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Film Review: Fire (Irwin Allen)

Posted in Fire! (Irwin Allen) with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 28, 2012 by Higher Plain Music

Missing from DVD for a long time, finally we have some Irwin Allen classics coming back out for release and thank goodness – this little gems great fun!

The Premise

A small spark becomes a blaze… hang on Irwin – you’ve done this before? Oh it’s in a forest!!!

The Disasters Faced

Fire, falling trees, blowing up your car, blowing up your helicopter, rolling your car, being left inside a car or going on a school trip in a van with the worlds worst teacher ever. Transport is bad!

The Execution

Made for TV in 1977 when Irwin Allen was still very much a big character in the film industry, this is your equivalent of what we get now in these long drawn out 4 hour specials. Irwin however decides to cram it all into two hours anyway and cleverly uses all the budget he has to great effect. He brings in stars and rolls out Ernest Borgnine to play quite possibly the nicest man in disaster movie history who ends up driving round from drama to drama trying to save people as he goes. A lot of the film owes itself to Ernest for being earnest!  I’ve not wanted to cheer someone on for saving so many lemming like people for a long while. For a 1977 TV movie it surpassed my expectations and looks infinity better put together than say Beyond the Poseidon or When Time Ran Out.

The Effects

Real fire and stock footage is used often and with the cameras staying close to the flames, you feel much more of the sense of urgency than the actual flames themselves would really portray. It’s clever but it works. Some of the stunts still look very good too. Things were so much better when they didn’t resort to CGI for every tiny thing.

Why It’s Worth Watching

The fire is up and at it by the ten minute mark and you’re drip fed action throughout the film. The characters as a whole are likeable although you’ll want to slap the teacher for being the wettest woman since Ariel. You should play drinking games for every time she has to be checked on, or that Vera Miles calls someone on the phone just to panic, or when Alex Cord’s very deep voice makes you want to laugh when he’s trying to bicker with his wife. It’s perfectly cheesy and that’s why we love it.

Favourite Character

It has to be Ernest Borgnine’s Sam - everyone’s lovable hero.

Best Death

Relatively light of big deaths, the biggest is saved for the end… you knew poor Ernie was going to be a cropper. The number one rule is never be the nice guy – you’ll never make it. Instead you’ll roly poly down a cliff edge in a jeep in a fireball. Toodles!

Weirdest Moment

There are a few but it’s a toss up between Lloyd Nolan whom spends most of the movie trapped in a car and then sat on a sofa with virtually no lines, or the rubbish teacher who decides to nearly die of shock! Return to life by the power of smelling salts!!!

Conclusion

Daft in a way only Irwin Allen knows how, everything looks fun, everyone is potentially on the death list and the film is tightly woven so the TV values do not shine through. A great product of its time. Allen fans need to see this.

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Film Review: Sanctum

Posted in Sanctum with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 5, 2012 by Higher Plain Music

James Cameron not satisfied with getting one wet film to the top of the box office tries it again with Sanctum – a film all about cave diving. That well-known sport we all know and love…

The Premise

Lots of rich and generally unlikable people go cave diving and fail to get back out again before a bit rain storm floods the area! Time to swim for survival!

The Disasters Faced

Water, floods, rain, getting yourself trapped under rubble, landing on said rubble, having long hair and each other! Generally everything is bad.

The Execution

Rich people (goes into dream world). You have all the fun. You can go cave diving for fun in South America and experience the beauty of the world. Shame then a rain storm comes along and kills most of you! Sanctum is blood thirty and lets you know that when one of the cast is killed before the disaster even begins. From there it’s an action packed ride as we watch one by one the crew all meet their maker in new and inventive ways. In many ways, most you can see coming because there’s a little hint of Charlie and the Chocolate factory behind all the deaths. Each character is flawed and those flaws end up being their undoing in general. If it’s not, you’ve just been unlucky! The film runs tightly and cinematography is absolutely stunning. How they make some of the underwater shots look so beautiful I’ve no idea. It’s just a shame the characters (not the cast) are in the main vile – but then that makes us cheer I guess when they do go pop.

The Effects

As stated above the camera work and the underwater stunts are particularly impressive. Some of the darkest depths of our Earth suddenly look very inviting to go to. Also big props to the make up department for some very nasty looking cuts and bruises.

Why It’s Worth Watching

Aside from the effects, it’s trying to predict which member of the crew takes a time out next. The film is very vicious and includes self sacrifices and murder. Have a drink someone pops their clogs for a game, or whenever we get dragged into the rather tedious father/son argument that carries the main duo throughout the movie. You’ll be sloshed by mid way.

Favourite Character

Ioan Gruffudd plays the cocky and vile Carl perfectly and while I wain back and forth between liking and disliking him, he is by far the most interesting of the bunch as he teeters back and force from going absolutely nuts.

Favourite Death

There’s so many! I’ll go with Luko’s long drawn out double death early on who is eventually left with such bad injuries from a very nasty fall it’s left to our leader to drown him to ease his pain… charming!

Weirdest Moment

I either blinked or missed it but where on Earth did Liz and JD go? It’s like they go off in a separate area, we see them struggling on a rope line but then it never returns back to them again. Did they live or die? Or did I miss them perish when I was pouring my next drink?

Conclusion

Sanctum is full of thrills and spills. The limited character development in such a compact film is to be expected but the actors do a good job even if the characters come across as brats at times. I was not surprised by the ending but enjoyed my journey there. Just be grateful the bath has a plug!

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Film Review: Titanic (1953)

Posted in Titanic (1953) with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 6, 2012 by Higher Plain Music

Historically inaccurate and going right for the emotional drama instead, 1953′s Titanic that won an Academy Award places the sinking right at the end and the emotional drama to the fore.

The Premise

A family that is falling apart board the infamous ship.

The Disasters Faced

Aside from the main event, drunkenly falling overboard and losing at Bridge (Heaven forbid!)

The Execution

Titanic opens with an iceberg breaking free and drifting off. From there is only the last 25 minutes where the drama of the sinking comes to the front of the film. Aside we have an unhappy couple busy pulling their children in different directions. The daughter is busy trying to be snobby to Robert Wagner who is left with some of the most cringe worthy sing songs this side of World War II. While this is all very charming and light-hearted, the main duo enjoy ripping into each other and their stage presence is great, as is the script. This is very much a drama first that’s set aboard the Titanic which is only the backdrop to heighten the drama at the end. It’s also only 93 minutes long so if the characters don’t take you, it’s one of the shorter films on the subject before the action starts.

The Effects

The wide shots are well done, as is the actual collision itself (albeit on the wrong side of the ship!) The few shots of destruction are well done with large amounts of water crashing into the shot and the sets and costumes are lavishly presented. It holds up very well for being almost 60 years old.

Why It’s Worth Watching

To watch Robert Wagner be snubbed time and time again is good enough. The acting is very well done. It’s also interesting to see how inaccurate the film is compared to the real events too as it’s night and day between this as say A Night to Remember. There’s a lot of goofs and errors too. Pushing that aside though, it is still a very enjoyable film on its own merit to watch. Also of note is the fantastic 90 minute documentary that chronicles all the Titanic films from 1912 up to 1997. It’s really well done and a great bonus feature on the UK DVD release.

Favourite Character

Harper Carter who somehow goes uncredited as the main couples son?! How on earth his name is not up in lights I’ve no idea as he is the heart and soul of the main family and their plight. The fact he does the unthinkable for others as if it were the easiest decision in the world shows him as a pure innocent child and makes the ending all the sadder for it.

Best “Death”

The cut short hymn of Nearer My God to Thee is a haunting way to close the tragedy.

Weirdest Moment

Aside from Wagner’s Jigs Volume 3, I did find it funny after Barbara Stanwyck tells Cliffton Webb their son isn’t his, she walks out and storms round the corner… where she promptly stops and waits. Obviously the set ended there but you can see her shadow just stay perfectly still while she’s out of sight as we watch Cliffton react. She’s Behiiiind You!

Conclusion

Titanic on its own merits is a thoroughly entertaining film that captivates its audience with intrigue, sordid scandal and action. As a historical memento, this is one of the most inaccurate (Molly Brown is called Maude Young?!) but if you’re looking for style over detail – this is a great film to show what early 50′s cinema could do.

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Film Review: SOS Titanic

Posted in SOS Titanic with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 5, 2012 by Higher Plain Music

On the eve of the 100th Anniversairy of Titanic’s sinking, it seems fit to review all the Titanic films I’ve seen and finally, after a long wait, SOS Titanic was finally released on DVD in the UK. Worth the wait? I’d certainly say so.

The Premise

If you don’t know a Titanic film by now, you never will. This is a distinctly British stab at it trying to recreate actual events from witness accounts.

The Disasters Faced

The Iceberg, stacking it in your fine gown and a runaway piano.

The Execution

What a difference a fine set of actors and actresses make to a film. Whilst the film does boast some very good production values – especially with set and costume design – it’s the acting that really raises the bar. Each person has their own stage presence – one lady doesn’t even say a word throughout the film yet she makes herself more than known throughout. As ever with a Titanic film, there’s a good cross-section of passengers and crew from all classes and they each have their own drama’s ongoing. What marks this out is that each character nicely fleshed out. How refreshing it is to see Molly Brown worry and fret about being alone, to see 2nd class passengers discuss how they are strangely in the middle of system (a class often left out in other films) and so on. The action sequences are shot and put together so that they get the most out of what they had and it simply just feels different compared to a lot of the cut and paste romance riddled imitators of James Cameron’s version – one that would come nearly 20 years after this one.

The Effects

Some of the big view shots are still pictures and there’s some clever camera trickery that now is quite easy to spot but everything does the job. The set designs are generally fantastic though.

Why Its Worth Watching

SOS Titanic in its current shortened version is a fantastic view because it makes some really interesting choices. Ian Holm’s portrayal of Ismay is the first time I’ve seen him played as a broken man pushed to the edge. There’s also a lot more to do with the Carpathia, with a full epilogue to round the story off there too. It’s also interested in being quite detailed without needing to drown everything in melodrama. There’s a certain innocence and beauty to it all and the script allows the actors to work their magic. I would kill for the full unabridged version that aired on TV.

Favourite Character

One of the key things is the likeability of many characters in this film. I’ll go with David Warner on one of his three trips to Titanic in his film career for playing the perfect gentleman! Cloris Leachman’s Molly Brown is a narrowly beaten second however.

Best Death

The grand piano! I originally saw the film on TV when I was a young child and the moment stuck so much in my head, even though the name didn’t. It took me years before the internet came along for me to discover which film it had come from.

Weirdest Moment

There are only two flaws (aside from the it sank in one piece problem) that confuse me. One is because the DVD chops over 40 minutes of story, sometimes characters drop in and out for a while and then appear in two places right next to each other without warning. Helen Mirren goes from lifeboat to the smoking room back to back. Surely she’s going the wrong way?! Aside from that, the real footage of icebergs is clearly shot in the day time and when cut in between the effects of the ship itself at night-time, it’s jarring and slightly Twilight Zone esque.

Conclusion

For me there are three Titanic films that personally stand above the rest that I’ve seen to date. James Cameron’s Titanic for its lavish production and attention to detail, A Night to Remember for its fastidious account where it almost becomes documentary like and SOS Titanic for it feels almost like a scrapbook Diary version of events – somewhere pitched between the aforementioned two. All three are most worthy of your attention.

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Film Review: Lightning: Bolts of Destruction

Posted in Lightning: Bolts of Destruction with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 28, 2012 by Higher Plain Music

Or as I’d like to call the film – let’s have a family drama with a webcam! Cue one of the more hammiest disaster movies milked for TV moviedom.

The Premise

Lightning becomes positively charged and starts to develop huge storms to bring on a new ice age of course!

The Disasters Faced

Lightning, Wind, loss of connection on a skype call and being witness to some of the worst 2 second long CGI shots ever.

The Execution

This film aims itself firmly at the Sunday afternoon family audience. Everything here feels too warm, soft, glowing and fuzzy. Although the world is ending, we see so little of it and the film focuses on a “she’s not my mother!” plot which while is mildly entertaining, is not what I tuned in for. The script isn’t too bad in handling this but when you’ve little to keep you going on the disaster front it feels very much like an empty film that never comes together.

The Effects

Effects are used sparingly and thank God for that. We’re treated to static CGI models being given flames from what looks like a flash game. The only decent effect is an EMP ripple. Woo.

Why It’s Worth Watching

For family drama, it’s passable and the acting isn’t too bad. Quite why one family member is blatantly European amongst an entire cast of American’s I have no idea. Much of science is glossed over too so you’re not given a chance to dwell on that side either. Instead, the drinking game is left to taking a shot every time someone has a conversation on webcam. I thought we were watching a Skype documentary…

Best Death

There’s only one and he dies being electrocuted by touching a fire door. Even then he just shakes a little. How very PG.

Favourite Character

I’ll go for Ken Tremblett for playing a nice father who seems stuck with two argumentative family members. He seems so nice and warm, he could have bashed their heads together at the end and I have cheered him on!

Weirdest Moment

“Please tell me there’s no lightning in Cyber Space?” Pardon?!

Conclusion

As I’m sure you can tell, Lightning Bolts of Destruction left me cold. It’s not so much the production, the acting or the awful effects – it’s the non direction of it all. It’s 100 minutes of watching people talk on their webcam with little reward and incentive to keep watching. Dull.

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Film Review: Thrill Seekers

Posted in Thrill Seekers with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 5, 2012 by Higher Plain Music

Sometimes TV movies break the mould and become something quite entertaining and unique. Thrill Seekers for me, is one of those movies. Taking an interesting concept for disaster and playing generally within its budget constraints, there’s a lot to like.

The Premise

A company decides to use time travel to give people the experience of a life time to live as part of huge disasters such as Hindenburg or Titanic in safety. When someone cottons on and tries to stop the disasters, problems occur!

The Disasters Faced

Plane crashes, fires, bombs, missile guns, what looks like the early invention of an iPad (nooo) and some really jumped up baddies.

The Execution

Thrill Seekers is first and foremost a sci-fi /thriller movie but it’s weaved around disaster elements. It’s story is the key to its enjoyment. Casper Van Dien, whose acting is wooden here to say the least, uncovers a Thrill Seeker which is a person who time travels to witness first hand big disasters in history. A strange package holiday to say the least! When Casper works out his plane is the next destination, he stops the disaster taking place and then begins to work on stopping the rest of the brochure taking place too. The company running Thrill Seekers isn’t impressed and sends back two dubious baddies to catch Casper. The story genuinely kept me really interested and when it gets going in its full flow, it’s a really enjoyable romp. The pacing is well done and there’s not too many dodgy CGI scenes as everything is kept low-key until the final thirty minutes.

The Effects

The train crash looks to me like it’s had footage ripped from a film called Money Train (and isn’t the only film to have committed this crime) and the plane and bomb scenes are littered with poor CGI. There is one good explosion though and the iPad’s in waiting are quite fun to see how in 1999, they could be so close to what we get now.

Why It’s Worth Watching

The story is very entertaining and I like how it weaves lots of real life disasters around its own fictional ones. Catherine Bell makes a good reluctant heroine, Casper an awful lead and Theresa Saldana is hilarious as Cortez – the stilted acting bad ass whose in it for the money. It also gets my vote for a really high death count and isn’t afraid to kill most of the cast off at some point! The old drinks game can be used for whenever either baddie runs through the public holding a gun and no one remotely reacts, or when Casper / Theresa fail to act at all.

Best Death

I’ll go for Elizabeth (Catherine Bell) who dies in the best explosion when Cortez gets bad ass with her missile gun.

Favourite Character

It’s got to be Cortez – she kept me in stitches throughout and I’m not sure it was intentional. One thing I will say for the film, is all bar the lead have good characters and some development with them.

Weirdest Moment

It’s not weird, but Charlie Sheen is the big star in the movie yet he has about ten lines and say a minute of screen time. Elsewhere in an attempt for comic relief, our cop duo have some terrible dialogue that is groan worthy.

Conclusion

A disaster / sci fi / thriller hybrid and one of the most interesting and unique takes on the disaster genre. For once, a TV movie with an imdb rating above 5! At least I’m not alone in thinking Thrill Seekers is actually an enjoyable romp. I was entertained from start to end and that’s what any film goer wants.

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Film Review: Polar Storm

Posted in Polar Storm with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 29, 2012 by Higher Plain Music

By placing the word storm on the end of a TV disaster movie hopes generally aren’t high for what is to come. Strangely though, there is really no storm in sight and the film is actually quite competent! Shocks all round then.

The Premise

A close passing meteor sheds its bum which crashes into Earth and rips the electromagnetic properties of our planet to shreds. The poles of Earth decide to do a switcheroo and that’s when its time to end the world.

The Disasters Faced

Meteor’s, earthquakes, EMP’s, a dodgy pace maker and a child so is trying soooo hard to be like Justin Bieber it hurts me on the inside.

The Execution

Whilst Polar Storm is heavily reliant on some of the most dubious science found in a recent disaster flick, it goes with it and fully commits to it with gusto. Whilst the film is clearly done on a shoestring budget, the actors involved aren’t slouching and get on with it too and this elevates the dull script. The film has three distinct acts. The meteor coming to Earth, the EMP dramas and the solution to any b-movie ever made – some nuclear bombs to round-up. Sadly the third act is so reliant on CGI that just doesn’t cut it, the film ends damply but it is solid enough up until then to hold your attention.

The Effects

The meteor, its crash and the earthquake effects are passable. What is not is the awful submarine effects in the final half hour which completely shatter any illusion you’ve been trying to pretend you’re in. It’s like an early PlayStation 2 FMV sequence.

Why Its Worth Watching

Polar Storm is well paced and doesn’t use all its cards in the first twenty minutes. It’s full of clichés and disaster movie must haves like moody teenagers, the loveable old man, daddy issues and the government once again not acting on advice. Those of you looking for the drinking game, take a shot whenever teenage Shane tries to look innocent/sexy at the camera is a slightly awkward Bieber pose.

Best Death

I’ll go for Michael (Rob Morton) as the best death when his pace maker decides to give out on an EMP and he does the best death fall in the movie.

Favourite Character

Every few characters are really nice or given much in the way of character development but Marsha Regis’ Pam is always a good lady to declare the end of the world with. I’m sure everyone would have been a bit calmer if she was more involved.

Weirdest Moment

Aside from the science side of the whole film which is just silly, notice that the film seems to use the same two roads over and over for everyone to stop during an EMP pulse – in some cases in the exact same spot! It just made me laugh.

Conclusion

Not bad enough to be a classic, it is an interesting concept of EMP’s causing havoc that keeps things in motion. It may fall flat with awful CGI in the final third and have some improbable moments but hey – what other disaster movies aren’t taking liberties with reality these days! Passable TV affair.

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Film Review: Hindenburg

Posted in Hindenberg with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 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.

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Film Review – 252 Sign Of Life

Posted in 252 Sign of Life with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 5, 2011 by Higher Plain Music

Asia have recently made some great disaster movies but I can imagine them hitting home so much more due to recent events this year. Following in the footsteps of Tidal Wave, Aftershock and Sinking of Japan comes 252 Sign of Life which is both gripping and melodramatic in equal measures. Despite its overly heroic Hollywood moments that come right out of Independence Day’s book of film making, its a great film.

The Premise

A series of Typhoons set off a chain of events that causes a tsunami  to sweep across our main characters whom are all trapped in a subway station. Can they find rescue before the water finds them?

The Disasters Faced

A tsunami, a hail storm, flash flooding, cave ins, leaking gas and an improvised blood transfusion using a fish tank filter! However on the back of the UK box there’s a clear picture of a scene where a Tornado is hitting the city. I have no idea where it’s come from because it’s not in the film at all. Boooo!!!!

The Execution

The disaster itself happens twenty minutes into the film after all the main characters are introduced. In this respect the film is very true to the genres roots and it’s nice to get a quick look into all the characters lives before disaster strikes. When it does, the ten minute sequence is fantastic and very well shot with dramatic slow-mo’s and reaction shots. If you’re unfamiliar to Asian filming it may come across a bit overly dramatic but this type of editing is common place in Asian films. From there the five survivors battle against each other as much as the elements to survive in a sub-contained space that reminds me very much of how the film Cube worked. Pitting one antagonistic character off against the rest. Of course no film is a true disaster film without a child and this ones deaf! To be honest though, she is so adorable and non-whiny she is one of the best children in a disaster movie I’ve come across. The other story line features the rescue workers outside who are trying their best to get to survivors spurred on by the mum of the child left behind screaming at them and looking generally distraught for the majority of the film. Of course everyone’s related as well so that ups the stakes. Be prepared for lots of crying, lots of screaming, lots of high drama of “you’re our only hope”".

The Effects

The CGI of the tsunami is quite well done and the flash flood in the tunnel is really interesting to see. Where the film comes into its own is by using a lot of real water and large volumes. The flash flooding, particularly as the subways collapses is really well done – as are the sets of carnage afterwards. I was really impressed.

Why It’s Worth Watching

232 Sign Of Life is a very well made film. If you’re after pure effects, this won’t tick your boxes because a lot of the second half of the film actually ends up delving into the characters via flashbacks and revolves around the plot to get them out. This is more of a character driven disaster movie. The characters bar one are all likeable but flawed but you care about them and root them on. The only downside is there’s some really silly triumphant moments where about 100 rescue workers stand in awe while one man walks out carrying his friend. It’s all very Hollywood.

Best Death

**Spoilers** Not one of the main characters die. However the subway scene where people are washed away is really well done.

Favourite Character

The little girl Shiori (Ayane Omori) is simply adorable. Her moments towards the end of the film are heart wrenching.

Weirdest Moment

The finale is just a bit overly melodramatic and the last minute of the film made me chuckle as hundreds of rescue workers instead of helping, decide to just stare. Not very helpful at all!

Conclusion

I really enjoyed 252 Sign of Life. The obvious drinking game is to take a shot when someone cries or screams but to be fair for once that misses the point. Well made, although perhaps too melodramatic for its own good, 252 is well worth two hours of your disaster movie time.

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Film Review: Ice Quake

Posted in Ice Quake with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 21, 2011 by Higher Plain Music

Ice Quake – otherwise known as lets traipse up and down a mountain is a TV disaster movie that limps along from shaky camera to shaky camera and failed to capture my attention despite a high-profile name and some competent acting.

The Premise

A mountain is busy farting with a methane problem and is releasing sub-zero gases via Earthquakes. Think an ice volcano with a belly ache and you’re there.

The Disasters Faced

Earthquakes, avalanches, storms, lots of polystyrene and wobbly camera angles and the horror of frozen people wearing blue makeup to show they’re dead.

The Execution

Ice Quake for a TV movie really isn’t that bad. Maybe that’s part of the problem. The film bubbles along from one mini problem to another although most quakes look identical. The film wisely stays to just a single mountain and has most of its action take place in nondescript locations in the snow. For that, the film is then able to tightly weave you from problem to problem until it comes to the final section where it moves to a small town for its finale. The acting in general is of a good standard and despite some dodgy science having an actor such as Victor Garber (Titanic) really helps. What I will say is that he is the most ineffectual leader in a crisis ever committed to film. Now we just need to make the typical whiny teen girl to shut up a bit and the film would have been more enjoyable!

 

The Effects

The special effects aren’t so bad as they have been for a TV movie. The avalanche scene actually looks quite good and while the earthquake effect is used far too many times, it doesn’t look bad at all. What always looks strange is the movies insistence of colouring all frozen people completely blue and the face. Explosions still suffer on TV movies with yellow-ness however.

Why It’s Worth Watching

Ice Quake is well paced even if there’s no massive set pieces. The characters are generally likable except the vile teenage girl. Every scene she is in she moans, groans and decides to be injured. Even her voice makes you want to shake her until she hushes. Normally you do get the spoilt teen in every movie but this girl pulls it off to a T. I wanted to slap her. Otherwise, it is generally a feel good family TV movie too with hardly any deaths and no blood at all so if it’s a good one to start off on for the youngsters – although the strangest moment in the film may put you off showing it to real young’uns!

Favourite Death

One of the very few novel parts to the film is going onboard a couples snowsled down a slope in one of the earthquakes and the camera follows you into the chasm and down the cracks! Complete with screaming. Good fun if I do say so myself!

Favourite Character

I’ll go with Yeti the dog – he’s adorable. Following that Nicholas Carella does a fine job as smiley Ram – quite how he got that name no one will know.

Weirdest Moment

The opening of the movie (and first couple of deaths) has a man for no reason at all doing geological research dressed in full Santa gear. Cue Santa to then get blown up in an ice geyser. It’s not as great as it sounds I’m afraid but it’s certainly a startling opening. Also our family manage to side-step a volcano.

Conclusion

Ice Quake worryingly straddles the competent but boring side of the genre with the slightly cheesy dialogue and not enough silliness side. As a result it is mildly entertaining but neither dire enough to tackle the worst (or best) nor is it scope big enough to warrant it a huge thumbs up. For genre fans only.

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