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Reviews
Tajuu jinkaku tantei saiko - Amamiya Kazuhiko no kikan (2000)
CSI meets Twin Peaks meets Matrix
Worth a look on DVD. This Japanese series melds a Twin Peaks like surrealism, with Manga inspired graphics and story line. Grumpy old detectives try to track down a mysterious being that jumps from person to person through the Japanese underworld, inspiring each one to go on a killing spree. Sounds clichéd, but some fantastic photography melded with oddly juxtaposed CGI and extremely graphic violence take it away from the norm. Pretty incomprehensible to start with, but strangely gripping none the less. In Japanese with English subtitles, which make it even more difficult to follow. First episode is excellent, but later episodes become more formulaic.
Adaptation. (2002)
Almost, but not quite
Kaufman constructs a promising framework in this circular tale of the process of adaptation, Hollywood style. The two Kaufman brothers, pitting creative originality on one side and the Hollywood mainstream on the other have some great comic moments, but Kaufman diverts from this promising character study towards the end of the film. At that point the action heats up, and the characters take over the film and drive it towards a surreal conclusion. Unfortunately this is also where the film seems to fly off on a tangent, and seems oddly disjointed from the first act. As such, despite an intriguing beginning and some entertaining moments, the film lacks the overall cohesiveness of Kaufman's earlier "Being John Malkovich".
The Sweetest Thing (2002)
oh dear
Anyone hoping for a "Something about Mary 2" will be sorely disappointed. This film has absolutely nothing to recommend it. The script is dire, directing pedestrian and the actors seem rather embarassed about the whole affair. Devoid of any humour and largely consisting of campy set pieces strung together with minimal plot, this is one to avoid. 1/10
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Not a patch on the books
Not a bad film.. just decidedly average. The film seems to gloss over all the drama, social and philosophical issues raised by the classic Tolkein novel and instead focuses on a straightforward "war movie". Still, it's entertaining enough for a few hours and as a Hollywoodised version of the book it could have been much worse. Needless to say it'll probably get showered with Oscars, but if that happens it'll say more about the dismal state of the US film industry than about this film.