At The Flix with @Timmy666
Greetings film fans and welcome to this week’s At The Flix, an overview of what’s out at the cinema in Brumtown.
Hercules (3D) (12A)
Described optimistically in the official studio release notes as a “revisionist take on the classic myth”, a Hercules starring Dwayne Johnson and directed by Brett Ratner is more ridiculous than revisionist. That said, ridiculous can also be entertaining, and with British darlings John Hurt, Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell and Joseph Fiennes hamming it up as well, then that sense of ridiculousness can be stepped another notch or two as well.
…and if it’s actually fun, then prepare to put many of your preconceptions aside.
A case of toga or not toga?
Earth To Echo (PG)
So here’s a Summer holiday release, a family adventure movie which odes to E.T. and of early 80s kids sci-fi adventures. Receiving a group of encrypted messages, a group of kids embark on an adventure with a small alien who needs their help.
Comparisons to such a hefty classics such as E.T. is not likely to help this film. Initial reviews have been mixed but I have a soft spot for films like Super 8, which as an ode to Spielberg, was as explicit as they came, so the 11 year-old in me hopes it’s better than many critics have said it is.
Purge Anarchy, The (15)
The Purge: Anarchy is the sequel to summer 2013’s unexpected hit with writer/director James DeMonaco to craft the next terrifying chapter of dutiful citizens preparing for their country’s yearly 12 hours of anarchy.
The film is very inspired by the Saw-style school of horror and is effectively a slasher film where an entire society underworld is the slasher. The trailer demonstrates that the film takes its itself pretty seriously. This is not a parody or comedy.
The Purge: Anarchy has ambitious B-movie nods to George Romero and John Carpenter in its satirical pickings on American attitudes to gun culture and hopefully has some intelligence amidst the carnage.
Showing at the Electric for a few days over the next week, Bicycling with Moliere is a comedy where two French actors portray two French actors, friends who are constantly at odds, except for their love of Molière’s The Misanthrope.
This is effectively a cinematic folie, one of those French comedies with bite, with equal amounts of drollness and intellectuality. It might help to have a vague knowledge of Molière too I imagine.
Friday 25th July to Thursday 31st July
Returning to the Electric from Friday, and one of my favourite festivals, the Shock & Gore horror and fantasy festival returns for the fourth year, offering in the Electric’s own words “a twisted programme celebrating the fringes of cinema and beyond.”
If your cinema tastes take in the more experimental and extreme, this is for you!
This year’s highlights include a special David Lynch night featuring Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks, a 35mm screening of Eyes Without A Face and a strand dedicated to homosexuality in horror including Michael Blyth’s Queer Eye For The Dead Guy, Viva VHS’s showing of Nightmare Maker and the Saturday all-nighter featuring Alien and The Lost Boys.
For all the horrific treats, visit www.shockandgore.co.uk.
I’m off to get into costume ahead of the Shock and Gore festival. I’m sure it’ll be more horrific than the horrors on screen.
As always, cutting comments are always actively encouraged at @timmy666.
Have a great week at the cinema!
