Los Ojos de Julia (2010)

Directed by Guillem Morales and produced by Guillermo del Toro (amongst others), Julia’s Eyes is a tense thriller with many twists, turns and hide behind a cushion moments.  A story involving two sisters who have an degenerative disease of the eyes means that the titular Julia spends a lot of the film virtually, if not totally blind; which really ramps up the creepy.  Belén Rueda is good as Julia, really making the viewer sympathise with her predicament, despite some questionable decisions later in the film.  Óscar Faura does some great cinematography work, creating some wonderfully subtle bleak and gloomy moments; then the flash photography is used to great effect as its starkness contrasts the rest of the movie.  A really atmospheric, creepy, psychological thriller which had me grimacing at the screen on several occasions.  But, well, you know, that’s just, like, er, my opinion, man.

Pacific Rim (2013)

Having already been a little disappointed with the only other blockbuster I’ll probably see this year despite having respectable names attached to it, I was wary about getting too excited about Guillermo del Toro’s latest offering.  The Hellboy films and Blade 2 both demonstrated that del Toro was able to create intelligent mainstream films with a mostly believable yet fantastical plot and at the same time fill them with plenty of inventive and (crucially) understandable action.  So it was my hope that Pacific Rim would up the ante in terms of spectacle yet still retain the attention to detail and storytelling that typifies some of del Toro’s previous work.

I wasn’t disappointed.  The design of the film was tremendous, the level of detail in the Jaegers (Hunters; huge robots) and Kaiju (huge monsters) is incredible.  There was also plenty of design to create the world inhabited by these two creations; downtown Hong Kong was as detailed and as full of character as the Troll Market in Hellboy 2 and I really loved the fact that there was a healthy black market in Kaiju body parts.  I was surprised that two guys had to physically be in the Jaegers to control them, I thought it would have been far more sensible to control them by remote.  On the plus side for the movie, there is far more danger and threat given that the drivers are literally in the heart of the action.  This gives the film a far more human element, especially as the two drivers have to mentality "drift" together (some sort of shared thought/memory thingy to be able to control both "hemispheres" of their Jaeger), an idea without which the film wouldn't have the same impact .

The cast were fine, and did well in bringing this human element to life, where otherwise we may not have cared.  Idris Elba was certainly the standout performance, perfectly cast as Stacker, the military general running the Jaeger project who provided an immovable point in whom everyone else could depend.  The "hero" duo of Charlie Hunnam and Rinko Kikuchi were OK but were fairly prefabricated and copy/pasted from any other action/adventure film.  Of course del Toro favourite Ron Perlman is in the mix, but his is a rather light-hearted role as Kingpin of the black market.  Charlie Day and Burn Gorman are the fairly irritating and cringeworthy stereotypical science nerds, but at least they’re fairly integral to the plot.

As well as introducing a very human story to the film, del Toro managed to create a lot of spectacular fight scenes that was still perfectly understandable.  The movie steered well clear of any Michael Bay-ish tendencies for fast over-editing and generally “fucking the frame”, so that we haven’t a clue what’s going on.  Though the whole premise of the film is rather over the top, the action never is; for example, even when a Jaeger takes out 2 Kaiju in Hong Kong, relatively little of the city gets destroyed, which seems to be a prerequisite for action movies these days (Superman destroyed far more of Metropolis killing far more bystanders in Man of Steel).  Throughout the action the CG was generally flawless, these massive beasts given a real presence, and the wind and the rain really lashes off the robots.

All in all I really enjoyed Pacific Rim.  Sure there were daft bits (Ron Perlman’s cameo), clunky bits (Idris Elba saying he’d die if he stepped into another Jaeger - simply for the payoff in the next scene), and cheesy bits (Today we are cancelling the apocalypse!); but the smart story, characters to relate to and care about, some tremendous action set pieces as well as del Toro’s eye for detail all combine to make a worthwhile robot/creature feature.  But, well, you know, that’s just, like, er, my opinion, man.

Blade II (2002)

Before Guillermo del Toro found mainstream recognition with his two Hellboy films, he directed the second of the Blades.  This second installment is far more entertaining than the first, probably because it's simply a better film.  The first 5 minutes are more creative and dynamic than the entire first film; the cast are a lot better, and at no point do vampires try to be day-walkers by wearing sun block!

Wesley Snipes seems to have settled into his role a little, and doesn't seem as stilted as he did in the first film.  Surprised as I was that Luke Goss was great as Prince Nuada in Hellboy 2, I wasn't aware that del Toro had used him before; he was very convincing as the mutant vampire Nomak.  And he's not the only surprise; Cat from Red Dwarf (Danny John Jules) features as a vampire in the first half of the film!  I was a bit disappointed that Tony Curran wasn't used more though; he's great as Marcus in Underworld Evolution and wonderful as Vincent van Gogh in Doctor Who.  Ron Perlman is Ron Perlman playing a vampire, and is therefore quite cool. So the standard of acting is a significant improvement from the first film.

The plot was one of the (highlights is too strong a word given the inconsistencies I didn't like) lights of the first film, and there is no disappointment here either.  A more consistent and engaging story, and even a little twist; David S Goyer showing that he is continuing as an inventive writer worthy of his plaudits.  I have quite a soft spot for Vampire mythology movies (Underworld and Evolution are real guilty pleasures), so I was rather disappointed by the first Blade; happily Blade 2 belongs to the guilty pleasure pile, helped by creative direction a smart story and a pretty decent cast.

FilmsRruss' Favourite Directors

Many people have a favourite actor/actress that they will follow religiously; sometimes for a good reason, sometimes the reason is rather more spurious; perhaps they look good in tight trousers (I'm looking at you Kate Beckinsale!).  I honestly don't think there is any actor that I would particularly try to see all their films.  There probably are some whose films I see a lot of, simply because I like the genre they tend to stick with.  I am far more likely to follow a director's career and actively seek out the movies they make.  This article is testament to that.  These are guys (yes I'm afraid that they're all men) who I think make amazing films, and I'll always want to see their creations no matter the genre.
In no particular order then.

Matthew Vaughan 

Having cut his teeth as a producer for Guy Ritchie, Matthew Vaughn has made an amazing transition to the Director's chair.  His first film was the excellent Layer Cake; very much a crime caper in a similar vein to Lock Stock or Snatch, which oozes cool and has a hell of a cast.  From there he hasn't looked back, taking him all the way to the great X-Men reboot and even rumours linking him to the new Star Wars films. 

Films to see: Layer Cake; Stardust; X-Men: First Class. 

Zack Snyder

There is no doubting Zack's visual flair, he has made the slow-quick-slow camera work a very distinctive trademark; and I for one love it.  He created a very enjoyable remake of Dawn of the Dead, but it was when he brought Frank Miller’s graphic novel 300 to our screens that we took notice.  It strikes me that Zack is at his best when interpreting other works, because when he wrote and directed Sucker Punch it looked phenomenal but the story was woeful.  So having said that, I'm really looking forward to Zack's Man of Steel which is written by David S Goyer and Chris Nolan. 

Films to see: 300, Watchmen, Dawn of the Dead. 

Christopher Nolan

There is nothing that this man has directed that isn’t superb.  From the simple but very very clever Memento through to The Dark Knight Rises, he hasn’t missed a trick; and I haven’t missed a film (apart from Following).  Not afraid of making people think, he doesn’t pander to the lowest common denominator.  Memento didn't let you lose concentration for a second, The Prestige kept you guessing, Inception is a total mind-bender, and the Batman films have no right to be as clever as they are.  He has done a truly remarkable thing, he has actually made intelligent blockbusters, proving that you don't have to leave your brain at the door to enjoy spectacular films. 

Films to see: All of them! But especially Memento, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises. 

Duncan Jones

Born Zowie Bowie, Duncan obviously wanted to distance himself from his famous father.  This guy is definitely the new kid on the block in this list having only directed two feature film; the superb Moon, and Source code.  He has also made a short film called Whistle which is also well worth a look. Of course he doesn’t have a very long CV, but it's pretty good, and I'm excited as to what he'll do in the future.

Films to see: Moon, Source Code, Whistle.

 



Guillermo del Toro 

Del Toro is probably the one director on this list that I am least familiar with, however I love the films I have seen and there is no doubting that he has a very distinctive style.  Usually a lot of eyes are involved!  Whether it's the beast at the end of Hellboy, or The Angel of Death in Hellboy 2, or the Pale Man in Pan's Labyrinth, eyes are important to him.  I'd love to have seen his Flies and Spiders if he had directed The Hobbit!  Similar to Chris Nolan, the Hellboy films are much cleverer than you would expect, and Blade 2 (though I haven't seen it for a long time) equally so.  Hellboy is a great fantasy film, the second one in particular is fantastic and has Del Toro's wonderful style all over it; Pan's Labyrinth even more so.  As I say, I'm less familiar with much of Del Toro's work, but I now have Blade 2 to watch again, Cronos is on my LoveFilm list, and I am hoping that he brings his quality to Pacific Rim, because it looks spectacular, but could so easily be rubbish in someone else's hands. 

Films to see: Hellboy 2, Pan's Labyrinth, Blade II

Ridley Scott 

Often referred to as a very visual director, Ridley Scott has made some tremendous films.  I only really understood what was meant by being a visual director when I watched some of the extras on the Body of Lies DVD.  To explain on set how he wanted a scene to look, he would grab a pencil and paper and very quickly draw the storyboard so that the crew instantly knew what he was thinking.  Often it seems like he is the only one on set who is calm and knows exactly what he wants.  Amid the carnage of filming Black Hawk Down, he was the one unfazed by all the explosions; an oasis of serenity.  All this allows him to concentrate on how best to tell his story, and he is excellent at that; and usually his films are visually stunning. 

Films to see: Alien, Bladerunner, Gladiator 

Stanley Kubrick 

Kubrick was a real artist, everything he did was deliberate and had a reason.  He was also a perfectionist, often leading him to do many takes of any particular scene.  Of course this sometimes led to clashes of personalities on set, but there is no doubting that the finished product was always tremendous.  As an artist he produced works of art, and nowhere is this more evident than 2001:A Space Odyssey.  Not a film for everyone, but I think it is a joy to watch; utterly captivating and a sublime piece of film-making.  Even the "Ultra - violent" Clockwork Orange has moments of beauty.  Widely regarded as one of the best directors of all time, having watched eight of his most celebrated works I can certainly see why. 

Films to see: 2001:A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining. 

Quentin Tarantino 

Generally known for making violent films with a lot of bad language, Tarantino nevertheless has demonstrated over and over that he can write and tell a great story.  Perhaps he should be better remembered for his great characters, their development and the irreverent script he usually writes for them.  Who can deny we really understand Vincent and Jules when they are discussing "Le Big Mac".  Equally, we get a real sense of Kiddo's desire for revenge as we learn about the characters that wronged her.  And of course witnessing the superb Christoph Waltz's "Jew Hunter" in Inglorious Basterds, we understand why Shosanna goes to such desperate measures at the end of the film.  A brilliant writer and certainly also a great director. 

Films to see: Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Inglorious Basterds.



All images from IMDb

Bank Holiday Monday Double Bill: Hellboy

Professor Trevor 'Broom' Bruttenholm: What is it that makes a man a man? Is it his origins, the way things start?
The Dude: Sure, that and a pair of testicles.

This is how Hellboy starts, kind of! At a time when the Nazis are trying to gain the upper hand in World War 2, they turn to their studies of the occult in the hope that they can find an ultimate weapon. In the ruins of a castle in Scotland, a ritual to open a portal and transport some demons over from another dimension are disrupted by the Americans (Allies?). However, in the ensuing melee, the Russian dude used by the Nazis to open up the portal is sucked into the other world; in exchange for a small red thing with horns and a huge red hand: Hellboy.

Hellboy is looked after by the Allies (Americans?), particularly by Professor Trevor “Broom” Bruttenholm, and when he reaches adulthood, becomes the cornerstone of The Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (Hellboy is based in Area 51!). Of course, it turns out that the Russian guy (Grigori Rasputin) didn’t die when he has sucked into oblivion; he became possessed with a demon that could be resurrected (all the way over in Moldavia (which doesn’t exist anymore but is associated with Transylvania and Vampire lore). Grigori ultimately lures Hellboy to a catacomb under a mausoleum somewhere near Moscow; where it turns out that his huge right hand’s purpose is to open another portal to demon-world. Hellboy gets out of this scrape, saves the girl (Liz - a firestarter), and kills the demon that Grigori turns into.

Guillermo del Toro made a cool film in Hellboy. It has great scope and has an almost epic feel about it, as the characters travel all over the world. However, it doesn’t really do anything special. Don’t get me wrong, I think this is a great film; it just feels like del Toro was holding himself back, or had been told to hold back to prove that he could make an action blockbuster. Having said that he does manage to create a lovely sinister atmosphere. The opening scenes in Scotland are very moody (it very much reminds me of Return to Castle Wolfenstein - for all you gamers out there). And Kroenen (the weird Nazi robot made of sand and clockwork, with whirly-knife attachments) is particularly sinister, especially when we find out about his surgical addiction. I can’t help thinking that he was the inspiration of all the steam powered Nazis in Sucker Punch. Of course the big demon at the end of the film has lots of eyes; very del Toro.

                                                            Kroenen - Sinister

Ron Perlman was the obvious choice for Hellboy, and he is perfect; with many cigar smoking Ooooo Craps! Jeffrey Tambor is also great, very sarcastic, as Tom Manning. Doug Jones seems to be just right for the semi-aquatic Abe Sapiens (voiced by David Hyde Pierce; aka Nils Crane -Frasier’s brother). Karel Roden plays the demonic Grigori well, and of course John Hurt is as good as John Hurt usually is; he just has a wise knowledgeable voice; perfect for professor Bruttenholm.

Hellboy 2 starts with a flashback of Professor Bruttenholm telling a young Hellboy the story of the Golden Army. Many years ago the King of the Elves had a Golden Army built with the help of the goblins. The army was only for use against Men who have an insatiable desire for conquest and warfare. Controlled by a crown worn by the Elven King, the army is eventually used when men once again rise up to wage war. However, the King is ashamed by the havoc the army wreaks; so he has it entombed and breaks his crown into three pieces so that they may never be used again.

The King’s eldest son, the young Prince Nuada, believes this is the wrong course of action, and for his war-like tendencies is banished. Of course, this wasn’t just a bedtime story! Now Prince Nuada has now returned from exile and is determined to re-activate the Golden Army and defeat the world of men once and for all. Can Hellboy and the gang stop him?

Whereas the first film was relatively restrained, del Toro really goes to town in this film. The best example of this is the Troll market. It’s almost as if a lot of the more fantastical ideas from Pan’s Labyrinth were put on hold and rolled out for use in the Troll market; but not in a bad way, the whole thing looks amazing. The design of the whole film is so much more subtle, detailed, and beautiful. The animation at the start of the film telling the story of the creation of the Golden Army is really cool; giving everything a wooden effect makes it look less cartoony.

The Forest Elemental is also brilliant, I really love the way all the goo that comes out as it dies turns into grass and flowers. I usually don’t try to over-analyse these kind of films, as they are first and foremost great entertainment; but I think it’s clear that the forest elemental is a comment on environmental issues. Just before releasing it, Prince Nuada says that it is the last of its kind, and if it is killed the world will never see its like again.

The Golden Army itself is brilliantly realised; great mechanics and a very fiery core. The BPRD is a bit more involved now; walking around Area 51 near the beginning of the film is very much like Tommy Lee Jones taking Will Smith around the MIB building. Finally, to finish off the whole del Toro look of the film, the Angel of Death has loads of eyes in a weird place: on its wings!

In terms of the cast, all the usuals are back; but now we have the evil-looking Prince Nuada played by Luke Goss. Who would have thought one of the members of 80s boy-band Bros would one day be a cool evil elf in a big budget blockbuster?! Selma Blair returns as Liz, but gets to do far more with her character than she did in the first film. We also have the new BPRD member Dr. Johann Krauss; a weird sort of vapour-powered gadget-loving genius in a deep-sea-diving suit! Krauss’ voice in none other than Family Guy writer Seth MacFarlane. Random, but cool.

                                                     Steam-powered Johann Krauss

                                                           Which one is the scary elf?

                                                               Oh. That one!

I think I prefer the second film. Both are great stand alone films; but the detail and the richness of production of the The Golden Army steals it for me. There is often a danger with the second instalment of a film to try and over-complicate the plot to show what more can be done with the particular mythology (Dead Man’s Chest, Matrix Reloaded), but Golden Army doesn’t try to do anything particularly complicated. Rather than trying to be clever it shows a far more detailed universe than we were aware existed in the first film.

Overall, both films are great. Very enjoyable, with a mixture of fantasy, action, a little romance, inspired production, and characters to relate to; even if they’re huge, red, and have horns. But then Hellboy is such a flawed character he’s more human than many other superheroes.