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Film Review: Rough Air: Danger on Flight 534

Posted in Rough Air: Danger of Flight 534 with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 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.

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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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Aftershock / Tangshan Dadizhen Trailer

Posted in Aftershock with tags , , , on November 8, 2011 by Higher Plain Music

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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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Film Review: Mega Shark Vs Crocosaurus

Posted in Mega Shark Vs Crocosaurus with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 17, 2011 by Higher Plain Music

Oh The Asylum! Back with the “official sequel” as it says on the cover, Mega Shark Vs Crocosaurus continues to show film making at it budget best. Although I must admit, the laughs are predictable now we’ve got used to the formula, there’s still much to cringe and laugh at.

The Premise

Mega Shark, not quite dead from its encounter with Giant Octopus last time out returns to face off against Crocosauras, this time hungry to eat all the poor crocs eggs she’s been laying all over the place.

The Disasters Faced

A synchronised swimming Mega Shark, a heavy footed Crocosauras, a lot of awful CGI, a volcano, some wayward accents and a broken cigar! (Noooo!!!)

The Execution

Now we know The Asylum cater to the b-movie fan base and here its very much by the numbers. If anything it’s actually relatively competent and having being spoilt by the absolutely dire Dinocroc Vs Supergator, that makes this film look big budget! The films relatively well paced although I feel the shark is very much a one trick pony this time round and its the croc that causes more carnage and fun. Both creatures are underused however and the film rehashes a lot of the originals set pieces but with little or no improvement. The script contains corkers such as a “Will I be able to smoke my black dragon?” from an Admiral and the acting is typically cheesy and overblown. I could not get my head around that the lead was not Jeff Fahey! It was like Gary Stretch was a brother from another mother but with an accent that has a world tour in 89 minutes. The females in the film all overact to the point of high school stage drama. Still all being said, when a film is quite clearly setting out to master this type of feel, it all clicks together in a perfectly awkward mess. That’s why we love them.

The Effects

The planes, missiles and ships are well done and the sets aren’t bad either. The Shark looks identical to the original and Croc’s feet slip even when he’s standing still. They could have got some plastic toys in the frame and things wouldn’t have looked much worse in some instances. More laughable is the volcano scene which is effectively someone using a fire transition from Sony Vegas as a film climax.

Why It’s Worth Watching

A shot for every time someone says Crocman or Sharkman. A shot for every leery comment our lead male makes (he’s disgusting). Watch out for gay porn star Dylan Vox whose character is named Butowski! That’s the best name for an ex gay porn star in history surely?!  However hats off for not including any kind of dodgy romance in the middle of the film! It’s all about the monsters baby!

Favourite Death

Amazingly this film is death toll light. I’ll go for the man who gets splattered at the beginning as when we return we’re treated to his remains of half and arm and leg that was left behind.

Favourite Character

Can I have the Crocosaurus? My biggest complaint was the lack of nice characters in the film as a whole. Croccy was at least protective her eggs!

Weirdest Moment

This film is stupidly nuke happy – stupidly so. There’s also absolutely no prior explanation or reason to blow up a volcano with a nuke either. Let’s just burn Hawaii to dust then shall we?! Failing that, our leading lady Hutchinson can take the weirdest moment with her lack of smile as she desperately trying to play the hard nut special agent but sexy silent all at once but actually comes across wooden and constipated throughout, making the film much better as a result!

Conclusion

I think I prefer the original, but this is worthy sequel. Next time though Asylum, let’s take the animals inland as I think that’ll breath new life into the franchise.

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Film Review: 102 Minutes That Changed America

Posted in 102 Minutes That Changed America with tags , , , , , , , , on September 11, 2011 by Higher Plain Music

102 Minutes That Changed America removes all the politics, all the side scandal and presents you with the raw materials. A collection of various tapes either omitted from TV camera crews or just from regular bystanders or neighbours nearby. This along with “9/11″, is one of the most powerful pieces of film I’ve ever witnessed.

Presented in a timeline format, the documentary takes place in almost real-time. Occasionally a clock appears in fade to blacks, occasionally we have audio snippets to give us perspectives that aren’t shown on-screen, be it 911 calls or radio activity from the fire crew. We literally go from start to end of the World Trade Centre attacks with these people as they watch in horror with us the events unfolding before them.

What’s interesting from a historical point of view is that so many unseen camera viewpoints are shown which makes this documentary stand quite unique. Some of the post collapse moments are truly terrifying. It also shows exactly what people were thinking at the exact time. Blind panic, fear, dread and immense sadness. It also shows the confusion as people talk about all different things they’ve heard along the way. Throughout the film, there is an ambient hum that meanders and fades in at specific times which usually works to excellent effect.

It’s very difficult to review a film like this because of the subject matter but the editing is absolutely superb and the concept of presenting everything in a single timeline is great as it keeps everything in perspective. The way how it’s literally edited clips and a bubbling undercurrent of ambience combined really means it’s about telling you what happened through the eyes of the world closest to the incident means that you can’t place a silly spin on it. This one really is to archive the footage and as harrowing as it is to watch, its important to never forget these important events that can shape a world.

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Film Review: Flight 93

Posted in Flight 93 with tags , , , , , , , , , , on September 10, 2011 by Higher Plain Music

As we reach the ten-year anniversary of  a day that’s gone down in history, 9/11,  I’d like to go over a few of the films that have been made surrounding the event.

Flight 93 tells the story of the people whom were on the 4th plane and their heroic and moving plight to retake back their hijacked plane. This is the more emotional of the two main films about the planes, with United 93 being more documentary styled. Flight 93 focuses more on the people themselves, the emotional phone calls between them and their families on the ground and occasional glimpses of communication centres. It reminds me very much of how World Trade Centre deals with everything. Filmic, emotional but tasteful – never taking too much of a hollywood licence and staying relatively true to events as much as we know.

Toned down documentary style movies succeed based on the acting and the acting of the plane cast is generally excellent, as are the crew and comms room people – especially Monnae Michaell with her Lord’s Prayer scene. The same cannot be said for the families however with some of the emotional scenes looking almost slightly awkward. Crying with no tears really feels out-of-place yet a few of the actresses to this and it just takes away from the experience. The shaky, slightly too zoom-heavy camera work isn’t intrusive so you still feel like it’s a realistic portrayal without it being over the top ramping up the tension. Also its minimal use of underscoring helps make the film rise above a standard TV movie level to something that was aiming for higher.

However the only negative I can find with Flight 93 that other viewers may feel is that it’s too emotional based. If you came here looking for precise accounts of the operation then United 93 takes that route, while Flight 93 focuses on characters only. There’s no real right or wrong way of portraying the event between the two, it’s just down to personal preference. If you are emotionally invested however, you will find this the draining of the two as you will be reduced to tears egging the passengers on despite knowing their fate. That’s what makes accounts like this all the poignant, upsetting yet utterly fascinating to watch.

On a personal note, I enjoy the film as a piece of cinema despite it still seeming personally still a bit too close to the original events. The difference between these and say Titanic films is that there’s such a period of time over the event, you feel somewhat removed from it all. That’s a debate up for discussion for a long time I’d imagine and by going for the more Hollywood feel, this one hits closer to the knuckle than United 93. More effective potentially, but more potentially offensive compared to the more “business like factual” presentation of United 93.

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Film Review: United 93

Posted in United 93 with tags , , , , , , , on September 10, 2011 by Higher Plain Music

United 93 is the second well-known film centered around the fourth plane hijack. From the outset this film goes for as factual documentary style as possible by staying in the various communication centers and the plane itself. It’s a testament that several of the people actually play themself in the film as to how respectful and tastefully done it is.

In what feels like an almost realtime account of the events, we see each crash in turn from the people trying to manage the situation and exactly how impossible everyone’s job must have been on that day. The first hour centers around the general chaos of the morning itself as everyone shouts back and forth trying to make sense of events while the latter half focuses on the United 93 flight. This is where this adaptation is head and shoulders above the rest. By having some of the real people on the day being involved in the film, it lends credibility to what so many people like to have an opinion on.

The acting is superb throughout and there are no effects shots from outside the plane to put you off or take you outside of the general experience. It’s also filmed in a way that is dynamic but not intrusive – less camera shake wannabe documentary and more dirt and braces feel. It also doesn’t go tugging at heart-strings either by using the obvious things such as babies, the Lord’s Prayer (the moment that always gets me in Flight 93 yet I’m very aware that its being included for a reason) and a several goodbye calls but they are part of the films overall scope, not the whole scope.

I think United 93 knows that it could never fully include every single brave and heroic person and so includes very short snippets of lots of people and this makes a lot of sense. It’s not often I talk about extras on a DVD but United 93 makes a marked difference with two particular features. The first is a memorial section with a biography for each life lost on that flight. The second is an hour documentary about how the families have dealt with having such a high-profile disaster happening to them. It’s very interesting to hear what these people have to say and how they’ve formed a bond with each other as a new family as they mourn and pay tribute to their lost loved ones. Some of the actors meet with the families and it must have been an extremely surreal experience as they’ve matched physically the characters quite closely.

Ultimately I feel United 93 is the stronger film of the ones based on the ’93 plane. It displays everything in an understated way and although the last ten minutes, we will never entirely know what happened, it’s still done tastefully well. Add to that all the participation and support from the real people effected, it feels like this is the closest you can get to a supported recreation of the actual events.

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Film Review: Arctic Blast

Posted in Arctic Blast with tags , , , , , , , , , on September 4, 2011 by Higher Plain Music

Arctic Blast is a strange beast. Essentially an Australian led disaster movie, it appears that everyone is busy running away from a dry ice machine. Good fun all round then!

The Premise

We bugger up our o-zone layer to a point that then causes rifts to appear, sucking frozen air down to the planets surface and initiate a new ice age. Think Day After Tomorrow and you’re along the right track.

The Disasters Faced

“Ourselves” apparently as the lead shouts and bellows to anyone who listens, a dry ice machine gone mad, power cuts, the pronunciation of “data”  and people who can’t run fast enough getting a little chilly.

The Execution

Arctic Blast wastes no time in getting started with a cheesy opening death sequence that sets in motion a chain of events to keep you amused for 90 minutes or so. The script heavy hands the eco warrior theme of the day but the message is lost in between lots of computer screen watching and whirling sirens. Typical low-budget constraints ensure that most of the film takes place in various communication hubs and while the characters are all relatively likeable Arctic Blast is very workmanlike and by the book. Yes there’s laughable logic throughout and its grossly inconsistent in how the blast seems to operate but it’s not as pathetic as the Asylum films and certainly doesn’t qualify as a good movie either. It’s just there. The acting varies between stage school (the parents) and competent (most of the main cast) and sometimes there are slight pauses between lines as well which just feel robotic.

The Effects

Essentially you are watching dry ice attack the world and the CGI is dire. This makes the somewhat limited death sequences laugh out loud funny. What is sad is that the deaths aren’t shown on-screen and only really in one case does an off-screen death actually work.

Why It’s Worth Watching

Arctic Blast works best with shot glasses. One for every time someone says “data” (Darrrtarrrr actually but nevermind). One for every time you get confused before all the blonde females in the cast. There are three of them and in the beginning of the movie I was very confused as to who was who. Two of them don’t make it so that made it easier in the end! This film is very female blood thirsty as well which is unusual. Aside from that its just some comical effects and acting to spot.

Best Death

I’m torn, the girl Elizabeth frozen on the beach is hilarious but I prefer the eerie death of the waitress lady who decides not to leave her bar and sit down with a drink and peg it. The best bit is she pops on an opera and as it ices up the CD skips about before stopping. It’s the sole piece of really excellent imagery / film making in the entire movie that shines.

Favourite Character

Gotta love Zoe (Saskia Hempele), even in diabetic collapse, she’s still a trooper!

Weirdest Moment

The whole scientific thing reeks of a lack of substance but I’ll go with the way how some people die instantly before even being enveloped in the fog and yet others can fend off this death attack by popping on a coat and sitting on the sofa in front of a small fire. The opening death is also a “did that just happen?” moment!

Conclusion

Arctic Blast is unimaginative and poorly conceived and in the days where both the extremely good and extremely bad market are well catered for, this is for genre purists only. Yes its funny in places, yes there’s no logic to any of it but its been done better (Day After Tomorrow) and worse (Ice Age) elsewhere.

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