Fantastic Films Weekend Day 1 #ffwfest
Friday, June 15th, 2012 11:19 pm![[personal profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
miss_s_b
Flesh and Blood
Recut, remastered, and with nearly an hour of extra footage, we didn't get in in time to see all of this definitive documentary on Hammer films, but what we did see was by turns informative, intruguing and hilarious. Definitely one to get the updated DVD of if/when it comes out.
The Monster Squad
I hadn't seen this before, and I really liked it. It was kind of like the Goonies with Monsters, and while it was flawed (the Dracula was rubbish, and the soundtrack was very eighties) there was much in it that was very good indeed. I loved that Frankenstien's monster was a sympathetic character, and I loved that it was the two characters most disdained by the gang of boys (the little girl and the Scary German Guy) who wound up saving the day. There were some lovely references to Universal horrors (the creature from the black lagoon's make-up was particularly effective, and the scene where Frank first meets Phoebe). And I cried at the end, because I'm a big soppy.
Short Films Compendium
Fright Night
I love this film. I have done for quite some time. All the acting in it is great, the script is fab, the parodic bits are affectionate, and the effects are really gruesome in that special 80s way. And Chris Sarandon is dead sexy in it. It has lots of affectionate references to Hammer (plus some Hammer clips), and really clever use of apples.
It would have been nice had it actually been a film print, though, and not a digital copy. A number of scenes were annoyingly liney/pixellated, and this irritates me a lot more than scratches on an analogue print. Apparently there were similar issues with Quatermass in the other screen, though, plus Quatermass reportedly had lag between lip movement and speech, so at least I didn't feel cheated in that regard.
The Casebook of Eddie Brewer with special guests
I really wanted to see this, but sadly everything was running late and we would have had to leave about half way through to catch the last bus home, so we decided against and came home. It's a shame though, because I'd like to see what can be done on a micro-budget of fifteen hundred quid.
Still, we're watching our nice new BluRay of Dracula Prince of Darkness now, so that's a cheery thing. :)
Roll on tomorrow and The Toxic Avenger and Vamp, amongst others.
Recut, remastered, and with nearly an hour of extra footage, we didn't get in in time to see all of this definitive documentary on Hammer films, but what we did see was by turns informative, intruguing and hilarious. Definitely one to get the updated DVD of if/when it comes out.
The Monster Squad
I hadn't seen this before, and I really liked it. It was kind of like the Goonies with Monsters, and while it was flawed (the Dracula was rubbish, and the soundtrack was very eighties) there was much in it that was very good indeed. I loved that Frankenstien's monster was a sympathetic character, and I loved that it was the two characters most disdained by the gang of boys (the little girl and the Scary German Guy) who wound up saving the day. There were some lovely references to Universal horrors (the creature from the black lagoon's make-up was particularly effective, and the scene where Frank first meets Phoebe). And I cried at the end, because I'm a big soppy.
Short Films Compendium
- Bobby Yeah! - a very weird animation that found many many different horrible ways of depicting sperm and fannies. It was very well animated, but I couldn't really find anything to like about it. Possibly would have been OK had it been five minutes, but it was twenty, so I kind of felt it outstayed its welcome.
- Chomp! (UK PREMIERE) - on the other hand, I really loved this one. Imagine the spaghetti scene from Lady and the Tramp, except with zombies and a cadaver instead of two dogs and a bowl of spaghetti. And then add some really good acting, especially from the girl zombie.
- Decapoda Shock - will now be forever known as The One With The Awesome Space Lobster Riding a Horse. Can't really explain it; you have to see it.
- Perished (UK PREMIERE) - really well executed zombie survival film. Not massively original, but very enjoyable.
- Once it Started it Could Not End Otherwise (UK PREMIERE) - interesting and arty, but somewhat plotless. I liked it but wouldn't say I loved it.
- The Hunting Ground (UK PREMIERE) - brilliant. Interesting plot, well-filmed, nice use of sound. The only slight flaw I would pick is that the shopkeeper in it is distractingly reminiscent of Harry Enfield.
- The Little Mermaid (UK PREMIERE) - beautiful make-up on the mermaid. Nice performances, especially from the uncredited extras in the audience.
- Bear - a simple morality tale (don't be a prick to your girlfriend) which doesn't end well for anyone concerned. I really liked this one too, especially the ending.
Fright Night
I love this film. I have done for quite some time. All the acting in it is great, the script is fab, the parodic bits are affectionate, and the effects are really gruesome in that special 80s way. And Chris Sarandon is dead sexy in it. It has lots of affectionate references to Hammer (plus some Hammer clips), and really clever use of apples.
It would have been nice had it actually been a film print, though, and not a digital copy. A number of scenes were annoyingly liney/pixellated, and this irritates me a lot more than scratches on an analogue print. Apparently there were similar issues with Quatermass in the other screen, though, plus Quatermass reportedly had lag between lip movement and speech, so at least I didn't feel cheated in that regard.
The Casebook of Eddie Brewer with special guests
I really wanted to see this, but sadly everything was running late and we would have had to leave about half way through to catch the last bus home, so we decided against and came home. It's a shame though, because I'd like to see what can be done on a micro-budget of fifteen hundred quid.
Still, we're watching our nice new BluRay of Dracula Prince of Darkness now, so that's a cheery thing. :)
Roll on tomorrow and The Toxic Avenger and Vamp, amongst others.
no subject
Date: Saturday, June 16th, 2012 12:05 am (UTC)Quatermass being out of sync was annoying but I'm not sure if that was the print's fault or a technical issue.
You have to get/rent Casebook on DVD when it comes out. I'm not a big fan of POV/shaky cam films (except Troll which I can only recommend) but this was excellent, especially considering the budget, although it could have been a bit shorter.