Archive for December, 2011
Raise the Titanic Trailer
Posted in Raise the Titanic with tags film, Raise the Titanic, trailer on December 24, 2011 by Higher Plain MusicFilm Review: Rough Air: Danger on Flight 534
Posted in Rough Air: Danger of Flight 534 with tags alexandra paul, anne openshaw, carlo rota, dean mcdermott, eric roberts, film, film review, john furey, kevin jubenville, mark lutz, movie, plane disaster, Review, rough air, russell yuen, susan aceron on December 11, 2011 by Higher Plain Music
Plain Disasters. The movies in which pretty much everyone is either guaranteed to survive or die depending on the outcome (Airplane 77 being one of the few exceptions). This film has a death count of one. Regardless, it’s quite slickly produced and does well with its low-budget roots.
The Premise
Someone forgets to shut the door on the plane. Oops!
The Disasters Faced
Decompressing planes, a serial killer on the loose and NO SCOTCH LEFT ONBOARD!!!
The Execution
Rough Air is a TV movie but aside from the typical TV movie score, it manages to conceal this by never extending itself too far in the technical department. Besides, a shaky camera and lots of flinging yourself about in these films goes a long way. The first 20 minutes introduces us to a motley crew of characters including the abrasive drunk, the ditzy stewardess, the “gnarly” students and convicted killer. Of course the leading duo of stewardess and shamed pilot have broken up. You know their love will be affirmed within the next ninety minutes. All in all, it’s a real classic era set up and its this that carries the film through as each of the stories unfold when the cargo door opens. From there it’s down to trying to land the plane with wonky controls, low fuel and a huge open cargo door. With competent acting, a relatively tight script and some heavily cliche characters, the film speeds through to its finale.
The Effects
Outside shots of the plane are used sparingly but the actual decompression of the plane is handled quite well albeit with nothing new added to the formula.
Why It’s Worth Watching
The characters are silly and one-dimensional apart from the unusual yet still predictable arc for the killer. Aside from that, the movie is a tight 84 minutes and with the script at its camp best, I was entertained throughout.
Best Death
There’s only one death and that’s the serial killer who ends up being the man to sacrifice himself to save the rest. How beautiful!
Favourite Character
There’s a few likeable characters but I’ll go for Roger Lee (Russell Yuen) for being an all round nice guy while his new wife spends the entire moving screaming randomly. Second up is Carlo Rota for a really miserable portrayal of Cal.
Weirdest Moment
Despite some logic lapses I think the best part is when the entire plane decides to scream when they see the runway approach. It’s just so overly camp, it’s great. That’s the followed by the end sequence where an absolutely stupid man stands and watches a plane slowly roll towards him and his office building gormless. It’s utterly stupid.
Conclusion
Camp? Check! Cliche characters? Check! Everyone clearly lapping up the hammy scenario? Check! That to me makes a solid disaster movie. While it doesn’t have big effects, it plays to its strengths of a decent cast and is just as enjoyable as Airplane.
Film Review: Hindenburg
Posted in Hindenberg with tags alicia von rittberg, christiane paul, disaster movie, film, film review, flick, german tv, greta scacchi, hannes jaenicke, Hindenburg, hinnerk schonemann, justus von dohnani, lauren lee smith, marvin bockers, maximillian simonischek, movie, pierre besson, Review, stacy keach, tv movie on December 9, 2011 by Higher Plain Music
Possibly one of the first disasters to be caught on TV feed, The Hindenburg is one of those moments that people will reflect back and note with historical importance. This 2011 adaptation was originally a three-hour TV adaptation but has been scaled down to just over half that to make a relatively pacey movie that despite some iffy accents, is relatively well put together and the actual disaster itself is surprisingly explosive.
The Premise
We follow the secret lives of various people aboard the Hindenburg before it fatefully bursts into flames.
The Disasters Faced
A bomb, a ton of hydrogen, static electricity, an affinity with men’s toilets and some dodgy guess the accent games.
The Execution
Due to the fact no one has ever been able to pinpoint the exact cause of the disaster, this film decides to take several of the theories and merge them all together. Most of the character driven plot and subtext drive the bomb theory and this throws most of the cast into the “whose got the bomb” story. What that does, by shrinking the story down by half, is drop a lot of the subplots and characters into a few small scenes. A Jewish family is introduced but half hour in with a suspiciously pervy magician but then suddenly are thrown into main characters for the explosion and then be dropped straight after. As a whole though, there doesn’t appear to be gaping holes missing in the story. However in the background an electrical storm is going on throughout and this is the other main theory for the crash. It’s fun to see the two ideas flirted with. As for the disaster itself, for what only lasted a minute in real life, it’s stretched to a couple on film in slow motion but is well done, even if it’s quickly over.
The Effects
The Hindenburg looks fantastic. Good sets, period cars and the ship itself looks great. The explosion itself and subsequent action is well shot and the flame effects are way above the standard TV fair. There’s some good burn make up too. Yum!
Why It’s Worth Watching
From a historical point of view, I’ve no idea how accurate it is but it does feel like you’re viewing a bit of history. The acting is generally fine but the accents do take a wander from German trying to sound English to American to just stilted in a strange manner. However, because it’s not just one actor, it’s everyone, after a while it feels quite normal to have everyone talk in a bizzaro hybrid of accents. If you enjoy a good drinking game, I suggest a shot for every time someone turns out to already know a bomb is onboard. You’ll be sozzled by half way. (I think I need to make a new sub heading for drinking game from now on)
Best Death
I want to say Mummy Dearest for burning in a very large fireball (yay) but I think Eckner may take it after being murdered and dumped in the men’s toilet’s urinal. What an insult to injury!
Favourite Character
Strangely, not many characters stand out for me in the movie because no one appears to be good or bad, it’s all a blurring line. I’ll go for the lead lady Lauren Lee Smith as she’s very Winslet-esque.
Weirdest Moment
There’s a magician and performer onboard and there’s a very random scene where he emerges with a cabin boy making slightly sexual strange remarks only to then tell our leading male he’s off to the male toilets as he hopes to have as much action in them as he has. Of course he’s referring to the murder beforehand but it just comes across in a sinister kidnapper manner – not helped by the fact many of his other scenes are with a young girl.
Conclusion
Competent mystery before an explosive finale that while is over too soon, is worth the wait, Hindenburg is a good disaster flick. It’s certainly not a great one because of the strange accents, the completely inappropriate modern rock soundtrack and the strange need it has to over score scenes. It is a quirky entry because of its unique subject matter and disaster movie buffs could do a lot worse. Just don’t expect to feel much for the characters.
