovacs. And I thought... What? That is just mad.
Was that the point? That after pursuing a cause for 250 years, by whatever means you can employ, the process can destroy the whole point of the cause you started with?
I didn't get it. That's what I think was happening. The "villain" was just insane. The original "client" was unhinged too. So I guess all the people who were very, very old just went mad. Kovacs was cool because he slept for 250 years.
Is there a sequel? I hope there is more to the madness if so.
All the cyberpunk aspects are something that you either buy into or not. The idea of everyone having a device implanted into their spine at birth seems horrific... but in 350 years, why not - only 35 years ago it would have seemed ridiculous that everyone would willingly carry round a device that allowed them to be contacted and tracked 24/7.
I didn't quite get where all the normal bodies come from. The rich have clones, I got that. But if the poor only get to reuse the bodies of dead people, then aren't those bodies pretty useless? They just died. Were they reconditioned or something? And if so why not fix them before death? Or is medicine just too expensive for most people? (i.e. the US healthcare approach, not the UK one)
Anyway, that was all OK. But then we find out who is really behind all the chaos surrounding Kovacs. And I thought... What? That is just mad.
Was that the point? That after pursuing a cause for 250 years, by whatever means you can employ, the process can destroy the whole point of the cause you started with?
I didn't get it. That's what I think was happening. The "villain" was just insane. The original "client" was unhinged too. So I guess all the people who were very, very old just went mad. Kovacs was cool because he slept for 250 years.
Is there a sequel? I hope there is more to the madness if so.
Saturday 3 February 2018
Black Mirror 4
You might think that Charlie Brooker could have taken Netflix's money and just churned out more of the same Black Mirror ... but he hasn't. It is still getting better with some brilliant episodes here in series 4.
1. USS Callister
This is going to be known as "The Star Trek one" by everyone who likes to wind up Star Trek fans... sorry guys. But you should see it as a homage rather than a spoof. Although casting the bad guy as a fan might upset more. Nice unwinding of the twists as you realise what is going on.
Probably one of my favourites right off the bat.
2. Arkangel
Classic episode because the obvious question of "would a parent go that far?" has an equally obvious, but uncomfortable, answer of "yes, some would."
3. Crocodile
Mixed one. I liked the acting but it was too obvious what would happen when the insurance woman started doing her thing. Apart from the shocking length that the perp went to to hide the truth... and her eventual mistake.
4. Hang The DJ
Another candidate for favourite. I guessed some of what was happening but the ending was a surprise. Brilliant that it now seems obvious; so hiding it so well was a real triumph.
5. Metalhead
I love Maxine Peake and this was a creepy episode. Shooting in black-and-white was a good idea. The reveal about the contents of the box was cool... but somehow, for me, the lack of context killed it - why were the dogs doing that and who were the people?
6. Black Museum
Probably my favourite. Lots of tech gone wrong and a brilliant reveal at the end which had a real Tales of the Unexpected feel about it.
1. USS Callister
This is going to be known as "The Star Trek one" by everyone who likes to wind up Star Trek fans... sorry guys. But you should see it as a homage rather than a spoof. Although casting the bad guy as a fan might upset more. Nice unwinding of the twists as you realise what is going on.
Probably one of my favourites right off the bat.
2. Arkangel
Classic episode because the obvious question of "would a parent go that far?" has an equally obvious, but uncomfortable, answer of "yes, some would."
3. Crocodile
Mixed one. I liked the acting but it was too obvious what would happen when the insurance woman started doing her thing. Apart from the shocking length that the perp went to to hide the truth... and her eventual mistake.
4. Hang The DJ
Another candidate for favourite. I guessed some of what was happening but the ending was a surprise. Brilliant that it now seems obvious; so hiding it so well was a real triumph.
5. Metalhead
I love Maxine Peake and this was a creepy episode. Shooting in black-and-white was a good idea. The reveal about the contents of the box was cool... but somehow, for me, the lack of context killed it - why were the dogs doing that and who were the people?
6. Black Museum
Probably my favourite. Lots of tech gone wrong and a brilliant reveal at the end which had a real Tales of the Unexpected feel about it.
Thursday 1 February 2018
Person of Interest - season 5 (final)
I got impatient of waiting for season 5 of Person of Interest to appear on Netflix. After all, it has only been a year and a half since it aired in the US !!!
Anyway, I used up 3/4 of a month's rentals on Cinema Paradiso to watch it on Blu-ray instead. Keeping my fingers crossed that disk 3 would appear straight after disks 1 and 2, rather than something else from my list. It did. So I got to binge watch it, more or less.
I think PoI was the first modern US TV series that I got into. And it still remains the best in my opinion. Multiple threads of backstory interwoven between the episodes was always a joy to follow. You never knew when an otherwise run of the mill episode was going to be lit up by a revelation from the past.
In comparison this final season feels a bit rushed. There are only 13 episodes rather than the usual 22 or 23. So there are leaps and bounds that we just have to accept.
For example, in previous series, getting access to the NSA data feeds was always a big deal. Both for the Machine at the start and Samaritan later. But here, as soon as the Machine gets resurrected it can magically gain access all by itself.
Also, Samaritan managed to find the Machine last time... but now, even though it is stuck in one place, Samaritan can't find it... right under its nose.
Despite all that, we get some great episodes to finish off the story. Not all the characters make it to the end. The moment when the Machine chooses her voice is absolutely brilliant. I watched that episode again straight after...
The last episode is good, although again there are niggles. What was it that Root did to the Machine to give it a chance to beat Samaritan? Did I just miss that or was it glossed over?
I wonder if the cast were asked how they would like their character to end. There didn't seem to be much consistency to the outcomes. Although they were all quite satisfying in their own way. I guess by that point it didn't really matter... I was sad to see it finish.
All good things come to an end. Better a short season, than none at all. And I will remember episode 100 "The Day The World Went Away" for a very long time.
"Hello. Can you hear me?"
Anyway, I used up 3/4 of a month's rentals on Cinema Paradiso to watch it on Blu-ray instead. Keeping my fingers crossed that disk 3 would appear straight after disks 1 and 2, rather than something else from my list. It did. So I got to binge watch it, more or less.
I think PoI was the first modern US TV series that I got into. And it still remains the best in my opinion. Multiple threads of backstory interwoven between the episodes was always a joy to follow. You never knew when an otherwise run of the mill episode was going to be lit up by a revelation from the past.
In comparison this final season feels a bit rushed. There are only 13 episodes rather than the usual 22 or 23. So there are leaps and bounds that we just have to accept.
For example, in previous series, getting access to the NSA data feeds was always a big deal. Both for the Machine at the start and Samaritan later. But here, as soon as the Machine gets resurrected it can magically gain access all by itself.
Also, Samaritan managed to find the Machine last time... but now, even though it is stuck in one place, Samaritan can't find it... right under its nose.
Despite all that, we get some great episodes to finish off the story. Not all the characters make it to the end. The moment when the Machine chooses her voice is absolutely brilliant. I watched that episode again straight after...
The last episode is good, although again there are niggles. What was it that Root did to the Machine to give it a chance to beat Samaritan? Did I just miss that or was it glossed over?
I wonder if the cast were asked how they would like their character to end. There didn't seem to be much consistency to the outcomes. Although they were all quite satisfying in their own way. I guess by that point it didn't really matter... I was sad to see it finish.
All good things come to an end. Better a short season, than none at all. And I will remember episode 100 "The Day The World Went Away" for a very long time.
"Hello. Can you hear me?"
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