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Category: Fantasy

  • Wonka (2023)

    Wonka (2023)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]British author Roald Dahl’s novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was published in the US in 1964 to instant success. The book caught the attention of filmmaker Mel Stuart and producer David Wolper, who decided to adapt it to film. Released in 1971, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory received critical acclaim but wasn’t a huge financial hit. Over time, the film found its audience through repeated television viewings and home video, becoming a beloved classic. In 2005, Tim Burton directed the remake Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which stuck closer to the original novel. While the film remains divisive, it was a massive financial success, grossing $475 million worldwide on a $150 million budget. In 2016, Warner Bros. reacquired the rights to Willy Wonka and announced the development of a new prequel film. After years of production and marketing, Wonka premiered in October 2023 before its worldwide December release.

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    Synopsis

    Since childhood, Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) has dreamed of opening a chocolate shop at the Galeries Gourmet. Unfortunately, through a series of circumstances, he’s forced to work for the devious Mrs. Scrubitt (Olivia Colman). To try to pay off the overwhelming debt he owes, Wonka goes out to Galeries Gourmet to sell his chocolate. However, he’s stopped by rival chocolatiers Mr. Arthur Slugworth (Paterson Joseph), Mr. Prodnose (Matt Lucas), and Mr. Fickelgruber (Mathew Baynton). Known as The Chocolate Cartel, they control all candy production, bribing a priest (Rowan Atkinson) and the chief-of-police (Keegan-Michael Key). With help from other people forced into Mrs. Scrubitt’s servitude, Wonka vows to make his dreams a reality. Along the way, he contends with the police, Mrs. Scrubitt’s assistant, Bleacher (Tom Davis), and an Oompa Loompa (Hugh Grant). As Wonka’s mother told him, “Every good thing in this world started with a dream.”

     

    Review

    Like many people, I was immediately skeptical about this movie when I first heard about it. The original is such a timeless classic, and the 2005 version, while not great, stuck closer to the source material. It seemed pointless to revisit this material for a third time, let alone make a prequel to the original film. Thankfully, I’m happy that Wonka exceeded my expectations, living up to the 1971 classic while working on its merits. First off, Timothée Chalamet does a great job as the youthful Willy Wonka, whose unbreakable optimism is contagious. He gives the role a ton of charisma and wit that honors Gene Wilder without appearing as an imitation. You genuinely want to see him succeed and overcome the odds, even as things seem more dire. It helps that he has a solid singing voice, and the songs are incredibly catchy.

    The rest of the cast does a commendable job, mostly playing it up for laughs and mugging for the camera. The one exception is Calah Lane as the orphan girl, Noodle, who becomes fast friends with Wonka. She plays her part straight and works as an anchor for Chalamet’s unbridled positivity that keeps the film grounded. Hugh Grant also stands out as Lofty, an Oompa-Loompa pursuing Wonka and stealing his chocolate to compensate for his failures. The production design is on another level, with fantastic sets and elaborate effects, justifying the film’s $125 million budget. Paul King does a great job keeping the pacing moving without rushing or dragging things out. The movie breezes at barely two hours long and never feels bogged down by unnecessary filler scenes. It’s a fun experience that the whole family can enjoy and get something out of.

    If I had any complaints, I’d say that while the first two acts are solid, the third somewhat falls apart. The movie goes from a heartwarming journey of making one’s dreams come true to a heist film. Granted, it’s not enough to ruin the movie as it is overall enjoyable, but it is worth pointing out. Also, as whimsical as the film is, it’s not afraid to tackle some darker subject matter. It’s nothing challenging or life-altering but more than what you’d expect from a lighthearted family film. While I wouldn’t say it’s better than the Mel Stuart original, this makes for a good companion piece. But you’ll find something to enjoy whether you’ve seen the other two movies or haven’t heard of the source material. Overall, Wonka is an enjoyable, wholesome movie that reminds us to pursue our dreams and see the magic around us.

     

    Buy Wonka from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4fqQYpQ.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Hocus Pocus (1993)

    Hocus Pocus (1993)

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    Since childhood, producer David Kirschner loved Halloween and would tell his daughter ghost stories to set an ominous tone. She was particularly captivated by a story he told of a boy cursed to be a cat by three witches. He hired Mick Garris to adapt the tale into a screenplay called Halloween House, submitting it to Disney in 1984. Over the years, the script went through various rewrites, but production stalled until it caught Bette Midler’s attention. With her onboard, the studio moved ahead with the production, hiring Newsies director Kenny Ortega to helm the project. Leonardo DiCaprio was originally going to play the lead but dropped out to star in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? On a $28 million budget, the movie was shot in Burbank, Salem, and Marblehead from October 1992 to February 1993. To avoid competing with The Nightmare Before Christmas, Hocus Pocus was released in July 1993.

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    Synopsis

    In 17th Century Salem, young Thackery Binx (Sean Murray) is cursed to be a cat by three witches. These witches are The Sanderson Sisters – Winifred (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy), and Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker). While the witches are found and hanged for their crimes, Thackery is left to wander Salem for eternity. Three hundred years later, Max Dennison (Omri Katz) is forced to take his younger sister Dani (Thora Birch) trick-or-treating. They run into Allison (Vinessa Shaw), whom Max has a crush on, and she shows them the Sanderson Sisters’ cottage. Max lights a black candle, inadvertently resurrecting The Sisters, but they run off with their spellbook. The Sisters enlist Winifred’s zombified ex-lover, Billy Butcherson (Doug Jones), to retrieve it to redo their eternal youth spell. With precious time on their hands, our heroes have to stop the witches before they succeed in exacting their revenge.

     

    Review

    While initially a critical and commercial flop, Hocus Pocus has gone on to amass a huge cult following. It’s easy to see how, given the way the film perfectly captures the dark yet playful essence of Halloween. Though much of the material was toned down over the various rewrites, this is still dark for a Disney movie. A child dies in the opening, characters constantly mention how Max is a virgin, and there’s even a public hanging. This is the rare kind of family film where both children and adults can find something to enjoy. The kids will love the goofy shenanigans and fun characters, while adults will appreciate the occasional risque jokes and themes. Admittedly, some of these elements don’t mesh together well, but it’s not enough to create tonal whiplash. Your enjoyment will depend on your tolerance for slapstick and fish-out-of-water humor.

    Omri Katz is likable as Max, and he has excellent chemistry with both Thora Birch and Vinessa Shaw. You buy the brother-sister relationship between Max and Dani, and the budding romance with Allison is charming. While Sean Murray plays the human version of Thackery Binx, Jason Marsden provides the voice for when he’s a cat. Marsden does an excellent job injecting some dry wit into the film to bring an animatronic/digital cat to life. Doug Jones is a lot of fun as the mute Billy Butcherson, playing his part as exaggerated as possible. Stephanie Faracy and the late Charles Rocket are fun as Max and Dani’s parents, acting oblivious without seeming obnoxious. There are also some nice cameos from the late Kathleen Freeman, Gary Marshall, and Penny Marshall. It’s a well-rounded cast, with each actor given their moment to shine.

    However, the real stars of the film are The Sanderson Sisters, each one perfectly cast for their part. Bette Midler is funny and menacing as the lead witch, Winifred, who gets some of the movie’s best lines. Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker balance her menace by providing comic relief, essentially witch versions of The Three Stooges. Kenny Ortega’s direction is fluid and dynamic, largely thanks to his background directing music videos. William Sandel’s production design, Tony Gardner’s practical effects, Mary E. Vogt’s costumes, and Hiro Narita’s cinematography are all mesmerizing. Admittedly, some of the digital effects haven’t aged that well, and its 90s aesthetic might put off modern audiences. Still, even for cynical Disney haters, it’s hard to deny the film’s magical qualities and not find something enjoyable. Overall, Hocus Pocus is a highly entertaining, if somewhat flawed, Halloween adventure the whole family can watch.

     

    Buy Hocus Pocus from Amazon: https://amzn.to/46QD4JD.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • The NeverEnding Story (1984)

    The NeverEnding Story (1984)

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    In 1979, West German publisher Thienemann Verlag published Die unendliche Geschichte by author Michael Ende, which became an instant bestseller. The book was translated to English by Ralph Manheim and hit English and American book stores in 1983. Like in its home country, the book was also a hit, and it wasn’t long before movie studios came calling. German producer Bernd Eichinger became interested when his daughter suggested he adapt the book into a movie. Eichinger hired Wolfgang Petersen, who recently earned two Oscar nominations for 1981’s Das Boot, to helm the project. Michael Ende initially worked with Petersen as a script advisor but left when Petersen majorly rewrote the script. Ende felt the film deviated so much from the book that he tried suing the producers but ultimately lost. Regardless, Warner Bros. picked up the distribution rights and released The NeverEnding Story in the US in July 1984.

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    Synopsis

    Bastian (Barret Oliver) is a shy 10-year-old kid who’s shy, loves books, and lives with his widowed dad. On his way to school, Bastian runs from a couple of bullies, and he hides out in a local bookstore. There, Bastian meets the owner Mr. Coreander (Thomas Hill), who warns him about The NeverEnding Story, claiming it isn’t safe. With his curiosity piqued, Bastian grabs the book and runs off to school, where he hides in the attic. He starts reading the story about Fantasia, a fantasy land threatened by an evil force called “The Nothing.” A young warrior named Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) quests for a cure for the Childlike Empress (Tami Stronach). It turns out she’s the only one who can stop “The Nothing” before it devours all of Fantasia. Along the way, Atreyu meets several characters who will either help him or try to stop him.

     

    Review

    The NeverEnding Story is one of those movies where you could add darker elements and still get a PG rating. It’s from a bygone era of children’s movies where you could take risks and add dark subject matter. There’s the infamous scene where Atreyu’s horse lets himself sink into the Swamps of Sadness because of his depression. You also have characters who are apathetic over the situation, whether it’s the giant turtle Morla or the Rockbiter. It helps that there are characters like Falkor, the luck dragon, and a couple of gnomes to balance the dreariness. They help to show kids that, even when things seem dark, there’s always hope if you continue to persevere. Not every kid’s movie has to have darker moments, but it’s a shame that everyone plays it so safe nowadays. But that’s a discussion for another time.

    For an 80s family film, the child acting is surprisingly good, particularly from Noah Hathaway as Atreyu. He embodies all the traits we aspire to have: courage, determination, a willingness never to give up, and fierce devotion. Also, the puppets and animatronics are astounding, especially the Rockbiter, Morla the turtle, and Falkor, the luck dragon. Each of them feels like a fully realized character with weight, something sorely lacking in today’s CGI-riddled entertainment. Admittedly, some compositing shots stick out severely, but that’s par for the course for movies around this time. It’s also refreshing to have a fantasy film where the villain isn’t a wizard or monster but a nonphysical being. The Nothing could almost be a metaphor for kids losing their imagination, which this movie should hopefully reinvigorate. Overall, The NeverEnding Story is a beautiful, albeit bleak fantasy film that kids and adults of all ages can enjoy.

     

    Buy The NeverEnding Story from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3uV7U2S.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • The Last Airbender (2010)

    The Last Airbender (2010)

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    On February 21, 2005, Avatar: The Last Airbender premiered on Nickelodeon and became an instant hit with critics and fans. The show ran through three seasons, received universal praise, and won several awards, including an Emmy and a Peabody Award. In 2007, Paramount Pictures announced a live-action film was in production, with M. Night Shyamalan attached to write and direct. Initially, the show’s creators, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, were excited about Shyamalan’s involvement and wanted to offer input. Despite his then-recent track record, the producers were confident in Shyamalan’s abilities to bring the show to the big screen. With a $150 million production budget, plus $130 million for marketing, this was Shyamalan’s most expensive film to date. Unfortunately, the film ran into controversy over the casting, resulting in fan backlash and even boycotts. After months of production, The Last Airbender hit theaters on July 1, 2010.

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    Synopsis

    For centuries, the four nations of Water, Earth, Fire, and Air have lived in peace and prosperity. Unfortunately, the Fire Nation declared war on the other nations, wiping out the Air Tribes and enslaving the Earth Nation. One hundred years later, Katara (Nicola Peltz) and her brother Sokka (Jackson Rathbone) find a young boy frozen in ice. By accident, they free the boy, Aang (Noah Ringer), who turns out to be the last surviving Air Bender. Meanwhile, Prince Zuko (Dev Patel) is searching for the Avatar, who can master the four elements. To reclaim his honor, he seeks to capture the Avatar for his father, Fire Lord Ozai (Cliff Curtis). It turns out Aang is the Avatar, and he must master the four elements to restore peace to the world. With his friends Katara and Sokka and his flying bison Appa, Aang must master the first element: Water.

     

    Review

    Even with its infamous reputation, I wanted to give The Last Airbender the benefit of the doubt. When they recreated the opening sequence from the show at the beginning, I thought, “Well, how bad could it be?” Sadly, once the opening text crawl showed up with Nicola Peltz’s narration, I knew I was in trouble. She delivers several expository monologues throughout the movie that make Harrison Ford’s narrations from Blade Runner sound riveting. Most of the acting here is flat and wooden, with Jackson Rathbone being the worst offender. Noah Ringer’s acting isn’t great either, but child actors usually aren’t that great, and he has some unintentionally hilarious deliveries. Dev Patel and Aasif Mandvi are at least trying to deliver decent performances, but even they can’t save the script. It’s unfortunate, considering Patel went from starring in the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire to appearing in this.

    The film’s biggest problem, aside from the acting, the script, and the action, is that it’s dull and uninteresting. It’s as if the movie sucked out all the humor, emotion, drama, and excitement from the show. Given the montages and voice-overs, you can tell that the filmmakers tried cramming as much material as possible. James Newton Howard’s score is exciting, and some of the visuals are decent to give the movie some credit. I could go on about plot holes, character inconsistencies, and deviations from the source, but there are too many to list. While it’s easy to blame Shyamalan since he wrote and directed the film, I believe there was some studio meddling. Considering the show’s creators were not on board and had their input denied, I suspect Paramount is responsible. Overall, The Last Airbender is a poor adaptation and a terrible movie on its own merits.

     

    Buy The Last Airbender from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3KxQlLN.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • The Dungeonmaster (1984)

    The Dungeonmaster (1984)

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    Charles Band was known for promising directing jobs to people he worked with during the past. Some of the people he offered jobs to included John Carl Buechler, David Allen, Peter Manoogian, and Ted Nicolaou. They worked with Band as editors, make-up effects artists, stop-motion animators, and production managers, but they all wanted to direct. In 1983, Band finally gave them a chance to produce segments of an anthology film called Ragewar. Some of the cast and crew from Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn, including Jeffrey Byron and Richard Moll, returned here. The film was initially released as Ragewar but didn’t gain much traction, not even when the studio retitled it Digital Knights. Around this time, the game Dungeons & Dragons exploded in popularity, so Charles Band decided to capitalize on this. The movie finally hit theaters as The Dungeonmaster in the UK in 1984 and the US in 1985.

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    Synopsis

    Paul Bradford (Jeffrey Byron) is a technical wiz who’s developed a super-smart computer called “X-CALBR8”, aka ‘Cal.’ His girlfriend Gwen (Leslie Wing) isn’t too fond of ‘Cal’ as she thinks Paul cares more for it than her. One night, Gwen mysteriously disappears, and Paul finds himself in another dimension, where he sees Gwen chained to a boulder. Their captor is Mestema (Richard Moll), a powerful sorcerer who wants to battle Paul and his supercomputer. Mestema has Paul compete in a series of challenges to see if he can use his technology to overcome them. These challenges involve frozen terrors, zombified warriors, a giant stone golem, a heavy metal band, desert raiders, and a slasher. In between each challenge, Mestema keeps taunting Paul and telling him how he’ll fail and Gwen will be his. Will Paul succeed, or will Gwen fall prey to The Dungeonmaster?

     

    Review

    In some ways, The Dungeonmaster is a perfect encapsulation of what made Empire Pictures what it was. You’ve got action scenes, hideous monsters, stop-motion creations, occasional nudity, gratuitous use of heavy metal, and nonsensical stories. For an anthology film, the segments don’t flow together cohesively and just hop from one to another. It doesn’t help that each segment lasts roughly five to ten minutes without any development or setup. Each sequence does show off that particular director’s style, such as David Allen’s stop-motion and John Carl Buechler’s practical effects. Charles Band’s segment is probably the film’s highlight, even if it’s essentially a music video for WASP. Interestingly, parts of the WASP segment were incorporated into TerrorVision, made by one of The Dungeonmaster‘s directors, Ted Nicolaou. Unfortunately, this movie isn’t nearly as fun or as gooey as that one was.

    The score by regular Empire/Full Moon composter Richard Band is decent, and it adapts to each segment. Like in Metalstorm, Jeffrey Byron is charismatic and likable, even if it’s hard to buy him as a tech wiz. Leslie Wing is ok as his girlfriend Gwen, though most of her screen time is yelling for Paul. Richard Moll is entertaining as the villainous Mestema, as he’s having fun playing such a larger-than-life villain. There are also some appearances from other Empire/Full Moon alumni, including Gina Calabrese (Vicious Lips) and Phil Fondacaro (Troll). Despite the film having seven total segments, it only clocks in at slightly over 70 minutes in length. Even though it’s a bit of a mess, at least it gets in and out relatively quickly. Overall, The Dungeonmaster doesn’t entirely work, but it has some cheesy fun to entertain genre fans and curious onlookers.

     

    Buy The Dungeonmaster on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Hr3l4x.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • The Green Knight (2021)

    The Green Knight (2021)

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    In the 14th Century, an unknown author wrote the Arthurian legend Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The story is about the virtuous Sir Gawain, who accepts a challenge from a mysterious Green Knight that ends grimly. In 2018, A24 announced that acclaimed director David Lowery would adapt the story for a modern audience. Lowery drew inspiration from 80s fantasy films like Willow and Excalibur, known for their much darker tones. For the lead role, Dev Patel, who was working on The Personal History of David Copperfield, was cast. While the film was an adaptation, Lowery decided to make Sir Gawain a more flawed character to stand apart. He also made the conscious effort not directly to reference King Arthur or any of his knights aside from Gawain. While initially planned for a May 2020 release, The Green Knight finally hit theaters in July 2021.

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    Synopsis

    In the Middle Ages, a young knight named Gawain (Dev Patel) must go to Camelot on Christmas Day. Soon, the mysterious Green Knight (Ralph Ineson) visits and offers a challenge to The King (Sean Harris) and his knights. If anyone can land a blow on The Green Knight, they’ll win his green axe, but there’s a catch. Whoever wins must travel to visit him at The Green Chapel and receive an equal blow from the knight. Gawain accepts the challenge and decapitates the knight, winning his axe, but the knight reminds him of the deal. After soaking in the reverence for a year, Gawain sets out on his quest to find The Green Knight. Along the way, Gawain’s honor and chivalry are called into question as he meets some interesting characters. Will Gawain succeed in his quest, or will he back down from his destiny?

     

    Review

    Aside from the fundamental premise, I didn’t know what to expect when I went into this movie. I’m glad I went in knowing next to nothing because The Green Knight is one of 2021’s best films. First off, Dev Patel does an excellent job playing Sir Gawain, especially considering he’s the only one we follow. It’s interesting to see him play this character as someone struggling with living up to expectations. After slaying the Green Knight, he’s already hailed as a hero, and people revere him despite not venturing on his quest. There are points throughout the film where he’s tempted to turn back, but he instead chooses to keep going. Ralph Ineson is also memorable as the titular character, especially with the heavy prosthetics, and has a commanding presence. The cast also features Alicia Vikander, Joel Egerton, and Sean Harris, who do a fantastic job.

    The Green Knight is a fantasy film that other similar movies should note since most nowadays are relatively forgettable. Not only does the film have a great cast, but the production design and overall filmmaking are breathtaking. David Lowery takes full advantage of the locations given and creates some beautiful imagery, like something out of a painting. While they use some digital effects, there are more practical effects, and the CGI helps complement those effects. There are some genuinely memorable digital set pieces, which is rare in a world where digital is the norm. Plus, Daniel Hart’s haunting score adds to the overall atmosphere without getting in the way of what’s happening. The slow pacing might put off some audiences, but it’s still a journey worth taking at least once. Overall, The Green Knight is a beautifully well-crafted dark fantasy that makes you question Arthurian legend.

     

    Buy The Green Knight from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3FH8e8J.

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  • The Beastmaster (1982)

    The Beastmaster (1982)

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    In 1979, filmmaker Don Coscarelli achieved critical and commercial success with the release of his indie horror film Phantasm. Following its success, Coscarelli decided to do something outside of the horror genre that would be even bigger. Growing up, he loved the sword and sorcery films from the 50s, particularly the Hercules films starring Steve Reeves. Coscarelli and his Phantasm co-producer Paul Pepperman worked on a story loosely based on the 1959 novel The Beast Master. Rather than adapting the book, they took the basic concept and set it in a Bronze Age fantasy world. Producer Sylvio Tabet signed on to finance the project after a Conan the Barbarian film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger was announced. With a $9 million budget, this was Coscarelli’s biggest project at the time, but also one of his most frustrating. After a grueling production, Coscarelli’s The Beastmaster was released to theaters in August 1982.

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    Synopsis

    High Priest Maax (Rip Torn) learns that the unborn son of King Zed (Rod Loomis) is destined to kill him. He sends one of his witches to kidnap and kill the child but is stopped by a villager (Ben Hammer). After killing the witch, he raises the child as his own, names him Dar, and teaches him how to fight. Years later, Dar (Marc Singer) is the lone survivor after his village gets raided by Maax and his barbarians. Swearing vengeance, Dar acquires animal companions Sharak the eagle, Koto and Poto the ferrets, and Ruh the tiger. Along the way, he also meets Kiri (Tanya Roberts), a slave girl who’s to be sacrificed by Maax. Dar teams up with the king’s younger son Tal (Josh Milrad) and his bodyguard Seth (John Amos) to rescue her. Will Dar defeat Maax, or will Dar and his friends fall victim to Maax’s minions?

     

    Review

    The Beastmaster gets unfairly criticized as a Conan the Barbarian rip-off, which couldn’t be further from the truth. While both are sword and sorcery epics about a revenge quest, Conan was more adult-oriented while Beastmaster is more lighthearted. That’s not to say this film doesn’t have its darker moments, but it’s more of a fun, lighthearted adventure. Given what Coscarelli took as inspiration, this comes off more like a 50s adventure film with 80s sensibilities. There’s some fairly dark imagery including child sacrifice, corpses on stakes, and even people being dissolved or turned into monsters. Along with some mild nudity thrown in, it’s fascinating to see how different PG films were compared to now. Though it’s commendable that Coscarelli would push the boundaries, the somewhat disjointed tone might be why it didn’t succeed theatrically. Even still, there’s plenty of great things that help elevate the film to cult status.

    The story is fairly simple and moves at a solid pace, though it drags in a few places. The action sequences are pretty fun, with plenty of sword fighting, hand-to-hand combat, and some epic battles during the climax. Marc Singer makes for a good hero, having a great physique and tons of wit while also being dramatic. Tanya Roberts, on top of looking great, has good chemistry with Singer and has some pretty cool moments. Rip Torn makes for a fun, over-the-top villain, especially with his line delivery, and John Amos is also memorable. The animal companions are remarkably well-trained and a major highlight, especially the two ferrets, who are cute and mischievous. At the end of the day, the filmmakers wanted to make a simple and fun adventure film, and they succeeded. Overall, The Beastmaster is a relic of a bygone era of filmmaking that’s worth rediscovering.

     

    Buy The Beastmaster from Vinegar Syndrome: https://bit.ly/399dG5q

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    This review is dedicated to the memory of actress Tanya Roberts, who passed away on January 4, 2021, at the age of 65.

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  • Troll (1986)

    Troll (1986)

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    Well before meeting and working with Charles Band, special effects designer John Carl Buechler got his start with Roger Corman. He’s worked on the special and makeup effects for Corman on films like Forbidden World, Sorceress, Love Letters, and Deathstalker. While working on 1982’s Android, Buechler presented Corman a treatment for a film about an evil troll running amok. Corman passed on the idea, so Buechler held onto it for years until he started working for Band years later. Buechler presented the treatment to Band, saying he wanted to direct, and Band agreed to finance the project. However, Buechler found himself busy working on the effects for other Band productions, including Trancers, From Beyond, and Ghoulies. As such, he handed off scriptwriting duties to journalist/screenwriter Ed Naha, who coincidentally had also worked with Corman. Finally, after so many years, Buechler got to direct the 1986 fantasy horror film Troll.

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    Synopsis

    The Potter family has recently moved into their new San Francisco apartment, and things seem normal at first. While exploring the building, young Wendy (Jenny Beck) is attacked by an evil troll wielding a magic ring. The troll, known as Torok (Phil Fondacaro), uses the ring to disguise himself as Wendy and blend in. While parents Harry Sr. (Michael Moriarty) and Anne (Shelley Hack) are duped, Harry Jr. (Noah Hathaway) is suspicious. Soon, Torok sets his plan in motion, using his ring to turn the tenants into pods that sprout various creatures. Harry Jr. seeks advice from neighbor Eunice St. Clair (June Lockhart), who reveals she’s a witch who fought Torok. Eventually, Torok’s influence starts turning the apartment into a fantasy world that threatens to consume humanity and take control. Harry Jr. must venture into the fantasy world, save his sister, and stop Torok before it’s too late.

     

    Review

    Much like the titular character, Troll is an odd little thing, yet that’s what makes it so interesting. For one, this has one of the most eclectic casts you could ever imagine, especially for the relatively low budget. There’s The NeverEnding Story‘s Noah Hathaway, classic actress June Lockhart, character actor Michael Moriarty, Sonny Bono, and even Julia Louis-Dreyfus! Indeed, years before she appeared in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus was turned into a forest nymph. In fairness, everyone in the cast does do a great job, particularly Hathaway, Lockhart, and Phil Fondacaro in dual roles. He plays the titular Torok, as well as a human character named Malcolm Mallory, an English teacher suffering from leukemia. To his credit, Fondacora does an amazing job showing a real depth you wouldn’t expect in this kind of movie. Plus, it must’ve been tough working in that troll costume.

    For a first-time director, Buechler does a surprisingly good job behind the camera, thanks in part to cinematographer Romano Albani. Once Torok’s influence starts spreading, there’s tons of fog and moody lighting that creates a creepy and foreboding atmosphere. The creature effects are also top-notch, Torok’s design, in particular, is a highlight, and there’s some stop motion animation. I’d say my only problem is that Troll doesn’t seem to know what audience it’s made for. It’s too dark for kids, but it’s also too ridiculous for adults, so the somewhat inconsistent tone makes it confusing. Still, the weird tone, the out there creatures, and the eclectic cast makes this stand out all the more. It may not appeal to everyone, but it’s such a weird oddity that it’s worth discovering, preferably with drinks. Overall, Troll is an enjoyably strange film with plenty of charm to be found.

     

    Buy Troll from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3btuFPH

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  • Doctor Mordrid (1992)

    Doctor Mordrid (1992)

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  • Aladdin (2019)

    Aladdin (2019)

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    There’s been a recent trend where Disney has been remaking several of their animated classics, for better or for worse. While live-action Disney remakes had been done before, what kick-started this latest trend was the 2014 film Maleficent. A loose remake of their Sleeping Beauty, the film was a reinterpretation focusing on the villain and making her sympathetic. That film was such a huge success that more live-action remakes started coming out, almost one per year. There was 2015’s Cinderella, 2016’s The Jungle Book, 2017’s Beauty and The Beast, and 2019’s Dumbo, with more coming soon. Though many have received mixed to positive reviews, they’ve all been massive successes at the box office. As with most remakes, many audiences aren’t fond of them, and some have gotten tired of them. Continuing this trend, we have the considerably divisive remake of the 1992 animated classic, Aladdin.

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    Synopsis

    In the far off land of Agrabah, street rat Aladdin (Mena Massoud) and his monkey Abu steal to survive. One day, they meet a young woman (Naomi Scott) who says her name is Dalia and is the princess’ handmaiden. Turns out she’s actually the sultan’s daughter, Princess Jasmine, who’s been kept away in the palace after her mother’s death. While the sultan is searching for a prince to marry him, his adviser Jafar (Marwan Kenzari) plots to take over. He seeks to enter the Cave of Wonders, but only a “diamond in the rough” may enter. Jafar tricks Aladdin into going into the cave to retrieve a magic lamp, only to leave him to die. However, Abu manages to steal the lamp, and Aladdin rubs it, which ends up summoning the Genie (Will Smith). With the Genie’s help, Aladdin hopes to become a prince and marry Jasmine.

     

    Review

    While I do have my issues with the film, there are some things that work, such as Will Smith. Before the movie came out, people were upset over his genie, which was a CGI recreation of the animated genie. That weird CGI genie is here, but there’s also regular Will Smith as the genie, and he’s actually pretty entertaining. Though no one can replace Robin Williams’ performance, Smith does just enough to make this genie his own version. Speaking of the cast, Massoud and Scott do a serviceable job, and they have decent chemistry with each other. However, Marwan’s Jafar is easily the weakest part of the film, lacking the menace the character should have. From a film-making perspective, the production design is fairly elaborate and colorful, and Guy Ritchie’s direction helps give it style. There’s plenty to like, but also plenty to dislike about this version.

    Probably the biggest problem is the common problem that what works in animation doesn’t translate well to film. While the animation made the original feel more dynamic and epic, here it feels somewhat flat and more scaled back. Story-wise, if you’ve seen the original, you pretty much know what happens in this version, though there’s some changes. For one, Jasmine is given a more active role, aspiring to be sultan, instead of being a damsel in distress. Also, whereas the Genie was just a genie in the original, here he’s actually a human turned into a genie. The Genie even has a love interest, which is an odd addition as it seems like a slight afterthought. While I think this film isn’t nearly as bad as the internet predicted, I wouldn’t actively watch it again. Overall, families with young children will enjoy Aladdin, but I’d recommend just re-watching the original.

     

    Buy Aladdin from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JEoDSM.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Aladdin (2019)

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