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Reviews
Fellowship of the Dice (2005)
Pokes fun at we RPG gamers (and we deserve every second of it)
I caught this at it's premiere night at the Gamestorm Con in Portland Oregon, and I must say that it was quite the treat.
Essentially a mockumentary focusing on an inexperienced player joining an established group, this enjoyable little film pokes a bit of loving fun at we gamers (and we deserve every second of it).
If you've been playing RPG's (especially D&D) for any length of time, you'll see your self in one or more of the core group of gamers. Interview clips from gamers at various cons add to the feeling "oh crap, I do that don't I?"
Also of note, the production values and editing are well above what one would expect from a low budget film of this type. The producers are gamers, but they're not just a few guys putting together a cheap film with a borrowed cam-corder, they know what they're doing and they do an excellent job.
If you see these guys at your next convention, stop by their booth and give their little film a shot. It's well worth the time, and they're a nice bunch of folks.
Lola rennt (1998)
Beautiful comic book in motion.
This movie has the feel and pacing of a good comic book. It's willingness to play around with reality, great frame splitting shots, and sequential photo sequences showing the outcome of people's lives all make it seem like you're enjoying a fine graphic novel. Anybody should go see it, but comics fans and comics detractors should take special notice.
Gattaca (1997)
Good movie, except for that one twenty minute chunk.
So you're sitting there enjoying a pretty good movie, and all of a sudden it's as if the writer of Footloose took over a portion of the movie. Not that Footloose is a bad movie, but the adolescent "I'll out swim you scene" just didn't fit in with the rest of the movie. It tightened up at the end, but that one section just leaves a bad taste in your mouth
Estória do Gato e da Lua (1997)
Stark and beautiful...
I caught this as part of the Cartoon Noir package at the Clinton Street Theater in Portland, and it was simply brilliant; the saving grace of what was an other wise forgettable to just plain bad grouping of films.
A perfect use of deep black and pure white, with excellent, yet simple animation, this is simply a story of a cat chasing the moon. Funny, charming, and touching. A small piece of heaven for cat lovers, romantics, and any one else who appreciates how beautiful simplicity can be. If it's in your town, see it. This one short is worth the price of admission.
Mr. B Natural (1957)
What a twisted and disturbing little film.
I am forced to give this ungodly waste of film high marks for it's pure and disturbing camp value. (shudder)
If there was ever a film made to warp minds, and provide filler for MST3K, this was it.
Zero Effect (1998)
Great detective story...with a few surprises
What a great flik. It moves along as a great detective story, then shifts gears into a true powerhouse of a movie with one simple scene that lays out the emotional heart of the main character in the boldest stroke possible. Bill Pullman (who deserves better roles than he's been getting lately), and Ben Stiller have excellent chemistry, and would be a wise choice for any director to match up again.