Movie Review: Stalking Santa

Stalking Santa 

Ka Bang Entertainment, Cosmic Pictures, USA, 2006.

For thousands of years people have asked: Is Santa Claus real? Santologist Lloyd Darrow, Ph.D. (Chris Clark) has dedicated his life to prove that Santa really exists. His research does not make much money so his faithful wife Barbara (Lisa Clark) has to work for the two of them. Is he a dedicated scientists or a weirdo who stalks department store Santas and people who look like elves? 

Barbara and Lloyd

Clarence

Evidence from ancient Egypt

Many are skeptical about Lloyd's research but is there a conspiracy to hide the truth? Lloyd and his intern Clarence (Daryn Tufts) are mocked but they are determined to find the truth. The crucial experiment on Christmas Eve will reveal if their hard work has been fruitful or not.

This is fairly unknown indie comedy that I found from video rental store surplus shelf I was not expecting much but the film was a very positive surprise. It is a fun mockumentary that parodies the conspiracy theories and UFO-documentaries. It is smarter and funnier than many big budget comedies in these days. Funny dialogue and dry humour is in the style of combining "The X-Files" with "Office" series. Narration by William Shatner gives an authoritative edge. However it could have improved as a bit shorter film. It is a recommended Christmas comedy to watch if you can find it.

The truth is out there and hey, let's be careful out there!

Rating: Very good

Starring: Chris Clark, Daryn Tufts, Lisa Clark, William Shatner, Simon Taylor, Sierra Squires, Ed Mangum, Jed Knudsen, Hans Kelling, Marion Bentley, Timothy Lineback, Travis Eberhard, Marty Patch, Jake Suazo, Bern Kubiak, Phil Shepherd, Matt Mattson, Brett Merritt, Carolyn Smith, Tony Larimer, Mary C. Larimer, Miles Valentine Clark, Yim Su, Ricardo L. Perez, Alex Krova, Jonathan Baty, Hannah McFarland, Joel Bishop, Thomas A. Louisiana, Chris Kendrick, Gavin Bentley, Jennifer Erekson, Kristen Erekson, Mark Hatch, Lita L. Giddins, Rob McFarland, Jeffrey Blake, Marc Raymond, Darryl Woodward, Nancy Woodward, DeLoy Herzog, Jimmy Chunga, Casey Scott, Kay Trujillo, Draker T. Anderson, D. Jay Cook, Ron Bird, Debbie Worthen, Dan Rascon, Bryson Webb 

Director: Greg Kiefer

Movie Review: The Search for Weng Weng

The Search for Weng Weng
Death Rides A Red Horse, Turkeyshoot Productions, Australia, 2007-2013.

There are a lot of rumours about unique and tiny action star Ernesto de la Cruz a.k.a Weng Weng (1957-1992) who according to the Guinness Book of Records was once the shortest actor. Nowadays the title belongs to Ajaykumar from India. Weng Weng was even rumoured to have been a real secret agent and taken part in infiltration missions. 

Weng Weng

B-movie enthusiast Andrew Leavold became obsessed with Weng Weng's films and traveled to Philippines to find out the facts about Weng Weng. He interviewed film historians and people who worked with Weng Weng, including director Eddie Nicart, editor Edgardo 'Boy' Vinarao and jovial actor Franco Guerrero. Also the only living relatives are interviewed. 

Eddie Nicart

Edgardo 'Boy' Vinarao

Franco Guerrero

Weng Weng is described as a lucky guy. The first of his popular films were small roles in "The Quick Brown Fox" (1980) and "Da Best in Fa West" (1981) starring comedian Dolphy but his career started already in 1976. He liked watching Karate and Kung Fu movies and started practicing martial arts. But he was also lonely and although his movies made money he didn't see any and he died as poor as he was born. Still he was happy to be an actor and to work with the leading ladies. He was also a brave stunt man, making his own stunts. His big breakthrough were the Agent 00- films. "For Y'ur Height Only" was the second in the series and the first movie of the series is considered a lost film. 

The producer Peter M. Caballes, who was Weng's guardian, and script writer Cora Ridon Caballes spent the money earned from the movies and Weng Weng did not get salary. Caballes' were friends of President Ferdinand Marcos, and Weng was a regular visitor in the President's Palace. The Marcos family supported Cinema Arts, and used the entertainment to cover the corruption and human right violations. It was quite crazy in the movie business of the Philippines at that time. Imelda Marcos is interviewed also. She hosted Manila Film Festivals to showcase the artistic films of the country, but the low brow films of Weng Weng were the only films that were sold for the foreign audiences and Weng Weng suddenly became an iconic Filipino actor. Many people were not comfortable with that. Still Weng Weng's popularity in the Philippines may also have been high partly because his innocent looks made him resemble Santo Niño, Child Jesus. The popularity also gave rise to Weng Weng impostors. 

The documentary tells Weng Weng's story that is quite tragic but also warm and delightful. Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction and so it was also in the Filipino movie industry. In the end fans from around the world express their fandom.

Rating: Very good

Starring as themselves: Tikoy Aguiluz, Roy Arabejo, Tilman Baumgaertel, Don Gordon Bell, Celso Ad. Castillo, Beth Chai, Teddie Co, Rez Cortez, Roland Dantes, Celing de la Cruz, Editha De La Cruz, Nick Deocampo, Dolphy, Jim Gaines, Peque Gallaga, Eddie Garcia, Franco Guerrero, John Kater, Andrew Leavold, Marrie Lee, Ed Lejano, Maria Isabel Lopez, Anthony Maharaj, Imee Marcos, Imelda Marcos, Pia Moran, Eddie Nicart, Daniel Palisa, Dante Pangilinan, Rusty Santos, Henry Strzalkowski, Bobby A. Suarez, Edgardo Vinarao, Weng Weng (archive footage)

Director: Andrew Leavold

Movie Review: Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing

Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing 

A.C.E., British Broadcasting Corporation, NHK Enterprises, TCEP Inc., USA, Japan, UK, 2004. 

The second documentary of the Bullitt Special Edition DVD is a documentary about the secrets of movie editing.

Cutting is very important for the rhythm of the film and effective building of emotional responses. The first films were made using single scene, basically filming until the film ran out. If that would have been all there is for movie making the art of cinema would have become a short-lived gimmick. Edwin S. Porter invented a method for making the films more interesting by combining several scenes to tell stories. Other big steps forward were the techniques used by D.W. Griffith and Sergei Eisenstein. 

There are fun stories about film editing and contrasting opinions of film editors and directors. "Terminator 2"would like very jerky if every 24th frame was removed. "Jaws" animatronic shark did not work as expected but thanks to Verna Fields' editing it looked realistic despite Spielberg's wish to show more of the shark. Also Steven Seagal was difficult to work with in "Under Siege 2" as he walked into the cutting room and began bossing about how the film should be cut. 

The history of editing techniques is interesting stuff. There are good examples from movie genres (action, drama, horror and erotic thrillers). Not only that but the interviews of the directors and the editors give also trivia about making classic movies such as "Apocalypse Now" and "Easy Rider." Walter Murch editing "Cold Mountain" is used as a case study of how editors work.

Walter Murch editing "Cold Mountain"

Highly interesting and informative documentary about movie making and evolution of film techniques.

Rating: Very good

Interviewees: Kathy Bates, Zach Staenberg, Jodie Foster, Michael Tronick, Anthony Minghella, Sean Penn, Walter Murch, Martin Scorsese, Rob Cohen, Quentin Tarantino, Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Antony Gibbs, Mark Goldblatt, Sally Menke, Craig McKay, Richard Marks, Ridley Scott, Alexander Payne, Kevin Tent, Howard E. Smith, Conrad Buff IV , Dylan Tichenor, Wes Craven, Carol Littleton, Tom Rolf, Pietro Scalia, Tina Hirsch, Frank J. Urioste, Peter Honess, George Lucas, Chris Columbus, Paul Verhoeven, Jan de Bont, Alan Heim, Joe Dante, Lynzee Klingman, Jay Cassidy, Thelma Schoonmaker, Michael Kahn, Paul Hirsch, Dede Allen, Anne V. Coates, Richard Chew, Donn Cambern, Lawrence Kasdan, Joe Hutshing, Chris Lebenzon, Jerry Bruckheimer, Alisa Vilena, Marya Kazakova, Anatol Rezmeritza, Ilia Volok, Verna Fields, Robert Zemeckis, Will Smith 

Director: Wendy Apple

Movie Review: Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool

Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool 

The Greif Company, Thinkfactory Media, USA, 2005.

Bullitt Special Edition DVD contained two documentaries that deserve their own posts.

In the documentary "Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool" Steve McQueen's ex-wife Neile Adams, friends, co-actors and admirers tell about Steve and his career. Steve McQueen (1930-1980) built his film career playing tough and charismatic characters and earned the nickname 'The King of Cool.'

After serving in the U.S. Marines he pursued theatre career to meet girls. Starting with TV-Westerns he began getting small roles in movies where he made some jests to make himself noticed. Steve's troubled childhood had made him a survivor and wanted to see if his friends were trustworthy.  Bad boy reputation gave him nickname 'El Bandido.' He built a tough guy image to shelter himself from the people who tried to use him.

Being a thrill-seeker he become interested in motorcycles and racing earning respect from professional racers. He also wanted to do as much of the driving stunts as was possible. However after success of "Bullitt" he bwgan to change and became arrogant. His marriage with Adams began to suffer because he was having extra-marital affairs and using drugs. Still the documentary shows that they remained friends after the divorce. Despite some career setbacks he maintained his star status until the end.

It is an interesting documentary with good trivia. Outside his films, I didn't know much about his life beforehand so it gave useful information. The highlights of his career are respectfully told without forgetting the negative aspects of his life. Technically it is a well-made documentary with insightful interviews and multiple clips from his movies. Recommended for fans of McQueen and those interested in film history.

Rating: Very good

Interviewees: Steve McQueen (archive footage), Robert Culp, Neile Adams, Suzanne Pleshette, Martin Landau, Hillard Elkins, Don Gordon, David Foster, Robert E. Relyea, Lawrence Kasdan, Walter Mirisch, Robert Vaughn, Eli Wallach, Richard Attenborough, Bud Ekins, Charles Champlin, Pat E. Johnson, Loren Janes, William Claxton, Norman Jewison, Chad McQueen, Haskell Wexler, Peter Yates, Bill Hickman, Mario Iscovich, Alec Baldwin, Katherine Haber, Barbara Minty, LeVar Burton 

Director: Mimi Freedman

Movie Review: Engineering an Empire: Egypt

Engineering an Empire: Egypt 

History Channel, KPI Productions, USA, 2006. 

In 3000 B.C. the yearly flooding of the Nile caused devastation and and famine. Still the flood also made farming possible as it brought nutritious soil. Capital city Memphis remained dry because of protecting walls built by engineers of Pharaoh Menes. His armies united Upper and Lower Egypt into great kingdom. Early Egyptians were expert dam builders although sometimes the dams would burst. The success of Memphis encouraged Pharaohs to build even bigger structures. 

Peter Weller in Egypt

In 2667 B.C. Pharaoh Djoser started construction of the first stone pyramid. Chief architect was Imhotep and he was also high-priest and physician. (In popular culture he is known as "The Mummy.") As there was not experience about building huge stone constructs, much of the complex was built using trial and error. Later Pharaohs built bigger and better pyramids with smooth sides. Pharaoh Khufu perfected the art of pyramid building with the Great Pyramid at Giza. 

Pyramid construction site

The Bent Pyramid of Pharaoh Snefru

Sesostris III went on conquering Nubia to exploit its gold mines. To secure the borders he built military fortresses comparable to medieval castles. However the fortresses were lost 200 years later and the empire weakened. Later Pharaohs would go on conquering neighbouring areas but the areas would change the owner many times.

Egyptian palace

One curious building project was the city of Amarna. In 1352 B.C. Amenhotep IV wanted to diminish the power of Amun's priests. He elevated god Aton's importance and renamed himself Akhenaten. He moved the capital from Thebe to Luxor. City of Amarna was one of the first planned cities in the world. However the Pharaoh was unpopular and after his death the city was quickly abandoned. 

Akhenaten

Finally the Egyptian empire collapsed because of economic recession, weak leaders and foreign conquerors but the big stone buildings endured.

Although there must be hundreds of documentaries about Egypt, this has a slightly different point of view. The main focus of this documentary is in the huge engineering projects of the ancient Egypt. It is quite informative about the building techniques summing up also the evolution of pyramids. It also sums up the crucial moments in history of Egypt.  "Engineering an Empire" seems to be an interesting series but I have only this one part.

Actor Peter Weller, who has also master's degree in Roman and Renaissance Art, is the host of the show. He visits the historical places in Egypt and also enters Djoser's and Snefru's tomb crawling in the narrow corridors. In addition to experts telling the facts there are also some well produced dramatisations and computer animations. 

Part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#9. Documentary)

Rating: Very good

Starring: Michael Carroll, Zahi Hawass, Charles Van Siclen, Peter Weller, Lawrence Berman, Salima Ikram, Ann Macy Roth, Michael Jones, Stephen P.Harvey, John Darnell, Colleen Manassa

Director: Christopher Cassel

Movie Review: Häxan

Häxan a.k.a Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages a.k.a The Witches

Aljosha Production Company, Svensk Filmindustri, Sweden, 1922.

Benjamin Christensen's cult film "Häxan" is a historic-cultural lecture in seven parts.

The first part tells about ancient world views. The evils in the world were thought to be caused by evil spirits and demons. The witches were thought to be in allegiance with Devil.

Witch has enchanted a man's shoe

Second part depicts a witch boiling various magic potions in her dwelling. Grave robbers bring her raw ingredients i.e. corpses of executed criminals. One customer orders a love potion. Elsewhere physicians also do some grave robbing to study the anatomy of human body. They are mistaken as witches. Poor old witch Apelone (Wilhelmine Henriksen) dreams of flying to Devil's castle and attending a witches' gathering.

Witch in her house

Some incredients are not fresh

Physicians beginning an autopsy

Third part shows the witch judges starting a witch hunt. Fear and superstitions made people believe in weird things. People saw witches and devils everywhere. Anna (Astrid Holm) accuses an old woman Maria the Weaveress (Maren Pedersen) of putting a spell on his husband who is now dying. The Pater Henrik (Johannes Andersen) orders a witch hunt. The inquisition arrests the old woman.

Finding out if a man has been cursed

Pater Henrik, Witch Judge

Maria the Weaveress is arrested a witch

Fourth part shows the torture and interrogation of the accused witches. While tortured the old woman confesses fantastic sins such as flying to attend the Black Sabbath and kissing Devil's butt. Facing a death on a stake she also pulls some of her enemies with her including those who first accused her.

Fifth part: every accused witch has informed ten other witches. Many families have lost their family members. Those who oppose arresting witches are of course themselves witches.

Young Monk John (Elith Pio) has fallen in love and become obsessed with Anna's sister (Karen Winther) so naturally she must be a witch. After purging the town of "witches" the inquisitors move to next town.

Young Monk John

Monk tries to make Anna's sister confess

Anna's sister

Sixth part examines further reasons for accusitions. Some of the witches' confessions are completely absurd. Sometimes people practicing folk magic and natural healing were thought to be witches.

Tools of torture chamber are examined more closely. Who wouldn't confess the most preposterous things when tortured? In nunneries nuns torture themselves for mortification of the flesh. The religious fervour causes many nuns to go crazy. They begin to see devils and commit blasphemous acts.

Boot torture apparatus

Actress test thumbscrews

Nun sees the Devil

Seventh part is set in modern times. Most of the witches were poor old women. In medieval times having a physical deformity or mental illness gave a suspicion of person being a witch. Witch mania has much to do with bad nerves, obsessions or sexual frustrations. Christensen draws parallels to the psychology of the 1920s. With the development of psychology these symptoms were referred as hysteria. Today's people do not fear devils or witches anymore but superstitions still exist. Weirdly acting people are not burned at stake anymore but locked in asylums.

This version is the 2006 Swedish Film Institute restored version that can be found in a DVD collection box "Svenska Stumfilmsklassiker." It contains Matti Bye's soundtrack with musicians Bye, Kristian Holmgren, Lotta Johansson and Lau Nakkarinen. The ambient music works well and brings tragic tones to the dramatic scenes.

Benjamin Christensen found the topic for the film after finding the notorious medieval witch hunting manual Malleus Maleficarum. Christensen spent years 1919-1921 finding source material for "Häxan." It was the the most expensive Scandinavian silent film. The director appears himself as the lewd tongue-wagging Devil. The movie's structure is very unconventional and experimental. The representation consists of lecture type documentary with medieval woodcuts and paintings, acted scenes and some stop-motion animation. The acted scenes with partially intertwining stories combine fantasy, horror and drama. The visual style is impressing with imaginative sets and differently tinted colour filters. The film has a bizarre and unique atmosphere.

Benjamin Christensen as the Devil

As the film criticises church's violence against women, it was opposed by Catholic Church and banned in many countries. The dark subject is lightened by occassional dry humour as when a young actress tests thumbscrews. The movies (then) shocking, blasphemous devil worshipping scenes and even raunchy scenes have inspired also the exploitation and nunsploitation moviemakers of the 1970s. However these later movies focused mostly on shock values instead of the social criticism and humanist message of "Häxan."

Rating: Excellent

Starring: Maren Pedersen, Clara Pontoppidan, Elith Pio, Oscar Stribolt, Tora Teje, John Andersen, Benjamin Christensen, Poul Reumert, Karen Winther, Kate Fabian, Else Vermehren, Astrid Holm, Johannes Andersen, Gerda Madsen, Aage Hertel, Ib Schønberg, Emmy Schønfeld, Frederik Christensen, Ella La Cour, Elisabeth Christensen, Henry Seemann, Alice O'Fredericks, Knud Rassow, Ellen Rassow, Holst Jørgensen, H.C. Nielsen, Albrecht Schmidt, Karina Bell, Karen Caspersen, Holger Pedersen

Director: Benjamin Christensen

Movie Review: Punk Syndrome

The Punk Syndrome (Kovasikajuttu)
Starring: Pertti Kurikka (guitarist), Kari Aalto (singer), Sami Helle (bassist), Toni Välitalo (drummer), Kalle Pajamaa, Kyösti Välitalo, Aira Välitalo, Sirkka Leikola, Jari Nordström, Niila Suoranta

Director: Jukka Kärkkäinen, J.-P. Passi

Mouka Filmi Oy, Auto Images, Film i Skåne, Indie Film, Finland, 2012.

The award-winning documentary follows the toughest punk band in Finland Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät (in English: Pertti Kurikka's Name Day). What makes the band unique is that all of its members are disabled, having Down's syndrome and autism. Bands lyrics tell often about everyday problems of disabled people in society (Decisionmakers are cheaters) and also about things they like and love (Six cups of coffee). The rebellion of their punk rock arises from the demand for more rights to the disabled people and not willing to live in institution.

Kari, Pertti, Sami and Toni

Early gig

Punk attitude

Sometimes accidents happen as when the guitarist soils his pants before the gig. Sometimes band members get frustrated and angry at each other. Kari is the most emotional and writes also the band's songs. Sami seems to be the calmest but he can be also stubborn which annoys Pertti. Toni gets sometimes scared by new situations. Pertti is the oldest and has most experience of punk, but sometimes he writes too difficult riffs. The band's manager and disability support worker Kalle Pajamaa keeps the band's act together, being kind of father figure for the guys.

Some days are stressful

On tour

Pertti and Kalle

The Finnish DVD has also a mini-documentary "Pertti Kurikan nimipäivät goes Deutschland" about the trip to band's Germany tour. The ship trip and train tunnels are a bit scary for some of the band members. Also the burning question is if there are alligators in German sewers. The gig in Hamburg is partially also in the movie. And because they are in Hamburg they also have to go sightseeing tour in Reeperbahn. They also visit the Beatles-Platz.

Movie follows the band members also during their free time. Some of them are moving to their own homes or shared apartments. They also talk about love and their love problems. The documentary is funny, touching and eye-opening about the everyday life of disabled people.

Always a good advice

Gig in Hamburg

The band will also represent Finland in 2015 Eurovision song contest with song "Aina mun pitää" (I always have to)!

Rating: Very good